tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35445531911319349442024-03-04T21:54:43.571-08:00McDonald Fine Art WorkBlogging site to showcase new artwork by Marianna McDonaldMarianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-69292050756872720162016-02-16T19:49:00.001-08:002016-02-16T19:49:33.602-08:00Shaker Village Inspirations<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been much too long since my last blog and as I reread previous posts I had to smile. My last post was December 2014 and it was an image from Shaker Village. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February 2015, Shaker Village opened studio space to artists and I was selected to participate in the new program. I moved my studio to Shaker Village, East Family Brethren Shop, in April and it's been an excellent experience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My studio is flooded with natural light from six 4 foot tall windows. I talked to Shaker Village visitors and I work on new pastels or oils. It's my gallery and my working studio.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it's just too beautiful to stay in the studio I lock the door and go out to the 3000 acres of Shaker Village property to create plein air drawings. There's nothing like working from a live model - the land.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cTsSGssBLCGIVZHkt_aaO5rMiJAj5u48qngttof2sDPrP5SLY5VpKn41OmYAqJD3QOrzmFmhwWjmGtXhhwrcrhAo8EGgE7Kx4jcimzpLLzeqZ1rAs-_kSugu1YuIgxWwWfIZuqicp_6n/s1600/SV+Partly+Cloudy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cTsSGssBLCGIVZHkt_aaO5rMiJAj5u48qngttof2sDPrP5SLY5VpKn41OmYAqJD3QOrzmFmhwWjmGtXhhwrcrhAo8EGgE7Kx4jcimzpLLzeqZ1rAs-_kSugu1YuIgxWwWfIZuqicp_6n/s320/SV+Partly+Cloudy+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Partly Cloudy" 8"x8" pastel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-37130635854710794612014-12-03T18:23:00.001-08:002014-12-03T18:23:32.735-08:00"Simple"<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill is one of my favorite places to work. When I go there I draw "en plein air" and I take lots of reference photos for later studio work especially when the weather in Kentucky does not lend itself to the outdoor experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A favorite Shaker song written by Joseph Brackett goes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Tis the gift to be simple, Tis the gift to be free</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I think about choices for subject matter for art. I come down on the side of "simple", not big thoughts or esoteric meanings; just images that touch my heart and isn't that what it's all about. Finding beauty in the quiet places of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a carriage trail in Shaker Village and it use to be the main road from Harrodsburg, KY to Lexington, KY. The Shakers used it to take their products to market and as I stand on this road I think of all who travelled along it's gravel path.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV14USxnfizfysCA9coQuzAzIcGaVA8tW7WvghhVodS-aSxRkMR5mMGWvmO97E1zfQqjKQBVnrWEVMCERKIROWEbOKVMlSuIw8-iA20ye-Yi1y0vl1VfWJQ3riU3JKNyKCbDsj5XAdSHcB/s1600/Trail+of+Leaves3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV14USxnfizfysCA9coQuzAzIcGaVA8tW7WvghhVodS-aSxRkMR5mMGWvmO97E1zfQqjKQBVnrWEVMCERKIROWEbOKVMlSuIw8-iA20ye-Yi1y0vl1VfWJQ3riU3JKNyKCbDsj5XAdSHcB/s1600/Trail+of+Leaves3.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pastel and alcohol wash underpainting on UART sanded paper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAapJNruS7aUqDd1__dWLmhGqIW37zydOZsa8ooSJijEO5UQ_T8Jgi4J3LxA3i33_YJweW6PtFDxVsxDn73Xy43C83Nysn3Ugfja2EBas5ezIgHKS9KoXQqyB95n31TCVr1a1EgX1zxh4j/s1600/Trail+of+Leaves+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAapJNruS7aUqDd1__dWLmhGqIW37zydOZsa8ooSJijEO5UQ_T8Jgi4J3LxA3i33_YJweW6PtFDxVsxDn73Xy43C83Nysn3Ugfja2EBas5ezIgHKS9KoXQqyB95n31TCVr1a1EgX1zxh4j/s1600/Trail+of+Leaves+4.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding NuPastel and Sennelier pastels for next layers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYmvnQfH_ljsyc3X2skux-b1alSeY7o2JF-46RvRvnqA5pcWWgVCHXW6u3Gc5UseeTjO_bsed3v4j1WoheXuxYaY-IXO2HHVcs0nbAxZm998KyrjMN2bF-a4bVNZa3Sj9_YdzC8WtEa-K/s1600/Trail+of+Leaves+final+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYmvnQfH_ljsyc3X2skux-b1alSeY7o2JF-46RvRvnqA5pcWWgVCHXW6u3Gc5UseeTjO_bsed3v4j1WoheXuxYaY-IXO2HHVcs0nbAxZm998KyrjMN2bF-a4bVNZa3Sj9_YdzC8WtEa-K/s1600/Trail+of+Leaves+final+blog.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Simple Trail - Shaker Village" 8"x12" pastel</td></tr>
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<br />Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-47239618362436638672014-11-18T19:56:00.003-08:002014-11-18T19:56:49.029-08:00Photos - Reference, Inspiration or Both<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I can't work directly outdoors I use my own reference photos. These are handy when time is short or the light is fading quickly and I don't have enough time to complete a plein air pastel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always work from my own reference photos except when doing animal or property portraits for a customer. The photo helps me recall the feeling of the place and reminds why I was excited about the scene. My b/w sketches also help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I'm surprised when I view the reference photo after the studio piece is completed and see how much I interpreted rather than copied the photograph.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the pastel "End of Autumn 3" that I showed in the last blog.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZ_MT79rwlVqim62io2Djfmr6bLv2OkrNxQ9ueUOvWootZ9hvNifcIzvlNXALXi2RQj0XbwC9swXybU-E1gzExIYS8a2aki8e7cMnm8haNjVPiNiJmenInUhTOU_GJP9cGprEZUqzuDOe/s1600/End+of+Autumn3+FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZ_MT79rwlVqim62io2Djfmr6bLv2OkrNxQ9ueUOvWootZ9hvNifcIzvlNXALXi2RQj0XbwC9swXybU-E1gzExIYS8a2aki8e7cMnm8haNjVPiNiJmenInUhTOU_GJP9cGprEZUqzuDOe/s1600/End+of+Autumn3+FB.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"End of Autumn 3" 18"x24" pastel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here's my reference photo as well as the cropped version of the photo. Cropping in photoshop is an invaluable compositional tool.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hgK2EoxZbbq_tHzmX47GFPK_XvcdH1Bu64ZeEkJ6coyqNbJkUY1J0dFpWrIgq-li9Ej5mHZuLxl7qTrNswJ2q0NRRrpOzGKshmUBEEXdNvbWbjeq9KFk3VSdVCXN5pYMC-r7kFdt_8_A/s1600/End+of+Autumn+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hgK2EoxZbbq_tHzmX47GFPK_XvcdH1Bu64ZeEkJ6coyqNbJkUY1J0dFpWrIgq-li9Ej5mHZuLxl7qTrNswJ2q0NRRrpOzGKshmUBEEXdNvbWbjeq9KFk3VSdVCXN5pYMC-r7kFdt_8_A/s1600/End+of+Autumn+photo.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swift Camp Creek Fall Reflections</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The completed pastel may seem photorealistic but as you can see by comparing it to the reference photo, the photo is as much an inspiration as a reference.</span>Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-8019294170084135072014-11-14T19:22:00.000-08:002014-11-14T19:22:33.972-08:00Working in a series<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes is easier to find your own "visual voice" by working in a series and exploring the same topic from different angles or visions.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXmVN9dhlxe9FM1cyhYXDvWA37qgMEhNWD1umQOsMhsXgybl7BkVdiP0M0-0eTd-SYcALc49KrVtybDH8mpdU86iYjJN0W4IrtFUR3OrahTZ-nmIhXqN5ifuHFT-GKe_IotgbsTL0I39p/s1600/End+of+Autumn+II+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXmVN9dhlxe9FM1cyhYXDvWA37qgMEhNWD1umQOsMhsXgybl7BkVdiP0M0-0eTd-SYcALc49KrVtybDH8mpdU86iYjJN0W4IrtFUR3OrahTZ-nmIhXqN5ifuHFT-GKe_IotgbsTL0I39p/s1600/End+of+Autumn+II+blog.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"End of Autumn 2"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last fall I took a series of up-close images of leaves floating down Swift Camp Creek. The topic was mesmerizing, quiet and contemplative. I took lots of photographs just enjoying the process without actually thinking about using the images for a series. But when I loaded the images onto the computer and started enlarging areas and cropping for better composition I realized I had a lot of subject matter that related in a series. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgvKA6z7FrklNN4kVoKof78Rjl6FPdxQNyUQrJhJntrreCL22KfejGgwGATyvBDkmTCIFmS2rSTfhfRyU9SNDlcUA5tK_W-GGzJHEUktlReoNkCPVjKC4MDrusflKrKT0rXGXYSFU2Wkm/s1600/End+of+Autumn5+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgvKA6z7FrklNN4kVoKof78Rjl6FPdxQNyUQrJhJntrreCL22KfejGgwGATyvBDkmTCIFmS2rSTfhfRyU9SNDlcUA5tK_W-GGzJHEUktlReoNkCPVjKC4MDrusflKrKT0rXGXYSFU2Wkm/s1600/End+of+Autumn5+blog.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"End of Autumn 5"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2bhaM1oL46xXqnjFPXJmDaHFwAkdzDbYuCGuTl1foBt8tDqM2D1Qi9HRnQX_ORH6Fhtbz685KxPb6XHOs84a6RBZlJpsA0Bg7ArryeIDdu8E6Na1bs9znJ3u1YBZiGlMKdHZslD-dscC/s1600/image001.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2bhaM1oL46xXqnjFPXJmDaHFwAkdzDbYuCGuTl1foBt8tDqM2D1Qi9HRnQX_ORH6Fhtbz685KxPb6XHOs84a6RBZlJpsA0Bg7ArryeIDdu8E6Na1bs9znJ3u1YBZiGlMKdHZslD-dscC/s1600/image001.png" height="200" width="199" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Nearby Creeks-End of Autumn" series began. As with all efforts some of the pieces are more successful than others but this series hit a high note. "End of Autumn 5" was accepted to the Pastel Society of America annual show in New York and "End of Autumn 3" won 5th place/landscape in the Pastel 100 contest sponsored by Pastel Journal.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvOGP38fBvCl1OrvDrZcTJQiIAUVUNoX9pyR5fJyF3wPrFcs1NaNkTWp0FpiKR0iEZ9zNJtQOawv6OBOq7poFzhPa_may6FwIn9silFARl4XS4zA58ghuijwt-njtBawpF2CQDQZw24OI/s1600/End+of+Autumn3+FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvOGP38fBvCl1OrvDrZcTJQiIAUVUNoX9pyR5fJyF3wPrFcs1NaNkTWp0FpiKR0iEZ9zNJtQOawv6OBOq7poFzhPa_may6FwIn9silFARl4XS4zA58ghuijwt-njtBawpF2CQDQZw24OI/s1600/End+of+Autumn3+FB.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"End of Autumn 3"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Years ago a friend of mine sent me a postcard that says, "Success is largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go." I still have it tacked to my bulletin board and think about the low times when I wanted to quit but just couldn't. Glad I didn't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The entire series can be viewed on my website, Mcdonaldfineart.com.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-57681798838644506822014-11-06T19:17:00.000-08:002014-11-06T19:17:16.733-08:00Wilderness Road Farmhouse<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night I mistakenly posted on my old Pastel Lessons blog. That's what happens when I post at 10:30 pm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here's what should have been on this site.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week my husband and I took our mountain bikes to Cumberland Gap area and rode on the Wilderness Trail. I spotted this farm and loved the rhythm of the barns, the golden maples and the farmhouse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This pastel is done on UArt sanded paper with pastel and alcohol wash underpainting. UArt is very versatile paper which accepts watercolor and thinned oil washes as well as the alcohol type underpainting without warps or buckling. Because it only comes in cream color and I like to have a colored underpainting to make the pastel pop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After considering what I thought was the final piece I felt like too many of the angles of shapes were headed in the same direction. They needed a counter-balance - not strong, just a subtle shift in colors and shapes. I changes some of the shapes and colors in the foreground field. I think it's finished but with pastel is always easy to rub out and change things.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKOAurmhCgDfxulD1UUx-8Q3UupGtB-dcgsvrhCBj1JRNzEN68plqtkvYk_cVqm4NpbuGM3LBOVsPaBaB9uJ6mQk-jC3H06CuKZ3jIZzKpB_KdKpv0Xx1EGgz45DmZQcvwa7rP8-He0ll/s1600/Wilderness+Farm+under+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKOAurmhCgDfxulD1UUx-8Q3UupGtB-dcgsvrhCBj1JRNzEN68plqtkvYk_cVqm4NpbuGM3LBOVsPaBaB9uJ6mQk-jC3H06CuKZ3jIZzKpB_KdKpv0Xx1EGgz45DmZQcvwa7rP8-He0ll/s1600/Wilderness+Farm+under+blog.jpg" height="312" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wilderness Road Farm" step one - underpainting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEn48hkYqhEDBZvxfsq-K1B2IWwFsnnL1UTjPFMJmMpMHnn_aQnHnNJ99DTwxQNCHK-1HCHA3TGVcBa754r7WIgWznKjIbpLMRBiqu4SO0soVG-yzc0eFuanJzhjwHrWkpND6DQFK5-dzg/s1600/Wilderness+Rd+Farm3+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEn48hkYqhEDBZvxfsq-K1B2IWwFsnnL1UTjPFMJmMpMHnn_aQnHnNJ99DTwxQNCHK-1HCHA3TGVcBa754r7WIgWznKjIbpLMRBiqu4SO0soVG-yzc0eFuanJzhjwHrWkpND6DQFK5-dzg/s1600/Wilderness+Rd+Farm3+blog.jpg" height="312" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wilderness Road Farm" 11"x14" pastel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYGD5_BqgMk4kkaVyBKv7EUw908Y9ZTaVJiq7bKaN1kCtR1FTuv61_WyXbaKVj-2FQRcx30EQOt0OuYNFtVSe_GnvQ-386YwMKZ5Oze208-MHArR_fPiy0qzxk8T5_hSnup3FhHj_YHKe/s1600/Wilderness+Rd+Farm+final+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYGD5_BqgMk4kkaVyBKv7EUw908Y9ZTaVJiq7bKaN1kCtR1FTuv61_WyXbaKVj-2FQRcx30EQOt0OuYNFtVSe_GnvQ-386YwMKZ5Oze208-MHArR_fPiy0qzxk8T5_hSnup3FhHj_YHKe/s1600/Wilderness+Rd+Farm+final+blog.jpg" height="312" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wilderness Road Farm" 11"x14" pastel final</td></tr>
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<br />Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-23582889309276905242014-10-09T19:08:00.001-07:002014-10-09T19:08:45.306-07:00Autumn Red<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This drawing just wasn't working. I was in West Virginia with my friend Joy and I spotted this group of trees beginning to turn red. There was almost an even mix of red and dusty greens and the light was very overhead. I worked on it and got disgusted. With a paper towel I wiped out my feeble efforts. Yes, sometimes it's a good idea to just start over.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQObh-QKkn2xWkm0v9vSrYRvEHSefFAatgJat7nlPwFOOHou4nwb7jcMcOujyBQpcBrrvNPYbbv-S5b0q9A9vJ63DyuB8fnE8IX4h_1pNdeUgt9hD8B7M1vgKxTVPmsCyvA8SL1wSNTF2/s1600/Red+Autumn+wipe+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQObh-QKkn2xWkm0v9vSrYRvEHSefFAatgJat7nlPwFOOHou4nwb7jcMcOujyBQpcBrrvNPYbbv-S5b0q9A9vJ63DyuB8fnE8IX4h_1pNdeUgt9hD8B7M1vgKxTVPmsCyvA8SL1wSNTF2/s1600/Red+Autumn+wipe+out.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Red Autumn" wiped out</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in my studio in Kentucky, I was determined to make this image work. First I studied the photo and did another black and white thumbnail sketch. (I did one on site also, but worked harder on this second drawing and you can see where I erased some of the sketch and redesigned the location of the shapes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pciZHk3P9yIPDwNpeF5_PtSqd0a6gcXCxH2J6oh9N4cILpoijvNK-wI7yPYqoBLFbBhFI8WZtD1MpBfIcYt-jcmyFPCTU9AxRcI2HJcVVfTaw-VSXOAuL6suXQPd4i-N89DLAkohq0-3/s1600/Red+Autumn+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pciZHk3P9yIPDwNpeF5_PtSqd0a6gcXCxH2J6oh9N4cILpoijvNK-wI7yPYqoBLFbBhFI8WZtD1MpBfIcYt-jcmyFPCTU9AxRcI2HJcVVfTaw-VSXOAuL6suXQPd4i-N89DLAkohq0-3/s1600/Red+Autumn+sketch.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thumbnail sketch of "Red Autumn"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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Next, I started reworking the image focusing on the values from my sketch and changing the main tree to a dominate red.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVJz4EaYcDBQMw_NcftzhJHeidjejTgBdR1o1Jr2HgvFX6RQLNyzCKkm2I9ZkwqySIEgw34VQ1iIap_R0hKMjHu81vNQizndkGB6PYYM30t3zIUa0724bV6ngQckNpMxQMrGJGtfuI6qg/s1600/Red+Autumn+step+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVJz4EaYcDBQMw_NcftzhJHeidjejTgBdR1o1Jr2HgvFX6RQLNyzCKkm2I9ZkwqySIEgw34VQ1iIap_R0hKMjHu81vNQizndkGB6PYYM30t3zIUa0724bV6ngQckNpMxQMrGJGtfuI6qg/s1600/Red+Autumn+step+2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Red Autumn" midway finished</td></tr>
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In the final image I focused on developing the brilliant reds with late afternoon light and made the tractor path a secondary element.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnQYK51Nh5_BbZF2mInQthPv71LeicIyq0yZS0yHpnLmQLYs5k0WpWzxnCxZlO4vrC9T3KwuPw9ApbXxBNVgc8lbBNI0gEQ24qYM84MK2Q2tLJ3v_Km1nGO0S_2lLsVoFBLR5rE9qg0Gq/s1600/Red+Autumn+-+Tractor+Path+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnQYK51Nh5_BbZF2mInQthPv71LeicIyq0yZS0yHpnLmQLYs5k0WpWzxnCxZlO4vrC9T3KwuPw9ApbXxBNVgc8lbBNI0gEQ24qYM84MK2Q2tLJ3v_Km1nGO0S_2lLsVoFBLR5rE9qg0Gq/s1600/Red+Autumn+-+Tractor+Path+final.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Red Autumn & Tractor Path" 12"x16" pastel</td></tr>
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Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-84149150866852233222014-09-18T19:15:00.000-07:002014-09-18T19:15:09.313-07:00Fading Light<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Fading Light" as inspired by a small portion of a photo I took at Shaker Village as the sun set on the west side of the property. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While studying the photo to use as reference for another pastel I noticed how the light ran across the top of the hillside and illuminated the top of the house. The fields and trees created an abstract pattern of interest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First I created some black and white sketches to study the shapes and values.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwV0dZZItkIvGyaYSzn-_s_TOGNL9YFZsoBaASOiWP7h_HafTTsgOeBBr40S-hBPu5GvDKxPiO88n-t5rLbGQb-Vvuq2uOdY7d6VHktOt4FK60T6zxKaxAeJUzJLMEDK2BM5OK1vo7vKNi/s1600/Fading+Light+b:w+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwV0dZZItkIvGyaYSzn-_s_TOGNL9YFZsoBaASOiWP7h_HafTTsgOeBBr40S-hBPu5GvDKxPiO88n-t5rLbGQb-Vvuq2uOdY7d6VHktOt4FK60T6zxKaxAeJUzJLMEDK2BM5OK1vo7vKNi/s1600/Fading+Light+b:w+sketch.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fading Light" sketches<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Th</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">en because the distant scene was colored lightly by fading light and summer haze, I needed to enhance the colors giving me a chance to interpret instead of just copying nature. These little color sketches are only 4"x6".</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19QBBw-fVe4Xrl23JzCagLPHgGho0wky4xrostN3qbwfmjmCpaq1t6L2ZDf-dwvU9U_aMWvMeh4iMGjpOW89zj3Gwwi6xrSiYdeLrmFcTFnnuuWLRHo-vZ1ClGA29GMBgyVzjhIlMQvZr/s1600/Fading+light+color+sketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19QBBw-fVe4Xrl23JzCagLPHgGho0wky4xrostN3qbwfmjmCpaq1t6L2ZDf-dwvU9U_aMWvMeh4iMGjpOW89zj3Gwwi6xrSiYdeLrmFcTFnnuuWLRHo-vZ1ClGA29GMBgyVzjhIlMQvZr/s1600/Fading+light+color+sketches.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fading Light" color sketches<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally I chose my favorite sketches and combined the best of each to create a larger 8"x12" pastel drawing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnERQPMPWmqomRF0qlKmR32occ7jGEgPStNtdDJM4QsFxC_g7cWvJevl8WXTRk_LH8CcQHI9I7BdsmhDHO28gAHBJA0Y6LuYviymUyg46O3OHDpN4rLR4EfHathDiXRahObtrMUY5rIlnE/s1600/Fading+Light+final+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnERQPMPWmqomRF0qlKmR32occ7jGEgPStNtdDJM4QsFxC_g7cWvJevl8WXTRk_LH8CcQHI9I7BdsmhDHO28gAHBJA0Y6LuYviymUyg46O3OHDpN4rLR4EfHathDiXRahObtrMUY5rIlnE/s1600/Fading+Light+final+blog.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fading Light" 8"x12" pasel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-58859946078763804702014-09-11T19:22:00.000-07:002014-09-11T19:22:54.747-07:00Indiana Fields<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black and white thumbnails are a great way to study value, but color thumbnails can help explore color relationships.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are studies from a memory I had from a recent trip home from an art fair in Bloomington, IN. I also took some snapshots with my cellphone of sunset clouds. Cellphone images aren't great but the distortions can add to the creative process. Don't copy, just use the photo to trigger memories.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV-4d1rxRMdMJ-1C4oumRPjVWjGf-hvooAVmb1izNbL6N2ZsWuNTQYKanrGyUVt_AYXCQ4vhBN5s6FwR3mE5IskDNPPl0ZNGLlcfcl97dQEPYveHzilpRB1eZ8iMPJQtvOkI0brgMCjm0/s1600/Indiana+fields+studies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV-4d1rxRMdMJ-1C4oumRPjVWjGf-hvooAVmb1izNbL6N2ZsWuNTQYKanrGyUVt_AYXCQ4vhBN5s6FwR3mE5IskDNPPl0ZNGLlcfcl97dQEPYveHzilpRB1eZ8iMPJQtvOkI0brgMCjm0/s1600/Indiana+fields+studies.jpg" height="400" width="366" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">color studies for "Indiana Fields"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTdnA1TakADWMOT_xlnX8uI8xjZdVAF9FCDWCDA_BrG58CLhp7DIDDN_frbgP6XgVRFWKi5p9_4BluroMP5i7oudPLokJfI86fJLTz9-Ka_WxpJ3A4TR2Zi-qog3qstcyjTHZ8EgBKaaO/s1600/Indiana+fields+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTdnA1TakADWMOT_xlnX8uI8xjZdVAF9FCDWCDA_BrG58CLhp7DIDDN_frbgP6XgVRFWKi5p9_4BluroMP5i7oudPLokJfI86fJLTz9-Ka_WxpJ3A4TR2Zi-qog3qstcyjTHZ8EgBKaaO/s1600/Indiana+fields+1+copy.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Indiana Fields1" 8"x12" pastel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlfUxso1X7QG15ukyAJdBdA9_peL_cT2HVznLk7XE_Vk3Crt3udx0Le2PgeG0LJ24F8dqkQCZEkqm5If8qIevJxNt3k6R2OSYe1vt3RFTdZd-xFFuJ9F5Pv_Kqy3898soCl9rkw6wW7dZ/s1600/Indiana+fields+2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlfUxso1X7QG15ukyAJdBdA9_peL_cT2HVznLk7XE_Vk3Crt3udx0Le2PgeG0LJ24F8dqkQCZEkqm5If8qIevJxNt3k6R2OSYe1vt3RFTdZd-xFFuJ9F5Pv_Kqy3898soCl9rkw6wW7dZ/s1600/Indiana+fields+2+copy.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Indiana Fields2" 8"x12" pastel</td></tr>
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<br />Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-44499655698185696532014-09-11T18:59:00.000-07:002014-09-11T19:09:12.426-07:00Mowing study<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In July I took a weeklong workshop at Arrowmont Arts and Crafts School in Gatlinburg, TN with the pastel artist Susan Ogilvie. It was an amazing week and I'm trying to apply what I've learned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of all the things I learned, composition and thumbnail sketches have impacted my ideas the most. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, everyone knows we're suppose to create thumbnail sketches to study the images for value and composition, but very few of us do it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the black and white thumbnail I created to study the elements.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tYv8qp0OvarUGbFAcGOtIoaiZZUV-_tpahsfd4QBLFKVqodJhvfPjhfiumwiSoEJabuTZrIDUCfw5Mvew9QhlZNeRbECgrv8o7jL6Kp2fFmYHhyywADHmrccjPFOqhDzH7-7z2TRsxOt/s1600/Mowing+b:w+sketch.jpg" height="213" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">black and white study from Shaker Village fields</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cloud section of this painting was created as a plein air piece at Shaker Village this month, but the bottom of the plein air didn't work well. I rubbed out that portion. Then after studying a photograph that I took at Shaker Village the year before, I combined the two images and created "Mowing 2". Confused? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, that's another thing I learned in the workshop - combine images to create a better composition. I plan on talking more about these things in upcoming blogs.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUXgwxabOhYqtrvK4xBQwRPcN5TzOb1gxeYAkvidZzAaYzA_5BzKR9ro0wadCkhEVBscVrNUyYYtc5UnWdT85R6kW2hxHZkmFHtq506W8GENwIuHqa1lUwGmPGWWF4mrilHJnzxQYUMBi/s1600/June+Mowing+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUXgwxabOhYqtrvK4xBQwRPcN5TzOb1gxeYAkvidZzAaYzA_5BzKR9ro0wadCkhEVBscVrNUyYYtc5UnWdT85R6kW2hxHZkmFHtq506W8GENwIuHqa1lUwGmPGWWF4mrilHJnzxQYUMBi/s1600/June+Mowing+copy.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mowing 1" 16"x12" pastel on dark gray PastelMat</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is another image from the thumbnail study.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGKmCLzKmfzsg1g5U3GPPuIrXmrBhpI3uiW5J8bltEa2rOEGEGCR-LL3Vt0hbpV8YRVHpEm3cJGWGfkdZKcsaTxw3Ae-WFWGPvlOUk34iL4nOjIkI6RwABTHKLHB3GyOBvs_NOkHpnX1v/s1600/Mowing+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGKmCLzKmfzsg1g5U3GPPuIrXmrBhpI3uiW5J8bltEa2rOEGEGCR-LL3Vt0hbpV8YRVHpEm3cJGWGfkdZKcsaTxw3Ae-WFWGPvlOUk34iL4nOjIkI6RwABTHKLHB3GyOBvs_NOkHpnX1v/s1600/Mowing+copy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mowing 2" 12"x16" pastel on textured sanded paper</span></td></tr>
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Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-40725841090651509652014-02-09T14:34:00.001-08:002014-02-09T14:34:45.599-08:00Pastel Workshop Demo Piece<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello all,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While finishing my demo piece I decided I didn't need another just like the step by step image so I decided to crop this one to fit into a 12"x16" frame.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think by cropping out the top of the tree and the mountain top, the viewer's eye is focused more on the light as it moves across the road to the grass and tree trunk. The orange leaves and light colored tree branch brings the eye back into the picture.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXqDRrYF6QGlasxkP9mHjaOud2Io3jbli1fHNUixz3t21sfmksGmYS94m2oiAm3Qh-9lLfUoQfKXVGZVRXE9jhilmxO7annM59OI0oiT-5YnH3ziwVRFO4YDBV3qYf_aouo1VfWEWf3fn/s1600/Big+Maple+demo-croppedblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXqDRrYF6QGlasxkP9mHjaOud2Io3jbli1fHNUixz3t21sfmksGmYS94m2oiAm3Qh-9lLfUoQfKXVGZVRXE9jhilmxO7annM59OI0oiT-5YnH3ziwVRFO4YDBV3qYf_aouo1VfWEWf3fn/s1600/Big+Maple+demo-croppedblog.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Big Maple" demo piece 8"x12" pastel</td></tr>
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<br />Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-1210914028710705492014-02-09T12:59:00.000-08:002014-02-09T12:59:38.710-08:00Pastel Workshop Follow-up<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HXaZAwoW2uvYaGIhn255iJLyUO50OA25TulMQUo_7mdMus7fQ3mYgiT_nEW3_-WNIFNW3WQMGWqp9ZNfHdAYz_0JqNxBh0yqkOD3hiM3LthrWhANGBi6O6cRzBxy9RZImhdsGVKX8rlk/s1600/Big+Maple+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HXaZAwoW2uvYaGIhn255iJLyUO50OA25TulMQUo_7mdMus7fQ3mYgiT_nEW3_-WNIFNW3WQMGWqp9ZNfHdAYz_0JqNxBh0yqkOD3hiM3LthrWhANGBi6O6cRzBxy9RZImhdsGVKX8rlk/s1600/Big+Maple+final.jpg" height="312" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mingo Road Big Maple" 12"x16" pastel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to everyone who attended my "Beginner/Intermediate Pastel Workshop" at Artists Attic this past Saturday. What a great and dedicated group of artists. A real pleasure to teach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As promised, here's the final image, the photograph and the step-by step printout. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm working on finishing up my demo piece from the workshop and will post it in a later entry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks again for a truly delightful Saturday.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6NJpOgcxXjOzlmHC-L0W6C9wadaniS9TJx-uCemyouzKJVTlTVDPx8boNR7eiKBzv6r6y3janZq8N_0Drpjax0coQhhOSbirDHfVE4_InsLnM9Hbsoi7mQ3dcw2WoevpuoAL-_PLf5ss/s1600/photo+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6NJpOgcxXjOzlmHC-L0W6C9wadaniS9TJx-uCemyouzKJVTlTVDPx8boNR7eiKBzv6r6y3janZq8N_0Drpjax0coQhhOSbirDHfVE4_InsLnM9Hbsoi7mQ3dcw2WoevpuoAL-_PLf5ss/s1600/photo+for+blog.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reference photograph for "Mingo Road Big Maple"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3B8RxaLH2qMrCrNqRXhuO1o2M-QlYdK2ZDFJ4kg_Ho4apSrW499RnajEWaJyWlrJZ7GPt1M6XtMmtMDtBPKKfgsms_y-kCry8S2sX_vmcnCD75aTUi9ayvZWHe_nY84qPEVRfBrpJE-x/s1600/Big+maple+stepsflat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3B8RxaLH2qMrCrNqRXhuO1o2M-QlYdK2ZDFJ4kg_Ho4apSrW499RnajEWaJyWlrJZ7GPt1M6XtMmtMDtBPKKfgsms_y-kCry8S2sX_vmcnCD75aTUi9ayvZWHe_nY84qPEVRfBrpJE-x/s1600/Big+maple+stepsflat.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steps to create "Mingo Road Big Maple"</td></tr>
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Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-40400656408668429872013-12-08T17:17:00.000-08:002013-12-08T17:17:17.017-08:00End of Autumn 2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm in a blogging frenzy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the second of the "End of Autumn" series. It's still slightly in transition since I'm working on "End of Autumn 6" which is also of moving water. I'd like the color of the 2 pieces to work together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's one of the many pluses of working with pastel. The pieces can always be adjusted and reworked (unlike watercolor). The problem comes if I overwork and ruin the energy of piece.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoESQHtBDfTrjWkHXxmi1uDwQzYOAh15LtP8Hzar7RPpUUaanFGFMXKUz_URzJfqH6xhg0DbIjp0qHkbZsoCXEk7QcbBiMRiUkUlbcRmUpnL5TCKcV1C7r-NVhew8MFl0dPn-i7qUS-Myv/s1600/End+of+Autumn+II+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoESQHtBDfTrjWkHXxmi1uDwQzYOAh15LtP8Hzar7RPpUUaanFGFMXKUz_URzJfqH6xhg0DbIjp0qHkbZsoCXEk7QcbBiMRiUkUlbcRmUpnL5TCKcV1C7r-NVhew8MFl0dPn-i7qUS-Myv/s320/End+of+Autumn+II+new.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"End of Autumn 2" 18" x 26"</div>
<br />Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-27038751456871568802013-12-08T16:54:00.000-08:002013-12-08T16:54:33.466-08:00The Close-up Series<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep, it's me again. 2 blogs in one night. woo-hoo. The only way to remember changes is to do it at least 2 times in one night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now I've moved over to the laptop where I have most of my new pieces stored. Yes, I know there's a "cloud" to help jump back and forth from desktop to laptop, and my brain is there all the time. Unfortunately is not the part of the brain that stores computer information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here's the first in the "Close-up" series.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWZYnu8SrpFZBhbg-jEZ1nIJZeFF7SZuUkpjn2WEs5MsiHqb5jmZ_-LFZodYv5B_jIBSrWf6l3xcJayLvT2q1DOON-kgmhyphenhyphenIlb5SO_JAEtelCNXBsVk5gx70wXH3EDSjYdxK0FbA_gsoH/s1600/End+of+Autumn+I+lighter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWZYnu8SrpFZBhbg-jEZ1nIJZeFF7SZuUkpjn2WEs5MsiHqb5jmZ_-LFZodYv5B_jIBSrWf6l3xcJayLvT2q1DOON-kgmhyphenhyphenIlb5SO_JAEtelCNXBsVk5gx70wXH3EDSjYdxK0FbA_gsoH/s320/End+of+Autumn+I+lighter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"End of Autumn 1" 18"x26" pastel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The "End of Autumn" series was inspired by a trip this fall to Swift Camp Creek which runs into Red River at the Gorge. I have completed many plein air drawings of the creek and hiking trails but have always been intrigued by the intimacy of the creek with the silt covered rocks, sinking leaves, leaves floating on the top and light reflections on the surface. Very complicated and not something I wanted to try in a 2 hour plein air session. So I snapped tons of photos - I just love, love, love digital photography. I like enlarging and cropping shots until I get the interesting composition I need.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the studio I can study the many photos and work slowly with careful selection of colors and composition.</span>Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-6607448431013369182013-12-08T16:33:00.000-08:002013-12-08T16:33:24.056-08:00Way Too Long<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello to the blogasphere,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been way too long since I blogged-February-now that's embarrassing. So much has happened.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1st - I moved my studio to the building that's houses LexArts: the umbrella org for the all the arts in Lexington. Neat place to be but I miss the art crew at Artists Attic.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2nd - In September my husband and I travelled to the southwest, visiting Santa Fe, Taos, Painted Desert and the amazing Grand Canyon.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3rd - In October our very sweet friends ask us to join them in Kauai, Hawaii for the 2nd week of their vacation. Again an amazing place and yes, I tried to surf but managed only to get up on my hands and knees. Oh well, at least I tried.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be posting some pastels from my trips and some new pastels from my "close-up" series which started with creek images from Red River Gorge.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I have to remember how to attach photos. :-) It only took me 20 minutes to get logged in - the old forgetting my password and all the changes due to the lovely Time Warner Cable change over from Insight.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do love winter. It's a quiet, contemplative time and I plan on working daily AND posting many of my new pieces.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just to get back into the swing of things I'll post the image I'm using on my new business cards.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sausrL5BZzB68Uuvw7XajdgNyihS-gAC5-o5xRaAGUgF6eYCEIZsHC7Kk1734jhFjageLVJMwmrwWotLty8pjm2YqBvlZehFQhO512UlFm2YnC28e4kIndNo3UxPeNdEs3yvcGXrJQR0/s1600/Shaker+Trail+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sausrL5BZzB68Uuvw7XajdgNyihS-gAC5-o5xRaAGUgF6eYCEIZsHC7Kk1734jhFjageLVJMwmrwWotLty8pjm2YqBvlZehFQhO512UlFm2YnC28e4kIndNo3UxPeNdEs3yvcGXrJQR0/s320/Shaker+Trail+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Shaker Trail" pastel 14"x30"</span></div>
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Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-5220116665764763242013-02-10T17:45:00.002-08:002013-02-10T17:58:10.797-08:00State Park pastels<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been way too long between blogs because I've been working on pastels for 2 one-person shows and a large commission for the new Owensboro Hospital.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So tonight I tried to load up some step by steps from my recent pastel workshop and of course couldn't get it to work. Now I'm back again, trying. You know the definition of crazy is doing the same thing again and expecting a different result. Well computer technology drives me crazy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here's a couple of images from my one person show at Artists' Attic, 401 W. Main Street, Victorian Square - 4th floor in downtown Lexington, KY. The reception is Gallery Hop night, Friday, Feb. 15, 5-8pm</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89PXIGKtR1KzeRMupL7qwhv_7x6KGFQ1_sTOhSX6EVohbJ0LeGtL0Z5V7CIvEOh2eI-fBjhxqBFFYUurfKFmsW4KhCB7qh0hM50L-eqJ364Q_KxGsyr_GefXD8J2DayxfLXWgyqRB8VGy/s1600/Greenbo+Lake+Morning+Feelings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89PXIGKtR1KzeRMupL7qwhv_7x6KGFQ1_sTOhSX6EVohbJ0LeGtL0Z5V7CIvEOh2eI-fBjhxqBFFYUurfKFmsW4KhCB7qh0hM50L-eqJ364Q_KxGsyr_GefXD8J2DayxfLXWgyqRB8VGy/s400/Greenbo+Lake+Morning+Feelings.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Greenbo Lake Morning Feelings" pastel 24"x30"<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKH7ntVKakAQBDM0Lrw_G2kE8a4Fth6IUaMEE5f2DYsVmVof2qDH6UZ9g-bkgeJGij2LH7ZLlglxFCisaBskDz4o7pqThIsYVjufnoeb80t3xnXyGb4zJkut_Rg6C7Xc1LSzAnfefeYKk/s1600/Dale+Hollow+Reflections+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKH7ntVKakAQBDM0Lrw_G2kE8a4Fth6IUaMEE5f2DYsVmVof2qDH6UZ9g-bkgeJGij2LH7ZLlglxFCisaBskDz4o7pqThIsYVjufnoeb80t3xnXyGb4zJkut_Rg6C7Xc1LSzAnfefeYKk/s400/Dale+Hollow+Reflections+ad.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Dale Hollow Reflections" pastel 24"x30"</td></tr>
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Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-23467709570094251102013-02-10T16:28:00.001-08:002013-02-10T17:47:38.636-08:00Wildflower demo stepshello to all in my latest pastel workshop students.<br />
As promised here are the steps for the Wildflower demonstration and I apologize for working you all so hard. This subject was more difficult than I realized but hey, if it were easy what would you learn? right? :-)<br />
<br />
oh, great! I'm having server/internet problems.<br />
I'm going to try to create a folder directly onto my website, www.mcdonaldfineart.com and I'll title it Demos.<br />
keep your fingers crossed.<br />
guess it's time to update the OS on my mac......lordy how I hate tech problems.<br />
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<br />Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-47859495799360875722012-12-20T06:46:00.001-08:002012-12-20T06:46:50.594-08:00Workshop Information"Pastels for Beginners" February 9, 9am-4pm, at Artists' Attic, 401 W. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507<br />
$75.<br />
I'll have a discussion about pastels and then a demonstration followed by a step by step for students to create their own piece.<br />
I will supply the sanded pastel paper but students need to bring their own pastel sets.<br />
Suggested sets are 48 piece set of NuPastels<br />
and if your budget allows I'd suggest the Sennelier 80 1/2 sticks - Plein Air Landscape set which I also use.<br />
To register email me at<br />
marianna.mcdonald@insightbb.com and I'll email you my address to send the workshop fee.<br />
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Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-65963611050229573082012-11-11T20:03:00.000-08:002012-11-11T20:03:56.984-08:00Trail to LIcking River<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKg0SS8eFbPFC69CxetUAgLW8Zgi-7Y5aAQTsGCKLzA54TkdAhPIvrNOeXbPfvl92TFp94kIMca-imBPzjR0PqLWesetjMCs4mVVhgBpO22bCkRSapCJms_gg_eZynqnUg2t7SAdrQd9f/s1600/Trail+to+LIckingRiverblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKg0SS8eFbPFC69CxetUAgLW8Zgi-7Y5aAQTsGCKLzA54TkdAhPIvrNOeXbPfvl92TFp94kIMca-imBPzjR0PqLWesetjMCs4mVVhgBpO22bCkRSapCJms_gg_eZynqnUg2t7SAdrQd9f/s400/Trail+to+LIckingRiverblog.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Licking River Trail Evening Light" 24"x18" pastel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwMvHD2bDeOr_ibbWsPPa5xzh1WwkZ4xrYx1VHlI4zVy3XoQ_j92sssYikDdG1PclhGdZbH6JDsitxNfjOhaIqyE3FUl5ubil18W9ELo9TsP-i6pGtvk8x7WZC22CF-LvsMfz-wBxPfUP/s1600/Trail+BlueLikes+sketch+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwMvHD2bDeOr_ibbWsPPa5xzh1WwkZ4xrYx1VHlI4zVy3XoQ_j92sssYikDdG1PclhGdZbH6JDsitxNfjOhaIqyE3FUl5ubil18W9ELo9TsP-i6pGtvk8x7WZC22CF-LvsMfz-wBxPfUP/s400/Trail+BlueLikes+sketch+blog.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Licking River Trail sketch" 12"x8" pastel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHBji6XcpaAHm3Z_J2MtYmQgGmTRuH4LMHh9HngWBoQ8unCyPBnyphlnThJQ1qtQwK72sRp0OXTfkQmOgX_DC6ucR_QAGHTZsvghRyoLood3NrrhyKtfC3ZYvE-UsPw-HWjEt32I7FZVg/s1600/LickingRiverTrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHBji6XcpaAHm3Z_J2MtYmQgGmTRuH4LMHh9HngWBoQ8unCyPBnyphlnThJQ1qtQwK72sRp0OXTfkQmOgX_DC6ucR_QAGHTZsvghRyoLood3NrrhyKtfC3ZYvE-UsPw-HWjEt32I7FZVg/s400/LickingRiverTrail.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reference photograph "BlueLicks Trail"</td></tr>
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"Licking River Trail Evening Light" is not finished but I like to view things 2/3 the way finished. This is one of those pieces I don't want to overwork and lose the abstracted freshness.</div>
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The next image is the sketch I created at BlueLicks State Park when I visited in June. The evening light illuminated the trail and made the vegetation glow. </div>
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And the final image is the reference photograph that I took that evening.</div>
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I think its fun to see how the progression of a final piece from photo, to sketch, to studio piece.</div>
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Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-36681153242309135302012-11-07T19:39:00.000-08:002012-11-07T19:39:37.455-08:00Upstream at Cumberland Falls<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rkXAb5svigI67PNY2PiG4bKotWUQ2Lvw4-80legYLeRd3xL1QEWfgjhc6r5P75JQmRucF4Ehx3EBEGYZ2klJUIiNl0pFz8EpDJO4uGHksjd2J9e-DhwC5jthy4DowI2-d72cf3ug7fcQ/s1600/Upstream+at+Cumberland+Falls+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rkXAb5svigI67PNY2PiG4bKotWUQ2Lvw4-80legYLeRd3xL1QEWfgjhc6r5P75JQmRucF4Ehx3EBEGYZ2klJUIiNl0pFz8EpDJO4uGHksjd2J9e-DhwC5jthy4DowI2-d72cf3ug7fcQ/s400/Upstream+at+Cumberland+Falls+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">"Upstream at Cumberland Falls" 16"x20" pastel on Uart paper<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PA9c60t3GmZ9GuPKUvsbWH0ipPjTu8dhnK0O4lh-eGF7ZiPxVYWBfKaPqtfqvf-vTxKUmaf8iMfgruAjuGNMDmCXScYQSr2Dkh5DZjV6eeWqtRoJtWIwwKMtVlt3yb0mBKHFKjXXFFnT/s1600/Upstream+morning+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PA9c60t3GmZ9GuPKUvsbWH0ipPjTu8dhnK0O4lh-eGF7ZiPxVYWBfKaPqtfqvf-vTxKUmaf8iMfgruAjuGNMDmCXScYQSr2Dkh5DZjV6eeWqtRoJtWIwwKMtVlt3yb0mBKHFKjXXFFnT/s320/Upstream+morning+light.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upstream in the Morning Cumberland River photo</td></tr>
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Looking through all my reference photos from the Cumberland Falls trip, my eye keeps wandering back to a photo of Cumberland River above the falls. I took the photo early in the morning with the hillside and bridge backlit with morning sun hitting the maple trees and bank. The bridge is barely visible in the background.<br />
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In the pastel drawing "Upstream at Cumberland Falls" I pushed the background color to play on complementary colors between the maple tree and riverside against background hillside.Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-73150340105600209912012-11-05T20:01:00.000-08:002012-11-05T20:01:43.232-08:00Pines and Maples Evening Light<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y0oDCFek4oQTgCh4H4RqTvk0kIp-u7DgeRLTdN2eFFEpCYNdW83L8ANNrBeFWPrSa2o3QSf65L1pe__H1-yh5hNTqq0Ya9Vjm4pi0E9TySHZfldyPnvUy0Sw9GuOrQnSnrh3mjzBSzgT/s1600/Pines&Maples+finish+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y0oDCFek4oQTgCh4H4RqTvk0kIp-u7DgeRLTdN2eFFEpCYNdW83L8ANNrBeFWPrSa2o3QSf65L1pe__H1-yh5hNTqq0Ya9Vjm4pi0E9TySHZfldyPnvUy0Sw9GuOrQnSnrh3mjzBSzgT/s400/Pines&Maples+finish+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Pines and Maples Evening Light" 17"x17" on Uart sanded paper</td></tr>
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When I left Natural Bridge the evening light fell on the pines with the darkness of the forest creeping up the valley floor. No time to create a plein air drawing but I snapped lots of photographs.<br />
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Bright light hit the maples but to make the drawing work I had to choose to quiet the maples in the background to keep the focus on the pine tree.<br />
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I worked slowly today to finish the piece but not overwork it. Adding some color and then leaving the room, re-entering with fresh eyes.Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-14647915500950472442012-11-04T16:08:00.000-08:002012-11-04T16:08:02.960-08:00Evening Light on Pines<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9_6dg_HFKcoPaw6dHkTKDG8iduuDJgjK7XjvR2ExpFumQT7LZ1dvSPmrkuFvwSYXdlQd2d34DSUs5_s9CzjEqIskPPdJMxM3X8aNTdq-igEWygEAh7VzUyZRg9kKxZkDB_QIOAb0kk9C/s1600/Pines+and+maples+evening+light+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9_6dg_HFKcoPaw6dHkTKDG8iduuDJgjK7XjvR2ExpFumQT7LZ1dvSPmrkuFvwSYXdlQd2d34DSUs5_s9CzjEqIskPPdJMxM3X8aNTdq-igEWygEAh7VzUyZRg9kKxZkDB_QIOAb0kk9C/s400/Pines+and+maples+evening+light+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Evening Light on Pines" 16"x17" pastel on Uart paper toned with acrylic</td></tr>
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I like to photograph my work when it's partially finished. The small format of the photograph helps you see the composition and what areas need to be simplified or the value changed.<br />
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I used my reference photograph from my trip yesterday to Natural Bridge. The evening light was streaming through the forest and illuminating the pine trees. Light was fading too quickly to set up for a plein air drawing so I knew I'd have to depend on the photographs.<br />
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Maple tree colors glowed on the right side and my challenge is to keep some of that glow but not let it distract from the light on the pine tree. I know that my photos overexpose the lights and block up the darks, but I like strong contrast and that contrast helps focus on the pine tree. This is a drawing I don't want to overwork and I want to keep a lot of the colors fairly neutral to keep the focus on the light on the tree trunk.Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-64044539762659062142012-11-02T19:53:00.000-07:002012-11-02T19:53:06.484-07:00Natural Bridge<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuMfDr1pR_Jh6S6F4mir8FvhanZxjAmi5VskcMxhEqJshh7gIr2NjevNhyTbOJL2B4miPvA5emkF4ZU018SB9JWDu3xkD-hGfrdmpCe9p63P8TAHe3SPS-87ImwJLen77Fgtz3RCo8JDH/s1600/Natural+Bridge1cc+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuMfDr1pR_Jh6S6F4mir8FvhanZxjAmi5VskcMxhEqJshh7gIr2NjevNhyTbOJL2B4miPvA5emkF4ZU018SB9JWDu3xkD-hGfrdmpCe9p63P8TAHe3SPS-87ImwJLen77Fgtz3RCo8JDH/s400/Natural+Bridge1cc+web.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Natural Bridge 1" 8"x13" pastel on Uart sanded paper<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlpj_1yLwfLVw2mtS685NIWrhsKlAMIN3SVMfCih79gNgeuKSnKR0P_FKFv6LlRGrkft-GgaraY_btN0SgmSOCjW3iIOWHA0aVbRK7hjgsmPV54CufGetfUyzdaITp8EoSg7GkqkUxo9Y/s1600/Natural+Bridge2CC+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlpj_1yLwfLVw2mtS685NIWrhsKlAMIN3SVMfCih79gNgeuKSnKR0P_FKFv6LlRGrkft-GgaraY_btN0SgmSOCjW3iIOWHA0aVbRK7hjgsmPV54CufGetfUyzdaITp8EoSg7GkqkUxo9Y/s400/Natural+Bridge2CC+web.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Natural Bridge 2" 8"x13" on Uart sanded paper<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKnT51ezhQBmst8nF9hGAuU0ztsRAU04lriCH4GNYbV_PbRixHPBuBzQboaFld4YgMGa4e6wDHaj9hPcT_8nWIzqwLxjKGprtqnA7dAdUnTDQJpOi050rsqV7_Gba75odme2JcP6MRwCQ/s1600/Natural+Bridge3+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKnT51ezhQBmst8nF9hGAuU0ztsRAU04lriCH4GNYbV_PbRixHPBuBzQboaFld4YgMGa4e6wDHaj9hPcT_8nWIzqwLxjKGprtqnA7dAdUnTDQJpOi050rsqV7_Gba75odme2JcP6MRwCQ/s400/Natural+Bridge3+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Natural Bridge 3" 8"x12" on Wallis sanded paper<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ZNQ9cvjDNDu1VxOeotT4frBio4VAEgQ2kTC9jFP_OTbDVRMOVLew0acetU0ugGkixD2LOFA_B25zbdM6X5acTyquIb5nrtAGkZ5nbWXFXAkJ0X97E8zZ9iv0UvMlLc-gVCLCeDbw7qD/s1600/NaturalBridge+VistaCC+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ZNQ9cvjDNDu1VxOeotT4frBio4VAEgQ2kTC9jFP_OTbDVRMOVLew0acetU0ugGkixD2LOFA_B25zbdM6X5acTyquIb5nrtAGkZ5nbWXFXAkJ0X97E8zZ9iv0UvMlLc-gVCLCeDbw7qD/s400/NaturalBridge+VistaCC+web.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Natural Bridge Vista" 8"x12" on Uart sanded paper<br /></td></tr>
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After the nasty weather passed I drove down to Natural Bridge State Park in Slade, KY and it was a beautiful late fall day with full sunshine.</div>
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Because I didn't get to stay overnight at the park my drawing time was limited so I concentrated on the main feature - the hugh sandstone arch.</div>
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The paper for the first two drawings was Uart sanded paper with an acrylic wash color of warm gray which I created to match the color Belgium Mist from Wallis. That is such a great color to go any direction with my drawings, (light or dark, warm or cool) but Wallis had significant manufacturing difficulties and my last order was on backorder for 3 months. Now I'm looking for an alternative "favorite". My other favorite is PastelMat but it's considerably more expensive than Uart.</div>
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The trail around Natural Bridge is steep and tree-covered and I had to set up very close to the arch. The underneath color of the arch was warm which doesn't show at all in my photographs of the arch. That's why I'm so hooked on plein air drawing. I can really see colors especially in the shadow areas. </div>
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I'm not happy with the last drawing of the Natural Bridge vista. If I get time I'm going to try another with more expressive colors.</div>
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Natural Bridge State Park was the last park on my grant from the Kentucky Department of Parks. What a wonderful adventure of visiting all these beautiful places and I'm so grateful to Sam Devine from the Park Department for making the grant happen.</div>
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<br />Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-70332652192560783732012-10-27T20:09:00.000-07:002012-10-27T20:09:12.729-07:00Cumberland Falls Continued<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP5BEAD1LmkyLya6V0VLSSoS6oO63qJ_2yspBKcf-RLuqayV2uvXAmkCmmNj2yrqfSfYLb3Mxyvxk1MjijBTdwMQh8lMdOn4o4SxQ1vfIHi7tRZfwk_qIXIwrKtyxVwaWZeQ5VLmbszb1/s1600/CumberlandFall+morning72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP5BEAD1LmkyLya6V0VLSSoS6oO63qJ_2yspBKcf-RLuqayV2uvXAmkCmmNj2yrqfSfYLb3Mxyvxk1MjijBTdwMQh8lMdOn4o4SxQ1vfIHi7tRZfwk_qIXIwrKtyxVwaWZeQ5VLmbszb1/s400/CumberlandFall+morning72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cumberland Falls Morning" 8"x12" pastel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__PtsIiQkc8Y5DTEZmxwDitOkZHlYdD_r1alwp0DGzq36RqeBgZs1KwnNgFl7K8Sim3lAEfnAa5GfDhWXuu59dirtWOtzrZKjeYeaPSTRdYSx4MAkCw-Clv11KSW0AwgOggluvPyZmTKM/s1600/Cumberland+River+Boulders+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__PtsIiQkc8Y5DTEZmxwDitOkZHlYdD_r1alwp0DGzq36RqeBgZs1KwnNgFl7K8Sim3lAEfnAa5GfDhWXuu59dirtWOtzrZKjeYeaPSTRdYSx4MAkCw-Clv11KSW0AwgOggluvPyZmTKM/s400/Cumberland+River+Boulders+72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cumberland River Boulders" 8"x12" pastel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiewCLvwIzOwC_L_GdPPw9qugLySaCqIyfAVzQURFHTItKBJy9nhhFV2ZR2XRW8nO6ZWQ6kvrbeT-j-mdmVVxp4hFS3tX8PgPptzFVJOiHF3WN7YwMRawBP8VU1fRQypGZ3YrGtCwLLfME/s1600/Cumberland+River+downstream72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiewCLvwIzOwC_L_GdPPw9qugLySaCqIyfAVzQURFHTItKBJy9nhhFV2ZR2XRW8nO6ZWQ6kvrbeT-j-mdmVVxp4hFS3tX8PgPptzFVJOiHF3WN7YwMRawBP8VU1fRQypGZ3YrGtCwLLfME/s400/Cumberland+River+downstream72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cumberland River Downstream" 8"x12" pastel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEL2eNeo00RwiD37ws8i7APSjvi4fvmU0myun7j0FQExnI-17Dm_0mWtzU7N6F5PXA_sIdPCWoKkFbsDi-qT4nXsjmr5X6jz5WhBLIQhpTgyjPK1mpOK-81ZiG9u01gAsu5_ug8pF9yAu/s1600/beech+trees+trail12+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEL2eNeo00RwiD37ws8i7APSjvi4fvmU0myun7j0FQExnI-17Dm_0mWtzU7N6F5PXA_sIdPCWoKkFbsDi-qT4nXsjmr5X6jz5WhBLIQhpTgyjPK1mpOK-81ZiG9u01gAsu5_ug8pF9yAu/s400/beech+trees+trail12+72.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Beech Trees Trail #12" 12"x8"</td></tr>
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Wednesday at Cumberland River area brought sunshine, warm temperatures and lots of beautiful scenery.Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-10745391503057254982012-10-27T19:56:00.001-07:002012-10-27T19:56:10.941-07:00Above Laurel Falls<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdwiYEiP0sm2mV7ZdnRJASNXVpixwEpcWBLDaUfAjyAOn18ruqbqcg0NjSP3w6eOHz2tVZULjBJyhY7gA2Zghfe8q75ERwBowYvaJAplBhojZrhI15FDqDSV_alBUWFYTTTwOpK2HUH4B/s1600/Above+Laurel+Falls+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdwiYEiP0sm2mV7ZdnRJASNXVpixwEpcWBLDaUfAjyAOn18ruqbqcg0NjSP3w6eOHz2tVZULjBJyhY7gA2Zghfe8q75ERwBowYvaJAplBhojZrhI15FDqDSV_alBUWFYTTTwOpK2HUH4B/s400/Above+Laurel+Falls+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Above Laurel Falls" 8"x12" on Wallis sanded paper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMKFQ-55NVc4zwlNqAxZt4DxtGgZhNsw9xRMxGez-c3UVmirmPhujGJkT0QK9XRREVMIbZZubUOcSrpbS4gMUk1nfIZEQuvx6nXQNS2T7frf14uLmJy04b3vPjDnIHSwVmxlCHof43qjV/s1600/Above+Laurel+Falls+blog+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMKFQ-55NVc4zwlNqAxZt4DxtGgZhNsw9xRMxGez-c3UVmirmPhujGJkT0QK9XRREVMIbZZubUOcSrpbS4gMUk1nfIZEQuvx6nXQNS2T7frf14uLmJy04b3vPjDnIHSwVmxlCHof43qjV/s400/Above+Laurel+Falls+blog+crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Above Laurel Falls" cropped on Wallis sanded paper<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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If you read my blogs you know during my plein air adventures I'm always waffling between recording what is there and creating a better piece of art. Composition is usually the culprit.</div>
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Autumn adds another dimension to the puzzle - color. Autumn in full color is like a cheap persian rug -- splashes of color all over the place. In my drawing from above Laurel Falls as it spills out into Cumberland River I am taken with the small waterfall splashing into the pool before tumbling into Laurel Falls. </div>
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The first photographed drawing is as I recorded it but in the second photograph I have cropped out the small falls on the left of the drawing to improve the composition. However I'm still perplexed by the abundance of color.</div>
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Now that I'm back at my studio I'd like to work on this image again.</div>
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Next week I was suppose to go to Natural Bridge for my last state park visit but the weather is turning quickly from fall to winter. Rain and cold are not appealing so I'll wait and drive up on Saturday when it's suppose to be sunny and 62 to draw the Natural Bridge and Red River Gorge area.</div>
<br />Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544553191131934944.post-78532017771132553582012-10-23T18:15:00.002-07:002012-10-23T18:15:47.507-07:00Cumberland Falls Autumn Views<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF4llVcuSOKMfjbthx9244lLe3ceruRRJ9fXiHpC_cXCfC3PHpmGsN8enags-ENxu_q9654PFw0fsX6SAHPfPLZ-T8Lludp1d5erK4-CUDT_BR48vRhX4kJouTkYILUF0ohCDvPxi8-pw/s1600/cumberlandFalls1+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF4llVcuSOKMfjbthx9244lLe3ceruRRJ9fXiHpC_cXCfC3PHpmGsN8enags-ENxu_q9654PFw0fsX6SAHPfPLZ-T8Lludp1d5erK4-CUDT_BR48vRhX4kJouTkYILUF0ohCDvPxi8-pw/s400/cumberlandFalls1+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cumberland Falls 1" 8"x12" pastel on Uart paper with acrylic wash</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrCAoSHy-A5Laz_jDf1HWdS5VwKbPVgTij_CUD2j9C2-ySmZR6EEg0E3d1yQcGkGsVGz6qK8uE7K1elo052TwcNNYzU2a3IfmHOWnSRVwHq4czHsChxOhvN3txwhwhLnQwQfzfzGvlady/s1600/cumberlandFalls2+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrCAoSHy-A5Laz_jDf1HWdS5VwKbPVgTij_CUD2j9C2-ySmZR6EEg0E3d1yQcGkGsVGz6qK8uE7K1elo052TwcNNYzU2a3IfmHOWnSRVwHq4czHsChxOhvN3txwhwhLnQwQfzfzGvlady/s400/cumberlandFalls2+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cumberland Falls 2" 8"x12" pastel on Uart sanded paper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7wC-jv-y-zgCVskvXtk9CiHS3C3igx8q3jj78QKv-v13J2ew5JdhFcSxAEeSHW3zqxiCIaGokoviQPjfDsh1vTOFOiM6aaxntDoa29_mr7jzt8gqkj4SChN3Ttk-b2nqJZ9PQ6F2vs96/s1600/cumberlandFalls3+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7wC-jv-y-zgCVskvXtk9CiHS3C3igx8q3jj78QKv-v13J2ew5JdhFcSxAEeSHW3zqxiCIaGokoviQPjfDsh1vTOFOiM6aaxntDoa29_mr7jzt8gqkj4SChN3Ttk-b2nqJZ9PQ6F2vs96/s400/cumberlandFalls3+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cumberland Falls 2" close-up</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Kentucky State Park adventure continues with Cumberland Falls State Park which is a beautiful spot especially in autumn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first image was created on Uart sanded paper toned with an acrylic blue/green/gray wash. My favorite paper is Wallis Belgium Mist which is a warm gray color but Wallis has production troubles and my order has been on back order for 3 months so I'm experimenting with recreating the color I enjoy on a sanded paper. Uart 400 has a similar grit texture as Wallis and I think it actually holds the pastel better. Then, of course, the Wallis paper arrived the week before leaving for Cumberland Falls; so now I have both papers to compare. This blue/green/gray underpainting makes a nice complementary color to the warm fall colors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Cumberland Falls 1" was created first and I wanted to capture the essence of the falls without too many details.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Cumberland Falls 2" was drawn from a spot further down river and the sun was starting to drop along the ridge top illuminating the autumn foliage. This one was only 1/2 finished when it was time to go to dinner so I rubbed out some offending details and left just the impression of the bright orange trees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now the problem. The foliage, especially the color, is a distraction from the point of interest - Cumberland Falls. So in "Cumberland Falls 3" I cropped out most of the foliage to see if the composition is improved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think? Do you have a favorite?</span></div>
<br />Marianna McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262591108236547657noreply@blogger.com0