Sunset No.10

1/30/12
Had to work very quickly on this one, also I've noticed that the sun seems to be setting farther to the right?
Also I forgot to mention, this one and the two before it have been painted with a limited palette of new colors (White, Lemon yellow, cad med yellow, light red, deep red, turquoise). 

Sunset No.9

1/27/12
I find myself feeling as though I need to make big changes in the composition and color in order to make the painting "work" As is the scene is not that interesting but sunsets are always amazing so maybe I'll focus more on the sky in future paintings but I'm not sure...

I do consider this project a happening or a life like art project, so please join me at the Southwood neighborhood lake, come paint watch or ask questions!

Sunset No.8

1/25/12
I think this project took a step closer today to becoming more like what Kaprow calls life like art. The reason being because I met a stranger today while painting my sunset whom also paints and I told her of the project and invited her to paint along with me any day I am painting. I also explained that I will be painting 141 sunsets all together at a set time and at the same place. She looked at me like I was nuts....

Sunset No.7

1/23/12
This project is more that just paintings, to me it is also a sort of community event, something others can play a role in. I invite everyone who hears of the 141 sunsets project to come be a part of it by either painting with me or just watching or being nearby. This project is more of a happening than an ordinary outdoor painting session. Please read
a quote from Kaprow about happenings:

...they appear to go nowhere and make any particular literary point. In contrast to the arts of the past, they have no structured beginning, middle, or end. Their form is open-ended and fluid;nothing obviously is sought and therefore nothing is won, except the certainty of a number of occurances to which we are more than normally attentive.

..

Sunset No.6

1/20/12
I was hoping to do another composition after the sun had set but with the sky so overcast I decided to start right away and capture the little bit of light that was peaking through the grey clouds. I figured if I waited for the sun to go down all the way it may be too dark so I worked with what I was given. A pleasant surprise, a man came up at the same time as me and decided to start fishing, so I painted his figure in the lower right hand corner. This one looked much darker on site than it did in the studio, specifically the water. So I made some alterations in the studio to darken the value of the water.

Sunset No.5

1/18/12
With this sunset I realized that what I am trying to capture is more than a 2d image, it is a feeling, the power that one feels when standing before something so beautiful. Do my paintings convey this awesome feeling and power yet? No, will they? we shall see.

Sunset No.4

1/16/12
The last three journal entries I've pretty much just talked about the color, and light. But this project is about much more than color, light, composition or any other element of visual art. This project is about commitment, it's about making a decision to do something and then sticking with it through better or worse.  I'ts about trusting in our ability to make a decision and believing that all things will work out for good. This project is about facing the unknown with confidence, strength, and courage. I have made a decision to paint 141 sunsets of the same location rain or shine, and document my feelings about each painting here.

This is my journey, but it is yours also. Please join me here every Mon, Wed, Fri to see a new sunset and journal entry!

Sunset No.3

1/13/12
It was a super cold evening as I waited for the setting sun to get a little lower in the sky. As the sun slowly sunk behind the trees it was finally not blindingly bright so I started the painting. My focal point was the area where the sun was setting, I wanted to capture the optical effect of the sun against the trees and how it brightened the dark mass of trees. I think this one went well, but I feel I need to focus on multiple things at once and just paint faster in order to be faithful to the light and color in the entire composition.

Sunset No.2

1/11/12
Got started  a little earlier this time, no bugs but extremely cold weather. The clouds gave way just enough to let the sun through, and it had a nice shimmering effect on the water.  Allot of people stopped by this time to watch the painting, including a few little kids. I think it's great that people want to watch but I can't pay any attention to them, I have to work fast to capture the light and color.

Sunset No.1

1/9/12
It had been overcast all day but as soon as I set up the clouds parted just enough to let through a beautiful ribbon of pink and yellow light. I had to work quickly as the mosquito's were out with a vengeance and I forgot my bug spray.