Summer Shadows

Summer Shadows,  12x9" Oil on Canvas

©Helen Read

Just off the easel
Highly textured and full of colorful light, this painting captures the warmth of summer shadows.  You can almost hear the cicadas in the trees as the roadway invites exploration and adventure!  

To create that wonderful sense of texture, a palette knife was used as the painting tool. The colors blend with interesting striations, and a warm glow is cast from some of the under painting still showing through. 

 

See this and more  at my website!

Landscapes and Palette Knives

A couple posts back, I posted the beginning of this landscape - a roadway ... maybe the road less traveled?     It's only in progress here - but in order to keep this one loose and expressive, I'm using a palette knife to apply the paint.  The top picture shows how far I've progressed.  The bottom picture gives a detail of how texture and broken color creates the effect of trees along a road side - yet it is not precise... it leaves the eye to do color mixing and to imagine the scene.  

 

Fly Away Home

This little mini painting and its easel was my Give-Away in this month of September!
And it is headed to Mississippi! 
That's right ....  a free oil painting to one of my friends!  

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They are the ones who get my news note every month.

And YOU could be one of these special friends too! 

You will get a colorful fun message in your inbox during the first week of every month. 
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• the latest work from my studio, 
• hear the latest news, 
• find out about the contests for free paintings that I run every few months, and how to participate
• get notice of special discounts (only available to my friends), 
• and get a download that I make just for you 

It's fun, it's free ... and it's a great way to stay in touch. 

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Take Away - The subtractive approach

The subtractive approach.... For me it's a new way to start a landscape painting. 

I began this painting with transparent paint on a white canvas - covering most of it with broad strokes using a large brush. 

I very roughly added in some values - but no forms show at all yet.

And then, I began to subtract - in very general ways.  

Finally, a landscape idea is beginning to emerge ... but only beginning! 

The underpainting is done.  I'm most concerned about values at this stage - I want the under structure to be composed where values link together.  It's not quite a notan expression, but almost!  

Next steps will add color ~ and the landscape will continue to emerge. 

Balancing Act - Life, work, and making art

It really is.... a balancing act!   I've been doing it for years! 

In the busyness of life - family, work, keeping a home and all those time intensive requirements, how does one find the time to  pursue and hone the artistic work that calls to the artist's spirit!?   Some of us don't have a choice because others are depending upon what we do.  Does that mean the artist within has to be pushed aside or put on hold?    No! But, it does take perseverance!  Keep reading for some do-able tips!   Read more here