This week marks my first outdoor oil painting excursion in months. Here in the upper midwest the weather has been cold and blustery. We have had snow on the ground for weeks and only two week ago the high temperatures here in Des Moines were single digits or less with lows below zero. But now, as if someone flipped a switch, the weather had abruptly improved. Pleasant days in the 50s and even 60s are forecast for the next ten days or so.
On Wednesday, I managed two hours painting on the bank of Gray's Lake. The sun was bright and warm where I stood, sheltered from any wind. Despite the warmth, the lake was still frozen and white, the banks dark with withered and decayed foliage. The distant trees along the south bank are a dark tangle. Here and there you could see that spring was coming but not yet. This paintings is 8x10 on pre-toned panel. As always I laid in broad patches of colors then refined details. This is the product of ninety minutes or so. Afterward I did touch up the right side to unify the sky and trees and darkened the trees.
 |
| "Frozen Lake," oil on panel, 8x10 |
No comments:
Post a Comment