We left off with this painting of a fabulous view from a special place in Tulare County at this stage. Everything remaining to finish falls under the category of Drawing With My Paintbrush. Whether drawing or painting, I often turn things upside down in order to see the shapes accurately. If things are right side […]
While the Deer Were Grazing. . .
. . . I was actually painting. The canvas was finally covered, with good detail in the rock faces. (Not real faces—it is just the way to clarify that I am talking about vertical rocks rather than basic boulders.) I didn’t try to match the scene line for line or space for space. It already […]
Painting Spring in Spring
We had a beautiful spring day before spring arrived. Instead of being out enjoying spring, I was inside painting a picture of spring. First, I varnished four newly dried paintings. It was definitely an open-door sort of day. The view was distracting, but I needed to be focused on the scene on the easel. This […]
The Way I Remember It
There is a place near me here in Tulare County that is fantastical for spring-time hiking, particularly in a wet year. The views, green, trees, flowing water, and wildflowers are utter perfection, unless you try to get a good photo. Then, all the beautiful things that you remember end up in different pictures. What’s an […]
Finessing and Polishing
My natural bent is toward finishing. It is satisfying to git-‘er-dun, to cross things off the lists, to move things into the finished column. Perfectionism is for other people. However, as I prepare for the solo show in the fall of Tulare County’s prettiest places, I am warning and counseling myself to not settle for […]
Six Oil Paintings at Five Stages
I have oil paintings at every stage right now. All depict Tulare County places, because that is where your Central California artist resides. She is a Tulare County artist, perhaps more accurately known as a “regionalist from Quaintsville”. Finished, scanned, ready to show and sell: Finished, changed my mind, made it better, now drying again: […]
A Good Painting Day
What makes a good painting day? So glad you asked. It is a day where I make visible progress on paintings, the kind of progress that makes me like the pieces I am working on, and the kind of progress that brings me closer to putting the paintings on the DONE list of Tulare County’s […]
Four New Starts, One Signature, and My Yard
Let’s start with the signature. This indicates that I am finished with a painting, although I can be convinced to return to it later if something needs fixing up, something that I didn’t notice earlier. Now, to the new paintings. As normal, I studied my photos, messed with a few on Photoshop Jr. in order […]
Farming With Paint?
This day’s oil painting session went from an olive grove to a walnut grove. (Grove or orchard? Same thing.) The day ended with a potential cattle ranch. The last olive grove painting session left me with this mess to tackle, layer by layer. I began with improving the trunks and branches. Here you can see […]
Little Things Mean a Lot
It often just comes down to the little things, the details, those finishing touches on a painting that bring the most satisfaction. Here are five paintings that I added little things to on a single morning of painting. Big Oak: I studied this painting for awhile and decided the dirt patch at the bottom might […]