"Into The Reflection"
20x16 oil on linen
I hope this post finds everyone well and happily and creatively entering the new year ahead! "Into The Reflection" is my first painting of 2012, just finished today. I started the new year off in the studio on Sunday with a solid 8 hours in this painting. I then took 3 more days with a couple hours each to complete what you see here. The scene you see is a place I love to escape to in Door County during the Plein Air Festival I've participated in the past 3 years. (This year I'll be teaching a plein air workshop in July there) If you know anything about being a featured artist in the plein festivals, you know that they can be intense and somewhat demanding at times with many many events and locations you are to be featured through out the week where lots of people come to see you paint! It's all good and I'm not complaining but as much as I paint in public for my classes, demos etc, I am a quiet painter. I need my own space and time to connect with my subject, and to emotionally respond to the time and place, usually being Nature to truly feel in 'the zone'. This little place is way off the beaten path and it would be rare for someone to find you painting there, it's one of those places that feels like it's there 'just for me'. :) I know that's not true, but it feels like a place I connect to on a deeper sensitive level. I know I did at least 3 plein pieces here over the past few years, maybe more. . . . this year I took a number of photographs and found this angel the other day and knew it was what I wanted to paint!
Truly, I composed the photo quite well, I didn't have to change much as far as composition. However, each time I use a photo as a reference, it's usually always a place I feel I know quite well from painting it from life. I always feel the photos I take are cold and my memory recalls the warmth of the day and warmth of the colors in the water. All the photo does for me is triggers these memories so I can bring myself there in order to paint it again. No matter how many times I paint the same place, each painting is it's own painting.
Looking into the reflection was an after thought once I started the painting. Day one, I truly didn't even consider this element in the painting, and by day two it was in. I wanted to be able to paint the effect of this incredible little piece of water in all it's richness yet complete clarity as you could see the bottom in the reflection. The most difficult part was stopping and not putting TOO much in. I think I painted just enough although it was so tempting to put a little trout twirling and glistening around the bottom, just teasing. . . :)
So, painting number one of the year, done! Happy Painting and Happy New Year!
I hope this post finds everyone well and happily and creatively entering the new year ahead! "Into The Reflection" is my first painting of 2012, just finished today. I started the new year off in the studio on Sunday with a solid 8 hours in this painting. I then took 3 more days with a couple hours each to complete what you see here. The scene you see is a place I love to escape to in Door County during the Plein Air Festival I've participated in the past 3 years. (This year I'll be teaching a plein air workshop in July there) If you know anything about being a featured artist in the plein festivals, you know that they can be intense and somewhat demanding at times with many many events and locations you are to be featured through out the week where lots of people come to see you paint! It's all good and I'm not complaining but as much as I paint in public for my classes, demos etc, I am a quiet painter. I need my own space and time to connect with my subject, and to emotionally respond to the time and place, usually being Nature to truly feel in 'the zone'. This little place is way off the beaten path and it would be rare for someone to find you painting there, it's one of those places that feels like it's there 'just for me'. :) I know that's not true, but it feels like a place I connect to on a deeper sensitive level. I know I did at least 3 plein pieces here over the past few years, maybe more. . . . this year I took a number of photographs and found this angel the other day and knew it was what I wanted to paint!
Truly, I composed the photo quite well, I didn't have to change much as far as composition. However, each time I use a photo as a reference, it's usually always a place I feel I know quite well from painting it from life. I always feel the photos I take are cold and my memory recalls the warmth of the day and warmth of the colors in the water. All the photo does for me is triggers these memories so I can bring myself there in order to paint it again. No matter how many times I paint the same place, each painting is it's own painting.
Looking into the reflection was an after thought once I started the painting. Day one, I truly didn't even consider this element in the painting, and by day two it was in. I wanted to be able to paint the effect of this incredible little piece of water in all it's richness yet complete clarity as you could see the bottom in the reflection. The most difficult part was stopping and not putting TOO much in. I think I painted just enough although it was so tempting to put a little trout twirling and glistening around the bottom, just teasing. . . :)
So, painting number one of the year, done! Happy Painting and Happy New Year!
10 comments:
Well written about that special place and the special place has been honored in a magical way. Beautiful one Kami.
Well, you have certainly started off 2012 in a great way! I love this and have an interest in learning to paint water. I learn so much from your posts and your paintings and I love the way you described this place and what it means to you to paint something from a photo of a place you have been. It really helps me in my painting journey and I thank you for that!
I love this painting! Such a fine piece serves as a harbinger of what is to come from you in this new year. Thank you for sharing this.
Beautiful painting!
Happy Painting and Happy New Year!
Thank you Marc, isn't it interesting how we can connect with a place we have never been before? Such a lovely mystery!
Denise, thank you. It truly warms me to know that you learn from my posts, thank you dearly for letting me know, this is why I post, is hopefully to pass something along. Painting water is not as difficult as it might appear. I think the best way to get good at it is to study water from life and squint down but also feel the energy of the water you are painting. It takes quiet study more than anything. . . and making clean strokes and trying to leave them alone. . . I'm babbling. . . Happy Painting!
Thank you Nancy and Graziano, Here's to an inspired New Year ahead! :)
This has got to be your most beautiful painting yet. Honestly, Craig and i have had your painting on our computer desktop all evening and everytime we pass by it, we just stop and take it all in again and again!
Amazing!
PS: I miss you, too.
Deb! Thank you so much . . . I hope you're painting and doing great. Stop by the studio anytime, say hello to Craig! :)
Another beauty, Kami...
I like what you had to say as well!
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