Personal Art Blog

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

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Moonlight at Yellowstone




Moonlight At Yellowstone
6x6 oil on canvas WIP
(work in progress)

Artist Note
This is for the
Daily Paintwork Challenge
this week.
ONLY three colors -
red, yellow and blue, plus white
allowed for oil and acrylic painters.
This one has
Transparent Red Oxide
Ultramarine Blue
Titanium White.
It is unfinished deliberately
for the Challenge,
I will add another couple
layers of colors
when it is dry- maybe.

Check all the good paintings
using three colors
HERE


Sorry about the light catching
the ridges of paint,


51 comments:

  1. Julie, was a successful use of a very limited palette! I love your composition. Really well done!

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    1. I appreciate that - thank you!
      Your zebra is stunning and on aquabord it makes it timeless.

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  2. Bonjour chère Julie,

    La restriction des couleurs n'affecte aucunement votre art et votre talent. J'ai hâte d'admirer cette superbe toile achevée.
    Un challenge déjà réussi et un grand bravo à vous !
    La lumière que la lune produit est déjà prodigieuse.

    Gros bisous ☼

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    1. translation:
      Hello dear Julie, The color restriction does not affect your art and your talent. I can not wait to enjoy this superb completed canvas. An already successful challenge and a big bravo to you! The light that the product is already prodigious moon. Kisses ☼
      As always I appreciate your visit across the miles. Your comments mean a lot.
      Your latest post is a visual delight...not only with your beautiful painting but the photos of your are of the world during the autumn season. The visit made me happy.

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  3. Very wonderful three colours painting !!!

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    1. praise from a master of color harmony - I thank you.
      Looking forward to your next painting, Stellios.

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  4. It is incredible the beautiful richness you achieved with the limited colors. The moon seen over the waterfall is dramatic, I can't wait to see where you take this!

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    1. The richness is because it is mostly transparent, You are familiar with that being a watercolorist. As soon as I go opaque in the darks I will loose some of it. I will tread carefully....if at all.
      As you working on another water painting? I love that we were doing it at the same time. Your sparked with life. watercolor has its own magic - in the right hands!

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  5. I really love this series Julie, your wealth of experience really shines through with this one. I can't believe what you can do with so few colours on such a small scale. This piece feels like a big painting and the atmosphere seems really heartfelt :)

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    1. Lisa - I have just visited your new paintings and I think you are on a roll.
      The one with birds and nest is extra FABULOUS. Subjects close to my heart - but your non-representational painting has such amazing texture and colors...so well done. Jump-started my heart!!!

      What a a nice comment. Thank you and bless you!

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  6. What a fabulous mood to this one , the light hitting the rocks is awesome , and I think the blue dots are very important here.

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    1. I agree - it is a moody piece. Close value changes with the light impact tends to do that doesn't it? I could loose it in a flash. and that's why I have to think about it. Too many times I have continued and lost what appealed to me. I also agree - the cool was important next to the warm reddish brown.
      The red umbrella in your painting adding such a spark against the cooler colors. I loved it!

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  7. The night sky and the moonlit water are very dramatic! Very impressive with a limited palette. I think you don't need to go back on it at all!

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    1. Hi Kaethe - wondering what you are working on? I know it must be really good and am looking forward to seeing it. I always get inspired by your work.
      Thanks for the vote of confidence on this one

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  8. Love the water falls, but your rocks are amazing. What a fun challenge. I like doing things like that too.

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    1. I think we share a common taste ,Sharon. Glad you like this one - thanks.

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  9. Simply stunning! Doesn't get any better than this!

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    1. Thanks mucho, Chris, and even more thanks for giving us such a fabulous post on the artists in your area. I visited them all and was stimulated by all I saw and learned.

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  10. Wow! Love the moodiness of this.. I'd be curious to see how you'd add color coz this does look pretty beautiful and evocative as it is.. I can see the influence of Thomas morons watercolors.

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    1. Happy you like it - thanks. The timing was perfect of the aspen you painted. I will be able to show the group how they lose their intense yellow as they move into the distance. Plein air really shows the truth doesn't it? As you mentioned - a cloudy day is perfect for true colors.

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  11. Absolutely gorgeous, I love the moodiness, use of color. I wouldn't change it.

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    1. Hi Barbara - I am listening...thanks. Mood means a lot to me.

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  12. i like the light catching the paint ridges, makes it look more real rather than a picture online :)

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    1. Makes sense with you liking line. You made me feel better about it - thank you.
      I adore your Australian Winnie the Pooh.

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    2. yeah I seem to be about lines lately, whether thats sketches or etchings :) I think Pooh is hubbies actually that I've stolen :p

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  13. Beautiful! I guess this is what some folks refer to as a 'mock-turn' since you didnk't actually paint it at night?

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    1. Great one, Bruce - I did LOL at mock-turn! Clever.
      I like your new painting that you did at the Plein Air event.
      Nice pic with you and Eric Rhodes.

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  14. This has such strength and power, Julie. You've achieved a marvelous spectrum of rich warm browns and lovely darks with your limited palette. You've also painted the moon perfectly -- just the right amount of diffusion -- as well as the moonlight hitting the rock rim. The hits of blue-grey are delicious icing on the cake. I enjoy working with a limited palette occasionally; should probably do it more often. Makes for great harmony and cohesion, doesn't it? Lovely painting.

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    1. This is one heck of an encouraging comment. Thanks Helene. I can tell you really "looked" at the painting. Yes - the limited palette ensures color harmony and I used five colors for years. I was more tonal back then so when wanted to push color a bit more I enlarged to a warm and cool of each primary and then onto convenience colors. Fun journey.
      Your horse is pretty fantastic. I can tell you know them intimately because everything is just "right."



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  15. Gorgeous and you captured a special nighttime mood!!!

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    1. Nighttime does have its own special light doesn't it? I have not done many nocturnal paintings because I need some light to paint by. So I observe and make notes.
      You did a great job with your gravestones. An unusual challenge for sure.

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  16. My goodness your recent paintings are poetic ... who needs words

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    1. Your words are poetic too. Lovely, John, thank you.
      Hope all is well in the boat building department.

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  17. What a powerful mood this creates! Reminds me of tonalist work. Incredible lighting!

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    1. I agree - definitely tonalist, Carol. It is almost a notan too. I guess it is the mood it establishes which makes it tonalist.
      Thanks for always being so supportive, Carol.

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  18. Wowza! I wondered how you did that and would never have guessed it came from only 3 colors. Transparent Red Oxide is a wonderful color. I wouldn't touch it. It's perfect just this way.

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    1. Love "WOWZA!" And thanks for advising against changing it. I respect your opinion, Lauren. Thank you.

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  19. You got so much for so little.........Beautiful.

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    1. Good to hear from you, my friend. Are you painting? Did you do anything this week in class?
      Thanks for the " beautiful."

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  20. Love this painting Julie!! These paintings all take me back to when I visited Yellowstone. One of the most beautiful place on this Planet! You did an amazing job, once again!!

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    1. Thanks Hani - and a WOW back on your post. I could not find where to comment but i certainly loved seeing all your paintings.

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  22. I love your Yellowstone series! (And the New Mexico Sunrise) You have such a great command of light and so much control with a palette knife. I love all the texture and the presence your surfaces have.

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    1. Thanks Lorraine - I think we both love layering. Your new painting shows beautifully how you layered the colors on the walls of the buildings.

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  23. "Looking at the same moon" ... a simple gesture that brings together relatives and distant friends.
    Admiring your painting gives me this feeling of connection with you, with nature, with everything beautiful that remains, here, for me yet.

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    1. What a lovely observation about the moon and connection. I will always think of you now, dearest Rita, when I look at the moon. Connected across the many miles.

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  24. What a successful challenge! I love this painting, Julie

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    1. Hello margaret. How are you? Are you painting? it seems a while since the red shoes.
      Thanks for the visit. Always nice to see your name.

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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