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!

Show Coming! Framing flurry!

Framing in-progress!

It's one week to delivery day for my exhibit at Longwood Art Gallery (Kennett Square, PA), and I'm busy framing the newest 'crop' of pastels and oils. Although it's a slow and exacting process (every 1/16" counts, and one smudge on a white mat does it in), I like seeing my paintings through to the final presentation, literally coming off the drawing board, and in to a protected and complimentary frame. Several pieces will be in natural unstained cherry hardwood (custom-made by my husband), and others will appear in a new style gold/ red undertone frame which I recently discovered and like a lot. For more info. about the exhibit in eastern PA (opening reception Friday, Sept. 7, 6- 9 pm), take a look a my website (www.alicekelsey.com)- there's also photos of many of my new works (more coming soon!)

Finishing Day

"Penns Creek in Sun and Shade", Pastel

I've been in the studio lately, completing a series of paintings which were started on location earlier this summer. It seems like I often work this way- explore around outdoors, find places which I resonate with, paint on location searching for the feel and colors of the place, and then bring home the 'starts'. Often I need to 'rest' the painting at this point, until I can see it more as a whole, and know what (usually little) touches it needs to come in to a pleasing balance and clear mood. This part is often the hardest for me, and I'm very pleased that several paintings have 'ripened' this week, and now stand on their own, ready to frame and go out in the world!

Frames: Choices and Construction

Tim making natural cherry frames

Here's a photo of my husband Tim working in his shop, making frames for my upcoming shows.

 I find that the frame is very important in presenting the painting- a final stage in finishing the work, really, since it can help to support the work, or may actually detract from it if doesn't harmonize with the painting. There's so many variables in moulding selection:  finish (wood, gold or silver leaf, shiny or matte), color,  width, texture (distressed or smooth), and shape to mention a few! I often prefer frames with clean and simple lines, and am very fortunate to have a husband who is a woodworker, and creates custom frames that partner beautifully with my work. I like how the grain of the wood, native Pennsylvania hardwoods such as cherry, maple, and walnut, creates gentle motion in the frame where my eye travels and returns to the painting. The natural wood seems especially pleasing with the series of paintings which I'll be exhibiting this fall- landscapes of Chester County, PA and paintings of central PA streams- more about this in upcoming posts! And then there's mat choices- single mat, double mat, color, etc.- sounds like something else to explore in a future entry!

If readers have any thoughts and experiences about framing choices, I'd love to hear your comments!

Many thanks, Tim!