What a difference a week makes! After the beautiful fall weather last week, we had a blustery, blowsery, snowy day yesterday. Mother Nature sure paid a trick on us—hail and snow for the trick-or-treaters! We felt compelled to get in as much fall color painting as we possibly could in the time left. Which means a treat for you (and a non-caloric one at that)!
We begin with Ellen's sponge painting of autumn trees. This magnificent painting captures the essence of the season and is a prime example of an artist knowing her vision best. At every stage of this painting, we told Ellen to stop lest she ruin a beautiful painting. When she had foliage stippled over masked tree trunks, we told her to stop. She ignored us, removed the masking—and she was right. Then we advised her to leave the trunks unmasked. She ignored us and started painting them blue. Right again. Zoom in and immerse yourself in the season.
Sara's painting, too, captures the colors of the season more brilliantly than the photo would show. But her cemetery setting brings this painting from a simple landscape into the realm of visual allegory.
There seems to be a shadow cast over Abla's landscape, too, but that's just the photographer! The painting itself features a softly colorful setting with lively skies and moving water.
Alan, too cleverly uses water in his composition. By reflecting the changing trees, he doubles the color and the beauty of the season.
Bill continues the autumn trees theme, but he systematically approaches them with "the plan." Here, he's defined his intent and uses a row of urban trees to provide a sense of movement and passage, using shape and value.
Having identified what he felt worked well in the study above, he begins another painting, this time emphasizing the light and airy quality of the foliage, while keeping the sense of depth that first attracted him.
Madeleine saw the same scene (in real life), but chose to concentrate on one tree and the fallen leaves at its feet. This delicate line and wash uses color and size to guide the viewer's eye around, just like the swirl of falling leaves. (Oh, and wouldn't you love a scarf with the print on it? We all would!)
Our newest member, Victoria, does the famous color wheel, but she adds her test strokes to the color wheel itself, making for an exercise that's as festive as it is useful.
And she moves on to the next color wheel... even more useful and just as colorful.
Vivian is also tempted by the warm colors of the season, but her tablescape has become more industrial with the addition of the table rims and brackets.
Mohammed, too, is drawn to reds and oranges, but he uses them to create this delicate Asian-esque bird. Get closer to see the intricate lines, reminiscent of a fine woodcut.
Abla is also drawing inspiration from the Chinese brush painting book that John left on our last library table. She has only begun, but already the delicate bud captures the sense of the scene.
After the fiery landscape shown earlier, Alan switches to softer colors to add a gentle, opalescent touch to this painting. While it is representational, we'll let you enjoy it as a beautiful abstract before we reveal more next week.
Here's another painting that looks like a perfectly composed abstract, but is also representational. It's Tony's view of Greek scenery through dark clouds. Doesn't it have all the elegant simplicity of Georgia O'Keeffe's works on paper?
Still in Greece, Tony is at ground level here, capturing the beauty of a Mediterranean summer.
Mark is also bidding summer a fond farewell, with this Chagall-like painting of swimmers wading into the lake.
As the season changes, our attention tends to turn indoors.... to family and friends. Greeta's sweet portrait of her grandson is a perfect example of this. We love his pensive expression; not to mention the textures of wood, fabric and hair.
Speaking of texture, Steve's merman is finished. And everywhere we look we see how a master handles texture—in the rocks, the sky, the sea and the hair, scales and skin. Even the foam where the water touches rock or the tail flicks the water.
Susan has moved indoors, too, documenting what happens when accountants let loose and party. You can hear the music, just by looking, can't you?
Speaking of celebration, Ken has finished another of his urban landscapes. Looks like the buildings are dressed up for a dance, wouldn't you say?
Elaine, has (finally) put the last few finishing touches on her painting of a beautifully carved church facade. After a Saturday night partying hard with the accountants, the quiet serenity of this church beckons.
And, in a strangely backward process, Elaine then went back to finish the study she started of the arch over the doorway.
No artist of the day today. No library books or magazines. To be perfectly honest, we wouldn't have had the room. We were full up today, almost spilling into a second room. All in all, a lovely day to paint with a fun crowd!
See you next week!
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