Values in Painting

Finger Lakes Farm  - 12x18  pastel  SOLD

Yesterday I presented a workshop for the Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters, a very dedicated bunch of painters who have a love of painting outdoors like I do.  The theme of the workshop was how to use value to improve one's paintings.  Value is the range of dark (black) to light (white) and everything in between.

I am very in-tune to value in my own work and feel that once the correct values are established, the rest of the painting comes together more easily.

For this demonstration, I had to work inside from a photo due to the possibility of rain.  I worked over an old unsuccessful painting which had virtually no value range.  It's no wonder it was unsuccessful.

I drew in the basic shapes with a pencil.  Then using 5 values, blocked in the painting with pastel - black for the trees, dark gray for the grassy fields and barns, medium gray for the driveway, lighter gray for the sky and white for the roof of the barn and silos.  That's it.

Next was color.  I went right over the value sketch with color in the same values as in the value layer.  I used a variety of colors in each value.  This can be done only because each of those colors are of the same value as the grays, black and white which I initially used.  If I put down a color which was not in the correct value, it was was glaringly obvious, making it easy to correct at that point.

I gave everyone a value-finder which I made to help them to see value without the distraction of color.  Then they were given the chance to do value sketches and at least one finished painting before ending the workshop with a critique and ice-cold drinks provided by GVPAP.  I really enjoyed myself and was very pleased by the results of the workshop.  Everyone's paintings had a beautiful range of value that seemed to show a better understanding of how of value can make for a better painting.    SOLD

Fields of Green

 Sometimes I just can't get out to paint due to a lack of time.  So this time instead of just ruminating about it, I looked over a bunch of photos I'd taking during my daily travels to find some inspiration.  I did this little one based on several of those photos.  You can see the unfinished edges on this one.  Ordinarily, these are covered by the mat.  Just something a bit different.  SOLD

5"x7" currently unframed and unmatted

for more information about this painting, please click on

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColetteSavage 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/112550073/original-pastel-landscape-painting

Fields of Dandelions

I came upon this great field in the spring when the dandelions were in their full glory. When you see then like this, I have to wonder why we perceive them as weeds. I once heard that weeds are just plants growing in the wrong place. This was definitely the right spot, though.

Zinnias and Sunflowers near Hurd's Orchard, Orleans County

Sunflowers and Zinnias  -  pastel  6x9   SOLD

Across the street from the store at Hurd Orchards in Orleans County, I spotted this old house with rows and rows of brightly colored zinnias planted in front of it.   SOLD

6"x9", framed size is 11"x14"
Paintings come matted and framed under glass, ready for hanging.

Dusk is Coming, Churchville Farm

This complex of farm buildings had caught Chris's eye many times and the light was great as the sun was going down the evening we were there. On display at H & R Block in the Country Village Plaza in Greece.

6"x9", framed size is 11"x14"
Paintings come matted and framed under glass, ready for hanging.

Distant Farm, Rain is Coming - Greece NY

There was a rain storm coming and the atmosphere was very humid. I wanted to paint a distant view so that the haze would be evident. I found this spot and painted quickly to capture the mood.

size 6" x 9", framed size is 11"x14"
Paintings come matted and framed under glass, ready for hanging.
SOLD
https://www.etsy.com/listing/108556812/original-pastel-sunset-landscape

Snow-Covered Country Road

Done in January 2007 at Jensen's Horse farm in Perinton. The snow covered road and the soft colors in the snow really caught my eye.

size 12" x 18"
This painting is framed and matted, overall size 18" x 24"

Goldenrod Farm

To be honest, I don't know where I was when I painted this - on top of a hill somewhere in Wyoming County. It was a great panoramic view. I'd never done a barn before; I'm not particularly fond of them, but this one needed to be painted. It came out really well. SOLD

Pittsford Meadow

Behind Schoen Place, there's a beautiful meadow - part of an unworked farm. We were told that at one time they raised miniature horses there.

Jody's Place

While painting this, the neighbor came over and tearfully asked if she could buy it. She explained that the view was loved by her friend who had passed away the day before. I was very honored that she wanted it. SOLD

Finger Lakes Iris Garden

This was done at Borglum's Iris Gardens, located at the highest point right between two of the Finger Lakes, near the village of Hall. In the spring it over-flows with iris, peonies and daylilies of every shape and color. It is an amazing sight to see. This is what heaven must be like: acres of beautiful flowers everywhere. Sadly, the day we were there, a thunderstorm cut our painting session short when a huge crack of thunder exploded over our heads and the rain sent us scurrying for cover.

January Sky

This has been a remark-able winter here in Rochester. There has been very little snow and it's been relatively warm. I've been looking forward to painting snow, since I haven't had the chance yet. But the colors and sublties of the winter landscape without snow have been a wonderful change from all of the green of the past summer.

On this day in January 2006, we were at Springdale Farm in Spencerport. I found a beautiful panoramic view of the farm across the street and stood on the side of the road to paint it. No snow, but the colors in the clouds, the intensely blue sky and the soft colors of the land and distant tree-lines were enough to keep me very happy.

After the Early Harvest

I am lucky enough to have met other people who have some great ideas of places to paint. On this day, we were a farm in Spencerport and the first harvest - peas, had been cleared away. I liked the curve of the field around the big, old tree and the distant tree line at the far edge of the field with it's deep shadows. The soil was freshly tilled and a warm color.