Early Morning Sketch

 I didn't have to travel far for this sketch.The rising sun backlighting the leaves on the trees was the motivation for today.
When I saw the light taking shape I set up my small cigar box easel by the window to capture the scene.

I used acrylics on an 8x10 canvas panel. I was able to block in all the shapes and the general lighting conditions before the light had changed. 

Autumn Lineup

 Autumn Lineup  11x14 original oil painting  $224.50 

I usually spend the late fall looking for the last spots of color that are left in a now drab landscape. Its like a treasure hunt, each day that passes gets harder and harder to find some brillant color. And when you finally do it like finding a treasure.

 I found this set of trees at sunrise on Nov 20th  and painted this 5x7 study on location. The sun moves so quickly at this time of morning so  I hurried to catch the shaft of light that lit up the trees.

This is the photo reference I took sitting in my truck BEFORE I started painting.
Sometimes I forget to do this step when I'm in a rush to catch the light.
You can see I edited out some things, the bare tree in the foreground and the blacktop.
I only included the things that re-enforced my initial feelings about the scene, the reason it made me stop.
Everything else is unimportant.

It was a great morning treasure hunting.

Thanks for looking,
Pat

Autumn Morning 8x10 acrylic

Autumn Morning 8x10 acrylic

Fall is right around the corner so I thought I would start with an image I've been wanting to paint for a while. I took the reference pictures for this two years ago,and have thought about this scene off and on every few months. I noticed that happens with some paintings, I have to think about them for a while and then one day something clicks and says you're ready and it flows off the brush.
I'm hoping we have a colorful autumn, so I'll have somrthing to paint in two years!
Enjoy.

Autumn Shadows

Autumn Shadows
10x8 oil
$325.00

This was painted on location. What caught my eye was the color of the leaves laying at the base of the tree and the pattern of the shadows from the unseen trees. When I got home I touched up shadows and added the bright leaves that were caught in the sun spots. I remember I was the only one there that day. You can sense the peacefulness of the place.

This painting comes framed. Available at Canal Frame-Crafts Gallery. www.CanalFrame.com

215-493-3660

Study for Splash of Color

I used a pallete knife to put on the bright reds and pinks. I wanted the bold color to stand out against the muted greens of the pine trees. It was cold and windy, I remember my fingers starting to take on the color of the reds of the tree.

Autumn Walk

My wife and I took a ride up the Poconos to see the last of the fall colors. Prior commitments kept us from going up last week during the peak. Near the end of the day we stopped off at Promised Land State Park, a park we are very familar with. As we walked by this tree I noticed how the remaining leaves matched the color of Maria's sweatshirt and shoes.

Autumn Walk

10x8, Acrylic

Collection of Maria O'Driscoll