I just finished painting a recent adventure. In January I joined the Indiana Plein Air Painters in a weekend paint out that became an artist's retreat. We were at the isolated Waycross Conference Center. The creek that runs along the large property was a popular painting spot. Here is one I did on location, a 5 x 7 in. oil.

Last week in my studio, I painted a 9 x 12 in. pastel on white Pastelbord, "Waycross Creek."

To review what I taught in my pastel classes, I shared my painting process with my students. I start experimenting with thumbnail sketches of the scene and I use 3 values. I was considering a 3 x 4 ratio for the format. I discarded the first thumbnail because the center of interest was too close to the center and I changed the values.

I don't always do the next step but I blew up the sketch to a 9 x 12 in.  I was still pleased with the composition.

Ugh, the intimidating white board with my thumbnail next to it.

I put an outline of these large shapes on tracing paper and transferred the sketch to the board.

Here is a photo of my set up including the larger value sketch and my photo on the lap top.

Then I apply pastel color to all of the large shapes keeping in mind value and temperature. Some of this color will show through in the final painting. In this picture you can see that I wrote next to the thumbnail the feeling of peacefulness that I wanted to communicate. I also wanted to capture the warm glow of the late afternoon sun that I remembered. Besides copyright infringement issues, this is why you use only your own photos. Only you will remember the essence of the scene. When I have captured this essence, I know I'm done.

The under painting is completed when I apply rubbing alcohol with a stiff brush. I use paper towels to blot and give texture to certain areas.

Then I develop the large shapes by working on the smaller shapes within. I work mostly from background to foreground but early on I developed the center of interest. I forgot to take another intermediary picture and I'm afraid that my students will not like that I put in the trees to the right but I felt it was necessary to convey the right mood and be true to the scene. This was my 59th painting of 2015, "Waycross Creek."

Suzy (my alternate personality) was trying to get me into trouble by reminding me that it has been a long time since I painted outside. However, even Suzy had to admit that painting in subzero temperatures was a little crazy. So we stayed in the studio and finished a larger painting, "Shopping in Saugatuck," an 11 x 14 in. pastel on paper.

This was a reminder of warmer times in Saugatuck, Michigan, a typical busy summer scene. Then I continued the daily smaller paintings. Still in the Michigan mindset, I painted "Dunes Near Oval Beach." This is a 5 x 7 in. oil.

"Threatening New Mexico Landscape" and "Naked and Lush" followed.

Then it was back to summer in Michigan where it is a moral imperative to eat ice cream.

I had to paint the roses my husband gave me before they wilted. Here is "Happy Valentine's Day" a 6 x 6 in. oil on panel.

I ended the week with a memory from Colorado with "Colorado Lake Reflections," a 5 x 7 in oil on panel and "He Didn't Show," a 7 x 5 in. pastel on paper. I use my Pan Pastels for this.

My husband recommended that I paint something now and then the same thing later in the week. You see I am having cataract surgery soon. It will be interesting to see how things might change and let's see if I can keep up with the daily paintings!

Remember, do something creative every day.

Sue

Yesterday my two personalities were at war. Sue and Suzy were fighting each other and after two hours I had nothing but frustration and a failed boat painting in oil. Then I messed up a rose. I went for a hair cut and a Vanilla Chai Latte and "Succulent #1", my 45th daily painting was born. Painting this in pastel was almost a meditation for Sue.

This week Sue traveled through her memories across the U.S. Succulent was done from a photo I took in Monterrey, California. However, she started in Montana with "Smokey Creek."

Then Sue went to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. This was a very memorable moment for me. It was 60 seconds of total silence that I experienced on a hike in January many years ago. I even held my breath because I was enjoying the total silence and the pop of color!

Next, a jump to Colorado and back to Montana with "Rocky Colorado Creek" and "Buffalo in Montana."I took a plein air workshop in Montana years ago and I had to drive through a thousand buffalo on a private ranch to get to our painting site. It was a fantastic experience.

I think this is a Wyoming sunrise called "Enjoying the Sunrise."

So far the previous paintings were pastels on 5 x 7 in. panel or paper. This one is a 5 x 7 in. oil on panel called "Mountain Range." I'm not sure where this scene is located but I believe it was in Colorado.

So far I have continued the daily paintings and it is a great exercise in discipline. I just wish Sue and Suzy could get along. All of my paintings are for sale on my web site, sueflanagan.fineartstudioonline.com

Peace,

Sue & Suzy

My dominant personality is Sue. She is clearly a representational painter in that she paints things in the natural world. You can't change her.  A person's style comes out no matter what. My alternate personality is Suzy. She occasionally exerts herself and when she does, she finds herself painting abstract or non-objective work. Both personalities continued the daily paintings this week. Here is #32 to 38.

This may be picky but there is a difference between abstract and non-objective art. Even artists do not draw a distinction. Webster tells us that abstract has only intrinsic form with little or no attempt at pictorial representation. Intrinsic means the essential nature of a thing. Non-objective art intends to represent NO natural or actual object, figure or scene. This type of painting uses the elements of design to create a pleasing composition without suggesting anything in the real world.

This week I did 3 representational pieces, two abstract and two non-objective. I used pastel, oil, acrylic and collage but the medium has nothing to do with it. Can you tell which ones are which? You can go to my web site for more information on techniques. Just click on the image in the works gallery. sueflanagan.fineartstudioonline.com

I'm also working on a larger and more complex pastel that I hope to show you next time. Sue is working on this one-not Suzy.