this is in oil. About 3 hrs and an hour fixing some values at home. Any comments or critiques welcome. thanks.
I usually paint for about 3 hours plein air also. The light changes so quickly. One trick I learned at the master's weekend that I will try using this season is making a quick indication - light slashed lines or something to indicate where the shadow fall (or highlights.) I'm considering even using a pencil. With the indication on the canvas, you can come back to it. I noticed the light seems to be diffused but coming from the right side, but then that one tree has the shadow on the left. So then maybe the light is coming from the left. Yep values are difficult to keep consistent. I love the bushy tree on the left side. What size are you working?
My normal outside size is 12 x 16 but sometimes larger - this is 12 x 16.. I use primed masonite (hardboard) and that way if I want to crop it later I can. It's fairly diffused light but generally from the left with my up-front stronger shadows on the right. Sometimes trees and bushes outside the image can throw shadow on objects making areas dark that are in the direction of the light source. I always find that because of the abundance of light outside, I have to be cautious about not painting too dark. Often but not always I rub a light wash of burnt sienna on the canvas so I don't have bright white which creates a lot of contrast until you get most of the canvas filled.
Wow, you work larger than 12 x 16 with plein air. I've been keeping my sizes below 11 x 14. Last year I worked mostly 6x8 or 8x10. I used to work large, but found that I can I can get done and not do any retouching at home when working small. This year I was thinking of working in a square format or larger - not sure. I started plein air late august and finally started to get into a decent rhythm - then winter hit. This year, I'd like to get my gear down to a science quickly and focus in on changing light and find ways to deal with all the GREEN in the summer.
Nice piece!! I am in awe of both of you getting out there at all..... I can't even seem to get down in my basement to work never mind outside ... Keep it up you inspire!!!
you don't say how long you have been painting. if less than a year...good, keep trying one color one value for all the distant foliage? there is no sense of athmosphere in the distance. values are same as closest reeds. there is no feel of perspective in your channel leading into the painting. that "bump" on the right stops the eye. lastly if you are painting for more than a year, where are you in your painting? did you feel the wind? did you feel a sense of mystery? where are you?????????//
it looks like you took a picture of it and painted it in elizabeth's basement. want to see marsh paintings with all of the above, and more? look up manfried schatz. can't find any.?..............i'll be glad to send you some photos.
The beauty of this web site is people share their work either with their web sites or postings. I look forward to seeing some of yours. You might like to put some info in your profile and a web site. Are you an artist?
in answer to your question: yes i'm an artist. to another: no website, and a 3rd: i would post but pro-fess lack of skills there, mostly because theres a lack of interest in doing so. i paint indoors and outdoors, i sell thru one gallery and my own (gallery) i paint in the hudson river valley with one group and in central ny with another plein air group. milling my own frame mouldings from board stock also takes up a great deal of time. i don't know you personally and certainly didn't mean to insult you but you asked for a critique and i offered one. would you rather have heard another like ms. kp's "oh i love that green bush? take my remark abt the purple grey trees etc. in the back they should be blending into the sky at that distance. check out work by karen vance to see what i mean. you're right,ishould post some of my own stuff and when i have time for that i will. right now i'mm headed for the lumber yard to pick up some 5/4 pine to make frames for a series of wet charcoal sketches i am working on. tell you what keep painting and posting and i won't write ant more critquies about your work. ...............but keep painting.
Thank you it is a little disconcerting to comment for someone and get put down by someone else so thanks again and keep on painting and posting.
you're right of course and i apologize to you and both the women. i should have hung back for a while until i got a feel of what goes on here. i foolishly thought "any comments or critques welcome", meant just that. i'll know better next time.
Hi, first you will admire the nature walk with great interest stuff. The painting is beautiful and lovely - I suggest if possible drag Rvzmjdda this painting several times to tell her about colors
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