Getting to Know Your Subject
Last winter, I hiked with friends at Andreas Canyon in Coachella Valley. The huge Fan Palm Trees amazed me that were growing along the mountain streams. In the wild, palm fronds don’t get trimmed and create long cone-like shapes as they dry out and rest around the trunk of the trees. My first painting was dreadful and now ceases to exist. Pictured here is a plein air study painted last Thursday from the same park. That experience helped me paint the main palm tree in “Morning Ride”.
Painting on location, I discovered my primary error was in the values (the lightness or darkness of a color). Generally, green is a darker value than yellow, however, the green palm fronds on top were lit up from the sun and mostly the same value as the gold beard in the shadow. This sketch helped me see the beauty I admired.
Sincerely,
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It’s time to check your closets and storage rooms for the
To Be Hung Over Art Exhibit
Do you have original works of art that no longer fit your style?
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