Working with Three Primary Colors

Using a very limited palette of colors can be both challenging and rewarding.  Although expensive one can purchase almost every color under the sun but where is the fun in that?  If you are new to a medium, one way to see if you like it without a lot of cost involved is to choose a warm and cool of each of the primary colors.  Since I will be soon be offering some classes and workshops in watercolor, I chose Hansa Yellow, Red Rose Deep and Phthalo Blue as my cool primary colors and Arylide Yellow, Vermillion and Ultramarine Blue as my warm primary colors.  With this combination almost every other color can be mixed.  The first workshop, "Painting Faces - Animal or Human" will be held on January 18 and 19th at the Sun West Art Club in Sun City West.  Here are a few samples of paintings done with these colors.

Taking time to blog

These are a few of my more recent paintings.

America West Heritage Center - Little Pioneer

Recently a friend posted a photo of her daughter on her Facebook page.  I couldn't help but be inspired and couldn't wait to paint her.  She is one of the many volunteers at the America West Heritage Center in Wellsville, Utah.  As usual a little tweaking but I'll leave that to another day.

"Pioneer Girl"

12x16 oil on canvas

This is a close up of "Pioneer Girl."

America West Heritage Center - Another View

"Man With Cart"

11"x14" oil

This past weekend I did some plein air paintig at the American West Heritage Center here in the Cache Valley  The top painting was 90% finished on location before the sun became too flat.  After I got back to my studio I added the man and the handcart.    The second painting was done from some photos I took of children playing at the center.  It was hot enough where I wanted to go over and stick my mouth in there too and get a cool drink of mountain water.

Pencil sketch

The previous sketches have been with conte or charcoal pencils.  Today I got out my trusty #2 pencil and blended only by adding more strokes rather than smudging with my finger or a stub.  My son worked on this boy's computer while I tried to capture him with my camera.

18"x 24" pencil sketch

Alan - Portrait of little boy

"Alan"

11x14 oil on panel

I've opened up Alan's eyes at the request of his mom and did a few more touchups.  In a few days I'll go over the painting with a medium that will deepen and bring out the colors especially the darks and then later put a light varnish on it.  (The lighting in my studio has lightened and flattened out some of the color.) I am really enjoying doing commissioned portraits.  They can be challenging but my heart sings when I get positive feedback.  My "friends" price for an 11x14 framed oil portrait is $395.  Let me know if you are interested.

Portrait of little boy

I implied earlier that I was only beginning the portrait painting today.  Actually I started this the other day as I couldn't wait to get going on it.   If you have been reading my previous posts, you'll know that there are probably many small and possibly changes to comes but here is what I have so far.  It feels so good to be back in my studio again.

Leaving the nest.

It was very hard for me to let some of my first paintings go to other homes.  Although most artists love seeing the red tag that marks a painting sold, it can also be like seeing your children grow up and leave the nest.  So much energy goes into a painting that there is a feeling of emptiness when they are sold or gifted to someone else.

Today I'm traveling down through memory lane recalling some of the paintings that are now in new homes.  Some have recently left and others have been gone for a while.  What helps ease the pain of separation is knowing these paintings are hopefully bringing others happiness.

Here are just some of my "children" that have left the nest.