Descending Ashtray

I have been making some progress on this painting but I am realizing that I don’t really enjoy working off of a photo. I feel confined and limited to what I can see.

I have began to roughly lay in the foreground trees. I need to add a little more detail and then I will work on the figure. What do you think?

The Des Moines disc golf club asked me to do a painting, so that is why I am using this picture as the subject. Any suggestions on what I can do with my painting to make it come to life? Here is the actual picture.

I have started painting with oils again. I am working off of a photo on this project to learn what I can and pick up speed so that I might be able to take it out into the field. It is different and slower than drawing with charcoal but there is nothing that compares with the richness in color that you can get with oils!

This is a homemade paintbrush holder and some all natural paint thinner that I really like. Much easier to be around then turpentine.

Here is a close up of my technique of paint application. If anyone who reads this has any suggestions feel free to respond! This is a work in progress.

This technique is a good way to capture the feeling and light of a space in a short period of time. Even though it does not look like much up close. The application of paint is something I like looking at with actual paintings beacause you can see how it was done. It is impossible to see this from a photo or a print of a famous painting.

One artist that has always inspired me is John Singer Sargent. I like the images is selects and his mastery of skill in painting. His brush strokes are impressionistic and his scenes a usually have an amazing sense of depth. It is inspiring for me to one day achieve.
When I look into is his painting I feel as if I am where he is, seeing
things through his eyes. I like to see how he paints and and what interests him. These are the things that make work come alive. When you can see the artists interest in life.

I think that there have been quite a few artists that have attained this mastery of skill. But what is rare, is to see such a mastery of skill taken to a whole new level. I think that is one of Picasso’s greatest achievements is that he studied traditional styles of painting and mastered them. And as his work progressed so did his interest in exploring new possibilities.

Fear of failure and comfort can be limit the the exploration of an artist.

I have recently been painting with watercolors and it is difficult. Drawing has been more prominent in my work so have the tendency to want to draw with paint. But painting is a much different process of mixing color and learning how to work with the paint instead of fighting it. You have to be committed to what you are painting with watercolors because it is nearly impossible to correct or cover mistakes. Light colors do not work well over darks, so where you put your lights really requires planning. I am interesting in overcoming these challenges but I do think that oils are better suited to my style of painting.

I think this picture provides a good image of the scene and the process of capturing it.

I did a watercolor painting at a beach in Eldora this weekend. It was hot but working next to the water was nice. There was an island in the middle of the lake.