Rocky bluff update

Today I am posting my recent trials on learning to Paint!    I have done a pastel of the rocky point I am going to paint in the studio in Oils.    The Pastel is  on a piece of foramcor that I put a surface of fine pumice ground,  I did the painting in plein-air one morning and wasn't really happy with the surface really.  But it is lightweight,  and easy to put in your backpack.     2 hours in to this, this is where I was.
 

  And then this is how far I am on my block-in on the Oil -

                        Now I am  letting it dry so , I can  then go into it and learn how how to do all that---I will use retouch varnish, by Damar, as my medium is by Daniel Smith and is with Damar Oil-        Now I can  think about the changes I would make or how I would finish this.   Interesting for sure.

Planing a studio painting, using all materials for reference

  Lately I have been trying to plan a painting of  a rocky out crop  near our ranch In Dutch Valley.  It has caught my attention for  years, as I I have seen it in all times of day and light.  It can appear very interesting.  I have recently done a plein -air if it in pastel.  It was a struggle, I washed the surface off and tried again in my studio using photos I had taken that day.  I was not to successful.  I have gone back since for more photo's, and will continue to do so.  I just am not sure of the right way to view it.  From down low,  or from equal elevation looking at it from across the draw,   morning, evening or what?   I would like to come up with a composition, then use all my materials for an indoor work with oils-----So to that end I proceed.

       Today, using photo's and the first plein-air, I painted with Gouache on stretched Grey toned Canson Mi-teintes, which is a wonderful paper.  Since it had been stretched, then dried over night,  I could use plenty of water while painting and not get any warps or wrinkles----This is how it came out----         I didn't like the lower tree, so I wiped out the paint.   I paused to think what to do----I like that gouache paint dries so quickly. 

                                             I decided, since this is a fact finding effort, also a learning effort for both compostions and mixing color using white, that I didn't do to badly.  I feel I learned a lot, and decided to go ahead with corrections and plans for a future painting, using my pastels.  They really did help me go head and continue planning.  This is where I stopped. 
                           Thursday, I get a lesson in oils  with Ray Freeman, and hope to use this as a subject.  I have many pictures, and am still doing thumbnails with pencil for a better composition.   Using gouache today as it snowed outside my  window was fun and I plan to use this paint again.   I do really like the canson papers for pastels , too.   I experiment with many surfaces.

Out doors in! April under the willows.......

Finally I got out there again.  This time in one of the fields on the ranch in Diamond Valley,  this spot shows the water coming along Indian Creek, then an irrigation ditch takes from the creek.   Yes its Spring--even tho we had snow a few mornings ago!  The grass is trying to grow, and soon the nights will be up to 40's and 50's for the over night low and all things will be growing everywhere!   This one was a bit hard for me, with all the water reflections and the many willow trunks and the dappled light effects going on----I do hope you can get the idea here.    Took about 2 hours of pure confusing fun!   Dogs were swimming, and hunting, and ducks were going over head, quaking.  Its a great place in the mornings, a huge field and all the piece and quiet you would need.

Here are a couple shots I want to share with you all,   This was the last time I did an indoor pastle at the house in Dutch Valley,  and I try to use the kitchen for painting with Pastel as its easier to clean up in there.  I have a hard time with lighting there and I think thats why I love going outdoors to paint.  Here, My mouser is looking over the color choices!!!!  He chose a  blue, pushed it out of the box and wanted to roll it around on the floor.  He has got all the mice and is bored!!!    So, You guessed it, I had "blue" to sweep up  and cry over.   Stupid cat!!!!

Wind and cold-- indoor work-

  The end of March has gotten rough, so I thought some indoor work was in order.   I drew this from a photo of my big gelding, Pine's Poco Amor.   He is a quarter horse, but is 16.3 hands high!!  His saving grace is that he is short-coupled, making him easy to ride as he collects well.  Not the smartest of horse, yet very kind.So, I drew him in Pencil, to understand all the values I was seeing.   I thought, maybe I will try to be very realist with this one.  I am usually trying to be "Loose"  but this time I thought I would satisfy my "detail" mode.  So, I chose a 300 lb. watercolor paper and put the drawing onto that.  Then loosely painted with watercolor the background wash.   After that I used a " Giselle" method, and painted the horse head's values with watercolor in violet tones-----Then used the pastles to finish.

I did use pastel pencils when I began, thinking I would really try for detail.  Alas, I don't think I pulled that off.  I don't think I am the fussy kind!  Values seem to be what I see the most, and the details are mind-boggling!  Anyhow, It was a great way to experiment, and really see where I am with this art " Thing"   I really think I love Plein-air most. followed by, I guess, animals--and then, whatever catches my fancy!   I am still experimenting and trying to learn.     We call him " Switch" for his nickname.