A couple more plein air's

I recently went to White Pines, Tennessee to visit my aunt and uncle who had just retired and build a home on Lake Douglas, just outside the foothills of the Smokey Mountains. What a spot! The lake is gorgious and is home to Osprey, Bald Eagles, Herrons and countless other creatures. I could spend a lifetime down there painting.
We went on a road trip through part of the Smokey's. We saw some incredible vistas and valleys. Even got lucky and spotted two Bull Elk in a field. All and all it was a fantastic trip and I hope to return soon and often.

This is the view from there waterfront property looking across the narrow part of the lake. The lake is much better than my dipiction of it. In the distance you can see the smokey mountains.

"Douglas Lake" 10x12 oil on panel




It painted this one a couple of days after we returned from our trip. This looking North-West of our back deck. I decided to paint this in grays to practice my values, plus to paint it quicker as another storm front was moving in overhead and it was threatening rain.

"Approaching Storm" 10x14, oil on panel

Here are a couple of plein air painting. This first one is a quick study I did before meeting a friend for some beers. This is at a local bike trail that runs along the Youghigheny River. This particular spot is in a small town called Little Boston. It was a nice spot to paint with lots of subject matter. I would like to get back there when I would have more time paint. This is a small 4x6 painting that I pounded out in about 30 minutes, including set-up.

"Little Boston Bridge" 4x6 oil on panel



This plein air was done in Polish Hill. I had painted the buildings to the right of this on another outing to this spot. Once agian, I had somewhere to be and was running out of time. There was a house right next to this on eon the left I had planned on painting but ran out of time. So I filled it in with sky and went on my way.

"Polish Hill Home" 10x12 oil on panel

I have several "plein aire" paintings that I did over the course of the summer. At this point I can't remember the order in which they were painted.

This one was a fun one for me. It really helped me get over my fear of getting out there and painting in public. I painted this one during the Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington DC. Lots of people were milling about the mall so I got to tackle that fear head on. My first time painting any transiant objects which was fun.

"National Mall" 8x10 oil on board



This is a quick study I did in my backyard. Not my best but I will show them all, the good, the bad abd the ugly.

"Pear Tree In Bloom" 8x10 oil on panel



I did this one on my deck in the back of the house. This was done mostly as a study to practice painting "sky holes" or those litle spots in trees where the sky can be seen through the branches.

"Pine Three's" 4x6 oil on panel

Pittsburgh from Schenley Park

Painted a couple of Saturdays ago on Saint Patty's Day. It was a sunny day but way cold out. I set up next to a stand of pine trees, above the ice rink. Thought that was smart as it would block the wind. Big mistake! The wind would blow across a big berm next to the ice rink and pick up the snow only to dump it across my palette and paint panel. Good thing I was working in oil! So, being that it was so cold and I was beig pelted with snow, I only worked on this for about 30-40 minutes. This is my first plein air with a limited, three color, palette. Alizarin Crimson, Cadnium Orange hue and Thalo Blue. Only used two brushes for this, Filberts #8 and #4. Would have used some brights (would have made squaring off the buildings easier), but I forgot them at home. I may return to this spot and do a spring and summer version of this view.

8x10, oil on panel

A Reminder of the Past

Last Friday I went to visit my parents for the afternoon. I painted this in the backyard. This painting is of Pete's farm which bordered the property line of my parents. Growing up I spent a lot of time up at the farm. Going out with Pete to gather hay bails, building forts in the hay loft, messing with the cows, running from angry bulls, riding bikes through the pasture, drinking cool water from the spring on hot days. That farm and the woods bordering it where a big part of my childhood. Even though I lived in a small apartment with two other brothers in one room, having permission to hang out at the farm made me feel like I grew up in my own personal estate. Unfortunatly progress marches on, and the farm was sold a few years ago to a developer. They have already begun to build large homes on the property. I hope to get back and paint what is left of the pastures before they are all gone.

Painting...

Finally got a chance to scan the paintings Ive done for the "Essence of Pittsburgh" plain air worksop I am taking. I can feel myself getting better and better each time I complete a painting. Some of Ron's techniques I struggle with, but I am taking some of what I am learning with Ron and what I already know and sort of mixing up my own technique. That style doesn't appear in these painting, as I am trying to stay true to Ron's technique for the learning value of it. I have a new painting on the easle that is definitly more my style.

This tree was from the first class. I only spent about an hour and a half on this. I really struggled with the color as this was the first time I ever used a limited palette.

8x10 Oil on panel


This ally scene is from the second class. Unfortunatly it was pouring down rain that day and we weren't able to get outside. Instead Ron brought a painting in that he had completed earlier and we followed along as he walked us through his process. I was situated under bad light and wasn't able to see the details of his painting. So most of it is plain and most of the detials are made up. After his demo I went up to take a closer look at the paintin and realized that I got it all wrong. But, all in all it was a great lesson.

8x10 Oil on Panel


This painting, from the third class was outside in Polish Hill. This was lookiing across a three way intersection towards a bar at the crest of a hill. I dont like the color much. I was too focused on the color and forgot to place importance on the value of the light. The whole painting looks rather flat.

8x10 Oil on Panel