Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas Day
Its been a sunny and dry holiday season in this neck of the woods, though there was ice on the deck this morning. I feel like I'm hibernating... sleeping in late, eating some wonderful meals, and enjoying time with family. It is good to be home for a few days with everyone around. I had a few hours free today before heading over to my folks for dinner, so went through our back gate onto the hill behind our house. I came across the rear hindquarters of a deer, primarily bones and a bit of fur near the hooves. Coyotes? A lone turkey lurked furtively among the small oaks, keeping me in view as I wandered about. There was quite a bit of haze in the air today and I was attracted to the blown out light pouring over the crest of the trees on the hill, the polka dot sky holes, with minimal detail forming a back drop for the foreground foliage patterns. Highlights on branches, some backlighting, and the range of color and value between light and shadow were the basic ingredients to work with. The sun, though quite close to the trees, just slid to the right instead of dropping down behind them as I worked, so the foreground shrub and sapling stayed in relatively the same light for about 90 minutes. For the past few months I've been painting in and around a redwood forest not far from where I live, and have been working in the shade. My hands and feet get pretty cold after an hour or so. It was nice to get out and work in direct sunlight on one of the shortest days of the year.
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7 comments:
fingerless gloves do the trick for that if you can stand them. Beautiful light captured in this. I can't believe your "studies". :)
Beautiful work as usual Bill! I wish you a Merry Christmas and a great new year to look forward to!
Beautiful atmosphere. You captured that "winter warmth", and the glinting light. Wonderful.
Wonderful light in this one, especially on the horizon there. The sun has been wondrful here as well---its so much in the southern sky, with the air so crisp and clean and no storms to speak of!! I try to look at things like you might-----but ya know, I'm still me. Have a great New year, which I hope will be full of great things for your art!!!
@Julia: I need to work on details like fingerless gloves. It was actually a warm afternoon for this one, but I'm going to drag some gloves out with me next time. Happy New Year.
@Dalibor: Thanks Dalibor! Good to hear from you and Happy holidays as well.
@Jody: Thanks for your kind words. It was just that kind of day. When its over your back fence, there's not much excuse not to get out and paint it.
@Ida:You have to look through your own eyes anyways, so don't fret so much! I think you see, and feel, plenty already. Knowing one's own part of the world as an artist is a worthwhile endeavor. Happy holidays to you as well, and best wishes for the new year for all.
b.
Bill, that's really an amazing painting - just beautiful.
Your work blows me away with how you handle color and light. Do you teach pastel workshops? Please let me know. brutchin@mc.net....Pat
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