Saratoga National Battlefield; mixing green.

84  F  clouds, thunder storms threaten.

The Saratoga National Historic Park had a plein-air day, so I got into the park for free.

#537 Saratoga National Battlefield

5-30-15

12x16

There is green everywhere, here too. so when I go about to put some green down, I'll mix up some and think to use it in a spot, here the middle hills,  I put it down (splotch in the middle) then compare it to what I'm looking at, I notice that it's not right, it's too bright, it has too much color, but I then notice that it might pass for the wall of trees in the foreground, so I put it there. When I go to mix middle hills, I grey down the green some more, being aware of the difference between it and the first mix.

 The wind was blowing so I had to spend some time holding down my easel, and didn't take a lot of photos.

This is at the end of the session, the wind was picking up and a few drops had started.

The "Money Shot"  for today.

My spot.

My pallet.

The Rt. 4 entrance.

When you're hot you're hot, when you're not you're.....

68  F  mostly sunny

I went to gymnastics, and with the long days got to paint.

#536 Mohawk River @ Terminal Rd. Halfmoon, NY.

5-28-15

8x10

I needed a river and a bridge, and I found this spot.

When I started I put in the brightest spots.

It was convenient that the tone was close to the value and color of the bridge.

When the light came on the pier, I had to put the light in.

The light didn't stay for long, dos it ever?

Here is where I ended up.

The light the way  I liked it, but it was difficult to catch.

A nice spot, I even had a few visitors.

























         Yesterday I went out and got a farm scene, I was very disappointed with it. In general I had been having an off couple of days: this happens. It's the reality of  painting everyday, It's the reality of living everyday. Some days will be better than others, and working the way I do where I paint and it happens, or it doesn't.

     So do you burn these?  do you hide them away? I've been keeping everything, I don't even like painting over them, too much texture going in the wrong direction.  I didn't blog it yesterday, not knowing what to say.sending out mixed messages to my readers, potential buyers might be bad.  I'm committed, though to being honest and transparent, and to show the good and the bad,and hopefully learn from all of them and paint better paintings.

So here it is:

#535 Juniper Swamp Rd.

5-27-15

12x16

The "Money Shot" from yesterday, it's certainly a beautiful place, and often shows the painting completed by the landscape, but when alone it falls flat.

I think the composition was the single most problematic element, with the barn grouping cutting the top from the bottom, maybe there is more than one painting here, so maybe I should cut it in two?

Owlkill Rd. @ Jodie Rd, a familiar scene, always different.

83  F   some clouds and some wind.

#534  Owlkill Rd. @ Jodi Rd.

5-25-15

9 x 12

Sky.

The green gave me trouble from the start, even though I think I got the value right.

I kept changing up the bright green in the foreground, I'd prefer to get it right the first time.

Almost there....

I thought I was done when I snapped this photo, but I didn't like the light patch in the very foreground, and a few other things.

Here is the scene at the start.

My spot. I've done this very scene a bunch of times, it's a great scene, but I was exhausted from the weekend's activities, and I had to push myself out the door.

This is the "Money Shot", the sun was off the scene when I finished, so this looks weird.

My pallet.

Battenkill @ S.R. 29, dog, family and fun!

84  F  sunny, some wind.

I went over to the river, it was good day to bring Ollie, on a hunch I parked at a pull off along State Route 29 between Greenwich and Salem, and hiked into this place.

#533 Battenkill @ S.R. 29

5-24-15

12 x 16

This pull off  is along S.R.29 between Battenville ans East Greenwich,  it follows the river, sometimes close, sometimes not so close.

There is essentially an island here when the river is high, today there were some muddy pools of water, but not hard to get around, although long pants would have been better.

We got to the river, there was a 10 foot embankment, I stayed up, Ollie went for a swim.

This was the scene I picked. I'm about 100 yards from the road and can hear the traffic. I'm also about 10 feet higher than the water.

Sky.

The water was bluer than the sky, but just a bit and my tone was perfect, luck, I assure you.

Darks.

Middle greens, very greyed out.

Moving along.....

Some things require more attention than others like the shore-line and the large tree mass,

The "Money Shot",  not so great,  but the sight-size shot was not presentable....

Most of the time Ollie finds a shady spot and sleeps.

My spot.

My pallet.

I alway love seeing this!

This is my "gallery" chaos prevails.....



This weekend held many activities, A memorial party for our old friend Art Hess, Emma's 16th birthday, and Hope's debut as a trumpeter in the Memorial day parade, with lots of visiting family, meals and a bon fire!

King Rd, gets a crown.

68  F  big clouds, windy.

It was a lovely day, but windy!

#532 King rd.

5-22-15

8x10

There was a lot of very bright green.

One thing about the greens, they vary, but all within a certain range, I guess that's what unifies the scene, but shows how things are different too.

Here is where I ended up, there was a lot of glare.

Sight-size shot.

The scene, nice.

My spot, easy.