Facade

Everyone wants that curb appeal. A facade that welcomes and invites guests into your home.

Our house is tucked into the woods and isn't visible from the road. As you come up the driveway the garage is right there and you still need to walk up stairs to get to the front of the house. Or as some would say the back, which faces into the woods.






To create some interest to an otherwise boring retaining wall I was excited to do my second mural, after one section of the wall had to be replaced since it was leaning.

Now this do over was an opportunity to do something different.


Here's my progress as I decide this time to use some of the same colors as before but took my inspiration from the textures of the concrete for terracota tiles and faux wood panels.

 I am trying to grow some moss on the wall to compliment the landscape. I used my native plants of ferns and jack-in-the-pulpit to fill the planters and tied in the subject matter of the tiles with plants and animals found in my yard.

I think it will grow on me and maybe still add a few more touches. I purchased a beautiful native vine from Driftless Area Natives in Trempealeau that will eventually grow over the arbor with beautifl white flowers.

Workshop Efforts

Latest results-11x14

Those that can make it look effortless.

After the workshop in Cedarburg I attempted to complete one of the paintings from my third day.

Trying to go back to the moment from memory and photos is not an easy task. But I owed it to myself and my teacher.

From workshop

I think some things got better and but some of the freshness is gone.

Photo subject matter

The painting site

2nd day of painting

I'm including my attempts from the first two days to remind myself , maybe they weren't so bad. But actually they were. I wiped them clean after the day to at least save the board for another try.

First day of painting

It's hard not to get gimmicky. Harder yet to apply the new things I've learned. I think I have the concept, now it's back to the easel and practice, practice, practice.

I did reward myself with some new tools.


A value view finder helps you analise your efforts. It's fun just to go around looking at things and seeing through different eyes. Even helps selecting a subject matter. I'm sure it will come in handy.

New tool

Here's my painting from 3rd day through the Value Finder.













My other new toy is this a double ended wipe out tool. It's great for lifting off and removing paint or even a brush hair and especially for signing.

I'll have to use with care since I'm inclined to wipe off the whole painting. I hope I'm worthy.

Wonderful Workshop

Gathering around the demonstration

I gained new insight into the art of plein air, through a workshop with artist Tom Nachreiner.


We set up for three days at the beautiful Felmer country estate near Cedarburg, Wisconsin to try and capture the light.

1st day demo

I may have done a bit more chasing than others.



A few workshop participants were novices like myself and others had already made great strides  painting plein air with oils for over a decade. No matter what your skill level the instructor started each day with a new approach. But the end results were always the same-fabulous.

2nd day demo

Some artists were competing in "Paint Cedarburg" a plein air event the following week. I made sure I went to cheer on my fellow artists. 

Be sure to visit a plein air event and see the artists at work. You'll be hooked like me.

3rd day demo

Tom covered the many challenges of painting outside and provided us with tips to overcome them.

One lesson that comes to mind is the "Lizard Brain". As we paint we use the cerebral cortex of our brain to make those critical decisions on composition, value and temperature of color.
Our brain power tends to diminish after about three hours and the brain switches to the amygdala, the more primal portion. Thus changing our decision making to rash and  emotional. Often damaging the results to the work in progress.

subject matter photo

You might guess were I'm going with this. I'll be posting my own painting results in an upcoming blog. I just need some time to finish. 

I took lots of photos of the demo's. Here's a series depicting the approach Tom takes to painting.


The subject matter is the photo to the right.

roughing in darks to lights

Beginning with the basic shapes of darks and then lights. Roughing in the subject matter with a thin layer of paint.

adding in colors

Adding color temperatures and creating the image forms. He likens the process to drawing with paint. As he paints he continues to adjust the forms for values.

refining and adjusting

He began this painting in the morning and finished it in the afternoon light. Always trying to keep the brush strokes fresh and not overworked. This is how you can tell the difference between a professional.

Tom Nachreiner

The painting may still be worked on back in his studio with fresh eyes and a refreshed brain.

Bags are Packed

I'm ready to Go, to my Plein Air workshop in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

Grandparents home in Cedarburg

I feel like I'm returning to my roots since I was born in Cedarburg, spending those first three years of my life in this quaint little town. Cedarburg is now the host to many art events and a go to place for city people wanting to get a glimpse of life in the slow lane.

During the workshop I get to stay with my sister nearby and help her celebrate her birthday.

Apartments, my first home in Cedarburg

I feel ready to take on new instruction and have lots of questions for workshop artist Tom Nachreiner who will also be a judge of the Cedarburg Plein Air event that starts up on the weekend of June 1.








So far I've worked on 36 small paintings, read a couple of recommended books "Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting" and "Fill Your Oil Painting with Light and Color" and found some great blogs and groups to follow for inspiration and information.

These are my two favorite so far:

1. drawpaintacademy.com Dan Scott the author of this site and blog sends out 2-3 messages a week that are wonderful reviews on subjects like "Rhythm in Art". They are concise and supported by images of masters works that relate to the subject matter. I enjoy starting the day with his blog.

2. Wisconsin Plein Air Painters Associations (WIPAPA) a public group I follow on facebook. They highlight state artists and always have the latest on activities and instruction for Plein Air for those interested. There are lots of one day demos to see or week long workshops.

Entrance Mural My Home

So this week I'm taking a break from my small paintings and picking up a bigger brush.Time to do a little painting around the house.

Half of the retaining wall had to be replaced late last summer. Shown here in it's full glory is my first mural, now I get to have a redo. The plants have since been removed and what remains is the white picket fencing.  I'll be sure to share with you the progress on my efforts.

Painting at Perrot

SOLD

We set aside a couple of days to get our RV HaRVey out camping at Perrot State Park.This gave me the perfect opportunity to transition, to taking my pochade box outside and painting in the true Plein Air style.

I picked the perfect camp site number 43 for it's proximity to the waters edge and full view of the bay and the iconic Trempealeau Mountain, while remaining out of the publics view.

This is the first time setting up in the elements. My new tripod and box worked well against some windy situations and felt pretty comfortable standing. I'm happy to have had some success. It was surprisingly difficult as the light changes so quickly and clouds move along.

Camping Site 43 No. 1 Perrot SOLD

Morning of the Bay-Perrot SOLD

I'll now be ready to get my instruction at the upcoming workshop with a better understanding of the challenges.

You'll probably notice a hair and a bug got into my paintings. I'll have to get creative and incorporate them.

I took lots of photos of the same scenes to refer back to for making corrections and improvements.






It wasn't all work and no play. We tried out the kites we decorated and were pleasantly surprise we didn't have to run to get them air born.

Migrations

Birding on the North Shore

I joined family for a walk on the wilder side of birding. An event held up in Duluth, Minnesota on the shore of Lake Superior for the spring migrations.

No One Home 8x10

As the adults birds race back for nesting rights, it was particularly exciting since we had our own Naturalist pointing out the numerous species in flight. She also taught us how to identify by silhouette and had lots of tips.



I was surrounded by serious birders with binoc's and photo lenses the size of telescopes with focus ranges worthy of an eagle's eye.




I could only captured a few choice scenes of my own to paint in tribute to a fine weekend of sharing god's creatures path home.

Walking in Search of Birds 8x10

I seem to have migrated myself with my painting choices dealing with much softer and subtler palette of colors.


We were out so early in the morning it really was a different light.

As they say the early bird catches the worm or the Early birder catches the photos. Here's a few of my favorite bird poses captured by another family member.


Yellowed Headed Black Bird, Flicker and a Barred Owl.












We also saw a golden eagle, numerous hawks, a red breasted loon and song birds.

As of April 30, 2019

If you're up that way be sure to check out Hawk's Ridge the sponsor of our program. They were counting the raptor migrations since March and getting record numbers of birds returning.

Still Lifes

Number 5 Orange 8x10

Number 1 Orange 8x10

A pause from painting, now I'm back with still lifes.

A simple yet elegant subject matter of an object, that doesn't allow for mistakes. There's the multiple shadows, color reflection and trying to make the object round. This is the 5th painting in my challenge.










My first attempt was one single orange. You can really tell the difference from 1 to 5. Sorry for the lighting on this one,  it's a little yellow on the photograph. I wasn't able to re-shoot it in natural light since I already had decided to paint over it.

Number 2 Orange 8x10

Next I decided to mix it up a bit and peel the orange. Pretty brave I thought. I really loosened up and like the brush stroke effects.

Number 3 Orange 8x10 

Since I bought a whole bag and hadn't eaten too many, I opted for three for the third painting.

Number 4 Orange 8x10 

To really challenge myself I put some in a bowl. I think it was harder coming up with the placement of the oranges than the actual painting.





Orange you glad I chose fruit for paintings 24-29?