A native Marylander with a new basecamp in Traverse City, Michigan.   I think I’m going to like it here.

A native Marylander with a new basecamp in Traverse City, Michigan. I think I’m going to like it here.

Welcome!

I’ve been documenting my creative endeavors since 2014. Thoughts on the creative process, my travels, shows, new ideas and what’s on my easel are just a few things I post on. Feel free to linger…

Home Stretch....Although, I'm thinking a nightscape now...

Good afternoon!

Poor lighting aside (damn rain!), I'm having a great day with my current "in progress" work, Hurricane, Utah.

All that delicious sloppy paint that I swished around on the canvas yesterday lost much of it's saturation when dry.  Rather disappointed that the colors faded with the water (considering those babies are $20 for a small tube).  Uh.  Paints are priced by pigment, and unfortunately, my favorite hues are those of the blue/green variety.  And don't get me started on the reds...

So, after my minor setback this morning when I checked the drying paint, I decided to move forward with more deliberate brushwork.  I'll add some mood at the end by mixing a tinted glaze to go over the sky that will be left to swirl around a bit, offering a little modern nod to what has become a more traditional/representational landscape.

Here's where I stopped today...

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I also decided to whittle down the palette a bit.  As much as a light violet sky appeals to me, it doesn't offer as much a contrast as the "lagoon" teal blue that has been layered overtop of it.  There was just too much going on and I needed to make a change or two. Now I'm wishing that I hadn't spent so many hours on that sky yesterday....live and learn, I suppose.

I've got about eight layers of paint on this piece so that texture is part of the composition.  I like it when a little schmear of paint here and there jumps off the canvas.  It also really looks great after it's varnished.  

Happy Friday and thank you for spending a little part of your day with me.

Red Rock Evening, Hurricane, Utah (almost done!)

Memorial Day Break