The Painter's Cabin

"The Painter's Cabin" (10x8 inches) gifted

This is the charming little house in Kerrville TX that I stayed in last weekend. I was in Kerrville to do caricatures at a festival in the evenings, so in the daylight hours I painted in this aptly named abode! (Many of this week's little paintings were completed here.) It was such a creative atmosphere that I was inspired to gift the owner with a portrait of her house...

Since plein air is not my favorite preference, I took some photos, and picked this view to paint. I had brought some random sheets of stuff, anticipating that I might do some experimental work. I painted the house on some pink sanded paper which unfortunately I can't remember what it was, but it had a very bumpy texture that worked quite well with the impressionistic style I was striving for. I wanted to keep it loose enough to at least look like it might have been done en plein air.

Pastel under painting washed in with water.

If you're curious about the house, you can reserve it for your next Hill Country stay on Airbnb or on VRBO.

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Garden Hideaway

"Garden Hideaway" (pastel, 9x12 inches) $425 framed

This painting will be with me at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair July 20-23, 2017.

The final day of painting in Albert Handell's workshop we went to Santa Fe's charming historic El Ray Inn. Full of lovely gardens and meandering pathways between courtyards, this lush viewpoint was around back somewhere.

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Garden Gate

"Garden Gate"  (pastel over watercolor on mounted UArt, 10x10 inches) $395 unframed for a limited time

Here's the house across from the rose garden in Santa Fe. I stood right behind Albert Handell and tried to do what he was doing!

This one may be with me at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair July 20-23, 2017.

photo: the gate

watercolor underpainting

My plein air setup

My painting

Albert's painting

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Handell House

"Handell House" (pastel, 9x12 inches) $390 unframed for a limited time

Unless this sells first, it will be with me at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair July 20-23, 2017.

As the title suggests, this is the home of Albert Handell! I took his garden workshop in Santa Fe last week, and this was my first painting. The light in Santa Fe was amazing, and it didn't get above 83 degrees the entire time. Perfect plein air painting weather!

Albert is an inspiring teacher. The best thing about his demos (besides how magically they progress) is his so obvious enjoyment of the painting process. And when he's not painting he's full of valuable info and insights into the business and creative sides of being a working artist.

Here are some progress shots of my painting:

photo: the house when I started

pastel underpainting washed in with alcohol

photo: The house when I finished. That darned sun kept moving!!

Extras:

Albert's wife Jeanine, waving at my camera as she comes out. Such a lovely and generous hostess!

Albert working on his morning demo in oils, in the studio from a photo. We painted this same building on site the next morning!

Side Garden (my DPW Challenge - 3rd painting)

"Side Garden"  (pastel, 12x9 inches)   click here to bid

Here is my 3rd painting from my Daily Paintworks Challenge. For this one I reverted back to my favorite surface - terra cotta pastel primer on gatorboard. I like how it gives a warm undertone throughout the painting.
I'm not too fond of painting buildings (straight lines are hard! lol) but this one's more a supporting cast for the garden itself.

Below are some shots I got along the way while painting this one...

Here's my board with the cropped reference photo

 I start with the darks and work up to some mediums.

 Here I've put in a few spots of my brightest lightest colors, to help me see where the midtones will need to be.

 So I can start on the midtones of the porch. It's a white porch, but in shadow, so the whites here are cool and warm grays, not as light as my lightest light.

 I continue to work on the mid values throughout the painting...

 ...and then into the lighter values.

 After that previous shot I was in the zone for a while... until it was almost finished!

Then, a few finishing touches...  I blurred out the back tree with a cool medium green to help it recede. I smoothed the columns a bit with a light blue, and added more lights to the cornices for definition. Finished the urns, and a few more flowers in the bushes and basket, and it's done!

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