Suddenly I See

The initial blocking in wasn't too bad

So, after yesterday’s fiasco on the first painting for 2019, and realizing the perspective was way off, I went in the studio this morning to wipe off any loose pastel, so I could turn the paper over to re-use on the backside. Surprisingly, once the color was down to the bare minimum, I started seeing potential. Maybe it’s salvageable.

I thought by adding more color, I'd start to get
a better perspective of what I needed to do
I hated this.

I re-looked at my reference photos. I’d taken the photos with different focal lengths with the intention of creating a cohesive composition using the various aspects from more than one photo. This time it didn’t work out so well. (Usually I’m able to use aspects from different photos, but I messed up with this one.) I put away the photo that was throwing off the perspective and found another to use.

Because I was able to wipe off most the old pastel, I was surprised to discover I could use what was left as a decent background for the updated version. I changed some lines and added more color. I also rough-sketched in a branch to start giving the hint of what’s to come.

I'm excited again. This might work after all.

I’ve got a long way to go, but I feel so much better than I did yesterday … and to think my intention this morning was to totally destroy it and do something different.

closer view

Starting the First Paintings for 2019

Last week I cleaned the studio and readied two (of my four) easels for new paintings. These will be the first for 2019. I set up new papers and on Friday, chose photos for the two paintings, and lightly roughed in the first bit of outline.

Today I made it back in the studio, started adding blocking in of shapes, and color to the sky. Already I hate the first one and I’m debating whether to continue or scrap it. I put in a little more color. Sometimes doing that is a boost to keep me going, but with this one, I don’t know if I’ll continue. I’m not feeling it.

I realize I got the perspective all off. That’s what I get when working from more than one photo. Oh, well, sometimes I just have to cut my losses and move on.

The second one I like. It’s another beach/sand dune scene. I’m trying something different with the underlying grassy areas this time.

I’m a person who has to “feel” what I’m working with. Choosing photos from which to paint is sometimes a challenge. I’m excited when I first take the pictures and print them out, then later I’ll look at some and think, “Why did I print that?” I have a whole stack of photos that when I finally got around to doing the painting, the picture was no longer talking to me.