Description
As back in the day, years ago, while painting with my mentor, Emile Grupee, I was looking for a strong contrast pattern to build the painting on. This tree and fence were a nice pattern against the light of the background meadow. As with most of my paintings , I start with the background colors, which were very light and cool, and move to the darker , warmer foreground colors. This was a nice contrast of the dark tree, with the rich warm rey clay road in the foreground.We were taking lots of water breaks, to keep hydrated. Very important while in the field. We talked the usual “shop talk” that artist do about paint brands, brushes, canvas and painting surfaces,etc. I was using Utrecht, and Gamblin paints for this particular piece,and using Grumbacher Gainsborough brushes,and a white panel I primed myself.Stapleton used an array of paints from different companies, and seemed to stay with a #6 hog hair brush for the duration of his painting, and in the end he had a beautiful painting with colors very close to nature. A very fine piece indeed. Cooper Michael French decided to paint “the old road home”. He loves to paint, as do I, all these old red clay roads we find through the south.His painting had a beautiful embracing quality about it, inviting the viewer to enter and walk down the road. After grumbling about having to break down and put all our paints and gear away,we agreed this would be reflected the the final price of the paintings! we started these works at 8 am and by now it was almost noon. Time to find a great lunch, where we could sit and exaggerate about the success of our artistic efforts.My own personal opinion is artist that never go on location and paint directly from nature, miss a wonderful fulfilling experience. I’ve always felt that nature is the ultimate teacher,and this experience has been very important to me in my years as a painter.
