A Painting A Day by Laura Wambsgans

"Sunny Afternoon" ©

2012-02-09T22:01:00.000-08:00

Today it was 84 degrees in LA and Malibu was the place to be according to the radio announcer. Painting this scene from "Sunny Afternoon", 9" X 12", (you can see in an earlier blog post) I thought about the warm sun and the sound of the water gently lapping the sand.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 30"

"Swan Valley" ©

2012-02-07T20:50:00.000-08:00

This blog post is about painting Swan Valley, Idaho, from a photo.

This is a great example of painting from a photograph. People ask me all the time if I paint from photos, as if to answer yes, would somehow be a negative blow to my artwork. You can't tell me that if cameras had been available to all the artists in the past, they wouldn't have taken advantage of the technology. Sometimes you just have too, whether it's because you were driving to a destination without time to stop to paint or the light was just so fleeting the only way to capture it is with a camera. I believe it's just fine for artists to use photos, as long as they own the image or have permission.

In the photo above the painting is just staring out with my "line" drawing and the photo on the top of my easel. Sometimes I use the computer next to the easel if I want to see the image in a larger format.

At this point I have paint all over the canvas, in the general value of each area. I can stand back and see if it's going in the direction that I envisioned .

I have this painting as far along as I can go wet into wet paint. I'll let it set up for a few days and go back in to do all of the dry brush work. I can hardly wait, finding all the brush in the foreground is truly a labor of love.

About 7:30 in the morning as I was driving home from Driggs Idaho, last August, I saw this scene in my rear view mirror. Thank goodness for digital cameras, I stopped and took a shot of the valley. Ever since I have wanted to paint this scene and finally I had the chance and loved every minute.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 36"

"Sun Dusted Creek" ©

2012-02-04T20:16:00.001-08:00

"Sun Dusted Creek", is another example of using a smaller painting to create a larger studio painting. The little one is 14" X 18", the larger canvas is 24" X 36". Not exactly the same proportions but close enough.

Just starting out on the painting I scrubbed in a warm yellow wash over the entire canvas, lifting off the area that would become the sky with a bit of Gamsol on a white sheet. The white sheet is a tip, in that it doesn't leave any lint on your canvas. You can see my small painting that I am using for the inspiration to the left of the easel.

Mid-way into the painting. I am finding the areas of light and shadow. Painting color on every section of the canvas.

At this point the piece is well on it's way to completion. I'll find little touches and brushwork to add over the next several days. It is difficult to see all the areas that need attention without a break away from the piece. Tomorrow morning I'll walk up the my easel and see all sorts of details that need work wondering why I couldn't see them. Happens every time!

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 36"

"Onxy Afternoon" ©

2012-01-31T21:54:00.000-08:00

Onyx, California is a classic example of our high desert. Sand drifts, Rabbitbush and cottonwoods announcing water in the distance are beautifully lit in the late afternoon sunlight. Marian Fortunati, Sharon Weaver and Diane Nelson Gold were my painting buddies out in the desert last fall and I am so looking forward to a return painting trip to Kernville.

Oil on panel, 12" X 12"

"Rolling In" © studio

2012-01-29T11:25:00.000-08:00

"Rolling In" on the easel, shows a good example of taking a small oil "sketch" and creating a large painting from the idea captured in the sketch.

Oil on Canvas, 30" X 40"

My small painting is on the little easel to the right of the larger canvas. I knew I wanted the same proportions for the canvas but didn't have a fresh canvas on hand in that size, so I pulled an old canvas with an idea for a commission (long since finished and delivered) turned the painting upside down to lessen the confusion of waves vs. ducks and starting laying out the seascape.

At this stage the ducks are completely covered and I have laid in the general shapes and color patches, here and there. This is the fun part for me, feeling my way around the painting, making decisions and adjustments.

Here is a close up of the palette. I know it looks like a mess and I am constantly scraping down the glass starting over with a big clean space. The palette is custom. Sounds fancy but in honesty a quick inexpensive solution to needing more palette space. My husband cut a piece of wood and I had the fellow at Newhall Glass Co. cut a piece of glass to fit. I painted the back of glass gray and with not too much trouble I had a terrific palette. I have to give a little shout out for the Gamblin Radiants on the lower right side. Love them!

Oil on Canvas, 30" X 40"

"Santa Clara Riverbed" ©

2012-01-26T21:53:00.000-08:00

I painted this scene on a 5" X 7" panel a while ago, and I finally had the time today to paint the same scene in the studio on a larger canvas. The sky is a bit strange, with the remnants of smoke from one of our more devastating fires. Originally it was a tough decision, whether or not to artistically document the smokey evening sky.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Kitty" ©

2012-01-25T21:35:00.001-08:00

"Kitty" was a member of a family that is dearly missed, as she has passed away. The family asked that I paint her from a few photos that they had taken. Having had many animals that my family has loved dearly I imagined the life that Kitty lead while painting her portrait.

Oil on canvas, 14" X 11"

"Lazy River" ©

2012-01-24T16:45:00.001-08:00

While painting this piece I kept hearing the old song "Up a Lazy River" in my head. My hope was to capture the calm water, cool morning air and sunlight just making an appearance for the day.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 36"

"Stormy Sunday" ©

2012-01-22T20:38:00.000-08:00

Storm clouds are arriving for a rainy Monday, perfect timing as the entire day was full of demonstrations by artists exhibiting in the "Impressions of France" show, at Segil Gallery. This portrait of a tree was my demonstration painting for the group. The exhibit has a great spread in the February issue of the "American Art Collector" magazine.

Oil on panel, 12" X 9"

"Montreuil Bellay River" ©

2012-01-21T15:15:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the artists reception for "Impressions From France" show at Segil gallery in Old Town Monrovia. 9 of the artists that painted France will be there to greet you and share stories, a glass of wine and artwork. We were fortunate to have a write up in the current issue of the "American Art Collector". This painting is one I just found today, tucked away, that is not one of my 12 hanging in the gallery. If you would like to see it in person I would be happy to bring it to the gallery for you, just let me know.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 16"

"Frontenay Gate" ©

2012-01-16T21:37:00.000-08:00

This coming weekend is the opening of the "Impressions From France" exhibit at the Segil Gallery in Monrovia. I was digging though the piles of paintings looking for the best pieces for the show and came across this small plein air piece I painted my first day in France. It's amazing how the memories of that day come flooding back when I look at this little piece. It started to rain at one point and a horse came up to the gate, nuzzling my backpack that I had tucked in the trees to get it out of the rain. Then a lady that lived nearby and offered me a free horse, how I was to get a horse home to California I have no idea. But you see how meaningful the paintings created on location become to artists. Meanwhile in the studio I am working on a large piece for a solo show in April. It will show up here on the blog in a couple of days.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Arroyo Trees" ©

2012-01-13T22:21:00.000-08:00

A long time ago a master painter told me that "green" landscapes were the most difficult of all to paint. At the time I didn't know the difference between viridian and sap green, so his comment didn't mean much. Now years later every time I attempt a green landscape his words come back to me. All green landscapes are difficult but at the same time so very interesting, offering the challenge to come up with a variety of greens to tell the story. Which is what I have tried to do here, with the trees in the Pasadena arroyo.

Oil on canvas, 8" X 6"

"Deep in the Arroyo" ©

2012-01-10T18:05:00.001-08:00

In Pasadena there is a natural arroyo and stream that runs year round. Even though you're in the city, once deep down in the arroyo it feels as though you have been transported to a distant wilderness. Horse and hiking trails lace their way between the trees, small animals slip into the brush as you pass and all the while you can hear the distant call of birds.

Oil on Canvas, 30" X 20"

"Wild Rocks" ©

2012-01-07T21:21:00.001-08:00

When your hiking around Vasquez Rocks the rock structures are totally wild. The landscape looks like another world. This little painting captures the warm December sunlight at the end of the day.

Oil on Panel, 12" X 9"

"Cooking" ©

2012-01-05T23:02:00.000-08:00

When you walk into Gales Restaurant in Pasadena the delicious smell of warm bread and garlic start the dining adventure. There is a show coming up with the theme of daily life in Pasadena. I have painted this interior of a local kitchen over the last few days as one of my possible entries. I'll have to come up with a better title, so if you have a suggestion, let me know!

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Sunlight on the Riverbank" ©

2011-12-30T21:51:00.000-08:00

Pardon the photo, Santa brought me a new computer and we are still making friends. I am learning the Mac way, after 18 years of Windows. Today's little painting gives you a peek at the backside of the Hansen Dam recreational area. The sparkly white sand was what attracted me to the scene and became the focal point of the painting.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"Softly Setting" ©

2011-12-28T20:53:00.001-08:00

Today a collector and friend called and mentioned that he and his wife were waiting for me to paint some skies once again. Sounded like a great idea to me and so I spent the day in fluffy clouds and juicy paint.

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

2011-12-25T22:01:00.001-08:00

Wishing you and your family the best Christmas holiday ever! After cleaning up the festivities and visiting relatives, I spent a little bit of the day at the easel painting a favorite classic California spot, Malibu Lagoon. Oil on linen panel, 5" X 7"

"Aspen Road" ©

2011-12-22T10:53:00.001-08:00

Aspen lined dirt roads meander up and down the Teton Valley in Idaho. It would be interesting to see the valley in December with snow on the ground. If you would like to see good paintings of the Teton Valley in the winter, check out Bart Walkers work at www.bartwalker.com/.

Oil on Canvas, 6" X 8"

2011-12-17T22:28:00.000-08:00

Last night was the big show at Cope Studios in Glendale. The people flocked in , had a blast and seemed to really appreciate all the art. I was glad to be included in the show with my paintings. Today, after a day of Christmas shopping, painting "Deep in the Forest" was a welcome break.

Oil on panel, 12" X 9"

2011-12-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

Today was the last California Art Club paint out planned by George Malone for the 2011 year. We met at the Paramount Ranch near Malibu and had a beautiful winter day of painting.

Oil on Panel, 10" X 12"

2011-12-13T20:01:00.000-08:00

After the last couple of days of rain there are a few puddles left standing in the sandy canyon soil.

Oil on Canvas, 6" X 8"

"Streaks of Sun"

2011-12-11T21:04:00.001-08:00

Walking along the path with my painting buddies, the views to paint were endless on this December day. What caught my eye was the streaks of sun across the brush and sandy path. The wind blew one easel over and thank goodness we recovered all the Rosemary Brushes that flew to the ground. All we left behind, lost in the bushes, is a favorite painting knife that we will go back and hunt for.

Oil on Panel, 10" X 12"

"Winter Light"

2011-12-08T21:39:00.001-08:00

Painting just down the road from home is a good

reminder that you don't have to drive for miles to find a painting spot.

Oil on Canvas, 6" X 8"

"Kern River, Morning"

2011-12-07T19:55:00.000-08:00

Winter mid-week on the Kern River, completely quiet and void of human activity. A nice place to sit and think for a while.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

A Painting A Day by Laura Wambsgans

"Sunny Afternoon" ©

"Swan Valley" ©

"Sun Dusted Creek" ©

"Onxy Afternoon" ©

"Rolling In" © studio

"Santa Clara Riverbed" ©

"Kitty" ©

"Lazy River" ©

"Stormy Sunday" ©

"Montreuil Bellay River" ©

"Frontenay Gate" ©

"Arroyo Trees" ©

"Deep in the Arroyo" ©

"Wild Rocks" ©

"Cooking" ©

"Sunlight on the Riverbank" ©

"Softly Setting" ©

"Mailbu Lagoon" ©

"Aspen Road" ©

"Deep in the Forest" ©

"Paramount Ranch" ©

"Winter Puddle" ©

"Streaks of Sun"

"Winter Light"

"Kern River, Morning"