Monday, June 29, 2009

Hillside Haven

"Hillside Haven"
© 2009 Nancy Laliberte
6" x 6" acrylic on panel

This view is across the road from the painting in yesterday's post. There were painting opportunities at every turn at this location and at all of the locations we went to during Ken DeWaard's plein air workshop. I would consider it more of a study of color and composition rather than a finished painting.That is what plein air is all about to me. Capturing color notes, working on composition and simplifying shapes, and then taking that knowledge and applying it to larger canvases.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Plein Air Painting

"Field from Cina Road"
© 2009 Nancy Laliberte
6" x 8" Acrylic on panel
Where has June gone?! Sorry to have not posted in a while, but I have been traveling, soccer momming and painting. In other words, I just haven't been home!

A couple of weeks ago I was in Ken DeWaard's plein air intensive workshop in Virocqua, WI. We were up before the sun with easels set up in the field ready to catch the first rays of the morning light. It was spectacular. Ken is an excellent instructor--check out his workshop schedule on his web site. We had terrific group of eight artists and everyone was a joy to be with. There was a lot of laughter, sharing of ideas and a lot of painting! Thanks Becky for letting me stay at your studio house! This is a piece I did around 9 am the first morning of the workshop. I really wanted to work on greens, simplifying shapes and capturing the light. Oh, and put in brush mileage.


Sunday, June 7, 2009

Painting, Posting & Plein Air

"Inside or Outside"
© 2009 Nancy Laliberte
7" x 5" acrylic on paper, archival mat 11" x 14", unframed
SOLD
I haven't posted much this past week as I was working on some freelance graphic design work (deadlines! deadlines!) and getting all of my gardening and landscaping completed before the rain and cold weather hit over the weekend. I think the daytime temps reached about 50 degrees yesterday and today. This is a painting I did before I got caught up in everything else. It has a light cad orange wash and then I quickly painted in shapes of color. I have trouble with my greens looking too bright, so I concentrated on making them have more yellow and blue undertones. I had some reference photos and I had also just purchased my geraniums (they're all planted now).

Monday I head to Viroqua, WI for a three day plein air painting workshop with Ken DeWaard. Can't wait! We will be starting at 6 am and wrapping up around 9 pm. I will post more on that when I return at the end of the week.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Echinacea purpurea

"Echinacea purpurea"
© 2009 Nancy Laliberte
6" x 6" acrylic on panel
nfs
I received this perennial for my garden from my folks. These flowers really attract butterflies while in bloom. I leave the dried plants alone over winter and the birds love to feast on the seeds.