Paint out at the Americana - Glendale - California Impressionist Plein Air Art - Karen Winters
Americana Tree
9 x 12 oil on panel
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Today’s paintout at developer Steve Caruso’s new Americana shopping mall center on Brand Blvd. in Glendale California was a big success. There was a large turnout of local artists, and plenty of room on the spacious green lawn for us to set up our easels and paint to our heart’s content. I originally started a painting featuring the dramatic golden sculpture of a youth arising from the centerpiece fountain, but discovered that the rapidly changing morning light made it too difficult to address properly in so short a time. So I started a second painting, this one, which featured one of the many magnificent full grown trees which were planted to give the new mall that mature, lived-in feeling right from the day of its grand opening. This specimen was a plein air painter’s delight with its beautifully sculptured trunks and branches. The bedded plants at its roots created washes of color on the light colored bark.
Although the architecture was quite beautiful, I followed conventional plein air wisdom and allowed it to be the setting for the specimen tree, rather than to compete for attention. So I softened the colors and sharp edges, allowing it to recede into the background.
We have been to the mall numerous times and enjoy the lively ambiance so reminiscent of a village in the city. I think they’ve done a good job with it, from the cobblestone streets to the carts and kiosks that provide additional opportunities to shop and enjoy on a beautiful summer day.
I hope that there will be future paintouts on the grounds of the Americana - perhaps an afternoon to sunset event where I’m sure the stone facades will glow the kind of light that makes you want to run for your brushes and easel.
Wow I can see why you’d love to paint this tree instead of the buildings! It is so interesting and you handle all the details so well!
Wonderful colors! Love the way you made the builidings, it could be somewhere else, like an ancient Mediterranean city or an imaginary place - makes way for the imagination!
Great choice to accent the tree I am a landscape fan myself - Like the subtle “tents” in the background looks like an art fair
Karen, the oil you did yesterday was beautiful. I haven’t painted with oil since the days of paint by number (I remember doing a DEgas ballerina). You make me itch to want to try—do you use water soluable? Your blog is wonderful.
Love your work, when will you be painting again at the Americana?
Hi Karen, I didn’t know there were paintouts at the Americana. I’m an artist and would love to participate next time. Do you know of upcoming events?
Thanks!