Fall is in the Air!

POSTED ON OCTOBER 11, 2021 BY CHARLENE MARSH

Fall is in the Air

Before I share a couple of new “fall is in the air” paintings with you, I want to give you a quick update on the newest wedding painting.

Wedding Painting Update

While working on Caleb and Jessica’s wedding painting, I hit those moments where I needed some “thinking time”.  You know, those “let me sleep on it” decisions.  If I keep coming back to the same conclusion, I am ready to move forward with confidence it is the best solution.  Certainly, planning the composition is key to the very foundation and ultimate success of the painting.  There are so many fabulous options and directions to go, that narrowing it down can be tough!  Anyway, I have finalized the composition and am working on the drawing now.  Super excited to dive in and see what happens.  While I am not quite ready to share at this point, I should have an update next week.

Fall is in the Air

In the meantime, during those “thinking moments”, I took a break to paint a couple fall scenes in the forest.  Sometimes it helps to focus on something else and come back with fresh eyes.  Really helps to clarify the best choices!

Fall is in the Air, 12″ x 9″ oil painting, Yellowwood State Forest.

This lovely fall scene is late in the afternoon, towards sunset, when the sun is starting to dip behind the hills.  Rich colors of reds, oranges, greens and violets are cast in the forest, on the hillsides, and on the forest floor.  Leaves have fallen on the creek and the trees are reflected on the turquoise blue water.

Fall is in the Air, 9″ x 12″, oil painting, Yellowwood State Forest.

This is another scene along Sciscoe Creek in Yellowwood State Forest, in the autumn.  The gray violet makes for a nice depth in the forest with the reds, yellows, and chartreuse popping forward.

Roots and Derivatives

Sometimes I like to know where a word comes from so I looked up the word “chartreuse”.  How in the world was a yellow-green color named “chartreuse”????  And here is what I found in Wikipedia:

“Chartreuse (US: /ʃɑːrˈtruːz,-ˈtruːs/ (listen), UK: /-ˈtrɜːz/,^[1] French: [ʃaʁtʁøz]),^[2] also known as yellow-green, is a color between yellow and green. It was named because of its resemblance to the green color of one of the French liqueurs called green chartreuse, introduced in 1764. Similarly, chartreuse yellow is a yellow color mixed with a small amount of green that was named because of its resemblance to the color of one of the French liqueurs called yellow chartreuse, introduced in 1838.^[3]

The French word chartreuse means “charterhouse”. The monasteries that the monks of the Carthusian order (who started producing Chartreuse liqueur in 1764) live in, of which the first one was established in 1082 by Saint Bruno, are called charter houses because they were chartered—and given generous material support—by the Duke of Burgundy known as Philip the Bold when he took over the area in 1378. Philip the Bold’s elaborately decorated tomb was initially installed at a Carthusian charterhouse when he died in 1404.^[4] ”

So there you go.

Enjoy this gorgeous fall weather while you can!  Won’t be long before the long, dark days of winter are upon us.

Thanks for following along.

Happy trails,

Charlene

 

 

Caleb and Jessica’s Wedding Sketches

POSTED ON OCTOBER 3, 2021 BY CHARLENE MARSH

Caleb and Jessica’s Wedding

Caleb and Jessica were married on September 18, 2021 at the Sixpence in Whitestown, just north of Indianapolis, a gorgeous rural setting on a perfect fall day.  The wedding painting package that was ordered included an 18″ x 24″ wedding painting and three hours of live sketching at the wedding and reception.

So, I arrived at 2 p.m. for a 3:30 p.m. wedding.  I like to scope out the venue and take some reference photos before things get started.  For the wedding painting, I prefer to collect my own visual information to make sure I get what I want for the painting.  I make sure to shoot the venue from all angles, the cake, the flowers, and any other visual information I may need later.  Since I never know what I might need once I dive into the painting, I try to cover all bases.

Wedding Sketches

For Caleb and Jessica’s wedding, I started sketching during the ceremony and continued through the cocktail hour and reception.  Some of the sketches are given to the guests during the reception so I don’t have pictures of those.  These sketches will be given to the bridal couple.

These are quick gestural sketches captured as people moved about.  No one was posing.  Sometimes I would just start a sketch and the person would move away so I would start again.  Sometimes, a  guest would pose long enough for me to do the sketch and then I gave it to them.

Here is a sampling of wedding sketches.

Caleb and Jessica’s Wedding Vows.

 

Outside during the cocktail hour.

 

Line at the bar during the cocktail hour.

 

Bridesmaid and guests during the cocktail hour.

 

Guest at the bar.

 

Bridesmaid.

 

Flower girl in the arms of a bridesmaid.

 

Guests at dinner.

 

Bride greeting guests at dinner.

 

Bridesmaid visiting a table at dinner.

The composition for the final painting has been worked out and will feature the “First Dance” and include, in addition to the newlyweds, the bridesmaids, the wedding cake, the backdrop, and the venue with it’s large windows and stunning chandelier.  I will share the progress of the painting in future blogs.

Thanks for following along!

Happy trails,

Charlene

P.S. In the meantime, I am busy getting ready for the 12th Annual October Open House which is next weekend!  Everyone is welcome!

October 9, 10, 11, 2021:  12th Annual October Open House, Charlene Marsh Studio and Gallery

• 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
• 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sunday.
• 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday, Columbus Day.

Location and Contact

The gallery is located at 4013 Lanam Ridge Road, Nashville, Indiana, 47448.

If you cannot attend the October Open House, please make an appointment to visit by calling the studio/gallery at 812-988-4497 or emailing Char@CharleneMarsh.com.

Visitors welcome!

 Eating an Ice Cream Cone on the Midway

POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 BY CHARLENE MARSH

Eating an Ice Cream Cone on the Midway

Today we are continuing on with the painting of the midway at the Indiana State Fair.  Check out Part One to see the beginning steps.

For this painting, a 9″ x 12″ oil, I am using my new, small panel painting easel that I made for working on small panels.  This easel securely holds a small painting at a comfortable level to work without it flopping around.  A 9″ x 12″ painting is about as large as I would go in this easel.  For anything larger, I would just use my floor easel.  So far I have used a variety of sizes of painting panels in the easel and it has been a dream.  Very happy with how it is working.

Small painting easel, Indiana State Fair Midway

Here’s a short video showing the progress of the painting from beginning to end.

Video Player

Here is where we left off.  Ready to start painting the carnival rides on the Midway with all their colorful, flashing lights.

Indiana State Fair Midway

Starting with the ride on the far left, I use a variety of blues and violets to block it in.

Indiana State Fair Midway

Then I start to block in the distant people in a variety of hues and values.  At the same time, I am tweaking and adjusting the values in the game booth on the right.  Some highlights added, some shadows deepened, and some edges softened or strengthened.

Indiana State Fair Midway

Next, I am ready to paint the glowing green wheel.  More points of light are added to the rides.

Indiana State Fair Midway

The last ride with red lights goes in.  Tiny points of light are added to the rides.

At this point, I can step back and evaluate what is happening in the painting.

I wanted the woman with the ice cream cone to pop out more so I darkened the figure on the left side to reduce details and make her less distracting.  I added some highlights to the ice cream eater so that she would stand out more.  Her hair, the ice cream cone, her arm, her shorts, her bracelet were all adjusted.

Another thing I found distracting were the horizontal lines across the pavement.  They kept the viewer’s eye from moving deeper into the painting.  So, I darkened and softened those lines.

While I liked the red sparkles of the tinted panel showing through the night sky, I wanted to reduce them so they fit in better.

Final painting, “Eating an Ice Cream Cone on the Midway”:

Eating an Ice Cream Cone on the Midway, oil painting, 9″ x 12″, ©Charlene Marsh, #092121 S 9×12.

 

Thanks for following along!  I really appreciate you!

Happy Trails,

Charlene

P.S.  As insanely busy as I am with various projects, in a crazy moment, I scheduled the 12th Annual October Open House for October 9, 10, 11, 2021.  Plan a visit to Brown County, Indiana and come to the Open House!

 

This entry was posted in Oil Paintings, Painting Tips, Supplies, Tools, Gear, Frames. Bookmark the permalink.

CHARLENE MARSH

 

State Fair Painting

POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 BY CHARLENE MARSH

State Fair Painting

New Blogs on Tuesdays

First, I want to let you know that new blogs will go out on Tuesdays from now on.  I hope that works better for everyone!

Art Events

A few crazy, fast and furious weeks have gone by since I posted a new blog.  I exhibited at my first outdoor art fair in nearly two years.  And did the first, live wedding in nearly two years, too.  So exciting to be back out and sharing art with people.  Everyone was so happy and having so much fun!  While I have been out and about at events for the past two years, these were the first art events.

Indiana State Fair

One event I attended in August, as a visitor, was the Indiana State Fair.  Since I am starting a new series of paintings that capture life in America today, I wanted to explore the State Fair for source material.

Caricature Drawing

There were two or three booths with artists creating caricature drawings.  This booth had three artists at work but there was another 10′ x 10′ booth with a single artist, a young man, Drake Truber, who is only twenty two years old and newlywed.  I would have included a shot of him but I saw him on my way out after I had exhausted all my camera batteries.  But I thought what a wonderful way to generate some cash flow and get out there with one’s art.  I am sure the hours are intensely long and who knows how much the booth fee must cost.  But nothing compares with connecting directly with people with one’s art.

Caricature Drawing at the Indiana State Fair

Arts and Crafts

The state fair also has a whole building dedicated to the exhibition of fine art and crafts created by both professionals and amateurs.  When I was there, viewing all the artwork, a wife was playing the piano while her husband sang a gorgeous baritone opera.

State Fair Painting

So, anyway, today, I am sharing the start of a painting of a night scene from the Midway.  The lights, games, visitors, and energy are all magic.

Indiana State Fair Midway

Using a pre-tinted panel, I draw out the scene.

Indiana State Fair Midway

The darkest values are blocked in first.

Indiana State Fair Midway

The lady in the foreground holding an ice cream cone is painted in next.  I also signed my name in the lower left in the wet paint of the back of a woman wearing a pieced jacket.  Signing in the wet paint helps the signature blend in seamlessly with the painting.

Indiana State Fair Midway

Colorful Game Booth

Next, I work on the colorful game booth full of stuffed animals on the right.  Once I get the entire surface painted, I can go back and adjust hues and values.  Highlights and deep contrasts can be added then, too, to pop out the center of focus and push back less important elements.  So, it takes some patience at this point to realize there are a lot more decisions to be made before the painting is done.

So that is it for today.  Thanks so much for tuning in.

Happy trails!

Charlene

P.S.  Mark your calendar!  The 12th Annual October Open House at the Charlene Marsh Studio and Gallery is scheduled for October 9, 10, and 11, 2021.  This is Columbus weekend so I have expanded the event to three days to cover the holiday.  Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Monday and 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.