Older Painting Finally Finished

"The Blue Cabin"…16x20 Acrylic on Gesso Board

The painting above is finally finished. I started this in our motor home last summer in Montana. It sat around in my studio at home and I had lots of time to view it and decide to make changes to improve the composition. I will show you the original scene and the initial painting below. See if you can figure out the changes in the first painting and the finished one and figure out why I made the changes.

Original Photo

Initial Block In Painting

Hope you can see how a mundane photo can be a starting point for a more interesting painting. Just figure out what you liked that made you take the photo in the first place. Then figure out how to make your eye go to the center of interest and make your shapes and values interesting.

Back in the Painting Studio

I am finally back to painting. The season has changed and with fall upon us and some rainy days, my studio is nice and comfortable for painting. I chose a photo I took this summer in Canada. I cut and pasted the photo on my iPad and painted over the photo with my iPad pencil to plan out my colors and values before I began to paint. I posted the photo below without any changes.

Original Photo

iPad Rough Design.

As you can see in the finished painting below, I have made many changes to the photo above In order to create a better composition. First I moved the building over to the right side to balance better with the hills in the background. Then I changed the season to fall to create more color and interest in the vineyard. I also changed the sky to reflect a sense of weather and changed the lighting to create drama. I added some cypress trees to the foreground to add some depth and changed the foreground to a warmer color. The proportion of my painting surface was different then the photo was so my initial drawing was proportioned to fit that shape. I hope you agree that the changes made for a better painting.

Okanagan River Vineyard, Canada.....16x20 acrylic on gessoboard.

Acrylic Painting

Valley Ford, CA......acrylic painting on gesso board

I took a photo near Bodega Bay California at near sunset when the sun was low and golden. The fields were literally this bright. There is know way you could sit and paint this plein air. The lighting changed so fast I was lucky to get a photo.

Valley Ford, 16x20 Acrylic

 

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Acrylic Figuratve/Landscape

"Wonder"

This painting was inspired by a sculpture in a Botanical garden. I was taken by the life size figure and the pose. I was also curious about the creation of the scene. Did the pond come first or the sculpture? In any case I had to paint it.

I had to do a lot of simplifying of details. I wanted the background to recede somewhat so I blurred the detail and glazed and muted the color. I only highlighted a few of the closest leaves near the center of interest. The lightest lights were saved for the sculpture. I left the water rather dark and murky creating some mystery as to what she is gazing at.

"Wonder".......16x20 acrylic on gessobord

 

 

 

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Today's Painting

Reference Photos

When you are out and about take lots of pictures of everything that catches your eye. Lots of things seem mundane and everyday but can lead to great reference material for paintings. I have been teased about all the photos I take and keep, but it's nice to have lots of great reference material when you get ready to paint.

This painting is from a photo I took of a couple of clown dolls in a collection cabinet in a home I toured on vacation. Never really thought I would paint this, but one day it just fit my mood and here it is a painting.

 

Original Photo

 

 

Pom Pom Clown....16x20 acrylic on gessobord

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Kayaking at Natomas...

Kayaking at Natomas

We bought new kayaks to take along on our RV trips. They are so much fun. Nothing better then getting out in nature. Took my old camera along in a waterproof case. The kayaks actually have foot peddles so I have hands free for taking pictures. This painting was inspired by this trip.

Kayaking at Natomas, 16x20 acrylic on Gessobord

 

 

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Landscapes from across the U.S.

Acrylic Landscapes

I just got back from a 3 month RV trip across the USA. I had the chance to take many photos so I have a new source of reference photos. I did not have the time to paint on the trip like I was hoping for because we were traveling with other people and we were always on the go. I did start one painting on the trip and finished it at home in my studio. I am now working on more landscapes. Below is the one I started on the trip and under that another one I recently did in my studio.

"Shoreline", Tennessee 16x20 acrylic on gesso board

"The Rock", Montana 16x20 acrylic on gesso board

 

 

 

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Fall Trees - Acrylic

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Fall Trees - Acrylic on Canvas

The season has changed and the leaves are awesome this year. With every time of the day a different tree comes alive with glowing color. Colors I could not resist painting. I had an art studio tour a few weeks ago and thought I should hurry and do a couple of fall trees to display. These are two that I came up with.

    

11x14 Acrylic on Canvas	"Plum Tree"
Email:  lpcolor@sbcglobal.net  for purchase

11x14 Acrylic on Canvas	"Fall Morning"
Email: lpcolor@sbcglobal.net for purchase price

This Painting was done before the 2 trees above. I did this in my studio working from a photo I took near Asilomar, Ca.

16x20 Acrylic on Canvas	"Path to the Sea"
Email : lpcolor@sbcglobal.net for purchase info