Regeneration: Aspen (this painting completes the series)

After doing a line drawing of my Aspen Tree, the background
was painted in gradations of blue. Shadow areas were painted in purple, and I experimented with color.

The lower right leaves were defined by color. I decided that
because the sapling was painted in spring greens, the cycle
would be more complete by making this a fall tree.

Leaves were developed further, and some definition added.

Another step.

The leaves are now filled in, but the composition looks too
chaotic, with very little massing of color. 

More orange and yellow-green is added to the upper left,
and the lower left is darkened.

I continued to add orange to warm up the bottom of the
painting, and to visually connect it to the top.

To complete this painting, I wanted a feeling of leaf canopy
above. I feel that this gives a secure and protective  quality
 to the tree. I needed to eliminate some bits of sky on the
upper left to accomplish this.

These four oil paintings, each 32" X 32", (please read my past three posts) will be permanently displayed outside the chapel at the Castle Rock Adventist Hospital in Castle Rock, Colorado. I appreciate the opportunity to paint this Regeneration Cycle, and to have it presented in such a meaningful location.

Regeneration: Sapling, The Third Painting

My drawing for "Regeneration:Sapling", with a grid used
to enlarge my small sketch.

This canvas was first painted a light blue-purple. The overall
tone of the rocks was close to that color. Once the drawing
was traced onto this colored canvas, I  re-painted the foliage
with white. This clarified my composition, and made my
color choices for the greens easier.

I painted a line image of the rock details, and began to choose
 some variations of rock colors.

Dark areas were defined, establishing depth in the com-
position's shallow space.

Basic color of the foliage is established.

Rocks are modeled and defined, and detail is added to the
 leaves.

Minor tweaks in the rocks. Most importantly, the orange leaves,
which I had really liked for the color contrast they added, were
distracting, so I eliminated them. I did leave a bit of the orange
behind the green leaves as a compliment to the blue.

This new tree represents the regeneration after the fire, my symbol of hope.

This painting is an oil on canvas, 32" X 32", the third painting of "Regeneration", a four part painting commissioned by Noyes Art Designs for a new hospital.

"Regeneration: Scarred", The Second Painting

Beginning stage of my oil painting,"Regeneration: Scarred".
The composition and color established.

Further definition of areas of burn and texture in the landscape.

Areas in the distance are desaturated and softened. 

Texture is integrated, and color palette broadened.

Completed painting, "Regeneration: Scarred",  an oil painting,
32" X 32". This is the second in this series, painted for a hospital,
and commissioned by Noyes Art Designs

I enjoy looking at a subject from many different vantage points. In this painting, our point of view shifts from the close up involvement in the fire shown in the first piece of this series to a view of the larger landscape, with its implications of the inter-connectedness in nature.

Regeneration: Aspen, A Hospital Commission

The first stage of my painting, "Regeneration:Fire"
The background has been painted yellow, then the image painted in  black 

The flames have been developed, but the log is, as yet, undefined by color.

This is the completed oil painting, 32" X 32".
Glowing embers  of the log are now defined, and the flames have been
 softened and colors more differentiated.