Heron at Sunset

This is an oil study of a Heron wading through the shallows at sunset.  He is looking for his dinner.  One more study in the progression of necessary practice.

Cloudy Sunset - Block-in

Another work week done, so I worked on something truly interesting or at least interesting to me.  I blocked in this cloudy sunset over the ocean.  I will have to add better edges and dry brushing to the clouds and the sun rays.  The ocean will need some additional color to be more convincing.

Rock & Grass study

This is a little study in Titanium White and Burnt Umber of rocks and grass in a meadow.  It is just a small quick practice which is all I could get to tonight.  Every little bit of practice helps though.

Cherry Blossom over the Tidal Basin

You can see how after doing the initial block-in I have added darkness to the water, color depth to the blossoms, and highlights to the branches.  I think I need to add some more darks to the water, but this is close to being done.

Cherry Blossom Jefferson Memorial Dawn

I did not get to see the Cherry Blossoms this year.  Regular work interfered with getting down to the Tidal Basin.   I worked on this painting off one of my old pictures and some other pictures I found, so this is a study for the future, when I can live by the brush.

Aspen Tree Study

This is a two color study of Aspen trees.  I used Titanium White and Burnt Umber oil paint for this study of Aspen trees.  Simple practice quickly executed are another way to practice and not torment yourself by over thinking a subject.

Oil Tree study

I have been doing a fair amount of drawing studies of trees, so I decided to do an oil painting study.  It is a completely different issue and much harder.  Painting is a series of attempts, some are failures, some succeed, and some are amazing but the point is to keep doing the work.  It is the only way to improve.  Failures and near misses are as important as the easy successes.