LSC workshop

In the colder months the Loudoun Sketch Club schedules Tuesday workshops once a month. This month was conducted by artist Liz Stevens on still life set ups. I was really excited to take this one because I have so much to learn in this area. I was not disappointed. She gave some good pointers and then did a demo in pastles. Some of us remained to paint. I didn't start a painting but took photos and did 4 small color sketches in my sketchbook. Two are below.

I haven't been posting much because  I have been preparing a sketchbook for a project I am working on in April.

Tangerines in Glass Bowl

This was a fun painting to do. Of course, almost every one that turns out the way I had hoped is fun. I guess tangerine orange is easier for me to mix than pear green. I know that I have been whining about the texture on this panel but it really worked for the subject. The texture made it easier to get the rough fruit skin.

New Studio Addition

Have been wanting a cart to store and work from for my acrylics. I finally found the perfect one for me. This will allow me to have an acrylic painting and an oriental brush painting going at the same time. I like to work back and forth between the two medium. Sometimes I need to think on one before proceeding or something needs to dry well. I use to have to break down one and set up other. This will be so much easier. The working position of my cart is on the right side of my easel but I wanted a picture with both work areas in one shot. Now I should have no excuse for turning out lots of paintings in the next few months. Also need to get to work on framing.

tangerines start

Here is the start of my tangerine painting. On Monday I started a pear painting spent way too much time working on a failure before wiping it off. Did several set up with varying numbers of tangerines and decided to try this one. Already like it sooo much better than my pear start which I can't figure out. I have done lots of pears in watercolor and they alway come out ok if not great. Just could not get the greens right in that one. This is the 6" x 6" other Ampersand, The Artist Panel, value series wood panel with the primed canvas texture that I don't like as much as the smooth. But I did put a couple of additional layers of gray gesso and a warm golden layer of paint left on my pallet to fill in some of the "canvas" texture.

Pine Falls stage 3 and show

On Monday I dropped off my Three Pines painting at a show sponsored by the National Capital Area Chapter of the Sumi-e Society of America.  The venue, Green Springs Park in Alexandria, Virginia is a lovely place to exhibit your works.

Calling this stage three may be a bit of an overstatement. I only added a few pines on the right. Next I will add some water and mist.

Yesterday I returned to my Wednesday sumi-e painting group. Being away for so long made me appreciate them and what they add to my painting.

Pine Falls (stage 2)

Forgot to upload this stage before I left for vacation. The paper is torn so not sure how I will crop this work. Like the start but may let it go and start on an undamaged piece of paper. The composition is more western and I like that aspect. I would like to take my techniques and use them for a more western and modern approach to oriental brush painting.