plein air musings plus

The following are some pieces I did outside of my studio. I'm still working on the theme of painting- that -which -normally -doesn't -get -a- second -thought but, I find particularly beautiful.

"Blu Where There Shouldn't Be"
6"x8" Oil










On this morning the weather went from sunny and warm to dark and rainy to sunny and, well you get the picture. It really wasn't the best idea to pick reflections on those conditions. Again I struggle with getting too expressive and loosing the bit of form which gives the viewer a clue as to the fact that it is reflections in water and not purely an abstraction painting.







"River North" (Unfinished)
The sun was out, it was warm for the first time in weeks and weeks so instead of finishing the piece I was distracted by the day.

okay so this isn't a plein air piece but she is "musing" about something.

12"x9" head study in oil w/ a limited palette

"Winter Passage"

I love to paint. So instead of playing on the computer and keeping my website and blogspot updated, I've been painting. Getting on the computer eats my painting time. Anyone else have this problem?

This painting was done right around the corner from my home. The long cool shadows and the warm brush caught my eye. But someday I'm going to return to paint this elegant corner building. Someone told me it was originally a bar about 100 years ago.

10"x8" Oil on Linen ($190.)

p.s. see Karen Phipps 2/11/09 painting. She's standing about 40 feet behind and down hill from me. I'm in her painting, painting this piece.

The Path Not Taken (North Pond)

Painted this around 2 pm. The sky continued to get a darker gray but the day felt quite light-filled because of the new snow. It was hard to keep the values correct because I kept over-compensating. And yes, it was cold!

10"x8"

Oil on Linen

($99. alla prima oil study)

January (North Pond)

The best way to shake away the winter blues is to plein air paint along a half frozen lake, just kidding - sort of. After spending so much time with wonderful family and friends, January 6 was rather depressing until I started painting again. Even though my toes froze and the wind bite my cheeks, I loved the colors you see on a cold, gray, winter day. The sky had these amazing warm tones however very subtle and the snow reflected the cool light of the day. fun fun fun

8x10

Oil on Linen

"Old Slices" (sold)

I set this up ten days ago but then never felt inspired to paint it. I guess the challenge of painting outside in freezing temperatures was too great. Today I woke to minus 10 so I didn't even think about going outside to paint. Instead I painted these lemons which are starting to

dry out giving slightly different values and colors.

8"x10"

Oil on Linen

City-scapes/Value Studies

It's a luxury to be able to paint for myself. So once again I'm concentrating on value because I feel if the values are off, the painting is weak and spoiled. This is the same intersection, painted an hour apart during the morning rush. I used only black and white oil paints.

7"x5"

Oil on Linen

"Two Turtle Doves"

This little urn with birds reminded me of the tune, "Twelve Days of Christmas." Even though it's not yet Thanksgiving, so much of our culture is pushing holiday shopping. I must admit I enjoy the Christmas tunes.

8"x10"

Oil on Linen

www.hong-sammons.com

"Sweet & Tart"

Today was my last teaching day of 2008. I created a set-up for my remain few students with grapes, pomegranates, limes and copper. They were so enthusiastic about the set-up that I was inspired to paint it as well. I haven't much interest in painting still lifes these days but pushing them and myself to focus and compare the various values made this an interesting piece to paint.
8"x10"
Oil on Linen
($350. framed)

"Red Oak"

For several months I've been painting with a palette knife but today I used a large round bristle brush. I have a coffee can container of brand new round brushes which I've never used. They've been sitting in my studio for at least 15 years. I liked how I could load up this brush with a ton of paint, make broad strokes, and also had the flexibility to make very delicate small marks.

8"x10"

Oil on Linen

($165.)

landscape study (sold)

I'm fortunate to be able to step out my door and see several beautiful things to paint. As the fall colors fade, I am enjoying trying to pull out the subtle color notes.

10"x8"

Oil on Linen

"Fall Chill"

I think I'm getting too old to be painting in cool weather and winter is just around the corner. But I love fall colors and once again was painting along the river edge.

10"x8"

Oil On Linen

($165.)

"grapes"

Another grape study created with a palette knife.

20"x16"

Oil on Linen

unfinished

"If life gives you lemons,..." well you know the rest of the saying. This is another demonstration piece which I painted for my students. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it another time.

12"x16"

oil on linen

light study

This isn't a piece done quickly or under a hour. I really took my time over the last two days with trying to paint not the objects but rather the air which surrounds the objects. I had initially intended to finish this and include the table. But I have decided to leave it and move on to another another painting.

11"x14"

Oil on Linen

I've been doing a lot of quick sketches, in oil, using various models. I'm trying to get a believable gesture as if I caught life as it is happening. These studies have been helpful painting figures in my plein air street scenes.

12"x6" Oil on Linen

"Autumn Haze"

Today I painted under gray skies which seemed to compress the value range, eliminated dramatic highlights but, created mysterious shadows.

9"x12"

Oil on Linen

($200.)

"Yellow Doorway"

I thought this side-entrance was very inviting. I had to try to capture its appeal.

14"x11"

Oil on Linen

"Soft Breeze"

Like yesterdays piece, this is also looking down the river but facing into a hazy sun/sky.

6"x8"

Oil

($99.)

"Autumn Bursts"

The falls colors are so pretty along the river. It's hard to decide which to focus on, the colorful trees themselves or their reflections. This is a palette knife painting.
10"x8"
Oil on Linen
www.hong-sammons.com

"Feeling Nantucket"

I was walking my dog near my home when I noticed this house. It struck me that it would look great sea-side and so the title. This piece gave me lots and lots of problems because I wanted to make it painterly vs. architecturally. Then there was the added problem of dappled light.

12"x12"

oil