Monday, November 12, 2007

Beginning landscape...



I've started taking classes from Vinita Pappas, a wonderful local artist. Vinita is an excellent teacher - well organized, methodical, encouraging and humorous. She's just joined EDM, so you'll soon be seeing her work. She does, however, insist that we do quick value and color studies before beginning a painting. My preferred method is to skip that and go from what I see in my mind's eye to picking up the paintbrush and creating it. But since that hasn't worked out too well for me, I'm making a real effort to slow down and think things through before I begin. Her first lessons have been on landscapes, which I've never done before. I'm not sure that's even an area I want to focus on. But here is one of my first attempts, painted from a photo taken in the rural area where I live. In the first version, I've cropped the badly painted barn and evergreen. Not sure which I prefer. What do you think?

There are just so many things wrong with this. Maybe a few splatters of paint would help...
Probably not.

Watercolor on Arches 140 lb.

10 comments:

Lin said...

GOOD JOB, Sharon!!! Keep it up!

Sandy said...

If this is your first landscape, I do not think it is bad at all. soft and lovely values and the autumn foliage is very crisp and clean !

Anonymous said...

This looks great, both of them Sharon. I think I'll go with the second one if I have to choose. I like the one side being a bit heavier with the dark green and barn on the edge. It adds nice weight to your painting.... if I may drop my penny...Nice work on your painting!
ronell

Virginia said...

GREAT beginning landscape. Think of it as a practice sketch, if you want. It's got a lovely feeling in my opinion. Keep on!

Anonymous said...

If I had to choose, I would also go with the second one. The composition looks more balanced to me. The yellowish trees look wonderful against the bluish mountains.

Steve Penberthy said...

You did a great job on both, and if pressed, I would say that I like the second one slightly more. I think the barn brings balance to the composition.

Deborah said...

I also like the second compostition, the barn is a lovely addition. Nice touch with your watercolors.

Judybec said...

I love them both, you have a nice loose approach.

Sherry Pierce Thurner said...

Count me in with the folks who like the version with the barn. It looks more interesting, engaging.

Anonymous said...

Nicely done for a first landscape. My eye keeps going back to the one with the barn in it, so I hope you kept it in. :)