I've been painting :-)

I have started a series called "Trees of Life".  It was inspired by an online class that I took late last year - Diane Culhane's "For the Love of a Tree".

I posted a couple of paintings from this class on this blog post.

This first painting of the series is titled "A Perfect Day":

And in the landscape with beings theme, this is ready for its first isolation coat.  I've titled it "We Gather Together As Friends":

Two tree paintings

I love trees; they are so varied and beautiful.  Late last year Carla Sonheim offered Diane Culhane's online class, "For the Love of a Tree".  I signed up immediately :-)

One of Diane's assignments was to create two small 5" x 5" paintings focusing on value. 

The first painting began with a warm base color to which was added its complementary color:

Blue-violet overlaying Yellow-orange

After much layering of opaque and transparent colors, the finished painting:

The second painting began with a cool color which was overlaid by its complementary color:

Vat orange overlaid with cobalt blue.

Final painting:

I enjoy the spontaneity of this approach.  I have to suspend judgment and to go along with what happens, respond to the previous mark or color, allow for accidents - very liberating :-)