"Keuka Lake with Wild Sweet Peas" Oil Painting

"Keuka Lake with Wild Sweet Peas"

8x10 Oil

AVAILABLE

Completed this painting last week, and tried some new techniques, like using an old fan brush to create the grasses, plus utilizing more detail in the foreground.

This is a popular view of Keuka Lake from the west side.  There was a big swath of wild sweet peas growing near the road this time when we stopped by.

BHB

"Layers" Make-up Painting

"Layers"

16x20" Make-up Painting

Finished framing the last of the 4 newer make-up paintings with the new, dark-chocolate-brown mat format.

Unfortunately, they are very difficult to photograph well. Especially with an iPhone.  :)

FYI-- there is separate tab for make-up paintings on my website.  I have now completed 8 and have started a new one this week.

Here is the link to see all eight:   http://barbarahallblumer.blogspot.com/p/make-up-paintings.html

BHB

"Potting Shed" Oil Painting

"Potting Shed"

6x9 Oil
SOLD

I am enjoying being in "Back to School" mode, i.e., getting my studio in order to begin some new projects this fall, as well as reviewing "what I did on my vacation."

One of the fun things I did this summer was go to back to the peony farm with another painter friend who had never been.  She painted the barn and rows of peonies, as I have done in the past, but I looked for something else.

It took me a while to decide, but I eventually chose this potting shed. I liked the door within a door view, and the rhythm of the green vines against the hard lines of the roof.

Since it took me while to decide, I had little time to paint.  It was really hot and I was very uncomfortable.  The wind blew my umbrella away and flipped my paints onto the ground.  My painting was out of control, even though I had used a limited palette of colors.

So I took my "start" home and stuck it in the freezer.  The whole painting.  It is only 6x9 inches, so it fit just fine.

A month or more later, I took it out and finished it based on the photos I had taken and what I could remember from being there.

I really enjoyed painting from memory and purposely left it very loose.  So I salvaged what I had started.  I had almost thrown it away.

I concluded from this experience that I am no longer cut out to be a plein air painter.  I don't enjoy dragging my easel and the paints and supports and all of the gear to the site.  Then, fighting the elements.

But I really enjoyed going to the peony farm for inspiration.  I took lots of photos, and next time I will go and sketch, instead of trying to do an oil painting.

I have been joking that I was going to name this painting:  "The last time I went out to paint en plein air."  Instead, I have settled on "Potting Shed."

BHB