Evolution of a Work - One scene, two paintings: "Calling" and "Near and Far Fields"

These two paintings, a pastel ("Calling") and an oil ("Near and Far Fields"), helped give me faith in the process of searching and revising that seems necessary in the creative process.  As often is the case for me, the initial inspiration began at a real place, where I loved the pull of the triangular shapes towards the distance, with the near-ground anchored by the round bale.  I sketched this on location in pastel, and later added touches back in the studio, leading to the finished pastel painting, "Calling."  

Alice Kelsey, "Calling" Pastel 7" X 17"  Sold.

I then had an urge to carry the image over to a bigger scale (17" X 40") in oil, and I chose jute (rather than more conventional cotton canvas) with its rough diagonal weave as the support for this earthy scene.  However, everything changed at this scale.  After I roughed in the composition similar to the pastel, it just didn't hold together - the elements together didn't seem to draw the viewer into the scene as they had in the smaller pastel.

So I proceeded with a number of revisions, adding more bales - it just felt like there needed to be more mass to anchor the composition at this larger scale.

Oil version - first revision.  Many bales.  17" X 40"

This still didn't seem to do it.  I just felt more stuck about the foreground, so I painted out a bunch of the bales, feeling that the tension between the two remaining bales would draw the eye in.

Oil version - second revision.  Only 2 bales.  17" X 40"

But I still wasn't happy.  I let the painting rest out of sight for several months, and then when I pulled it out to review, I realized that it really was a different painting at this scale than it had been in the smaller pastel.  I shifted focus to the rhythm of the trees in the hedgerow, moving them until the intervals between them felt balanced.  I removed all the bales because they were distracting from the overall scene.  I think these changes work in helping the eye dance a bit through the foreground, yet still search through the trees towards the farther fields and woods.  So that's where the title came from-  this search of conveying the feeling of mystery of moving into a landscape.

Alice Kelsey.  'Near and Far Fields."  Oil. 17" X 40"  Sold

In the end, I think both the oil and the pastel convey this interest between the near and the far, yet in different ways.  The pastel feels energized and the oil kind of peaceful.  Both paintings share a common origin, but went different directions.  I learned a lot about how the scale (same proportional shape but different size) of a painting requires different compositional elements.

Show Season (and a misty sunrise)

I've been busy over the past several days selecting work to submit to regional and national shows. It takes a fair amount of planning and desk work to attend to this, which I don't particularly enjoy. However, I do find it very rewarding to send my paintings out in the world, and hear from others about what they see and feel when viewing them. I'm especially fulfilled when the emotions or forces in the natural world which inspired the work, and guided me through it, come across to the viewer.  I also enjoy seeing others' work in exhibitions. So I took care of the computer and paperwork tasks, plus fit in a 6 am sketching walk, finding a lemon sun veiled by morning mist across the stream which is sifting through my being, likely to develop in to a painting :)

Richard McKinley Presentation

I attended a slide presentation by nationally known pastelist and workshop instructor Richard McKinley last evening, and appreciated his insights, tips, and examples of his beautiful work. His reminders about the importance of big shapes in the composition, willingness to take risks, and advice to not over-develop a painting by spelling out every detail all resonated with me. I also enjoyed his stories of unexpected circumstances on plein air journeys. Many thanks to the Central Pennsylvania Pastel Society for bringing Richard McKinley to central PA!

Paintings Find New Homes!

I'm very pleased that four of my recent paintings were purchased last week! There's lots of new ones underway as well which should soon reach fruition!

Plein Air, Thunder Brewing

I went out sketching this morning, scribbling quick graphite sketches as the sky darkened, and a bit of wind picked up. I was hoping to work on a pastel on location at a nearby farm, where I love the layered recession of fields and hedgerows in morning mist. However, with the sky rumbling with distant thunder, I figured that it wouldn't be possible to get my easel set up and finish a pastel, and there was a risk of lightening, so I adapted to scampering around with just a pencil, small sketchbook, and colors registering in my memory.  After eight quick sketches, sure enough, along came rain, and closer thunder chasing me back to the car.

Even though I didn't harvest what I sought, I felt the stirrings of nature itself, and felt connected, and found some other views I'd never noticed. One of these little sketches may later grow in to a painting... too early to know. Even if it doesn't, the bonding with the land renews me. And I'm glad for the rain which we really needed!

Been to the Woods

I went out on a walk early yesterday morning, and found sunlight streaking through the woods, gently lighting up tree trunks and ferns. I did a a quick pastel sketch on the spot, and may give it a go on a larger oil since I keep thinking about the scene and the colors. I felt grateful for being there, and maybe I can capture some of that sense and that special light on canvas.

Been Backpacking

I've been out backpacking with my family, and enjoyed being out in the woods, and exploring new places. We hiked a section of the Loyalsock Trail, and traveled through beech and hemlock, reaching waterfalls and a few vistas. Some off-trail exploring also revealed a secluded mountain stream pool, just right for getting wet and cool! Now I'm back in the studio, working on oils developing from the sketches of water lilies and pond,  trying to get those rich colors and the wonders of water reflections!