I took to the woods yesterday, wild and windy as it was. There is a new bypass road opened a month or so ago and as I drive it in the morning, I see all kinds of opportunity for paintings. By the water supply for Torbay, lines of trees are left standing, a wind and snow break for the bypass road and the little woods road that leads off into the forest, lake and beyond. These trees are the remains of thinned out woods, stark, ragged and deprived of sun until now when the landscape was opened up.
I took a number of photos and have some concepts for new paintings. I played around with some of them in Photoshop to see what I could come up with using various filters to produce effects that I may use in future paintings.
There is a thin layer of ice on the water and the sun would peep out from behind scudding clouds now and then allowing some reflections on the frozen lake between the trees. This image is one that I created digitally from one of the images I took. I liked the bluish tone, keeping that feeling of cold in the piece and altered it to a more turquoise colour. I think I still like the first colour the most, which do you prefer?
16 comments:
I like the first better as well...monochromatic in either case, so I'm a fan either way!
We haven't travelled the by-pass yet as it doesn't do us any good where we are situated. I now have to walk under the by-pass to continue the walk we used to do up by the pond....
Jeanette I think I like the first one best also. I've been trying to come up with words to tell you why, but I guess I'm not going to be able to other than it looks more real to me. An honest cold look. The other looks like it has been manipulated. Either way I really think your created digital image is really very well done.
I like the photos. Winter brings out such beauty!
Rae
Brenda, no I guess you have no need for the bypass, but I use it every day. Its not an exciting road, but there are little vignettes that have appeal for painting.
Nancy, yes the first is more natural looking I think. The turquoise looks artificial.
artbyrae, thanks. Winter has its appeal in the landscape. Everything is more exposed and you can examine it more closely.
#1 looks colder and truly winter-like. The road may not be interesting, but this shot creates a feeling and says "winter" - we can find something paint-worthy everywhere we go! No snow for us yet, but that's fine - last year at this time we had been dumped on! All the best in the new year!
Hi Jeanette,
Which do I prefer? Hawaii! You were WAY TOO SUCCESSFUL with these paintings. Seriously, I got chills with the first look and had to put a jacket on to finish viewing the post!
In my current mind set, all I can think of is sunshine and warmth and turquoise seas.
Brr-r-r. What I really wanted to say was HAPPY NEW YEAR! May 2012 be kind to you in every way.
Best Wishes,
Gary.
they both give off a very cold winter feeling, but i do think the top one works better with the duller colour
Every season has opportunity attached to it. Happy New Year Deb!
Gary..Hawaii..sounds like a plan to me!! I could happily paint turquoise water and sand instead of ice. When can I expect the airline ticket?? ;)
Have a fabulous new year with a wish of some live models for you to paint. Happy New Year!
Jennifer, yeah I think so too, the muted colour works better to give that feeling of cold. I hope your new year is so very good to you.
oh that first one just begs to be painted on a really big canvas!
Yes, I was thinking so too Vivien. A long rectangular canvas perhaps.
Beautiful photos! I envy you the snow since we've had only a light dusting so far.
Happy New Year, Jeanette,
I hate to interrupt your art career planning, but didn't want you to think I wasn't working on that ticket to Hawaii.
My favorite travel agent, my wife, Michele, will do some research and when she completes it, I'll be back with particulars.
Exciting, eh!
hau'oli makahiki hou!
Aloha,
Gary.
Lindsay, the snow is all gone again and the ice covered with water from rain. The weather's up and down this year, can't make up its mind.
Gary, hau'oli makahiki hou probably means I haven't got the chance of a snowball in hell of getting to Hawaii, right? :) Even with the wonderful Michele at the helm. Enjoy!
Hi Jeanette,
Yes...the plane ticket to Hawaii...I just need to win a small lottery jackpot and it'll be on the way to Flatrock! That would be the very best scenario--A confirmed seat on all three flights--maybe even First Class, depending on how big the jackpot was! I like to treat my friends right.
Michele took a look at the flights necessary if you used one of her "Buddy" passes. Those passes are discounted, but unfortunately, not free. Worst of all, there's no guarantee a seat would be available on each of the six flights to get you there and back. That, of course, means possibly getting stuck in one of the airports enroute, which would wipe out the savings from the "good deal" ticket.
You'd have to get to Halifax, pick up a U.S. Airways flight to Philadelphia, then another on to Phoenix and finally, on to Honolulu.
So, I'd recommend hanging in there until the lottery makes us all happy. On the plus side, I'm listening to AM 940 (Honolulu-all traditional Hawaiian music, 24-hours a day) streaming on our computer as I write this and the announcer just mentioned the waves on the famous North Shore of O'ahu will be between 25-30-feet high today.
Winter is the season for monster waves and maybe when we're there in February we'll drive up and take a look.
So, I guess the news could be worse, but those lottery winnings are only a ticket away! In the meantime, I heartily recommend you put seeing Hawaii on your "Bucket List" if it's not already there.
Have a great day.
Aloha,
Gary.
Hi Jeanette,
I just "caught up" reading your response to my "Please Stand By" comment.
By the way--the Hawaiian words preceding, "Aloha", mean "Happy New Year", but as you've probably already seen my Hawaiian Travel Update, "...a snowball's chance in hell", is not a wholly incorrect way to describe the chances, unfortunately.
Keep smiling, Jeanette, as it's about all we can do.
Sincerely,
Gary.
Gary, you know I was only teasing about the Hawaii trip don't you? Well, mostly. :) Thanks for indulging my fantasies Michele! A half dozen flights, a day's travel and probably a snowstorm somewhere along way sounds about right for a trip that far.
Its on the bucket list for sure. I know I should have grabbed that flight when I was in Vancouver in May and ran away to the tropics...
For now I shall have to live Hawaii vicariously through your descriptions of your impending trip.
However, our own little heat wave, complete with ocean waves, albeit cold ones, is going on with 7C today here on the Rock. Ahhhhh, who needs Hawaii huh? :))
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