Fuschia Geraniums

Monday morning's private lesson consisted of painting a mass of flowers. It was so much fun! So much color to play with, I got out the Magenta Radiant by Gamblin.

Hannah Stands Against the Maple Tree

 
Grandaughter Hannah modeled for me for about 15 minutes. Then I asked her to come back for about 5 more. She said her foot got into a cramp standing against the root of the tree. She doesn't want me to finish this because she likes it the way it is.

Tunnel Hill Haybales

 
Some days it takes a small canvas to get me going. Hopefully this one did it. Enjoyed painting in the Tunnel Hill Heritage Park with BJ one morning this week.

three this morning

I did 3 plein air pieces this morning, but photographic conditions were terrible after I got them home. I set them into frames and shot them with indoor lighting...bad indoor lighting. The next best thing was to render the image into black and white, and hope for better photographic lighting soon.

Pink Morning Blooms by Sandra Babb

11"x14" oil, painted en plein air (about 95% completed) here. Sandra's geraniums brightened the table just outside the shuttered window of the old general store.

15 Minute Sunrise # 98 - Study in black

12x12 Oil on canvas panel en Plein Air - Cadmium yellow deep under-painted - # 18 sable blend bright- new colour - Lamp black - Chilly, clear skies with a heavy pastel dew, lasted for at least 40 minutes.....perfect for an impressionist painter!

I changed the photo, the original was washed out.

blues, yellows, reds

7"x5" oil done while playing around with blues, yellows and reds. The morning sunlight was absolutely orange when it hit the hay bales and crib corner. Beyond the distant misty field, the mountain was blue/purple. The tree bark was shining almost red. This was a fun little piddly, cartoony way to spend time listening to the birds.

15 Minute Sunrise # 85

The second of two 8x10 panels en Plein Air on 6/27/09

From the deck in 15 minutes # 93

8x10 Olive (scraps) toned canvas panel ...limited palette of cerulean blue, cad yellow and medium and dioxazine purple and a touch of white and cad red. My brush was an #18 sable blend bright. Today its raining so the deck will have nice reflections :=)

Kaleidoscope Morning by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on July 3rd (completed at 8:25am).....$100 including shipping...What a wonderful morning to be a plein air painter! It was perfect, perfect. I chose to include just a few hay bales which were scattered across the meadow. The sun hit the red foliage just as I was adding the final touches.

From the deck in 15 minutes # 94

The typical 8x10 is too small for this scene. Today, I was only able to get familiar with the colour range. I also get more time to play, because of the foreground trees...some of which are about to bloom a nice pink. When the sun hits, the blooms sparkle and are tipped with hot yellow orange. Today I used a #18 synthetic soft bristle Filberte (I prefer blended sable brights) and a # 6 bright for the smaller calligraphy detail.

Morning Shadows by BJ Wright

7"x5" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 25th (completed at 8:15am)...$30 including shipping...The early morning sunlight cast a wonderful yellow/orange glow...but it was gone in a flash. Just enough time for a small one.

a perfect morning

Sandra paints hay bales on a perfect morning at the Tunnel Hill (GA) battlefield.

From the deck in 15 minutes # 92

I used a thin cadmium red toned background (too light). Over the last month I've been reducing my palette. Currently it consists of yellow-pale, cadmium yellow-deep, orange and red, permanent green light, cerulean blue, dioxane purple and of course titanium soft white. I use a wide range of cadmium's, because it's easier. The only color I would add back is French Ultramarine. I also use a toned disposable palette by Stephen Quiller. My brush work is deliberately more impasto and towards palette knife. While these might be sell-able, my only objective , is to study colour relationships to each other and light.

From the deck in 15 minutes # 90

Yesterday, I started a new series from our back deck - this is fair warning to my neighbors - careful what you hang on your line....:=)

Exploring What's There by BJ Wright

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on Tuesday June 30th (completed at 9:55am)...$85 including shipping...Sandra and I explored Crown Gardens and Archives in Dalton (GA) and found a painting in every direction. This small addition to the main structure was set deep in shadows and as the sun crept in, I began painting using only yellow ochre, alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue (and of course white). I had challenged myself to use a very limited palette. Next time I think the mixing will go faster.

15 Minute Sunrise # 84

My favorite!

Early at the Tunnel by BJ Wright

7"x5" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 24th (completed at 8:20am)...$35 including shipping...The historic Tunnel Hill railroad tunnel is hidden in this plein air study, but is somewhere beyond the darkness on the lower left side. The sun had cleared Chetogeeta Mountain, turning the sky almost instantly from a golden haze to a clear blue. Taking the road to the left carries the viewer to the mouth of the tunnel. Contact me at beejw@charter.net for purchase.

Your Turn

Looking forward to something new :=)

15 Minute Sunrise 87 & 88

I was up and ready this morning. I wanted to catch the very first peek the sun makes each morning...it has a colour that's almost impossible to capture (top panel)......not there yet, but that's a secret she's not going to keep long. I had to make a quick decision to jump ship and start another one because the sun suddenly became an intense yellow and the surrounding atmosphere a warm liquid creamy gray....needed to catch that! I think I did ......

Hay's In by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 24th (completed 8:00am)...$85 including shipping...Getting outside to paint in 95+ degree heat is nuts...so I get out really early to miss the heat. The early sun quickly rose to show its orange light on the recently baled hay. It's hard to believe this was just 3 days into early Summer.

15 Minute Sunrise # 76 & 77

It looked like rain this morning so I missed a great misty sunrise, but....here's two from the other day, again very misty morning. This one (bottom) marked a pivotal point in my painting. I did an 11x14 (top) immediately after. I could have been anywhere...studio...it didn't matter... I was painting from experience and memory. I was using the scene in front of me as a minor reference......anyway natures moment had moved on. The 8x10 became the paint chip for the larger work (works better in the studio).....now Plein Air and studio are monolithic .....how cool is that!

15 Minute Sunrise # 82

I always think.... I didn't get it....nuts lost it....oh well - keep going nothing too lose....once I go though that process.....I get it :=)

First Hay of Summer by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 18th (completed at 9:10am)...$85 for painting only, $120 framed (as shown)...The hay was freshly cut and the meadow lay golden in the morning sun. Crickets and birds were the only sounds heard, except for the westbound freight train.

15 Minute sunrise # 79 & 80

This morning I barely had time to set up when I discovered my glasses were left behind in the studio....so squinting was in :=)

(2) 8x10 Panels executed about 10 minutes apart - incredible how fast it changes

Among the Tree Shadows by BJ Wright

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on June 17th...completed at 9:30am...$85 including shipping. The house hidden behind the trees is the Clisby Austin House, located in Tunnel Hill GA. The adjoining property hosts the annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment in September. As shown in the painting, the hay was ready for mowing. I'll return soon to capture the bales.

First Hay of Summer...progressing

We were there before 7am to begin painting the first cutting of Summer hay. Getting an early start to beat the heat is a must. It was 97 degrees later in the day. This is an 8"x10" oil on RayMar panel painted en plein air. At the time of the photo, it was still progressing but was finished alla prima. I just haven't taken the finished photo yet. Since this area seems to be famous for its "North Georgia green green", I often push colors into their blue or yellow zones.

Swan Lake # 69

8x10 Oil on Panel - The island in the middle of the lake is teaming with wildlife. A safe nesting refuge for hundreds of ducks and Canadian Geese that make the lake their home.

Lunch Time @ Swan Lake # 68

8x10 Oil on Panel - I added the family, geese and ducks at the last minute. The nice thing about Bryd Park, it has grand scale, large lakes and constant movement. A great place to study and paint human behavior at play. Occasionally they will mix it with the wildlife - as in this setting.

Beyond the Lilies by BJ Wright

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima on June 10th '09...completed about 1:45pm...at Barnsley Gardens just outside Adairsville, GA...$85 for the painting or $125 as shown framed. It was my first encounter with the magic that is Barnsley Gardens...what a feast for the eyes of an artist!!! I'll definitely return for another art day outing.