Friday, August 26, 2011

FLOWER PAINTING (Marigold Oil Painting)


I recently went to the Luscher Farm in Lake Oswego Oregon; it's a community garden and my fellow artist friend Wendy Dehart and I try to get there at least once in the summer to do some Plein Air work. The gardens are beautiful, full of wonderful flowers and veggies everywhere. Well, as usual I was in a state as to what to paint. Since I don't get outdoors often enough to paint I usually can't decide what to paint. It's a real dilemma for me and when I saw this bunch of Marigolds I instinctively felt they where calling to me, so my confusion was put to rest as I always love to paint flowers.

But, I think looking back at my experiences with Plein Air painting I have come to the conclusion it's not what I enjoy painting, or if I am to paint outdoors I want to hone in on a small area and not try to paint the vast expanse of the landscape. Any one out there who has the same problem? I think another problem I have with landscape painting is there are so many artist who do it so well and I want to some some how put a different concept to my work.

Mitchell Albala who's landscape painting book "Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice", recently posted an interview with Wolf Kahn http://blog.mitchalbala.com/?p=2058,  whose landscapes are amazing because he has learned to paint the suggestion of the landscape without painting the detail. If the link doesn't work try newarttv.com .
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5 comments:

gretchen said...

the painting turned out great!

i wonder if when you take photos, do you do the same thing? focus on what is most eye catching to you? i know it's what i do, unless there is a reason to get it all in the picture.

i'll have to see if i can find that farm...

Wendy DeHart said...

Wow girl - another beautiful flower painting. Do you think the outdoor lighting and enviroment makes for a better painting? Simply gorgeous!

Gaby Bee said...

Beautiful painting! I love the way you use colour, it's so vibrant and lively:)

Have a great week!
Hugs,
Gaby

Kitchen-Dreams said...

what a great challenge for you! the painting is great! you seem to have such a wide range of skills.

Kasturi said...

Hi.. Your painting is beautiful.. I know exactly what you mean when you talk about getting confused about what to do paint in a plein air session!!!:)