Arroyo Trail - California Impressionist Oil Painting by Karen Winters
Arroyo Trail
11 x 14 oil
The Arroyo Seco continues to be one of my favorite subjects for landscapes. In the distance are the San Rafael Hills, part of the communities of La Canada Flintridge and Pasadena.
Today I participated in an interesting discussion about some of the other things an artist must learn other than knowing how to use the tools of the trade. It was prompted in part by an article I read in a recent issue of American Artist magazine. The artist Durand was observed as saying that it is essential to know the elements of the landscape intimately by constant observation and drawing. One must know aspects of botany, geology, meteorology and more in order to portray the plant and landforms convincingly. It was suggested that we draw constantly, keep a sketchbook and use it as a way to enrich our knowledge. As those of you who have been reading this blog for awhile know, before I started showing paintings here I mostly posted drawings and sketches. And, confess, as I have devoted more and more time to painting, I have spent less time simply drawing. If I can find a way to get a few more hours in a day, that would help!
Even so, that article reminded me that I really should make time for that sort of practice, so I’m looking forward to doing more of it, and perhaps even posting a few of them here from time to time, if there’s any interest in seeing them.
You don’t have offer your opinion publicly if you don’t want to, but if you’re reading this by way of your mailbox, drop me a line and give me your thoughts. Occasional work in progress nature sketchbook sketches, or keep it to the watercolor and oil daily paintings?
Dear Karen,
Your thirst for getting more and more knowledge on Nature and not finding time for drawings and sketching is your most sincere feeling.Your paintings are excellent.I donot visualise how the drawing or sketch of this particular landscape will look.
Regards,
sincerely
Madan Palvankar
Karen, this is beautiful! . I think we bring all of our experience and knowledge, artistic and other, into our work. The high level of skill that you’ve acquired as a painter was made possible by the many hours spent painting. If you wish to work off into another direction, maybe concentrating on drawing for a while would allow you to do that. Knowledge of botany would probably inform your flower paintings, but is that necessary or even desirable? I think that all of these factors influence our vision and thus the pictures we produce. It’s a very individual thing.
I’d be tempted to say - “please don’t change a thing” because I love your work right now, but I believe we should all keep growing or our work will get stale. How’s that for a wishy-washy non-response?
Beautiful scene!
There are few enough hours in a day, and your painting is important to you. You are already skilled with drawing, but if you feel you need to refresh your drawing skills all along, then do so. A camera can capture specific aspects of botany, geology, meteorology much more quickly than a drawing, and the images can be readily available for reference. You would be then one choosing the subjects.
I just don’t see allocating time for sketches unless you want to make the sketches. If it bothers you about not doing them, allocate some time for a week or two, then decide if you think it is beneficial for you.
Your paintings can be considered drawings done with brushes.
Madan, Casey and Jenny, thank you for your thoughts … I realize I was a little vague in the question I posed. I will definitely be doing the sketches because I can see a benefit to my painting work. My question was whether people would be interested in seeing them, or whether I should primarily keep the blog
I haven’t dropped by your blog for a while and I realize I’ve cheated myself of the pleasure of your paintings.
I, for one, would enjoy the sketches as well as your paintings. I love looking behind the scenes, ya know? To see the thought process or the very beginings of a piece of art is interesting. To see you work out a solution to a problem or experiment would be fun.
Your post about the article reminded me of an altar piece by Van Eck currently displayed in Ghent, Belgium. It is called ‘The Adoration of the Lamb.’ (I think, going on memory here.) One of the things that struck me in learning about it was the detail. There are many, many recognizable plants in the painting. Such detail tells me that van Eck knew his area intimately. I find that amazing.
Your painting is lovely. We grew up near the Palo Duro canyon in Texas. Your paintings make me think of *home*.
I would find it a real treat to see sketches as well as paintings. I am always inspired by a peek into artists’ sketchbooks.
I for one, would love to see your sketches. Drawings and sketches are different than paintings. It would be like showing other facets of your artistic persona. I’ll look at your flyer and forward the link to my daughter in Simi Valley. If they are free (unlikely with two kids in the meet part of the season in their respective sports) maybe they’ll take their daughter who wants to be an artist.