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Monday, March 23, 2015

New Work: All at Once & Acrylics and Watercolors Together at Last!

All at Once
10" x 13" approx matted to 14" x 18"
Over the weekend I worked on the above piece. My goal was to use warmer colors with contrast to create a sense of light and heat. The green sky is very new for me and felt a bit odd at first. I like for the colors and shapes that I chose to paint to have some basis in reality, no matter how small. I hung my hat, so to speak, on the fact that on my drive to the Bay Area the other day the sky was indeed a strange shade of warm green. The structure of the piece is based on some photos that I took last month at Hogan Lake here where I live. I got down close to the shore line and took lots of different shots. I rearranged some elements for this piece to sort of get a view of the lake from behind some structures.

I also did some experimenting this weekend with some of my supplies. Late last year I purchased a good array of watercolors. While I love the colors, love sketching with them, I don't care for painting actual pieces with them. Being wasteful though doesn't appeal to me and so I thought about how I might use the paint differently and  more permanently. I did some tests using different acrylic mediums. I think I now have a way to put down a more permanent base coat of color that won't lift when I apply additional coats of color. It's crucial for me to be able to put down different layers of paint because I don't always get things right the first time and often change my mind once I see everything together. So, stay tuned. I hope to work on a piece this week using what I learned.  

The garage also got an overhaul on Thursday and I now have a new space in which to photograph my work. Direct sunlight is not conducive to getting a crisp image with a painting but you do need enough light (no flash). The garage allows me to set up a tripod and to place my painting on a ladder thereby giving it some height. I have high hopes here so I will continue to try out this setup. I haven't worked out all of the variables yet-photography is hard for me to grasp-but as I said, I will continue to try.

OK, I have a busy week ahead. Hope everyone's Monday is off to a good start. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Libby
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4 comments:

  1. LindaMarch 23, 2015 at 9:46 AM

    Warm greetings from a very cold Montreal, Canada (-23 with the wind here today). This is so beautiful, I love the colours and serene feel. You are very talented.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Debbie NolanMarch 24, 2015 at 7:48 AM

    Dear Libby- wonderful painting. Love how you used watercolors with the acrylics. As for your green sky- so refreshing- you captured the values so well. Just shows that if the values are right the painting looks great! Have a super day! Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  3. Celeste BerginMarch 24, 2015 at 10:20 PM

    Love this painting...lovely warms and cools!

    ReplyDelete
  4. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comMarch 26, 2015 at 5:05 AM

    Green sky works for me! Having the blue water, brown hill and front green shape all the same value adds impact to the design. Sure makes that beautiful horizon recede.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it! I reply back in an email if you are signed in and I can see your address. Otherwise I will post the reply here under your comment. I tend to cut and paste my emails too so that others can experience the back and forth which I think is integral to blogging.
Libby