Cabin - Sugar Loaf NY

140lb Arches coldpress / W&N watercolors

Nothing new today. Here is a painting I did of a little cabin in a field not very far from here. I was really happy with this one. I think the shapes, the atmosphereics (is that a word), and the color are what I like about it.

I'm off today, but have errands to do. I hope to get back into the studio for another iris tonight. I am looking forward to getting out to some new spots with my camera on the long holiday weekend coming up.

Keep Makin' Art

CArl

Another Morning at Pine Meadow Brook

This is one of my favorite spots.

Next Iris

This is the subject of my next watercolor. It will be more of a challenge than the last one. I want to keep the delicate quality and the cool colors in this one.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Iris Painting Final

Second Wash Iris Painting

Finished Painting

5x7" on Arches 300lb. coldpress paper

Original Photo

A word about color:

The most common thing I hear about my paintings is about color... How the painting comes together and has a harmony of color. I think this is true. One of the ways I look to make this happen is in the planning. The flower is purple/blue and the background is yellow/green. For me the common thread was the blue in the flower and the blue in the green of the background. for both I used ultramarine blue. Hints of the yellow are also used in the flower and a little of the purple is glazed into the background to darken it. So by limiting the colors I have gotten an image that is held together by its colors. Anyway that is how I have learned to approach color.

How do you manage the color in your paintings to get the most out of them?

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Iris Painting First Wash

First wash on iris painting (this time I will show original photo when I post completed painting)

Colors for background wash. cadmium yellow and french ultramarine blue. Mingled on palette and loosely washed in. May get glazed darker after the iris is painting and I see where the tones should end up.

Keep Makin' Art!!!!

Carl

I Spy.....

First Mountain Laurel of the season. Time to hit the trails and enjoy this seasonal favorite!

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Skylands This Morning

I went to Skylands this morning. The irises are out in the perennial garden and the wildflower garden. They were beautiful in the morning light. They really had a great glow and the sun lighting up the grasses behind them really set them off nicely.

The key to shooting in botanical gardens is go often in the spring there is always something different in bloom.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

This Morning

These two shots are from Pine Meadow Brook at about 7am today. Great light and spring greens. It is hard to miss.

I also went to Skylands this morning and got some great shots of Irises in the wildflower and perennial gardens. Look for these a little later today.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Quiet Morning - Harriman state Park

Around every corner in the trail shots like this can be found. I love this time of year.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

More from Awosting

I got these shots on the brook above and below Awosting Falls on Saturday Morning. I really liked the way the rocks looked and wanted to capture the way the water was swirling in some of the small cascades. All in all between these shots and the ones from Pine Meadow Brook on Friday I had a great weekend with my camera.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl