More photos of the Diptych

Onward and Upward

I think I mentioned I paint from bottom to top on these Tahoe Rock works.  I start with the underwater portion and once that is done, I move above the surface.  This is a photo of the bottom canvas of the diptych which is 'roughed' in.  The upper canvas will take it's place on my easel now, but eventually, after the upper canvas is 'roughed' in, this one will return to the easel and the detail work will take place.  So it is onward and upward....

Diptych Progress

High Lights and Low Lights vs. The Camera

A painter I am.  A photographer I am not.  I find it so difficult to capture, in a photo, the true color and depth of the painting as it progresses.  This has something to do with the intensity of my highlights and lowlights, so I am told.  I have completed, for now, the underwater portion of the painting.  There will be details added later, but yesterday it was time to sketch in the composition on the top canvas.

 I took both canvases down stairs, sketched the design on the upper canvas, and then I ran back upstairs to the loft and look over the railing at the canvases to check the size, scale, direction of line, and more.  Then up the stairs to look again, then back down to make corrections, then back up.....you get the idea.  Up and down, down and up..... 

Sketch and corrections completed.

Canvases go back up the stairs and back to the easel.

I have photographed the bottom canvas in the studio and out of the studio, and still cannot capture the color and depth you see when you are standing in front of the work.

I did say I am not a photographer, did I not?

The Painting Continues

Getting Lost in the Process

The bottom half of the diptych begins to take on a life of it's own as I paint in the submerged rocks and play of light over those rocks.  

The process of painting, holding brush in hand, dipping it into the medium and applying to the canvas becomes all consuming.  The smallest strokes as well as the largest, the combining of hues (that's color mixing) draws my focus and concentration to the moment.  I am lost in this process.  Putting the brush into the pigment and then watching it brush across the canvas to create line, shape and form is magical.

After several strokes of the brush, I step away, across the room to observe the progress.  I paint fairly quickly at this stage working with light to dark and dark to light, paying close attention to the deeper, darker areas as well as the surfaces hit by sunlight.

Come back to see more in a few days.

Giveaway Results and More

And So It Begins...

This may look like scribbles but it is actually the beginning of the large diptych mentioned a few blogs ago.  The canvas is 60" x 48", the subject is Tahoe Rocks depicted above and below the surface.  This is the bottom, or lower,  canvas.

After applying a coat of black gesso to the canvas I sketch in the outlines for the rocks with a bit of titanium white, thinned so there will not be ridges.  These lines give me a guide when I begin to paint.

After selecting my color palatte, I begin applying the paint to canvas and get lost in the process.  Come back to the blog to watch the progress of this painting.

Giveaway Results:

Two people receive the painting...  

Boyles Family Farms

&

Robert Nutcher

(and no, they won't have to ship it back and  forth or cut it in half.  I will give another)

Congratulations!

And to you others who participated and were interested, please check back as I will do this again, give away a painting.

Giveaway

Yes, It's a Give Away 

I am giving away this painting.

This little, daily painting may end up in your home. 

 

Two Pie Apples is an acrylic painting on canvas board, just 

6" x 8".

It can sit in an easel on a table or counter top.

It will fit into a standard frame.

It can be yours to keep or gift.

To enter the give away you may do any or all of the following: 

1.  Leave a comment on my blog telling me how excited you are about this give away.


2.  Become a follower of my blog (or if you already are, let me know).


3.  Tweet about this give away or post it to Facebook with a link to your tweet or Facebook page (each counts as a separate entry).


4.  Post about this give away or place it in your sidebar with a link to your post or blog page.

Each comment, tweet or post will count as one entry.
The give away begins now, Monday, September 13 and ends on Friday, September 17.The winner will be announced on the following day, Saturday, September 18.

Good Luck to All of You!!!!

The Muse

What is Your Inspiration?

Light patterns play on submerged boulders

Is it a sudden burst of, unconscious creativity?

Seed pod on granite with pine in background

Does it come from your muse?

Pine growing out of granite with twisted, gnarled trunk

Is inspiration ideas that associate and resonate with each other and then burst into your consciousness?

Black hollyhocks kissed by the sun

Is inspiration beyond our control, a spontaneous thought?

Rules

Learn the Rules

The other day I was visiting with another painter who is taking a color class.  She explained that the instructor was adamant about the rules for color mixing and use of color.  It sounds like the teacher believes one should not deviate from the rules.

Seems to me that it is important to learn the rules, know those rules, but then break them when you desire.  Breaking the rules might lead to one of those ' ah ha' moments or let you create something fresh and exciting.

Another Daily Paint

It's More Like Every Other Day Painting

Tahoe Rocks Study in Blue

I am finishing a painting about every other day.  There are just other things to do....run paintings to galleries, dead head and weed the garden, market and cook dinner, play golf (do I really do that?), row, kayak, and work with beautiful stones to create fabulous jewelry. 

Loose Stones for a Tahoe Inspired Necklace

 And now I am going to start two large ( 4' x 5') canvases that will hang together as a diptych with an overall size of 10' x 4'.  Even though I will be at the easel every day with this project, it will take many many days to complete.  I will be showing the progress here, so check back.  This is the study:

To begin I will under paint one of the canvases with black gesso, so I will have brush in hand and paint today....