Planning a Painting step 2

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I am continuing to share with you the planning I do as I approach the start of a new painting. . Here are the photographs I’m using as reference for my new painting.  I only work from my own photographs, therefore I’m not copying another artist’s images. Each photo helps me see & understand the drawing I need to do when planning the composition.  Since drawing is my weakness, I needed to find a way to make this  work for me.

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4 Values

Original Photo

Black & White

White Outline/Edges

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Now I am ready to  start my small studies. I will do several, 4×6 or 5×7, quick, single color, painted sketches. These help me work on the composition and help me see how the painting looks. Here is where I define the focal point and find my values. I might not have noticed the shadows falling on the bench if it wasn’t for the B&W photo. I like the leaf shapes in the front of the bench which are clearly visible in the 4 value & white edge photos.

I paint several of these studies using only one color, which allows me to focus on the shapes & values, and not on my color palette.

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Small Study 1

Small Study 2

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Working the painting through these steps I find is extremely useful for me. It takes away any fear I have of drawing the subject. After doing several small studies I feel confidant, I’m no longer giving any thought to how the drawing will come out, I already know how it will look and that I CAN DRAW it.

I have clearly defined my focal point, the light foliage in front of the shadowed bench. I can make this a lush plant or a basket full of bright flowers. That area is also an entry point to help bring the viewer into the painting.

I like the upper right corner, it brings depth & sunlight into the painting, yet it doesn’t distract from the focal point. This area might have been overlooked if I had not done the photo in white edges, which helped show me the importance of that corner.

I will  vary the edges within the painting, making both soft & hard edges and lost & found edges. Hard edges and strong contrast where my focal point is and lost, soft edges elsewhere throughout the painting.

I’m looking forward to beginning my larger painting.  I’ll have fun choosing a color palette. This is where the excitement begins. Putting fresh pigment on  paper, with confidence, having a well thought out plan, I believe this will be a fun painting.

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Please do your own studies of my photos and send them to me so I can post them here on my blog. Share your art with me.

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Paint with Me

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Planing a Painting step 1

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I need to escape the dreariness of mid winter. Like everyone else, I feel cooped up due to the extreme cold outside.  I use this indoor  time to organize not only my studio & supplies, but to organize my reference photos. I sort through photographs  looking for images that I feel would be of interest, looking for something I feel a desire to paint. I will then play with these photos in a photoshop program working with  different tools, trying to see values, contrasts & compositions.

Here is an image that I’m considering turning into a watercolor painting.

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Original Photo of stairs in Central Park, NYC

This helps me see the edges making it eaasier for me to draw the subject.

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Here the photo is broken into 4 different values helping me see individual shapes.

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Black & White helps me see the shapes, rendering the darkest darks and lightest lights.

I enjoy the planing stages that go into making a painting. Not all paintings are planned out in this process. When I’m working outdoors paintings are sketched and a small value study can be done to work out the composition. When I’m in the studio and the subject matter is from a photo, it’s great to have these additional images to help me remember what it was I felt about each place I photographed and why I wanted to share it with you, the viewer, in a  painting.

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I will post this painting and share with you the beginning steps I take after I’ve chosen the subject and worked out the composition.  The next step will be the small studies I do as I work my way towards the larger completed painting. I offer these photos to you to work from in creating your own painting. Send me any of your artwork and I’ll be happy to feature it here on my blog.

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Paint with Me

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Seals in Mastic Beach

Today I found a Harp Seal in the shallow water in front of my house. This was the first time I spotted a seal, although my friend Alison has photographed them floating on ice in the middle of the bay. I was so excited to see this gentle animal here on the shore but I was concerned about its health. Bruce contacted the Marine Research & Preservation at Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead NY and they sent a rescuer, Jackie, to retrieve the stranded animal. My niece, Samantha and nephews Eddie & Chris came over as soon as I called to aid in the rescue.

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We all put our best efforts into saving this beautiful animal but our good dead was not rewarded . The Harp Seal was found in critical condition and did not survive. Jackie did her best by getting here as soon as possible, we did our best by calling in a trained animal rescuer but we were all too late to save this seal. I am not sad, our efforts didn’t save the animal but now I know that along with the deer, swans & hawks, the seals are sharing this majestic waterfront, that I am so lucky to live on, with me.

Maybe I’ll paint a portrait of this seal, this way I will always remember it.

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Paint with Me

Gallery in Greenport

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My plein air artist girlfriends and I share space in the prestigious Fiedler Gallery in Greenport NY.  If you’ve never been to the quaint little village of Greenport, located almost at  the end of Long Island’s north fork, plan a day trip to visit this enjoyable town.

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The gallery is located on Main Street in the center of town

Mary & Chris with our artwork in the gallery

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While visiting Greenport  please stop in the Fiedler Gallery and take a look at our artwork and sign our guest book, we want to know who stopped by and where you traveled from.  Spend some time walking through the village, then head to one of the many wonderful wineries for an afternoon of wine tasting.

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Visit the second floor where my artwork is displayed

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A day with art friends is similar to a day of painting. We talk about what we’re working on or what paintings we’re planning to start, we plan where we want to paint when the weather warms up, we make plans to attend upcoming art shows and we discuss where and how we want to show our art.  But the most fun is knowing I’m with women who are talented artists and who are always willing to share their knowledge of techniques and ideas.  They encourage me, support me and laugh with me as we team up together, as artists & friends, and explore the wonderful world of art together.

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Paint with Me

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Tranquil & Vibrant

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Today’s sunrise was tranquil & vibrant, even though you might not think that any one image could encompass both qualities.

At 6:30 am I could already see what was to become an amazing sunrise, although it was still almost 45 mins until the break of dawn.  It was very cold so I bundled myself up then headed outside.  I was rewarded with a gorgeous multicolored  show which lasted for more than 30 mins and continuously changed before my eyes.

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The colors started soft and shy

The colors are starting to brighten

The rippling water takes on the colors from the sky

The clouds start to take shape by glowing with different colors

As the sun approaches the horizon fiery colors appear

The sun arrives silently yet all around me awakens to the vivid colors bursting in the sky

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These photos are not retouched or enhanced in any way, I wanted you to see exactly what I saw as I stood outside staring in awe at the beauty of how mother nature paints the sky & water.

Paint with Me

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Sunrise

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Two beautiful reasons I get up

before the break of dawn

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Mastic Beach sunrises are picture perfect

South Shore of Long Island Sunrise

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I love where I live,

it affords me all the beauty I need

to inspire me to create my art.

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Paint with  Me

Path to the Beach

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The waterfront of Mastic Beach is one of the most best hidden beauties on Long Island.  I live steps away from Narrow Bay with a panoramic view overlooking Fire Island. I see a variety of wildlife daily including herds of white-tailed deer, blue herons, red foxes, swans, ducks, hawks and my favorite, ospreys.  All I have to do is walk the few steps down the path to the beach.

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Path in front of Cindy's house

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A few steps leads me to the open bayfront in front of my sister's house

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Cindy's house, as seen from the beach

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I’m so lucky to have my family living on the same street only a block away from me.  When I walk along the beach I see her house and I stop by often for a visit and a glass of wine

Sometimes I’ll paint from her deck where the view is quite different from mine.

I love being surrounded by so much to paint.  I’m sure if you look around you too will find images that can painted.

Paint with Me

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Sunrise to Sunset

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I am an early riser. I didn’t always wake up at dawn but living here on the edge of the water I can’t lay in bed when I see the pinks of sunrise showing through my window blinds. I must get up and see what today’s sunrise show will be.

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Sunrise along the shore in Mastic Beach

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I throw on warm clothes to brace myself for the bitter cold and wind as I head outside to photograph the amazing colors painted across the sky by mother nature

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Nature is the master of all artists, her art humbles me

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At the end of the day I walk down to the sand to see the final display as the sun sets ending another day.

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Daylight departs and darkness overtakes the sky

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Of all the  changes that occur during the  day nothing is more dramatic than the rising and setting of the sun.

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Gold, purple and gray fill the sky as the sun makes its last decent of this day

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Each day is filled with views I wish to paint.

From the earliest colors that push through the lightning sky to the colors that lead into the darkness of night.

I spend many hours of my day, in my studio, trying & wishing I could someday be the artist that nature already is.

Paint with Me

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Colors in Winter

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Along the snowy road you'll find hints of color

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Yucca plants surround my property and remain green all winter, also notice the color of the shadows

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Hidden under the snow the Yuccas create shape & contrast against the white snow & wooden fence

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Pine Needles show off their green color in the winter and the pine cone looks like a flower bud among the branches

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Texture, Color, Shape & Line... These are all the elements I look for when composing a painting

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Throughout the winter I can still find plenty of scenes just waiting for me to paint into a snowy landscape.  Painting snow scenes has its challenges, but the results and worth it.

Paint with Me

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Colorful Playing

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Today was a dreary day, skies filled with many shades of silver & grays, with snow falling intermittently all day. It was a perfect day to play with my watercolor paints. I didn’t feel like creating a masterpiece, I just wanted to play with colors. Doing this small 5X7 painting was fun and fast and filled the desire I had to play.

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What do you do on a day that keeps you inside seeking comfort from the nasty elements outside?

Paint with Me

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