Tuolumne Meadows DEMO #Tuolumnemeadows #landscapepainting #yosemite

I had the opportunity to paint a demonstration painting of Tuolumne Meadows at sunset recently and enjoyed the memories of painting in the meadows a few years ago.  Just as the sun is setting the whole mountain glows for a brief moment and then the show is  over.  I'll keep working on this concept, until I have a successful painting.  

"Sierra Spring" ©

Today while waiting to hear if I am a Grandmother, I took out "Sierra Spring" and pulled the painting together. It was blogged recently, knowing that it had issues. Here are the changes I made: brightened/deepened the blue in the sky, gave the clouds volume, pushed darks into the base of the distant trees, widened the river, lowered the bushes along the rocks, finished the rocks by adding a range of value and colors to give them form and variety, made sense of the water and painted the brush in the shade on the left. It's much better now, almost ready to be signed.

Oil on canvas, 20" X 24"

"Lembert Dome" ©

Half Dome is probably the most famous dome within Yosemite National Park. Since sitting watching the sun bathing Lembert dome in sunset colors last summer this view of has been whirling it's way around my mind as a painting that I really wanted to attempt. I know that it isn't a common subject as domes are odd, but anyone that has visited the North East area of Yosemite would know this stunning stone formation.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Late Afternoon, Mt. Gibbs" ©

The last day of painting in Yosemite I painted this quiet pond, leading your eye to the rosy Mt. Gibbs in the distance. While painting several of the words of wisdom that Charles Waldman gave to the group were dancing in my head. I was trying very hard to implement as much as I could. Here are a few of his recurring comments that would be of value to any artist:

1. Before painting a scene, quiet yourself and tune out the chatter. Decide what the concept is before lifting the brush.

2. Value is more important then Color. Value (light and dark) rules, color happens. Keep the darks quiet!

3. Trust what you put down on the canvas and leave it alone.

Charles suggested many of the books that artists typically read, Hawthorne, Schmid, Payne, Goeschner, Macpherson and Henri. After the workshop I pulled some of these off the shelf and realized it's really great to be able to continue reading about the concepts we learned in the workshop. I would suggest if you would like a boost, dust these off and read them again.

And with this painting, as the light faded against Mt. Gibbs I was sorry to see everyone head home. The time together seemed so short. I am already looking forward to returning next year and maybe I'll be able to paint Mt. Gibbs in the late afternoon once again.

"Tuolumne River" ©

I traveled up to Tuolumne Meadows early so that my sea level body could acclimate to the high altitude and my artistic eye could adjust to the light and palette of the landscape. Hunkered down in a grove of pine trees across the meadow from Lembert Dome I was in the "zone" painting away happily. When a gentleman walked up, I don't know how he found me in the trees, and said "nice painting". I asked him if he painted and he said "a little" with a shrug. I explained that I had come up for a workshop and smiling he said "well that might be with me". My head swung around and with disbelief I asked if he was Charles Waldman? With that we laughed and introduced ourselves to each other. He left me to paint but returned shortly and painted too. How lucky was I to have the chance to watch a real master paint right in front of me and this was before the workshop! And what a humble fellow to say he painted a little. This painting was my first piece finished along the "Tuolumne River".

Oil on Linen/panel, 8" X 10"