Reeds and Reflections

Reeds And Reflections

 6x8in oil on canvas &135.

Purchase HERE

Artist Note

I like the simplicity in the design

on this. Guess what is underneath...

yes, two Koi!

When I started the painting

 this is the path I was on.

I was trying to get the 

shafts of light on the water .

I couldn't quite get what I wanted and 

I realized I had repeated the pattern 

of two fish swimming together...

been there - done that 

type of thing. Scraped it off.

(left a neat ghost.)

No Koi,.. no Waterlily...

just the reflections and reeds.

I like it. It's different for me.

Lily Pond - Yupo Redo

Lily Pond #4

 8 x8 in Watercolor on Yupo 

Work in process...

Artist Note.

Not as much "stylized"

this time.

Here is a re-do of the previous post

taking into account 

all the suggestions

and observations. 

It was an interesting project for me. 

I am totally grateful to all the 

artists who took the time to share

their viewpoints.

I really learned a lot of new

ways of actually

contemplating-

edges -

adding -

subtracting -

tension -

balance.

My previous effort had the 

water lighter  

and pads darker.

here are my source images 

showing both ways.

MY new version reversed 

the first one.

Below are small sketches I made

on the quest for a  Yupo watercolor

painting of a lily pond.

Some of the groaners on the journey.

Below is the original wiper

then I thought what did I love?

Answer - the koi.

 LOL- conflicting  two points of interest...

decide to leave the koi for

 another painting!

Back to it being too busy! 

I raised the 

horizon and liked it 

and at least it looked watery!

Several more attempts followed 

when I discovered the  reeds.

I thought the verticals added 

something I liked. 

I thank everyone who commented 

or emailed their suggestions

or just joined in the fun of it.

Reflections #1

Reflections#1

8x6in oil on linen mounted on panel  $135.

Reflections from a water feature I visited

in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Artist Note.

This piece is the start of what I hope will 

be a series of paintings 

based on the reflections

created by a stunning Water Feature

I visited last year

I made sketches and took lots of photos. 

enjoying that inner feeling of excitement 

all of us artists get

when something really connects.

I wanted to start a series and as luck

would have it, Carol Marine came out

with some 

marvelous water reflection paintings

on her blog at the same time

so I put the idea on the back burner.

BUT the images still persisted.

I had wanted to see if it was possible 

to "fracture" something so fluid

...intriguing...

It has not left my mind so 

I am looking forward to seeing 

what develops.

Just in case you are interested...

I have completed the HUGE painting

I was commissioned to do. Here are some 

images. The first one has the underpainting

showing at the bottom

with exaggerated warm and cool colors

at this stage..

Too large for my easel  

These two panels are made to go over a large

flat screen TV - sliding apart at viewing time.

Each panel has to hold its own in the 

design when parted, and yet become 

seen as a complete image when together.

They are mounted on an oak,

three inch deep frame so they 

would not fit on an easel.

Set-up

I placed them on two tables

 each panel is 48"x30".

My reference photos are up 

at the side for easy viewing.

Block-in wash  -close-up

Same area below -completed 

The painting is so large that reducing it down

to the viewing area of the monitor 

makes it lose the looseness of the mark-making.

so I thought some close up images may help.

The family wanted their three dogs

included. Two have passed on, sadly,

one during the painting process.

It is the largest painting I have done using the 

fracturing technique. The new owners love it!

Phew!

Reflections

Reflections

7x5in  oil on canvas board  90.

This was done with a palette knife and it is partially imaginary.
With this type of diffused light I made sure that I made close value changes. Without bright sun there are no distinct contrasts and shadows, only gentle transitions of different tones.

His and Hers

His and Hers

8x6 oil on raymar board 100.

I saw the DailyPaintworks Challenge on reflections and I thought it sounded interesting. I enjoyed doing this.

I placed a small mirror under the set-up to capture the reflections but my real pleasure was to be found in the exploration of the reflections bouncing around on the cans.