Friday, January 30, 2015

"Red Barn" oil 8x10

How I start a Plein Air painting

When you arrive at the paint-out you are faced with a wide shot. Although we live in a 360-degree world, our intake is roughly 45-degrees, the average TV camera sees only 7-degrees of this world. Mentally you start choosing your own angle of visual acceptance:

You choose your own degree of "narrowness" according to your experience and taste.

You

are

not

a camera

nor a reporter of fact - no, you adjust your rendering of the scene so that it has a center of interest and some color surprise. You rule.

Start with a large brush, paint the main shapes of the scene - in this case simply paint the sky, the trees and the water. You're almost done in a matter of a few minutes this way. Change to smaller brushes, add the farm buildings and the yellow trees, include some water reeds...in other words, add TEXTURE to the large shapes.

Narrow your scene with your eyes (just zoom in mentally)

Now paint what works, change color if you like, delete clutter (water reeds), make that grey barn "saleable red," add a window, a doorway. That's YOUR center of interest.

This 8x10 took about an hour to paint. It's not what you paint, it's HOW you paint. The HOW leads to your own unique STYLE. Your brush work and color choices determine how tasteful and experienced you are as an artist. The HOW is what you should aim for. The WHY, the WHEN, and the WHERE are subordinate to your HOW.

That's how I do plein air, yet it's like golf or tennis - occasionally you play well but you CAN have an off day. Donna worree, then come back another day. Every new start teaches the artist something. Its the only game in town.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Three Bike Quiz

Name these three bikes. No prizes, only my praise for being right!

Hit the collage for a bigger view

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Goward House Portrait Painters "Stacee" acrylic


Stacee sat for the Portrait painters today. I chose acrylics cos' I need to challenge myself to paint in a medium that isn't my strongest suit. You heard me say before that working in another medium visits kindly on one's home medium.

Hit the image of Stacee or a bigger view.

From the past - San Juan Island Ferry Landing

When the Earth was young I painted this ferry landing in Friday Harbor, Washington State. I came across this blast from the past while skimming through my old watercolors today. I am surprised how good it is (said the artist, bragging).

Hit the image for a bigger view.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

"Two Miniatures" acrylic 3 x 4.5 inches

Two minis in acrylic, "Canoe Hawaii" and "Island Cove" really quite small. Available, email me at kyknoord@outlook = offers greater than fifty dollars each. I'll advise you by email when you win.

Press the images in turn for bigger views

Sunday, January 11, 2015

"Three Fish" herring - acrylic 6x6

Carol Marine crops, and now so do I. We all know that these are three fish on a plate, we don't have to see the entire objects.

I like thick impasto although it's not to everyone's taste. I find that most current artists also like juicy brush work.

Email me kyknoord@outlook.com if you like or want this one, it'll fit into a CD mailer.

Press the image for a bigger view

Friday, January 09, 2015

"Banfield Boat 2" acrylic 9x12, plein air

The weather gave us a grand window today as we worked on our paintings at Banfield Park. The sun came and went then came again. No problem, the main thing is that we were working outside, meeting Nature with appreciation and gusto.

You know you can email me if you like or want this one. kyknoord@outlook.com I want people to possess my work.

Press the image for a bigger view

Tuesday, January 06, 2015

"Tall Saguaro" acrylic 3 x 8 inches

I'm an errant boy for deserts - the Namib, Kalahari, Osoyoos, Mohave - I've been to them and more, 'have even slept in the sand with scorpions about...they're not so bad if you keep your distance but watch out for Kangaroo mice, they seek warmth at night and can invade your sleeping bag.

Anyhow we avoided rattlers in the Mohave, and we loved the stately saguaro cactus. What an icon for Westerners.

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Friday, January 02, 2015

My pastel portrait of Scott - 10 x 12

My friend Scott vowed to shave his beard for 2015, I persuaded him to keep it long enough (sic) for me to make this pastel portrait of him. Portraits are not always as accurate as photographs but this one came pretty close, I'm relieved to report. He and Carolyn liked it, and that's all that matters..

Press the image for a bigger view