Friday, May 31, 2013

Adams County Orchard

9x12 oil
I had a few rainy days in between decorative painting jobs that were perfect for finishing up some paintings that had been sitting on the sidelines.  This was started early April in a peach orchard in Adams County - a gorgeous spot.  It really just needed a few touches to complete it.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Camp Hill Quick Draw


     This is the painting I did for the 2 hour Quick Draw Competition in Camp Hill.  As I was working on this I was really trying to concentrate on my values and color saturation in the shadow areas.  It was a challenge for me, but I have never taken the easy route - even for a competition.  When the 2 hours were over I immediately saw what I thought was a flaw in this painting, or at least a change I could make that would improve it.  That is the problem I have with these plein air events is that everything is hurried and there is no time to evaluate the painting.  I was totally surprised that the judge felt it still deserved Fourth Place, but even with the award I was happy that I could later make the adjustments I felt it needed.

     Below is the finish painting with the changes.  As you can see I just made the shrubs a bit larger - especially the one on the right.  I felt that in the earlier version the right side leaned off the canvas too much. 

9x12
I titled this "New Paint Job" because up until a year ago this house on Market Street was a dingy battleship gray.  There is a young couple that is now restoring it.  At least, that is what everyone told me as I was painting it.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Working on Greens



This 8x10 study of a Bok Choy was painted in my Thursday evening class.  We were working on mixing and painting various hues of green which is so important in landscape painting.