Painting of the Week

Oasis (in progress) – Painting of the Week

Posted by author-avatar
Building up a Painting

Building up a Painting

This unfinished painting, “Oasis”, began as a demonstration of Palm Trees growing along the mountain streams for the Coachella Watercolor Society. Painting many Palms on location has been educational. Choosing this subject for a demonstration was challenging, but my sketch was strong. I am also experimenting and painting a variation of this plan in acrylic.

It took a great deal of time to build up the palm trees. In this process, some unusual brush painting techniques were employed. The most powerful lesson was showing the necessary steps needed to build up a base to portray our subject’s strength. You have to keep your eye on the goal as the building up can distract you from the original plan, yet you still need to work with what is happening. Often, the work doesn’t look good in the buildup phase and can be very discouraging.
For example, Paul and I walked by a large parking ramp being built for the Minneapolis Airport several times over a 2-year period which appeared to make very little progress. In reality, the support needed was going deep into the ground for the many columns, and considerable prep work was being done to build a strong enough structure to withstand the weight and action of many cars. Then it was suddenly done. In this painting, I kept building back and forth among the palms. When the rocks were painted around, it started to look like something as their descriptive edges became clear.
As you might see, I did not build up the rocks due to time restrictions and now am struck by the beauty of White paper. Do you think I should keep most of the whites?

Sincerely,

ejdSignature 1

 

 

 

CHECK OUT MY FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER  | LINKEDIN | INSTAGRAM | BLOG

______________________

This weekend is the

5th Annual Desert Open Studios Tour

My studio is one of 147 in the crawl. I would love to see you if you are in the area, so please feel welcome to bring a friend and stop by

DOSlogoJan22

… January 24 – 26, 2025 …

Explore the Heart of Coachella Valley’s Art Scene

WHO: 160 artists have joined the Tour in 2025.

WHEN:
 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – January 24, 25, and 26, 2025
. Studios open from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm daily.

WHERE:
 69 studios and shared spaces in Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Palm Springs, and Desert Hot Springs.

  • For GPS: Use the Gate on Dinah Shore located at: 3460 Mission Hills Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA. Please tell the gate attendant that you are here to see Ellen Diederich’s studio for the Desert Open Studio Tour.  Take an immediate right onto Legacy and then a second right turn which leads you to 217 Loch Lomond Road. I’ll have some signs out.

Art is the soul of a community, and there’s no better way to connect with that soul than by visiting the studios of local artists. Desert Open Studios (DOS) invites art lovers, collectors, and the curious to its 5th annual, free, self-directed studio tour. DOS offers a unique chance to witness firsthand the incredible range of creative expression in the Coachella Valley.

From vibrant landscapes and intricate mixed media to evocative sculptures and paintings, this event brings 160 talented artists together to share their work, process, and inspiration.

Learn More or See the Tour Guide & Map

______________________

Signup for Ellen’s Painting of the Week and be the first to see her Original Work, Painting Tips & Events:

* indicates required



Newer
Clouds Over the Mountain – Painting of the Week
Back to list
Older Junction Point – Painting of the Week