Exercise Warm and Cool Colors.....Avocado Paintings

                                                                                 
These paintings are an exercise in working with warm and cool colors and their effect on a simple cut avocado. I thought when I did them that I would like one over the other.  I really can't say which I like better.
They both began with an under painting done in a limited palate in order to get the values correct. The cool under painting was done with ultramarine blue, burnt umber and white and the warm under painting was done
with red oxide, burnt umber, yellow oxide and white. Then they were painted a second time adding more colors, opaquely in some areas and as glazes in others.  The under painting shows through in areas of glazing.
I also worked on loosening up.  Such a simple subject could be boring without the movement the brush stroke creates. The warm painting was done last and the brushstroke is looser than in the cool painting.

Semana Santa .....on the Beach

It is Semana Santa (Holy week). How fast it has arrived.  This means for many, many Mexicans, camping on the beach. It is the most popular beach holiday of the year.  I took the picture that I used for this painting
on Easter Sunday two years ago.  This family was playing on the beach trying to make each other fall down in the sand.  I was captivated by the girls hair and clothing blowing in the breeze. I loved the playfulness of the scene, the smiles and laughter. With their kind permission, I snapped several  photos.  The painting is acrylic on wrapped canvas. The beach is very much a part of life here.  La Paz is on the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean is less than an hour to the west.

Golden Cownose Rays

 

This is probably the most abstract colored pencil that I have ever done.  The photo was taken, looking into the water, of a group of about 50 migrating rays off of the coast of Espiritu Santo Island in the Sea of Cortez.  The water here is amazingly clear turquoise and blue infused with a golden glow from the sun.  It never ceases to startle and amaze me.  How lucky we are to have such a beautiful and clean sea, at least for the present. But large mega developements are nipping at our heels. The economic down  turn, has a positive side:  less hotels and tacky "exclusive" developements, less contamination of the environment.............and preservation of our WONDERFUL NATURAL WORLD. At least for now, we are OK.

 

Sketch of Young Woman

This is just a quick practice exercise.  Portraits are fascinating because you need not only to capture a likeness but more importantly the spirit of the person.  The subtle turned up corners of  her mouth indicating the beginning of a smile, the twinkle in her eyes, the impishness of  her demeanor are all difficult to capture.  But, these are the small elements that bring life to a portrait.  Practice is what makes it possible to concentrate on these subtleties.  Once you are no longer so concerned with proportion and facial structure you can begin to work with line to describe a bit more of the spirit.  So, I keep practicing.

After Gustav Klimt

This is a two hour painting, acrylic on illustration board, done during an open studio studio class demonstrating  the use of line during the Art Nouveau Movement.  It is in the fashion of Gustav Klimt, based upon the drawing "Standing Robed Woman" c. 1916.
     Gustav Klimt has been my.....how shall I put this......my main man, since I was old enough to learn the names of artists.  His amazing use of pattern, shimmering gold leaf and flowing lines had captivated me as a teenager and has not disappointed me since.
             But, even with his amazing talent.....there were doubts..............

“I can paint and draw. I believe this myself and a few other people say that they believe this too. But I'm not certain of whether it's true.”

                                        Gustav Klimt

   How well an artist knows this feeling.

I think it may be a good thing!

My camera finally died this morning.  The above photos were taken with a borrowed camera.  I quickly threw the three paintings on the floor, borrowed a $70.00 US dollar........ Amazon bought used camera.........
from a friend, took four shots and WOW...WHAT A DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY.....THIS CAMERA IS SO MUCH BETTER!!!!!! My camera will be "retired".  My next problem will be how to get a new camera without spending a fortune or going to the USA.  I will do my best to keep the blog going in spite of this.
     
The Triptych is in nearing completion.  The middle, Oncidium, is lacking a darkening of the foreground  yellow petal and some background work. The other two still need a few more adjustments. I will do a final posting when I have a new camera.  But for now, I am taking advantage of this photo to get a better idea of how the three work together and to post in order let you know that, I have not given up.

Bird of Paradise

 

This is a colored pencil work that I did several years ago, done from a photo taken in my garden. I have been caught up in the holidays and travel these last two months and apologize for my lack of posting.  But, looking at past work always gets me motivated to begin again.  I do feel renewed, looking closely at this painting makes me want to lift my pencils once more.  Breaks like this often make one feel bad, somehow negligent. But in reality they are quite good, as long as you do not fear picking up that pencil or brush again. Oh yes! there is always a bit of trepidation, but that passes as soon as you get into it again. Who knows what this year will bring?  There is so much to learn and with a clear mind and a little motivation the adventure will continue.
Happy New Year