Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Lamar Valley - Yellowstone



Lamar Valley - Yellowstone

6x8in  oil on canvas panel   $125.

It was overcast with light showers on and off as we drove through
this long and beautiful valley.
We saw herds of Bison, snow on the mountains at each end
and forested hills on the sides. The valley was pretty flat with
clumps of trees providing some dark vertical shapes
alongside the winding Lamar River.


Artist Note.


This was painted from another of my small watercolor sketches.
I sat in the car to paint after the rain had stopped and the light
broke through the clouds.
In all honesty, everything looked blue/gray in my sketch, so when
I painted this I added pinks and purples with warm browns in the front.
I think I still managed to keep the feeling of the weather conditions
as I remembered them. That is the advantage of painting plein air
sketches. I am sure you all agree that the scene stays in your memory
much better than when you take a photograph.







Posted by Picasa

33 comments:

  1. You did capture the atmosphere really well in this.. great water too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. gorgeous color in this painting, Julie. Beautiful piece.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Hilda. You have been there - you know the beauty cannot be duplicated, only hinted at.

      Delete
  3. This is so fabulous! We were in Yellowstone in the fall and this series really brings it back, they are just great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good to know you like Yellowstone too, Mary. I bet it was gorgeous in the fall with the leaves turning.

      Delete
  4. This is stunning Julie. Love the color. I am thinking I need to take a trip to Yellowstone!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I don't think it is a stretch at all to imagine and then find other colors in that rainy landscape. Your sketches have sure been an invaluable tool for making these paintings. And you captured that rainy day, overcast feeling perfectly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Libby. You are correct about the sketches. Photos do not show the real colors, with my photos anyway, I find I cannot "see" into the shadows.

      Delete
  6. The movement of water at the point where eyes will pause to look, the gentle curve that you have given to the water color, I watch and feel ,I remain attached to the sound of water and I see the color of the sky ... MAGIC!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You paid me the compliment of really studying the painting and I thank you for that, Rita.

      Delete
  7. I was trying to think if I did get a better feel for a place when I sketched it plein air rather than taking a photograph. I think you may be right, but I'm not sure. I never seem to think about painting when I'm experiencing a place--the aroma in the air, the touch of the rocks, the sand that gets in your shoes, the heat from the sun and how it shimmers on water. I soak up the atmosphere through my pores and when I do look at the photographs I took later, I'm there again and can hear the music of the place: the roar of the falls or the gurgle of the stream or how the trees danced with the breezes. Maybe fifty/fifty?

    Meanwhile these are beautiful paintings you're doing of beautiful places in our spot on the planet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always interesting to read your comments, L.W. I like and enjoy the exchange you usually get going on your blog.
      Before I paint I do the same as you do, Absorb the sight, sounds and essence of the place. I guess it is because I am not the worlds best photographer that I never can see the colors in the shadows correctly, but you cannot beat the camera for that fleeting moment of magic when the light hits just right!

      Delete
  8. Beautiful, Julie. I love these wonderful, twisting rivers. Gorgeous colors!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just popping by for my JFO art fix. Thank you. I feel better now.

    This is another beauty of Yellowstone. Painting in the car would be difficult. I remember your post from some time back before I knew your blog very well and I remember thinking "this lady LOVES to paint". I also remember thinking how your photo of your setup in the car with the glove box and all reminded me of Edward Hopper's painting "Jo in Wyoming". http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/edward-hopper/jo-in-wyoming

    Jo could be you. Or you could be Jo. I don't know. ...hey, I made poetry. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I love that painting of Jo - would you believe I have never seen it before so it is a real gift to me. Thanks Lisa. You are the BEST!

      Delete
  10. Very good materic effect! Arianna

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely landscape. I love all the textures and the blue/purple tones in the painting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Roger, nice that we both like color in our work.

      Delete
  12. Julie, what lovely comments you received. I love it also but my comment is about the degree of fracturing. It is just the right amount for this work. And the way ones eye follows the flow of the river.......
    Wait until you see what I post tomorrow..........LOL

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful painting. So vibrant but still looks like an overcast day.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful Julie...I feel a real sense of calm looking at this one. My favourite subject is landscape and this is the kind of painting I could live with for a long time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Karen. I can understand you liking landscapes the best, but on a small panel I find them the hardest to paint.
      You have the ability to capture the air and sun in your paintings and I have to work very hard at that.

      Delete
  15. This is gorgeous Julie, the composition is classic and works to bring the viewer through and into the landscape. I love the tree reflections on the left balanced by the purple on right further back.Its a perfect balance of movement with gracious restful spaces.

    ReplyDelete
  16. A very thoughtful comment Anne, thank you. It shows me you really did look at the painting.

    ReplyDelete

I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie