The Studio

There is a group of plein air painters in the Northern Shenandoah Valley that meet each Thursday for painting and fellowship.  Since opening Delilah’s a year and a half ago I have found it difficult to make my schedule work to be available to go.  But yesterday was different.  I was off and in town – a rare occurrence and was excited to join the group again to paint.  Susan Bowen from Rockland was kind enough to welcome us to her beautiful farm to paint.  Here’s what I did:   This is my reference photo.  I always take one before I begin. 

And you can see from where I am set up that sometimes you have to work around things that are “in the way” to make the composition you desire.  In this case there were barns and even a tractor that I didn’t want to include.   But that’s not problem…you just leave them out.  

Several of you wrote comments last week when I posted a series of photos from a plein air session and asked if bugs bother me.  Well, see the fly in the middle of this photo?  You just wait for them to fly away….or shoo them if you are impatient.  I’m not a patient woman.  Shoo!   I started this painting with a loose sketch – basically where I want the tree and fences and mountains.   

Then I begin laying in the color….the sky, the  tree, the mountains, the meadow – working my way down the canvas.  I find this works best for me on this type of landscape.

Still working my way down until I completely cover the canvas and then I can go in and add a few highlights and details. 

 And then suddenly there is completed landscape painting.  It was such a joy being out in the Rockland area to paint.  It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect. 

“View from the Bowen Farm” is an oil on canvas panel measuring 9″x12″ and is framed and available for $275.   Just contact me at kwalker@doubledogdesigns.com