"Lane's Island, Through the Seasons Suite" - Experimenting with Painting Surface

Lane's Island, Through the Seasons Suite: Summer Light,  detail,  oil on prepared paper,  25"  sq,  c. PJW, 2014

 

 

Oil painting is a long time passion of mine, rooted in some of my earliest creating memories.
For The Lane's Island, Through the Seasons Suite I am painting on prepared watercolor paper with a variety of mark making techniques.  The texture of the paper offers unexpected interest and character to the completed works.  The collection will be shown in summer, 2014 at the Brush Art Gallery & Studios.

Color Psychology: Blue

Lately I have been thinking about the psychology of color, especially as it relates to art.  Looking for some scholarly information, a brief search yielded this link about the color blue.  Blue is present in much of my art, as I am very drawn to the sea and marshes.  

Relative to my art, this is the description that I embrace from the above article:
"Blue calls to mind feelings of calmness or serenity. It is often described as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly." 

Meditation on the Sea: No. 1,  pastel,  25" x 37",  c. PJW,  2008

Writing Practice - 5 Minutes a Day

  Lane's Island: Sunset Walk II, oil on prepared paper, 11" sq.,  mounted, c. PJW, 2013

Currently I am taking a 12 week class comprised of several components, one of them being a commitment to write about my art for 5 minutes a day.  In just the first week it is remarkable what insights have surfaced in return for a minimal time commitment.  I am "process and materials oriented" - ie. I enjoy working on a variety of surfaces, with a variety of materials, manipulating materials for various effects and experimentation.  

Though my primary medium is pastel, in the studio now I am creating a body of oil paintings on prepared watercolor paper.  This suite of paintings will likely be the art I show in the summer group exhibition at the Brush Art Gallery & Studios.

I used this process to create Lane's Island: Sunset Walk II.

 

The completed pastel painting from the Chelmsford Art Society Demonstration & Talk -

Autumn Afternoon Marsh: No. 1, pastel, 15" x 25", c. PJW, 2013

Small Works - these oils on prepared watercolor paper are perfectly sized for sharing or treating yourself.

           Lanes Island: The Way Home I, oil on prepared paper, 9" x 11" mounted, c. PJW, 2013

                 Lanes Island: Sunset Walk I, oil on prepared paper, 11" x 11" mounted, c. PJW, 2013

                 Snowy Sunset I, oil on prepared paper, 10" x 11" mounted, c. PJW, 2013

                 Snowy Sunset II, oil on prepared paper, 11" x 12" mounted, c. PJW, 2013

                         Stones Throw I, oil on prepared paper, 11" x 10" mounted, c. PJW, 2013

                          Stones Throw II, oil on prepared paper, 11" x 10" mounted, c. PJW, 2013

"Autumn Afternoon Marsh: No. 1" - Completed Pastel Painting from CAS Demo & Talk

                       Autumn Afternoon Marsh: No. 1, Pastel, 15" x 25", c. PJW, 2013

Demonstration & Talk for Chelmsford Art Society - October 30, 2013. All photos courtesy of Bob Stegmaier.

                          1. Getting Started - talking about surfaces.

                          2. Laying in the composition with vine charcoal.

                          3. Adding COLOR!

                          4. Answering some great questions from the
                               Chelmsford, MA Art Society members.

                           5. Putting the final touches on the pastel painting -
                                for now. To be finished in my studio later.