This oil is an 11"x14" on board done up in the Cornville area in AZ. I am sure the folks who settled that town named it that so that the Valley people in the future would not want to move there. Can't blame them for wanting to keep it a secret, it is so pretty. Oak Creek runs through it so the cottonwood trees are huge, the grass green. What really sets the views off is seeing the purple of Mingus Mountain in the distance. This was done about mid-day. Don't let time of day keep you from painting. There are always shadows and the contrast can be very strong with high over head sunlight. Many artists prefer the morning light. I personally like the late afternoon light here in AZ, everything gets a thin coat of color instead of haze. Problem is, today is 114 degrees, makes afternoon painting not alot of fun. That is when I am stuck in the studio. After so much time painting outdoors, when I do have to refer to photos of an area, I usually am ok. I know the land, the sun, the feel of a place well enough to pull it out of my pictures for a successful painting. Don't let the heat be your excuse. You can even set up with a view out a window, painting indoors with the AC. You can get up really early and get done by 9:00 so you don't stick to the pavement, or watch for the first morning with rain in the forecast. That usually means a spot of rain, and cooler (cooler is relative) breezes. This painting Mid-Day Shade, is available at the
Joyous Lake Gallery.
This oil is an 11"x14" on board done up in the Cornville area in AZ. I am sure the folks who settled that town named it that so that the Valley people in the future would not want to move there. Can't blame them for wanting to keep it a secret, it is so pretty. Oak Creek runs through it so the cottonwood trees are huge, the grass green. What really sets the views off is seeing the purple of Mingus Mountain in the distance. This was done about mid-day. Don't let time of day keep you from painting. There are always shadows and the contrast can be very strong with high over head sunlight. Many artists prefer the morning light. I personally like the late afternoon light here in AZ, everything gets a thin coat of color instead of haze. Problem is, today is 114 degrees, makes afternoon painting not alot of fun. That is when I am stuck in the studio. After so much time painting outdoors, when I do have to refer to photos of an area, I usually am ok. I know the land, the sun, the feel of a place well enough to pull it out of my pictures for a successful painting. Don't let the heat be your excuse. You can even set up with a view out a window, painting indoors with the AC. You can get up really early and get done by 9:00 so you don't stick to the pavement, or watch for the first morning with rain in the forecast. That usually means a spot of rain, and cooler (cooler is relative) breezes. This painting Mid-Day Shade, is available at the Joyous Lake Gallery.
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