trees without leaves II - variation 5

6" x 6", oil on gessobord

The colors of the holidays inspired this one.

Goals and Challenges:

For 2015, I have set a goal to paint more consistently each week.  In helping to achieve this goal, I have joined Leslie Saeta's challenge of doing 30 paintings in 30 days. This begins January 1st.  I'm really excited to start this and will be posting my paintings daily.  I'm also continuing with the 108-day project which has been a really good challenge.  It has certainly kept me "in the art" and has also laid the groundwork for more consistent painting.

These challenges and goals are a good thing.  They keep us motivated and give direction.  So, here's to more painting in 2015!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

trees without leaves II - variation 4

6" x 6", oil on gessobord

The above painting was done last week, again using a very limited palette.

  

I'm keeping up with the 108-day project of doing art every day.  Today is the 28th day!  With all the extra things happening during this holiday time, I've mostly been doing thumbnail color studies using oil pastels.  Here's a photo of a few of them:

trees without leaves II - variation 3

6" x 6", oil on gessobord

The above painting was done last week.  I really enjoy experimenting with color, and lately I've been using quite limited palettes.  For this painting, I used violet plus 3 yellows and white.  I'm pretty happy with the violet neutrals throughout the piece, with the subtle color shifts.

I'm keeping up with my project of working on art every day.  When I can't get into my studio to paint, I do small color sketches/studies with oil pastels or work on relief prints. 

The print below is from a linoleum carving completed last week:

This is another linoleum carving just finished this week but not printed yet.  The photo used for this is the one I'm currently using for my tree series.  

trees without leaves II - variation 2

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

I started a new project last week on Tuesday - creating a piece of art everyday for the next 108 days.  Marla Baggetta came up with this idea on her blog and invited other artists join in with her.  No pressure at all; it can be as small as a tiny thumbnail sketch.  She called it a gift of commitment and chose the number 108 because it's a sacred number.  I like this.  The commitment to do this along with other artists is a great motivator to get in the studio and create!

The above painting was completed on day #1 and is part of my ongoing color series of "trees without leaves."  Four other days were spent drawing and carving linoleum for a relief print and another day doing color/value studies. 

So, if you are reading this and feel like you need a jumpstart with your art, join in!

trees without leaves II - variation 1

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

This painting is the first color variation of the second image in this series. Again, I'm working at trying to keep it loose, this time using much bigger brushes wherever I could. 

Below are a few things from my printmaking class:  

Second attempt at this tree image with a few changes from the first one I made and posted last time. 

This is the "ghost" image of the tree above it - the third printing without re-inking the linoleum block.  I actually like this one the most so far. 

My printmaking instructor is Maren Munoz and she really knows her stuff! Check out her website when you get a chance. Here are some photos of her in class demonstrating color reduction prints which we will be working on during the next class on Sunday. 

Have a great weekend!

trees without leaves I - variation 5

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

This is the last color variation for this image.  For these color studies, I have tried to push the color a lot from what one would consider "normal" colors for a landscape. 

Below are two photos of the beginning of this painting:

I first toned the canvas with a medium value blue (this isn't the best photo - the blue was more of a turquoise or teal), then blocked in the shapes with a brown.  Next I added the grayed light blue to the ground area, trying to keep it really loose.

Then I added another blue hue to the sky area and added exaggerated intense color to the trees.  I started out loose, hoping I would stay loose, but as you can see in the final painting, it got a bit tighter than I was hoping for...and the colors changed to more muted neutrals and "softer" which I actually like a lot.


Other stuff:

Below is my first try at relief printmaking. There are things about this print that I like but also some mistakes.  We just finished our third week, and I am finding I really love the process.

If you are interested in the relief printmaking process, go to this website.  It has lots of good information. 

Have a great week!

trees without leaves I - variation 4

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

This is a fairly low-key painting, using combinations of reds and greens. 

trees without leaves I - variation 3

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

This is the third painting in my series.

Other News:

Tomorrow I am starting a class in relief printmaking.  I am really excited to try this!  My friend, Carol, lent me her printing press to use outside of class.  I'll post my progress through the class.  Hopefully there will be something "post-worthy."  We'll see!

trees without leaves I - variation 2

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

This is the second painting in the series. 

trees without leaves I - variation 1

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

I have begun a series of small paintings - "trees without leaves" - using photographs as reference and painting several color variations of each photograph.  The above painting is the first in the series. 

Almost Spring

6" x 6", oil on gessobord

My most recent painting.  Experimenting with color and shapes, lines and pattern.   

3 Bare Trees

6" x 6", oil on gessobord

This is a little piece from last week.  For this painting, I was inspired by the subtle, neutral color in one of Stuart Shils' paintings from his Irish Oils - mid 1990's.


Other News: 
My dear friend, Carol Chase Bjerke, has an opening Friday, 09/12/14, at the Artisan Gallery in Paoli.  Stop by if you can.  The show is called "Touch/Stones" and her work is beautiful!

One more thing:

I was at a painting workshop this past Saturday through Monday with Kyle Martin at his Chicken Coop Studio in Rock Springs.  It was "Painting from Photos" and it was great!  I was there with six other artist friends.

 

 

 Chicken Coop Studio

Kyle did a demo each morning and we did a lot of painting each afternoon.  I came home totally inspired!   

BTW, if you are in the area Saturday, Kyle has an opening at the Blue Heron in Reedsburg.  

....and this is Kyle, a great teacher and a really nice guy!

Pear.Apple.Plum

oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

nfs

Edge of Forest

oil, 6" x 6"

Cool Day

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

Late Afternoon

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

 

Early Spring

oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

I was happy with how this little painting turned out.  
It's slightly abstract, and in some areas there are brushstrokes with thicker paint.  
I may try a larger version of this one to see how it turns out.  

Cool Grasses

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

 

Bare Trees

 

oil on gessobord, 6" x 6"

Another small painting where I was experimenting with color. 

New Day

oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

This is another small painting done in oil, experimenting with color and technique, and using a black and white photograph as reference. 

Birches

sold landscape, oil, 6" x 6", $70

Welcome to my blog!  I'm Barb Saletri and I'm an artist.  I hope you enjoy my paintings.

This painting was one of my first landscapes in oil where I experimented with color, using a black and white photo as reference.