Town & Country Plein Air

 Another race with the light as I decided to set up around 5:30pm and went to a little after 7pm on this painting of our shed in the back. Oil on board 8x10. 

 It has been months since I have posted anything, the main reason being is I have been busy in the studio and then it just became too hot and muggy to enjoy getting out there. Instead I set up my French easel and started a series of paintings based on old family photos. These are all fairly small, most being 8x10 and all are on either gessoed plywood or canvas board. 

 I had started this just a couple days ago. My neighbors have a beauty of an oak tree on their front yard and I gaze at it often as it goes through the seasons and the way the light hits it, magnificent. That day the shadows were fantastic, the shades and shapes defined...and then, well you know... rain. Wind and rain, not great for Plein-air.  It snuck up very quickly and I hustled before it got ugly ugly. Packed up, I went home and not fourty minutes later it was sunny and beautiful again! By that time I had moved on to other things on life's list of stuff to do. But... Today brought some nice sun and shadows and after finishing some commercial work I set up and finished "Big Oak" outside mid afternoon.  "Big Oak" oil on board 11x14

 The shadows moved fairly swiftly throughout the entire painting process so it was a fun race in a way. I roughed it our first in raw umber and then jumped is. "Shed and Shadows"     oil on board 11x14

 I had originally planned to drive up to a location I had in mind but I have been meaning to paint these trellises in the backyard. The light was right and both dogs were basking in the sun so I just went for it. The wind whipped up a couple times and I thought I had lost it but it held tight.  "Trellis'" oil on board 8x10

 Had a early busy morning and finally had a chance to set up a little after 11am. It was slightly overcast most of the time only with moments of sun coming through and when it did it was just to the left of me and not too intrusive. I did grab what shadows I could during those moments and finally laid my brushes down around 1pm. There are a few spots I will probably touch up if they bother me enough. I am also playing with the idea of placing my neighbors white dog in it but then I feel I lose an honesty about it.  "Saturday Afternoon" oil on board 11x14