Friday, October 28, 2011

I Think It's Done....


I've been working on this for three days, about two hours each on Tuesday and Wednesday in class.  Then I brought it home and sat it on my easel and studied it for a day.  Today I tweaked the trees.  I hadn't made the trunks light enough and they melted into the background.

This is my first finished painting from painting my way through Kevin MacPhearson's book.  MacPhearson's work is called "Full Moon Rising".  I had a great time working on this, and learned a lot about trying to paint trees.  I used a lot of different brushes to get different effects, which was a first for me.  I used every side of the brushes too, not just the flat side.  And I used the smallest brush ever for the tree limbs.  Just couldn't make those little brush strokes any other way.

I also practiced graying colors, and learned how to mix some colors that were new to me.  So now I'm ready for my next attempt at his book.  It will be another landscape.

12 inch X 16 inch oil on stretched canvas

Have a great weekend!

25 comments:

  1. It is done for sure. I enlarged it and was blown away. It sure shows what you have done with the brush work. Love it.

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  2. Change that title Virginia to yes, this is done:) Love it...beautiful trees that are all just gorgeous and varied. Love the snow and all the temperature shifts there. Wonderful depth to this and lots of lovely things to look at. Yay for you on using all sizes/sides of brushes and learning new grayed colors. A favorite.

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  3. Beautifully painted, Virginia! The snow glistens..like its melting a bit...Excellent piece.

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  4. Great job, Virginia! You have beautiful subdued color and wonderful varieties in the grays and great textures. It's such a great idea to emulate an artist you like . . . so many possible ways to work that might never occur to you until you zero in on how they handled paint and solved problems. I look forward to the next one!

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  5. Thanks for the encouragement, Lorraine. Someone said that they thought when you copy, it's just "handed to you on a plate". Frankly at this point, I NEED it handed to me on a plate! I'm trying to grasp different ideas and techniques, and when I paint my own set ups, I just repeat myself over and over. I have another friend who told me she copied for over five years as a learning technique. So I don't know how long I'll keep this up, but right now it's very useful to me.

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  6. It turned out so well, Virgina!! I love the contrast of the cool foreground with the warm background!! So beautiful!!

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  7. This is great Virginia! Great warm colors! gorgeous

    janice

    oilsbyjanice.blogspot.com

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  8. Beautiful painting. I like the atmosphere. I can just image the overcast snowing day.

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  9. You did a great job on this---beautiful! I will be watching for the next "installment"--keep them coming!

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  10. Wow! Beautiful!! I especially love the grays, so many lovely grays here and they make the oranges sing, well done!!!

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  11. I love this Virginia and think you did a really good job. I find copying a master painter's work very difficult but very rewarding. You learn so much. Good for you!

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  12. Kevin's book is fantastic, and you have done a wonderful job with this painting! Your greys are really lovely, and work well to create the mood of the scene.

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  13. I think it looks totally finished and really beautiful. Nice

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  14. Beautiful Virginia! The composition, colors and the trees that make you play the brushes ... Bravo!

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  15. Very nice painting! This came out great. I hope you're happy with it. You got a very subtle light quality to this.

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  16. Very lovely, Virginia, how you used the neutral colors along with the oranges and gold tones. I have such respect for how grays, blacks, whites, etc. can showcase the other colors. Kevin MacPherson is such a master with the ability to impart information clearly. Well done!

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  17. This has such wonderful atmosphere to it. I think you did a wonderful job!

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  18. Thanks to everyone who has visited and commented while I've been away from the computer! I am finally recovered from sinus surgery and was able to paint on Friday. I am almost finished with another landscape. Hope to get it posted soon.

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  19. Hi Virginia,

    I keep checking your blog for new work. Hope all is going well for you. Oops! Just saw your last comment . . . great that you're all better and painting again!

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  20. Virginia, this post would make a perfect Christmas card. So peaceful and perfect for the season!

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  21. Hey Virginia, I had sinus surgery too-- about 8 years ago. It changed my whole life! I hope your outcome is great like mine was. I am waiting for your new painting :)

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  22. So glad you are recovering well Virginia. This painting is serenely beautiful. Love McPhersons' work too. Good luck and look forward to seeing more!

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  23. Celeste, you are the second person who has told me that it changed their life. I hope I have such a great outcome myself!

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