Cleaned up Messes

My four little messes from last week have become paintings. This 4×6″ size is tricky to paint. I hold them in my left hand, often ending up wearing paint in addition to applying it, and always wishing for smaller and smaller brushes. They retail for $50 (plus 8% tax, welcome to California) each, and the place that sells them takes a bite out of the $50, so I have to be careful to not pour too many hours into them.

In other words, I have to “settle”. Two passes over the canvas is all they get, and rather than focus on precision, I focus on pleasing colors and contrast. That’s not natural to this Central California artist whose specialty is detail in pencil.

But, I bravely soldier on. . .

For the 2nd pass, I mix the colors more carefully and try to get them all mixed before beginning.
I hope these dry quickly; they should outside in the heat and the wind.

It might be hotter on this rock.
More on the rock was a good idea except for those troublesome grasses.
Maybe the wood stack is better because the sun is over there for a longer time.
4 little Mineral King oil paintings, drying on the wood stack. Farewell Gap, Vandever with the stream, Honeymoon Cabin, Juniper.

But wait! There’s more!

That juniper needs to be painted on an 8×8″ square canvas. I’ll enjoy painting it more when there is space to capture more detail.

 

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