#3 of 100 Series 'Michelle'

After finishing 'Plein Air 100 Series' #2 this afternoon around 3pm, I headed out for inspiration to start #3.  After a few stops at various locations, Pajaro Dunes, Sunset Beach, Taylor Farms (all just down the street), I ended up at the bluff at La Selva Beach (where the train goes by).  There on the bluff, in just the right light, I found my next inspiration.  #3 -  'Michelle'.  Thank you Michelle!

Michelle let me take several pictures and we struck up a conversation.  Never let an opportunity pass and this one is a good one.  Michelle, it turns out, lives in La Selva Beach and is just beginning her artistic journey.  She showed me several paintings she did in acrylic on her iphone right there on the cliff.  She asked if she and her friend could call me with art related questions.  I said, of course, and offered for us all to paint together.  Without skipping a heartbeat, she said YES! I think an impromptu art group may have just started.

Reference Photo 

#2 of 100 Series 'Evening Train In La Selva Beach'

# 2 Plein Air Study 

Union Pacific Railroad runs through Santa Cruz County between Davenport and Watsonville.  U.P.'s major client, Cemex (a cement plant in Davenport) closed this year.  The Davenport to Watsonville line may discontinue as a result of the loss of revenue from Cemex.  On its daily run, it  comes through La Selva Beach near dusk.  The railroad bridge and approaching train at La Selva Beach face viewers on the bluff and the train continues along the base of the bluff as it travels southbound.  Following are:

  the reference photo

 initial block-in         

                   

First lay in of color  

Finished work         

The design is unusual with the bridge leading out to the right.  But the train comes in from the upper right and the design seems to work.  The land mass was difficult but I know it very well and I think I captured the height and depths pretty well.  The edges improved from 'At Rest' to this one.  Please feel free to offer insight.  Only 98 more to go!!

After a few days, here are more technical notes. 1) I like red but the red trestle detracts from the focus.  The drawing of cars and rail and engine are incorrectly drawn. Lines hill side to the viewer's right of the train need to be more vertical not diagonal.  Can you see it, the one dark brushstroke, it needs to be vertical.  The bluish color left and right of train needs to be less saturated, less blue.  Behind the hillside is the Monterey Bay.  The water needs more saturation and definition.  All in all, improve drawing, the right color in the right place, brushstrokes in the right direction, more definition and color in the bay.

#1 of 100 Series - 'At Rest'

Here are the first examples of '100 Series' Plein Air Painting. Let the discussions begin!  This day was a beautiful clear beach day in the low 70s.  The air was very still along the northern California coast, the sun was shinning, it was about 1pm in the afternoon.  Nice scenes were available in several directions.  I chose this one to tell the story of this young couple at rest after a fun morning of surfing.  They are organized with their supplies and shade tent.  Their chairs were carefully chosen for relaxation.  And they are obviously in sync with each other.  Ok, on to the more technical part. 

The first photo is the actual scene, the next is the initial sketch,the third is the block-in of darks, lights and a hint of the local color.  The fourth photo is more local color added.  Still unfinished, and may stay unfinished, this example is meant for analysis.  So let's get started. First I will step back and analyze the stages.  You are welcome to follow along.  After a couple of days, the next post will offer insight on drawing, values, color temperature, edges and composition for 'At Rest'.  Constructive comments welcome.

It has been several days and I have read more than 150 pages in 'Alla Prima' by Richard Schmid, AGAIN.  One thing I know for sure, knowledge precedes skill.  What I know for sure, the painting does not convey what interested me in the scene.  But, because I am very optimistic, let's start with what is working in 'At Rest'.

What is working in 'At Rest', well, I had a lovely time at the beach.  The couple gazed a long time at the ocean, their surfboard and shade tent nearby, all beckoned to be painted. The scene conveyed a contented pair relaxing by the water following a morning of surfing. 


Did the design and drawing work?   The subject and supporting elements are no longer at eye level.  Eye level is somewhere up near the distant mountains. The planes are somewhat foreshortened.  Had the planes appeared expansive, distant and far-reaching, the sense of relaxation would have come through. The background, middle ground and foreground values are very close creating a somewhat flat appearance.  The edges in each plane are the same also creating a flat look.

This is a simple design that has me much perplexed.  It will continue to challenge me.  I will solve the problems and triumph!

Knowledge proceeds skill. Next is 'Evening Train in La Selva Beach'

Sunflower Series - A Study in Yellows 6"x6" oil on linen panel