Thursday, July 5, 2012

Landscape # 11 After Kevin MacPherson




12 inch by 16 inch oil on stretched canvas

This is the second photo session for this painting.  I worked with my camera settings, and I think this version is more true to the actual colors in the painting.

I really enjoyed painting this one.  I loved seeing all the different colors MacPherson used in his trees.  I  feel like I am learning several things by copying these paintings.

For one, I am learning paint mixing.   He uses lots of grays in his paintings, and I've found that I mix big puddles of grays that I use to tone down and mix into other colors to try to get some of the colors in his paintings.

For another, I think I am learning to paint more loosely.  This is something I've struggled with, as my natural tendency has been to be very tight.  I hope I can keep this up!

I've been painting and practicing, but nothing I wanted to post.  A friend of mine is teaching a six-weeks course in portrait painting, which I've been attending.  I can use the practice to improve my drawing skills.  I may post some of the sketches I've done in this class later.

Thanks for stopping by!

22 comments:

  1. Very nice, Virginia!! Your colors are lovely and I can tell you are getting looser. I would like to see your sketches, too.

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  2. Virginia, Love your Kevin MacPherson series. They are all beautiful.

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  3. I think it's great you're working through his book. You can see that you are loosening up. I hear you about the photo challenge. Your painting looks great.

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  4. You have captured the distance is this so beautifully, Virginia. The sky is full of movement and the colors are lovely too. Well done!

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  5. Hi Virginia,
    I love all the rich colour you have going on. It looks so rich! Especially those trees and the clunp of them off to the right. Great work!

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  6. Virginia this is beautiful! I for one like the bright orange. :) It looks great, and I can see that you're loosening up some. Awesome!

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  7. This is a beautiful landscape painting, Virginia. The bright orange is gorgeous as it slopes downward...and love the subtle purple on the trees...Perfect!!!!

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  8. While the orange is bright, I just love it with the blue! A beautiful painting!

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  9. Virginia, your Kevin MacPherson series is wonderful. I wonder if Kevin M. knows of your lovely work and the profound affect and inspiration he has brought out in your wonderful paintings.

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  11. Thank you very much, Joan. I'm a little afraid that if KM knew about these, he might might me take them down for copyright infringement! I'm not trying to sell them or anything, but you just never know. Maybe someone else will be inspired to buy his books. They are both great.

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  12. Virginia, I think your work with KM's ideas is wonderful! His paintings epitomize for me, too, the style and subject matter that I so long to emulate. Of course, I want a little of "Carol" in there, too. You're correct about his use of grays. He's masterful in mixing and applying them in just the right spots. It's thrilling what you're doing!

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  13. Wow. Another great painting. I love the bright orange and its complement the blues. Makes the painting vibrant. I think the image is very good and no need to worry or redo.

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  14. Beautiful color! And your strokes feel so impressionistic and lively. I'm finding that copying someone contemporary whose work resonates for you is so helpful. You can see where the grays are most effective according to that artist's choices. I'm not sure I'd notice all the possibilities in a subject from life on my own so it seems a way to sharpen our ability to see. And then, hopefully, we'll put it to use and find our own way. I worry about posting copies, too . . . I hope the artist will understand that it's a learning process and that no sales will be made.

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  15. Lorraine, you alway state things so clearly. What you said about not noticing all the possibilities on your own is exactly how I am right now My own original work looks so pale and flat and lifeless compared to many of the really good artists. Your work for example is very rich and layered in colors and textures. I'm just not able to achieve that on my own yet. So I keep plugging away at copying, trying to learn how to paint! Hope I don't get arrested!

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  16. Love this...the vibrant colors and rolling hillside...just beautiful!

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  17. Love this the orange is so wonderful and I am really enjoying your paintings

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  18. another great "after" painting---I approve! very well done :)

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  19. I, too, fight with my camera sometimes, Virginia, but this is so lovely. Even toned down I know it would be stunning. Yes, it is a journey and we all keep trying and learning day after day - and that's the joy of it! :)

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  20. Wonderful Virginia. He's so great. I can see why you made him your mentor! I bought the Easyl plein-air kit after reading his latest oil painting book.
    Have a blast.

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  21. Fantastic view! And the colours are so beautiful!

    Landscaping Virginia

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