# 67 Abstract Trees

# 67 Abstract Trees

When I saw this reference on WDE  I immediately recalled an exercise in the book Painting Abstracts by Rolina van Vliet . Didn't exactly follow the exercise exactly but the patterns of the trees caught my fancy.
I cropped the image and made a charcoal sketch and then painted . Heleni stopped me from adding any more layers..

Charcoal Sketch

35 x 35 cm

gessoed cardboard

Oils & Cold Wax

35 x 35 cm

gessoed cardboard

Face in trunk a pure accident!!!

# 66 Poppies Peeking

# 66 Poppies Peeking

Our garden is nothing to speak about but early spring our yards are filled with wild poppies. This photo taken 2012.  We didn't have many in the front this year but on the sides and back were many.  This little group was taken behind some Hollyhock foliage.

Oils & Cold Wax

40 x 35 cm

Gessoed Cardboard

# 65 Fantasy Landscape

# 65 Fantasy Landscape

Actually I really don't know what title to give this painting so Fantasy Landscape may be as good as any other. In this new direction of working  more abstractly, even realistic paintings are abstract, leaning new techniques and new materials I feel I am in some new "fantasy" world. A scary,intriguing and exciting place.
Who knows where this journey will take me.

This started out as as charcoal sketch on gessoed cardboard. I have started to roughly sketch interesting compositions in simple shapes and tones and this developed from one of those small sketches. Unfortunately I didn't jot down the reference I used.

Charcoal Sketch

34.5 x 44.5

gessoed cardboard

Oils & Cold Wax

34.5 x 44.5

gessoed cardboard

# 64 Composition in Red

# 64 Composition in Red

First about the colors.... a while back I bought, on sale, a large tube of  Maimori Red Ochre... I love the rich earthy tone.  Have been using this paint for toning and mixes with other reds.

This painting had better layers... but the process is in learning... oils, cold wax, palette knife, scratch tools

Oils & Cold Wax

35 x 26 cm

Gessoed Cardboard

Speaking of the learning and working process I sometimes find it difficult getting back into the zone that I was in when I first started the painting.  My beginnings are much better than most of my finished work. 

# 63 Small Abstract

# 63 Small Abstract

I have lots of strips of canvas from my workshop artist Traudi (a few of her works).  I so wish she would go online her abstract  work is a constant inspiration . Cut one strip into about 5 small pieces for 5 x 7 " paintings/sketches. Good way to test out some ideas and techniques.  Kind of difficult to use the palette knife on such a small format but that's part of the learning game!!!

Oils & Cold Wax

5 x 7 " canvas

Workshop # 62 Yellow Symphony

Workshop # 62 Yellow Symphony

The evening before I gessoed  a couple of  cardboard formats for class the next day.  Didn't sand or smooth them because I wanted the texture of the gesso.  I had made some really rough sketches from some interesting compositions of  landscapes from interesting photos mainly for shapes and tonal qualities.. the sketches were mainly abstracted ideas and the painting even more..I feel I still need some sort of reference even with abstracts.

I have my sketch pad, A4 on my desk and a ball point pen nearby so when browsing andI spot something interesting I can jot it down.  it may be a photo or painting or just an interesting color combination.

Roughly sketched in the basic shapes and areas which a charcoal stick which took on some of the gesso texture and started to paint.  My turn came and Heleni said STOP... so I did.... I think this is a good idea because I feel I have to contemplate and connect  before I move on and ruin a good start.

Oils & Cold Wax

35 x 45 cm

Gessoed Cardboard

Workshop # 61 Abstract

Workshop # 61 Abstract

I have been using various tools in Photoshop on my own images to learn to see some abstracts in some of my photos... playing with color combinations and even painting with a great set of palette knife brushes.

This has absolutely no connection with my references except for the colors. After doing the first layers it went completely intuitive... Glad I had Heleni to tell me to stop!!! The photo came out a bit too bright than original
Done with various tools including palette knife, paper towels, screening, and various scratch tools.

First layers 

oil & cold wax

11 x 14 "
gessoed cardboard

Final

oil & cold wax

11 x 14 "

 gessoed cardboard

Workshop # 60 Abstract Landscape

Workshop  # 60 Abstract Landscape

I still feel that I jumping into a new field (pool) of painting without really knowing how to swim... but with this painting it started from a sketch that I did years ago for Wetcanvas All Media Art events Sept 28th  hosted by mlou_jhu in 2012.  The Yosemite sketch.

First Draft

oils & cold wax

11 x 14 "

Final

oils & cold wax

gessoed cardboard

11 x 14 "