I'm a Pepper, You're a Pepper.... 6x8

This lesson was about keeping the darks vibrant and not beginning the painting in too high a key, a foible of mine. If you start too light you can't make the highlights 'pop'. I also worked my edges more than usual to get a more vibrant feeling. Sorry about the glare but I really wanted to post it tonight rather than wait for daylight to shoot it again.

An Experimental Painting

These Nova Scotia cows are standing on a hill and the land in the background is actually across an inlet. I had this sketched in and decided to use the mixtures left on my palette from another painting to block in. The colors are influenced by the pink light from the setting sun on the buckskin cows. I included this value image which tells me that my masses are pretty accurate. I'll clean up my palette and bring this one to completion.

Looking for My Paints

I looked in all the cabinets for these paints which I was SURE I'd left here in Naples. Luckily, I'd brought my 'car kit' with me so I did have paint but I've been puzzling over the missing paint and looking in closets and drawers over and over again. I discovered it after I used up the food my loving sister Anna Marie had laid in for us before we arrived. She enjoys buying flowers and stocking the fridge for us. So, as I used the last of the food piled on the middle and least visible shelf I found the paints! Since I played hookey at the pool today and didn't post a painting , I'll finally reply to Joyce Washor's tag and list five things about myself and tag five other bloggers to do the same. This is a way of getting people to visit other blogs and of course let others know a little more about you. My five things are: 1. Never been to Disney. 2. I stopped reading as much as I once did when I got a computer. 3. If I'm not painting I'm reading. 4. I view everything as a painting whether it's the highway through the windshield or the produce at the market 5. I'm a gypsy in my soul and I would go away 3 times a month if I could. These are my taggee's, Pablo Villicana Lara, Karen Appleton , Janette Jones , Kelley MacDonald & RDL. Check them out.

Bristol Mill 6x8

Besides my attraction to Mill Buildings in general the inspiration here is the fabulous red and green color scheme. I hope it pleases you as Qiang would say.

Bristol Mill 6x8

I'm always interested in how an artist gets to the finish line. I spent an hour getting my drawing correct, which eliminated the myriad ways in which I could have gone wrong once I began to paint. I've also started mixing colors before I begin to paint, figuring out my color scheme ahead of time and mixing the darkest darks first and lightening them value-wise before I start. After I do this with the major colors, I block the picture in using the darks and because I have premixed colors and know where I'm going it's easy to get the main values down. Here are three preliminary stages of my painting of this great old Millbuilding in Bristol, RI.

The Samovar 8x10

I was out combing the Tuesday Morning store for some new props today because I'm in Naples,FL and felt the urge to shop which is the major leisure sport here. Nothing really great there and in fact the store was not quite what I expected. Overpriced and not even as tidy as Ocean State Job Lot (for you New Englanders). Tomorrow I'll go to GOODWILL. This is a Samovar or tea server painted in one of my early alla prima classes. This one fell off the brush.

Motif # 1 Damons' Point

This little 'shack' has been perched precariously on an island near the mouth of the North/South River confluence forever. It washed away during the Blizzard of '78 and was rebuilt. It's recently been remodeled to be more of a house with a gabled roof. I'm glad I have many photos of it 'before'. I used to know a lady who lived there.

Summer People

I've been away taking care of some family stuff which put a crimp in my creative process but my site meter report says you're all still there checking in. Thanks, I'm getting back to work today. I did this 9x12 plein air painting at a paint out many years ago. Initially, I thought it was a mistake to let the arms run off the edge of the board but most viewers think the people are fishing and don't seem bothered by the cropping. I like the color in this one. Hot and summery.

Keeping It Simple

Well, it turns out that K.I.S.S. is harder than I'd thought. I added a transparent bag to the set up and a transparent ribbon. Not simple at all. This is my work so far. I was well into it when I realized my drawing was off so I corrected it. Connecting with all of you through the blogosphere has been a real joy for me. Being able see all this great painting going on in real time and participating in it is so inspiring. Check out EmptyEasel a fantastic site for artists and art lovers. Happy New Year everyone and many thanks for your messages and comments.