Textures and landscapes

"Study of nude and the old barn (textures)" by Hilary J. England
oil on canvas, 16" x 20", 2019

Beginnings...

I began this mid-month with an intensely renewed interest in the figure versus textures of the outdoors.  This strange obsession must coincide with the full moon! I would say it's PMS but I haven't had an overwhelming urge for chocolate, so I cannot attribute it to that haha

Working with the group of models, it's still been rainy and hard to coordinate, but that didn't slow me down too much.  I just decided to work par Coeur -- and go from there.  I had a vision in my mind of what I wanted the paintings to look like -- limited palette, reminiscent of Manet, with an emphasis on the textures of the environment rather than the figure itself.  Naked and unashamed, but rather, an object in the landscape rather than the actual focal point itself.

These things madden me.  Trying to photograph the finished work is enough to make one want to down a gallon of moonshine -- the shadows were so deep, and the reflections wash those tones away.  I tried my best and had to let it go.  The painting DID have the quality I set out to capture, even if the camera would not cooperate with me.  That age-old struggle will never end.

Conclusions:
I guess I can't be too dismayed.  I feel the painting is a success, even if the camera is telling me to go jump in a lake.  I will attempt to re-photo it in the next few days.  I'm just too tired and frustrated now.  The hits don't stop because you are creating -- on the contrary, they seem to ramp up while I concentrating on a task! I was being lazy and didn't set up the lighting etc.  -- it was a long day and I just didn't want to be bothered.  Tomorrow! Like Scarlett said, "after all, tomorrow is another day!" ;-)

-Enjoy

Cardinals in the snow

"Cardinals in the snow" by Hilary J. England
oil on canvas, 8" x 11"

I have been very busy as usual, but not too busy to stop and enjoy the falling snow and the visitors that appeared at the bird feeder right after: a group of social Cardinals.  They were so sweet, and seemed to be having a brunch or some sort of little get-together after the snow ended.

It isn't always easy to set up and capture a scene quickly, but you do get used to it after years of practice.  I have a very basic pochade box, and I paint very quickly, utilizing a limited palette many times.  This time was one of those times.  I used only Van Dyke brown, Ultramarine, Cad Red deep, Indian Yellow, and Titanium white.  This allows for a rapid study without too many color choices that can become troublesome if you are trying to do a basic study.

I love cardinals--they are one of my favorite native birds, as the are both stout and elegant, and of course, their color.  This was a very enjoyable painting for me, and I don't mind painting in the cold.  As long as you take certain steps and precautions, painting outdoors in winter is not a miserable experience.  Always make sure your head and feet are warm and dry, you keep your medium covered so it doesn't gum up, and work rapidly if it's really cold (your paint can actually get inconsistent and "gloppy").  Other than that, enjoy!. I always do.  Be sure to bring a thermos of hot tea, coffee, or whatever you like that's hot.  It helps both for your body and your soul <3

~Enjoy!

Study of young male nude

"Study of young male nude musculature" by Hilary J. England
Brown Conte on paper, 14" x 18"

 

Today is Independence Day -- the Fourth of July.  Usually, people get drunk and blow up the neighborhood (and sometimes themselves) at family barbeques, but I decided on a more reflective path today -- to think of the beauty of everything, and thank God for His blessings, including being able to paint outdoors.  This was not what I painted outdoors -- this was actually from a few days ago, but I didn't post it because I was a little lazy over the last two days.

I enjoyed doing these figure studies, because I always enjoy the strange angles these models can contort into just to find something new and interesting for us to explore.  This model was no exception, and he was in his early 20s, and very youthful and athletic and lean.  That always makes for a nice drawing.

I watched the Stanley Kubrick marathon last night, and I have the music from "Barry Lyndon" stuck in my head, and now with the rain that's about to begin, I feel sleepy and relaxed.  I look out at my garden, and see the robins playing in the grass, and the butterflies flitting from one sweet pea flower to another, to the cucumbers and the squash, and I feel like drifting off to dreamland...and so, maybe I will!

~Enjoy :-)

Winter Swans

"Swans and cygnets" by Hilary J. England, 8" x 10" oil on canvas, 2015

So, I have had enough of old man Winter, as I'm sure everyone has at this point.  I decided to think of nice, warm, serene scenery, so I painted this picture of some swans and cygnets from some older reference material I had shot last year.  It was strange to be painting this in my studio, as I looked out the window, and the snow and wind was whipping so violently against the house and across the road.  Quite a contrast.

It's been a long Winter, but they all seem to be that way, and seemingly longer and endless as Winter starts approaching Spring.  I know the warm weather will be here soon, but these last weeks of cold seem to have a never ending stranglehold on the region, and on our psyche.  "Snow fatigue" is what it's called, by the experts.  Winter doldrums and Cabin Fever is what we laymen call it, haha.

The flu laid waste to the household, and we are now working our way back to health.  I still feel weak, but getting out and shoveling another round of snow fixes that, as the bitter cold is inescapable, and literally takes your breath away.  I had to laugh out loud as the snow, lighter than air, blew in great sheets across my yard, with one of those impish sails going straight down the one exposed crevice in my suit of cold armor: a little gap in my collar.

So, now to will the Spring into the region!!  I hope you enjoy this little painting as much as I enjoyed creating it.

"Snowy farmfield at dusk" By Hilary J. England, 2012, oil on canvas, 8" x 11"

It's been bitterly cold out, and that makes me reticent to go out and paint, but I force myself to.   Thank goodness for the invention of Under Armour. 

I am on the last leg of my math course--ending up 10 weeks of hell, no joke.  I'm so happy about that, and also about heading out of here at the end of the week. 

This little painting was done from the field down the street.  I don't paint snow much, but it was peaceful, and the light was getting low, so I don't have time to scurry and search and search.

So, that's the painting of the day.  Another tomorrow....

April showers



"Wildflowers in china vase" study, oil on canvas, 8" x 10" by Hilary J. England

 The rain has been a constant companion these last few weeks, punctuated by a sunny reprieve here and there.  I know in the South and Midwest, the storms have been terrible, but thankfully we have not had that happen here.  One clap of thunder, and the rest of the storm sputtered away...

I have several phone conferences lined up back to back, school work, errands to run (with no car till this afternoon), and I am generally feeling a bit peckish.  Hopefully, a walk to clear the mind, a cup of coffee, and I will have the strength and patience to get through this morning gracefully ;-)

I am working on the conceptions to my two newest paintings--one will be larger than I have worked in years, so I am excited to tackle that.  With very large paintings comes unique problems to strategize around, including the storage of them afterward, but I think I can handle that now, with the vast amount of storage space I have between the barn and the enormous, empty, dry attic I have.  Working large will help me to diversify a bit (for a solo show), as well as doing some work in different mediums.

So, I plod onward today...I posted a bright, cheery little painting of a quick study of some wildflowers in a china vase...hope it will chase the gray out of your day♥

New Painting

"Perkin's Cove" Oil on Canvas, 12" by 16"

This painting I posted yesterday...it sold in under a half an hour. Amazing!

New Painting

"Sunflowers and the tomato"

From my garden...I liked the texture of the wood, the flowers, and the deep red of the tomato. Had to work fast because it was dreadful hot in my studio, and this caused the decomp of the tomato to speed up, and the flowers to wilt superfast...but, it's done, and I enjoyed it in spite of the sweat and the gnats!

I had a real hard time trying to photo this...the lighting, the shutter speed, the reflections on the darks, and then trying to balance the saturation without washing out the lights...it looks much better in "person" LOL.

New Link

Link

Head full of cotton

Day five without a cigarette...doing ok--I haven't really missed them too badly until I take my afternoon lunch break while I'm painting...then it does get pretty bad. I start feeling fidgety and crappy and long for a cigarette, but I know it'll lessen in time.

I've been working on several projects at the same time, and trying to juggle the finishing touches on the bedrooms for AAA--getting into their travel guide will be a big bonus, so I'm trying to get the rooms completed.

I'm working on painting number four in the Seashore series; I may only do one more instead of three, since the "fog" theme is starting to bring me down, and I'm yearning to do some light-hearted, sun-filled landscapes...not to mention start working on a few portraits. I'm also going to do a formal figure study in Conte...I just have an urge to. Must be the gorgeous Ingres paper that just arrived!

Anyway, thunder storms today...I spent late yesterday afternoon lolling about at the Bungalow...just floating in the pool, staring at the sky...needed a day like that! Tomorrow, I'll have to go purchase some more curtain rods, hit the gym, get a yoga session in, and finish up the painting...start a pastel as well...going to try to hit the hay by midnight, and be up by 7 am. I have business appointments to go over early, plus chores, and kids to shuttle in the inbetween. Running a household and two businesses is pretty crazy...but, whatever...as long as I get to sleep, I can hold everything together quite nicely. I've found a good trick--no internet after 9pm, so this is it for tonight!

Slo Mo Confusion

The rain has been relentless...it lulls you into a sort of aimless mindset...a lethargy that becomes deeper with each passing raindrop...it's hard to get motivated when every day is soggier than the next.

I've gotten alot done, considering the fact I'm working two businesses, and taking care of kids that are home for the summer! Not too shabby...

I finished up my third painting in the series of seven last night--so now we have:

"Sea birds on a gray day" (SEE PAINTING ABOVE)
"Immortal beloved (flowers for the dead)"
"Lone fisherman on the jetty"

Starting painting number four hopefully tomorrow--I have a figure drawing session tonight, and also a very good high school friend coming in tonight to stay with us for the next two days, and also a wedding party coming in this weekend, plus we need to get the new drapes up in several guestrooms, not to mention installing a few new antiques...so I'm spread a little thin now--we'll see how it goes...