Peaceful Meadow Landscape # 14 after Kevin MacPherson

12 X 16 inch oil on stretched canvas.

This is the last painting in my series of painting from Kevin MacPherson's books.  I like it the best of all that I have done.  I really feel like I have learned a lot by this project.  My paintings don't look like his, but  using his paintings as a reference has helped me to paint in a much looser style than when I first started.  I was attempting to paint too much detail.  (Like every leaf!)

Below is a picture of his painting from his book.  You can see that mine varies a lot from his.  I actually chose this painting because of his lavender sky.   It looks beautiful in his painting, but mine just looked muddy and made my painting too dark.    So I changed the sky to a bright sunny day.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting!

Sunny Hillside...Painting # 13 after Kevin MacPherson

12 X 16 Oil on Canvas

I loved the trees in the distance in this painting!  I was really happy with the values and range of colors.

However, I'm not really satisfied with the sage bushes in the foreground.  No matter how many times I re-worked them, they don't read correctly to me.  I don't know if it's a value problem or a warm/cool problem, but I just felt I didn't solve it.

Anyway.   I have one more painting to post that is based on MacPherson's book, and then I'm going to try something else.  I intend to start painting some scenes based on my own photos.  I'm a little apprehensive, but I think I'm ready to do this.

I have been in a painting funk for about two months.  I haven't been able to attend my painting class, and I just haven't wanted to pick up my brush at home.

Carol Marine's blog post this morning was just what I needed.   I was having all those same thoughts about not painting, how poor at it I am, and a general reluctance to even start anything new.  It was great to read the thoughts of Carol and others about experiencing artist's block.  Maybe I am an artist.  I have Block!

Thanks to all who have checked on me during this period.  I really appreciate all your kind words and encouragement.