Thursday Stories- Aspen and Ferns

From time to time, I have written articles for various art magazines.
Recently, I was asked to do a step-by-step demo and accompanying article for Pratique des Artes , a french national publication. I have been honored to have been featured a couple of times previously, so I was happy to contribute.

" Aspen and Ferns" is the featured painting. I thought it would be nice to have an August  issue piece with a subject in full summer greens. this one sure has a variety!

I'll share some of the steps with you...
My work always starts with a value study, above, .; it is my game plan.
This shows my soft vine charcoal under lines, and my lights placed in the piece.
This is the whole surface covered with color shapes.
This is my working on some of the negative shapes

Next I worked on more of the foreground.
And here is the final piece again, so that you can see the progress in sequence.

If you are lucky enough to be in France, I hope that you get to read the entire article. In the meantime, this will give you an idea!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Sunday Post- Artists Collecting Art

Image
Today I am reframing some of the pieces in my own art collection, by talented other artists. Indeed, I do have many of my own works that I want to keep, but I am an art lover. "Florentine Gold" is one of my own that will stay in my home. However, I always think it is a little strange when I visit another artist's home, and only see their own pieces around. I think they are missing out on a great joy, and constant source of inspiration! I have written about this previously , on my blog that was on my web site. Since then I have added a few pieces , and it is always a good reminder to enjoy another perspective. I certainly consider myself quite blessed that I can support other artists, albeit in a small way! Here is the piece that I am most proud to own. It is a portrait study by Eugene Speicher, a name that is sadly all but forgotten today. In the time, he was considered one of America's top portrait painters in the 1930's and 40's. I purchase...
Read more

"Thursday Stories"-One Inspires Another

Image
In today's post, I'd like to write about two paintings, as they are quite similar. In fact, the first inspired me to paint another, although in a different media, and a much different size. It is something I like to do from time to time, to see how works translate from oil to pastel, or vice-versa, particularly if I like the subject matter. "Shadow Whispers" is a pastel painting that I painted earlier this year. I entered it in a national pastel exhibition, where it won a first place award...nice!  I had been plein air painting in this particular spot, and really enjoyed how the late afternoon shadows played across the desert landscape. It is a subject that I knew I wanted to go deeper in to, and make larger  ( 16x18) as I was quite inspired, so I did this studio version from my plein air pieces and photos. I was fortunate enough to have the work out on exhibit, and it  then went home with new collectors during a studio visit. However, it was a work that was ...
Read more

Thursday Stories- Amethyst Path

Image
Very often, since I work in both pastel and oil, I'll use the inspiration from one piece to paint another in a different medium. Such is the case of "Amethyst Path" This is a 12x 12 gallery wrap oil. It was influenced by a larger pastel, that was a successful painting. I wanted to simplify things a bit, and have the work be more about the shapes and warm/cool color palette. I also wanted to see how my original painting would translate to an oil. I used different source material, but with very similar lighting, and in the same locale. "Shadow Whispers " is the pastel painting that inspired "Amethyst Path" . As you can see, I kept the square format, which I like working in. There is much more detail , and stronger value contrasts. This piece won a 1st place national show award, and also sold...so I consider it a success! Last winter I spent a lot of plein air time in the locale of these two paintings. Here is one of the pastel plein ai...
Read more