Between the Bluffs 2015 - 2nd & 3rd Paintings

Since BtB was about a month ago, I want to finish up and move to newer work. Here are my finished paintings and some process shots as well. This farm "speaks" to me whenever I drive on Russian Coulee Road, with the house windows appearing to be watching the movement of all who pass by. As for the road, I painted it last year - bigger size, different surface, slightly different season. If you want to compare, look back. I like this version better. It is fresher, and to me speaks of the difference between a plein air painting and one painted from a photo. Can you tell I love this road?

 "The Farm Watches", 9x12 inches, pastel on Uart 320 grit sanded surface.

"Down Russian Coulee Road, Again", 12 x 16 inches, pastel on Richeson sanded surface.

 I didn't paint in the dappled sunlight (above), but the shade under my umbrella (a great investment, BTW) was a a bit too deep for a photo. Here is the under painting and my setup.

 Let me clarify for the photo below: YES, I did my initial drawing and underpainting in the rain in my car. I was feeling frustrated by the dreary afternoon and figured I could get a jump on being ready to paint when the sun came out. I was!

 The next "sunny day" actually varied between sun and deep clouds, I captured the shadows that were present during my sunny last hour or so of painting and I think they were pretty accurate.

Between the Bluffs 2015 - I did it!

We just returned from our annual trip to Baltimore to celebrate granddaughter Annabell's birthday - this year her 4th - so now I can post my  work for BtB. I had a great time painting in the crisp sunny early fall weather of the 3rd week of September. All 3 paintings that I entered in the show were painted on Russian Coulee Road in eastern LaCrosse county, just south of Bangor. I thoroughly enjoyed my painting experiences, especially the cows that came to visit during my first painting day. Here is that sociable cow. Perhaps over the winter I will paint him.

This is the painting I was working on while that cow came to visit.The first is my under-painting, the second nearly complete, and the third is the final painting. Peering over this hill at the farm below was an interesting perspective from which to paint - almost voyeuristic, although the cows and sheep were well aware of my presence.

 

And, yes, all 3 paintings were delivered to Gallery 1311 on time! I will soon post the rest of my work from BtB.