The Making of Mt. Nittany (In Oil and Pastel!)

'Mt. Nittany and Fall Colors', Oil on Linen, 31 x 49 In.

The genesis of this large oil on linen featuring Mt. Nittany includes several metamorphic stages, of experiences and materials evolving together. Looking back through the strata, here's how it came to be:

'Mt. Nittany Across Autumn Fields', Pastel, Private Collection

The pastel above was created on location (on Nixon Rd., near Pine Grove Mills), on a crisp, fall morning. The gold of the soybean field, wind of shifting season, jewels of fall foliage, and interlaced layers of hedgerows drew me in.... I see the traces of these elements in the work itself- something I like very much about plein air works.

'Mt. Nittany from Nixon Rd.", Pastel, Private Collection

Next, back in the studio, I started a new pastel based on the plein air work, with some compositional and color variants (see above)

'Mt Nittany and Fall Colors' In-Progress 1

The expanse of land, and mass of mountain called for a larger scale, and the textures of oil and linen, so I hand-stretched a canvas measuring almost 3 x 4 ft., prepared its surface with four coats of acrylic gesso, and started in with thin washes of oil color, laying in the essential composition (see above). I like the experience of working on a canvas that's almost as big as me- there's room for gesture, and 'paintings within paintings' (sections of the painting that interact which each other). Pretty soon, the painting starts 'talking to me', with one adjustment opening the door for the next. Here's an image of the middle period:

Mt. Nittany and Fall Colors' In-Progress 2

and now this geological survey brings us back to the top of the page, with the completed oil painting! The next leg of the journey resumes on May 16, when 'Mt Nittany and Fall Colors' will be auctioned at the Palmer Museum of Art Gala Event. I'm delighted to have been selected as one of three featured artists at this annual event, and hope that this painting continues on a fruitful journey! For more about the Gala Event, see http://www.palmermuseum.psu.edu/

Evolution of a Work - "Fisherman's Paradise - Early Morning'

'Fisherman's Paradise - Early Morning' by Alice Kelsey (finished painting)

I've just finished this oil painting of a famous trout stream (Spring Creek), and thought I'd share a bit about the experiences along the way. Here's some photos and descriptions of the pastel which I created on location, and the stages which the oil painting based on the pastel went through.

 

Initial pastel, created on site

It was early morning on a chilly spring day when fellow artist Jeanne McKinney and I arrived on the banks of Spring Creek at Fisherman's Paradise (between Bellefonte and State College). This is a well-know, hallowed place for flyfishermen, where large numbers of healthy brown trout reside year-round, and are pretty challenging to catch! This was among the first places where Jeanne and I painted in the year-long stream painting project which is culminating in an exhibition at the Bellefonte Art Museum which opens in one week (May 5)! Standing on the bank, I liked the arc of the stream in to the distance and the rhythms of the big tree shapes, set off with backlighting. I described the experience of painting this pastel in an earlier blog post (see the March 21, 2012) As I painted, a flyfisherman appeared along the distant bank, studying the water, and I added a suggestion of his form in the distance.

Initial oil underpainting of 'Fisherman's Paradise - Early Morning.

After returning to the studio, I liked the composition, yet felt a need for a larger 'scale' (size) to fit the feel of the scene. I chose oil paint, to be able to work with thick and thin paint, and transparent colors in capturing the atmosphere of this place- the feeling of the cool spring morning, and mystery of the stream moving away to the distance. The above photo shows the initial lay-in, where I 'm establishing the basic composition

Early workings of 'Fisherman's Paradise - Early Morning'

Next I started to lay in some color, searching out the lovely, fresh colors of early spring greens.

More color added to 'Fisherman's Paradise - Early Morning'

The above photo shows the painting about mid-way through, with basic shapes and colors established. The main alteration to the finished work (top photo at beginning of post) was lightening the foreground stream, and darkening the left background trees.

Initial pastel and final oil

And here they are together, the plein air pastel, and finished oil painting! The oil painting can be seen at my joint exhibition ('Water Ways- Paintings by Alice Kelsey and Jeanne McKinney') at the Bellefonte Art Museum. I welcome you to come to the reception (May 5, 1 - 4:30 pm), and would enjoy talking with you more about this work and others! See my website www.alicekelsey.com for info. about the show.