Remembered Landscape

Remembered Landscape, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

7" X 5", oil/stretched linen. Using the limited "grab-bag" palette described under the "Orange" post, I tried this Kevin Macpherson exercise to enhance memory and imagination while painting landscape. Those things are essential, because so much has to be edited when painting plein air. That's tough for a realist-still life painter like me, who's used to painting just what's there. Try doing that plein air, and you'll be out there all day. Imagination and memory help a lot with the editing process; this exercise involves studying a photo of a landscape for a few minutes (actually, he says 20 seconds), then putting it away and painting it from memory. So part of the result is remembered, and part is imagined.

Famosa Path

Famosa Path, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

6 X 6", oil on stretched canvas. It's been a rough week. Landscape painting is really kicking my butt, partly because it's been a few months since I could do any, and partly because I'm in that mental trap of overthinking everything instead of just letting myself paint. I'm sure that never happens to anyone else, right? :) So to keep the process moving, I'm determined to post the fails as well as the wins, because that's what this blog is for.

Famosa Slough

Famosa Slough, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

8" X 6", oil on stretched canvas (SOLD). This restored habitat is less than a mile from where I live, right in the middle of urban San Diego. No herons today, but a pair of ducks kept me company the whole time I was there.

Likeness--Work in Progress

Likeness--Work in Progress, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

Tree Study

Tree Study, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

7" X 5", oil on stretched linen.

Happy Place

Exercise 2, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

8" X 6", oil on stretched canvas (SOLD). Same upside-down technique (different photo), with better results. When the exercise part was done, I put some finishing touches on it right-side-up.

Tree

Tree, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

Lighthouse 2

Lighthouse 2, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

Chili Pepper with Knife

Chili Pepper with Knife, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

6" X 6", oil on stretched linen.

Chili Peppers

Chili Peppers, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

6" x 6", oil on stretched linen (SOLD). There's nothing like painting on linen. That is all.

Leaf

Leaf, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

6" X 6", oil on stretched canvas (SOLD)

Azalea Blossom

Azalea Blossom, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

12" X 6", oil on stretched linen.

Kiwi

Kiwi, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

5" X 7", oil on stretched linen (SOLD). Kiwi fruit rocks.

Three Apples

Three Apples, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

Recursive Thank You Note

Recursive Thank You Note, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

7" X 5", oil on gessoed card (not available). This is a painting of a thank-you note that I got, which depicts a Mary Cassatt print called "The Letter". I painted this on a gessoed greeting card which I will send as a thank-you note. Now, just for fun, let's say that the woman in the Cassatt print is also sealing a thank-you note. That would mean that this painting is in fact a thank-you note of a thank-you note of a thank-you note.

Twin Pine

Watch This Space

Art Show Postcard, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

For the show that I'm currently exhibiting work in. I was honored to have one of my paintings chosen for the invitation postcard.

Self In Progress

Self In Progress, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

Work (still) In Progress

Work (still) In Progress, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

Out with the Old, In with the New

Out with the Old, In with the New, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law. SOLD

Tree Near the Lighthouse

Tree Near the Lighthouse, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

Honey with Honeycomb

Honey with Honeycomb, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

Leafy Satsuma

Leafy Satsuma, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

6" X 6", oil on stretched canvas. SOLD

Peeled Satsuma

Peeled Satsuma, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

"Black" and Blue

"Black" and Blue, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

7" X 5", oil on stretched linen. One more of this beautiful Arkansas Black heirloom variety apple.

Self

Self, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

Books and Kisses

Books and Kisses, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

6" X 6", oil on stretched canvas. The canvas surface evokes the cloth binding on these old books, but it's a bit rough for detailed work. SOLD

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

5" X 7", oil on stretched linen. This is the view out my apartment window.

"Arkansas Black" Apple and Vase

"Arkansas Black" Apple and Vase, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

5" X 7", oil on stretched linen. I had never seen these apples before finding this one at the local organic co-op. They are so dark red that they truly are almost black.

Flame Grapes

Flame Grapes, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.

It's a Lock

It's a Lock, originally uploaded by Kathryn Law.