Currently, I am working on four paintings with each section depicting a different season in Yellowwood State Forest in Brown County, Indiana to be displayed as a polyptych. Each painting measures 48″ high x 24″ wide so the overall size of the tetraptych will be 4′ high and 8′ wide plus whatever space is in between each painting. Each painting is on a cradled panel.
I am planning to have all four ready in time for my fall shows. So I am a busy beaver!
This is the first, Spring In Yellowwood Forest
Sketch
Initial sketch, Spring in Yellowwood Forest, Part 1 of 4, 48×24.
Getting started blocking in the darkest values.
Spring in Yellowwood Forest, Part 1 of 4, 48×24.
Adding the shale.
Mixed using Cerulean Blue, Cadmium Red Medium and Light.
Spring in Yellowwood Forest, Part 1 of 4, 48×24.
Adding the water.
Mixing a turquoise using Cerulean Blue, a touch of Cadmium Yellow Light, and Titanium White, I start painting in the water of the creek.
Spring in Yellowwood Forest, Part 1 of 4, 48×24.
Adding the waterfalls.
Spring in Yellowwood Forest, Part 1 of 4, 48×24.
Hills.
Spring in Yellowwood Forest, Part 1 of 4, 48×24.
Adding the background space and upper tree leaves
.
Spring in Yellowwood Forest, Part 1 of 4, 48×24.
Last but not least.
Using Titanium White and Cerulean Blue, I mix the sky colors and pop it in around the tree leaves.
Spring in Yellowwood Forest, Part 1 of 4, 48×24.
Final frenzy.
Once the entire surface is covered, I go back in and make adjustments.
Then, I add the movement and energy that brings the painting to life. Since I did this part mostly at night, I didn’t take any progress shots. For the progress shots, I take the panel outside to shoot a photo and then go back into the studio to continue working. I like working at night when there are no distractions and I can really focus my attention on the soul of the painting.
This is the first painting, “Trees Down Along Sciscoe Creek”, using the new cradled panels.
A sketch of the composition is painted onto the panel using a brush dipped in magenta oil paint, thinned with oil.
Initial sketch.
Then I mix a dark value using Cadmium Red Medium and Ultramarine Blue and paint in the darkest values.
Starting with the dark values.
Next, I start adding the green foliage on the ground and the silhouetted, tree leaves in the upper part of the sky.
Adding green foliage.
Then I add the golds in the background. Mixing a light value violet, I paint in the distant space.
Background golds and violets.
The turquoise creek is next. I use the Cerulean Blue with a touch of Cadmium Yellow Light and Titanium White for the creek water. Adding more yellow or more white or more blue gives me various shades of water.
The sky uses a mix of Cerulean Blue and Titanium White.
Creek and sky painted in.
After I paint in the basics and completely cover the support, I step back and make any adjustments. Then I start to add the blowing leaves and branches. Otherwise, the “movement” of the painting that brings it alive. I work back and forth in the sky and the forest, pulling elements to the front and then pushing them back.
Finished Oil Painting
“Trees Down Along Sciscoe Creek”, oil painting, 30″ x 24″, c. Charlene Marsh, Code #072022 S 30×24.
Side view of cradled panel painting
Side view of cradled panel painting.
Backside View
Back side of oil painting.
The hanging hardware will be added after the painting is framed.
Details
Detail, oil painting
Oil painting, detail.
Detail of Signature
Detail Signature, oil painting
After I finished this painting, I wanted to rearrange the studio so I would have a bit more room to work on larger pieces. So, I emptied out most of the supplies and equipment from the studio and stashed them on the deck. Typically, when cleaning and rearranging, I like to empty out the space and only put back what I want to keep in it’s new space. The rest goes to recycles, trash, or donations. Once emptied out, I vacuum and scrub everything. Major furniture was arranged several times in various configurations until I was satisfied.
Chaos on the deck
Cleaning out the studio.
This should have been a two day job but rain was due at 6 p.m. so I had to work like a maniac to get everything done and all the gear put back inside. The rain held off until 7 p.m., just after I had put the last items back inside. Then I headed out to the forest to walk the dogs before dark. A light sprinkle turned into a raging torrent with thunder and lightning. The woods got really dark to where I could barely see the path. I was soaked to the bone by the time I got home!
After I got back inside and got dry, there was some more work to do to get everything put away and arranged.
Here’s the final result for the space where I have the easels:
Final arrangement for the easels with a 48″ x 24″ panel.
Cleaning, purging, and rearranging always feels good to refresh and reinvigorate a space.
This week I have been making cradled panels. Usually I just use cut panels and then pop them in a frame when the painting is done. But I am wanting to work in some larger, non-standard sizes. Using a cradle will allow me to either leave the finished painting unframed or add a simple, strip frame to it. Also, the cradle provides bracing to keep larger panels from bending.
Panel Prep
The panels were prepared in advance. I had these pieces cut at Lowe’s where they did it for free on their large, vertical cutter. Lowe’s has an employee/owner relationship with their staff so the service is really great there. The staff is invested in the success of the company. A young man walked with me around the store to get everything on my list. Try to get that kind of service at the other Big Box stores!
Sealing the panels
I seal the front with GAC 100 which makes sure that anything from the hardboard panel will not bleed through and discolor the oil painting over time. Next, I gesso the front and back with two coats of white gesso. Lastly, I tint the front with two coats of acrylic red paint.
Panels vs. Canvas
I prefer painting on panels as they hold up better to the palette knives. Stretched canvas has too much flexibility and bounce to it. Archivally, panels are better, too, because the flexing canvas can cause the paint to flake off over time.
“Woodshop” and large cradled panel with weights while the glue dries.
Woodshop on the Deck
My “woodshop” is the deck so decent weather is crucial. Luckily, I had a stretch of glorious weather to get the job done. A hand held circular saw is woefully inadequate but it was manageable when I was cutting bigger pieces. Trying to trim 1/4″ off the 1″ x 2″ pieces was impossible. A miter saw is on the Vision Board! Anyway, I went over to a friend’s woodshop to cut those pieces. They had a really cool miter saw with a laser light to mark the cutting line. With the right tools, working with wood isn’t too bad. Although I still prefer working with malleable paint.
Gorilla Glue
Using 1″ x 2″ pine strips, I cut them to the needed length and width to fit around the edges of the panels. Then I added a bead line of Gorilla Wood Glue to the edge of the strip and added it to the edge of the already gessoed and tinted panel.
Art books weighing down the pine strips on the cradled panels.
Art Books for Weights for Cradled Panels
I put my collection of art books to good use weighing done the strips until the Gorilla Glue set. This panel is 48″ x 48″ so I added a center bracing strip. Two smaller pieces were used to keep the center brace from touching the panel so that it would not cause an indentation on the front of the panel.
Assorted tools and supplies in the “woodshop” with my faithful watchdog.
This is a 30″ x 24″ cradled panel I made first.
First finished cradled panel.
After the glue set for 24 hours, I drilled and screwed the pine strips at the corners.
Two 48″ x 24″ cradled panels.
Then used wood filler to patch the screw heads and seams.
Back of a 48″ x 48″ cradled panel.
This is the back of the 48″ x 48″ panel with the bracing center piece. Screws were added to each end.
48″ x 24″ cradled panel with four season “sketch” on the easel.
I made four cradled panels, each measuring 48″ high x 24″ wide. This will be a four season grouping. You can see a sample on the easel in the background for what I have in mind.
Edges and corners of the cradled panels.
After the wood filler dried from a pink color to natural pine, I sanded the edges and corners.
Close up of the edges and corners of the cradled panels.
Then I touched up the red tint where any sanding may have taken the paint down to the gesso layer. I like to completely seal the front, back, and edges so that no moisture can get into the hardboard and risk warping it.
A few weeks ago I announced the new “Plein Air Oil Painting Experience On Airbnb” that I was offering and wanted to give you an update. I’ve had a couple different groups book the experience and come out and paint at Yellowwood Lake located in Yellowwood State Forest here in Brown County, Nashville, Indiana.
Guests just need to show up and then I provide everything! Paints, supports, brushes, easels, palette knives, palettes, even paper towels. This is a great way for both experienced painters and newbies to try their hand at plein air oil painting. I offer as much or as little instruction as participants want.
From the Windy City
The first group was a couple of ladies from Chicago. Because Danielle was celebrating her big, 30th birthday, Megan wanted to surprise her with the painting experience. Danielle had never done any painting at all while Megan had done some painting but never plein air. Danielle is a techie so doing something creative was, as she put it, “Way out of my comfort zone.” Nevertheless, both ladies produced exciting paintings and had a grand time.
Going Way Back
The next gig was with a lady who I met in Denver at the Cherry Creek Art Festival way back in 2007 when she bought one of my paintings. Subsequently she has purchased more work either in my studio, online, or at an art show. I can’t remember which. Maybe all three. After Denver, she lived in Pensacola. She now lives in Ellettsville, just west of Bloomington, which is not too far from Brown County. Small world! Lois has had some experience with plein air work but using pastels and watercolors, never oils. So this was a great opportunity for her to try oils “en plein air”. She created a fantastic little painting.
Portable Easels
Right now, I only have enough portable easels to accommodate two guests plus myself but, in the future, plan to add more French easels to be able to host as many as 4-6 guests.
Here are the paintings I got done during the painting sessions:
If you are ready to book an experience or learn more, visit Airbnb now.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I am flexible with scheduling and may be able to book a time or date that may not be listed on the Airbnb calendar. Just let me know!
They are all framed in a narrow, floater frame. I've never used floater frames before so that was an interesting challenge. The challenge is keeping the painting centered in the middle of the floater while attaching it from the back.
And, it is also framed in a floater frame. Please note that while the painting is centered in the frame, the photo is not perfectly square and I filled in the edges with the frame color using Photoshop. I'm a better painter than photographer! LOL.
I used a complementary color scheme featuring golds and violets. And some oranges and blues, also complementary colors.
Family Heirloom
These little paintings make great gifts to capture the magic of the wedding and new life being embarked upon. Couples tell me that a wedding painting is their very favorite gift. A unique oil painting makes a great family heirloom for future generations.
Using your photos, I can paint the bridal couple and the venue background with some hints of guests in the 6" x 6" size. A variety of sizes are available with larger sizes able to accommodate more details.
And, of course, I love hearing from you so please contact me with any questions.
Studio/Gallery Visits Welcome!
You are also welcome to visit the studio/gallery here in beautiful Brown County, Nashville, Indiana as I will be around the rest of the summer getting ready for my fall show schedule. Please contact me in advance to let me know when you would like to come to make sure I am available.
Call the studio/gallery at 812-988-4497 (best to talk to me or leave a message for a call back; this is a landline so please don't try to text).
Or text 812-371-6750 (text only - I do not get very good cell service at my studio).
For the first time ever, I will be exhibiting my oil paintings at the Leeper Park Art Fair in South Bend, Indiana this coming weekend, June 18-19, 2022. The hours of the show are 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. 81 artists and craftsmen will be showing and selling their creations. I particularly like small, fine art shows so am really looking forward to this event.
The historic Studebaker Electric Fountain, rebuilt and restored to its original glory in 2019, occupies a place of prominence in the central section of the park. South Bend has been doing millions of dollars worth of renovation to Leeper Park so I am excited to visit and participate in the art fair.
Studebaker Fountain Workers, 1908
After a crazy, hectic weekend at the Old Town Art Fair in Chicago, I have been busy catching up with painting and gardening and mowing and other chores here on my farm in Brown County before heading out again to South Bend.
So, that’s it for today! Gotta keep plugging away on that long list of things to do! And, yes, even in the heat, life goes on.
This coming weekend I will be exhibiting my paintings at the top ranked art show, Old Town Art Fair in Chicago. I will be in Booth 216 on Wisconsin Street. The hours of the show are 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
To tell the truth, I gave up this show several years ago due to the early Saturday morning load in and set up which was always problematic. I could be out there as early as 4:00 a.m. and still not be able to start to set up my booth until after 8:00 a.m.! I am sure some patrons thought I slept in when they saw me still setting up at the 10:00 a.m. opening bell. But, now they allow set up on Friday which will be much less stressful.
So, I am thrilled to be returning to Old Town. The Old Town Art Fair focuses primarily on fine art that exists for it’s own aesthetic value. The show does not allow any crafts that are primarily functional. The quality of fine art at Old Town is some of the best in the country. I am honored to be invited!
Well, I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Still have lots to do to get ready for the show. Varnishing and framing new paintings, loading the van, laundry, food prep, and more!
