Fall Aspens

Squeezing in a post for 2021! 

As not illustrated on this blog, it was truly a productive year for creating new pieces. In between landscape architecture projects, other paintings, and life woven in a pandemic, I had the pleasure of working on this commission piece. 

Late last spring, I was approached to create a piece that was 48x72-inches of Aspens. We narrowed it down to a grove of Aspens in full golden fall color and settled on making this large painting into a triptych. I drew a series of sketches to work out composition and light/shadow values and agreed on what you see here.

What do you reference when a grove of Aspens is not outside your door? I looked up images and read about Populus tremuloides, "Quaking Aspen". I also relied on memories and meditations. One amazing fact about an aspen grove is that it is actually one plant. All the trunks in a grove may be genetically identical rising up from the same root system. Makes "quaking Aspen" sound like a poetic spin on "attack of the clones".

Live Oak Allee - Graphite Study

Graphite Study for Live Oak Allee

Back to in the studio & it feels good.  Above is a sketch for 'Live Oak Allee', a commissioned painting.  It was a bit of a struggle getting the composition balanced or to a place where I felt it was interesting.  I think I struggled because my paintings typically focus on the tree as subject and this is more about the path.  A fun challenge I must say.  Paint on.

48 by 60 Sycamore: Completed

Completed commission piece

Here it is: 48 by 60 inch Sycamore is complete and I am scheduled to deliver it to it's new home this week.  I am celebrating by starting a new piece and will post what's on my easel before week's end.  Happy painting!

48 By 60 Sycamore Process: Layering Sky & Shadows

Layering the Sky with Ultramarine Blue, Ultramarine Violet and Titanium White

Process Detail 1

Process Detail 2

Process Detail 3

Layering the sky trying to capture a smooth value change of deep blue on top to pale blue below.  Also, I have started working in shadows among the branches using Cobalt Blue and Phthalo Green Blue, which I think is a nice push of color on top of the Van Dyke Brown wash.  My medium is not quite half & half linseed oil:stand oil as I have a little more linseed cut into the mix.  It's starting to come together and I am heading into my favorite part of the process; detailing.

Process for 48 by 60 inch Sycamore Painting

48x60 inch gallery wrapped canvas crafted by Gary Grubbs, Black Mountain, NC

1:50 scale drawing for 48x60 inch Sycamore painting

Using a grid; free hand graphite sketch onto canvas

 Currently on my easel is a 48 by 60 inch canvas, my largest piece to date.   I have fallen in love with the sketch, thrilled to be working large again and trucking along with this commissioned piece.  I will be posting more process images in the coming days, so stay tuned... 

I want to plug the work of craftsman and neighbor Gary Grubbs, maker of custom art canvasses.  He crafted this canvas and a few other sizes for me last week.  The frames are kiln dried to %5 (preventing warping), gallery wrapped fine tooth canvasses with a triple gesso application.  I found Gary going through the archives of Ursula Gullow's blog 'Art Seen Asheville' here.  Gary is kind, does quality work (at affordable prices) and is happy to share a bear story or two.  He can be reached at (828) 669-5562.