Art and the Turtle
It was a wonderful day to sit on a rock in the sun. This little guy certainly thought so. He was the perfect model, not moving even when kids were throwing rocks at him. For a minute I thought he may be a statue, but no. Just as I was packing up to leave, he repositioned himself so the sun was again on his back.
I am thoroughly enjoying my Thursday plein air painting and this morning was no exception. We met at Descanso Gardens and I decided to paint on a smaller panel, 8x10 instead of 11x14. I wanted to do a more intimate scene, so even though there was a lovely waterfall nearby, I chose to paint the turtle on a rock. I am glad I did because I really like him. He is looking for a home so if you want to adopt him just click on the title.
Please sign up for my newsletter at Sharon's News and come to one of my upcoming shows or Events. You can email me to ask any questions or just to say HELLO at Sharon@sharonweaver.com.
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I am thoroughly enjoying my Thursday plein air painting and this morning was no exception. We met at Descanso Gardens and I decided to paint on a smaller panel, 8x10 instead of 11x14. I wanted to do a more intimate scene, so even though there was a lovely waterfall nearby, I chose to paint the turtle on a rock. I am glad I did because I really like him. He is looking for a home so if you want to adopt him just click on the title.
Please sign up for my newsletter at Sharon's News and come to one of my upcoming shows or Events. You can email me to ask any questions or just to say HELLO at Sharon@sharonweaver.com.
Artist for Art
There is nothing like an upcoming competition to get me out there painting. I was meeting two fellow artists, Lynne Fearman and Kathy Yaude, for lunch in Montrose and decided to paint in the afternoon. Karen Winters suggested Deukmejian Park in the foothills of Glendale. It wasn't till I turned into the driveway, that I realized I had been there before with Jeff to hike.
It is a lovely park with a historic old stone barn but unfortunately there is a fence around it because of earthquake damage so I couldn't find a good view. I walked up the trail a very short distance and found a beautiful spot.
It was warm, sunny, the wild flowers where blooming. A perfect day for painting. The background hills were set against a lovely blue sky and the curve in the trail headed toward a stately oak. The lavender, yellow and orange colors in the foreground set everything off. Ahhhh! It doesn't get better. What a great day. Comment on or Share this Article →
Paint the Night
Lights from the Valley
Last night Marian Fortunati and I trekked out for an adventure in nocturne painting. I had two little reading lights to illuminate the canvas but, combine the reflection off the paint with the darkness, and it was almost like painting with my eyes closed. Very interesting.
Amazingly, I came home with a painting that I like. With my first attempt behind me, I believe the most challenging aspect is color mixing. In the dark, it is almost impossible to see just what color I am mixing. Is the blue for the sky too red, too brown, too blue? Is the green for the trees too green or blue or what? I can understand why another artists told me to premix my colors before I go out.
Now that I have a better idea of what to expect, I am looking forward to trying another night painting. To see more of my painting click on Sharon's plein air paintings.
Artist's Painting Group
The Thursday group that I paint with gathered in the foothills of Sierra Madre at a park that previously must have been an impressive entrance to a substantial property. The remnants of that estate are apparent in the decorative iron gate and the statuesque cypress trees that line the road. With my backpack and easel, I trudged up the road and set up my paints. The once proud driveway had cracks and potholes, with nature reclaiming the very surface. The foggy hills were just the right mood to enhance the feeling of nostalgia. I am pleased that I had brought my heavy jacket because it was cold. More than once, a fine mist filled the air.
I used crimson to block in the values and then worked on the sky and background hills. The various greens of the trees, grass and bushes needed to stay separated but also maintain a harmony. The bottom denominator was the orange accent that ran throughout.
This week was a great opportunity to paint softer lighting but I am hoping that next week will bring the usual southern California brilliant sun. For more California paintings see my current work at Sharon's paintings. Comment on or Share this Article →
Art on a Foggy Day
The Tide is Out I have painted at Leo Carillo Beach once before. It was after the spring rains when it was high tide and a very hot, sunny day. This week, the conditions were the opposite from my last visit. It was low tide, foggy, cool, and there was no water in the creek which feeds into the ocean right next to the parking lot. To add insult to injury, the sun was out on the other side of PCH, not a hundred yards away, but the beach was socked in with fog.
One of the challenges of painting outside is dealing with less than perfect weather conditions. I decided to accept the challenge and set up down by the water. The low tide had stranded a bunch of kelp on the sand and I liked the orange gold color of it against the sand and ocean. Since there were no shadows, I concentrated on the colors of the waves and the reflections of the rocks. I have several more seascapes on my website at SharonWeaver.com
Driving home I stopped in the mountains to look back toward the ocean. The view was lovely with the sun shining on the wild flowers and the ocean in the foggy distance. I plan to come back to that lookout and paint the scene with the sun sparkling off the ocean.
One of the challenges of painting outside is dealing with less than perfect weather conditions. I decided to accept the challenge and set up down by the water. The low tide had stranded a bunch of kelp on the sand and I liked the orange gold color of it against the sand and ocean. Since there were no shadows, I concentrated on the colors of the waves and the reflections of the rocks. I have several more seascapes on my website at SharonWeaver.com
Driving home I stopped in the mountains to look back toward the ocean. The view was lovely with the sun shining on the wild flowers and the ocean in the foggy distance. I plan to come back to that lookout and paint the scene with the sun sparkling off the ocean.
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Art at Garden of the Seven Sorrows
I recently started to paint plein air with a group on Thursday. It is a wonderful and talented group of artists. Walter McNall, who organizes the outings, finds places that I have never painted, so I was looking forward to going to the Passionists Retreat Center in Sierra Madre. We entered through a locked gate that magicly opened for the group and drove into the lovely grounds. The retreat is beautiful with gardens, flowers, old trees and the Mission buildings. All were candidates as painting subjects but..........
Pergola in the Garden of the Seven SorrowsI decided on a more intimate scene in a gated garden called the Garden of the Seven Sorrows. There was a wonderful serpentine wall that divided different spaces for private meditation. I found a perfect spot where the sun was casting lovely shadows on the wall from the plants and trees. I really enjoyed painting in the quiet solitude of this garden.
I didn't realize how many artists had come for the paint out till we stopped for lunch. WOW! We had at least 25 artists and it was great to see all the different paintings, scenes and styles.
Along One of the Many Paths You must make reservations to paint at Passionists Retreat Center but it is open to the public and for events.
New and Improved Art
Last night I couldn't sleep, so around 1:30 AM I got up and decided to revisit the painting I did at Malibu Creek State Park. See the previous blog Afternoon Painting.
I made a few changes that I believe have improved the image. This would be similar to those contests that ask, "Can you find 12 things that are different in these two drawings?" In this case it is about 10 minor changes that were made which make a big difference. Have fun finding them.
Hint: After taking a photo of the new and improved painting, I realize that the colors were quite off in the first photo so don't think that I changed all the colors. I didn't. Comment on or Share this Article →
Afternoon Painting
Light Through the Passage Malibu Creek State Park is a feast for the eyes and a retreat for the soul. After lunch, I took a walk and picked out my next painting spot further into the park. The bridge, stream and rock formation all drew me to this spot but it was the lighting which had me running back for my easel.
The afternoon was waning so I didn't have much time to complete this second painting. I pulled out my largest brush and blocked in the values. I developed my colors for the rocks. I felt this would be the key to capturing the late afternoon light. The highlights were orange but the shadows were purple.
By 4:30 the wind had died and the water was finally still. Adding the highlights on the water was the final touch. Packing up, I was tired but happy.
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The afternoon was waning so I didn't have much time to complete this second painting. I pulled out my largest brush and blocked in the values. I developed my colors for the rocks. I felt this would be the key to capturing the late afternoon light. The highlights were orange but the shadows were purple.
By 4:30 the wind had died and the water was finally still. Adding the highlights on the water was the final touch. Packing up, I was tired but happy.
Playground for an Artist
Morning at Malibu Creek Even though the day was cloudy and it was supposed to be cold, I headed to Malibu Creek State Park. This is one of the painting spots of many California Impressionist and one of my favorite places to visit. I haven't been there in a while so I was seeing the park with fresh eyes.
I settled in next to the creek at a bend where the water heads toward a group of oak trees, first passing through shrubs. The clouds were still thick at the ocean and the lighting was subdued. Without any shadows, I concentrated on the colors.
As I painted, the sun came out and it heated up so after lunch I decided to stay and paint one more scene. Malibu Creek State Park is a playground for an artist.
I settled in next to the creek at a bend where the water heads toward a group of oak trees, first passing through shrubs. The clouds were still thick at the ocean and the lighting was subdued. Without any shadows, I concentrated on the colors.
As I painted, the sun came out and it heated up so after lunch I decided to stay and paint one more scene. Malibu Creek State Park is a playground for an artist.
Rafael Maniago Demonstration
Rafael Maniago During the Demo April's monthly meeting of the San Fernando Valley Art Club showcased Rafael Maniago, who did an ocean landscape for the group. Painting for Rafael is a fast process that leaves the audience wondering how he achieves so much detail in so short a time. He paints with a very basic color palette and premixes the values of the paint. Using only two blues, two reds and two yellows with white, Rafael keeps his colors clean and clear.
Rafael's Palette of Colors For the members who were at the meeting , the speed at which Rafael finished his painting was astounding. As Rafael joked, "Don't blink or you'll miss me painting the clowds." The extra time gave the members time to socialize and talk to Rafael.
SFVAC Members at the BreakThe SFVAC wants to thank Rafael for donating his painting and inspiring the members with his demonstration.
Rafael's Finished PaintingPainting the Ocean
Hidden Cove The surf, the friends, the beach, the wind. Yes, the wind. A group of landscape painters met at the beach to paint yesterday and it was a beautiful sunny day, but windy. So windy that my paint brush was not always in my control as the wind would push it to the left. The color would sometime land in a spot I originally did not intend it, but that is the challenge of painting outside. The elements are part of the experience and contribute to the painting.
Despite the wind I enjoyed the hours painting and talking with my fellow artists, Marian Fortunati, Laura Wambsgans, and new friends Margie Murray, and Lynn Sanguedolce. I hope to be at another paintout with this group next week.
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Despite the wind I enjoyed the hours painting and talking with my fellow artists, Marian Fortunati, Laura Wambsgans, and new friends Margie Murray, and Lynn Sanguedolce. I hope to be at another paintout with this group next week.
Plein Air Painting at Hyperion Bridge
Hyperion BridgeI am gearing up for the upcoming Carmel Art Festival and have been getting out of the studio to paint plein air on location. The Hyperion Bridge is an amazing structure, beautiful and impressive. I painted here last year and posted a plein air painting from that day. If you want to learn more about this landmark I found a great blog at Big Orange Landmark.
The LA River is becoming more natural and wild every year. There was a large flock of Canadian geese trumpeting while I painted. One of the local residents told me he was visiting the geese every day and it sure looked as if he had struck up a friendship with the group because several came out of the water to say hello to him.
The morning was hazy and windy so I knew that my painting would have a lot of atmosphere with the background hills fading into the distance. My effort was successful with a lovely view of the east arches going over the Los Angeles River. Comment on or Share this Article →
