Lake Powell update

Still working on this piece...getting there. I am posting all these versions of a painting so you and my students can see how a painting might evolve. Complex works of art demand lots of problem-solving...and answers that serve both the original conception and the painting's evolution towards a conclusion that presents itself as felt. This conclusion is usually not the artist's choice alone...the painting speaks and has it's own life...it seeks full symbolic manifestation. The artist acts as a medium and a partner in this process.

'Sanctuary' almost finished [again]

I think there must be 20 pounds of paint on this by now...have been experimenting with colors and shape changes...much easier to do in Photoshop than with wet paint layers. Now to refining from this stage and figuring out how I want to do the water. Water needs to be clean and not fuzzy...so there is work to be done!

Lake Powell changes again

This is the kind of painting that one could re-paint many times. Since the basic composition is interesting..I decided to experiment further...more shape changes and increased the chroma ...a strong red orange light is being reflected from an unknown source on the left...plus there is still the last rays of sunset on the top rocks. I will continue to refine this idea until it all comes together. However...since I have been working on this exclusively for so long now...I am looking forward to the next project...so this will be wrapped up soon. More color/ value adjustments on the rocks and then the final glistening effects on the water.

'Sancturay' revision

I decided on changing the shapes of the foreground rocks and tweaking the other forms somewhat. Also you can see the first layer of color on the water. I want to make it look like still dark water with a glossy foreground bow wake....coming into 'sanctuary' for the night.

'Sanctuary' almost finished

Since the rocks are nearly finished [except for fine touches]...I will be painting the water next. If all goes well it should not take long. I put a thin glaze on the water surface already...and when that dries...I will add more warm glazes and a few floaters on the glassy surface. The time of day and mood indicates a calm surface and a deep dark color with glowing reflections...now I just have to do it:)

Lake Powell painting progress

Here is where this painting stands today...I decided to emphasize the reflected light coming into the cove from the left...it lightens the formations considerably..but since there is a lot of light in the sky yet...I think this will work. I added a few bushes on the slopes...and adjusted values again [and again]. Rocks are about 90% done...soon on to the water challenge!

Lake Powell 'Sanctuary' update

Today's effort focused on painting the sky and cooling the formations as they turned from the reflected light. More work to do!

Lake Powell painting process

I am into the refinement stage on the rocks now...the water reflections won't be painted until the formations are 90% finished. Time to get out my mediums and start mixing with the oils for the final layers. I will be using a high-gloss mixture of spike solvent, varnish, stand oil and turps for the water...and a damar varnish, stand oil, wax/turps mix for the rocks and sky [a much more matte medium]...this will add to the sandstone texture instead of all glossy. I also might pull out the palette knife for a few thick pieces of paint on the foreground rocks. Since there is not a lot of depth in this composition...I will use some texture for contrast.

'Sanctuary' painting progress

I thought this painitng was going to be rather easy to do...no such luck. I am still working my way through the rock structures and trying to decide if I need to make it warmer or cooler. Slow going on this...here is the current version as of this evening. I am also in the middle of creating a new website from scratch...so my studio time has been usurped. Gotta be done tho!

'Sanctuary' water underpainting

Here is today's effort...more painting on the rocks and the dark dark underpainting for the water. After this dries somewhat..I will apply thin paint in lighter colors for the reflections...but the rocks need to be mostly finished before attempting this. Eeks.

'Sanctuary' - first color

Taking the underpainting from the previous post further...refined the drawing of the shapes and experimented with this uncommon limited palette: naples yellow, jaune brilliant, yellow ochre, orange ochre, mars violet, permanent madder, cobalt turquoise, cobalt blue and mineral violet....basically using the complementary pair...yellows and purples. I can mix wonderful soothing colors from this combination...the mood and light of this must be maintained by close values and subtle temperature changes within the shapes. Interesting!

'Sanctuary' underpainting

Here is the initial underpainting of my current project...cobalt turquoise and magenta only...20x30 canvas. This will be painted from a photo I took while working at Lake Powell one summer while on one of my many houseboat expeditions. The concept is on feeling..the quiet hour at sunset looking for a good place to shelter for the night. The water is usually calm then...the desert winds dying down...the massive rocks veiled in soft grayed colors. Peace reigns.

'Road to Zion' - final painting

I decided on a major change...the large tree in the foreground and more bushes on the slopes. I needed to break-up the orange shape on the right...it was too much and was competing with the main focus colorwise. So don't be afraid to go for it!

Roads End

Finished! [well except for a couple more strokes of paint]. On to the next project...I'm thinking skies. The early spring skies have been amazing here in southern Nevada...and I feel I want to do something more abstract and not as detailed. I need a break!

'Road to Zion' - almost finished!

About 7/8 done...getting closer. These large paintings are fun but can take a long time to complete...probably a couple more days in the studio. You can compare this version to the earlier underpainting post and see how it has evolved. Colors used are a fairly limited palette...naples yellow,cad orange, two earths [light red and terra rosa], two blues [prussian and ultramarine]..and a violet. 24x24 oil on gallery-wrapped canvas. Onwards.

'Road to Zion' - halfway there

Slow going on this piece...getting the values and lighting right is a challenge. There is something about this that I am not happy with...haven't been able to put my finger on it yet...but I will. The halfway mark is usually the most difficult part of the painting. Each piece 'wants' to come to fruition and needs me to concentrate and be open...it's a synergistic process.

The next post will be the finished piece..and I expect it will be quite different than this image [like what happened to the "Queen of Spades Range']. So back to the easel!

'Road to Zion' - first color

Last night I quickly did the color underpainting for this piece...prussian blue, cadmium red light, and the earthy light red. I was able to do this so fast because the drawing I did earlier was easy to follow [one reason why drawing is important!]. Of course there are always areas of a composition that are problematic..but eventually they will be designed to belong. The concept has to do with the awe one feels when driving into Zion Canyon...intimate yet grand.

'Road to Zion' - beginnings

The concept for this piece is based on a photo I took while working in Zion Canyon last summer...which I cropped and printed out in black and white. From that..I drew a rough sketch on the canvas with some muddy oil paint I had on my palette diluted with lots of thinner. This is only a guide...the painting will evolve as it will as I add the colors. Stay tuned!

'Queen of Spades Range' - Death Valley border

I am calling this finished! Of course there are always tweaks to be done...but I am on to the next project...a large painting of the road into Zion Canyon. The concept of this came from the painting's title. *There isn't any range named the 'Queen of Spades'*... it was named for the strong paisley patterns that are found on the alluvial slopes of deep desert mountains. So here it is...24 x 24 oil on canvas.

Painting - the Final Quarter

Getting towards the finish on this piece...paint is too wet for the final layer.  I changed the design yet again and added more color...the reflected light from the sky onto the land below.  Still have to figure out the foreground and the cast shadow area.  The next post on this painting will be when it is completely finished [never!] Hopefully soon...

More 'Queen of Spades' progress

If you have looked at the previous posts you will see my progress...still have a ways to go. Naturally I had to change colors several times and am contemplating making the foreground all in shadow...not sure I want that much dark...maybe.  Anyway here is the day's work:

'Queen of Spades' - process

Here is where I am in this painting...still working my way through the color harmony...design is very close to where I want it...minor tweaks to be done.  But the colors and values are not where I want them yet.  Back to the easel!

'Queen of Spades Range' - halfway

Today's work left me at about the halfway mark..spent time adjusting the design and also decided to show some shadow from the mountain ...that put the dry lake in darkness..but I didn't think viewers would understand the lighting if only the mountains were in shadow.  Added a few more colors...cadmium red light, permanent madder, and cobalt blue...hard to use just a few!

'Queen of Spades Range' - Death Valley area

Here is today's effort...the first layer of paint over the blue underpainting.  The medium I am using is an exotic smelling mixture..spike lavender oil, damar varnish, stand oil, and real turpentine...pungent and intoxicating.  So far the colors used are gold ochre, terra rosa, prussian blue and ultramarine deep.  The values need major adjusting and you can see the design has already changed...and will again as it evolves...a somewhat complex piece.  

I painted while listening to the great Beethoven's third...music while working is wonderful...puts bounce in your brush.  This piece is like a giant puzzle...all the colors and shapes have to work together...a symphony in paint.

Underpainting Blues

Back in the studio! The above image is the original concept for this painting from my sketchbook...and below is the underpainting done with one of my favorite colors...prussian blue. I find it much better than the popular thalo...it has subtle qualities especially when mixed. This piece will be painted using a limited palette..more on that later...but the focus is on design...the paisley patterns of a desert alluvial fan ending in a luminous dry lake bed. The light is late afternoon with most of the mountains in shadow...hence the blue blue underpainting.

This is a 24x24 gallery-wrapped canvas that will require very little framing if any... maintaining a contemporary abstract feel. The values here are not what they will be with color...the shapes are what I needed as a guideline for my paint strokes and are not set in stone. We will see where this goes...