Crabtree Falls Trail II

 

Crabtree Falls Trail II

12" x 16" oil on Belgian Linen

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I really like this painting but, as usual, the iPhone camera just doesn't do it justice. If you open the photo and zoom in you can really see what's going on - many layers. 

Crabtree Falls

 

Crabtree Falls

8" x 10" oil on board

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Every now and then a painting feels like a step forward. Although, sometimes I say that and a month later I can't stand to look at it. 

I don't think that will happen with this one, though. I rarely say this, but I'm happy with almost everything about this painting.

Composition, light, color...it's what I've been striving for. The warm foreground, cool middle, sun shining through the trees...I can feel it, and passing that feeling along has become my goal when painting. 

A couple of things that might have helped this one out. First, the kids were staying at their grandparent's, so it was quiet, and I wasn't rushed. Second, I painted this in two sittings, which I rarely do. It may have even benefitted from a third sitting because I started rushing to finish in time for a dinner reservation, and I got pretty tired by the end.  I love this palette, too. The entire painting is three colors, Venetian Red, yellow, and blue-black. Harmony is created when everything is mixed from the same three colors.

This was a good year painting-wise. There were times when I was frustrated by having to squeeze in paintings and finish them in hour or even half an hour with no corrections, etc. But I realize now that it was good practice for moments like this when I'm able to take my time. My goal for the new year is to have a bigger painting going that I work on in pieces over time. I also want to find some go-to outdoor locations, preferably where there aren't a lot of people. 

FYI, this location is just below Crab Tree Falls down in Nelson County, VA.  

Crabtree Falls Trail

Crabtree Falls Trail
8" x 10" oil on board


My wife and I hiked Crabtree Falls trail the final morning of our wedding anniversary weekend in the mountains south of Charlottesville. It's a beautiful hike and it's popular, especially in October, so you have to get there early to avoid the crowds.

I went with manganese violet, viridian green, and yellow for this one. The sun was just coming up over the ridge in front of us, and I tried to capture the differences in color temperature from foreground to background and left to right.