Good morning all!

Another Monday, another painting. Last week I decided to go for a smaller canvas (30 x30cm) and something a bit more “pastoral”. Given this change, plus the bad weather, I was able to complete the painting much faster than usual.

I read in one of my art books recently the rather obvious advice that one should walk before they run. The author was referring to one’s need to come to grips with the basics (drawing, composition, colour, light, etc.) before moving to abstraction. Certainly I am guilty of running before walking as all my paintings bear an odd globular and lilting form of abstraction which was no doubt gained by my amateur eyes and hands trying to emulate the style of the Group of Seven. And now, I cannot seem to get out of it. I admit it… while I admire realism, I do not want to paint it (even if I know it is likely the path to improvement). But its time to at least try.

So, back to the painting. The best I can say about it is that it is bright and colourful. It is also awkward, scratchy, and, well, amateur (duh). I suppose it bears some value in that it is of a scene close to home (though I doubt my friends would recognize anything but the large red tree). It might look ok with a frame tucked into a dull corner of the house. Oh, well. It was fun and engrossing anyway, and that is the whole point.

I think that now is the time to take a pause of a week or two for some self education in the form of online tutorials and a good solid read of Landscape Painting – Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice by Mitchell Albala. Perhaps even some sketching in the great outdoors is in order. So, likely the next post will be a review of the above book or maybe a sketch or two.

Have a wonderful week and thanks for dropping by!