Wednesday, January 28, 2009

It's Winter

Trek to the Edge,  Oil on board, 10x12, $250 + Shipping       contact George

So how do you continue to develop your eye in the depths of Winter?  Over the years we have developed ways to paint from life in the great out doors and survive.  Believe it or not there is a positive trade off for facing the weather.  As time goes by it becomes obvious that your ability to see shapes, colours and depth has improved dramatically and it continues to do so.  With an inquisitive nature you begin to express what you see (not what you have come to label - tree, green for example) in your work in a never ending array of experiments.  In this painting I was working to capture the low early morning sun (time of day).

My palette consisted of Ultramarine Blue, Viridian, Alizarine, Azo Lemon Yellow and Titanium White.  When working quickly in plein air in order to capture the moment, I find a short palette reduces decisions, aids color harmony, and quickens the painting pace.  For the cold of winter I have changed to low viscosity paint.