It stopped raining today and the sun came out in the afternoon. That made for better working conditions in the studio. I also walked to the spot in the woods where my little bush grows. I first thought it was an euonymous, then a sassafras. Now, I don't know. I took a small branch to ask about it. On the painting, I worked the middle and near grounds, adding some texture that will lay a foundation for details.

I'd forgotten how absolutely lovely it is to paint on board. The brush glides and the paint melds with glee.

The weather is dark and dreary making it difficult to see in the studio. On dark days I rely on bad lighting. I must rectify that. Today's work was spent layering in color in the ground areas. My objective is the illusion of deep woods with atmospheric light and color. The focal point, a sassafras bush, will sit center and front. I'm guessing at this point what the values in the far ground should be. Once the bush goes in, I can adjust. It's just easier to work all over the ground than around the intricacies of the bush.

We had our first snow last night. It was minimal; little clumps of white ice here and there. The acanthas has been nipped at last.
The new painting. I washed in some basic values and colors, set up the horizon line. This particular green must go.

I've been staring at this white 40" x 30" board for days. I finally just attacked it with enough line to commit to an idea. The colors in the landscape these days are ambers, browns, reds and yellows. Some green remains in the pine and cedar. But overall the pallette is warm and rich with clear cobalt skies. I want a landscape that is more particular and detailed than the recent panoramas of Minkcove; one that swallows the viewer. This will be a view from the daily walk I take through the Minot/Weld Conservancy. The palette will be warm and the focal point will pop with a lighter value. I'm also happy to be painting on board again.

Christy LaGue

http://www.minkcove.com

I have completely repainted this. The clouds are grayer and the ground has more variety in color and value. One word here about digital photography. Color appears different on each computer. And the camera is rarely accurate. I try to adjust the photo as I stand next to the painting in order to approach accurate color. But I never know how that appears on some other computer.