tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48998478182151267912024-03-13T11:45:31.587-05:00Carol Jessen's Watercolor WorldImpressionistic watercolors with tips on composition, techniques, values and color choices.Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.comBlogger823125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-36919730353310619222020-03-27T15:37:00.002-05:002020-03-27T15:37:37.482-05:00VirusAs many of you know, I came to Apalachicola, Florida on Dec. 21. I painted two paintings before I developed some serious health problems. I'll spare you the ins and outs of<b><i> how</i></b> they eventually found out what was causing them and go straight to the sequence of events.<br />
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In late January, I developed breathing problems, and on Jan. 29th went to the emergency room in Apalach. They decided to send me by ambulance to a hospital in Tallahassee. I was admitted in critical condition. <br />
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They discovered I had a blood infection in my heart. They back=tracked my symptoms and eventually traced it all back to my gall bladder.<br />
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The gall bladder caused my type 2 diabetes to flair up and led to ketoacidosis (acid in the blood), which nearly killed me. Eventually the problem spread and caused an infection of the blood in my heart (which also almost killed me.) They took my gall bladder out. <br />
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To treat the blood infection in my heart and prevent a reoccurrence, they put me on an IV anti-biotic for 60 days. I was in a critical care hospital to monitor my diabetes and continue the IV anti-biotic until two weeks ago at which time they transferred me to a rehab facility that could not only continue the IV treatment, but also build my strength back up through physical therapy. I had occupational therapy and physical therapy for two weeks. <br />
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Yesterday the 60 days were finally up, and I was released after two months in three hospitals. They drove me back to Apalachicola where I am now staying until the home health care is finished. <br />
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I'm hoping in a few more days I can do some painting in my room, and build up my strength. I can't think of a better place to shelter in place. My room has a kitchen, my motel own and friend brings me food, and I look at the bay from my balcony. <br />
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I hope this explanation isn't too lengthy, but I wanted to let everyone know that I am recovering slowly but surely.<br />
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Stay safe, everybody. Wash your hands, and stay six feet away from me!! Good luck!Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-80735733706957251762019-12-26T10:18:00.002-06:002019-12-26T10:18:59.495-06:00Getting Back in the Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm back in my winter location, Apalachicola, Florida. With packing, driving, unpacking, and Christmas, I haven't had much time to think about painting. But now things are starting to slow down. To ease back into it, I did what I always do: I got out my sketchbook. Since it was Christmas, I thought it appropriate to sketch a church. The Catholic church has an interesting bell tower, so here is the result.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas to all! And a Happy New Year!</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-4541870827045597192019-12-06T16:12:00.004-06:002019-12-06T19:08:37.100-06:00Obliques and Interrupters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i7CTqIq5n_k/XerRzw6-fOI/AAAAAAAADbE/d5mraeKBJAgEi3cVu98jFoq0ixlSAzrFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i7CTqIq5n_k/XerRzw6-fOI/AAAAAAAADbE/d5mraeKBJAgEi3cVu98jFoq0ixlSAzrFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_7493.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was browsing through old slides of my trips to Europe, and found this view of Assisi, Italy. I was struck by two things: the obliques in the scene and the towers that interrupted the obliques. Three towers and one dome interrupt the dark line of the background hillside. The light shape formed by the buildings are also surrounded by midtones that highlight the building shapes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also considered the colors of the buildings and decided to contrast them with the quieter areas of foliage. Since I knew that much of the foliage would be various gradations of green, I decided</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> that the buildings, which were largely various shades of gray, needed to be a muted red to take advantage of the complementary colors of red and green. Texture was only incorporated in the towers and some of the architecture, keeping the foliage areas relatively free of much texture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Again, I encourage you to alter the scenes in your photos to express a more dynamic expression of what you want to say about the subject matter. Compose with your head to tell the story of what your heart responded to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are the preparation sketch and drawing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-23850153691821475232019-11-25T13:17:00.003-06:002019-11-25T13:17:46.086-06:00Painting In A Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHC3CPS0FV4/XdwomyurhSI/AAAAAAAADaw/D1d5UegG_dY7nVnCz0ulWdudxJDMpxhlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHC3CPS0FV4/XdwomyurhSI/AAAAAAAADaw/D1d5UegG_dY7nVnCz0ulWdudxJDMpxhlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_7467.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lately I've returned to a favorite subject of mine: trees. I found an old photo of a woodpile in my neighbor's woods in Maine. Color became the primary challenge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The color choices are mainly the complementary colors of yellow and violet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Note the shadows on the cut side of the logs. In the past, I might have chosen one value for all of them. By making half of the shadows darks and the other half midtones, there is more variety. There is also a chance to gradate the colors to indicate the reflected light. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm out of paper (on order) and with Thanksgiving coming up, I'll be taking a short break. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-1314733957927108862019-11-23T14:21:00.000-06:002019-11-24T10:12:37.754-06:00Starting with Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDsVEgsNOZE/XdmUhGXveUI/AAAAAAAADak/M0munAdjIXwPQJG5XgYNZQvwjbC-UvnZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDsVEgsNOZE/XdmUhGXveUI/AAAAAAAADak/M0munAdjIXwPQJG5XgYNZQvwjbC-UvnZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_7464.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A friend in Maine takes a daily walk and posts photos of her surroundings. In her photo of a marsh, there were only two lone pine trees. Also there was no mountain range behind the trees. I also needed something added to give a little life to the scene. I considered a canoe or rowboat, but decided that would bring attention to the water. I wanted the viewer to look at the pine trees. I added one more tree for balance and then decided that some hawks would add some interest to the trees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A very simple scene. Study the background trees for changes in value and color. Also avoid a treeline that becomes a rectangle. Give it a little oblique feel. Study the water to see how a gradation of values leads to the highlighted area near the trees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My tree series continues....</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-79279272188024132392019-11-12T09:36:00.003-06:002019-11-12T09:37:21.877-06:00Combining Elements<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gATyOGoUM60/XcrPNGhE0YI/AAAAAAAADZ8/UmKbUlKanK4sC67NX7ujGlxfulqF7ZBYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gATyOGoUM60/XcrPNGhE0YI/AAAAAAAADZ8/UmKbUlKanK4sC67NX7ujGlxfulqF7ZBYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_7460.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In composing this painting, I looked through my photos of Florida for more material to continue my tree series. I found a photo of a banyan tree in Naples, Florida. I liked the tree, but as you can see, it was in a parking lot. So I went back to my photo file of Selby Gardens in Sarasota, Florida to look for another element to include. The thatched hut seemed like an interesting choice. It provided a balancing feature in the background without detracting from the main subject which is the tree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The figures added a bit of animation to the scene as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When using photos, you are unlikely to find the perfect composition. Think about combining elements from various photos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-32106643943486015482019-11-09T10:23:00.000-06:002019-11-09T10:23:02.643-06:00Layering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tKzi8jiR1Sc/XcbnIXQVRuI/AAAAAAAADZ0/HamkJYcP7qA3CoIku0bN4fePzyokTSoxQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_7457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tKzi8jiR1Sc/XcbnIXQVRuI/AAAAAAAADZ0/HamkJYcP7qA3CoIku0bN4fePzyokTSoxQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_7457.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most painters of watercolors adhere to the notion of painting from light values to darker values. There is a special concentration on saving the lightest values. This leads some to believe that the darker tones can be applied directly on white paper since the first light washes would be covered up anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This painting illustrates my approach to getting to the darks by building up layers of color. The first wash influences the second wash and the second wash influences the third wash, thus creating something in common throughout the shape. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This approach involves some patience because the wash must be <b>thoroughly dry</b> before the succeeding layers are applied. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Look closely at the foreground grassy area and you will see glimpses of the first yellow underwash. Putting down the foundation color first also allows for the possibility of choosing how much to cover up in the second and third washes. The common denominator color also changes when a variety of colors are applied over it. Yellow as the base color changes when blue or burnt sienna or a mixed green is layered over it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The same thing occurs in the foliage of the trees. Yellow was the first wash and darker and darker values are painted on top.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Note also that these shapes are not concerned with individual leaves or blades of grass. The textures are mostly defined at the edges of the shapes. The layering of colors creates the interest, not the textures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">My friend Judi Wagner used to quote one of her teachers: "Stay lighter longer." It was good advice!</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-50424547219104978632019-11-01T12:38:00.002-05:002019-11-01T19:18:16.222-05:00Foreground Shadows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I've said many times, I look for ways to frame my focal point. Foreground shadows are often the answer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my previous post, I explained the combination of several photos to arrive at the final composition. When I started to paint this though, I wanted to emphasize the shadowy foreground. The mid-ground uses a spotlight effect with its light values and warmer tones. I kept the sky and distant trees cooler and a bit darker to contrast the narrow strip of light, warm values.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All of the textures are in the foreground as well. The sky and background trees are preserved as shapes and simple values. Oftentimes, I see students wanting to define every leaf in the background, thus taking away the contrast in textures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love trees! More to come soon!</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-54029374209550366772019-10-31T13:54:00.000-05:002019-10-31T13:54:15.523-05:00Combining Elements From Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QuaDyBp_fhE/Xbsr8rcjy8I/AAAAAAAADY8/2l7ZHZ8OoEAHJNDFuAsXr3S9L-zA7vGxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1600" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QuaDyBp_fhE/Xbsr8rcjy8I/AAAAAAAADY8/2l7ZHZ8OoEAHJNDFuAsXr3S9L-zA7vGxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_7450.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">On a trip to Selby Gardens in Sarasota, Florida with my friend and playwright Connie Schindewolf, I fell in love with this gumbo limbo tree. I took several photos of it and the surrounding area. In one, I liked the photo of the tree. In another, I saw some tourists posing. And finally I liked the house in the background. I borrowed something from all three photos, and came up with this composition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">My point is, don't feel bound by one photo. Use elements from several shots to form a composition that works.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JucIRmJHv7E/XbsspS2OwXI/AAAAAAAADZE/SAixifjcogEOk3WxSOOPIUgMWTpAcixFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Selby%2BGardens%2B023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JucIRmJHv7E/XbsspS2OwXI/AAAAAAAADZE/SAixifjcogEOk3WxSOOPIUgMWTpAcixFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Selby%2BGardens%2B023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C2fiiTB6rQs/XbstlH64O4I/AAAAAAAADZY/x-KLJwPUuPUbYPfQQMVISLst55HTKOxtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Selby%2BGardens%2B031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C2fiiTB6rQs/XbstlH64O4I/AAAAAAAADZY/x-KLJwPUuPUbYPfQQMVISLst55HTKOxtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Selby%2BGardens%2B031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-8095896437045490852019-10-24T14:29:00.000-05:002019-10-24T14:29:21.342-05:00Starting Up Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbrlrk9zM74/XbH7F2zHjzI/AAAAAAAADYk/x_OPhiWsvWYbGkIVDg3GjL6MXGq3fNMRACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbrlrk9zM74/XbH7F2zHjzI/AAAAAAAADYk/x_OPhiWsvWYbGkIVDg3GjL6MXGq3fNMRACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_7442.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Wharfside #3"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a month of not painting and re-adjusting to life in St. Louis, I finally got my brushes wet again. It's a bit intimidating after such a long break, and there's a bit of fear that maybe I've lost my mojo. How to solve that problem?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I decided that I would pick up where I left off with a dockside scene. Familiarity breeds confidence!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Color choice became my first and major concern. I resorted to a tried and true process that I used many times this summer. I chose to make my focal point a warm pinkish tone. That meant that my first wash - the sky- would provide a complementary cool hue that leaned toward a greenish blue. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Continuing with the warm tones under the dock further provided a contrast with the neutral blues in the water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sorry for the long absence. I hope to be posting some more paintings on a regular basis.</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-23087356576067684372019-10-09T10:38:00.001-05:002019-10-09T10:38:43.268-05:00Farewell, Maine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1CXQ8d3k3hU/XZ39prBqIwI/AAAAAAAADYY/mu59-amo3vIBT68Xc4_7-S1GHP_xg9ynQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1CXQ8d3k3hU/XZ39prBqIwI/AAAAAAAADYY/mu59-amo3vIBT68Xc4_7-S1GHP_xg9ynQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_7371.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
"Grimes Cove"<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm back in St. Louis after a long drive home. I had a very productive summer, completing 41 paintings and almost as many sketches during my four month stay. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the painting I did on the last day of my workshop in early September. Come join us next summer. Farewell, Maine, until next year.</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-37881869458615942442019-09-28T10:21:00.000-05:002019-09-28T10:21:52.469-05:00Addition/Subtraction<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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Motif #1 @ Pratt's Island</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is another iconic subject that artists on the Boothbay peninsula often paint-- so often that we refer to it as the Motif #1 of the area. It was even the subject of the advertising postcard for an exhibit of my paintings at a local gallery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This time, however, I took many liberties with the old standby. I eliminated a building on the left, thinking that if it were included, it would put more weight and emphasis on that side of the painting than I wanted. Also, in reality, the treeline is much higher. I lowered it so the background wouldn't claim so much attention. The transition to the sky area also lessened the importance of a larger, dark background shape. The value contrast stayed near the focal point building as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next, the additions. Once I determined those two shapes, it became apparent that they needed to be broken up by something. Since I already had the pilings in the foreground, I decided to repeat the verticals in the background. The logical placement of those verticals was directly over the building in the focal area, thus acting as pointers. For the same reason, I moved the ladder so that it, too, would point to the little building.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other additions: The white rock in the foreground and the pilings that emerge from it were put there to create a white shape that breaks up the horizontal shoreline, and lets the piling lead up to the white of the building on the far left. Imagine the dark reflections extending to the left edge of the page and you'll see that the shape of the water would have been a dark, uninteresting rectangle. That oblique line also echoes the oblique line of the buildings, a repetition that was needed to contrast with the dominant horizontals and verticals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a rather lengthy explanation of the components of this composition. But I want my readers to know that what appears to be a random placement of the elements of the painting was really a series of deliberate decisions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bottom line: Don't always be tied to the realities of the scene. Add, subtract and do everything you can to come in aid of the area you find most attractive.</span><br />
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<br />Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-88158340089070232602019-09-22T08:33:00.001-05:002019-09-22T08:33:38.292-05:00Looking Around<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eiHkjZu2dJA/XYd3s3qZKaI/AAAAAAAADX4/zlSdQWfA5WAbwE-VoSicLOFXGvkSr_FSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eiHkjZu2dJA/XYd3s3qZKaI/AAAAAAAADX4/zlSdQWfA5WAbwE-VoSicLOFXGvkSr_FSACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_7404.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Driftwood at Hendrick's Head Light</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hendrick's Head Lighthouse is often a subject of my paintings. But, not only I, but also most everyone who paints it includes the beach. This time I decided to try a different foreground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had often walked around the area for a different viewpoint. This time instead of seeing this bush as blocking the view of the beach, I decided to make it and the driftwood the primary subject. The lighthouse becomes a locator instead of the main subject.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Try looking past or around something that acts as both a frame and a major subject of your painting. </span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-40086639198943184082019-09-20T15:04:00.001-05:002019-09-20T15:04:57.074-05:00The Hazards and Rewards of Plein Air Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvR2I4z9mxE/XYUwixZ5v7I/AAAAAAAADXs/_Euwh7BGyTAkdxF07Cu1vxKiv_fXgtSaACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvR2I4z9mxE/XYUwixZ5v7I/AAAAAAAADXs/_Euwh7BGyTAkdxF07Cu1vxKiv_fXgtSaACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_7370.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Day 4 of my watercolor workshop in Boothbay Harbor. The class went to Newagen's Town Landing. It was overcast, and halfway through my demo, it started to shower. I kept painting, though, but you can see the raindrops on the painting. After I finished, we went to lunch, and returned to the dock. The sun came out and the students had good painting weather once again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">While I was painting, I told a story about a man who emerged from the trees on the island across from us about 15 years ago. He was pushing a refrigerator and finally flipped it end over end down a ramp to the float at low tide. He then put it in a dinghy, rowed across the cove to the Newagen Inn dock and proceeded to flip it end over end up the very steep ramp. I said it was "ridiculous. Just then I heard a male voice behind us say, "Well, not as ridiculous as someone painting a watercolor in the rain." Turns out it was Refrigerator Man himself! We all got a good laugh and funny memory out of that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, the red house in the background was owned by Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Join us next September for more stories and laughs like this one!</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-30039473688527745522019-09-15T01:40:00.002-05:002019-09-15T01:40:45.930-05:00Breaking Loose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQy8sCRXxUI/XX3cL7qmWnI/AAAAAAAADXg/TJv5xf1DzUMROOYUo_RR7C2jhpDJK4LzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1600" height="287" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQy8sCRXxUI/XX3cL7qmWnI/AAAAAAAADXg/TJv5xf1DzUMROOYUo_RR7C2jhpDJK4LzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_7366.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">After demonstrating my fairly conventional style to my class, I felt the need to break out of that approach and paint a subject from memory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Three days before there had been a glorious sunset over the Harbor. So while my students were painting, I decided to paint a quick rendition of that scene.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">First, I pre-wet the sky. The orange came first, and was very quickly followed by the purple clouds that set off the orange.Then I pre-wet the water and dashed in some of the same colors. Then I painted the island, the house and the trees. Bingo! Finished in half an hour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some times it feels good to break free of your typical style.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Speed can sometimes convey energy, so I like to just let the colors fly!</span><br />
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<br />Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-46103159743380431792019-09-14T12:19:00.001-05:002019-09-15T01:12:39.430-05:00Entering the Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hendrick's Head Beach</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are several ways that the viewer enters the painting space. First, a pure color that stands out. In this case, the lighthouse roof is red and is not repeated, so it grabs attention. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Second is value contrast. The trees on the far shoreline are dark near the lighthouse's white. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Third, pointers help the eye travel towards the lighthouse. The wall curves around the foreground and mid-ground and ends up pointing at the lighthouse. The clouds also seem to point down at the lighthouse. And obviously, again, the treeline slopes down to the lighthouse. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I also try to keep the viewer's eyes away from corners at first, so I try to find ways to eliminate light shapes there. The foreground shadow was put there for that purpose.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This was Day 1 of my 2019 Watercolor Workshop in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. More to come!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-82409859686795962232019-09-02T15:06:00.001-05:002019-09-02T15:06:29.079-05:00The Power of White Shapes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">White is an eye-grabber. Planning where and why to leave the white of the paper is essential in directing the viewer to the important part of your painting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The size and shape of the white area should be planned out before you begin painting. In this painting of Hendrick's Head lighthouse, the white area is small and interlocks with the midtone and dark areas. The white of the lighthouse and the keeper's house leaks into the white area of the bay behind it to help form an interesting, uninterrupted white shape. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The beach foreground is a midtone which is dark enough to contrast with the white shape. The dark rocks in the foreground also help in the transition from dark to midtone to light. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Scattered whites, dragged sparkles and isolated small whites are not shapes. Be careful not to fall in love with these saved whites. Too many of these popcorn whites only serve to confuse the viewer's eye and detract from the more important areas of more defined white shapes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Value sketches will help resolve the question of where to place the whites in your composition. They will also help you avoid popcorn whites.</span></div>
Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-13861925493891131852019-08-29T01:47:00.001-05:002019-08-29T01:47:47.343-05:00Commissions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Gj2f4lLkYE/XWd0lI-c-uI/AAAAAAAADW8/YG-Dkf9ZvkMggQszWAb3eaN1HWlG-y5lgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_7333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Gj2f4lLkYE/XWd0lI-c-uI/AAAAAAAADW8/YG-Dkf9ZvkMggQszWAb3eaN1HWlG-y5lgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_7333.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm happy and flattered when someone requests that I paint a certain scene. They've seen my paintings and like my style, but the problem is usually they have a pre-conceived idea of what the painting will look like and what elements will be included.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Boat commissions are the worst. Not being a sailor myself, at first I would omit certain gadgets and do-dads that were very important to the owner. Eventually I learned quite a bit about the gear on a working vessel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also don't do portraits. As John Singer Sargent said, "A portrait is something where there's always something wrong with the nose."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">But a couple of days ago, I had a request to paint a subject I am very familiar with. Grimes Cove at the beginning of Ocean Point is a favorite with local artists. Yesterday I did a half sheet of the cove, emailed the image to the client, and she was most pleased! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Things are beginning to slow down here in Maine. Kids are back in school, so the families are gone. The light has shifted, and there are plenty of parking spots downtown. I love September in Maine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't forget; I still have openings in my workshop September 9th - 13th. Contact me at</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">caroljessen@yahoo.com </span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-66195494096786355792019-08-22T23:48:00.001-05:002019-08-22T23:48:18.475-05:00"Do You Work From Photographs?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HRpzZpNUp3w/XV9vVj6BTPI/AAAAAAAADWo/yOuy1M9eQU0dBMDK9dxRnc3tsSt4Tq16wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_7323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1600" height="219" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HRpzZpNUp3w/XV9vVj6BTPI/AAAAAAAADWo/yOuy1M9eQU0dBMDK9dxRnc3tsSt4Tq16wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_7323.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Cuckold's Light</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, sort of. But when I do, there's always an intermediate step: the value sketch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's the way I work out two important things: the design and the values. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's an example. This view of Cuckold's Lighthouse which is located on a ledge off shore can only be seen by boat. Since I can't set up my easel on board a boat, I took a photo. Today I used the photo to make the sketch, and then painted it this afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The value sketch provides another important advantage. I'm not a slave to color. I feel free to modify or invent color to come in aid of the painting. Gray rocks become a warm area to contrast with the sky and water. I also added the sailboat for balance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Try the intermediate step when working from photos, and then paint from the sketch!</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-33574936822360653242019-08-19T20:35:00.000-05:002019-08-19T20:35:11.970-05:00A Second Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbcvpkbDsf0/XVtNm-bfuCI/AAAAAAAADWU/_2X1NQAOktUn0P1djt5kxgiV3e3SJVjogCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_7313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbcvpkbDsf0/XVtNm-bfuCI/AAAAAAAADWU/_2X1NQAOktUn0P1djt5kxgiV3e3SJVjogCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_7313.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYzO-UCixuU/XVtN_etXz8I/AAAAAAAADWc/3pRv2A-WJT40mQ4qfNHe_OxEqprdjRiSQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_7319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1600" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYzO-UCixuU/XVtN_etXz8I/AAAAAAAADWc/3pRv2A-WJT40mQ4qfNHe_OxEqprdjRiSQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_7319.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I used to be able to paint two paintings in one day easily, but, alas, I'm slowing down these days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, not wanting to waste the day, I painted two paintings at the Artists on the Lawn event at my friend Jan Kilburn's annual event on Saturday. There was a tractor across the road, and since Jan and her neighbor are building a new chicken coop on their adjoining properties, I decided it would be appropriate to throw in some chickens to the scene.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I decided to switch to my flat brushes again and the style that I loved last summer. Two versions of the same subject: one traditional, and the next, a little more colorful and free style.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Try to re-invent a scene with a different technique. More colorful and looser.</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-80687323983821013812019-08-18T08:58:00.000-05:002019-09-22T00:54:18.188-05:00Look Up!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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"The Weathervane"</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've already discussed looking down for subject matter this summer. Now I want to talk about looking up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday was the annual Artists on the Lawn event at my friend Jan Kilburn's house/studio/garden. While other artists were looking at the very beautiful flowers at eye level in Jan's gardens, I looked up at the roof of her house and saw this weathervane.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Choosing a subject because of its worm's eye view has several built in advantages. First is that your perspective provides a chance to utilize obliques (diagonals) to create a bit more tension. Second, the focus narrows a bit because there is not as much to see. Third, architectural features are not as frequent as the ubiquitous flower painting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While I was painting this, one of the other artists came by and admitted that she probably would have painted the doorway of the house, the flowers, the flower pots on the steps, and the trellis next to it. I see this as a major drawback of most student artists. The perceived need is to include everything that is in the scene while eliminating the focus on one specific thing. If your title would be "The flowers, the flower pots, the doorway, the window, the steps and the trellis next to the doorway", you've probably included too much. Titling your painting ahead of time focuses your attention on what attracted you to the subject in the first place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bottom line: Look up, look down. Change your perspective in more ways than one!</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-88785483760911397062019-08-16T18:51:00.000-05:002019-08-16T18:51:01.663-05:00Seasonal Flowers<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Each year I paint daisies in June, Queen Anne's Lace in August and Rugosa Roses and Rose Hips in September. Things are a bit early this year, so here are the rose hips at Ocean Point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Red and green are not only Christmas colors; they are also complementary colors. The red of the fruit stands out because of the green, but I made sure to vary the greens, both in color and value.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I painted the red fruit first and then surrounded them with the greens. </span><br />
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<br />Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-46967396521473078242019-08-09T10:31:00.001-05:002019-08-09T10:31:46.629-05:00Influences<div>
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Water Lilies at Lobster Cove</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes a painter will "own" a subject. Every time I paint a sailboat, I am coming up against the work of Winslow Homer. And yesterday I decided to paint the water lilies at the end of Lobster Cove which put me in competition with Claude Monet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The solution is to know your style and your own procedure so that the result will be consistent with your own style and technique. First of all, I used my own medium. Monet painted his water lilies in oil; I used my medium of choice: watercolor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, the use of watercolor makes possible the wet-in-wet charging of colors and blending of colors at the edges of shapes in a way that isn't as easy with oils.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I painted around the blooms of the lilies and then painted in the pink blossoms. To get that pink, I used a bit of Chinese white mixed with alizarin. The pink contrasts nicely with the complementary color of green. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The dark reflections also helped focus attention on the lighter blooms. I had to paint fast so as to avoid hard edges and oozles. Pre-wetting the area helped keep the area fresh so I could freely dash in the dark tones. I also kept the number of lilies to a minimum to allow the dark shapes of the reflections to stand out. For that reason also, I confined the blooms to the edge of the dark shape and mostly to the foreground. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In conclusion, You can take inspiration from the subject matter of artists who came before you. Just make sure you are true to your own vision of that subject.</span></div>
Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-7069194016495647312019-08-05T10:24:00.000-05:002019-08-06T09:13:51.822-05:00The Power of Warm Hues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />M</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">y choice of blues has altered slightly this summer. I'm leaning towards the cooler blues: thalo, manganese, blue turquoise. But what has also become clearer to me is that blue's complement, orange, can also intensify the blues, and vice versa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In this painting of one of my favorite lobster boats in the Harbor, I looked a long time at the traps at the stern of the boat. The longer I looked, the more I noticed how the brown traps had a bit of orange light shining through. After putting down the sky, the warmer clouds and the underpainting for the water, I immediately went to that area of orange. I charged in a bit of greenish hue to break up the orange square and the result seemed to glow. Inside the cabin there were also undertones of a duller orange. Surrounded by blues, the orange areas took on an added aura of importance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The other reason I painted the boat was because of all the textures protruding against the sky. Lines and little shapes help describe the equipment on board a working lobster boat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, there was the decision, as always, to eliminate unnecessary elements in the background. There were approximately 50 boats out in the harbor plus the shoreline and all the flotsam and jetsam on the dock. I added one boat in the background for balance, and then the barrel on the dock for the same reason. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still, I'll bet your eye goes right to the rear of the boat and that glowing orange. Grouping your warmer colors and surrounding them with cooler colors will surely help guide your viewer's eye where you want it to go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As always, please share my blogsite with your artist friends and invite them to become a follower.</span>Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899847818215126791.post-27720039521988086092019-08-03T18:43:00.000-05:002019-08-03T18:43:01.214-05:00Seasonal Subjects<div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6B57sPnDM1I/XUYbz1orHII/AAAAAAAADVQ/DLy-9TvbJWUH9xxKERVoon3qmgwy2IctgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_7262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6B57sPnDM1I/XUYbz1orHII/AAAAAAAADVQ/DLy-9TvbJWUH9xxKERVoon3qmgwy2IctgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_7262.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's blueberry picking time in Maine! I think the smaller, thinner-skinned blueberries here in Maine are juicier and tastier than the larger blueberries in Michigan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are two ways to pick blueberries. Bush blueberries can be picked by hand. Ground blueberries are harvested by raking them in back-breaking fashion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This scene is just outside Bucksport, Maine. Painting to follow!</span></div>
Carol Jessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08504516774302038172noreply@blogger.com0