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!
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25 comments:

  1. Angela SullivanOctober 28, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    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. Kathy CousartOctober 28, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    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. hmuxoOctober 28, 2011 at 6:17 PM

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

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  4. Lorraine ShirkusOctober 29, 2011 at 7:25 AM

    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. Virginia FloydOctober 29, 2011 at 9:47 AM

    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. Carrie Waller WatercolorsOctober 29, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    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. Karen BrusonOctober 29, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    Lovely color palette.

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  8. AnonymousOctober 30, 2011 at 6:26 AM

    This is great Virginia! Great warm colors! gorgeous

    janice

    oilsbyjanice.blogspot.com

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  9. Robin RosenthalOctober 30, 2011 at 9:24 AM

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

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  10. David Larson EvansOctober 30, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    Looks great to me.

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  11. Celeste BerginOctober 30, 2011 at 11:57 PM

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

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  12. Diane HoeptnerNovember 1, 2011 at 3:25 PM

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

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  13. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comNovember 2, 2011 at 10:32 AM

    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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  14. Claire Beadon CarnellNovember 3, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    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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  15. Page Pearson RailsbackNovember 5, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    I think it looks totally finished and really beautiful. Nice

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  16. les peintures de VivianeNovember 6, 2011 at 10:30 AM

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

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  17. Stephanie BerryNovember 6, 2011 at 4:56 PM

    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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  18. Carol FlattNovember 9, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    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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  19. Dottie T LeatherwoodNovember 10, 2011 at 8:14 PM

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

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  20. Virginia FloydNovember 12, 2011 at 4:59 AM

    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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  21. Lorraine ShirkusNovember 12, 2011 at 6:04 AM

    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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  22. Nancy B. HartleyNovember 13, 2011 at 8:43 AM

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

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  23. Celeste BerginNovember 13, 2011 at 8:25 PM

    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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  24. carol morgan carmichaelNovember 14, 2011 at 8:34 AM

    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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  25. Virginia FloydNovember 14, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    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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