Aspen painting - first phase

 

I've taken photos of my latest painting in progress and would like to share this with you so you can see the methods I use when I paint.  First, I used many reference photos to study aspens and then I drew my invented scene on the canvas using pencil.  Next, above, is the first layer of painting where I put down the big shapes. I painted the background behind the trees first since this will be darker than the trees themselves.  My first layer of paint is the darks of the painting and I will come back later and make some of them lighter.  

Juried into "Scope: the North Carolina Lanscape" show

I'm pleased to announce that "Carolina Marsh" has been juried into the annual, national "Scope: the North Carolina Landscape" show at Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh, NC. The show was juried by Allie Pitcher, Curatorial Assistant, Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA.

Join us at the opening on June 3, 2011 6-9pm at Visual Art Exchange during the First Friday Gallery Walk event in Raleigh, NC!

Something completely different

This past Thanksgiving my family and I spent 3 nights on Ocean Isle Beach in the southern tip of the NC coast. One night I managed to time my arrival just right - so I could catch the last rays of light as the sun set. These photos are just waiting for a time in my life when I can paint a new series inspired by the Carolina Coast.

Taos Ranch

"Taos Ranch" 12x16 - painted en plein air in May 2010. This location is near the Millicent Rogers Museum looking north towards Taos Mountain.

Winter Scene, North of Taos

Winter Scene, North of Taos 11x14 oil

The 11x14 oil painting above "Winter Scene, North of Taos" is on display at the Cary Senior Center, Cary, NC in my soloeshow "A Passion for the Western Landscape". On display until January 30, 2011 - stop by and take a look at the 28 paintings on display! Many paintings are 50% off my retail price.

Hondo Valley, NM

This painting was created on location in the Hondo valley in New Mexico. It is one of the 28 paintings on exhibit in the Cary Senior Center, Cary, NC until January 30, 2011. The exhibit named "A Passion for the Western Landscape" consists of paintings based on locations in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona.

In the Aspens

This is a 10x8 study of aspen trees with their Autumn colors. This is the first time I've painted aspens, and, like with all new subjects, it was a real learning experience. I've already blocked in a larger version of this painting, and with the larger version I have done more drawing, especially in the shapes of the trees. I do like how the spruce tree turned out in the painting above; it makes a nice accent.

new postcards for January show!

Rocky Mountain National Park

"study for Rocky Mountain Hike" 10x8  oil

As promised,  here is the study I painted from a series of photos taken in July 2010 when Russ, Brian and I were hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park.

"Rocky Mountain Hike" 20x16  oil on linen

And here is the larger painting based on the study.  I used the same palette of paint for both paintings - and the same brush!  Both were painted in one, long painting session each; the study on a Sat and the larger one the day after.  With the latest Zac Brown live cd blasting away!

I can't wait to frame both of these - they will hang side-by-side in my solo show in January; the show has the theme "A Passion for the Western Landscape".  And I think one of these will be on the show postcard.  hmm... which one?

Colorado High

Last week I did an 8x10 study first and then a 16x20 painting based on that study. This was the first time I tried this process and I'm excited to say it was very successful. I worked out some design and color problems in the study. And then painted the larger painting, having learned from the study. And when the larger painting didn't seem quite strong, I looked at the study and realized what I had done there to strengthen the composition! viola, I added this strength (a separation of background from foreground) to the larger painting.

Another huge win for me is that I could use one decision to create two paintings. Choosing the photo to use for a studio painting is always a huge challenge for me. I just can't seem to commit to a decision. I think it's all about fear - fear of choosing the "wrong" photo. I usually have several dozen perfectly good photos and just need to commit. If I first commit to an 8x10 painting then perhaps the decision will be easier.

I'll post photos of those paintings as soon as I get some daylight to use! In the meantime, enjoy a Colorado scene above. It's from the same hike and resulting photos that I used in the painting. This was a hike we did in a gentle rain in July using the Dream Lake trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park.

From Study to Large Painting

My goal this Autumn is to take 4 of my on-location studies and use them as inspiration for large paintings. I really enjoy this process, since by re-visiting the study itself I am swept away by memories of the day when I created the study. This church in Arroyo Seco, NM was painted on site during a warm, wonderful May morning when I and several of my good friends set up and spent 2 glorious hours immersed in our creative bliss. The sun was warm on our shoulders, the only sounds were the call of birds and the rustle of bright green foilage in the breeze.

GOP, not for me

This letter to the editor in the News & Observer on Nov 14, 2010 sums up my beliefs and feelings so well that I just can't help put post it here too:

GOP, not for me
The free market is the most powerful driver of innovation and invention there is. It is great at creating things. The Republicans get that.

But when a free market creates things that benefit a few to the detriment of the nation as a whole, it is totally lousy at fixing them. The Republicans don't get that.

If the market creates things that make a very few people obscenely wealthy, I have no problem with that. But if it makes a few individuals obscenely wealthy while nearly causing the collapse of our entire financial system or making adequate health care unaffordable for a growing segment of our population, then I believe the government has a constitutional obligation ("provide for the general welfare") to step in.


That's why, after 40 years, I am no longer a Republican.


Steve Mark


Cary NC

October in Taos, NM

l to r: Judy Howells, Nelson Hubley, Coni Grant, Jana Van Wyk (me!)

A few weeks ago I snuck off for a few days to bask in the glorious Autumn weather in northern New Mexico.  I attended the opening of a show at the Millicent Rogers Museum where I had two paintings exhibited.  I also spent special time with friends from California, Nova Scotia, and Colorado (see above).

Jana Van Wyk (me) standing beside my two paintings in the Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM in the show "A Spirit of Place", Plein Air Painters of New Mexico

Judy Howells painting just outside our rental house, north of Taos near Arroyo Seco, NM

Bill Gallen doing a demonstration just outside the Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM

"Down Home" juried show at Raleigh Convention Center

Carolina Marsh 16x20 oil on linen

The painting "Carolina Marsh" (above) was juried into the "Down Home: Portraits of the Old North State" art show which opens tomorrow October 21, 2010 at the Raleigh Convention Center. I just dropped off the painting yesterday after framing it in a gorgeous black and gold frame which complements the painting very well. Stop by and enjoy the show!

Millicent Rogers Museum

Tomorrow I'm heading to New Mexico to see friends, attend the opening show of "The Spirit of Place" at Millicent Rogers Museum, and...   to bask in the magical energy and peace that is New Mexico.  See you at the show -  I'll be the one wearing cowboy boots with a denim mini skirt!