6x8's with more paint!

This week I painted a few 6x8's.  I applied new techniques, like using more paint.  I never would have that I had more control with more paint!  Having fun with it.

www.garrettmichaelart.com

More paint means more control

I'm applying new techniques.  Last week, Matt Smith told me that I needed to use more paint.  He said by doing this, you'll have more control.  

This morning I headed out to Palmetto State Park to gather some photos for reference.  While looking for scenes I remembered to look for big simple shapes. I took many photos.

Here's a painting from one, keeping in mind: simple shapes, color, and design 

Last day

What a bitter sweet end to the workshop. I'm excited to get home and apply these new techniques and ideas to my home landscape. However, I am sad to leave such a great painter and a group of the nicest people I've been around in awhile. One more night in Arizona, flying back tomorrow.  Hope my wings don't get too tired 

Demo

My painting

Day 3

Holy cow, what a great morning.  Another great demo by Matt.  I painted a desert scene, which I have never done before, and it seemed to show.  I worked on mixing color to achieve a warm distant  cool. Tough.  I wanted a comforting lead in lined by bushes. 

Day 2

This morning we hit the ground running with painting.  It's a comforting feeling to have such a great instructor to ask questions and solve some issues.

Matt Smith Workshop: Day 1

I am beyond excited about where I spent my day today.  I signed up for a Matt Smith workshop in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Day one was full of lecture with a sweet demo to end on.  I'm still trying to process evrything that was said so I can sit with it and put it to study.  Every great artist teaches fundamentals and how they are so important.  Originality and creativity is encouraged but grounded by the basic design principles.  We talked about how drawing is the foundation for painting.  We even had a color theory session with color mixing. Huge help!  The demo was showing how cool shadows are made and placed, and how powerful line quality in highlights are.

Tomorrow the students paint!

Focused on a Finished Look

Monday, January 12, 2015

Just recently, after studying previous paintings, I discovered they are missing that "finished" look.  They are missing some elements that make them looked finished.  These certain elements are subtle but the impact of them are very noticeable.  They include: attention to edges, a small range of values, and most importantly, careful installment of "jibber jabber" (Roy Smith 2014).  As a design element, repetition has its place and that place is hardly in a landscape.  With entertainment to these elements I found that my painting this morning to be more finished than previous paintings.  Again, a very subtle difference but a new tool for the box.

Four Lanes with Feeder Road

12x16

Missing a Place

This week was less productive in getting outside to paint as I wanted.  Instead, I searched my library for a decent photo to create something in the comforts of a warm studio.  I came across a photo taken while I was at a Jill Carver workshop a couple years ago.  The colors up there, in the water, are warmer and more purple than the green waters of the hill country.  -G.Michael

Upstream, Downhill

9x12

Monday/Friday blog starts now

       I have decided to change a few approaches this year, let's just call them resolutions.  One involves keeping up with a blog.  I feel a blog will keep me focused on creating and journaling art.  This blog is as much for me as it is for you.  With that, I want to publish a blog every Monday and Friday.  On Mondays I will talk about my focuses and approach for the week and on Friday my progress for the week will be reported.

                                  Monday, January 5th 2015- "A Deadline Approaches"

      

      As the OPS (outdoor painters society) Southwest salon approaches, I am determined to create a piece that I am pleased with.     https://outdoorpainterssociety.wildapricot.org/page-1860112

      This morning was spent in River Chase along the Gaudalupe river.  I have fished this stretch many times and was attracted to a certain area.  There's a island that separates a rapid from a slower movement of water.  The scene is framed with greys produced by winter cypress and grounded by a warm slab of water.

                                       

         

                                                             "Two sides of movement"

                                                                              9x12

My fishing friend John, came with me and fished while I painted.  I left my rod behind but feel I caught a decent painting today.  Here's his catch...