Plein Aire Day Part 2

This post is a continuation of the post below. "Plein Aire Day"

The painting is finally completed. It is an oil on canvas, 6x12" Just a tiny one. I completed it is just a little over an hour. Could have been quicker but a lot of people kept stopping to talk to me. As you can see I am set up right at the junction in the trail. This wonderful location is barely 20 minutes from my home located in Franklin Canyon in Martinez, CA.

You can see the green grass, but it is quickly turning to gold. "California Gold" I call it.

Notice the toned canvas I paint on. My eyes just cannot take the reflection of the bright white of an un-toned canvas. Everything I need to paint with, my home-made box, my tripod it attaches to, my water, food, etc. all fit in this leather backpack you see at my feet leaning against the trail marker. I was able to hike around with everything on my back while I was looking for the perfect scene to paint. There was too many perfect scenes, I will definitely be back.

Plein Aire Day

Today I hiked in a brand new park just opened up to the public. The Fernandez Ranch. It is 702 acres that has been acquired and has just opened after the completion of the trail building, and some bridges were built so the public could travel without disturbing the natural habitat. So many scenes to paint I surely will be back.

I have to stretch the photos out over 2 posts due to the limitations on image quantity per post. I wanted to show the painting in progress. I realize when painting outdoors from nature that I have to remember to paint what I actually see and not what I know. I know this sounds silly, but when you have been painting for a long time it becomes habit to grab certain colors. I have to ask myself, "Do you really see that color?"

Do take license to edit down the scene just as a writer would a story. You don't need to include all the information to have a good story, or a good painting.

It was hot, I was hungry, and the bugs kept getting stuck in the paint. But man, what a day! It is glorious to be an artist!

Changing Colors

Changing Colors oil on canvas 12 x 12"

This is the time of year that our green hills start to fade to gold as the rains become less frequent here in CA. The poppies are still in full bloom as is the lupine. Crisp days, nice to get out and capture the wonderful area that surrounds me. Trying to select what to paint is hard as there is so much to choose from. Another day, another scene. That's what you have to tell yourself. There is always tomorrow, to come back and paint what you didn't paint today.

I don't own a tube of green paint. All my greens are mixed. That keeps it from becoming monotonous and boring. My canvas is primed with a mixture of red, yellow, and white acrylic so that I am not painting on a stark white canvas. This gives a warm tone to the skys, and the hills. You don't have to go in a touch up any bare spots either as the warm color shows through and looks nice. It also helps to keep you from getting blinded by the bright light on the white canvas when painting out of doors. Try it, one part yellow, one part red, to three parts white.

Green Diablo Foothills

Winter Colors 10X 20" oil Plein Aire Piece

It is still winter here in Northern, California. Spring will start officially tomorrow. Everything is so very green right now. I do not own a tube of green paint. I mix all my own greens, and if you do, it will give you much more variety than any tube will give you. I use primarily Cad Yellow Medium, mixed with what ever blue I am using that day. Usually Cobalt or Prussian. If you need extreme bright greens, use a Cad Yellow Light. Remember you can tone down, or cool your green with the opposite color, red. I will add Burnt Sienna for this (it acts as a red) or Alizarin Crimson.

After all the rain, it is nice to get out in the glorious sun and paint!

Busy Friday

"View From El Pintado"  30x48" oil on canvas

Today I am getting ready for a home show that I am having on the 17th and 18th of May.  I usually do this twice a year. Once in the spring and once near the holidays. Usually in November. Our local hills are rapidly turning gold and the green is getting more faint by the day until there will be no trace of the wet moist grass left.

I am posting one of my favorites, "View From El Pintado" which was painted at my favorite time of year.  Green and lush.  The oaks are just beginning to bud.  This is a large 30x48" oil on canvas studio piece.  I have a few pieces on the easel, but the business of art calls. Invitations, mailings, web site update and ugh!  My merchant account!!!!  The fees have increased over the last 18 months from free to $2.50 a month statement fee, to $2.50 statement fee plus $25.00 a month activity fee, (even if there is activity or even if there is no activity?)  Now, it has recently gone up to $2.50 plus $35.00!!!!!!  Time to get out of this account and check out another venue. All of this is very frustrating, and keeps me from the easel which is upsetting. I tend to stay up late and paint as it is too late to call the bank, clean the house, answer the phone, etc......  Nothing but silence and quiet painting time.  Nice.

Enjoy "View From El Pintado"  taken from a scene I hiked into up off 680 freeway in Danville, CA.  Just up above the El Pintado exit on the East side of the freeway. All private roads and homes up there, but artists are usually not kicked out.  I walked in and started sketching.  The people that did see me were happy to see what I was up to.

Have a great Friday!

California Spring

Here is a small 10x10" plein aire oil that I just finished.  It is still wet.  I hope to sell it this weekend in Walnut Creek!  With the way the economy is at the moment, I have tried to concentrate on having smaller more affordable pieces for sale.

Poppies!  There are everywhere right now.  I always have a lot of requests for poppies.  I have included them in many new works this spring to if you like poppies, come on down and see these new paintings.

I will be in the Pacific Fine Arts Festival in Walnut Creek, corner of Cypress and Locust St, Friday through Sunday, 10:00AM to 6:00PM  and 5:00Pm on Sunday.  My booth is outside Sherman Clay Piano Store on the corner and I have been there in that spot for 10 years now.

Mention this blog and receive 10% off the purchase of a painting.