Today I had several hours to work on a new piece that will be in Petosky, Michigan, starting the first weekend in January 2023. Crooked Tree Gallery’s sister space will be hosting the annual “Artists Guild” show, which I am a member.
I have a 24x24 that I believed to be a piece devoted to freshwater (Lake Michigan, to be more precise as it is a short walk from our home). However, after a humdinger of a snowstorm over Christmas, the painting today (with 30” of white powder outside of my studio window) morphed into what looks like an aerial view of a cloud-covered farm. Specifically, a farm here in beautiful Leelenau County.
Here’s where I started today, then where I finished up. You may notice that it looks very little like what I start with. The purpose of the layered bright and saturated hues is to build texture and a vibrant underpainting to peek out of the neutrals that I apply next. Today, my neutral was a lovely lightened up Payne’s Grey, probably the most used tube of paint in my paint-slinging arsenal. I simply love it! Tomorrow, I’m going to add back some highlights and also soften up the sky a bit.
Where I started today…
And this is where I finished for the day (but not entirely finished!). Adding the cool neutral in really softened up the piece and allowed a nice place for the eyes to rest whereas the previous photo is a very busy composition. I am hoping, when all is complete, this piece will look like a winter’s nap.
Stop by tomorrow for more progress….