Creek Reflections - Quick Study

Had a very limited amount of painting time this evening after work. Knew the scene was too much for the time, but thought I'd see if I could learn something. I think I did...Allot more time. ;)

Creek reflections
16" x 20", oil, plein air

"How cold was it?"

"It was so cold today!"

"How cold was it?"

"It was so cold my drink froze."
"It was so cold my fingers hurt almost as soon I took the gloves off."
"It was so cold my beard froze."

Yes. Another enjoyable day painting outside. The wind was the only problem. I seemed to have a constant breeze coming from up the field, straight into my face. My guess is the wind chill was easily down in the teens. I didn't realize how cold it actually was until I reached for my drink and found thick slush. That was probably about an hour into the painting.

"Cold Day on the Creek"
16" x 20", oil

October Creek

Painted in the creek today. Not much creek to speak of, mostly dry, with a puddle here and there. This was about an hour and 20 minutes actual painting time.

9" x 12", oil

Farmland

Painted this one today in the beautiful sunshine of early fall. My goodness it was nice today.

Farmland
9" x 12", oil, plein air

Along the Creek Bank

Here's a quick one hour plein air piece I did this afternoon while standing down in a creek. Used a palette knife for 99% of it.

"Along the Creek Bank"
oil, palette knife, 9" x 12"

Familiar Ground

Painted this one this morning before work on location. A quick 45 minute exercise.

9" x 12", oil

Spring Trees

Gorgeous day today. Temperature in the low 70's. I love this time of year.

I set up and did a little outdoor painting today. This one is pretty straight-forward. Trees. It measures 20" x 16", and is oil on oil primed linen panel. I'm throwing in a pic of the scene, the rough-in, and the finished piece. You can see what I changed in the painting, from what I was seeing. Most notable is the warmth I added to the foreground.

"Spring Trees"
20" x 16", oil

Cedar Creek Spring

Did this one early this afternoon in Cedar Creek, Cumberland County, Kentucky. The sun was high overhead, and I didn't bring my umbrella, so I had problems trying to keep the sun off my palette. I think it worked out okay though. Including the beginning, part of the block-in, the finish, and one of my paint box modified to carry canvas and panels with parts from a french easel.

"Cedar Creek Spring"
16" x 20", oil on oil primed linen board, plein air

Connections

Here's a small plein air piece I did today. How 'bout that sunshine! Huh? It's about time. I walked in a creek forever, got muddy, got into thorns at different times, ended up frustrated, set up and painting a horrible mess, wiped it off, turned around and painted this. Still not great by any means, but better than the first one.

"Connections"
9" x 12", oil on panel

Turbulence

Finished this one up tonight. This was done from the small plein air piece I painted yesterday, and from reference photos I took while down in the creek. And when I say, "in the creek", that exactly what I mean. Mud-dee.

"Turbulence"
24" x 30", oil on linen

Creek Study 2

Different day...different creek. Trying to catch some movement in the water.

"Creek Study 2"
9" x 12", oil on linen panel

Cedar Creek Thaw

Looks like today was the last of the snowy plein air pieces for a while. The weather is supposed to turn warmer early this week, and most of the snow was melting this afternoon. I did get a chance to jump down into another part of Cedar Creek today though. This one took about 2 and a half hours. I purposely used the same limited palette and the same size canvas, as I think these last three look good together as a short series.

For those interested, my palette consisted of Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Violet, Golden Ochre, Transparent Oxide Red, Burnt Siena, a touch of Cad Yellow and Mars Orange, and White of course.

"Cedar Creek Thaw"
22" x 28", oil on stretched linen

Cedar Creek Snow Day

Don't you just love this winter weather!? Today was my first experience painting outside in the snow. Not only was it snowing, it was cold, and blowing, and snowing. Did I say snowing? I got my new Cabelas Snowy Range 1200 Pack Boots in the mail today. Just what I've been waiting for. Those puppies are rated to -135F, and let me tell you; I was standing on solid ice for about two hours for this painting and my feet stayed nice and toasty. Love 'em.

This was also my first time using my new easel outside. I've been using it in the study the past few days and was very pleased with how it handled, inside and out. It's a Beauport "Gloucester style" easel that was tuned up by the good folks at Take it Easel. You'll also see my new paintbox I made to go with the easel. Closed it's about 4" thick and 20" x 20" square. Opened it's huge. Worked great in the windy conditions today.

So here are some pics of my outing. I'll probably take this one further in the studio. It started getting dark and the wind really picked up toward the end.

"Cedar Creek - Snow"
22" x 28", oil on stretched linen

 

 

 

Thistles and Gnats

Here's one that wasn't much fun. I constantly fought a cloud of black gnats that swarmed around my head. UGH! Next time I'll just pack it up instead of dealing with them. If you look close you can see a few embedded in the painting. Serves 'em right!

"Thistles"
9" x 12", oil on masonite, plein air

Leftovers

Here's this afternoon's effort at plein air painting. I call it "Leftovers" due to the hay that didn't get rolled. Liked it as a lead-in to the painting. Had that late afternoon sun that we all love so much. Tried not to over work it, hoping some color notes would get the feeling across.

"Leftovers"
9" x 12", oil on linen, plein air

Backlit Snake Country

Did this one down in a familiar creek today. Bright sun coming through. Can't believe I haven't seen a snake in this creek yet this year. I started the painting, didn't like the composition after about 10 minutes work, so I wiped it and tried again. I like this one better.

9" x 12", oil on mounted linen, plein air, mostly knife

Spring Afternoon

Did this plein air painting down in Cedar Creek, looking toward a small spring that usually has no water in it. Thought I should try to paint it before it dries up for the summer.

9" x 12", o/c, palette knife

2 Plein airs & a knife portrait

Here are three I did today. The two plein air pieces, "Up the Creek" and "Lawson's Bottom" were done this morning and this evening respectively. The portrait, "Next", was done from a reference photograph, and was attempted to see if I could do a portrait with the palette knife. I actually started it last night and finished it today. Don't know if it was successful, but it was fun.

Up the Creek, 9" x 12", oil on mounted canvas, palette knife, plein air

Lawson's Bottom, 9" x 12", oil on mounted canvas, palette knife, plein air

Next (detail)

Next, 24" x 18", oil on mounted canvas, palette knife

Cedar Spring

Did this plein air piece this afternoon. You can see how I changed the scene once again. Trying to manipulate the composition into something I liked better than what was in front of me.

8" x 10", oil, canvas mounted on birch, palette knife.

Sunday at the Creek

Here's a quick plein air I did this afternoon. Man! It felt good to be outside painting again!