Back to School

I am excited to have been able to sign up for a class with Carolyn Anderson that had been full. There was a new vacant spot that I snagged. I have admired her loose and exciting paintings and seen her recommended as a teacher by many artists I respect. This will require the commitment of getting up and out of the house for a whole week, but I am sure it will be worth it!
I just found an interesting blog about increasing your abilities in whatever field you are in. It is written by Daniel Coyle and is called The Talent Code. He has written a book of the same name and has researched the conditions that help us improve. One of the ways was to look for good models which leads back to my upcoming class!
http://thetalentcode.com

Spring Is Here!

Today was a gorgeous cloudless day out in the desert preserve. I had fun with the yellow blossoms on the brittlebrush. This was the second week with them blooming. I am posting a painting from last week when it was a cloudy morning. You can see the difference in the colors which were not as vibrant last week. I admit I got a little carried away with the colors this week on the two I did this morning. I couldn't help myself!

Thinking about Monday

I am thinking about going out to paint on Monday morning. It is becoming sort of an obsession, this appointment with the desert. It is so special to be in the midst of the natural setting and be working to respond with paint to what I see. I feel connected to the artists who came earlier and first began to work out in nature. It took the invention of portable paints to make it possible for artists to work so directly. The light, the forms, the colors are so different when you are working from life as opposed to from a photo or memory.

Black or White

I painted the same view two times this morning. One was on a black gesso board which was a new technique. I thought leaving the black edges was a bit gimmicky but had no choice it seemed. I redid pretty much the same view on a bit bigger, but white board after that. I am posting them both. Which one do you think was more successful?

Step by step painting

Today I worked on a 30x40 inch desert painting based on one of the 8x10 studies I on site. I took pictures of the steps so you can see how it all happened. I also like to check what I am doing and looking in the camera gives me a different perspective. Another way I get a fresh look is by using a mirror to see what I am doing. With your face buried in the process you sometimes lose your objectivity. It was a wonderful day on the patio..great weather and some cool tunes.

Another Monday Morning

These Monday morning paint outs are a spectacular way to start the week. This morning was a bit different. The wind was starting to gust and the day started cloudy. The mountains had a different look with the cloud shadows. I keep trying to tell myself not to "chase the light" as it made the mountains go dark and then light and then back again. I loved the way the brittle bush has some dead straw like parts left from the winter so I chose a scene with them in it. I also like the contrast of the palo verde green against the bluer hue of the mountains. In this painting I really tried to stay fresh and not "picky" with the paint. I brightened up some of my color as well.
The second painting was a quick sketch of another tough old desert tree. It has lots of roots showing along the edge of a wash. By then the wind was starting to get stronger so I packed up for the day.

Still More Desert Painting

Today I was out painting the desert again. The weather was just perfect for outdoor work with no wind and the temperature just right! I always learn something when I paint in front of nature. The colors, the lights and darks, the shapes and textures are amazing teachers. Each painting is like a problem and I have to work to find the solution. Even paintings that don't succeed can have great lessons in them.