Painting Lesson on Sky, Tree and Grass.

With a palette knife, I made about 10 blends of color that would be appropriate to create the sky. I made sure I had the value range that would show where the sunlight was coming from and the strong color differences. I knifed in the color blends onto the canvas in their correct spots and then proceeded to blend in the colors with the palette knife. I would be completely focused, efficient and make sure the color transition is working and not lose the colors. Too much blending can turn gray or muddy. After about 90% of the sky is blended, I use a soft brush (1/4 inch) and softly fill in where a little canvas still shows and slowly soften the whole sky so it looks smooth and flat.
The grass gets the same treatment only I look for hills and crannies and exaggerate where the sun shines on and where it is in shadow. Need a whole assortment of values so the sun and shade will be obvious.        Painting size is 8x10

Painting for the "Hill-Hold" Silent Auction

This painting was sent out to the Hill-Hold Museum for a silent auction. The scene is of a farm that I pass by quite regularly on Rt. 211. There's a few bushes in the front which I left out.
The Hill-Hold Museum is on Rt. 416, opposite the Thomas Bull Park. In fact it was Thomas Bull who built the Hill-Hold as his home in 1769.

Fantasy Art

Someone needed illustration samples that were more imaginative than my usual artwork that I put on show at the galleries. At least, I was able to present these 3 pieces that could be labeled "fantasy" or "science fiction"

Wolfgang Reception

Mickey Teutul's "The Wolfgang Gallery" had their November Reception on the 12th and I entered this painting. The art gallery has a very Manhattan ambiance. Then when you walk outside, you realize "Oh, I'm in Montgomery"

Snow on October 29

When the snow subsided, it was a beautiful twilight and then in the morning, the snow was a photographer's Winter Wonderland. Just had to be careful not to stand under the wrong tree branch. They were all heavily laden and snapping off all over the place.