Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.221

Hello again painting fans.

This week we'll be continuing with the painting of the Sedona butte.

The photo that I will be using is seen directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylics on an 8x10 canvas.

When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.

Since last time I've continued to work on the painting.

There are lots of changes this week. Despite my statement last week, I have once again muted the colors of the butte by applying a very layer of thin white paint. It now has the hazy washed out look that I had been seeking. Before that paint was totally dry I actually used my finger to blot and move it around.

I've now completed the foreground. The plants to both the left and right of the path have been heavily revised. On the left, things are now a bit more natural. On the right, I've defined the brushy plants closest to the viewer. A short distance behind them, 4 newly-grown bushes lead the eye toward the center of the painting. The path itself has been given some character with a bit of white paint.

The posts and rock have been also been revised. They now have more of a three dimensional appearance. Finally, the sky to the right rear has been given just a touch of blue paint. The painting is now finished.

The current and final state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.220

Hello again painting fans.

This week we'll be continuing with the painting of the Sedona butte.

The photo that I will be using is seen directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylics on an 8x10 canvas.

When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.

Since last time I've continued to work on the painting.

There are lots of changes this week. Once again I've muted the colors of the butte by applying a very thin layer of white paint. I am now finally happy with it.

I've started to address the foreground. I've started painting all the foliage seen going from the path back into the far distance. It was done with only one shade each of blue and green. I was actually surprised how quickly it came together. I'll still need to address the plants closest to the front edge in upcoming installments.

Finally, I've added the leaves to those bare tree trunks. This was done with only the same blue and green of the other foliage. I'll add some ochre to the trunks in an upcoming installment.

The current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.219

Hello again painting fans.

This week we'll be continuing with the painting of the Sedona butte.

The photo that I will be using is seen directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylics on an 8x10 canvas.

When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.

Since last time I've continued to work on the painting.

I've muted the colors of the butte a bit. In applying a very thin layer of white paint, the butte takes a step or two further into the distance. This effect may not come through well on your monitor but a comparison with the earlier photo above is helpful.

Making their first appearance are some of the tree trunks seen in the source photo. I'm not planning on having as many as the photo. And frankly, I just couldn't bring myself to paint a tree accross my precious butte. The trunks began with a dark brown overlaid with a thin ochre. There is still much more to do.

Finally, I've added the posts seen at the trailhead and the large rock.

The current state of the painting is seen directly below.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.218

Hello again painting fans.

This week we'll be continuing with the painting of the Sedona butte.

The photo that I will be using is seen directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylics on 8x10 canvases.

Since last time I've continued to work on the painting.

I've started to paint the green that rings the base of the butte and pushes forward toward the foreground. Note how it follows the shape of the small valleys at the base. Inadvertently, the green became two different shades. It will not matter later on as the details will cover most of this first layer.

I've left the Sesdona red (My name for it.) in the central portion of the foreground. This area is shaped roughly to become the path in the original photo. Obviously there is much more to come.

The current state of the painting is seen directly below.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.216

Hello again painting fans.

This week we'll be starting an entirely new painting.

The photo that I will be using is seen directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylics on an 8x10 canvas.

I took this photo on my trip out west this summer. It shows a trailhead going toward one of the buttes in Sedona, Arizona. I particulary like how the butte to the rear has distant faded colors.

I wanted to begin by painting an outline of the butte, the dominant element. Simple enough, but it had to be placed to allow the other elements appropriate space. I actually added marks on the canvas to properly orient things.

The current state of the painting is seen directly below.

Note the marks below that I used to place the butte. They divide the canvas roughly in quarters. I was less concerned about the north/south placement. Note further that I've actually already added a layer of paint to the sky. Of course this blue is only the first layer for all that will come.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

The Red Planet Diner, Sedona, Az.

Take me to your food critic.