Painting Adventures In The Rain

20 Mile River Adventure -  On Saturday Scott Thompson, Karen Mattson and I went up 20 Mile River in Scott's boat.  Despite the constant rain we figured we would take our chances and see the country and hope for a break in the rain.  After we got the boat launched and packed, I was about half soaked but a cup of hot coffee and a donut and away we go.


We worked our way up the river and took pictures through the rain.  We went up one last tributary to take pictures.  As we stopped on a sandbar, the rain let up and stopped.  So we quickly set up our gear.  As you will notice we were all "packing", bear country!   Once we started to paint the rain said "Suckers" and the real downpour started.   We gave it a valiant try but alas had to call "Uncle" and pack it up.  Karen was painting watercolors, Scott was painting in Acrylics so you can imagine how well that went.  I was using oils but had a senior moment and did not think to bring a oil primed canvas panel, instead the acrylic panel soaked up the water and the oil paint ran off just like a watercolor on wet paper.   After all these years you would think I would know better.  We had a great time, despite the lack of painting.  Great photos for future work to come.  But we promised ourselves when the weather is sunny next summer we will head up river once again.

Stage 3 Knik River - Work up the mid ground

Mid Ground Area; Gravel, Main Trees, and the small trees on the right back.

Got to paint before the Football Games this morning.  Worked up the dark low treeline on the water in the distance.  Also added darks and lights to the gravel.  Worked up the right trees in the mid distance.  Then went to work on the main trees.  What fun to play with bright colors of fall.  

I have included a picture of the whole painting along with the picture I am working from.  I took this picture with my friend Don Kolstad when we were Plein Air Painting a few weeks ago.

 

100K Trees? Nope Just Implied Them

Stage 2 Knik River Painting - 16x20 on Gesso Panel - I finally got to paint after 6 days.  I more or less have finished the background.   Looks as if I painted a couple 100K trees, nope not a one, just implied the trees with color values.  Took about 3-4 hours to work the background up to my satisfaction.  Will work the mid ground next. Lots left to work on, but so far I am very pleased with how it is coming together.

Including a look into my small studio in the picture below, space is tight, so yes it is crowded. but it is home when I am creating.  Me and Oreo (my dog) head out and loose track of the hours when I turn on the stereo and paint.

3 Small Paintings

3 Small Paintings - 5x7's  - I painted these 3 paintings just before I left on my vacation to visit my kids.   They were a weekend work, lot of fun to scale down to smaller images every now and then.  Forces you to simplify your composition and not get to detailed.  So you learn what to leave out of your painting and to only include what is necessary.  I also painted on Amperstand Gesso Board on 2 of the paintings.  A slicker surface, but I like the look, so will keeping working with the gesso board now and then.

Getting The Motor Started

Prepping the engine for starting. - As I continue to paint I find that I have certain patterns that help me prep myself for a paining session.  Usually I do my best painting in the morning.  I get up early, have a bite to eat and 2 cups of coffee.  Then read a little about art.  Then head to the studio with my dog (Oreo).  Usually turn on the stereo to jazz or early rock n roll.  Sit down and think about what I want to do; if it is a painting I am working on I will take some time to look at it.  Determining whether I need some changes, whats working & whats not.  If I am starting a new painting i will think about composition, subject matter, color and what I am trying to express in my painting.  Emotional Content is so important in a painting that communicates with it's audience.  After I have done all this and my thoughts are in order I will start to paint.  Once I am painting time flies by.  I usually take a break at lunch and have lunch with my wife.  Then back to the studio for another session.