Trolley

Over the past couple years I have been changing my street scene focus. Instead of painting light filled empty streets, I thought it would be time to put some interest in the painting by creating scenes that indicate busy life that is happening all around.

The Old Town Trolley tours is a constant in the Key West , street scene I decided to put it in my painting. 

I made a small sketch, as it came by. I worked on the other sections until the trolley came past again ten minutes later. 

The colors of the trolley harmonize with the rest of the painting. The trolley gives the painting a southern look as well.

Developing Your Landscape Color Study

Challenged by my class I put together a painting that shows the development of a landscape painting.

 When starting the painting we start with simple mass color shapes. From these simple mass color spots I being the process  developing the masses in an accurate account of how I am seeing.
The beginning shapes are crude and over the top with color. It's better to have strong color that expresses light.

This method of painting was passed on from Charles Hawthorne to his student Henry Hensche.
This is one way to study color.

I make a small drawing with a blue pastel pencil as a guide to where the masses will be. Then I paint the masses simple with as pure color as possible. I mixed all color on the board with a painting knife. 

When studying the color in this way it is best to use pure color and stay in step 2 as long as possible. 

You may want to restate the masses a few times before moving on to step three. Only when you are satisfied with the masses first statement should you move on. I keep a  be a small white line between the masses (illustrated in  step 2), in case I need to restate the mass. The line also helps keep my masses distinct and pure.

Simplifying Your Painting

Pablo Picasso once stated; "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.
For me the challenge is to make my paintings simple and direct. The design of the painting is really the back bone of the painting and when you are able to think in abstract terms your painting is simplified.

I started this Key West street scene with abstract shapes. My design was simple and I made very few color choices in the beginning, but kept a sense of purer color, in order to not make mud.

I find by having a simple organized start, and a good design the painting paints itself. I keep working these simple color notes until I have accomplished my goal of expressing the light falling on this street on this particular morning.

Hemingway House

Last week I painted  at the Hemingway House with the Key West Plein Air Painters. The Key West Plein Air group is open to anyone who would like to paint with them on  Wednesday mornings. 

It was a chance to meet other local artist's and see this historical property. The Hemingway has wonderful gardens and grounds.

Islamorada Workshop with Larry Moore

I got a chance to hone some skills by taking a workshop with Larry Moore, on my way to Key West.
The Workshop was three days.
Larry started the workshop with a talk then a demo.

We where encouraged to work on small oil sketch's to create simplicity.
Larry talked about materials and using different tools and surfaces to create our paintings.

The second day we worked on a four more oil sketches after another demo by Moore.

Larry used an underpainting in his second day demo.

The last day the demonstration was started with an underpainting where house paints where used as an underpainting.

I found the workshop very helpful in thinking of new ideas about surface and materials. Larry worked a bit with me on my brush work. I enjoy trying new things and growing in my painting. I'm glad I took the workshop it was a great way to start the new year with some new instruction.

Here is my first morning painting, where four paintings are worked on no longer than half hour.

The second day after the demo we worked again on small paintings.

This small painting was worked on the last day at Robbie's. Mostly I watched the demonstration.

Black and White

At first I didn't understand the Facebook post that I was challenged  to post a black and white photo of my work for five days and nominate someone new each day to do the same.
I decided to accept the challenge and have fun with black and white.

I painted over a small painting 6x6 and only used black and white paint. The scene is of Dyer street a scene I'm familiar with. I painted this scene from memory changing the scene to fit my composition and so forth.

So Much can be gained by painting or sketching value patterns and I think is helpful when you apply color later on.

The second day I posted a screen print that I am working on. The image is of me and it's a photo emulsion technique. I also drew with a sharpie on parts of the photo I wanted to be dark. 

I plan on creating some color later on with the print. My inspiration is Andy Warhol who's work inspires me.

A Small Studio to Work In

This time every year is when I take a day to reorganize my studio.  I find I'm more productive in my studio when I know where everything is.

My studio has north light which produces cool controlled light and value shifts. It have had many studio's in Provincetown and there where all different types. There are 'North Light studio's " in town because  there are many professional artist's that work here.

My studio is small and it's all I can really afford. My ceilings are high and storage can be built.
I have built two lofts in order to have frames and canvas stored. I have shelves for books and still life objects.

North Light is generally and creates dramatic light effects.

Where to put everything is the challenge and takes sometime to plan out. Accessibility is key. My organizer is Astranda Gamsey, she has organized several studio's in Provincetown for me.  Astranada has a real gift for knowing exactly where things should be located in accordance to how often they are used. All brushes are in one spot and tools in another. I also have an area for printmaking in my small studio.

Once everything is off the floors there is room to paint,  stand back and look at my work.

Now to keep it that way!