Capistrano Fence
I have been posting less than usual the past few days because I’ve been trying to get out of my sketchbook and into bigger paintings. I’m hoping to to enter some in our Verdugo Hills society show and sale in the fall. Maybe I’ll be lucky and they’ll accept some for display. At any rate, this is a studio painting based on my own photo taken in Capistrano during our sketchcrawl earlier this year. I did a value study first and then just started painting it without preliminary drawing. It might have turned out differently (or better) if I had done an under-drawing first, but I tend to like to make things up as I go, solving color and value problems as I confront them. My goal here was to try to capture the quality of late afternoon light in a coastal beach community with a tropical feeling. The big tree is most likely a yucca, not a palm.
Because all monitors are different and a compressed picture isn’t as subtle as the real thing, the shadows are blue-violet but not as intense and dark as they may seem here. If the side of the house looks like a muted turquoise, then you’re probably seeing the hue right. The colors look so much better in person, though.
It’s painted on 140 # watercolor paper, and the image size is x 9.75″ x 13.5″ Matted, it would frame to 16 x 20, which is what I’ll do with it when I take it in to the show in the fall. Comments and feedback are very welcome!
r.e.wolf
August 19, 2006
NO under-drawing?! *thud* I think it’s fantastic! I love the play of shadow, like around the base of the fence, and the almost hazy look of the distant telephone poles.
Karen
August 19, 2006
Thanks, Ryan!
Nope, nothin’ but brush. It’s like solving a jigsaw puzzle only they keep making up new pieces as you go. Ha ha! I saw demos with Frank Francese and Barbara Nechis painting in this sort of freeform style last year at a NWS demonstration workshop and I loved how they had the freedom to invent as they painted. I do that frequently in my sketchbook, but now I’m trying to do it bigger.
Terri
August 19, 2006
I think you certainly achieved what you set out to do. It’s lovely Karen. Something to be proud of. :o)
Ann Fortenberry
August 20, 2006
I agree with r.e., Karen, I really like those shadows along the fence and road, and the blend of colors is lovely. I think that if I ever learned to work without an underpainting, I would love the freedon, too.
Annie
lin
August 20, 2006
AWESOME, Karen!! It so reminds me of Folly Island, SC — beach homes and sandy streets, green foliage — gorgeous!!! Yep, tropical and so summer!
Sarah Campbell
August 20, 2006
Karen, this is lovely–vivid and peaceful all at the same time. Both your comments on EDM and your work are very helpful to me, a beginner in watercolor and re-newbie in pencil. Thanks! Sarah
Karen
August 20, 2006
Thanks, Sarah, I’m glad it’s helpful
Margaret McCarthy Hunt
August 20, 2006
As usual another wonderful watercolor…I want to move into that house…is it for sale?!:>
Tami
August 20, 2006
I think I like this the best of the paintings so far! Kind of lost that top corner in the scan, or maybe it just fades off… I Love the feeling of this with the fence an little peice of the house. It captures the essences
of a small S. Calif town so nicely! Let us know what happens with the show.
Karen
August 20, 2006
Maggie – I think it would be a lovely cottage to live in, too!
Tami – the top corner is lighter than the rest but the photo probably doesn’t do it justice, and it’s too big to scan unfortunately.
NelVanL
August 20, 2006
Definitely *show-worthy* Karen. I love what you’ve done with the yellow/gold in the sky and the soft purples in the whites for shadows. Just lovely. Great work. You GO, GIRL!
TeriC
August 20, 2006
WOWEE!!!! Gorgeous! It just shines and glows with light. Absolutely love it!
Dee Johnson
August 20, 2006
Karen, this is a fantastic painting! I love the way you saved the whites and then shaded over it, like on the fence. Btw, the side of the house is a light turquios and the shadows are just right in tone! DEE
wendy
August 20, 2006
This painting has a gentle quality about it, peaceful, and a painting that would wear well in someone’s home so I hope you can sell it. The composition too is fine with less focus on some areas. Don’t change it – don’t fiddle with it!
W.
shelly mcc
August 20, 2006
Stunning!! Wonderful work!
Fae
August 20, 2006
This painting is fantastic! It has a very warm feel to it. Boy, what I wouldn’t give to be somewhere like that right now!
Jana Bouc
August 20, 2006
The light and shadow are just right. I love the color scheme and composition. It’s a really interesting painting that makes me want to keep looking.
clare
August 21, 2006
I love this, I love this, it is a FINE painting Karen.
Karen
August 21, 2006
Linda and Clare, thanks. I’d really like to sell this puppy so I’m hoping that the show will give me an incentive in that direction. I have about five more to do based on the inspiration of that little street, so it should be interesting to do.
Felicity
August 23, 2006
I love the soft summery feel here, the colours are beautiful. You’ll have no trouble selling this for sure!
Wendee
August 23, 2006
Wow, this is great!