Reading and Painting

5x7 color & composition study

Landscapes landscapes landscapes! Are on my mind! And yet, mostly I have worked on portraits because I have the artportuntity to paint from a live model 3 times a week. I have to take advantage of that which means that I am not painting as many landscapes as I would like.

I live Up North and landscape painting outside is not a possibility for me right now. Call me a wimp, but with 30s as highs (wind chills in teens/no sun), I am not interested in being outside. Just walking the dogs hurts my hands and face -even though I am geared up!

View from Wildwing, 9x12

 Guess what I did on Black Friday? No, not shopping, I avoided the mall. Despite the freezing cold and wind, the sun was shining-- I went driving to find landscape photo references. Yes, I really have landscape on my mind. I went to my favorite park and was able to find a few photos and areas that I could get excited about. Plus, on this day, with the promise of a hot cocoa, I had great company and a driver in my husband.

Along with taking reference photos, I borrowed books from my wonderful art friend who has an amazing book library. I really am enjoying and absorbing this wonderful older book called "Painting Better Landscapes" by Kessler. I am reading about how yellow recedes as you go back in a painting. I know others have tried to share this information with me, but it is simply stated and there are visual color examples in the book so it really makes sense. I am thoroughly enjoying this book and I am learning too!

So maybe I am not getting outside like I would like, but I am still working toward landscape painting improvement through reading and gathering materials (photo references). Tonight I plan to landscape paint at home from one of my photo references.