Reaching Shadows

"Reaching Shadows"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
The sun had risen above the horizon as I walked into the woods that morning. It cast spidery shadows down the hillside where tobogganers would soon be making their own paths.  

I painted the sky and snow over a black canvas panel, then used my rubber-tipped "Colour Shaper" to sculpt the tree trunks and branches in the wet paint. This is my last post for this year. 2014 was a year of exploration, realization and clarity. Thank you for each part you contributed to.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Hoarfrost, Again

"Hoarfrost, Again"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
There had been snow, but most of it melted. Leafless trees dandled the sky with their finger-like sticks. Cornstalks stabbed the drifts in steadfast rows across the field. But the magic came during the night, when Lady Hoarfrost graced them with a visit. 


This was another experiment. You must know by now that I can't leave well enough alone, so here's how I messed up well enough.  I painted a band of dark across my panel, added to it a band of ochre and let them dry.  I painted white over the whole shebang, then added a sky.  I took my frequently-used signature signing tool, my colour shaper, and scraped trees into the dark band, and cornstalks into the ochre band.  I signed it below the tree line on the right and—called it a day!

Thanks for maundering through,
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Snow in the Valley

"Snow in the Valley"
6" x 6"
Oil on panel
This is a break in the tree line along the road I travel with some regularity and one of the places I photograph on a weekly basis.  The light hits it differently as the seasons change.  There's also enough distance to be able to catch some haze on occasion.

I was given a tool that intrigued me.  A Colour Shaper, I'm told.  It's a pointed rubber nib on a stick.  I painted the panel black.  Let it dry, then painted it white.  While the paint was wet, I drew on it hard enough to see the black underneath.  When it was dry, I glazed a bit of blue onto the top two thirds.  Isn't experimentation fun?  

This painting can be seen in my Gallery on Dailypaintworks.com.  It's also for sale through that web site.  

Thank you for visiting today. 
Carol 

The Goddess Hoarfrost

"Hoar Frost"
8" x 16"
Oil on wrapped canvas
This cornfield up in Bull Valley surrendered her edges and contrasts to The Goddess Hoarfrost.  The field and trees wore her flocking like a gossamer shawl, and waited for the sun.    
  
This was an exercise in texture and technique.  I had acquired a device called a Colour Shaper by Royal Sovereign, and wanted to use it for more than just scraping texture on a rock. It was more fun than I anticipated.

This painting is listed with, and for sale through Dailypaintworks.com

Thank you for visiting,
Carol