Thursday, March 12, 2009

Another Fabulous Day At The Palo Alto Baylands





The California Academy of Painters had another fabulous day at the Palo Alto Baylands! We started our spring quarter under the guidance of two extraordinary artists and teachers: Brigitte Curt and Jim Smythe. The day was clear and sunny and with no clouds to speak of. Being artists, we took artistic license and painted in clouds to our hearts' content! Master artist and teacher, Jim Smythe, discusses the concept of the division of space ("where is it? what is it doing?"), rhythmn, color harmony, and so forth. Included are the two 6"x8" studies I painted today, and a view of the baylands.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

First "Big Sky" Painting


This is the first "Big Sky" painting I did on February 26, 2009 at the Palo Alto Baylands. I felt initially intimidated by the 'big sky', as I don't usually focus on painting clouds. It was a beautiful, slightly wild winter day with enormous, ever changing cumulus clouds. With great appreciation for natures' beauty, I relaxed into the process and started going 'down river', instead of 'up river'. It became a meditation and one of the most wonderful, gratifying experiences I've had painting!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Two Oil Landscapes in Three And A Half Hours



I painted two oil landscapes today in my solarium while listening to raindrops dancing on glass.
One is a variation on a painting I did on 02/26/09 at the Palo Alto Baylands called "Big Sky". I'm working with cloud shapes and warm and cool variations in the sky (bottom painting). The other landscape (top of page) is also from the baylands and is one I started a month ago! I made some significant changes to the foreground trees (simplified them and changed the color) as well as generally adding more paint, all around! A very enjoyable day!