View from our BalconyAcrylic on canvas panel, 8 x 10 inches
Plein air (painted outside in the fresh air)
Painting where everything is green can present a few problems. When you look at the view it is beautiful, but trying to portray the scene in paint is not easy. You need a variety of greens to tell the story. As things recede in a landscape there is more atmosphere and things become less distinct and "bluer". This doesn't always show in photographs or to your eyes if you don't look carefully. If you paint the trees all green as they appear at first glance, the painting lacks interest and looks flat.
To give the painting depth I added more blue to the distant hills and try to warm up the ground and grasses and bushes as they get closer. This helps as with depth as well. In a landscape painting, the darkest darks and lightest lights are usually closer to you. One exception might be the sky. Most often the sky is the lightest value. When you are high in the mountains here, the sky is a deeper blue or was yesterday. The shadows past the road looked very dark to me, but if I paint them that way, they come forward. I didn't take a photo of the scene. I will try to get one in the morning so you can compare. I did simplify the buildings as the painting was not about the buildings.
To give the painting depth I added more blue to the distant hills and try to warm up the ground and grasses and bushes as they get closer. This helps as with depth as well. In a landscape painting, the darkest darks and lightest lights are usually closer to you. One exception might be the sky. Most often the sky is the lightest value. When you are high in the mountains here, the sky is a deeper blue or was yesterday. The shadows past the road looked very dark to me, but if I paint them that way, they come forward. I didn't take a photo of the scene. I will try to get one in the morning so you can compare. I did simplify the buildings as the painting was not about the buildings.
7 comments:
I like your Angel Fire view painting. Sometimes the wind can blow up there and make the spruce trees lean. I forgot to comment the other day on your art day in Eagle Nest, but it sure looked fun. Gene riding his bike home did not look like fun.
Very nicely done!
You certainly succeeded in making us want to join you on your balcony! Beautifully painted Jo! Am enjoying every post and photograph! Thanks again for sharing!
This painting makes me feel cooler just to see it. I'm so glad you get to look out at such a beautiful scene. Is that a little bridge at the end of the road? Lovely.
Bag Blog, Thank you. The two front trees were the only leaners, I fixed them. The wind hasn't been bad, even when it rains. Gene was glad I was behind him to pick him up and keep him from being drenched. Rain isn't bad, it is the lightening that is scary here. That ride for him is pretty good. Wide shoulder and not too many steep hills.
Thank you, Joanna.
Rosemary, nice to see you and thanks so much, you are welcome to come sit on the balcony!
Susan, I haven't walked down there, but have seen folks coming up. Appears to be a walkway to come up the hill and flattens out a little at the top. Not many flat places here. Happy to help you stay cool, you can come sit on the balcony, too. :)
Love this one Jo, what a view! It must be hard to pull yourself away from it to do the menial stuff.
Might be nice doing a painting at different times of the day, sort of a la Virginia Vaughan.
Rae, thanks. Different times is interesting. I was looking at the view at night with the lights in the condos and the street lamps. Hmmm.
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