Nyack Houses

"Nyack Houses"  Acrylic 12x12"  Click for info

Yesterday I was sitting in a doctor's office waiting, waiting and...waiting some more.  I was looking out the window and suddenly it hit me. My view was incredible. But more importantly, all I had to do was walk outside and I would be immersed in extreme beauty, like everywhere. Why am I not painting this gorgeous town? It offers everything I love to paint - urban setting, color, charm, structure, flowers, landscapes, etc. Here is the first of hopefully many paintings of Nyack, NY, Edward Hopper's hometown, and mine too.

Tuscany Sunset

"Pink Sunset in Tuscany"  8x10"  Acrylic  Click for Info

In contrast to what I wrote in yesterday's post, there are times when there is absolutely no reason to push or change colors one iota. This scene would be that. In order to maintain some type of color unity, I allowed myself only 3 colors (4 including white):  Quinacridone Magenta, Thalo Blue and Cad. Yellow Light. The good 'ol imited palette concept - a little more mixing but it keeps the harmony, not to mention lot less schlepping!

Green and Greener Pastures

Green Lakes Trail  7x7"  Acrylic  Click for more info

One of the most common issues with painting plein air landscapes is...all that green. Everyone loves lush green landscapes, but we also have a backpack full of colors that we are dying to use. This setting is in a beautiful park in Syracuse, NY, called Green Lakes. Not only is the lake green, but everything else is too. Sometimes when I'm trying to introduce more excitement to a monochromatic scene I either choose a harmonic color scheme to base my interpretation on, or play with temperature relationships, or use the setting as a springboard to design a more interesting composition and modify the shapes accordingly. The one given is a quick value sketch, so I can stay on track no matter which path I choose.  Below is a photo of the landscape. Altho the colors may look dull in the photo, it was actually inspiring, dramatic and colorful, and thats what I hoped to communicate.

There are still a couple of spots left for my workshop in Tuscany in late September - it's sure to be fun!   Here is the info.

Other workshops:
Clemente, CA Nov. 10, 11, 12. Click here for more info.

Carmel, CA Nov. 3-7. Full w/wait list. Click here for more info.

Greenville, NY  May 17-23  Click here for more info

Beach Bums

"Beach Bums"  Oil  14x17" More info

'Tis the season for sun and surf, hope you are enjoying your summer

Upcoming Workshops: 

7 Day All inclusive Tuscany Painting Workshop, September 24-Oct 1, Click here for more info.

3 Day Workshop in San Clemente, CA Nov. 10, 11, 12. Click here for more info.

5 Day Workshop in Carmel, CA Nov. 3-7. Full w/wait list. Click here for more info.