Sunday, January 04, 2009

Daily painting practice- progress on Omaha street scene

Remember back in November I posted a few plein air photos of me working on color studies, outside in downtown Omaha? Go back a few posts you see it. Well, I thought I should update you on the progress of one of those paintings .
I worked this one from the back forward. I wanted to keep the memory of that morning light so that was the first thing I painted in.
click on the image to enlarge the painting

Needs a name -(Old Omaha?)
Painting in Progress

20"x16" oil on canvas
I forgot to take progress photos so this stage jumped a few painting sessions ahead. Now the fun begins! I will start adding details to the windows and the old brick. Vermeer painted brick like no one else. Here is his painting that inspired me to give it a try.
From the Rijksmuseum in Amersterdam. This is Vermeer's painting "The Little Street" in Delft.
Do you think this was plein air? I don't think so but I wonder how long it took him and how he painted it. If you could take a trip back in time to look over the shoulder of any artist as he or she painted , which painting would you choose? I would have loved to watch Vermeer paint this one.

6 comments:

René PleinAir said...

First of all the best wishes for 2009 Peter.
It's great fun to see your getting inspired by a Dutch
painter. Delft is such a lovely city, even now.
I been there last year for a few days and painted in the area
as well. When you ever have the opportunity you should visit it.

Here a nice spot to keep you going when the bricks are getting too much.

> Delft <

Good luck!

Michel McNinch said...

Hello! I was lucky enough to see this painting when it was in Washington DC years ago. The depth he achieved slayed me. I think he must have painted with tenderness and care.

Celeste Bergin said...

Peter..."Old Omaha" is a truly beautiful work! I love how it looks desolate and optimistic all at the same time..(a splendid metaphor for how life is!) Congratulations!

Mary J DuVal said...

I'm so glad you posted your progress - it's beginning to glow! Please continue as I will be very interested to see how you handle the bricks. One always hears "you can't paint every brick" but then, look at Vermeer's. I've never seen "The Little Street" - it is wonderful. I wish I could see it in person, closepup. I can't tell if Vermeer painted every brick :0) but it certainly looks as if he tried!

Anonymous said...

Oh- great question! I would like to look over Vincent van Gogh's shoulder, while he was painting in Arles. Thank you for sharing your progess. Happy New Year!

Tori Grant

http://www.onpainting.wordpress.com said...

That is a good sized plein air piece. Also I was looking at the drawing part with all the windows and wondering how much time you spent and what you drew with. The drawing looks complex enough to use up all the light getting it down.

It is looking great at this stage. Coming from a small town about 40 miles from Omaha, the warm brick brings back memories of that area.