Translucent Color

Journey II

9x12

Oil on Canvas

This painting is loosely based on one of my previous paintings Journey that I painted two years ago.  I'm beginning my experiments with using translucent color and thought I would use this composition as a model.  Using translucent color is a new thing for me since it requires the building up of layers.  Each layer changes the next and I feel that there will be much experimentation with this new process.

I first became interested in using translucent color when I read a book by Albert Handell years ago when I was doing pastels.  Albert Handell is a master at painting pastels and oils.  The reason I was reading his books was to further my study in the area of pastel landscapes.  But his oils caught my attention.  They seemed to glow.  I believe it was from viewing his oil paintings that I decided to teach myself how to do oil paintings.  I've been doing oil paintings now for five years and feel I'm at the point where I want to put the time into further experimentation of this technique.  

With anything new, it takes me a while to accomplish my goals.  It seems I'm forever learning and probably will never stop.  In the meantime, I'll be posting what I learn along the way.

Peaceful Moment

Peaceful Moment

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When I first started this blog, I had no idea that I would become so attached to the whole process.  I had intended to use it as a tool to drive more traffic to my website but it has turned into something else entirely.  

I enjoy sitting down at the computer first thing in the morning before the rest of the household wakes up to see what's going on in other artist's lives.  I learn so many things from other artists, from technical tips to organizing solutions.  But most of all I've met so many wonderful people.  I believe artists are sensitive souls and we all feel a connection in the inspiring process of creating art.  Our artwork stands as a beacon of hope in a troubled, chaotic world.

I'm off to Florida tomorrow, to the land of warm weather.  It's an unexpected trip and it couldn't have come at a better time.  I'm going with my husband to Naples for business and then across the state to visit my step mother and her mother (she's 96 and still going).  When I come back, I expect to be less sunlight deprived and ready to go at the easel with full force.  The last few months, I've gotten my feet wet and hopefully will have some goals that I've so far been reluctant to post.  

At this particular moment in time, I want to thank all the wonderful artistic souls out there for the difference you've made in my life with your blogs.  Peace!

Painting Through

Illumination

18x24

This is a painting I did about two years ago using translucent color.  It was one of my many experiments in oil paint and I was pleased with the result.  Since then I've gone in many different directions but have always meant to explore this area more.  Well, this is the year I intend to do just that.  It just feels right.  

The only thing is ... I'm having a hard time getting inspired right now.  I know that after the holidays, the blahs can set in.  But this year life hit us a curveball.  Our dear friend, John Failla, died suddenly of a heart attack on January 3rd.  It was one of those, oh God, moments.  My husband worked closely with him for the last two years (even though they had been friends since their teen years) and his days were filled with funny stories and laughter.  I hate to be so depressing, but I really want to know what people do when life throws you a curveball.

Things like this happen to people everyday and I would love to know how it affects your art.  Do you paint through the pain?  

I've been doing some small studies using translucent color of some small landscapes and will be posting them soon.  In the meantime, I would love to know what other artists do when life throws you a curveball.

Journey

Journey

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It's January 2, 2009 and I still haven't made a list of my goals for this year.  I'm so reluctant to commit my intentions to paper or blog and I can't understand why.  Hmmm.  Maybe this is a hidden personality trait that I need to come to terms with this year.

The only "goal" I've stated so far is that I want to paint using more translucent colors.  I have experimented with translucent colors in the past and was happily surprised with the results.  I used ultramarine blue for shadows on a path in one painting.  Another time I used hansa yellow for a sky color in a forest painting.  The sky had a certain luminosity shining through the forest trees.  So why haven't I gone more in this direction?  Well, I intend to.  For me, old habits die hard.  

After spending years of time and gallons of paint, it's not easy to step back and re-examine the technical aspects of painting, although I feel this is where I need to go in the future.   It's just all part of the journey.  

And my goals?  Well I plan on getting to those a little later.  I know that some morning I'll wake up, grab a pen and notebook, and they'll all come spilling out on paper.  Once I commit to something there is no stopping me.  I'm that stubborn.  (Another hidden personality trait I need to come to terms with). For right now, I have several ideas floating around in my head for 2009.  I guess my time clock must be different from everyone else's.