"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