I just finished up this piece and am really happy with the outcome.
After wrestling with the clouds for nearly a week, I decided to simplify them in both hue and composition. Sometimes, even clouds that are going quite well, can commandeer a painting and end up making the rest of the piece an afterthought.
So, this morning, I used the same method that I simplified "Custer State Park" with, and feel that it is finally done and ready to head out the door! Inquiries may come to me via my contact page.
Below is the painting about two hours in today. In the "after" photo you can see that I took out much of the green gold color and added more neutral in form of a French Grey/ Payne's Gray/Parchment blend to a good percentage of the land mass and also added some warmth to the clouds with that same really soft mushroom hue. The piece immediately took on a softer look. Lastly, I added a Prussian Blue "stripe" to further define the sky from land and add a linear quality to the piece.
In person, the finished piece has some really thickly laid paint and some great texture and expressive brushstrokes. Close up, you can really see all the varied layers of paint that went down in order to achieve the rich depth.
In process today. Finished painting is above!
A warm hello to Hanover, PA and to Hanover, Germany! Wolfgang, if that's you looking- You owe us a visit, and so does your brother! Hello also to Emma H.'s mom and thank you for stopping by!
Many blessings to you all on this quiet, beautiful fall day.