Zephyr Cove

Plein air oil on linen panel 11" by 14". Painted at Zephyr Cove in Nevada about 5 miles North of the casinos on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe. I was painting directly into the sun (contra jour) and the painting is a bit dark and low in contrast because of that; it's really hard to get your values right when your eyes have a lot of trouble seeing what is going onto your canvas because of the constant squinting when you look at the scene directly into the sun. Sometimes putting a large panel up behind your work, getting behind some trees or putting your umbrella up to block the sun helps; I didn't do any of these, so the painting turned out a little flat and cool. Note to self: Don't set up to paint directly into the sun without finding a way to block it out!!!

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Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on March 7, 2015 at 18:12: Thanks Janet. That was the intention, but I let the whole picture get a little too dark by not getting something to block the sun from my eyes when I would look at the scene. This happens when the sun is very low on the horizon in the morning and afternoon if you are painting directly into the sun. It is very hard to get you values correct because of the glare from the sun on every flat surface, particularly water.

Comment by Janet Buckton on March 7, 2015 at 15:04: I like the way your eye is pulled to the light at the 'back' of the picture and the hills.

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on March 5, 2015 at 20:59: Thanks Ann.

Comment by Ann Turner on March 5, 2015 at 17:59: I like the way you have handled the fence and foliage in the front with the warm peachy notes in the cool blue.