Thursday, March 14, 2013

In process ,on my easel today, Fresh Greens

"Fresh Greens" 18 x 24. In process , I like it so far.
We are having an early spring and it's been great getting out to paint.
 This is in a valley about 5 miles from my house. I probably have one more painting session before it's done. It felt great to stretch out, 18 x 24 is a larger size for me and one I've been meaning to try for a while. Painting larger seems like a logical way to paint panoramas.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Desert Hill

Desert Hill 14 x 14

Here's the final version of this painting. There were some minor value and color changes as I worked on it during the past week. What I liked about this hill was the chance to explore some quieter more muted ( for me) colors. The jagged surface of the hill also gave me the chance to use straight edged and more geometric shapes. The earlier versions of this are in the entries below if you want to see my process..

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Progress on "Desert Hill"

Desert Hill 14 x 14

Here's where I am after a couple of days painting and staring. It's probably 95 % of the way done, the last 5 % is a lot of staring , moving around the house etc. to evaluate values and warm /cool contrast. In the hill paintings how far colors advance and recede is important to create distance.



Here's a few of the evaluation and  finishing techniques I use:


Upside down, this removes the reality of the subject and helps me look more objectively at the shapes, colors and values.


Black and white. This is a quieter painting  for me with  muted taupes and palest sage greens and  lightest blue grays, but are the values too close?


Desert Hill black and white

Generally I let paintings sit a week or two at this stage just to give myself some time for objectivity. This is why it helps to have more than one going at once.
If you scroll down one entry ,you can see the earlier stage of this painting.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Friday, December 7, 2012

"Arche at Point Lobos" selected for 4th Annual Signature American Watercolor Exhibition in Fallbrook

"Arche at Point Lobos" 13 x 18

I am pleased to announce that "Arche at Point Lobos" has been selected by juror, Cheng-Khee Chee, AWS, D.F., NWS, for the 2013 Signature American Watercolor Exhibition at the Fallbrook Art Center.

Opens: Feb 3, 2012 
 Closes: Mar 17, 2012 

Here is a link to the exhibit page for more information:

fallbrookartcenter.org/

Friday, November 23, 2012

Curve of the Earth Selected as a semifinalist in the Second Annual Plein Air Salon Contest.

Juror's Comments

Robin Purcell
HONORABLE MENTION
21 x 16, Watercolor, "Curve of the Earth"

"The imaginative use of a pattern of colors to render forms within the landscape is stimulating and boldly creative."
- Michael Zakian

Needless to say,THRILLED.
The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Peppperdine  University in Malibu is one of my favorite Museums .

Here's the link to all the winners from September/October  http://pleinairsalon.com/RecentAwards.aspx