The Painting of "Red Rocks 6"
/The Painting of “Red Rocks 6”
I’ve shared in previous posts my love of the Desert Southwest and the scenery it holds. I couldn’t live there for many reasons, chief among them the heat. However, I do love to visit and experience this beautiful part of the US. Like many other artists I am inspired by the colors and feeling of this beautiful area.
For this painting I am painting on a half-sheet (11x30) of Fabriano Artistico 300lb cold press watercolor paper covered with a thick coating of gesso. I enjoy this linear format for abstract landscapes, particularly those of the desert. There is no attempt here to copy a certain view or a certain place, but rather to convey my impressions of “a place” in my own way.
I am using an analogous color combination of red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange and yellow. The colors I am using are the following (Golden Heavy Body Acrylics):
Titan Buff
Diarylide Yellow
Yellow Ochre
Naples Yellow Hue
Pyrrole Orange
Cadmium Red Medium Hue
Medium Magenta
Quinacridone Magenta
Burnt Sienna
Dioxazine Purple
Titanium White
I also used several colors of Marabu Art Crayons - sorry I don’t remember the colors :)
I begin by measuring (with a brush handle) and striking a horizon line so that I have a fairly straight line to use for the composition. I find if I don’t do this my landscapes tend to “tilt” one direction or another. This painting is an exercise in shape making, so I begin by putting in reddish shapes randomly choosing a variety of reds and oranges from the palette. I then lay in a bit of light value yellow for my center of interest area.
Once that work is complete, the remainder of the painting is simply filling out the sheet with middle value. Most of the middle value is a mixture of various yellows, Titan Buff and Titanium White. I scrape into the paint to add some linear marks and finally add the art crayon once the surface is dry enough to accept it.
All in all a very fun exercise and one which yielded, at east for me, a pleasing result that expresses my love of the red rocks of the Desert Southwest.
If you'd like to learn about abstract painting and making your own authentic work, then please join me for a painting workshop: (You can view a list of workshops HERE)
May 14-15, 2021 Art Alliance of Greensboro, Greensboro, NC. Contact Liz Busch for more information: email: artalliancegso@gmail.com.
May 25, 2021 Interactive (Zoom) Mini-Workshop: Bigger, faster, Fresher, Looser Abstract Painting, 6 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
May 27, 2021 Interactive (Zoom) Mini-Workshop: Abstracting the Landscape, 6 hrs. Click Here for Registration and Information.
June 9-11, 2021 David M. Kessler Fine Art Studio, Winston-Salem, NC. This is a Studio Workshop in Abstract Painting. Click Here for Information and Registration.
August 4-6, 2021 David M. Kessler Fine Art Studio, Winston-Salem, NC. This is a Studio Workshop in Abstract Painting. Click Here for Information and Registration.
August 22-26, 2021 “Abstracting the Landscape”, Glastonbury, CT. Click Here for Registration and Information.
As always, thanks for your support!
David
NEW! Interactive (Zoom) Mini Workshops
I have just added 6 new Interactive Mini Workshops (on the Zoom platform) to my website. Most are 3 to 6 hours long and are a great opportunity for learning a lot in a short amount of time. You’ll be online and onscreen with me as I instruct, demonstrate, paint, and critique your work.
Simple Color System Colorwheel
If you have seen my videos on YouTube or taken one of my workshops, you have seen me use my Simple Color System Colorwheel. My Simple Color System is easy to use and assures that the color in your paintings will be harmonious. Proudly made in North Carolina.
You can purchase the Colorwheel HERE.
ALL ABOUT COLOR is a great online course that will show you a straightforward, no nonsense, clear and easily understandable approach to using harmonious color in your paintings. Now On Sale for $50 Off!
Abstract Painting Academy is an online workshop experience specifically designed to teach you how to paint Abstract Paintings (like only you can!), Loosen Up your painting style, and use Design Fundamentals to give your paintings Dynamic Visual Impact. You get David’s personal attention and feedback on all of your work during the course. Now On Sale for $100 Off!
Click Here to Find Out More
The Painting Insider (formerly Abstract Painting Insider) now has a new format and is not abstract painting specific. Weekly lessons provide an abundance of information to painters at any level. I have poured information about everything I have learned about painting over the last 30 years into one course!