Two Whimsical Barns

 

Ready to Party   12x12   acrylic

High Jumper  12x12  acrylic 

Barn 201 Going Out 202 Shop Talk

 

 

Barn 201  Going Out   22x30   watercolor graphite

Weather Vane

Weather Vane      Watercolor 20x27

Another watercolor of barnyard. This one has gentler feel than the blue one shown previously. I think it is pleasant but not outstanding. What do you think?

Sun’s Up Sky’s Bright

Sun’s Up Sky’s Bright   Watercolor 20x27

A barn painted in Watercolor: After struggling and experimenting with acrylic during 2012, it is a joy to get back to my old friend-watercolor. I was not sure there were any more barns in me. Glad to know I found this one. Because it has been a while since I did watercolor, I choose a familiar topic to refresh my skills, with good results I think - and my sister thinks so too. It is freshly painted, with good value contrast, colors that bounce off each other and a bit of texture to entertain. The sky came about because I was looking at some Vincent Van Gogh works-specifically his skies above the wheat fields… light hearted, fun skies…………………

Barnyard Philosopher

Barnyard Philosopher  acrylic 16x20x1½

The struggle to learn this new medium continues for me. This is an attempt to do a ‘realistic’ subject in acrylic. I used transparent acrylics and like the effect…. has the similar feel as my watercolor barns of last year. However, I am still able to adjust and modify color, values and intensity in watercolor more easily. For me, it is much more difficult in acrylic. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with this one. ( At this point in time, you would not be able to convince me that “watercolors are harder to work with” )

Barn 124 The Committee and Barn 125 Ruby

Barn 124 The Committee  22x30    watercolor and pencil
The low intensity warm and cool grays of the barns cause the very high intensity of the cows, grass and sky to sing. I like it quite a bit. I have been studying the effect of intensity next to pure color, and reading again the notes form Skip Lawrence’s workshop which I took in the last century…think I am going to work on this intensity idea a bit more.

Barn 125 Ruby    22x30    watercolor and pencil

What to say! This is Ruby I thought the spots on the barn and circles in the sky were nicely repeated in the grass and doorways and Ruby’s roundness. She is fairly bold!

BARN 124 Up and AWAY 72x800 watercolor, acrylic and more.

This barn has been unfinished for about a year. I was unhappy with the whiteness of the lines. I am now experimenting with acrylics and decided to apply acrylic washes to modify the whites and edges. Now I think it is ok. What do you think?

Barn 123 RAIN RAIN GO AWAY

Barn 123 RAIN RAIN GO AWAY 22x30 watercolor, pencil, oil pastel

The motivation for this barn painting was a gift of a ceramic rooster found at a garage sale by a friend. I guess any excuse for putting paint in paper is better than cleaning house! I have had this painting almost finished for a few weeks. Then I added the kids playing the hay loft -waiting the the rain to go away. Van Gogh’s ‘Wheat Field with Cypress’ had some influence on those clouds-but I am sure he would be horrified at the implication. I finally decided that I like it.

Barn 122 Spring Chicken

Barn 122 Spring Chicken     22x30 watercolor, pencil, oil pastel

This barn painting is an attempt to create variations of color- no surprise here. I wanted to place a cooler, transparent, high intensity green next to a warner, more opaque, grayer green. The greens show gradation from yellow green to green to blue-green. And spice it with complements of red, hint of orange and lavender. Each color has a bright and dull sample and high and low value. Always a hint of more neutral gray is added in contrast to all the bright color.

Yes I like it and thanks Bev for the chicken.

Barn 121 Freckled Friends

Barn 121      Freckled Friends    watercolor   22X30

This is a more colorful version of Barn painting  120 Sun Spots. I really like the ‘freckled’ cow and chicken, and the foliage and a lot of stuff. However I am not at all sure that I like the white corners. Perhaps the paintings in which the white spaces and shapes are in the subject are more appealing to me than the white corners.


What do you think? Do you have a favorite?

Barn 120 Sun Spots

Barn 120    Sun Spots            22x30    Watercolor, pencil

This effort seems to have the lighting from the top. The color is a bit more muted or neutralized and white scattered around. I think it is “good enough” but not my favorite. What do you think?

Barn 119 MoooonShine

Barn 119       22x30  watercolor, pencil

After  the last effort "On the Hill"  I had a need to be a little more  free flowing. I do not yes have a name. Any suggestions for this barn painting ?

Barn 118 ON THE HILL

Barn 118   ON THE HILL   Watercolor   22x30

Another in the barn  painting series with more  coming

Barn 117 ALLIS

Barn 117 ALLIS              22x30         Watercolor, Pencil

What to say about this barn painting? Someone commented about the lack of any white. Yes there is no white, however I think the result is yummy warm. What think you?

Barn 116 FIDDLIE TWO 22x30 Watercolor, Gouache, Pencil

This painting is an effort toward a fresher work than Barn 114 which I posted earlier. I am not at all assured that in this reproduced image that the difference is noticeable. In the real, there is a difference. My goal is to produce works that not only have intentional, thoughtful compositions; some creativity; light hearted attitude; but also technical competence. An overworked watercolor is like stale bread. I am pleased with the wonderful mellow, warm colors.






 Barn 114      AND THE FIDDLE - see below

Barn 115 CITY COUSINS

Barn 115 CITY COUSINS watercolor /pencil 22x30

Another painting in Barn Series with variations on the same two major structures that a have been in the last 14 paintings. My motivation here was again color and a play between vertical/horizontal lines of the barns and diagonal light. The color choice was a response to a painting by Nancy Barch- the beautiful greens are in contrast to the very warm red and orange I frequently use. As is common for me lately – it is, hopefully, a more playful setting.  I like it

Barn 114 AND THE FIDDLE

Barn 114 AND THE FIDDLE 22x30  watercolor

This  barn painting obviously has to do with rectangles. The horizontal and vertical lines create a certain order and consequently peaceful. This is contrasted by the energetic warm reds and oranges with their complements. I like it quite a bit. The next one is nearly finished and very green.

BARN 113 COW DANCE

BARN 113   COW DANCE     22X30     Watercolor,  Gouache, Ink

 A more fun barn painting! We learn by using what we already know as a bridge over which we pass to the unknown (wrote A. W. Tozer). I have been painting  for years and I know composition: how to fill the page, repeat with variety; temperature dominance; use of pure and neutral color to emphasis and minimize. Here, however, I explore pattern: abstract circular pattern dancing across the paper- wanting freedom and uncontrolled takeover-yet needing to be limited for the sake of the whole. I think it worked.

Someone said the difference between pattern and texture is that pattern has larger piece that can be counted

Barn 008 Over the Moon 22x30 watercolor
Blue blue blue. Not a soulful, moody blue, rather an energetic blue. I have not wanted to do blue for a long time- years in fact. I have begun this challenge of variations on a theme - this theme being: barn (Thank you Myrna Wacknov for your inspiration.) So I felt it was time to do cobalt blue, and here it is. The direction of this and past couple paintings is color dominance. Color that has taken control and gives direction to the work. Throw in some pattern for decoration and whimsy for light-hearted and there you have it! Next one it line and wash.

Critique– February, March, April

You are invited to Ellen’s studio/Gallery/home.
What: Bring your art work for critique.
Watercolor, acrylic, oil, pastel and more.
Bring your friends too.
When: , Feb 16, March 23, April 20
Time: 9:10 to 11:12
Come any time stay as long as you wish, feel free to leave as you wish.
Where: Studio777
777 Losey Blvd N La Crosse WI 54601

Barn 009  What’cha doin?  22x30  watercolor
The goal here is line and wash. The plan was to not outline and to get some washes to flow from one shape to another. Some lines could have been wider for more variety. When I started with the line, it wanted to have more kinks that I had anticipated. I like it quite a bit. It feels warm and friendly to me.

Barn 112 Let's Play

 Barn 112 Let's Play   22x30  watercolor and ink

Composed with wash and line and play

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