daily painting practice- North Woods painting in progress

Here's a new work in progress from our trip to the North Woods.
First, I did a painting on site in about 20 minutes. It simply is done to help me capture the light and first impressions so when I get back to the studio I can remember what attracted me to the subject. I also took plenty of photos for reference.

Of course when I got home I was ready to jump right to it but my first attempt didn't get too far.

Using a canvas with a rejected painting on it (probably an omen) I started the underpainting. I thought the square format would work well... but after I got this far I rejected it. The swing was too crowded and the layout left little room for the viewer to look deep back into the woods.

So I scrapped it and started again.


Here's the new composition. I like how the composition gives you space to walk back into the woods with your eyes.
I remembered the warm glow of the light in the pine forest so I started with a very warm underpainting.
Working from the top left to right, I have to keep talking to myself..."keep the colors muted and the paint thin"
I think I kept the darks thin enough..... we'll see how I did as the painting develops

Click on the image to enlarge the painting

North Woods Painting in Progress
18"x24"
oil on masonite

Here's where I am at today. I really like the light in the center of the painting. I have a long way to go but so far so good.

Daily Painting Practice -Intermission

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Intermission
original by Peter Yesis
8"x10"
oil on masonite
(Click Here to Bid on EBay)

Sorry about the shortage of posts. I have been painting though, just not blogging. This painting is a version of a composition I have been thinking of redoing on a larger canvas. I wanted to test the color and play with the wood too see if I could get a good texture. I am pleased with both so I will put this on my list.

Daily Painting Practice - Walk in the North Woods

Back from the show in Texas and vacation in the North Woods of Wisconsin. The show was fun. My piece, Cowboy Dave, even won an award of excellence. I flew down to Texas, went to the show, had dinner with the American Plains Artists and, the next morning, flew back to Omaha. I quickly got changed and drove to Northern Wisconsin with my wife/travel companion. The long drive was sooooo worth it. We had the best vacation..... I even tried painting a bit.
Do I look like a painter on vacation or what? I borrowed the shoes.
I don't think I could run out of places to paint up here. The light was truly beautiful, and there are so many lakes and trails that I could spend the rest of my painting days hiking and painting without getting bored. This is my assessment after staying up there for only a week.
I must confess that my reputation as the world's worst fisherman was on the line. I couldn't paint him because he was too small to keep.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Walk in the North Woods
original by Peter Yesis
8"x10"
oil on masonite

This is my gift to our friends who invited us up to share their piece of paradise. This is them, walking and talking on one of the many hikes we took through the North Woods. Carole and Peter, thanks for a wonderful time, and look for your package in the mail.