Morning Sierra Glow

oil on textured panel 11" by 14" plein air. I painted this the day after the Frank Serrano workshop, just before driving home. I had checked this out the morning before after painting the alpenglow on the White Mountains the evening before. I got to the site about 6:10 AM, set up my easel and was painting by 6:20, laying in the foliage and the sky and the shadows that were starting to appear from the light appearing in the East. At about 6:40 AM the sky was red and betweein 6:45 and 7:00 the glow was on the mountains and I mixed my color from titanium white, naphthol red, cad yellow light and burnt sienna to lay in my lights on the peaks. I then cleaned up my shapes, put lights on the foliage and highlights on the peaks. This took about an hour. I had breakfast, showered, checked out of the motel and was on the road by 9:00 AM. Nice way to start a day and a good end to a great workshop.

11 members like this

View Full Size

Tags:

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of The Complete Artist to add comments!

Join The Complete Artist

Comment by Ningning Li on December 26, 2014 at 7:06: Staurt, You really encouraged me, I will think about go out again. I can tell the spirit of nature in your work. Merry Christmas. Li

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on December 26, 2014 at 3:19: Li, I have been painting outside for over 8 years now and go out once or twice a week. With practice, you get much, much better at it and learn how to paint in all different weather conditions, all different terrains and all different lighting conditions. So, I don't panic anymore; I just adjust to the situation. Merry Christmas, Stu

Comment by Ningning Li on December 26, 2014 at 2:58: I think that I understand what you mean about easy to panic and mess it up. You have to equip all your tools well and make quick decisions when you paint. I only paint outside twice. difficult to find a painter here to be with me. by myself is dangours. But I do draw a lot outside as it is easy, a paper pad and pencil is all. Anyway, I will try to paint outside again as you suggested, Stuart.

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on December 26, 2014 at 2:42: Another real learning process about quick studies when the light is changing rapidly. You have to have everything ready to go when the sun starts coming up and painting the mountains red. Fun, but easy to panic and mess it up. Thanks, Li!

Comment by Ningning Li on December 25, 2014 at 17:02: Very interesting and impressive!

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on October 14, 2014 at 20:49: Thanks Ann. The energy was boosted by a stop at Starbucks at 5:30 AM. I had to quickly mass in the foliage. Some times moving along more quickly than usual results in better brush work and less piddling around. I need to do more quick studies like this.

Comment by Ann Turner on October 14, 2014 at 18:33: The glow that you captured is amazing. The mountain is beautiful but I m also enjoying the energetic brush work in the foreground bushes they are dancing in celebration of the new day with its spectacular glowing start.

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on October 14, 2014 at 2:51: Thanks Silvana. It's amazing to see how fast the color comes and goes on the mountains. I wish I had had another tripod along to take a video of it with my camera.

Comment by Silvana M Albano on October 14, 2014 at 2:47: What a glow Stu!

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on October 13, 2014 at 18:01: Thanks Michael. Frank has announced a workshop in March in Lone Pine. I think I'll take it. Long drive that time of year, but hard to resist.