Artists Statement

I paint as often and as much as I can. I take classes when I can afford it, but the money usually goes to buy more art supplies. This blog is to share the results with you! I am a Work in Progress.

Dianne Lanning Fine Art.com


Monday, August 20, 2012

And yet again...

 So:
Nicasio - 8X10 Oil
It looks like I'm going to just keep trying to get it right!  Trees are one of my current challenges. So, I got on the internet and studied at artists who know how do it, masters of the art. Most  recently I looked at Brian Blood because he is a northern California painter and does lots of eucalyptus trees beautifully. Well, you should have seen me with my mouth skewed to the side and even my tongue sticking out as I concentrated. I couldn't quite get it. Then I was looking at Ron Guthrie's latest paintings. He also is a California painter and does lots of wonderful landscapes, which include eucalyptus trees, as well as a variety of other subjects. In trying to see what I could learn about painting these trees from both artists, something clicked a little bit.The background has been simplified some, the sky has been worked a bit too.  This is definitely a learning experience, and I'm glad I've been able to spend the time on it. Now I'll leave the eucalyptus alone and try something "painterly" with the background.
   When it comes to composition, the clump of bushes in the very center of the painting don't seem like a good idea. They might just go away, or get converted to something more straggly and a shallower slope. I just got a tube of "Naples Yellow," and I sort of got carried away playing with it on the hills and grasses.
  This was a plein air I started last year at a horse ranch in the Lucas Valley at Nicasio.

Darn it, that sky sure looked better in person. Now when I look at the photo, most of what I did looks faded. Another lesson.

6 comments:

  1. Hello Dianne:) You may be not so satisfied, but your tree (on the right) is very nice! And in real life seem things always much nicer than in the picture, is my experience.
    I have just viewed your hand work too. Pfff, what handsome and what beautiful! You are so reative! Take care and have a nice week:)

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    1. Thank you Renate! It's always good to hear from you, glad you like the trees. It is certainly a learning experience!

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  2. What a beautiful landscape, Dianne! The trees on the right are absolutely fabulous! Great job. Have a good w.e. Ciao!

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    1. Tito, thank you! That's high praise, I appreciate it. These are our local trees, and challenge me.

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  3. Hi Dianne, I just found your blog and it's a lot like mine (sort of). Just a lot of my own work. I found a plien air painter who paints incredible trees if your interested in checking it out. It's Tom Brown Fine Arts. He also puts out lessons you can download to your computer. He's helped me a lot.
    Have a great day. Bill Reed toonsville_bill.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Bill, I actually Follow Tom's blog, he's very good. I love his little daily paintings, amazing.

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