Juggling

I'm happy, yet tired, preparing for my joint exhibition which opens in a bit over three weeks. This time in the creative cycle, 'harvest time', feels a bit like juggling- keeping lots of balls up in the air in a steady rhythm- put those crucial finishing touches on paintings, choose frames, cut mats, mount painting in frame, and get the word out about the exhibit. I enjoy the process and satisfaction of each of these parts of my job as an artist , yet need to be very focused and reach a bit here and there to keep up with the cycle  of steps- if one ball falls, the whole process falls apart!

Luckily, I do know how to juggle (literally juggle, I mean- a fun little thing I fell in to learning many years ago.) Today I put varnish on custom hardwood frames made by my husband, worked on an oil painting, went on a walk, and tonight I'm framing, and loading art supplies in my backpack for an early morning plein air painting excursion. I'm looking forward to being back out in the land, which so consistently fills me back up again! AND, I'm really excited about the exhibit of this 'crop' of work (opens Oct. 19 at the Faustina Gallery in Lewisburg, PA)- I'll post more about that soon!

Evolution of a Work - 'White Deer Creek'

'White Deer Creek" by Alice Kelsey - finished

I was journeying around in R.B. Winter State Park in Central Pennsylvania with Jeanne McKinney, my collaborator for the "Upstream: Images of Susquehanna Waterways" show (which opens on Oct. 19 in Lewisburg, PA).  It was late afternoon, and we'd already been painting at a different stream.  I was tired and wasn't sure if I could find the creative energy to start a new work, but when we came across this scene along White Deer Creek, I lit up inside seeing the slanting sun strike the far bank, a dramatic light in the midst of deep woods darkish shadow. It glowed, and touched me, and soon I was immersed in painting.... just reaching for ways to somehow get close to putting on paper what I saw around me and my gratitude for it. I especially liked the triangle in the distance where the green bank glowed, and the reflections and cascades of several pools.   When I was working on the spot, I focused on trying to get that mood and the sense of light sparkling in, and capturing enough of the structure to remind me so I could work on it back in the studio, rather than worrying about the details. 

Plein air sketch made on location

When I looked at the sketch in the studio, I felt that the painting needed to be a bigger scale (size) than my initial field sketch (17" x 11".)  So I grabbed a 24" by 18" piece of paper, pretty big for a pastel, but something just called for that size- it was a Big Scene.  I really wanted to lay in lots of dark underneath because the wooded streams really are largely dark brown, and the other colors glow off that darkness.  So that's how I initially began working on the larger version, getting those darker values and basic drawing structure accurate, and working loosely to have some energy to harness.

Initial lay  studio version (large)

I then started to lay-in some colors, especially that lit up far bank that really inspired me on location.  I then  paid attention to the flow of the water with the three sections of riffles, where the white bands create a rhythm.  I lightened up the farther forest to help it recede.  I like the transparent look of the water pouring over the foreground rocks, with that 'slick', 'skimming' feel of moving water.  I am really happy with how the final painting holds on to what really spoke to me at that day and time, and for the gift of having been there to share in nature's creation.

Starting to lay in colors

Evolution of a work - 'Penns Creek in Sun and Shade'

I had walked in along Penns Creek near Weikert, and had that sudden feeling of connection to this spot.  As I examined that feeling, trying to pinpoint what struck me me about the scene - I organized the painting around these.  One was the sweep of the dark shaded woods in the background, an arc shape, contrasting to where the sun struck a little island on the right, where the grass was all lit up.  I was really interested in the reflections, part of them in the sun and part of them in the shade.  So I used a purpley/pink underpainting to capture the range of values out on location, and sense of motion and life.  I knew I needed a chance to unify the painting, and planned to do that back in the studio. 

As it came into the studio from working on location

I added more mid-tone subtleties, and more local color where the water in the foreground in the shade reflected the green of the tree, while still allowing some of the underpainting color to come through - this adds a quality of life and rich color.  I also added the warm colors in the area where the sun was striking the yellows of the sun-lit tree and island. 

After working on it in the studio - nearly done

I also adjusted where the riffles were located in front of the island, raising the right corner up a bit.  Even though the plein air sketch was how the scene actually was, the location of the riffles left a feeling of imbalance in the painting, of the right edge of the painting falling down. Just for the pictorial unity, I raised that up.  I really like the full of life and balanced feeling of the painting, which in the end it reflects what I connected with on location.

The Show is On!

Alice Kelsey at Longwood Art Gallery Opening Reception

Here I am surrounded by my pastel and oil paintings at the opening reception for my show at the Longwood Art Gallery in Kennett Square, PA! I enjoyed seeing my latest body of work displayed as a group, and talking with visitors about the process and the finished paintings. The show runs through September 29, and I'd be delighted to hear your comments if you get a chance to drop by- see my website www.alicekelsey.com for gallery hours and directions. Images of the paintings are also posted on my website if you'd like a 'virtual tour'!

Evolution of a Work - "Coming of Spring - Golden Evening Light"

Alice Kelsey painting field sketch for 'Coming of Spring - Golden Evening Light'

I was inspired to dash out with oil paints to our upper field on a spring evening when the horizontal golden light lit up the edge of the woods and a strip of the field.  I worked quickly to get some of it on a field sketch (see below).  The light was changing so quickly that the most helpful part of this process was being there engaging with it, not trying to instantly create a finished image. 

Original field sketch, 'Coming of Spring - Golden Evening Light"

From the field sketch, and mostly my memories and enthusiasm for being there, I created a larger in-studio version.  The large scale of the finished work seemed called for with the feeling of the scene.  I also like the changing of the day (into evening) and of the season (winter to spring) going on in this scene, and how the loose strokes helped convey that strong mood.

Completed painting 'Coming of Spring - Golden Evening Light" by Alice Kelsey.  Oil on Canvas  20" X 30"

This finished work is now at the Longwood Gallery in Kennett Square, in a beautiful gold frame, all ready for tomorrow's opening reception (September 7, 2012, 6 to 9 pm).  It is very satisfying for me to reflect on the journey from field to gallery, and to have an opportunity to show a body of my recent work as a featured artist this month at the Longwood Gallery.  The show runs through September 29, 2012.

Ready for Show! Paintings Return to Homeland!

"Homeland- Across the Valley", Pastel, 12 x 13 in.

Yes! My paintings are finished and framed, and ready to travel to eastern PA (Kennett Square) for an exhibition at The Longwood Art Gallery! I'm one of the featured artists at the gallery for the month of September, and will be there in person for the opening reception this coming Friday (9/7), 6 - 9 pm.

This show is especially meaningful for me since I'm returning with my artwork to the area where I grew up, and exhibiting paintings of this homeland which I started during May in a five day painting expedition to the area. I'm really pleased with the works themselves- lots of light and expressive strokes and colors- and there's something very special about my artwork being part of a cycle; this land nurtured me as an artist, and now I return with my artwork to celebrate the land! It would be wonderful to share the work with you if you are able to make it to the show!

My website (www.alicekelsey.com) also has images of works in the show (see 'New Works' section), and a new, improved feature where the image can be enlarged for a better view- just single-click on the thumbnail and see what happens!