“HILL COUNTRY MORNING”

8” x 10” Oil/canvas
About a month ago, I was in Wimberley, Texas attending a plein air oil painting workshop by Jill Carver.  On the 3rd and final day, we set up on a hilltop overlooking a farm and the vineyards of a local winery.   It was a gorgeous view…it seemed we could see forever.  Jill gave us all inspiration with her morning demonstration painting – it was beautiful! Afterward, it was time for us to paint…. I took a little too much time making a sketch on my canvas and brushing in the basic under-painting. Alas! the time got away from me and it was time to pack up the gear and head for home.  I made  value & color notes in my sketchbook and took several photographs, so I could finish it after I got home. So, this weekend, with the aid of my sketchbook notes, photographs and memory I completed the painting. Enjoy!

PEPPERS!

I helped "booth sit" at the Lifestyles Expo today.  Ellis County Art Association exhibited as a group at this annual trade show in Waxahachie, TX. Our group was well represented both with a great display of original paintings and several members were on hand to greet the public.  Four of us set up our plein air easels and painted as visitors to the Expo looked over our shoulders.  Today, demonstrating watercolor techniques,  I got into in my "Pepper mode"! I love to paint them, mainly because I get absolutely out of control with red, yellow and green!   

 8 x 10 Color Study - Peppers - Sketchbook #11

Using the above color study out of my "peppers" sketchbook #11, the painting below turned out pretty nice. The background in this photo is purple on the left...and the color on the right is a "tomatoey orange". Painting wet-into-wet, I allow the colors to co-mingle through the center. 

"Peppers Four"

9x12 Watercolor - 140# Arches

"Peppers Four" turned out so well,  I started another pepper painting. This one is in process - you can see the light pencil sketch for the 3rd one in the back.  The red paper is finished...the green one needs a little more yellow-green.  I think the back pepper is going to be orange; haven't decided yet...might end up a warm yellow with a touch of orange. When I paint peppers, I begin with Hansa Yellow, then "charge" the reds & Blues, into the yellow wash while it's still wet.  I work each one separately, wet-into-wet, pushing the color as far as I can without losing the transparency, lifting out highlights as the pepper goes from wet to dry. 

In Process - "Peppers Three"

9" x 12" Watercolor - 140# Arches

I'll decide on the background color after I paint the 3rd pepper.  There isn't much foreground and it will be mostly red reflections, deep shadows and "bounced" light . I'll finish this up and post it tomorrow.

It was a great day for painting...even if it WAS indoors! 

RIVER BEND RANCH

RIVER BEND RANCH - Watercolor - 8"x10"
Today I spent about 3 hours cleaning up my work area; emptying the trash and sweeping up little bits of debris that is always under my drawing board. I only had a couple of hours before dinner so I decided to do a small landscape. This is the 3rd in a series of "River Bend" paintings.