Workshops - Carol Marine

Carol Marine has posted a workshop next August to be held in Freeport and that has gotten me thinking about what I've learned in the workshops I have taken this year. By this I mean what I took home and practiced and made part of the way I paint. So I thought I would do a post or two about this, starting with Carol's class last March (and yes, I am looking forward to taking it again!). I don't mean to say that each of the instructors I've done a workshop with, or read a book by, this year were not teaching some of the same things, but what sticks is perhaps the solution to the problem that you are facing at the time. So here are the three things I brought home and made my own from Carol's class:

negative space from the inside of the object out - if you start at the center of each object and work your way out, you can use painting the negative space (the space around the object) to shape each one. All the messiness of that first exuberant pass at the object, gets turned into greatness when you use the negative space to reshape it. I love the way this makes things look, like this slice of melon in front of another slice or the sky and tree.




blue and yellow don't make green - the use of two of each of the primaries, one leaning towards each other primary, is key to being able to mix any color you need, and the secret to making bright clear colors. Though I had already read the book by this name, it was Carol's approach that brought it home for me. I wouldn't have been able to make this green background color with the ultramarine blue that I was using as my only blue.


different strokes - Carol had us do an exercise where she said "each stroke has to be a different color, so mix something different for each one". For someone with a tendency to blend, like me, this was a revelation. I am still getting used to it.


Sorry for the length of this. It cements it for me to tell you about it. Thanks for listening!

There is already a waiting list for Carol's class in Freeport next August, but if you are interested, email Suzanne deLesseps.

"Walking Path"

"Eucalyptus"

I have been in California for the last few days on a project for work, and only brought my sketch book (no paints!). I also have my new camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1), which I am really enjoying. The 12x zoom is amazing and the stabilization really works!

I love the vegetation in California, particularly the eucalyptus trees. These are a couple of small (3"x3") sketches I did this morning.

"Delicious 2" - NFS - December Painting Giveaway

"Delicious 2"

6"X6" oil on canvas panel

What a beautiful day it was today! We drove up to Boothbay and took some great photos along the way. It was time to bring home the paintings from the summer season at The Gallery at Boothbay Harbor. I want to thank Rick and company for a super summer and look forward to showing new paintings there next year.

This painting is based on an earlier gouache. I did a first pass this morning, blocking in the basic shapes, values, and colors. And then after our ride to Boothbay, I refined it with more color variation, adjusting the values and shapes where necessary.

"Boarded Up"

"Boarded Up"

6"X6" oil on canvas panel

On my walk in South Freeport the other day, I was struck by this cottage view, all boarded up for the winter, all the clutter put away, the yard so neat and tidy. I did one more thing for the family, and painted their cottage red. It's really green, but I though this made a nicer painting. I cut down some trees too. Don't tell.

"Harraseeket Road"

"Harraseeket Road"

6"X6" oil on canvas panel

SOLD

Walking down Harraseeket Road in South Freeport the other day, the light was brilliant on the sides of the white houses that back on the harbor. I loved the contrast with the foliage on the burning bush in this yard. A stunning fall day!

"Gilsland Pine"

"Gilsland Pine"

6"X6" oil on canvas panel

Here we are again at Gilsland Farm (Maine Audubon) in Falmouth. This is a view of the big pine down near the water from close by in the north field. I did the underpainting for this one, in burnt sienna and raw umber, on site a couple of weeks ago, and then finished up with the color in the studio. I think you can see the underpainting sneaking through.

"Audubon Trees"

"Audubon Trees"

oil on 6"X6" canvas panel

soon to be available at the Yarmouth Frameshop and Gallery

Maine Audubon in Falmouth (Gilsland Farm) is beautiful this time of year. Yesterday we painted near the buildings, trying to stay out of the wind. Some trees had been cut down and that really opened up the view through these trees.

"Wolfe's Neck Farm"

"Wolfe's Neck Farm"

6"X6" oil on canvas panel

Yesterday I went to Wolfe's Neck Farm in Freeport in the afternoon, to paint a group of trees that I had scouted out on a previous visit. There were quite a few people there enjoying the sunshine, some taking a hayride, and others just walking or driving through. One man stopped his car and came over to see what I was doing. He was disappointed that I wasn't painting the Belted Galways (a very popular cow in this part of the world) that had wandered onto the edge of my scene. Maybe next time.

I am proud to announce the winner of the August Painting Giveaway drawing, Elizabeth Michaud. Elizabeth's prize is another painting from the Freeport area, "Winslow Park". Congrats, Elizabeth! Do check out her photography blog. She has a great design sense and the color is sensational.

Color Study 4

I have been saving the snow scene for last. What do you think? Only one blue (ultramarine), but both reds, cad yellow light and white. All four of the Porter's Pine color studies are 3"X3" in gouache. Now it is time to get back to oils!

Color Study 3

This is the third of four planned color studies in gouache that go with the original value studies. Here I was using a palette of ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow medium and phthalo red rose, and yes there is a tiny bit of cad red light in the tree greens and a bit of phthalo blue in the far trees. The previous two versions were mainly pthalo blue and cad red along with the cad yellow. As I have mentioned before, I use two of each primary (each one leaning towards one of the other two primaries) plus white. When all four are done, I will show them together. I think I am getting what I wanted to out of this, and I hope you guys are enjoying the ride, with the occasional side trip to other subjects.

"Porter's Pine Color Study" - SOLD

This is my 100th post to the blog! I have so enjoyed these small paintings and the pull of the blog as an incentive to paint them. I want to thank every one of you for sharing this experience with me and for all the enthusiasm and support you have given me on this painting journey.

I hope you aren't sick of the wonderful pine from Porter's Landing! This time, I used the color studies in gouache to inspire an oil study. Porter's Pine Color Study is a 6"X6" oil.

Oh, and I almost forgot, the September Painting Giveaway winner has been notified, and I will announce the name and painting shortly.

"Gladiola"

The farm stand near my office has wonderful flowers, and I have been admiring the gladiolas for weeks. My mother loved these old fashioned elegant flowers and planted them when I was a child. So yesterday I bought a stem, and this morning, while it was pouring outside, enjoyed mixing the flower's gorgeous colors. "Gladiola" is a 6"X6" oil.