Palette Knife Evergreens

 It's been a while since I got the knives out, I managed to do just that this week and created a pair of related paintings. 

"Evergreen Hillside" acrylic, 12" X 16"

I wanted to keep these paintings very loose, almost semi-abstract.  I started by blocking the painting in with large brushes.  I do this not only to lay out the composition but also to cover the surface with colors that fit the composition so that I don't have to totally cover the surface with knife applied paint.  I think this works to create a bit more interest, even a little vibration in the painting as the slightly different colors peak through the knife strokes.

The subject is based on a photograph I took while walking around in the Middle Provo River restoration area in the Heber Valley of northern Utah.  The contrast of the green pine trees and the yellowish-browns of the high mountain desert hillside interested me, however I also added some brighter greens for the younger trees and plants.

"Two Evergreens on a Hill" Acrylic 7" X 5"

The second painting is a much smaller one based on the same concept, in fact I used no reference for this one, just painted the same idea from my own head and the experience of the previous painting.

Five Day Green Painting Challenge

 This past week I took part in a themed five day art challenge, meaning all participants needed to make a new piece of art every day for five days straight that fit within a theme, in this case the theme was "green".

While I've made green paintings in the past my inclination is really toward autumn colors, so I decided this would be a good motivation to experiment more with greens.

"Small Summer Tree Study" Acrylic "7 X 5"

All of these paintings were based on charcoal sketches I'd completed previously, in fact many of them had been posted in a previous blog.  This is one of those, just a simple study based on a single tree in a field during summer.

"Summer Shed in the Hills" Acrylic 5" X 7"

I actually simplified this one a little bit.  The charcoal sketch had two trees, I reduced that to just one.  I used somewhat different techniques for making these paintings, more or less the same as the two paintings in my previous blog post.  The palette knife was only used to mix paint so the paintings are made entirely with brush work.  I used three layers, a thin layer just to block in the composition, a thicker layer to refine the composition and color and the final layer using very thick paint with modeling paste mixed in to finalize the color/composition and add texture.

"Irrigation Canal Study" Acrylic "5" X 7"

I found this scene in Box Elder County in northern Utah a few years ago and only now got around to painting it.  I think there's potential for a larger painting of this subject.

"Path Through Spring Meadow" Acrylic, 8" X 10"

I especially like the results of this painting.  Not that it's perfect but I think it does set the mood and create an inviting scene, someone even commented that the painting made them want to be there which I think is the ultimate compliment for a landscape painter. I added a few dots of color to represent wildflowers.

"Spring on Beaver Creek" Acrylic, 9" X 12"

The reference for this painting was also collected years ago but in Cache County showing a little known creek in spring though my original reference was in autumn, however since I worked from my charcoal sketch the colors of a reference photo did not influence the colors I chose for the painting.

This was a good challenge for me. I think the paintings turned out pretty well, though I think I could have used a little more variety in the color, especially on the warmer side of the color wheel.

Summer Stroll

Just like that I'm back to acrylics.

"Summer Stroll"

5" x 7", Acrylic on panel

Original - SOLD

This is one of many great views available in Ogden Valley, Utah, a mountain valley about 40 miles north and east of the Salt Lake Valley and home to the beautiful rural towns of Huntsville, Eden and Liberty and Pineview Reservoir. This valley is just chuck full of artistic inspiration.  I've visited the area many times and every time I go back I discover something new.