Ruahines 2. 13 1/2" x 7 1/4". Acrylic on paper.
This is a painting I started on Saturday and finished today. It feels like kind of a breakthrough for me in using this medium, so I'm feeling happy. I like how I can use a combination of watercolor and oil techniques, and work rapidly on paper, though I'm using Golden's Open Medium to keep the mixed colors from drying out immediately. Again, thanks to Robb Kloss for his inspiring photos of New Zealand's Ruahines. These mountains, once they're above treeline, remind me of Iceland even though the vegetation is different, so there's a familiarity and emotional reaction that are probably helping as I paint.
The color is a bit more accurate in the details below.
Tech notes: this is a very limited palette of five colors plus white (see below.) It's more work to mix the colors but I always think the result is more unified and harmonious that way. As in watercolors, if I were using a different blue or yellow as the base primary, the resulting overall tonality would be different. Just scratching the surface in terms of knowledge of comparative transparencies and so forth. It turns out that I just don't own very many acrylics to begin with -- and some of the tubes I did have were dried up and had to be thrown out. Time for a trip to the art supply store! And I'm extremely pleased to be using paints that were made only a few miles from where I grew up, by Golden Artist Colors, a very progressive employee-owned company that's providing a lot of jobs in a depressed area as well as making one of the best products worldwide.
I really really like this one, Beth! It made me think of Iceland too.
Posted by: Marja-Leena | May 12, 2014 at 06:20 PM
Thanks, Marja-Leena! I like it too.
Posted by: Beth | May 12, 2014 at 06:27 PM
Kia ora Beth,
Beautiful! The first time I ever wandered above the tree line in the Ruahine over 20 years ago I felt like I entered a magical world. I still feel that way...
Aroha,
Robb
Posted by: Robb | May 13, 2014 at 06:03 AM
A bit of the smashing, I say! (In case that gets lost in translation, I liked it!)
Posted by: Tom | May 13, 2014 at 07:52 AM
​Robb, yes, I think your mountains are magical. The forests and waterfalls too! All nature is that way, but some places seems more so -- maybe they are wilder? Less traveled and less spoiled? Thank you for sharing these places with me and with us.
Tom, I needed the translation -- and thank you!
Posted by: Beth | May 13, 2014 at 10:44 AM
Glorious! Wild, strange and delicious, both works.
Posted by: Laura | May 13, 2014 at 04:00 PM
You have NO IDEA how much I envy your skill with pen & brush. Lovely work.
Posted by: Nina T | May 16, 2014 at 01:12 PM
Thanks, Laura. I'm glad the "wild and strange" feeling comes across!
Nina, thank you. What doesn't show here are all the absolutely awful paintings and angst over the past 40+ years of serious art-making. I do have some natural talent, but not enough to get me anywhere significant. It's mostly a lot of work, a lot of looking and studying other people's work, and being stubborn enough (and loving it enough) to go back to it again and again after wanting to throw in the towel. I gave up painting for five whole years at one point, I was so upset and so discouraged about what I was doing and my relationship to making art. It takes courage to be creative -- don't you think?
Posted by: Beth | May 17, 2014 at 11:49 AM
Something very bold about these acrylics. Gorgeous.
Posted by: mike | May 18, 2014 at 11:03 PM