Abstract Landscape Painting

Summer’s End – 36 x 48 – Acrylic on Wood

Working a little more on the lighter plants – I want to make sure they comply with the rest of the painting so far. And I think they do. This is a big painting for me; I am painting madly and still have so much more panel to cover. Fortunately I will be taking some time off in August that I can use to paint ‘full-time’. I can’t wait!

Summer’s End – 36 x 48 – Acrylic on Wood

Working a little more on the greens in the foreground. I think I need to see some more of the orange and lavender plants though. And some more of the lake. And I want to get back to the dark side too. (I hear they have cookies.) And then there’s all the trees way back in the cheap seats. And the sky.

It’s such a large painting for me; it’s a challenge to hold it all together in my head – I’m in a hurry to see it on the panel! I know I have sketches of it but it’s not the same. Once the painting hits the panel the sketches are nearly obsolete. Unless I get stuck. And I’m not feeling stuck. It’s just pouring onto the panel. I guess that’s what can happen when you have something in your head for so long.

Summer’s End – 36 x 48 – Acrylic on Wood

I really needed to see the light oranges and pastels in the context of the rest of the painting, so that’s where I went. I think it’s going to work well; the sun is hitting that patch and providing  a nice counterpoint to the foliage in deeper shadow. I want to balance it with some more foreground greens and also flesh out that lighter area more. I really like the way these colours are working together!

Summer’s End – 36 x 48 – Acrylic on Wood

Moving right down into some of the foreground green foliage. I think one of the biggest challenges in this painting is to keep all the colours working together, so I need to get them on the panel pronto! Next session will involve some yellows and pale pinks and lavenders, as well as some more of the lake.

Summer’s End – 36 x 48 – Acrylic on Wood

I have been waiting to start this painting for a while now – I haven’t done a really big painting since last summer! I originally wanted it for the Oshawa show but I knew I wouldn’t finish it on time.

Outside it’s 37 celsius but in my painting Summer is winding down. The day is cool, there is almost a bite to the air; Fall has brushed the leaves with colour.

I’m working with a big palette on this one (another thing I’m excited about ). I’m going to have a great time managing the reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues and purples in this painting. I can hardly wait to see how this one turns out – is it the weekend yet?! 

Two Birches – 5 x 7 – acrylic on wood

Commission

Two birches stand against the pattern of a late summer landscape.

I like doing these little paintings; they are instant gratification – with larger ones I have to be patient and wait and see how it turns out. I enjoyed the colours and shapes on this one so much I may have to do it again larger. (Of course it will come out hugely different but I bet I will have as much fun with it as I did with this one. )

View From Mazengah – 16 x 20 – Acrylic on Wood
Commission

Delicate twisty branches reach out over the water, fans of needles catch the breezes and the warm sunshine bounces off the lake. A perfect Ontario cottage-country day.

View From Mazengah – 16 x 20 – Acrylic on Wood
Commission

The trees are almost complete.Their branches reach gently over the water, enjoying the breeze and the light bouncing off the wavelets.

I think I’m going to have to paint some more of these pines; I love using these colours and I want to explore these shapes some more. I have some near my house, but I don’t think I’m north enough for the good twisty ones. Hmmm, road trip!

View From Mazengah – 16 x 20 – Acrylic on Wood
Commission

It’s time for the trees and sky. I love these pines. Their fan-shaped needle clusters, their rich red bark, the way their branches twist and swoop, tangling and reaching for each other.

View From Mazengah – 16 x 20 – Acrylic on Wood
Commission

A wall holding in the sparkling lake, the far shore stands green and implacable. The sun, so eager to brighten the rocks and the water, lightens the far trees only a little.