Valley View at Iowa State Park

Acrylic on canvas  16" x 20"

Completed May 26, 2010.

Another in the series of lanscapes painted "en plein aire" this was the second of three paintings done in quick succession in one afternoon. It also features a departure from a style of painting that I had previously done and is more loose and and painterly in approach. The sun was getting lower and the light was changing rapidly - I remember feeling somewhat anxious to finish before the look changed completely. It was a fun pursuit and did not intimidate me as it would have in previous years. I was feeling the work in painting figurative models from life over the previous winter was paying off and I was ready for this challenge.

Midwestern Summer

Acrylic on canvas  20" x 16"

Completed May 26, 2010. This is the first of a series of plein aire paintings completed over a span of just a few months. It was one of those windy spring late afternoons that make me excited about the change of seasons after a long cold winter. I was very interested in taking what I had learned through the winter in doing figurative paintings with a live model in one sitting and applying that to landscapes. I was getting more comfortable with working from life in a short span of time and just letting it happen. This painting was the first of many to come where I would set up and just paint with no reservations about what the finished work would turn out like. I was more concerned with capturing the feel of the wind blowing that tree around and doing so in a more loose fashion. This painting represents a departure from attempting a literal translation and a move towards a more painterly approach. I was surprised and happy with the results of this approach.  

Mena

Acrylic on canvas 20" x 16"

Completed April 13, 2010.

This is another portrait completed in one sitting from a live model. I am finding that these "studies" are somewhat hit or miss in terms of capturing an actual likeness of the model. This one did actually result in more of a hit in terms of likeness. I was more excited by the mood it captured in this case. There is really very little time to get it all correct when working in this fashion. I believe that at some point in chasing all of these attempts it may become more natural to get it all correct in one painting. I plan to continue the chase until it does become a likely result.