Seascape and Skyscape

Color 30 - Wind

36 x 24" Oil on Canvas

Standing on the edge of the bluff

Overlooking the ocean -

The smell of sea salt in the air

As the crisp breezes

Make your ears sting just a little -

The sky overhead

So big

You feel like the grains of sand underfoot -

No where else

Have I experienced such wonder and Peace -

No where else

Have I felt the touch of God so close.

Skyscape Oil Painting

Thunderstorm At Sunset

5x5" Oil on Canvas

$45.00 (unframed) or $65.00 (framed)

All works can be purchased through PayPal.

Thunderstorms in the desert are rare but can be intense, usually preceded by a dust storm.

On this particular evening, the air was free of dust and as the sun set, the clouds glowed.

Skyscape Oil Painting

Sky Winds

5x5" Oil on Canvas

$45.00 (unframed) or $65.00 (framed)

Blue and orange are opposites on the color wheel and can sometimes almost make the colors vibrate. Here cadmium orange is grayed slightly with cobalt blue and burnt sienna. The blue sky is toned with burnt sienna. Changing the hues gives the work a more unified feel, while maintaining the drama.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Skyscape Painting in Acrylic

Fire

5x5" Acrylic on Canvas

$45.00 Unframed or $65.00 Framed (plus shipping)

The sky last night seemed to be lit from within -

a stark contrast between the fire below the cloud line

and the pale blue above it.

My thoughts on dark values:

I don't believe there is any true black in nature. Every dark has shades of color captured inside, so I seldom use a black on my palette. Instead, I create my darkest darks using primarily a mixture of ultramarine blue and burnt umber. To this dark, I can add alizarin crimson for warmth, raw sienna to gray the dark, or a number of other colors to change its value or hue.

Skyscape Oil Painting & Color Theory

Early November Evening

5x5" Acrylic on Canvas

$45.00 (unframed) or Framed $65.00 plus shipping

I painted this small piece yesterday specifically for comparison to "Falling Day". The intensity of the purples here are softer and placed next to the brighter yellows with grayed color as a transition between the two. I believe the overall effect and emotion are totally different. Adding the shallow landscape at the bottom gives balance to the darker areas at the top.

Skyscape Oil Painting & Back to Basics

Falling Day

5x5" Oil on Canvas

$45.00

Please contact me directly to purchase this, or any of the works you see here and on my webpage.

Often as artists, we need to be reminded of the basics in color theory and composition. Over the next few weeks, come with me as I review the roots of a "good" painting. Of course, art is subjective, but I believe the fundamentals are imperative.

The skyscape miniature paintings I have been doing the last year or so actually started out as color studies. Based loosely on photos taken of the incredible sunsets of Arizona, the works are primarily investigations of color juxtaposition. In "Falling Day", I added cadmium red deep between the purple and yellow, which are opposites on the color wheel, to calm their relationship a bit. Adding bits of the purple to the horizon yellows allows for a softer "punch".

5 x 5" Oil Skyscape Painting

5 x 5" Oil on Canvas

Well, it is Monday again.

My mind appears to still be in the frying pan.

I have four new 5 x5" Oil Paintings (above is number 1) that have no titles. If the little piece inspires you, and you care to share your thoughts, I could use some help giving these small gems names.

Just click "Post a Comment" below. I would be ever so grateful.

I am still trying to get ready for the upcoming Home Art & Studio Tour slated for Dec. 6th. In the meantime, the West Valley Arts Council is sponsoring Wednesday evening Art Walks during November leading up to the Art Tour at the Citadelle Shopping Center (59th Ave. & Utopia, Glendale, AZ) complete with wine tasting.

We have an empty store space to exhibit works from all five participating artists. Stop by from 6 to 8 pm to share a few laughs with us (and see some great art!)

Wishing you all a wonderful week!