Plein Air Day in the Park

A perfect day in Laurelhurst with Jen modeling again, thanks to instigator Za. Big ol' shade trees and lovely painter friends (about eight of us or so)... what could be better? As usual, I got maybe half way to where I wanted to go with this, and will resume in the studio, soon as able.

Update:  I've spent more time on it--this is an updated version--but it's still not finished.  August 2013

Back to the Blue Heron Herbary....

Well I did go back... intending to paint the pond again, but the panoramic is just so beautiful that I pointed myself toward the chicken's house and view beyond, instead. Again--and as always--a few tweaks are needed. (Um, like the bottom third of the painting!) I'm liking the basic palette that Scott provided in the workshop--a "split primary". This is on a little 8"x10" Ampersand gessoboard.

View of the pond... from my studio!

I wanted to paint the Blue Heron pond again, and thought I'd have a go at it in the studio instead of plein air. I think that, with a few tweaks, I can work it out. I like my previous abstracted version--that was done in about 30 minutes at the end of the workshop. Right now, I'm not sure which I like better. Maybe the third time's the charm... if I go back and paint it there.

Workshop #2 with Scott Gellatly

My first effort in the morning (top) was a hot mess... I bit off more than I could chew, everything was so beautiful at the Blue Heron Herbary where Scott's workshop was held. I couldn't decide where to focus, so I put everything but the kitchen sink in that first painting! (In spite of his admonishment that "you get one thing"!!) Next two paintings were progressively simpler, and hence more successful. I was pretty well spent by painting #4, but I can see potential in that one. I think I'll paint it again, freshly, and on a larger panel. I thought I'd work further on this one, but now that I look at it--the following day--I think I'll leave it as is, just for the record of learning experience.

There's no place like home (she said, clicking her heels together)....

A fabulous day today, right here in my own back yard. Several artist friends each brought a few paintings and had a crit session (thank you Za!) in the morning. Off to a yummy Thai lunch, and then back here for an afternoon of painting from a model out in the glorious, perfectly temperate sunshine. A good time was had by all. I did not get too far with my painting, but it sure was fun and, with a bit more time, I think I will feel better about my effort.

Worked on this one quite a lot today (bottom image). Not done yet, but yes--better!  8/6/13

"Jen in the Shade", painted 7/27/13

Schminke Mussini, resin-based oils

This tiny panel was done after a downtown lunch-time visit with a new artist friend. I had gotten a small set of Mussini resin-based oil paints and created a travel kit, and wanted to test drive it. The kit will remain in my car, at the ready for a quick fix if my day doesn't have much painting time in it. This came about (the tiny painting kit) because of something I'd read about Fechin's basic palette colors, which included a Mussini color that is no longer made, as far as I can tell. Oh well... I like the little set anyway! Have paints, will travel... maybe even by Max!
"Max Lunch", painted 7/23/13

Plein Air Model, Betsy

A rare treat--and challenge!--today. Christopher arranged for an extraordinary model, Betsy, to sit for us outdoors in the dappled changing light. Loved it--now I want to do more. The top one is the lengthier pose, which was truncated at the long break. That's as far as I had gotten--roughly two hours in--having spent way too much time on the drawing/underpainting. That's OK, I've got pics and can finish it. It's about 11" x 14", on toned mdf.

The second one is a small (8"x10") quickie, done with no underpainting. I may tweak a few things, but will probably leave it basically as is. It's on a plain white Ampersand gessoboard.

Update 7/16/13 - I did work on the first painting, and have uploaded a fresh image showing progress.