"Summer Evening", painting left handed #landscape #eucalyptustrees #laurawambsgans

20" X 24", oil

Two weeks ago I had surgery on my right hand, repairing damage from sculpting stone for many years.  The result will be complete use of my hand but meanwhile I am learning to paint left handed.  It's been an interesting time of discovery.  The most difficult task is cleaning the brush after using each color.  The second task that I often fail at is opening tubes of paint. Even with pliers squished under the half cast I have now and turning the tube, success is "iffy".  A dear friend suggested bringing in a small bench vise from the shop to help, which was a super suggestion.  As far as painting my brain knows the principles of value, color temperature, composition and so on, so I am getting some work done.  The brushwork is lacking in interest and I am working to increase the action with my left hand.  Tomorrow morning I will get a full hard cast and that will decrease the pain and increase the mobility of the little all knowing right fingers sticking out.  I wouldn't suggest anyone right handed painting with their left as an exercise but if you are ever forced into it, know that it's possible and just as pleasing of an activity as working with your right.

"Afternoon Along the Creek" #californiapainting #landscape #laurawambgans

This spot is only about 20 min. from my home and is a constant pull as I pass for a painting.  In the past painters have often painted scenes over and over again.  I guess until you feel like you really captured the scene or find another scene that has a stronger pull it's just what happens.  I am not done with it yet, that is for sure.

Oil on Linen,  24" X 24"

"Refuge Under the Eucalyptus", #cowpainting #Eucalyptustrees #landscape #laurawambsgans

A bucolic setting of cows tucked in and around a stand of Eucalyptus trees was my goal with this little painting.  I was going for a peaceful, timeless feel to the painting, using loose references I had shot in Carmel California and one plein air painting.  

Oil on linen,  14" X 18"

"Los Gatos Plein Air 2014" #losgatospleinair #vasonapark #pleinair #laurawambsgans

Last week I was one of 34 painters from all of the U.S. to gather near San Francisco, California, painting in the Los Gatos Plein Air 2014 event.  Our mission was to paint the town and surrounding areas starting on Tuesday morning until Friday evening, when we turned in our favorite painting for the VIP Artists Choice Reception and Silent Auction.  The event was put on by the tireless volunteers of the Morning Rotary Club and the proceeds will go to support art and science education to the youth of the Santa Clara County.  

The painting above was painted in Vasona Park, on the first day.  (12" X 16" oil on linen)

I found this view on an on/off ramp to the freeway.  Early in the morning the sunlight was drifting over the hillside with such drama I knew I wanted to paint the scene.   Of course by the time I finished the painting the light and view were entirely different, with the passing of the sun overhead.  

On Saturday morning each artist checked in their paintings and hung their 2 walls with all of their work.  I painted 9 pieces during the week and chose to hang the 6 best, in the photo above.

John Guernsey is a one of the terrific artists painting in the event and you can see him here hanging his walls. 

We sold many paintings, while folks enjoyed live music, sipping wine all day Saturday.  I drove home Sunday tired and happy.

"Hopper Creek Heritage Valley", #Heritagevalley #paintingprocess #onmyeasel

 

 I must have painted this spot 10 times, at least.  Sometimes you will hear collectors comment on artists painting the same locations over and over again.   It's been done for centuries.  And really, how can anyone blame us?  The place is easy to get to, lovely to paint no matter the season and as we grow as painters the paintings evolve, always ending up quite different.  

It has been a long time since I posted any process photos so I took a couple on this one.  When I started the painting I was sick with a sinus infection and I had a very difficult time making decisions.  After fighting the little cooties for a week I was able to finish the painting to some degree, which you see in the image above.    

Here is the "start".  I painted a rough line drawing of where all the elements would be placed and started just throwing in big colored areas to find the rhythm of the painting. I am painting the main  areas in their local color and value.

At this point the painting is all there.  Now is the really fun part of pushing the paint around and defining the scene for the viewer.  I used some quick dry medium, so that I could paint layers, leaving enough of the initial layers that they peek though in broken color.

This is the final painting.  I took the photo, just now, on the floor of my bedroom, trying to find a spot in the house that wouldn't create a glare.  The actually painting isn't quite this "hot", especially the mountains but it's pretty close.  

Oil on canvas,  24" X 36"

"Los Carneros Lake" ©

Lake Los Carneros is located just above Santa Barbara in Goleta, California.   The spot is a great painting location, safe, quite, lots of different views all day long.  As I was just about ready to leave the little fellow on the other bank showed up to fish, so I popped him into the painting.  

Oil, 16" X 20"

"Eucalyptus in Cambria" and don't do what I did....

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

After painting oceans for a week it was a pleasure to paint dance in the eucalyptus trees of Cambria California.  Now for the bad news and a lesson to pass on.  I painted a nice little study of a wave with the master Ruo Li.  He had requested a long canvas which I didn't have so making "do" I took some linen and taped it to a panel with black tape.  So far so good.  Then at the end of the day I slide the wet painting into my new Raymar wet panel carrier facing the back because I had a bunch of other panels flopping in the front sections.  For those who are unaware of Raymar's wet panel carriers, they are light weight and have inserts down the sides to accommodate different panel sizes.  

Upon arriving home I slide the painting out of the carrier, only to find the corrugated walls of the carrier left nice straight lines across the painting.  It was my fault completely, since my taping job wasn't tight enough to keep the linen tight to the panel.  Even so, I was very disappointed.

Here is the painting on my studio easel with it's lines.  I took a soft brush and tried to obliterate the lines.  Later on I may try to save the piece.

Here is the panel carrier.  Again it wasn't the fault of the carrier, I have them in all sizes and have used them for years without a problem.  

"Carmel Beach" © 20th Annual Carmel Art Festival

At the Carmel Art Festival the artists have their canvases stamped on Wednesday night and are allowed to paint until Friday late afternoon.  Then we deliver our two favorite pieces for judging and auction.  This painting was one of my choices for the Friday delivery and it sold.  During the two days of painting I would run into other artists, hiking around, picnicking and painting their hearts out.  Here is a photo of a fellow painter  on the opposite cliff from me.  I have no idea who it is but the umbrella and easel are a dead give away.

"Central Coast Eucalyptus Trees" ©

Next week is the 20th Annual Art Festival and I was lucky to be included in the roster of artists.  I have been thinking about painting in the Carmel - Monterey Bay- Big Sur area, the different views depending on the weather and adapting to the light that is unique to the area, while painting this little scene that is near Cambria, CA.   For artists I would love to share a book I have been reading, "Traditional Oil Painting", by Virgil Elliott.  If you can only find time to read the introduction, it's worth it.  Elliot writes about all of the truths I have come to learn about the process of painting in such an inspirational way I wish I could copy the pages and send them to every artists I know.  This is a reference book for the bookcase that I will pick up many, many times.  

Oil on Canvas,  14" X 18"

"Sierra Madre Art Fair"

This was suppose to be my demo piece during the Sierra Madre Art Fair.  All the artists were so busy chatting up people and sharing their art that demonstrations were tough to get done.  Most of the time my gear was under a palm tree waiting for me.  It was a very good show, as usual with the rain waiting until we were all packed up.  

Oil on Linen,  11" X 14"

"Eucalyptus Trees" ©

Today I exhibited paintings with several artists including friends Rich Gallego and Lorelle Miller at the  lovely Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina in Newport Beach as an addition to a vintage car show, wine tasting and fashion show.   This little painting was my "demo" piece that I painted while talking to the car collectors.  

Oil on panel, 11" X 14"

sold

"Seaside Sentinels" ©

I learned something the last couple of weeks, never paint when you are sick.  Talk about frustration.  Finally I am almost "me" again, winning over the cold that has been hanging on and painted this scene that has been in the back of my mind for a long time.  The Art for Animal show that started last Sunday was a huge success.  Watching red dots and paintings flying off the walls was exactly what all of us had hoped for.  The representative from the Humane Society explained to me how much the funds would help out with their new building.  Next week I am off to paint in the snow.....

Oil on Canvas,  20" X 24"

"Monday Morning, San Clemente State Park"

Painting San Clemente last week during the plein air event I tried to search out spots that were beautiful  and possibly different locations from where the other artists would choose to paint.  Early Monday morning I was exploring the state park, while the low cloud cover refused to burn away.  I decided to paint these Eucalyptus trees and while I was working away a fellow walked past and told me that he walked though there everyday and never noticed how beautiful the trees are.  He made my day.  

Oil on Linen,  12" X 16"

sold

"Through the Trees" ©

Near Big Sur, California this little trail meanders though the trees and down the hill.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Arroyo Trees" ©

A long time ago a master painter told me that "green" landscapes were the most difficult of all to paint. At the time I didn't know the difference between viridian and sap green, so his comment didn't mean much. Now years later every time I attempt a green landscape his words come back to me. All green landscapes are difficult but at the same time so very interesting, offering the challenge to come up with a variety of greens to tell the story. Which is what I have tried to do here, with the trees in the Pasadena arroyo.

Oil on canvas, 8" X 6"

"Summers End" ©

This weekend under the influence of DayQuil, dampening a summer cold I painted this piece. The idea of the painting is to capture the feeling of the end of summer that Labor Day weekend signifies.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 20"

"Though the Trees" ©

Today a discussion came up with a group of artists about critiquing our own paintings and taking the time to make the very best decisions. The paintings I blog are very rarely never touched again and I thought it might be interesting for people to see what happens in the studio after reflecting. Here is "Though the Trees" finished. Below is the original posting. This is like a game, what did she change? I'll tell you, I took out the tree that I so loved in the middle of the painting. Usually the one thing you love is the item that is of most concern. I gradated the sky, added light in the foliage of the trees, warmed up the trunk of the main tree, brought the path down out of the canvas, lit and warmed up the brush in the foreground, carried the brush to the edge of the hill and lit the tips, pushed the distant trees in the hills further back and warmed up the distant hills a bit. OH, and pushed a bit of the darks back in here and there.

Now I have a painting that I would hang on my wall.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Through the Trees" ©

Central California is blanketed with golden rolling hills, edged with stands of Eucalyptus trees. In this painting the path crests the hill in the shade of the trees, allowing a view though the trees.


Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

Here are a few photographs of the process:

At this point the painting is finally taking shape. I have paint all over the canvas in the general color and value.

Beginning the painting, all the time looking for patterns, deciding on how to direct the viewer into the painting to the distant hills. Placing color in a value on each area of the painting allows me to see what I need to push and pull to tell the story.



















Usually I paint on a white canvas but found this one tucked away with a warm wash and thought it would make a good start for "Through the Trees". At this stage I am figuring out the composition and just beginning to punch in the darks.

"Trail Through the Trees" ©

Recently I went to the small town of Ojai to photograph an extraordinary horse for a commissioned painting and came across this tiny trail though the Eucalyptus trees. The way the light filtered down onto the golden grass grabbed my attention.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"Saint Loup Reflections", © St Loup, France

Late in the afternoon, wandering the grounds of the Chateau of Saint Loup I could only imagine the lives that passed though over the centuries. A lot to consider while painting the reflections.

Oil, 14" X 18"