Personal Art Blog

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

Friday, January 27, 2017

Snow & Aspens

Snow & Aspens
8x6in oil on canvas panel $140. SOLD


Artist Note
The above is a mixture 
of memory and photo source.
After painting the previous
snowy scene I was taken by 
an image a fellow blogger
posted. Click to see. 
I asked her for permission 
to paint it and she 
gave me the thumbs up!

I live in the land of 
crisp, dry air so 
although my earlier memories 
are of misty scenes 
I found it difficult to capture 
the subtle value changes
 with my paint 
due to 
not painting from life.

And that is why, try as I might,
I couldn't capture the 
misty effect!

So... the birches are now aspens.
I did a wee bit of 
"artist landscaping"
moving things around 
to fit my rectangle format,
and then reverted 
to what I knew well.
 I have painted 
aspens many times 
on location
in both NM and Colorado
so this was a treat.

Thank you,
Carol, for the inspiration.
I enjoyed painting it.






42 comments:

  1. I love the contrasts in this painting, Julie! The light on the snow and tree trunks versus the dark, dense, wooded section, the vertical tree trunks next to the diagonal shadows of the trees and the limbs on the trees themselves, the warms versus cools and the intensity of the blue shadows next to the neutrals back in the forest. What a lovely place!

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    Replies
    1. What a wonderful evaluation - you make me feel great, Carol, thank you.
      Hope your recovery is coming along just how it should. Here is a hug!

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  2. Replies
    1. Thanks, Chris and I am not kidding when I say the watercolors you are doing in the Challenge are BRILLIANT!

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  3. To me it is a sharp and clear morning-light shining on un-trodden snow. The few leaves are 'hanging on' in a vain hope that spring will revive them.

    It's a really beautiful painting in which the contrasts and angles create such depth ... love it!

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    Replies
    1. Hello John. Luverly comment - thanks, my friend. It is so different that what attracted me and I have to work that out.
      Hows the weather over there - we have had more raian than we usually get, but still in drought. We depend on snow melt-off from Southern Colorado so finger crossed the farmers in our valley will get enough to grow their chili, cotton and onions. The pecan groves just had a bumper crop.

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  4. It does look like your type of scene! Nothing wrong with some judicious editing:)
    Libby

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    Replies
    1. I agree - editing makes it a personal viewpoint.
      Beautiful colors in the Soft Storm piece.

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  5. Absolutely beautiful Jule!!!! The way you captured the light is wonderful!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Hilda, I guess we both enjoy painting the light. You captured the sheen of the satinribbon on the ballet slippers, perfectly.

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  6. Nice job getting so much color into a basically neutral scene. Love the touch of those few stubborn leaves hanging on the branches.

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    Replies
    1. I liked those leaves, too, Carol. Thank you.
      I enjoyed seeing your pick of last years paintings in your post. Great year of painting!

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  7. Replies
    1. I will take grand and lovely any day with thanks, Sue.
      I was admiring your latest painting. So much impact and I love the colors.

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  8. very nice :D great texture on the trees

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    Replies
    1. Yes - I liked making the texture. Thanks, Jennifer.
      Your new dragon has a great expression. Never thought I would ever even look at a dragon so you have been good for expanding my awareness of them.

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  9. Lovely painting with great mood. Mist must be one of the hardest things to capture on canvas.The value shifts are so subtle. No matter, your painting stands alone as an exceptional piece.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Bruce, I can tell you are a plein air painter by your knowledge of painting mist.
      I really enjoyed seeing the paintings you did in Sedona. Great job of a stunning place.

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  10. Your mastery of light continues. It was the first thing I noticed.

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    Replies
    1. I say the same about your left hand painting and add the word color to the light.

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  11. Replies
    1. Pretty is what I would call your florals. They are really lovely.

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  12. So much light and such great depth , really beautiful !

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    Replies
    1. Thank you ,Jane. We both painted snow scenes. I especially like the way you painted the road leading in.

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  13. Oh my gosh, Julie, I love what you did with it! You've made my day...... :)

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    Replies
    1. I thank YOU, Carol, for providing the inspiration. Happy you like it. Very happy!

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  14. A wonderful composition, Julie. You illustrate how to capture the essence of a scene from a photo source. As Jane says, this has lovely depth, and those small hits of bright color are a delight.

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    Replies
    1. Love this comment - bless you, Helene. Hope you are painting up a storm.

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  15. Replies
    1. Hi Sharon - how are you? its been a week. laughing here because when you mention REST you really mean it!

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  16. Really interesting to see source and where you went with it. Lovely

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for checking the source image, Jean.
      Your new woman with hand in her hair is very strong.

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  17. Dear Julie you captured the lovely colors of the snow. The aspens are just a perfect foil for the background. Love this. Carol's photography is always wonderful. She is such a delightful blogging buddy.

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    Replies
    1. I agree - it is always a delight to visit Carol's blog.
      Happy you like this painting, Debbie. I really enjoyed seeing your bird photos and then the two gorgeous Shepherds, Wonderful dogs.

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  18. Happy to have you comment. Thank you Ashok. Your photos are really lovely.

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  19. Snow cold, yet warm, this is one right balance you achieved!

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  20. Beautiful painting and fantastic atmosphere !!!

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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