Merging Reference Photos

Hay Bales Lining Up, 8 x 10

In my classes this week we studied using multiple reference photos for one painting. We took a look at how to merge elements without having the scene look disjointed.   This is the demo I did in my Monday class.  Many of my reference photos of fields and farmland tend to have lots of straight tree lines and other elements that are placed horizontally in the scene.  I find that to be boring in my paintings, so I look for opportunties to create a more active composition with angles and interruptions in the horizontal items. Here, I created a zig zag shape that draws the eye deeper into the scene, and also made some of the ground in the distance peek through the trees, which pulls the viewer in even further.  Below are the two reference photos used.

Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the Air, 8 x 10

The Georgia landscape sure has a lot of green this time of year.  It seems most artists love springtime.  But I find it challenging to figure out what to do with all that lime green and kelly green everywhere you look. Although this scene, painted en plein air, doesn't quite capture the genuine greenery present at this location, I did my best to come up with a more eyepleasing color palette.

No new work right now, but some old work is doing well.

Sunbathed Field, 11 x 14

Road May be Slippery, 12 x 16

I've had limited time in my studio lately and am getting impatient with not having new work to show.  But for now I'd like to just share some news.  I just received word that my two paintings above have been accepted into the 18th IAPS Juried Exhibition that will be held in Albuquerque during the upcoming convention. Very exciting for me as it's the first time I've had work in this particular show, and I'm also already scheduled to attend the convention and will be able to attend the opening reception for the show.  Now, to get busy on some new work for future shows!

First Plein Air Outing of the Season

Country Road, 10 x 8

Last week I was out of town with my husband and son, which is why it's been awhile since my last post.  Although I didn't paint for a little over a week, I did get some good reference photos while we were away.  We were in Arizona, just outside the Phoenix area, and then made a short trip to the Grand Canyon.  Eager to start a painting from one of my southwestern desert scenes, I quickly realized that the colors in this part of the country are VERY different from the landscapes I usually paint. Even though I tend to stray from the local color anyway, I'm still a little stumped by how to approach my color usage in this scenery.  Hopefully I'll have some success soon and will post a finished "Arizona" painting soon!  

But now to my current posting above...It's been awhile since I've ventured out with my plein air gear, but got out earlier this week in some great weather.  Felt a little rusty, but was happy to at least get this painting completed.  Hopefully the spring weather will be cooperative for many more outings before it gets unbearably hot.

One other piece of news I'm excited to mention (which helped boost my spirits after my less-than-stellar paintings done this week) is that I learned that I was juried in as a Signature Member with the Pastel Society of America.  Not sure if I'll choose to include the "PSA" designation with my signature on my paintings, but it's a nice credential to have when promoting my work.  If you look closely at the painting above, just for fun I jotted it in there, as this is the first painting I've completed since I learned the news.