When I looked out the window this morning, the sky was a mix of pinks, blues, whites and yellows. Snow is on the way. The colors were vivid for a very brief time… maybe four minutes. They faded within seconds. I dashed to my easel and quickly scrubbed in the colors while they were fresh…
Tag: Landscapes
Autumn Means Painting
The best view from our home is through the sliding glass doors in our living room. Unfortunately, that’s also the hottest room in the summer, so – without a/c (typical in this part of NH) – it’s no fun to paint there. However, once the cooler weather returns, I’m ready to pick up my paintbrush…
Sunset Colors – 18 Mar 10
Generally, sunsets aren’t colorful right now. Last night was an exception. The longer I painted (and the darker the skies became), the more brilliant the colors and contrasts in the sky. In fact, I tried to paint a second sketch after this one, but it was so dark outside, I couldn’t see what I was…
Spring is on the way – Color study
I’m ambivalent about spring. Oh, I love the warmer weather. New England winters are lovely to look at… through a window! The other three seasons are among the reasons that we live here. Anyway, as an artist, I’ve noticed that winter and summer are when the clouds are most dramatic at sunrise. As spring approaches,…
Color Study – 6 Mar 2010
It was a cloudless morning. The colors were lovely, but I’m most inspired by the startling colors that flash across the clouds when the sun is coming up. So, I decided to try a color study instead of anything as dramatic as my usual morning sketches. It’s a smaller work — 8″ x 10″ —…
Cloudy morning – 5 Mar 2010
Since I didn’t paint at all yesterday — and really missed it — I was hoping that today’s skies would be more inspiring. (Yesterday was one of those flat, gray-looking days.) At sunrise this morning (6:15 a.m.), the sky was not inspiring. However, I sat by my window and kept watching. This process can be…
Sunset Landscape – 3 Mar 2010
Never underestimate the speed, grace or brilliance of a sunset. I learned that yesterday. I’d overslept in the morning, and missed the sunrise. So, even if it was raining, I was committed to painting at sunset. I’m eager to maintain a productive painting schedule; I feel as if I missed many opportunities in the past…
Colorful Morning
This morning, the sunrise flashed some spectacular colors… but only briefly. Fortunately, I was poised by my window with my palette and brushes in hand. Though snow is still on the ground, the colors of spring are emerging! This oil sketch took about 10 minutes. The vivid colors were visible for even less time, and…
Still Snowing – Oil Sketch
As I’m writing this, this part of NH is under a blanket of pristine, white snow. It’s “winter wonderland” time again! Initially, I looked at the mostly white landscape and thought, “Okay, not painting this morning.” However, the longer I looked at it, the more I saw the subtle colors in the sky, the snow,…
The Sun is Back
The sun is back! When I woke up this morning, the skies and the weather map looked like the sunrise would be dismal. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to paint en plein air. (Of course, I had a Plan B ready.) Instead, the clouds broke and the sun came through the clouds, at least…
Exploring the Grey
Among the many things I love about being an artist is the joy I take in colors. Whether they’re the vibrant shades of spring and autumn, or the subtle greys of winter and the sizzling whites of summer… I love color! This morning, the skies were heavy with rain. The colors were similar to yesterday’s…
Day Three – Snowrise Sketch
There was no actual sunrise this morning. Not that I could see, anyway. I wondered if my neighbor, Lesley, was thinking, “There’s no way she’s painting a sunrise this morning.” But… I did! Okay, I’m calling it a “snowrise” because it’s not sunny at all. The could cover is heavy, and as soon as I…