There isn’t too much to see yet but I thought you might like to peer over my shoulder this morning and see what is happening. I have started on the larger 16 x 20 inch gessobord following yesterday’s study.
I do not expect to end up with many process shots for this painting just because of how absorbed I become when working on it. There is no ground or underpainting as I felt this would interfere with the flat heavily filtered light on this rainy day. Also, unlike most of my paintings I have built up areas near the top more than usual before getting the whole painting roughed in. I may regret this meddling in my own approach but it felt right and the paint was the right consistency for working when I applied it last night so I didn’t interrupt my intuition.
The blank areas are the rocks in the foreground which have a much deeper value than the repeating of the same colours in the background. The dabs you see there are what I call “markers” for future reference and to guide my work in the background. Once the whole painting is rough in, this one is going to require repeated building of paint to get to the end result I am seeking. This is what the study was mostly about yesterday.
SEED: Alfred Sisley ((October 30, 1839 – January 29, 1899) and English Impressionist Painter born in Paris to English parents may be of help with this particular painting. Though he has been overshadowed by Monet his work is really quite stunning and much more attuned the the same sensibilities as Camille Pissarro – who I feel more akin to than Monet even though I am sometimes called the Monet of Mayne Island. If you look at the link I provided you will see many paintings where he has created depth and interest with little value change on a gray or winter day. This is what I am after – depth with only subtle difference in values in the picture plane. This is not a new exercise but with this scene it is a complex study of light, time and spacial relationships. We shall see what happens!
Today I must also go out on a photo shoot for a client. So the work on this painting will need to happen in the next couple of hours and then we will be into Easter weekend. All the best of the holiday weekend to you and may you enjoy a renewed sense of resilience with the arrival of spring.
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From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com
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Creative Potager 
Terrill –
I especially enjoyed when you said:
” I may regret this meddling in my own approach but it felt right and the paint was the right consistency for working when I applied it last night so I didn’t interrupt my intuition.”
You’ve got a great gut instinct in your head and you’re going to be oh-so-glad you went with it 🙂
I hope so Laurie! Only time will tell. Now let’s see where should we pick this up again this morning…..
Terrill,
It is always good to go with our gut/intuition, even if it doesn’t pan out, you will learn something in the doing and being present for something new.
I know of Sisley, and perhaps seen some of his work. and you are correct, I see the simularity. I think your work is more fleshed out…
Have a great Easter Weekend! I will be on my way back to NJ tomorrow morning.
Happy Easter Jeff and thanks for your thoughts about Sisley and my paintings. Unfortunately, I have never seen even one – not one in person painting from the great French Impressionist artist. Someday though I shall.
Thank you for this link, Terrill. I spent (and could easily spend longer) time admiring the paintings. Of Alfred Sisley’s work, my favourite is A Road in Louveciennes. Such beauty… Such peace…
Oh I am so glad you took the time to go and have a look Leanne. I only discovered his actual painting recently though I had been reading about him for a long time in connection with the other Impressionist painters.
Always great to get your ‘work in progress’ posts Terrill, as it allows the readers to see the progression and the possible artistic direction you are taking. Your broaching of Alfred Sisley (and the comparison to Monet) are telling, as I investigated his work just a few years back while attending an exhibition of the work of British landscape artist J.W.W. Turner at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. Both Turner (and John Constable) have been noted to have influenced Sisley, and as a result the French residing Brit came to be known for his beautiful negotiation of impressionistic skies, atmosphere and of course the defining ‘landscape.’ My absolute favorite Sisleys are ‘Snow on the Road’
http://www.abcgallery.com/S/sisley/sisley15.html
http://sdermott.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/alfred-sisley-the-bridge-at-villeneuve-la-garenne/
Thank you for the links Sam and I am thrilled that you have actually seen a Turner painting first hand. His work still comes up frequently with land and seascape painters.
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Yes, indeed, Terrill, very good to see what you’re working on now. I liked looking at your workdesk, your paintbrushes and tools. Hope you had a good photo shoot.
I did indeed Kathy. I have the most amazing image of a 91 year old long retired woman doctor planting a couple of rows of seeds before she catches a plane the next day to fly with her even more elderly husband by themselves back across Canada. Glad you enjoyed browsing through my rather cluttered work table. I am a person who likes everything out when I am working on something and I don’t want to change a thing until the project is done because each placement holds part of my reference markings for the work at hand.
91 year old retired women are amazing. I have a 90 year old friend who inspires me every time I see her. They can be such wonderful role models for us youngsters.