Another Pheasant Branch Painting

This is almost the same view as what Jan F. painted.  I took a clue from your painting, Jan, and added some violet to contrast the green, and then took some liberties with inventing a sky and associated light.

Tom Gilbert

Pheasant Branch

I decided to work on this further at home.  Still not sure it's working, but I'm a bit happier with it than I was the other night.   Simplified the foreground tree as per Tom's suggestion (probably could do more), and got rid of an extraneous bush that was awkwardly placed.  I'm still not sure if the sky is working - I definitely struggled with the fact that the view faced west.  I'm not sure how to deal with the bright glare of the low sun - next time I'll try to pick a view opposite the sun!

Fall 2015 Art Junket

Roberta Condon asked me to share this with DCPAPA...

Pheasant Branch Sky painting

I enjoyed painting last night.  The sky was dramatic and looked sort of like this.

I also enjoyed our gathering after the event.  I learned a lot from everyone, but then I forgot it.  Perhaps we should make a page where people could post links as I already forgot the name of the college in New York, as well as the podcast and probably a bunch of other things.   I'll start with a link to the Epic Rap Battle I mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGN5xaQkFk0

Plein Air Painting at Pheasant Branch 5:30pm June 23rd

Next Tuesday evening DCPAPA will paint at Pheasant Branch (north area - park in northernmost parking lot)  This is the view from the parking lot taken late last summer so things will be greener now.  Lots of interesting birds nest here. (For more on that check out Mike McDowell's blog: https://birddigiscoper.blogspot.com/

Empire Prairie Outing

We did have good weather for the Empire Prairies Natural Area outing.  They don't mow much there and I had hoped to get there before the grass got too tall.  I could just barely see over it ... I guess that's not too tall.  Various long vistas at this site.  Here's one.  I liked the rock in the foreground.  There's a little glare on this photo but you can get the gist of it.

Pat, really liked your watercolor in your last post.  Reminded me of Edward Seago's paintings.  I'm attaching one,  practically identical!

Tom

June 16th Plein Air Painting

It was a beautiful evening so I am guessing all the DCPAPA painters had a good time at the Westport Drumlin site.  Unfortunately I have been forbidden by my physical therapist to go out painting (or just about anything else) until my right knee heals.  So I did the next best thing and painted the sky over my patio and copied the scene from a book about watercolor painting by an English artist, James Fletcher-Watson.  I've been trying to learn about painting skies and trees.  Sometimes copying is one of the best ways to learn because you find out what works and what doesn't. It is always much harder than it looks.  I painted this on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed.

June 11th Plein Air Painting Cancelled / RESCHEDULED TO 6/16/15 5:30pm

Tonight's painting outing postponed due to stormy weather forecast but will be rescheduled asap for sometime next week.  I found this view on the web.  Looks like a great view to paint.

Kyle Martin's "Shoe" Painting - Vilas Park May 27th

The pattern of light and dark was very easily seen on the piece of playground equipment. The color of the shoe was also very intense and immediately drew me in. The next time I paint this shoe, I think I'll leave some of the halation out, and simplify the shadow/light planes more. And add some kids! I can't wait for the next time to paint with the group, Cory and I had a great time.   Kyle Martin