Baby Steps

A friend and I painted at Smith Park today. Such a beautiful day!
The wind was blowing keeping it very cool. The sun was shining brightly.
Lots and lots of green colors--for some reason all the spring blooming trees have gone. It's that time of year--lots of greens which is always a challenge to mix.

I was somewhat happier with today's attempt. I'm still going to focus on mixing as I'm still getting frustrated on that. I'm posting today's attempt. I love the composition of this painting...but if I am (and I probably will)going paint this onto a larger canvas, I'll probably move the fisherman up to the front of the composition more.



"Patience at Work"
6"X8" canvas panel
This is the painting from yesterday. It's the one I did in the studio of azeleas that I discussed in the blog yesterday. The canvasboard was 11X14 and I timed myself to cover it in an hour. The more I look at this the more I like this start.
Bad weather is looming for tomorrow, so I'll probably work on finishing this study in the studio tomorrow. This one will also make it to a bigger canvas.




Azeleas Study-Only the Beginning
11" X 14" canvas board
And just for kicks, two of the better plein air paintings I did around my gardens.
The first is of my dogwood tree.




"In the Pink"
6" X 8" Canvas Panel
And what I consider my best effort yet...my phlox where it meets my stone wall in the backyard.




"In my Garden"
6" X 8" Canvas Panel

This one will make it to a painting on canvas in the studio as well.

I hope you enjoyed looking at the studies. Not quite finished work--but hopfully they will help you see what I'm struggling with and why I'm going through the mental and painting exercises that I am.

Keep Painting!
Linda