Saturday, February 19, 2022

February 6, 2022 in Yellowwood State Forest

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 20, 2022 BY CHARLENE MARSH

February Snow

February 6, 2022 in Yellowwood State Forest

We finally had a big February snow early in the month and I am catching up on plein air painting. Sunny snow, days are so rare and so special to paint, I always make a point to get out as much as possible.

Ouch

Unfortunately, just a couple days prior to this painting, I was practicing a headstand and suddenly felt a sharp pain in my back. An old sledding accident injury dating back to February, 2007, when I slammed into a tree, was aggravated. I immediately came down out of the headstand and hoped for the best. There was still a lot of snow on the ground and on the road and I wanted to stay home and paint.

So, I delayed calling my osteopath and went out to paint several days in a row, backpacking my supplies up and down the hills, into the forest.

Valentine’s Day

I painted several wonderful snow paintings but my back grew more and more painful. I finally relented and went in for an Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) treatment on Valentine’s Day. OMT is way better than any chiropractic therapy and doesn’t require returning every week for the rest of your life. I was ordered to not do anymore backpacking until my back recovered. Still to be determined if I will need any more OMT or if one treatment will do the trick.

Luckily, by the time I got the order to stop backpacking, most of the snow had melted.

Chilled to the bone

On this date, February 6, 2022, the temps warmed up to a balmy 40°. But, don’t be fooled! Standing out in those temperatures for several hours painting is still bone chilling. I dress in multiple layers including snow pants, long johns, yoga pants and jeans on the bottom half. Top half, I am layered in a rash guard shirt, thin wool sweater, thick hoodie, and top coat.

Magical

The colors of the snow, the blues, and violets and periwinkles are so delicate and ethereal, it is pure magic.

This was a stunningly gorgeous, sunny, snowy day and I couldn’t wait to get out in the woods to paint

Whenever the temperatures stay above freezing, the paint stays more pliable. The paint can still get stiff but not as bad as the February 5th painting when the temps were well below freezing.

I still get some of the tendrils or “icicles” but not nearly as much as the day before.

Signature

My fields notes written on the back of the painting read: “Sunny, 40°, much warmer than yesterday! Sciscoe Creek, Yellowwood State Forest, Brown County, IN. I dressed in multiple layers including snow pants, so I end up sweating by the time I hike out and set up. Wearing one of my rash guard shirts so it dries quickly.”

And here is the finished painting:

Here is the painting dropped in both a silver frame and an antique black with gold lip frame. Which do you like better? Please let me know in the comments section of this post.

Thanks for going out in the woods again with me. Always a pleasure to be back in by the cozy fire, enjoying a piece of the forest captured in a painting.

Happy trails,

Charlene

P.S. Go HERE to see the painting in situ and to purchase.

February Snow

Friday, February 11, 2022

Very Cold First Snow, February 5, 2022

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2022 BY CHARLENE MARSH

Winter plein air oil painting

Very Cold First Snow, February 5, 2022

Except for a light dusting, we have had no snow all winter! Until now. We finally got about 6″ of snow here in Brown County which was preceded by a day of rain and a night of ice before the snow started. The county did not plow my road for at least two days. For a week, I only left my property to go out to hike and paint in the forest. So, I finally got some nice snow paintings done this winter.

Details of the painting

"Very Cold First Snow, February 5, 2022", plein air oil painting, Brown County, Indiana. — Detail, “Very Cold First Snow, February 5, 2022”, plein air oil painting, Brown County, Indiana.

Despite a brilliant, sunny day, the temperature was really cold. The sun did not provide any warmth! In fact, it hovered around 23° the entire time which is pretty much as cold as I try to go paint in the forest. The oil paints start freezing and become unworkable pretty fast.

So, I had to work very quickly to capture the painting while my paint was still pliable. As it starts to freeze, I get these tendrils or, as I like to call them, “icicles”.

You can see in this detail as well as other details, the tendrils or “icicles” formed as the paint got stiffer and more frozen.

Painting quickly, outside, in below freezing temperatures, creates a painting with a raw, authentic quality that can only be captured in the cold, frigid weather. The paint handles differently in the brutal cold.

My Extreme Sport Arctic Muck Boots kept my feet and lower legs warm while I stood in the creek to paint. The boots have really thick soles and are completely insulated and waterproof.

Arctic Muck Boots winter footwear gear — Extreme Sport Arctic Muck Boots

Rash guard shirts

While I work up a sweat hiking out to a location the forest, I am then standing for 2-3 hours and can get really cold. I used to wear long sleeved, cotton tees but once they got wet, they stayed wet and I got really cold. Now I love wearing the rash guard shirts I designed that dry quickly once I get to my location and set up to paint. So, the shirt can be wet by the time I arrive at my painting spot but dries out quickly so I can paint in comfort for several hours. Plus, I love the brilliant colors, chakras, and sacred geometry designs.

Cold hands

My hands, in particular, get ice cold. Despite using two sets of knit gloves, I still have to periodically blow on my hands to try to keep them warm. I am still looking for a good glove solution whereby my hands stay warm while my fingers stay flexible enough to paint and use the palette knives.

Next up, is a detail shot of my signature signed in the wet paint while still in the field. I love the way the signature blends in with the rest of the painting when I use my rubber tipped nib to sign my name.

When I get back to the studio, I wait a few hours before pulling the painting out of the carrying box. That gives me some distance between the time I was on the scene and the time I can evaluate how the painting turned out. Then I write my field notes on the back of the painting.

Field Notes on the Back of the Painting, Very Cold First Snow, February 5, 2022

“VERY COLD!! 23°, sunny, my painting was freezing up, especially the Cerulean Blue, so I had to paint quickly. 3-5:30 p.m. My hands were freezing!! I was standing in the creek — my Extreme Sport Arctic Muck Boots keep my feet warm! Sciscoe creek, Yellowwood State Forest, Brown County.”

Thanks for following along.

Happy trails,

Charlene

P.S. To see framed views and to purchase visit: https://www.charlenemarshstudio.com/product/very-cold-first-snow-february-5-2022/

Monday, January 24, 2022

Happy New Year News!

POSTED ON JANUARY 24, 2022 BY CHARLENE MARSH

Happy New Year!

Since I haven’t written a new post in almost a month, there is a lot to cover!

Winter Hibernation

Must admit, in January, the coldest part of the winter, with the longest nights and shortest days, I like to hibernate. Warm weather chores give way to stacking and hauling wood and shoveling snow(although not so much snow this year!). Since I heat 100% with firewood, there is a lot of wood to move! Reading by the fire and sleeping in, covered with dogs and a cat, all snuggly warm, is another joy of winter. Winter should be for hibernating. I think the bears have it right.

But, too much news, too little time so I will dive right in.

Experiments

I like to experiment with new materials, techniques, and subject matters in the winter when I am not rushing off to shows. Recently, I got a simple selection of acrylic paints to try painting with those. Some romantic notion of quick drying paint for live event painting was dancing through my head.

I got two of each, a warm and cool, of the primary colors, plus white which is what I use for oil painting. With the six colors plus white, I can mix pretty much anything I want. The simplicity gives me the freedom to mix complex color relationships with basic complementary colors.

Mission Impossible

I have tinted my panels with acrylics forever but I wanted to try actually painting with them. I discovered real quick that it was virtually impossible to mix colors without the paint drying on my palette. I couldn’t even go make a cup of tea and come back to anything workable. Trying to mix colors resulted in lumps of dried paint getting mixed in. Forget mixing a range of colors from two complements. Maybe this is why so many people think acrylic paintings look so different from oils.

Maybe acrylic painters rely on using paint straight from the tube and have a wide range of pre-mixed, tube hues to work with. Or maybe they use a medium to slow the drying time. Clearly, it is going to take some more experimenting to find a way to make them workable for me.

Back to luscious oils

To be honest, I didn’t even finish one small painting before switching back to the oils. Luckily, oils can be applied over acrylics (the fat over lean rule) so I was able to complete the painting in oil.

Revamped Website

I have also spent some time revamping my website. Mainly the HOME PAGE making it less wordy and more visual. So the HOME PAGE is real simple and clear, making it easy to go quickly to the area of interest. I also removed all the videos after learning they slow down the HOME PAGE and lower the ranking on search engines. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Reviews, Better Than Ever

Leaving a review is now easier than ever. An email will go out to a buyer a couple weeks after the purchase and they will get a link to review the artwork that was purchased. Reviewers will be able to upload up to three photos of their artwork. For reviews without a photo, the reviewer will receive a 10% special savings coupon code. If 1-3 photos are included, the reviewer will receive a 15% special savings code good towards their next purchase.

Reviews and photos help future collectors feel confident about making a purchase while rewarding present collectors. If you have made a recent purchase(last six months or so) and want me to send you a link to submit a review, let me know. In the future, these will go out automatically when a purchase is made.

Onto painting!

So, this little painting is a scene from the Medical Freedom Rally held at the Indiana State House in Indianapolis in September. This lady had painted “Defy Tyranny” on the back of a wedding dress, like some stars wear messages on the red carpet. I am still painting wedding dresses, just in a bit different setting. LOL.

Defy Tyrants, Medical Freedom Rally

Defy Tyranny, Medical Freedom Rally, Indianapolis — “Defy Tyrants”, Medical Freedom Rally, Indianapolis, oil on panel, 8″ x 6″, ©Charlene Marsh.

Upcoming Wedding Planning Event

Speaking of weddings and wedding dresses, I am going to have a booth with my wedding paintings at the Biltwell Event Center in Indianapolis on January 30, 2022. Use coupon code GALLERY to get free tickets.

January 30, 2022, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. VIPs, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Engaged Indiana Wedding Planning Event, Biltwell Event Center, Indianapolis, Indiana.

I guess that covers it for now.

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year! Many blessings, peace, and joy!

Happy trails,

Charlene

Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Christmas Lights in the Village, #112221S 9×12

POSTED ON DECEMBER 20, 2021 BY CHARLENE MARSH

Merry Christmas Lights in the Village

So, I want to share with you another Christmas painting from the village of Nashville, where I live. Well, I live 5.5 miles outside of Nashville but it is my mailing address. Little, tiny Helmsburg is the closest little burg with a general store, post office, fire station, a church, storage units, and a sawmill. 1st and 2nd Streets run into Main Street, making a cozy neighborhood off of State Road 45.

Nashville, which only has 800 residents, hosts three million visitors a year! Brown County only has 15,000 residents in the entire county with much of the county designated state forest, national forest, and the largest state park in Indiana. So, it is a special place to live.

Magical Village

Because of all the tourists that visit Nashville, the town puts on it’s holiday splendor and is transformed into a magical village. This year, for the first time, they hosted a Christkindl Market. I went to the market Saturday evening with the idea of collecting reference photos for future paintings. And arrived just in time to see the start of the Christmas Light parade led by the decked out Jackson Township firetruck. You know that fire station in Helmsburg? That’s the Jackson Township Fire Department.

All kinds of vehicles were lit up with lights and decorations and more than one Santa. Marchers and twirlers and horses were all part of the parade. Candy was thrown from some floats. Yes! There were even fancy, albeit homemade, floats on flatbed trailers. All fun. So, I took a lot of pictures and have a ton of material for future paintings.

Be sure to check out the other new Christmas paintings HERE and HERE.

In the meantime, let’s jump into the latest painting of Nashville, decked out in holiday finery.

Here are some details of the painting which is looking up a side street towards Madelaine’s and the Artist Colony Inn, across the street on Van Buren.