That elusive winter light

http://robinrobertsart.com

South of Montgomery Al are pastures and cattle farms. It was late winter. I was in a hurry to meet friends for a painting excursion, but I screeched to a halt to photograph these unusually colored trees. Where the cattle scratch the bark was rubbed away to a glowing orange. And the lacework of the branches was intriguing. So all those sublte colors against some surviving bright green winter grass has been the subject of a series based on the haybales and trees. This vertical arrangement is the latest, and it's close to being finished - what do you think?

oil on panel, 12x9

Subtle colors

I always have a camera ready - one in the house, and one in the car. On my way to do errands I can pass this pasture. Sometimes it's the cows that catch my eye, sometimes the sun coming up or the sunset. This time it was the roof of the barn - rusty orange tin against a streak of violet. All this from half a mile away, so my camera was working hard to zoom. And took it quickly because of errand deadlines. The pale grey violet of the trees against the sky- well it doesn't take much to make me happy! All the rest of the day this scene stayed in my head until time to bring it to canvas.

I learned something today.....

It's always a priviledge to start a new painter on the way to "Painting Your Vision", as I call the monthly classes I teach. I met a new student today, and we covered an introduction to oil painting.
It takes courage to simplify a painting and to decide what to leave out. In the process of eliminating detail, a painter's vision becomes streamlined - a cleansing, clarifying experience. It also clears the way for becoming more creative in another direction. Making the process easily understood is the same thing. So my student left me with as much or more than I tried to teach.

Off the winter easel

9x12, sold
I enjoy winter - the subtle colors of the landscape. Since most of my paintings feature familiar nearby places it's easy to seek the unusual (or usual) sun effects . This turkey blended into the foliage and trees, but the bluish winter light still reflects off those irridescent feathers,

If the weather is really bad, like we've had recently, I search my reference files. This cat - " Stubby Tubby" (16x12, oil on panel) recalls a like home feeling, trying to cancel the effects of that cold winter wind.