Marc Hanson Workshop Day 2

From value to color

This has been my favorite exercise so far at the Marc Hanson workshop. The idea was to paint a simplified three value study (upper left), then do the same thing again, but continue with a few half-tones and dark and light accents (upper right). I found that the simplification showed up flaws in my design, and I was able to correct them.

The next step was to mix colors for the three values, and for this scene we mixed two colors of the mid value (the blue and the lighter green). This is what I wanted to learn, how to mix the color with the right value. And Marc showed us a trick; put a dot of your color on the value painting, squint, and you can see if it is too dark or light. It really works, can you see my color dots on the upper left painting?

I got so much out if this exercise, I'd like to include it in my process for a while. You've got to work fast though, to do a value study and color study before the light changes.

Marc Hanson Workshop Day 1

Colorado Tamarisks Value Study 6"x8" oil

I'm in Longmont, CO, attending a superb workshop with Marc Hanson. On Monday we did value studies, and enjoyed two excellent demos. Today we worked on taking the values to color, and I loved it. I'll post those results tomorrow. If you want to get more of a flavor for Marc's workshops, take a look at his facebook page, there are some good photos.

Cozy Harbor

Cozy Harbor Boats
8"x10" oil on Raymar panel

Yesterday I went back to Cozy Harbor and finished the lobster boat painting. I can see a few things I might fix before putting it into a frame, but I've got the feeling that I was looking for. 

I'm off on Sunday to Colorado for a workshop with Marc Hanson. I'm looking forward to that!

Painting at Cozy Harbor

I found a wonderful harbor for those of you who like to paint boats. Susan Henry recommended it to me and it's just beautiful, a Maine classic. Called Cosy Harbor, it's on Southport Island just outside of Boothbay Harbor. There is a new large pier, shared by the town, the yacht club, and Oliver's restaurant, where I enjoyed my lunch. It's busy there once Oliver's opens at 11:30, but earlier it's quiet, and there are some lovely lobster and pleasure boats. I've got more work to do (or should I say undo?) on this painting. The picture was taken fairly early in today's session.

Thanks to Haidee-Jo Summers for telling me how to post this via email!

"Bunganuc Afternoon"

"Bunganuc Afternoon"

8"x10" oil on Raymar panel

Suzanne and I were back at Bunganuc this afternoon, or the corner of Bunganuc and Macouit Roads to be exact.  A local explained that Bunganuc itself is where the creek of that name enters the bay, to the right in the painting. I stared this one two weeks ago, but didn't get quite done, so back this afternoon when the tide and sun were the same to finish it up. There's a wonderful tree to stand under, but today it was dropping bugs like mad. I got one in my shirt and was literally hopping up and down trying to get it out. Creepy.

"Bunganuc Morning"

"Bunganuc Morning" 

4"x10" oil on Raymar panel

We've had some nice plein air painting days, but also some rain, today it was pouring. I did this painting last Sunday morning, a little north of Freeport along the coast, at a place called Bunganuc. A new favorite, and not just with me, as you can see above.

"Maine Maritime Tug"

"Maine Maritime Tug"

8"x10" oil on Raymar panel

The tug and the painting, with the training ship, State of Maine, tied up behind.

I had a wonderful time yesterday painting in the first ever Castine Plein Air Festival, in Castine, ME. It was a marvelous experience, despite rain on Friday when we artists were trying to check out the painting spots. The weather turned beautiful on Saturday for the event, which ended with a very well attended opening last night. I met some wonderful artists, and enjoyed painting at the harbor and at Wadsworth Cove. The later was a pleasant respite after finishing my first painting, above; with a nice breeze and the sound of a lobster boat engine out in the bay. What could be better?

I want to thank painter Dan Graziano, who organized the festival, and the Castine Art Association, especially, president Don Tenney, and his wife Marty, who opened their house to two of us artists, showed us good places to paint, and were terrific hosts. They can be very proud of their first festival. If you like to paint en plein air, check it out next year. I'd love to do it again.

"Broad Cove Morning"

"Broad Cove Morning"

Tim's view

A few PAPME members brave the fog

Last Sunday morning I painted from my friend Tim's yard in Yarmouth. The view is Broad Cove, a mile wide shallow cove on the edge of Casco Bay. Our family cottage is on the left bank near the bay end and the kids love to swim there because the water is warmed by the mud flats which get sun at low tide.

I was out painting several times last week, but mostly wiped off the results. It was fun to join the Plein Air Painters of Maine on Wednesday in East Boothbay (I love that place!), but the weather wasn't cooperating, see the painters in the fog? It's what we call "Maine in the summer". Better weather arrived on Friday.

Exciting News - Castine Plein Air Festival

I've got some exciting news! I've been chosen to participate in the Castine Plein Air Festival on July 27th, in Castine Maine. I'm very excited about this. Having done the Laudholm Farm Wet Paint Auction in Wells several times, I've been looking to participate in one of the plein air events that are becoming popular. This one looks like a lot of fun. If you are going to be anywhere near Castine in late July, please do stop by, we've got some great painters participating. And Castine is a very pretty Maine seacoast town, and home of the Maine Maritime Academy.

Provencal Tree Study

Tree Study

~ 4"x6" oil on board

Julian gave us a lesson in painting trees, focusing on giving them some variety and a shape other than that of a lollipop on a stick. Isn't it interesting how the longer you work on a painting the more regular and evenly spaced everything becomes, even when you started out with lots of variety and interesting shapes? We have to fight against that. I think I succeeded here. Thank you, Julian.