"Untitled", Acrylic, 8 x 10

Acrylic with a painting knife...

"Untitled", Acrylic, 8 x 10

"Une Belle Journée d'Automne", Acrylic, 6 x 8"

"Une Belle Journée d'Automne", Acrylic, 6 x 8

Autumn Glow, Acrylic, 6 x 8"

Still getting use to Acrylic paints...

"Autumn Glow", Acrylic, 6 x 8"

"Fall in the Air", Oil, 16 x 20"

Here's a painting that has been in the making for over a year... 

"Fall in the AIr", Oil, 16 x 20"

Beacon Summer Rails

This is the view of the railroad in Beacon when you stand by the waterfall with your back to the round restaurant (old mill).

Beacon Summer Rails, Oil, 10 x 10"

The Falls at Beacon

This painting was started in plein air last August with the Lower Hudson Valley Plein Air Painters (LHVPAP) group at Beacon falls. I recently finished it in the studio. Other than the limited access to a bathroom this is a great place to paint.

The Falls at Beacon, Oil, 8 x 10"

Sunny Morning in Beacon

I recently finished this painting that was started in plein air (outdoor) with the Lower Hudson Valley Plein Air Painters last summer. This building used to be a mill and is now converted into a restaurant. And it sits by the falls in Beacon. A lovely place to eat. The building is (supposed to be) round... I'll have to paint this one again next summer...

Sunny Morning in Beacon, Oil, 8 x 10"

Coming show at the Garrison Art Center, Garrison, NY

My painting "Fall Reflections" will be part of the Annual Member Show at the Garrison Art Center. This is a rather large painting for me. I have very few successes at that size. I'm indecisive about this painting ( I think it's missing something)... and I'd like to see how it stands in the "crowd".

Hope you can make it to the show, if you're in the area.

Show: February 15 - 23rd, 2014

Reception: Saturday, February 15th, 16th 5 - 7 pm

At : Garrison Art Center, 23 Garrison Landing, Garrison, NY, 10524

"Fall Reflections", Oil, 16x20"

Drawing à la Ferdinand Petrie - IV

These are the last three drawings from the demos in Ferdinand Petrie's book. They are still plenty of drawings shown in the books... but that's enough for now. I may come back to draw more at some point or do some drawing form my own references.

Boat

Harbor

Reflection

Drawing à la Ferdinand Petrie - III

Two more drawings from the book: "Drawing Landscapes in Pencil" by Ferdinand Petrie.

House

Cityscape

Drawings à la Ferdinand Petrie - II

Three more drawings from the book: "Drawing Landscapes in Pencil" by Ferdinand Petrie. 

Hills

Rocks

Industrial scene

Drawings à la Ferdinand Petrie - I

I've had a book around for a while and I decided to "reproduce" the demos in the book as exercises. The book is: "Drawing Landscapes in Pencil" by Ferdinand Petrie.  

Here are my first three drawings and a closeup view on the last one.

Two things that can easily be observed here are that: the strongest contrast in value (light and dark) is at the focal point. If you want the lightest area to pop out, surround it with the darkest area (and vise versa). In addition to that, the superposition of shape with different values adds depth to the picture.

As you can see in the closeup of the last picture, it's all done with small pencil marks. Compared to a brush with paint, this is a slow process...

Coming show with the Lower Hudson Valley Plein Air Painters (LHVPAP)

I'm happy to announce that the following three paintings were selected to be in a show with The Hudson Valley Plein Air Painters (LHVPAP).

The three paintings were done in plein air. "Falls on the Croton Dam" was completed over two days on location.

"Pelton Pond" was done with a palette knife, because I had forgotten my brushes that day. I really like this one. Maybe I should forget my brushes more often :-).

Here is the information for the show:
The Howland Cultural Center 477 Main Street, Beacon, NY (845) 831-4988
November 2-24 2013
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 2  3-5pm
Gallery Hrs.: 1:00 – 5:00 pm   Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday                          

"Overlooking the Creek at Beacon", Oil, 8 x 10"

"Falls on the Croton Dam", Oil, 12 x 9"

"Pelton Pond", Oil, 6 x 8"

Lake Mahopac in plein air

I went with the Lower Hudson Valley Plein Air Painters to the "gazebo park" in Mahopac to paint this one. It was another gorgeous day and I like the spontaneity of this one.

Lake Mahopac, Oil, 6 x 8"

Hudson river viewed from the waterfront park in Beacon, NY

I rarely have time to paint during the weekend, but I took the opportunity to do so while Ken was playing the piano and the pets were asleep :-) I had about 45 minutes. I decided to try to paint the same scene as in the previous two paintings. I did it from memory this time, I went fast, didn't over mix the painting, the brushstrokes are looser and more interesting. I had fun and I like the result!

Untitled, Oil, 6 x 8"

View on the Hudson River from the waterfront park in Beacon, NY

This is a larger version of the painting in the previous post with some boats added. I also added some variation in the trees such that some of them seem further away (instead of being all lined up at the same distance).

Untitled, Oil on canvas board, 11 x 14"

Plein air study in Beacon, NY

This is a plein air painting done at the waterfront park in Beacon on the Hudson River. I used an orangish ground to tone down the glare of the white surface and to help (supposedly) to with all the greens. I'm happy with the distant mountains and the overall values.

Untitled, Oil, 6 x 8"

Columbus replica ship Pinta, oil, 6 x 8"

The Pinta (a replica ship of Columbus' Pinta) was in Newburgh, NY for a few days. So I went with the Lower Hudson Valley Plein Air Painters (LHVPAP) group to paint it. The owner of Bill Joe's Ribworks restaurant was kind enough to let us use his ground to paint. That was the only place we could get an unobstructed view of the boat. We had a nice lunch there before going our separate ways.

I liked the subtle changes of color of the boat, so I sacrificed the top of the mast to include most of the boat (if I paint it again, I'll include the mast). Early on this boat looked green to me but after lunch it was obviously black :-) 

Columbus replica ship Pinta, Oil, 6 x 8"

Untitled, Oil, 11 x 14"

Here a landscape inspired by a view on the neighborhood lake. I'm particularly happy with the warm and cool color in the far distant trees. I painted this one mostly with a brush. I used the palette knife at the end to give more texture in the focal area: the dock and the white bark trees. This one is finished for now: my critic (husband Ken) likes it a lot a is... we'll see :-)

Untitled, Oil on canvas panel, 11 x 14"

Plein air at Pelton Pond

I recently joined the Lower Hudson Valley Plein Air Painting (LHVPAP) group. This is great. Besides improving my painting skills, it will allow me to get to know my surroundings and to paint with other people of the area with similar interests.

Here's a small plein air painting I did at the Pelton Pond with some members of the LHVPAP. I had forgotten my mineral spirits to clean my brushes, so I took the palette knife. It's a lot of greens, but I like it!

Pelton Pond, Oil, 6 x 8"

Here's my setup. You can see the view to the right that inspired my painting.

Setup for painting with oil in plein air.