Awareness

Here is another — Day 4 — of my index card paintings for the month. I’m calling this one “Awareness” because that’s what I learned from doing this little 3 x 5 oil painting.

Like the previous paintings I’ve shared from this project, this scene was inspired by a George Inness work. His, of course, has much more detail. I’m simplifying the compositions, trying to put in the most essential elements, studying the colors of the paintings, and looking for the light.

If you want to make a quick comparison for a better understanding of how I’m approaching this project, here is Peace and Plenty by Inness.

My colors are much, much different from those of the original painting. This is intentional. Tonalist artists like Inness used a lot of glazing techniques in their landscapes. These glazes give their works a glowing, almost mystical quality. They add richess and depth…