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.