Day 19 #stradaeasel

To paint tulips or to paint snow? The tulips sitting on the kitchen table are starting to open and are so colorful. Looking down on the beach, I see that the snow is fresh and pristine. It is a fairly warm day, several degrees above freezing with only a slight breeze. That makes my decision. I bundle up and go down to the beach.

Once on the beach with all my gear, I walk around taking photos of possible scenes. The wind has picked up a bit and a dark cloud is overhead. Beyond that I see a clearing sky and know that the sun will eventually reach me. The dark cloud is spitting rain at me but not with any commitment. It comes and goes. I sit on the dock stairs, eat my lunch, and sketch a couple of options to paint.

Pretty soon, the dark cloud passes to the east and the wind calms down. I set up my easel and my pastels looking south toward the end of Woods Bay. I’m working on a small board, only 9″ wide by 5″ tall. My intention is just to record the color notes that I’m seeing in the landscape and not spend too much time on detail. I’m happy to be working with my pastels again—I’ve missed them!

I like how the dark parts of the rocks showing through the snow create a curve on the left side into the picture plane. Also, there are ridges on the snow carpeting the beach that are catching light and creating shadows that also draw the eye into a picture plane. I don’t have to change a thing with the composition. I add a couple more rocks for interest and later see that I could have placed those better. That’s what a study is all about—figuring out the nuances of a painting.

This time the weather gods are with me. As I’m completing the painting, the sun finally reaches me and lights up the snow in front of me and the lake. I add warm tones of pink and peach where the sun is highlighting the snow. I wipe away the dark cloudy sky on the upper right of the painting and add the bright warm sunshine that has now taken it’s place. A cold, overcast scene now looks warmer and inviting.

Starting the painting with a block in of dark and mid tones. I leave the peach paper showing through where the snow and light will be.

The sky has cleared and I’ve added the warm highlights on the snow and the light in the upper right of the sky. The snow is actively melting especially on the rocks. The pastels are all cleaned and put back in place, ready for me to pack it up.