Monday, March 14, 2022

The Head of the Sciscoe Creek Valley, February 10, 2022

POSTED ON MARCH 14, 2022 BY CHARLENE MARSH

The Head of the Sciscoe Creek Valley, February 10, 2022

Scroll down for this week’s new Weekly Special!

Record cold and first daffodil

Outside the snow is falling and the temperatures have plunged into the bitter territory again. In fact, the weatherman is predicting record lows, for this time of year, down in the teens (F°) the next couple of nights, as I am writing this on March 12, 2022. I saw my first blooming daffodil yesterday, March 11.

Spring is Coming!

In a day or two, the temperatures will soar to lofty, balmy heights, kissing 70° F. Spring is just around the corner!

spring daffodils — Spring Daffodils. March 11, 2022.

Back to Winter!

But, for now, it is winter again as I share what is likely the last plein air snow scene of the season.

From My Ridge

So, this painting was done overlooking the Sciscoe Creek Valley and Yellowwood State Forest from the back of my property. The head of the creek is just a few hundred feet further to the north which would be on the right side of the painting, out of view. The creek starts at the intersection of Lanam Ridge Road, where I live, and Dubois Ridge Road which is just few hundred feet from my driveway.

Sciscoe Creek Valley

So, here, at the head of Sciscoe Creek, the waters are small and tumble quickly in fast waterfalls after a heavy rain or snow melt. The rushing water fills the air with a low din in the background throughout the forest. Most of the time, the creek is easy to traverse and cross by foot, stepping over it, rock by rock for stepping stones, or tiptoeing through it or taking a big jump over it.

Scary crossing

But when we get a heavy rain, it can be raging. And a bit scary to cross. Twenty feet wide and two feet deep. The rage doesn’t last long, often just a few hours after the rain stops. But on rare occasions, I have struggled to find a safe place to cross. On those days, I make sure to wear my knee high Arctic Muck boots that are sure to keep my feet warm and dry.

Windy on the Ridge Top

This day, February 10, the snow was starting to melt but slowly enough that the creek is not so raging. I stay up on the ridge top which is much windier than down by the creek. And even though the temperatures climb to a relatively “warm” 40° F, it is cold. The wind makes it feel much colder. I am glad I dressed in layers and have a scarf wrapped around my neck.

As always, when hiking and painting, I am wearing one of my rash guard shirts that dry quickly and keep me toasty warm.

The vista atop the ridge is magnificent.

From this vantage point, I can see four layers of rolling ridges off in the distance with the creek traversing the valley. The valley opens up wider and wider as the creek moves further down the valley. But up here, the hills are tighter and closer together in the narrow valley.

Darkest Darks

The darkest values are mixed using Ultramarine Blue and Cadmium Red Medium and blocked in first. I adjust the darks with some Cadmium Red Light and Cadmium Yellow. The darkest values are the creek and the banks. I hold off painting in the trees so I can carve out the rolls and folds of the hills first.

Snowy Shadows

Using Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Red Medium, and Magenta, I mix an array of violets and periwinkles for the snowy shadows. For the sun kissed highlights on the hills, I use Titanium White with a touch of Cadmium Yellow Light, Cadmium Red Light, and Magenta. I mix the violets with the darks to make a neutral, middle value that recedes for the background hills and trees.

Sky and Trees

Next, I paint in the sky using Cerulean Blue and Titanium White. The trees are painted after the hills and sky. They really enhance the sense of depth in the painting. I work back and forth between the foreground and background and add the pale, peach, beech leaves that cling all winter long.

The signature is added in the wet paint while still in the field.

The Head of the Sciscoe Creek Valley, February 10, 2022

The finished painting:

Field Notes

“40° F, sunny, 2-4 p.m.. On my property at the end of the ridge overlooking the Sciscoe Creek Valley. COLD! Windy on the ridge. Dressed in layers w/ a scarf. Clinging beech leaves.”

The finished painting in an antique black with gold lip, closed corner, museum frame:

And in a silver, closed corner, museum frame:

Let me know in the comments which frame you like the best!

Weekly Special

This week’s special is a gorgeous canvas print featuring daffodils to herald in spring! The print on canvas is available in two sizes, 18″ x 24″ and 24″ x 36″. The image wraps around the edges so it can be hung without a frame. Use coupon code SpringDaffodils to receive a 20% special savings off the price of the print and free shipping! The special ends Monday, March 21, at midnight.

Print on Canvas, Daffodils by the Goldfish Pool, oil painting — Print on Canvas, Daffodils by the Goldfish Pool.

Purchase here:

This blog’s plein air oil painting, “Sciscoe Creek Valley, February 10, 2022”, is also included in the special. Use the same coupon code, SpringDaffodils, to receive a 20% special savings and free shipping. Expires on Monday, March 21, 2022 at midnight.

Let me know in the Order Notes if you prefer the silver or antique black with gold lip frame. If there is no preference noted, I will make an artistic decision about the best frame for the painting.

Thanks so much for coming along with me out into the forest, in the Sciscoe Creek Valley, again this week!

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.”

CHARLENE MARSH

Friday, March 4, 2022

Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022

Before we get to the new blog, Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022, I have a Weekly Special to share.

This week I have a special, featured product, a unisex organic sweatshirt, that is only going to be available this week, from now until midnight, March 14, 2022. Then it disappears. Use coupon code OrganicDaffodils to get a 20% special savings and free shipping for this luxurious, organic sweatshirt. Woo hoo! Time to welcome in spring with this soft, cozy, and warm organic sweatshirt! Great for those in between chilly days where winter has not yet let up it's grip. Several colors to choose from.

https://www.charlenemarshstudio.com/product/unisex-organic-sweatshirt-spring-daffodils-and-hyacinth/

Now, onto a new painting and a new blog.

Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022

So, here is another winter, plein air snow painting. I managed to get five done this year and this is the fourth one. I got out five days out of six to paint before the snow melted.

Detail, Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022, plein air oil painting.

The temperatures warmed up to a "balmy" 45° F. I say "balmy" because that is relative. Compared to the prior few days, it was definitely warmer. But, for standing outside painting for a few hours, it is still bone chilling.

Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022, plein air oil painting.[/caption]

Especially while standing in the creek to paint. So, I dress in multiple layers and wear my Extreme Sport Artic Muck boots that do a great job of keeping my feet and legs warm. And one of my rash guard shirts that dry really fast when I sweat hiking out to get to my painting location. The rash guard shirt keeps me warm, too. That's all I wear when hiking and painting. I must admit, I am not totally comfortable outside for long periods until the temps hit 60° F. That is when it is really, truly "balmy".

Signature detail, Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022, plein air oil painting.

My two dogs, Jack, the foxhound, and Tommy, a pitty, went with me. Tommy is a velcro dog who sticks with me and never wanders off. And if he does get a couple hundred feet from me, I can call him and he comes running right back. Jack is another matter. He is very independent and can run very long distances for hours and hours and hours. I once picked him up over eleven miles from home. When we go out in the woods, I have an e-collar on him with a one mile range. And I can still lose him.

Detail, Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022, plein air oil painting.[/caption]

In October, I installed an e-fence in addition to my woven wire barrier fence when he started digging under the fence and escaping. Seems 5 1/2 fenced acres and a long walk in the woods every day are not enough for this foxhound!

So, this day, I tied him on a 30' lead while I painted so I wouldn't have to worry about him running off and I could concentrate on the painting.

Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022, plein air oil painting.

Well, the little rascal, Tommy, chewed through Jack's leash to release his buddy. So I re-tied him. Next thing I know, Tommy has chewed through his leash again! Grrrrr!!! Anyway, I managed to finish the painting and keep the dog from running off. So, we all made it back home safely.

Detail, Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022, plein air oil painting.[/caption]

I always wait a few hours to pull the painting out of the carry box. Gives me some distance between being out on location and seeing and evaluating the finished painting.

Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022, plein air oil painting.

Then I write my field notes on the back of the painting.

Field Notes

"3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Warms up to 45° F, I still dress in layers because it gets cold standing outside for 2 1/2 hours. Stood in the creek to paint. Sunny, snow day. Snow starting to melt. Yellowwood State Forest, Brown County, Indiana. Tied jack so he wouldn't run off and Tommy chewed through his leash not once but twice!!! Little rascal."

Finished painting:

"Snow Starting to Melt in Yellowwood, February 8, 2022", plein air oil painting, 16" x 12". ©Charlene Marsh.

Thanks for going with me out into Yellowwood again today!

Charlene

P.S. You may purchase this painting and see it in two different frame finishes as well as in situ. I'll even extend the Weekly Special using the coupon code OrganicDaffodils to get a 20% special savings and free shipping for this painting. But it ends March 14, 2022.

https://www.charlenemarshstudio.com/product/snow-starting-to-melt-in-yellowwood-february-8-2022/

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Brilliant, Sunny, Snow Day in Yellowwood, February 7, 2022

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2022 BY CHARLENE MARSH

Brilliant, Sunny, Snow Day in Yellowwood, February 7, 2022

Like the title of this blog and painting says, it was a brilliant, sunny, snow day out in Yellowwwood State Forest that borders my small farm in Brown County, Indiana.

So, despite the cold temperatures and my re-injured back, I just had to get out and paint. Sunny, snowy days are so rare that I have to take advantage and don my snow clothes and insulated arctic snow boots to hike out into the forest with my backpack.

With a high of 30° F, it was a tad warmer than when I painted the plein air oil painting on February 5, 2022 (23° F) and colder than the plein air oil from February 6, 2022.(40° F).

Nevertheless, standing out in below freezing temperatures for several hours is bone chilling!

And the paint gets sticky and drippy with long, stiff tendrils of paint.

Once again, I have to work very quickly to capture the scene before the paint becomes unworkable.

Here’s a detail of my signature signed in the wet paint in the field user a rubber tipped “color shaper” tool.

I write the field notes on the back of the painting back in my studio when I unpack it later in the evening.

Field Notes:

“Cold, 30°, brilliant sunny snow day. Standing in the creek. Hands got soooo cold!! Brrr. Paint starts freezing. Yellowwood State Forest, Brown County, IN.”

Thanks for going out into the forest on a cold snowy day with me!

Happy trails,

Charlene

P.S. Go HERE to see the painting in a couple different frames and to purchase.

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/