exhaustion

6"x6" oil

This is what I do when I'm worn out. A quick light sketch. Just got in from Madison Wisconsin...took the van to the garage... picked the van up... bad water pump....ordered frames... ate food finally....my palette has a ton of color mixed yet this piece looks very minimal. I'm preparing a big painting from the east view of the mountains around big sur. The mountains are classic California. They look like pillows to me. So inviting..............and I'm quite tired.

Los Laureles Lodge

48"x36" oil

Here is a large painting (for me). The outdoor shows are conducive to big paintings. I dug out an old figure painting to cover with some fresh paint. The subject is Los Laureles lodge in Carmel Valley. Our favorite place to stay in the valley. This is from studies during a stay there several years ago.

I knifed in the darks first. After most darks were in I had to establish sky. Painting over paintings is incredibly interesting for me. To try and establish values with this old painting screaming out makes me dig deep. To see a person vanish into a landscape is quite intriguing.

Carmel Valley

6"x12" oil/panel

Back from a good show on the Jersey Shore. Good sales and great art! It is great to meet so many art enthusiasts at these shows and engage in wonderful dialogue about art and the process of creating it with people from all over the country and world for that matter.

I did get back to doing a new painting from some California studies. I'm already beginning to feel a nice rhythm switching from knife to brush and back. I find by mixing my knife block in and then mixing some more of the same colors on the far side of my palette I can quickly apply block in then get to work with the brushes. This is encouraging and seems to make the best use of time. Granted these are studio pieces and things will change outdoors. I'm going to Cape Cod next week to paint with the 7 livelies group and will implement these new techniques and can't wait for the results. So here's the latest.

california coastline 2

8"x10" oil/panel



Here's another coastal scene. I love the strength of the rocky outcroppings. Again applied paint with the knife and pushed it with the brushes. I'm building towards big work. I might just mix directly on canvas and then use brushwork on the big plein air stuff.

9"x12" oil/panel

Had a bit of a breakthrough tonight. Tried applying all paint with the knife and then moving it with the brushes. I attempted this with the same subject as I did last post just a smaller canvas. Disaster! I've mentioned before if I do something once I rarely do it again. This proves monumental in painting, for me. In this case it was only subject matter but apparently that is enough. I wiped it down about 45 minutes in. I took a deep breath and looked at my other studies from California. I decided to attempt the same process but with a new subject. I immediatly felt better and could see the painting in my head. It seems once I've burned an image in my mind and created a work from that image I find it very difficult to do the same image in another fashion. This new work felt good from the start. I mixed all colors first for the massing in, applied via knife and felt I could have finished the piece as such. I am working towards doing large plein air work-over 30 inches- so the idea of knife application seemed a bit difficult to negotiate and I will still have to contend with this mixing dilema. ( need a huge palette). Anyhow I'm posting the block in and finished piece.

I feel the last post, although painted "loosely" feels tight. I concentrated on the brushwork but I am most interested in paint. In fact I have said for me painting is all about the paint. I got away from that idea and need to get back to it. I still am most interested in how artists can manipulate paint, myself included. I think this latest piece is a good direction and incorporates both knife and brush.

California Coastline

16x20 oil/canvas

Second one from my California studies. I'm sticking with the standard method of thin wash first establishing lights and darks. Then add colors thinly to establish color and value ranges, then adding more pigment. Finally adding any details that I might find appealing or necessary. By using this method I find it exciting to see the painting develop out of abstact masses. With the knife, often times the first appliction is the last.





I will attempt some works by applying paint with the knife then moving it with brushes. Maybe even these same studies to see the difference. I suspect I'll get the thick paint that I like but remains to be seen how tough it will be to keep things accurate. The colors came out a bit washed out on this one and I may add to it after letting it rest awhile. At any rate it's exciting to experiment.

Summer schedule

I'm finally getting things back in order after the epic trip from Pennsylvania to California back to Montauk NY and finally back to PA. California was a blast and I had a great time painting. Competition was of high quality and I feel honored just to have been in the same event as these highly skilled artists. Here is a link to see all the paintings that were hung for the event http://www.carmelartfestival.org/ just click all paintings on the left. Also I'll link to my website where all 4 paintings I completed can be viewed http://www.brianeppleypaintings.com/carmel.html

The outdoor show season is in full swing and I have some new shows added to the list. I've been extremely busy wrapping paintings, labeling, organizing and all the other stuff that goes along with transporting paintings.

I intend to get back to painting this week and have decided to incorporate some thick juicy brushwork. I'm going to really stress directional strokes and see where it goes.

Finally, here is the first piece I did in California. I'm happy to say it has found a new home.