Sunset No.127

As the sun sets earlier and earlier as the year comes to an end, it has also moved almost all the way back in front of me. The difficulty now is deciding on when to paint because I now have the option of trying to capture the blinding colors of the sun as it sets or waiting until it dissapears and painting its after glow. This one was painted as the sun was dissapearing behind the tree line.

Sunset No.126

This is risky business, trying to capture the sun while it's still blinding you, before it is obscured by the horizon. Something a camera cannot replicate successfully is a worthwhile journey as an artist I feel, especially in an age where painting is questioned as a viable means of expression. So we will move forward in an effort to capture the light of the sun in it's most difficult moments, and we will try our best to create something of beauty to be admired by all.

Sunset No.125

With thinned paint I washed on the bright effects of the sky as it was still glowing. Moving down to the strip of land bellow, I quickly made observations followed by strokes of color as they were effected by the suns after glow. Usually I like to paint thick, but I kept the drips and thin veils of color instead as I felt they left a memory of the process that I found quit interesting.

Sunset No.124

Monet said he could see changes in light every 7 minutes, I'd have to agree. Once the sun met the strip of trees it sets behind the effect of light starts to change about every 7 minutes, at least a noticeable change. I had to recognize this and commit much to memory and continue painting after the sun was gone to complete the painting.

Preping panels

Preping panels for this weeks sunsets, no.124, 125, 126. Experiminting with three different surfaces: left to right (masonite with gac100 and gesso, masonite with gesso, masonite with gesso stipled on with a chip brush to creat a slight texture).

Sunset No.123

It was nice to arrive early to a cool evening with a super warm setting sun. I had almost thirty minutes of time to observe the scene before painting with one caveat, I couldn't look in the direction of my composition because the sun was naked and un-obscured. By the time I was able to look, I simultaneously tried to make mental notes of things I knew were going to change but I was interested in painting. The optical effect of the sun was my passion today.

Sunset No.122

A gloomy sunset but an opportunity to do something I've waited 121 sunsets to do, paint the moon. Not apparent at first but about thirty minutes into this one and I saw the moon appear. It's brightness took me by surprise this evening, and I look forward to painting it again however it might shine in a future evening. Also of note is the fact that I painted it on the dark natural wood ground giving it murky undertones.