Alley Shape

"Alley Shape", oil on gessobord, 7x5"

So I passed on the 30/30 challenge I had been considering, not because I didn't want to do it, but because I got behind at the end of August with non-painting life stuff, and September started before I could put my hands on a paintbrush. I am still going forward with a series I had decided upon before September began, but just not as many paintings in the end. I am calling it "Local Architectural Color and Elements". The first one is above. I have been out roaming my neighborhood in Louisville, and the alleys as well (where I tend to find more interesting subject matter all the way around). My goal is to "slow down" and concentrate on getting the perspective correct, the highlights where they need to be, the angles un-wonkey, etc. You get the picture. I haven't done an architectural series in a while, and I"m feeling the need.

Overcast Lake

Overcast Lake, pastel on paper, 12x9"

Hugh and I did a return visit to the park with the lake, with the dog. This time the weather was overcast, windy and cool compared to bright, sunny and hot yesterday.  I sat uphill from the Lake to draw this time.  Because the light was static I used local color for the ease of drawing during my time constraints.  

static I used local color for the ease of drawing during my time constraints.  

Sandy Beach

Sandy Beach, pastel, 12x9"

I took my dog to a large park with a lake in the middle. We found this small beach, to serve as a point of launch for him to get in the water. While he was sunning himself afterwards, I pulled out my pastels and did this 20 minute sketch to use as a reference for a future painting.

Across the Fence

Across the fence, pastel on paper, 12x9"

I felt like working outside with my pastels this morning, but I couldn't venture too far. I have colorful views all around me so I just picked one and began. This one turned out to my liking. The sun was high, the light was bright and the colors vivid. Nothing better.

Wheat, path, sky

Wheat, Path, Sky, oil on gessobord, 8x6"

It feels like forever since I picked up a paint brush. I think it has been over a month, so it might as well have been forever. I've been kept away by the preceding's of, the actual event and the post stuff of surgery.  I have not felt well enough or truly had the endurance to sit at the easel, until today. And I am very rusty both in thought and execution...it's amazing how quickly that happens!!  Today I found an older photo that I thought had a strong composition. Unbeknownst to me I was painting in a semi-dark room for the palette  I was using, and when I went outside to photograph it, I received this surprise. Very bright!! Kind of patchwork-ie but overall not a bad re-start.

Windy Bernheim

Windy Bernheim, oil on gessobord, 8x10"

Yesterday, to take advantage of a rain-less day, I took Rothko (see pic below) to Bernheim to paint and hike.  I wanted to continue with the vast, tiered landscapes of the Parklands series (which will continue hopefully tomorrow), so I set up near the Educational Building, stuck my set-up around a corner of the building to use as a wind block. The wind gusts still found us, and at times I was having to hold the pochade box with one strong hand or risk the entire set-up blowing over. It was an adventure that took a lot of laughing, and having Rothko there to helped me sustain. Out of these conditions came this sweet little landscape. 

Near and Far

Near and Far, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 12x8"

I was up late, unable to sleep the other night and produced this painting. I was a good way to spend my insomnia.

Westward

Westward, oil on gessobord, 6x6"

While I was deciding where to trek to paint yesterday, I painted this from a photo reference from my summer trip. Still wish I was there. Sigh.

Shadows 2

Shadows 2, oil on gessobord, 6x6"

Here is the 2nd in the series of shadow paintings. I think I'm  hooked.  Advice: if you are in a rut of any size, shift your gears.  I've always looked at shadows as whimsical, but they are becoming a joy to paint.

Shadows

Shadows, oil on gessobord, 6x6"

Several weeks ago, when the weather in Louisville had turned cold but sunny, I took a walk on the city's pedestrian bridge that crosses the mighty Ohio river. There seemed to be an abundant amount of cyclist that day. I began to notice all the shadows taking different shape the closer they came to me. I snapped a few photos to paint from and noticed when I zoomed in the actual shadow took on a more beautiful form. I may do a few more paintings from the photos, but I think it is a good start! #251

Walkabout

Walkabout, oil on gessobord, 6x6"

My 250th painting I have posted since beginning this blog and so fitting that it was painted at Bernheim!

This is the second painting I started at Bernheim over Thanksgiving days. I turned my easel 180° from the location I was painting "Roundabout" - yesterday's post. It was a meandering path that lead from the perfect locations - the forest to the lake!
The light was fading and lovely. I did not take a reference photo when I was forced to stop painting but finished it from memory the next morning in the studio. It was a liberating feeling not to be tied to a photo reference, for a change. It is how I formerly painted, and may try and force myself to do that henceforth.

Magic School Buses

Magic School Buses, oil on gessoed board, 9x12"

Normally I post as I paint, but this one I painted, then forgot about for a few weeks, so here it is now. My daughter plays viola for the Louisville Youth Orchestra and they had a change in location for rehearsal a few weeks back. It was quite a trek. Knowing I would be in a non-urban location, and knowing it was going to be beautiful weather, I took my painting gear and my dog and set up to paint during her three hour rehearsal. There were buses parked in their lane, that made for a colorful contrast against a grove of trees just starting to turn their fall colors.

Big Prarie Meadow 2

Big Prairie Meadow 2, oil on gessoed board, 9x12"

I did a smaller, quick sketch of this scene, just a couple of posts ago on location just to see if I wanted to do a larger  version.  I started round 2 on site as well. I blocked the composition in with the same palette, and changed a few things that were occurring, such as light. I also zoomed in just a tad.  I finished it in the studio from photos.  The gessoed board is a different brand then normal (Speedball as opposed to Ampersand) and has more of a slippery surface.  This trips me up a bit at the start, so I have found through trial and error, that I work better in shifts on this brand of board, allowing the layers to settle but not dry. I love the way this turned out....vibrant color and abstract layers of the landscape.

Overwatered

Overwatered, oil on gessoed board, 9x12"

While I was busy working on another painting at Patoka Lake, Indiana a couple weeks ago, I took a break to walk several feet away from the easel.  Looking out at the lake I spotted plants growing in abnormally high water, at least 20 yards from shore. Their distance was due to the ongoing heavy rains the area has had since June. Still, they were surviving, thriving and hardy despite being almost unnoticeable. The yellow and red leaves were a beautiful contrast to the greenish reflection surrounding the top half which dissolved into pristine blue.

Cove Jut

Cove Jut, oil on gessobord, 9x12"

So I had a few days in a row of painting en plein air which was so rewarding.  I got to be outside for entire days, and I got to paint for entire days, which I rarely get to do.  I went to a lake in Indiana, and because it was a Monday in September, I could have counted the people that I ran into on one hand.  Due to high water, some of the areas I would have sought out were closed.  I did find a small-craft launch, like kayak and canoe size, that had enough flat to set up my easel. The ramp had these little juts on each side of me, so I painted them both as the sun moved overhead.  They caught my eye because each was lined with cedar trees, one with living trees, the other with dead and brown trees. These are the living. 

Heading into Moab

Heading into Moab, pastel on paper, 9x12"

I enjoyed the pastel sketches I did on site(s) during my trip trip.   I have been feeling under the weather today, so I decided to take a paint-break and work with pastels again. This "wall" of red rocks was one of the views on the twisty road into Moab.  I was taking non-stop photos as we rounded one amazing turn after the other. I liked them all, as usual :-)

Sun Cruise

Sun Cruise, oil on gessobord, 6"x6"  

Face Value

Face Value, oil on gessobord, 6"x6"

I took liberties with this barn, by changing the color of certain parts of the landscape, that I thought were mundane.  This barn stands near French Lick, Indiana (yes, that's the real name). It is historic and in beautiful condition, so it immediately caught my eye. The grain silos were constructed of tera cotta bricks and were incredibly beautiful, reminding me of the millions of Roman bricks all over Italy. For this reason here is a close up of the grain silos, in all their artful glory.

Purchase info: www.dailypaintworks.com

Field Day

Field Day, oil on gessobord, 6x6"

I still have a small grudge against a college painting professor who exclaimed to the class on the first day "No Barns"!!  I get it now, but at the time I remember thinking "but Wolf Kahn paints them beautifully!"  When they sit near the highway like the ones I photograph, they are seen by thousands a day but come with a story very few know. In other words, they are enshrouded in obvious mystery.  I think I would like to keep it that way....it keeps me drawn to them.

purchase info:http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/celia-kelly/field-day/397292