A Green of a Different Color

I found a new green! Well, it's not new, and I didn't find it (a friend gave it to me), but it IS new to me! Vivid Lime Green by Liquitex...such luminocity!! During a workshop I was teaching on collage I decided to add it in hopes it would seem as though the sun were filtering through the farthest recesses of the trees, and I think I accomplished it on some level. It was such fun to slap this new color on that I just had to invite you all to hop over to your local art supply store and pull a new color; one you haven't used before; off the shelves and give it a try...For me...the subject matter is one I dearly love as those of you who started with me know...and the pop of green made it even more fulfilling!

I have photographed this painting, "Forest in Green" with two cameras now and still Im not completely satisfied...but this one is the closest version of the truth. I decided on the photo I took in the sun (off to the right, thus the shadows on the left of the "paper" trees) so you could see the handmade papers that were added as trees in the foreground. Hopefully you can see a bit of the process; it was fast and loose and fun! I hope you are inspired to try a new color or technique or something...shake yourself up...it is an awesome experience!!

Oops...

So, I'm still figuring out the bugs in my "expertise" in blogging...I forgot to include the photo of the "fuzzy leaf" to show the difference...still working out how to align my photos within an edited blog, so to avoid something misaligned I decided to just slip in the other photo in a separate blog...I'm sure as time goes on I will get it all down...till then, thanks for the patience!! This fuzzy version was an experiment in using the acrylics but without the gesso down first...So, now see the blog below to see the one I decided to work with...

Something new yet familiar

"Winter Oak" © Saundra Lane Galloway Fine Art

Whenever I find myself in a rut with my painting; which can be easy at times since I love to paint trees so much, but want to keep things fresh, I try something new. This paper cast came after creating a mold from copper. I spent some time experimenting with surfaces to make it possible to paint on the cast and have it come out like I wanted. First I just painted with my acrylics directly on the surface and it came out a bit too wet on wet looking for what I was going for. I then applied some gesso to the surface and was able to paint on top of that. I like the way it turned out, so plan to do more casts. I encourage you to try something new from time to time...it keeps things fresh and exciting! The pictures are from my old camera...yes still learning about my new one, so the colors didn't come out as strong as they are in life, but I wanted to share this anyway, and hope it inspires you to reach a bit from time to time, in whatever way that works for you!

Summer memories

It's been cold here the past few days. Sunflowers and Lilacs were a nice way to climb back into those memories of warm days and strong colors. I don't know how I feel about this one. It is another combination of acrylic and paper. My intent was to bring a focus through texture as I put papers in the center of the flower on the left, but it leaves me wanting more. I don't think this photo shows the detail as I would have liked. My new camera came in and I am deep in the book trying to set it up. Hopefully I will be able to bring better detail to my photos when it is ready to use. I do like the strength of color in this one, and I feel the composition works fairly well, however I look at it and try to figure out what else it needs. Perhaps it is just one of those that make one remember the warmth of the sun and smile for a moment in that memory...

Take time for Value

While I am waiting for my new Nikon P-80 camera to arrive so my pictures will hopefully be a bit better I was thinking about a recent painting I completed that I already have in my photos on my computer. It was for a black/white and one color show I was in a couple of months ago. This little bear was an excellent way for me to practice what I believe is one of the most important elements, which is value. It doesn't matter what color I would have made this little guy, as long as my values were accurate...so this is just a little reminder that it is a great exercise to put away those wonderful colors now and then and do a value study...I framed him in a black frame and he looks good in that home, so he is ready for selling. I mixed my black; always mix my blacks...on this one I used Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Umber. So, check yourself...try one! To further check myself sometimes after I do a value study I make a black and white copy of the photo if I used one...it is fun to see how close I came.

Not A Tree

Yes, I paint other things...I thought I'd share some other things that I do. I was really focused on NOT making this a photo realistic painting when I did it last year. I had fallen into that trap. It is easier to be a bit more expressive when I do trees, but with other things I tend to lean towards painting like the people I studied under at the time. I think it is important to know you CAN do it if you wanted, and once you have done the "realistic" thing it is more fun (in my opinion) to interpret it differently. I wanted to have more loose strokes, but ended up being happy with "Three Pears" because of the way I loosely applied the highlights on the top. HA. Doesn't take much to make me happy! I think I am still on a road to loosen up and interpret more, but for now, this is good...

California Palms

Palm trees are an interesting subject for me. The trunks have a lot of texture and the foliage is exciting as the contrasts and highlights are so strong. I love painting them as quickly as possible. The "bugs eye view" like I did in "Under the Palm" seems most natural as we see them that way in most situations. To me it made it seem more imposing and important. I enjoyed playing with the purple sky. The trunks having so much texture lends themselves to having almost built in shadows.

In "California Palm" the foliage was so colorful I wanted to emphasize it in an eye to eye view. Its foliage had so much volume I had to capture it.

Inspiration

We all have things that inspire us. So many mornings I wake up to the most beautiful sunrises, and I am immediately inspired to create! Seeing such beautiful things gives me the jump start to look through my cache of photos to see what I'm in the mood for that day. "Aspen Color" is one of my favorites. I love the texture in the bark and the leaves in fall are so fascinating to me. I wanted to give the impression of the color, just enough for the viewer to fill in the blanks with their own creative minds. My favorite thing to give to those who may also love those aspen!

Are You Having Fun?

That is the question I ask myself constantly. I have a deal with myself; that I will paint as long as I am having fun. The minute it ceases to be fun, I stop. And the second I say it I get a bit nervous, because I love painting and creating so much that I can't imagine not doing it! Anyone relate to that? My "In the Forest" was fun. It started out being a straight acrylic painting, but ended up with a large portion of collage papers incorporated. The trunk and grasses in the front are papers with painting mixed in. I'm dissapointed with the way I've photographed this one as you can't see the grasses and it seems a bit too sharp. I'm learning and I'm sure will figure it all out.

We have a forest in our backyard. I was walking back there a few weeks ago and picked up pine cones and brought them back home to paint. I love all things tree! When I first painted them they sort of blended together, but I noticed some subtle changes and so I emphasized that...I love being able to manipulate things, so enhanced the colors a bit and they just popped. It is just a 6x6, but this one has become one of my favorites!

Is it a Series?

Have you ever wondered at why you paint what you do? Yes, we paint things we like and for many reasons, but as I share this second painting I completed recently I wonder if I can call it another in my series and what is it about these parts of trees that fascinate me so? Tree Line as I call it was a fun piece to do. I love giving some detail and leaving some to the imagination, and it is in this "series" of trees that have me so captured that I find leaving some for my audience to fill in for themselves the most satisfying. I paint so many different things, but it is the tree, that I so often come back to that thrills me. I have loved them since I was a child. They are strong and peaceful at the same time. This new avenue of sharing has given me a different voice that I am so excited about. I'm sure I will learn more about how to share with you all as time goes on. I am anxious to learn from you all, and hear your thoughts. In this batik that is in process I am seeing this same vision repeated, only in another medium. I don't know if I will finish it as I started to add lines and am not sure if I like it, but it is exciting still and fun. What lucky people we are to be artists...I wonder what the rest of the world does that gives them the same joy.

A Beginning

Today is a beginning for me...My first blog moment. My web site is in progress, my art journey is always ongoing. I am anxious to hear from any and all who may want to post comments about what you see...I love so many aspects of art, so many different media, but I paint mostly in acrylic. I enjoy painting so many different things, but my favorite subject is trees. I find them so strong and they change constantly just as we do. So, for this beginning moment is an acrylic and collage painting that I have titled "Forest"...thanks for stopping by!