Thursday, February 25, 2010

#16 don't know the name but really cool plant & #17 century plant



So here are 2 more, the last I still need to take photos of. By the way, these last 4 are also from Brian's garden.

#15 prickly pear


Back again after a couple week hiatus with 4 new paintings. These desert plants kicked my butt, they were extremely detailed and worse, time consuming. It really got me thinking of going back to acrylic and a more impressionistic style. But I got over that and vowed to finish out the year to see what comes of it, I'm just going to have to do some landscapes or something for awhile.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

#11, 12, 13 and 14





Art Walk opening tomorrow at my little space to show the first 14 paintings. 

I was gone last week to visit my mom in Phoenix and decided to do the last 2 paintings in plein air there, one in my mom's yard and the other in her next door neighbor's yard. This yard is really something, he's a landscape architect and uses the yard for a showcase for his clients. It's one of the most peaceful places I've ever been. Sunset Magazine did an article on it in January, anyway as far as the painting goes I failed miserably, I didn't work things out very well before I started and realized too late it wasn't going to work.

To explain, I usually do an underpainting in the compliment of the main color, in this case red (this goes over the black gesso) then I let it dry before going in with my other colors, however, I couldn't let it dry because that would mean staying for another week (why I didn't remember this I have no idea). Anyway, I drew it out put in my underpainting and then started in with my greens, what happens when you mix compliments children?? yes, mud. blucky mud. So, I wiped off the mud, found that most of the underpainting was still there and took photos to finish it off here, which by the way I just finished today (hope no one touches them cause they'll still be wet). The result is kinda cool, I love the graphic nature of desert plants. 

By the way, Brian's garden is the third one.