Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Help Hibisicus!

This piece has been sitting since December in a state of helplessness, poor thing.  It's an adaptation of a Terry Madden watercolor in terms of composition, but done in oil on a large canvas and trying to do justice to the yellow color of the hibiscus' in my Mom and Dad's yard (Terry's was pink).  I have changed it so much and so many times, my head is swimming =)  The background used to be light in a watercolor sort of fantasy look, then my teacher said "no, it needs to be dark".  So now it's dark.  Not sure I like it.  And, I still have to correct the flowers for highlights and such, but - it's a work in progress.  Maybe publishing it will really get me to think about it and get it done!!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Baylands Morning

Another plein aire paint-out!  Marshy baylands, huge eucalyptus, and distant foothills.  Cloudless sky, but a with wonderful morning glow!  Later in the morning, this little reflective stream became a veritable lake! 
Colors show more yellow in the photo than in the painting =(  Nevertheless.......perfect fall weather, wonderful friends, talent abounding around me!