Hakone Fall (WIP, oil, 16x20)

I reoiled this painting from March and attempted to salvage it, or, if that's not doable, to at least learn something from it. Some artists say they struggle with yellows, others greens. Sure, I've had my moments with those colors but RED objects in a landscape just baffle me. I feel that i need to deepen and cool the values of the bottoms of the leaf clumps. What, pray tell, am I doing wrong? Any suggestions most welcome. I love autumn and just have to sort this out. In any case, I do like it better now than I did on my first post March 1st. I will have to adjust the shadows on the pathway eventuallyand, apparently, further dull the colors of the background areas behind the trees. Wish me luck!

This is what it looked like March 1st:

 

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Kyoto Street Scene (oil, 6"x6")

I spent so much time on this little painting, relative to its size! One thing about painting a small street scene that seems counterintuitive is the importance of details. Too much detail is impossible with my brushes (1/2" here)'but too little detail doesn't tell the story. That said, the most critical factor in this painting is the light. It was a fun afternoon project for a stormy spring equinox day. I hope it's warmer where you are... Calgary, I already know you're basking in spring sun - lucky!

 

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Kiyosumi Garden (oil, 16"x20")

I've done a bit of rework on this painting (previous post here) and I think the bridge shape and the colours are working better for me. I've also concluded that my paintings must be taken upstairs into natural light for proper photos... Which means I need better lighting in my basement studio - I'm still getting used to the new setup.

Enjoy your day!

 

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Nijo Castle Donjon WIP ( oil, 11"x14")

When we visited the Nijo castle (Unesco world heritage site since 1994) in Kyoto, Japan last November the weather was gloomy and wet. With 4 kids in tow (one having a full on meltdown) we were hustling to get inside the castle by the 4 pm cutoff. The castle itself is amazing but I would have loved some photos of all those 17th century murals and gold work. The guides are HARD-CORE about the no camera rule though!

The nightingale floors in the castle are pretty cool. They squeak and make whispery noises by design, allowing guards to protect their masters in feudal Japan.

This painting features the castle donjon, or central keep stone walls. The 5 storey keep itself burned to the ground in 1750. I painted this because I have fond memories of my visit there, a lesson in determination...Doug (my son-in-law) rushed around Kyoto and made sure we got to see this castle. He was initially inhibited by pouring rain and grumpy kids. But it was worth it... We toured the castle in the rain and by the time we got to the gardens the rain had eased up. Suddenly the ancient stones glowed in the light, and the grumpy kid turned up happy. Japan is a fascinating, patient place. I love it!

 

 

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Hakone Fall (oil, 16x20)

This is my latest project as it stands today. The autumn colors were spectacular when I visited Hakone in the fall of 2011. It is a struggle to capture even the tiniest portion of how I felt walking amongst the maple trees and the uber-groomed shrubs lining this pathway. The reflected sky is everywhere on the topmost leaves, giving them a pinkish hue. I'd welcome your suggestions and or comments if you have any! Happy March - spring is just around the corner :-)

 

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Kiyosumi Garden (oil, 16"x20")

I loved my visit to Kiyosumi Garden in Tokyo in 2011. This garden has a interesting story. It's peaceful and calming in the midst of hyper-active Tokyo. I was there in the fall when the maples were just into their turning. The leaves are a rusty red, really a green-red composite. Beautiful! I feel I've captured a peaceful scene and I'll leave it to dry before deciding whether or not to tweak it. Blessings!

 

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Mount Fuji (oil, 8"x10")

I got back to painting some of my views from Japan today. It was fun. This view is half my photo reference and half imagination... This viewpoint over Lake Ashi was rather dull in the foreground of my photo. So, I added a spring foreground of blossoms. Oil is just so much fun to paint with! Cheers!

 

 

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Misty Matsushima (oil, 10"x10")

Today I spent half an hour puttering on Misty Matsushima again. In addition to adjusting the values in the island forms, I painted the lightest water and sky areas. Since the lightest values are very thin at this point, I may still go back in with thicker paint once this layer is dry. For a few days I will think it over.

Cheers!

 

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Tokyo Beach Buds [oil, 9”x12”]

The two little people on the left are my grandkids, Kalista (6), and Kai (3).  The gal on the right is a new friend the kids made on Decks Beach near Tokyo Teleport.  This is an amazing area in Tokyo Bay…  man made islands with fun things for families to do and connections via ferries, boats and trains.  We had so much fun.  Cheers!

Hakone Autumn [oil, 16”x20”]

This is the first time I’ve attempted to paint a fall landscape from our trip to Japan last November.  The colors are intimidating blends of the brilliant compliments…  green maple leaves morph from green to red and many leaves retain some of each.  Yet it doesn’t make mud like it would on a painter’s palette!  Creation is amazing that way…

I’m not through with this yet but it has to dry before I can finish off the final few strokes.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Where it’s at with the fishes…

I’ve wrestled a few short painting sessions from the clutches of December and this is where the painting is currently at… 

Although this month has been much less intense than the past 3, I’m still finding lots of ways to keep myself busy!  The progress since my last posting on December 9 has been pretty slow.  I’m trying to build the fish up with incremental layers of translucent and transparent glazes to get the appearance of the roiling mass of Koi.  The various colors of the fish and how they appear both above and below the water means much studying of the photos and digging back through my memories from when I took them.  I enjoy this process, but it is extremely slow – I hope you’re not getting bored with this.  One more post and I’ll wrap these guys up…  I promise!

Defining the fish with areas of dark…

Finding more shapes… with translucent glazes.

Continuing Koi

Here’s how I spent my hour painting today…

First I printed one of my photos of Koi ponds from our visit to Hakone.  I used that to better inform the previous vague fish shapes and to make decisions about the value pattern that is developing.

Then I painted negatively around these shapes using thalo turquoise and transparent red Iron oxide.  I also painted into a few of the fishes with tinted white…  using the same two colors but adding some indian yellow for the fish bodies.  I’m enjoying this painting.  It’s the type of painting that can be done in small increments which is just what I need right now. 

Still lots to do on this painting but we’re off to look after grandson Parker [21 months] for the evening so his folks [daughter Kim and SIL Kyle] can take in a Christmas Party.  Should be fun!

City Rain [9”x12”, oil]

I’ve been home from Japan now for just about 2 weeks.  I’ve had no previous experience with jet lag and I must say…  I’m not a fan!!!  I also brought home a lovely cough so I’ve spent this past week lazing around in the house recovering.  I’m finally back to painting and I’ve got lots of ideas and material to paint from – so exciting!

One of the spectacular sights we visited in Tokyo was Shibuya crossing.  Unbelievable numbers of people crossing each light – even in the rain!  This painting is roughly based on my memories and photos from our night there.  Cheers!