Leavenworth, WA

Leavenworth Morning(oil- 18 x 24 in)

Quiet water in the Three Forks reserve

During some time of summer, I visited Three forks reserve around Snoqualmie Falls, WA.

This is rather quiet water scene, calm and serene. The weather was not so bright with a little bit of drizzling rain.  Took many reference photos, but I tried to feel the vivid and spontaneous impression of the place given and hold it in my memory.
I saw the above and painted as below,

Quiet Water(oil ; 18 x 24 in)

                              

Paint out- Nisqually wild life refuge

Yesterday, I went out for paint out on Nisqually wild life refuge,WA with group of members of Plein Air Washington Artists (PAWA).

I really enjoyed the painting out session. I did paint 3 study paintings using pastel on different spots between 10 am  and 2 pm. Morning hour was sort of chilly, but It was cool to do work outdoor. Breathing fresh air  and early spring breeze is so refreshing. It seemed the winter dust would take off the cold ground.

Learned  a lot, by looking at the nature face to face,  looking around the grasses and field, marsh, tree shadow, road.

My Saturday office scene as follows;

Pastel study  6 x 8 in.
My set up on location office

Some of art group members working hard

Pastel sketches on location

 

Deception Pass State Park, Washington

North View(Oil on canvas : 16 x 20 in)

The Deception Pass State park, located north Washington, was painted last year on 9 x 12 in panel, which had found home of collector in Northern California.

Now, I decided to paint larger size of 16 x 20  canvas with lower vanishing point of the background. The canvas under painting is permanent rose. This is fun to paint as the red tone is shown thru.

Sunny place

Sunny place ( oil on canvas ; 16 x 20 in )

On a sunny spring day walk at the park,  I saw yellowish green all around the trees. Sunshine is too bright to open my eyes. I should capture this joyful moment and time. Actual color of the reality is more light green. However, I could not help hesitating use real green, stereotype green for my canvas. So I poured red tone underpainting color on it before starting real painting, I carefully used light green.
The finished painting looked more yellow due to under tone color of orange red tone.
The final outcome turned out to be little different from that I initially planed, but it is rather satisfying.

Ocean breeze

Ocean breeze( Oil on canvas; 16 x 20 in )

                       
I found that I had rarely painted Ocean side or seaside view, seascape, even though, I had lived in Southern California. One day I looked up some reference photos in file to get painting subject and I found some beach scene; coast line, waves, seaside buildings. cypress, and windy motion.  For this painting, I eliminated beach house located left side of the dune, and the cypress was mainly focused. The movement of the cypress was hilariously touched by the sunny Pacific Ocean breeze.

Torrance marsh, California

Sunny Road( oil on canvas : 16 x 20 in)

Marsh land( Oil on canvas : 16 x 20 in )

Recently, I started to paint little bit larger size for me, as I usually did such small size as 5 x 7, or 6 x 6.   These are from Madrona marsh in California.  I did it in loose impressionistic brush stroke.

Wildflower series

Wildflower I (Oil on canvas 9 x 12 in)

Wildflower II (Oil on canvas 9 x 12 in )

I tried a few Wildflower Series with little bit of abstract touch. Need some imagination but sometime let my hand and brush go its own way. I wanted break from predetermined state of mind or stereotype in painting.

Red tone underpainting preparation

Recently I experimented what I did not think to use for traditional underpainting process.
 I believe that some artist use this kind of method. What did I do with this red tone underpainting? It is understood that in order to paint traditional landscape painting, raw umber or transparent oxide orange or neutral color for preparation, but this red tone is kind of tricky to adjust color value.  However if you use loose brush stroke in alla prima technique, no layers, the underpainting color will shine through entire painting and lead you to totally unique experience. Especially, it is so fun to use colorful hue in free style.

AM canyon light(oil on panel: 11 x 14 in)

PM rays(Oil on panel: 11 x 14 in)

Voila, Those are the finished product based on red tone underpaintings. Fun and interesting. Sometimes new trial brings you an exciting satisfaction and accomplishment.

Ocean side paintings

Northern Wave (oil on gessoboard: 8 x 10 in)

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Distant gaze(oil on canvas panel: 11 x 14 in)

                           

NW breeze( oil on gessoboard: 8 x 10 in.)

They are recent collection of ocean side or beach paintings. Available at dailypaintworks
                                        Click to bid for auction

Tree shape study

Toward uphill(oil, 9 x 12 inches)

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Table top autumn(oil, 9 x 12 inches)

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Dancing trees(oil, 9 x 12 inches)

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All of the paintings above are available through the auction of dailypaintworks.

Loose and less brush stroke movement

Ripples of small creek( oil, 9 x 12 inches)

The ripples of the water painting was initiated from the hidden quiet little fall of the mountain, zoomed in to close up of the stream scene. I liked to focus on the wave and movement of the water made by small fall between the rocks.

shaded spot( oil, 9 x 12 inches)

Few years ago, I went out to the Madrona Marsh in Torrance, california, I took several reference photos from there, however some did not made me paint. and I set aside for a while, nowadays while looking for references, I found one of them. This is good for
studying various tree shapes and composition. Interesting and fun movement of the universe. I thought.

Rosescape again

Rosescape I (Oil, 9 x 12 inches)

Rosescape II(OIl, 9 x 12 inches)

Exit from comfort zone

Mountain top fog(oil, 8 x 10 inches)

                             

Before sundown( oil, 8 x 10 inches)

North west morning (oil, 9 x 12 inches)

                               

These are painted in attempt to achieve  loose and less brush strokes in oil painting.

Pastel paintings on pastel board

Light and shadow(pastel 6 x 8 inches )

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Side by side(pastel : 6 x 8 inches)

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I had fun painting these pastel landscapes on pastel board which is sturdy and easy handling. Even though it is sort of pricey. Lately, I long for the landscape full of sunlit and shadow interpreted by my own feeling and sense. Looking into my reference photos, I was into  thinking how I would make those scenes rather interesting than the actual world, meaning I want to render in more dreamy, visionary or illusive manner. Pastel is perfect medium for illuminating effect.

A garden arranged

                                 Garden arranged(Pastel: 6 x 8 inches)
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The study of the scene was painted during the paint out session at the Rhododendron Species Botanical garden,WA. There was canopy tent in the middle, but I removed it from the scene and pink flowers foreground were more scattered into the  center of picture and yellow flowers in middle ground were minimized. So this painting came  out  of somewhat personal arrangement.

Summer stream in california

  Summer Stream(Pastel: 12 x 12 inches)

This pastel painting was from the photo I took of Eaton Canyon, CA last year. For the month of May this year, Bold brush competition announced that this painting received FAV 15 %.

                              

Scent of the fond memory

                              Scent of the fond memory(Pastel: 9 x 12)
                              wallis paper mounted on foamboard
                               
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This is one of the series I have in mind lately. For light effect and vibrant or pure color application, pastel medium is the right choice, I believe.

Capturing the light and color

Light of spring(pastel: 9x12 inches)

Looking over the other side( Pastel ;9 x 12 inches)

Through the dappled light (pastel: 9 x12)

               
By doing some pastel landscapes, I wanted to show how the light works on the effect of mood in the painting. I like to use vibrant colors of the pastel within the range of right value. Some works for me, and some doesn't, but I had fun doing so. Good experience.
These are all on auction at dailypaintworks

two pastel paintings on colourfix paper mounted on foam board

Toward the light(Pastel: 9 x 12 inches)

Sold

Waiting for warm light(Pastel: 9 x 12 inches)

                             

Lately, I experimented to make my own pastel board. For Colourfix paper was selected,which doesn't require underpainting as the paper is color coated and I mounted it on foamboard. This is lightweight for carrying for workshop and handy for pleinair panel . I will be using them later time.
Only pitfall I found is that it can be easily warped a bit.