First Oil of my favorite pond

I often paint this pond at Blue Springs Lake area. The pond lies in a quiet area just up from the bigger lake. I intend to paint this pond is all seasons, to see how it changes thru the seasons.

Oil paintings is the same as pastels, in that, you apply the color the same-from dark to light. Unlike pastel, the more paint you get on the canvas, the easier it is to lay in additional layers.

Hope you enjoy the view!

Jennylynne

New photo of Around the Bend

The first photo is the new photo that I took yesterday under the correct lighting. When taking photos of my work I try to either take them outside on a cloudy or overcast day with direct lighting or in my dark room in my studio. The studio situation works much better since I can control the lighting. I use two Ott lights set up at 45 degree angles to the painting so that the light is even across the surface. I also put the painting in my black box set up to take out all distracting colors from the room. The camera is set up with the lens in the middle of the painting and I make sure the tripod(which the camera is on) is level. I also have a setting on my camera that will take successive photos of either 3 or 7 while changing the apperture and fstops. This gives you a better chance of getting the colors to be real.

Hope this helps, you can definetly see the difference. The second picture, with all the golds, was taken under regular incandescent lighting in the studio.

There are of course other options for taking photos of paintings, this is just mine.

Happy painting,

Jennylynne

Lazy Day Lion

Years ago, I took a photo of this lion at the KC Zoo. This was right before they started remodeling and updating the zoo. This guy looked so bored. All he had was a small patch of earth to roam on and the rest was concrete and rock. They have improved the exhibits and also the places where the animals are kept and live. I'm sure this guy is thankful!

This is a pastel on velour and will be available for purchase on my website soon.

Thanks for looking,

Jennylynne

New oil painting from Augusta

This painting was done from a photo that I had taken in Augusta, Mo. just down from our cabin. I laid in a monochromatic value sketch and then painted over that in an alla prima style. I put a time constraint on the painting process just like I would have when painting this scene outside on location.

This is good practice for those rainy days when painting outside is more of a challenge than you want to endure. I also worked on a new surface that I had not tried before. Jury is still out on the surface!

The photo is a little different in color than the actual painting. I took the photo just using the track lighting from the studio and not my usual photo set up. But, I'll take another photo later under better conditions later.

Fun day at the studio-finished a cat portrait commission(first one in oil since I started painting in oil again). Did this little painting and drew out my next project on the canvas. Rainy days can be productive afterall!

Collaboration on a painting

While in Augusta, Mo. at the cabin this year, we all decided to collaborate on a painting for the owners of the 1870's cabin we stay at every year. I had never tried acrylics and neither had Chrissy. With Erlene's encouragement and guidance, we all worked on the painting while sitting on the cabin porch. The sun, which had been elusive, was shinning brightly and the weather was beautiful. Chrissy painted in the sky, I did the trees and foreground and Erlene did the cabin. Then I framed it and we all signed it.

Bob and Judy loved it and were very touched that we had done this for them and the cabin. We all had input into it's design and how we should approach our subject. We tried to keep in style with other decor of the cabin. Judy and Bob have done a wonderful job of decorating the cabin and making it look like someone has owned it and been there for years. It is a wonderful mix of the old and new.

If anyone is looking for a quiet place to chill out and relax, the cabin is the place. They offer it for romantic getaways, friends or family reunions, and much more. The cabin can accomodate up to four people, three comfortably. I think it would be a great place for sisters to go and re-connect. (hint to all my sisters-sorry brother.)

To find out more about the cabin just google "Critter Cottage" in Marthasville, Mo. Bob and Judy would love to have you.

Thanks Judy and Bob, cant' wait till next year!

Jennylynne Gragg

Painting in Augusta

Well, it's that time of year again, spring! I am in the process of packing up my art stuff for the annual painting trip to the plein aire 10 day event in Augusta, Missouri. There are about 100 artists signed up this year to participate. If you get a chance to venture that way during the 10 days, starting on April 21st, you should definitely try. It is amazing to be in the company of so many artists painting throughout the countryside. There are also planned painting events during the event and sales of the paintings completed during the event on May 1st. and the Mount Pleasant Winery from noon to 6pm. in Augusta, Mo.

The artists will be painting at Balducci's winery, the town of Augusta, Montelle winery, Definace Mo, Augusta shores, Chandler Hill Winery and along the Katy Trail. for more information contact Corinne at 636-228-1111 or go to the Augusta, Mo website.

Hope to see you there,
Jennylynne and Buddy(the plein aire painting dog)

On Top of the World-new painting

This painting was done from photos taken when we were up in Leadville, Colorado. The clouds were hanging low, in fact, at times it was hard to tell what where the clouds stopped and the mountains began. It was way to cold to paint,even for this die hard plein aire painter. This was the trip that my brave husband kept pulling off the side of the road(sometimes in grave peril and under protest) to let me take my photo references.

Let me know what you think by leaving comments on the blog site.

Thanks and have a great day!

Jennylynne