Another delightful half-hour spent observing and recording nature, this time at a camping site in northern Ohio. I challenged myself to use only knives and blades again (like the last painting at Lake Erie). I rather the like the top version best, before I added the tree trunks!
We’re on a camping trip to the east coast. I brought my pochade box and spent a delightful hour sitting on the southern shore of Lake Erie at sunset, painting this little study. I had decided to challenge myself by bringing only knives and blades (no brushes), so the painting is a little rougher as a result, but the sensation of sweeping paint across the surface was lovely. We stayed to watch the sun finally sink below the horizon-glorious!
Acrylic, 9 x 12
Another kayaking adventure painting! This one was from a family trip to Chattanooga, TN. We camped at Harrison Bay State Park, and were fortunate enough to camp close enough to the water that we could easily walk to this launch site. We had some good trips out on Harrison Bay, part of the Tennessee River.
Acrylic, 9 x 12
I love painting trees and water with the Princeton Catalyst blades! Again, here I like the contrast of the bright colors of the kayaks and clothing with the peaceful setting of Racoon Lake, Indiana.
Acrylic, 9 x 12
Our family took up kayaking seven years ago, when looking for an accessible and fun family water sport. We have loved being out on the water, in many varied locations. It is usually very peaceful and restorative.
For a long time I’ve wanted to paint the juxtapositon of the brightly colored kayaks and the peaceful settings. I’ve tried before, but never seemed to hit the right feeling. Using the Princeton Catalyst blades with acrylics on an orange ground seems to get much closer to the feeling I’ve wanted.
This was from a trip this summer to Lake Monroe, Indiana. We had a dear friend visiting from California and we took him kayaking for the first time in his 78 years! He thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hollyhocks, Acrylic, 9 x 12
These four paintings are all composed of the triad Cadmium Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Magenta and Ultramarine Blue, and each painted in a little over one hour. The first three were from photos I took in my garden this year, and the fourth was from a photo I took in England in 2013.
I began each one as an under-painting using the triad and the mini-blades. It is such an exciting and freeing way to start!
The ‘final’ painting after one hour. The last part of the hour was spent refining shapes and shadows. I left the girl’s shirt as the under-painting, as I liked the colors as they were.
Red Treasure, Acrylic 9 x 12
Now I’m adding a time limit (guideline!) to my triad limit. I’m trying to keep each painting time to around an hour—challenging! This triad is Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Red Medium and Ultramarine Blue (plus Titanium White).
I decided to try the skin tones in the same acrylic colors, and I was using one of my larger brushes to try and capture the big tones and not fuss with the detail. I was pretty excited that I actually could paint as loosely as this!
Flying! Acrylic and oil, 9×12
This time I used the Catalyst Blade for the background and the skirt. It was great fun!
I’m trying to limit myself to simple triads of colors this summer. This one is Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Red Medium and Ultramarine Blue (plus Titanium White, but I think of that as a constant necessity, not part of the triad).
I used oils for the skin, changing the cadmium yellow medium for yellow ochre.
I used a photograph of my granddaughter at a fast food restaurant play place as the basis for this painting. I love the wildly mixed colors, which feel to me like the energy, noise and sometimes chaos, of these play places.
Acrylic 9 x 12
This is the more finished tutu painting. I was pleased with the layers of tulle effect using the blades. It was fun to do!
marymayhewart 