This week is bringing us some gorgeous weather here in central Virginia, so on the way home from the farmer’s market last night, I took a detour and decided to keep a recent promise that I made to myself. IÂ returned to Young’s Pond to paint the evening scene I’d scouted out when I was there the prior week for a morning painting session:
Willow in Back-light”
Oil on Canvas, 12×16″
Click here for more info!
Having already conceptualized what I was going to paint in advance, I set up quickly and dove right into the painting. It was a good thing, too. Even though I started relatively early in the evening (5 PM) all of that beautiful back-lighting did not last. After about an hour and a half, the sun sank quickly behind the trees on the distant hill, and took all of that beautiful backlighting with him!
Luckily I got the painting about 90% complete. As I later told my husband, “I had the essence but not the poetry”. This is what I hoped for as I worked on the final 10% immediately after I returned home to the studio (while everything was still fresh in my mind). Mainly it was just a matter of softening some edges and adjusting a value here and there, (and trying not to do too much for fear of losing the essence!)
12×16″ is not a huge painting, but it’s the largest I’ve done in plein air in a while. One of my goals (goal number 274!) is to increase my plein air sizes beyond 12×16″ or even 16×20″. With more canvas to cover, it may require multiple visits to the same site at the same time of day, but it would be interesting to see how far I could push it. We’ll see…I have the whole summer ahead of me yet.
p.s. I’ve finally uploaded the info for the previous plein air painting I did at this location last week. Read the details for that work here.
Jennifer
Young; Vibrant LandscapesOil Paintings and Art Prints Online
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Wow! Awesome painting!!!!!
Hi Jennifer, I came across your site here whilst surfing about and was struck by your bold style of work. Love the light you have captured in this one. Keep creating, Chris
Thanks to you both. My favorite time of day, my favorite kind of light–it was a great evening!
This is lovely Jennifer! Great job capturing that quick changing light. I’m so excited to see you in a week, I can’t wait!
Thanks Molly. Still getting used to your new last name
Can’t wait to see you too you, and to finally meet your husband in a few days! Looking forward…
Hello Jennifer
I have just discovered your blog and I love it! I live in a relatively isolated area in Australia, am trying to retire and indulge myself in a few of the interests I have been working too hard to make a living to take the time I need to for, one of which is art. I like looking to see how a painting is constructed as I am feeling my way, and apart from liking your style I am enjoying your writing and picking up some ideas on colour and construction. I have very few chances for tuition, except the very rare very concentrated occasional week I have taken off to attend a couple of special schools. Your blog is inspiring me to do a bit more – and I must confess, a bit of company also in the art sense.
Really like the light and airiness in this painting. All the best Barbara
Hi Barbara- Thanks much for your lovely comments. I’m glad to know you’ve been enjoying my little corner of the ‘net and that you are finding my thoughts on process helpful. Sometimes it’s hard to remember life as an artist before the Internet, but the world definitely feels a lot smaller now, and there’s a whole lot of info for artists to explore for independent study without ever leaving home. Hope you’ll visit again and continue to share your thoughts here.
Jennifer, your paintings make me happy – so sunny and light. So dull and grey here in England. Thank you.
Kate