tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640331618261060721.post2766973888262761945..comments2023-12-20T02:26:04.486-05:00Comments on Paintings and More by Sonya: Spring along the Animas River - pastel painting, 9x12" SOLDSonya Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01879889885162011649noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640331618261060721.post-55466729208316504682011-05-07T10:45:11.132-04:002011-05-07T10:45:11.132-04:00Thanks so much, Debbie!
It sounds like you'...Thanks so much, Debbie! <br /><br />It sounds like you're in a similar place as me re your work, and so I'm glad that I posted the links. I hope you find them as useful as I did/do. I hope to spend much more time outside painting this year, weather permitting, and even if the results are sometimes duds, I know it will be hugely valuable to my work overall.Sonya Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01879889885162011649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640331618261060721.post-37594009765148421632011-05-06T22:26:39.107-04:002011-05-06T22:26:39.107-04:00Sonya! LOVE the painting - really wonderful, reall...Sonya! LOVE the painting - really wonderful, really captures the scene. <br /><br />Your post comes at a perfect time for me, as I am struggling to get back to painting outside and trying to find its relationship to the type of studio painting I am doing now and where I want my work to go in general. Thanks for the resources - I am checking out the links.Debbie Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00267734938299378975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640331618261060721.post-29536723883849334532011-05-06T21:56:46.791-04:002011-05-06T21:56:46.791-04:00Thanks so much for that, Dan; coming from you, tha...Thanks so much for that, Dan; coming from you, that means a lot. I know exactly what you mean about saying "I wish I'd done that". <br /><br />And you're right about the "opinion" re plein air. I think it is great that there appears to be an increasing trend towards plein air work (like paint-out competitions, etc.), but I just don't want to see it supplant studio works as far as perceived value goes ;).Sonya Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01879889885162011649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640331618261060721.post-44480575152479073812011-05-06T20:44:00.628-04:002011-05-06T20:44:00.628-04:00This is one of those paintings where I say to myse...This is one of those paintings where I say to myself, I wish I had done that -- just beautiful.<br />As far as plein air "holier than thou's", it's just an opinion. Doesn't make it right, doesn't make it wrong. You should do what works best for you. <br />After all, what's the fun of making art if you can't break some rules -- might as well work at a desk and push paper!Daniel Lee "Dan" Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17096799807663983849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640331618261060721.post-12650414656826063232011-05-06T11:24:18.459-04:002011-05-06T11:24:18.459-04:00Thanks, Jala - I appreciate that! This painting r...Thanks, Jala - I appreciate that! This painting really represents the direction I want to go with my landscape work as far as degree of detail (minimal) goes. Painting on location really forces you to get with the program quickly, which keeps all the distracting detail out. <br /><br />I used a Richeson Handmade for that shale slope and the green of the river, and some of the MV T-storm grays for the sandstones. I can't live without them!Sonya Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01879889885162011649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640331618261060721.post-173046783008131792011-05-06T11:13:39.335-04:002011-05-06T11:13:39.335-04:00Hi Casey - the fact that the landscape masters wen...Hi Casey - the fact that the landscape masters went outside is definitely a reason the rest of us should follow suit. Then, I think of Degas, who painted many of his masterpieces from photos, and don't feel bad about using them.<br /><br />Thank you for the generous comments about this painting. As is often the case, I went out with no expectations of success, but it evolved into something I ended up being pleasantly surprised by. Funny you mention viewfinders...this was the first plein air painting where I used one - a 3:4 cut out of foamboard. It was most helpful.Sonya Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01879889885162011649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640331618261060721.post-4350881255512570062011-05-06T03:14:02.289-04:002011-05-06T03:14:02.289-04:00An excellent painting. Somehow it reminds me of a ...An excellent painting. Somehow it reminds me of a less-abstract Casey's! The abstraction in the foliage is great, and the values and colors of the grays are very satisfying.Jala Pfaffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01186623108399217523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640331618261060721.post-36229634903418418242011-05-05T23:11:01.462-04:002011-05-05T23:11:01.462-04:00One of the reasons this studio painter goes outsid...One of the reasons this studio painter goes outside is because the great masters did, especially artists like van Gogh and the current guy named Wolf Kahn.<br /><br />Sonya - I can't say enough good about this painting. It is just marvelous. The spring greens against the gray shale is a wonderful thing, and your composition is so good. I wondered if you eyeballed that composition, or do you sometimes use a viewfinder?Casey Klahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08020906666248399435noreply@blogger.com