…losing the right edges is an exercise in judgement. Essential edges need some clarity! Maybe went too far, maybe not, it’s hard to “see” your own work sometimes. alla prima, oils, 6×9.
#oilpainting #contemporaryart #contemporarystilllife #stilllife
Only a loving family can create that glow! Sorry for double post. #oilportrait #childrenportrait #oilpainting I had created a time lapse of the painting start, and it is fun – although much fussing has to be done to set it up correctly–balancing the phone, positioning the light, and painting while trying to stay out of the frame… While I can’t post it here, you can see it on Facebook or Instagram (posted around end of August 2022). Here’s a photo.
I have grandsons, and so we don’t get much girl-energy around here! These four sweet girls I have just painted have been a delight to paint, and even though I have not met them, I get a sense of their energy, honesty, mischievousness, and sweet & fun natures. This was painted from a photo taken indoors, and so the color was particularly challenging. We think of young children as being fresh, warm, and the colors were cool, yet the face still had a warm sense to it. Anyway—a little hard to capture!
This distant view of Pontessieve Village was one I started while on my last trip to Italy. There were a lot of foggy, overcast days, but they sometimes make surprisingly interesting moods. This day had started out with a complete whiteout, but then lightened a bit as the day went on.
You can buy this little painting on Daily Paintworks, it is featured today https://bit.ly/3uhZLEM
This has been turning into a series. Not a series related to each other in any way other than that they are all of children loved by others, who would like to see their dear faces frequently. I feel a bit Beatrix Potter saying “dear faces”, but that is kind of how you feel, especially as a grandparent. While in the midst of parenting, I know it is much more difficult to see the forest for the trees. Sadly, but there it is!
While I often paint using a limited palette this young lady required more colors. She is so fair and blonde, her features become just mildly prominent. I like to try to get a feeling for the person while painting, and, to me, her face seems to shine kindness, fairness, even-temperedness, and I’m sure she is all of those things!
In the fall the vineyards have many different colors, ranging from green to purple. I chose this yellow-orange plot, and as it turned towards dusk, the sky seemed to echo that color! Not finished, but you get the idea!
Sent from my iPad
The big, calm skies of the Bay Area can be inspiring! A very fast painting with a big brush.
#oils #oil #oilpainting #oilpaintings #oilpainter #micaelamarsden #landscape #bigsky #skypainting #waterreflection #waterreflections
I am participating in this in-person show Saturday and Sunday, in El Cerrito CA. If you’re in the Bay Area, and the East Bay specifically, stop by, it’ll be fun! OPENING & ARTISTS’ RECEPTION iFriday from 7-9. elcerritoart.org.
El Cerrito Community Center
7007 Moeser Ln, El Cerriito, CA
Friday, October 1st, 7 – 9pm
Saturday, October 2, 11 am – 5 pm
Sunday, October 3, 11 am – 4 pm
I’ve been pressing my fruits and vegetables into service in the interest of getting frequent painting warm ups. These slim but fiery red peppers are deceptively compact, they deliver a powerful heat, and the white pepper is new to me. The red ones might be Thai peppers. White = sweet pepper, or maybe a bell? I’ll find out how hot is is when I slice it for cooking!
Since I have a light bulb with changing colors, just for fun I thought to try doing one scene with these same vegetables with different color cast shadows. There seems to be no color in my palette which matches either of the cast shadows, or maybe I just don’t know how to do that yet. If you have any insights, please share them!
Micaela Marsden 