June Morning, Goodspeed Island, 20 x 24, BFK Rives and toned AS liquid primer

Here is my latest studio picture, begun last weekend and completed during the two day workshop. I worked again from black and white. Had to make up the clouds as there was too much sky. And I was challenged by the expanse of sandy road, but tried to vary it with soft shadows and differing colors. Interestingly, I tried to do the same picture as a demo last August using this surface, but a 16 x 20 size, and it was a disaster!  I did a partial underpainting and i think that was part of the problem. No underpainting on this one. Got the tree too big and I hated it. So this time I took my time in getting the composition the way I wanted it. In the photo there is a spit of land extended from the left side of the tree. I put it in at first, then added a boat, then took it all out!  I like it much better without as I like the shape of the water, which extends in a small piece to the right of the tree (not in the photo).

Goodspeed Island is an area in Mattapoisett where I always walk in the summer (or any season). I’ve painted it many times, so using the black and white wasn’t difficult as I could really “feel” the colors. I like the 20 x 24 format for this a lot. There’s a lot of detail in here, but also a lot of areas without it, such as sky, water, and road, so I think it is balanced.  Now, am hoping to get some new material and be able to paint outside at last!  I’ve exhausted my photos for now!!!  Happy Easter and Passover to you all.