Circle Squared

Circle Squared
6" x 8" oil on panel
$100.00 + $10. s/h

This is another from my study of Edgar Payne's compositions:  circle.  In this one I'm using the tree trunks and the lines of the ground to create the circle.  I'm bringing you into the composition near the lower left, having your eye come across the diagonal of the ground to the bottom of the aspen trunks on the bottom right, up the trunks, across the top of the mountain range and down the trunks in a kind of geometric circle.

Cross Shadows

Cross Shadows
6" x 8" oil on panel
$100.00 + $10. s/h

These aspen shadows are also influenced by Edgar Payne's structures of composition: cross or cruciform. 

L Shadows

L Shadows
6" x 8" oil on panel
$100.00 + $10. s/h

This is another aspen piece influenced by Edgar Payne's structures of composition: L (or in this case, reverse L with a little bit of elongation.)

Radial Lines

Radial Shadows
6" x 8" oil on panel
$100.00 + $10. s/h

SOLD

I've decided to take what we learned in Jill Carver's workshop one step further.  I'm continuing to paint aspen using Edgar Payne's design and subject matter groupings.  These aspen tree trunks are done using his "radial lines" composition.

Jill Carver Workshop Day 5

Near Lizard Head Pass
Oil  6" x 8"
$100.00 + $10. s/h

This is Jill Carver demoing.   The last day of Jill's workshop was spent in a big, open field surrounded by incredible peaks, great colors, and sheep.  Some of her main points from this day were:

-- When going from a small plein air piece to a large studio painting refer to your small study and a black and white photo for correct values.
--Keep the greatest contrast of color and value near the focal point.
--Keep the hardest edges near to the focal point and soften edges far away from it.
--There are warm and cool tones within both light and shadow.
--Don't over exaggerate the strong fall colors.
--When starting your piece make it a sunny or a cloudy painting, then stick w/ that.  Don't change the light as the clouds and light change (as it did all day for us).

It was a great workshop.  Jill is not only a good artist and teacher, but a down to earth person, w/ a great sense of humor who is fun to be with for a week.  We were very limited to our dinner and lodge choice in the small town of Rico.  So, we also all spent every evening eating together and all stayed at the same lodge.  But, this allowed for more camaraderie, sharing, getting to know Jill, the other students, and the spouses who came along.  I learned a lot, made new friends and spent a week in the Colorado out doors.

An absolutely beautiful location for a fall plein air workshop.

Jill Carver Workshop Day 4

Side Streets of Rico
6" x 8" oil
$100.00 + $10. s/h

The 4th day of Jill Carver's workshop was spent painting old buildings on the back streets of Rico.  Rico, Colorado has a population of 250, so there aren't really many side and back streets!  Like many old western towns, Rico had a much larger population in the mining days.  Many of the buildings are old mining structures, or from that era.
Then shed on the right has seen better days and parts of it are falling over.  The challenge here was do I fix it a little or not?!  I am aware that the windows are tilted, but, they were that way!

Some of Jill's points from this day:
--Use your sketchbook to try out different compositional ideas.
--From your thumbnail sketch draw your concept on the canvas, work only from your thumbnail at this point, you have already processed what is necessary information and what isn't.
--Stick to simple shapes and simple masses.  Make sure that you convey your original concept.
--Try to shoot for 3 or 4 main masses, no more than 5.
--Keep the masses strong, use large brushes to block in the main shapes.

Jill Carver Workshop Day 3

Aspen Mass
6" x 8" oil on board
$100.00 + $10.00 s/h

The third day of Jill Carver's workshop was spent studying composition and design.  We reviewed points made by both Carlson and Payne.   We spent a good part of the day in an aspen grove.  Each student was given a card with one of Edgar Payne's outdoor painting composition guides.  This was a great way to approach the days piece.  It was much easier to walk around and look for a "grouped mass" (which is what the above piece is) than to just walk around trying to find a great painting.

Here's Jill doing a demo in the aspen grove.  

Some of her points from this day were:

--be aware of why you want to paint something; what drew you to that scene or object.

--before you start painting, walk around a little more to see what else is there.

--don't paint a post card.  Emphasize a point, go close-up

Jill Carver Workshop Day 2

Cottonwoods Near Rico
8" x 10" oil on canvas on board

I am in Rico, Colorado taking a 5 day plein air workshop from Jill Carver.  The first day of class we did value studies, which I may post at  a later date.  Today, we painted near town in a beautiful spot surrounded by Cottonwood trees.  Our palette today consisted only of Ultramarine Blue, Cad Red Light, Cad Yellow Light and White.  My personal palette is a bit more extensive than that so this was a great challenge. 

Here is Jill demonstrating in the Cottonwood grove.  Before heading outside we met in the old Courthouse to review color theory.  Some of her points:
--Look for color harmony throughout the painting.
--Be aware of your main motif and adjust the color palette to support it.
--Boost some colors and subdue others.
--A warm against a cool and a cool against a warm creates a "pop" in a painting.

100 Garden & Floral Oil Paintings, Original Artwork by Pam Holnback, 49/100

Sand Shovel

8" x 8" oil on cradled panel

$195.00 + $10. s/h

I saw this shovel when out painting with my plein air group.  It was an overcast day and there was no strong dark and light on the sand or shovel, but I loved the rust.  This was a good reminder to stick with the values, and the rest would come.

100 Garden & Floral Oil Paintings, Original Artwork by Pam Holnback, 48/100

Garden Shed
8" x 10" oil on panel
$195.00 + $10. s/h

Yesterday my plein air group painted at a new location, a house and garden new to us, anyway.  The house is at least 100 years old, and the house, garden and all the sheds and greenhouse were so well maintained.  I was drawn to the shadows and light on the shed wall.

Afternoon Skies

Afternoon Skies
9" x 12" oil on panel
$195.00 + $10. s/h

So many of my recent sky pieces have been from sunrises.  This is a previous piece from a Colorado afternoon.

100 Garden & Floral Oil Paintings, Original Artwork by Pam Holnback, 47/100

Eat Your Vegetables
6" x 8" oil on panel
$100.00 + $10. s/h

I admit it, I am not growing broccoli in my garden but, someone is!  I tried it one summer and it just didn't do well.  Maybe it's the altitude.  Anyway, we had this for dinner the other night, so I had to paint it quickly.  It's the first time I've painted broccoli and there's a lot of texture and depth!

Another Cloudy Sunrise

Another Cloudy Sunrise
5" x 7" oil on board
SOLD

I guess weather patterns stay the same for several days.  We had another cloudy sunrise.  I'm really enjoying the different sky colors from our typical bold, warmish sunrises.

This Thursday evening I'm participating in the 3rd Thursday Art Walk in Monument, Colorado, about 30 minutes north of here.  I'll be displaying my work in Bella Casa.  Hope those of you who live nearby can make it!

Another Great Sunrise

Another Great Sunrise
5" x 7" oil on board
$100.00 + $10. s/h

I'm back to sunrises and very early mornings.  I couldn't believe this!  In a state that has 320 sunny days each year, my planned early morning was overcast and cloudy.   And while that didn't allow for incredible warm colors, it created a great sunrise none the less.

This Thursday evening I'm participating in the 3rd Thursday Art Walk in Monument, Colorado, about 30 minutes north of here.  I'll be displaying my work in Bella Casa.  Hope those of you who live nearby can make it!

Afternoon Glow

Afternoon glow
8" x 10" oil on board
$195.00 + $10. s/h

SOLD

I'm working on a series of larger fishing related pieces from Eleven Mile Reservoir, Eleven Mile Canyon, and Spinney Reservoir.  These locations are all within about an hour of us and we have been there hundreds and hundreds of times over the years.  I'm posting some previous pieces from these areas.

My plein air group, Garden Artists, is having our Fall Show on Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at Summerland Gardens, 124 East Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, 80906.  There is an Opening Friday evening, September 10 for those of us who show in their Gallery.  Please stop by if you are in the area.

A Great Afternoon

A Great Afternoon
8" x 10" oil on board
$195.00 + $10. s/h

I'm working on a series of larger fishing related pieces from Eleven Mile Reservoir, Eleven Mile Canyon, and Spinney Reservoir.  These locations are all within about an hour of us and we have been there hundreds and hundreds of times over the years.  I'm posting some previous pieces from these areas.

My plein air group, Garden Artists, is having our Fall Show on Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at Summerland Gardens, 124 East Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, 80906.  There is an Opening Friday evening, September 10 for those of us who show in their Gallery.  Please stop by if you are in the area.

100 Garden & Floral Oil Paintings, Original Artwork by Pam Holnback, 46/100

Enjoy the View
7" x 9" oil on board
$100.00 + $10. s/h

Recently my plein air group painted at a home just south of town.  The yard, and the deck where I was painting,  had the most incredible views of southern Colorado.  You could see the mountain range miles away.  This chair was just asking for a viewer.

The aspen trees are in full fall color in late September.  So, I can imagine that this couple enjoys their deck! This piece is being submitted to Artists Helping Artists Blog September Challenge.

My plein air group, Garden Artists, is having our Fall Show on Saturday, September 11 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at Summerland Gardens 124 East Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, 80906.  If you're in the area, stop by.

Eleven Mile Afternoon

Eleven Mile Afternoon
16" x 20" oil on stretched canvas
$495.00 + $20. s/h

This is from a recent afternoon fishing with my husband at Eleven Mile Reservoir.  Sometimes I stay on shore and paint and sometimes I go out in the boat.  This afternoon I was so glad to be on the water.  The reflections were incredible!

My plein air group, Garden Artists, is having our Fall Show Saturday, September 11 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at Summerland Gardens in Colorado Springs.  There is an Opening Friday evening for those of us who show in the Garden Gallery.  Stop by if you are in the area.

100 Garden & Floral Oil Paintings, Original Artwork by Pam Holnback, 45/100

Corn on the Cob
6" x 8" oil on board
$100.00 + $10. s/h

These ears of corn are really fun.  If I wasn't doing a personal challenge, I might not have tried to paint them.

I had a question in my comments about the blue that I used for the recent blueberry paintings.  I mixed cobalt and ultramarine blues, grayed that mixture in varying amounts with cad red light, and added white.

100 Garden & Floral Oil Paintings, Original Artwork by Pam Holnback, 44/100

Sweet Corn
6" x 8" oil on board
$100.00 + $10. s/h

Right now the sweet corn in Colorado is incredible!  Corn is one of my favorite vegetables.  We eat is as our main course and side dish.  There's almost nothing else on the plate!  There's no procrastinating this painting...I've got to paint it before we eat!