Landscape Painting Blog

Aspen Landscapes Summer 2011

2012-01-03T05:15:00.000-08:00

These are Landscapes from Summer 2011 at the Anderson Ranch Art Center in Aspen Colorado. I teach a class there most summers. These paintings range in size from 16 x 20" to 24 x 48", they are all oil paintings on canvas. Prices on request.

Cross Country Landscape Paintings 2011

2011-10-25T18:56:00.000-07:00

Landscape Blog Here:

http://paintingacrossamerica.blogspot.com/

Aspen, CO

Big Sur, CA

Nevada towards Sierra and Santa Barbara, CA

North Rim Grand Canyon and Zion

Monument Valley, Utah and AZ

Big Bend, TX

near Cecelia, LA

Pensacola, FLA

Lewisberry, PA, and Asheville, NC

Two paintings from my Anderson Ranch class

2011-10-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

I kept thinking of these two paintings by Laurie Hickman Cox.

She has very powerful drawing, makes great shapes and it all came together with wonderful invention.

Anderson Ranch Landscape

2011-10-07T16:17:00.001-07:00

Show at Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe

2010-02-03T05:56:00.001-08:00

Autumn Landscapes at G Peters Gallery S Fe

2010-01-27T15:54:00.000-08:00

Some landscapes from this Autumn 2009. Particularly good this Fall it seems.

Santa Barbara 1995

2010-01-20T10:55:00.000-08:00

I copied some paintings I made in 1995. They had damaged surfaces, and thought I'd remake them. I'm making my new series of Santa Barbara Lagoon paintings from them --see Studio Blog.

Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe

2010-01-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

These paintings are up in the Gallery right now.

Wolf and I in Vermont last Summer

2010-01-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

My friend John sent me a nice photo.

See Blog article here:

http://bottspaumanok.blogspot.com/2009/11/visit-to-wolf-kahn.html

End of the Season Painting

2009-11-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

I was painting along unaware of my audience. A friend snapped the picture.

Full Moon

2009-11-12T07:18:00.000-08:00

A good end to the changing of the seasons.

Full Moon over Taos

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Painting with a friend .

Paintings from October

2009-11-12T06:51:00.001-08:00

Roadrunner.

Painting at Ghost Ranch

2009-11-12T06:40:00.000-08:00

A group was painting up at the Ranch. They invited me up, we had access to the whole of Georgia's Ranch views.

That is Gerald's tree she painted it and it was named for a poet that tacked a poem to it for O'Keffee.

Visit to Wolf Kahn

2009-11-12T06:12:00.001-08:00

Spent a nice day with Wolf and some friends painting. It was interesting to see the abstraction appear in Wolf's painting.

Mine surprisingly came out a bit reminding me of Piero's architecture and light.

How we all see differently is interesting.

Vermont Studio Center

2009-11-12T06:09:00.000-08:00

Anderson Ranch Landscape Class

2009-07-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

Anderson Ranch Landscape Class

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Aspen Class at Anderson Ranch

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Nova Scotia

2009-06-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

Some landscape from last year back East.

Hurricane Surf

2009-06-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

Long Island, Napeague and East Hampton

2009-06-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

Autumn Vermont

2009-06-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

Vermont Studio Center is a great place and I was there last October.

As Wallace Stevens says, "Vermont throws itself together"

Upstate NY and Vermont

2009-06-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

North Carolina

2009-06-25T09:53:00.001-07:00

South Carolina

2009-06-25T09:41:00.001-07:00

I've painted in South Carolina at Spring Island near Hilton Head twice.

Florida

2009-06-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

I painted around Florida in 1994. I avoided Miami and the Condo Coast. A beautiful State Park Bahia Honda has always broken my heart to think how or if it has survived the onslaught of people. Most beautiful little beach in America.

I had a want to find the Roseate Spoonbills. It became a quest for that almost absurd looking bird.I found them at Ding Darling. I was bitten into Hamburger meat at Echo Pond at the end of the Everglades, but made some terriffic paintings there.

They call the State Parks the other Florida, and it certainly is almost empty compared to the coast.

Sierras from Bishop

2009-06-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

Deep Springs College

2009-06-25T09:24:00.000-07:00

I was asked to teach at Deep Springs College in 1995. It is a ranch were the students read Nietzsche and Melville in the desert. They birth cattle in the winter night and we painted the surroundings.

Monument Valley

2009-06-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

I try to go each year to Monument Valley and paint.

Death Valley

2009-06-25T09:11:00.001-07:00

We tried to do the same for the Death Valley Nat Monument but the Bush years had stolen any funding and I only stayed a short time to my own detriment. Maybe it's just the severe heat I didn't want to admit to my minding it .

Joshua Tree

2009-06-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

The comet Haley Bopp was in the sky when I was there each evening it would appear over the prehistoric looking Joshua Trees.

Joshua Tree

2009-06-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

In 1997 I painted in Joshua Tree. Tim Terrell was the ranger in charge of the program. He made a lot possible for a lot of people.

New Mexico

2009-06-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

New Mexico

2009-06-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

New Mexico has become my home. Even after the intense beauty of Aspen mountains. There is a drama of clouds each day and never boring. Shadows fleeting across mountains pick this one out then, that.

Aspen

2009-06-25T08:06:00.001-07:00

Aspen

2009-06-25T08:03:00.001-07:00

I teach at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center.

These are paintings since 1999 when I first began there.

I have paintings now for ten years.

Sedgewick Ranch

2009-06-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

Hank Pitcher and I had hoped to make a national school of painting. Young painters would come here each summer. We still have that dream. Funding is very scarce now.

We keep it going with the local students who take the course.

We have had fun with a biologist and geologist that point out colors of what "this is" and rock formations and here a big fault line making it informative for us as we paint.

Santa Barbara

2009-06-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

This is the Lagoon I painted all through the 80's in black and white.

When I was in NY it seemed far away like a dream remembered, I would say.

I started painting it in color again I guess in the middle 90's.

Santa Barbara

2009-06-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

I used Santa Barbara as my base painting around the West. Beautiful there. Not quite as huge as the other places like Big Sur and Yosemite I would paint. More the scale of Long Island. But the modest scale allows one to live there. Sadly too easily as it is now overflowing.

Big Sur

2009-06-25T07:38:00.000-07:00

The paintings from the first visits in 1991-2. I was teaching at UCSB and painted here and Yosemite.

Tetons, Wyoming

2009-06-25T07:34:00.001-07:00

This is an excerpt from Clouds, leaves, waves.

The paintings from around 1991--2

September, on the way home,
the Tetons, soft behind
a humid veil, blown--
(the blast has upended my painting)
a colder air
makes sharper shapes.
A beaver pond reflects a sky,
turned blue-- est.
A turn towards Montana
brings a surprisingly early snow
propelling me on my way.
A big sky, cold with
low grey ceiling of clouds,
out on a splendidly lonesome road.

Tightening the box of paintings
to the car’s roof for the trip ahead,
driving and reading
about a hurricane about
to strike Miami,
it will be in Long Island,
as I approach home.

Yosemite

2009-06-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

These are from around 1992 among the first I made of Yosemite.

Paint for Landscape Painting

2008-09-25T13:45:00.001-07:00

I use paint in large tubes, Utrect is an inexpensive very good paint. It is what I use if I can't afford Gamblin. If you use small tubes you might want to have at least 2 tubes of Ultramarine Blue, Green Oxide, and Yellow Ochre , Black and White.

Gamblin is more expensive and are good for landscape. One can only slightly tell the difference. Some colors are more saturated meaning they don't disappear into a stronger color when mixing.

The below are just guidelines. I might disagree myself if questioned on some of these things. One needs to decide for ones self.

I try to use the most basic colors. These are arranged in an order on my pallette.

1. Utrect White, Titanium/ Zinc mixed

Titanium yellows by itself, and zinc is too transparent and cool by itself, a mixture is good.

2. Burnt Sienna, and Burnt Umber, must have both colors.

3. Yellow Ochre,

4. Alizarin Crimson

You only need a small tube goes a long way you will never use a whole tube before it dries up.

5. Cadmium Red Hue, or Permanent Red, sometimes Napthol Red. A red red like Cad Rd Lt I've tried not to use Cadmium as it is expensive and poisonous. I use it cadmium if I am making something really red as it is very saturated. But in small use I use a replacement, hue meaning it is made of other less expensive and less poisonous pigments. If it is pure Cadmium use the Red Light.

6. Cerulean Blue a mixture of modern phthalocyanine pigment and white. Here the phthalocyanine is ok, but question any other tube of paint with this pigment. The pure Cerulean is expensive and greyer.

7. Ultramarine Blue You will use alot of this. The Ochre and Green Oxide also so have large tubes of these or at least two small.

Pure phthalocyanine is a modern dye in alot of other blues and is very powerful it is cut with white in most cases, it is in some blues like Prussian Blue, I would stay away from it it is too strong on its own but nice in Cerulean.

8. Utrect Chromium Oxide Green, a greyish Green. I use this as a main green that I change with yellows and blues. It should be a grey green, sometimes called Green Earth, or Terra Verte but watch out for the phthalocyanine, in this color it is not good.

9. Permanent Green or Utrect Green, very bright green, small tube. No way to mix these intense colors but hardly used.

10. Viridian, blue green like tropical ocean wave, small tube.

These last two greens can be mixed but are hard to get the intensity of Permanent green like sun on a lawn, or Viridian the sun on a transparent ocean wave.

Watch this paint with phthalocyanine, Viridian and Permanent Green, it is very strong pigment which overwhelms other colors if one does not know how to use it.

11. Cadmium Yellow Hue, or Hansa Yellow medium, is a modern yellow substitute for Cadmium Yellow Pure, one can use white to get the Lt Yellow.Hue means substitute for Pure Cadmium.

12. Pure Cadmium Yellow Medium , as that color is not as good in any substitute, and it is the strongest yellow. This is the one cadmium you might want to have.

Strong or saturated meaning it doesn't disappear into the other color as one mixes it. Can be small tube.

13. Mars/ Ivory mix Black Mars is very blue black and heavy. Ivory Black, is warm and light weight. Like the white above it is best mixed I feel.

14. also Dioxazine Purple I hardly use it but sometimes-- small tube.

Two hints, these most popular colors can be mixed better, I would not buy them.

Sap Green is transparent and not permanent, One can mix black and yellow to get this color.

Paynes Grey is Black and White and Ultramarine.

One always has a color here or there one adds,

Or maybe a whole different idea, it's possible, but take my advice above if you don't have a better idea for yourself you will evolve your own materials in time.

Landscape Painting Materials

2008-09-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

Artist Easel

1.Testrite 100. Most Art Stores, Utrect has them. $60/ 70.
Best easel I've found. I see now called 3x3 in some catalogs.

2. Canvases. Most are too cheap for me to make a painting on and are not substantial for a finished product. I'd use the linen primed pre made canvases to make sure you have best quality. Of course I suppose cost is a factor., or if you are a beginner.

Have a bunch I'd say at least 6 small, around 15 x 20 ". Larger canvases 20 x 30 is a good size, some smaller some larger, 6 more. At least 10 total. (If they are the same sizes they are easier to travel with as we staple two wet canvases together holding them apart with cardboard strips.)

Try a longer more horizonal size like two squares together make 20 x 40" or 10 x 20. Square canvases are a bit static.

Usually in my classes we try to make two paintings a day. Two to three hours a sitting.

My own canvases are made by myself. These are made of 1/8" plywood birch or luan. With 1 x 2" wood supports. I glue wood strips and nail with brads until glue dries. I use remnants of #10 or 12 canvas used for my larger paintings. It makes the finished painting more substantial physically.

3. Gesso

Golden Gesso is the best. Beware of inexpensive gesso it is too absorbent.

Pearl has a good less expensive gallon for $20 something, Professional grade. Urecht's Pro Grade OK, but I give a final coat of Golden as it is non absorbant.

2' House paint for latex brush

sandpaper

4. A gallon of Gamsol. The school will keep a supply if we need more.

I keep a second empty can with lid, to recycle the Gamsol it is expensive but is relatively non toxic and can be used over and over, the paint settling out.

A word about the medium. Turpentine is not used anymore in group situations. It evaporates and is toxic over a time. Gamsol is a great substitute it is different than paint thinner as it is further refined. Turpenoid is not as good and also makes some ill so we dont use it.

Galkyd is a painting medium. It is a alkyd substitute for linseed oil and damar varnish. Gamsol is not strong enough to dissolve Damar and so is not used with Gamsol.

5. A quart of Galkyd paint medium.

A can for Galkyd I use a Italian Tomato sauce larger or Campbells size soup can.

6. For Gamsol I use a Pizza sauce large size can. A funnel is handy to recycle in another can.

One doesn't want to be stingy with either of these mediums. Glass Jars to carry smaller amounts.

7. Brushes-- I use 6 of each white bristle filberts of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. Utrect has a good inexpensive brush. Simmons, Grumbacher become expensive. You can get away with 2 of each.

8. These are 1 1/2" brushes from commercial Paint store.

9. A large palette

16x 24" is a good size make a thumb hole with a jigsaw. Use 1/4 inch ply birch or mahoganey luan.

There are no good Palettes like mine, which is 15 years old-- that I've found. I used to cut them into that shape with a jigsaw? Its up to you.

Can be just a rectangular piece. I hardly ever hold my pallette anyway. If you rub it with a little Galkyd, let it dry, it will not be absorbent.

10. Cotton Rags, I get terry cloth from thrift store, cotton towels, cut up.

11. Paper towels The main thing is to get any wayward paint before it travels.

12. Baby wipes are great to clean up face and hands.

13. Clips large hardware store type are always handy to secure things from the wind.

14. Saran wrap
or plastic bags to seal up galkyd and put over paint if one doesnt use each day.

15. Plyers, sometimes handy, screw driver? and utility knife, measuring tape, and pencil.

16. Staple gun, Arrow Brand heavy duty, 5/16 size staple .

17. A scraper to clean pallette each day. This is a necessary item to clean palette.

Bring Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and drinking water.

Box or Knapsack that carries supplies or chair. Make sure you can through it all into someones car or walk a little distance with it all, like camping. One might just carry a smaller glass jar of a of Gamsol and Galkyd for instance.

The idea is to travel as light as possible. I have alot of stuff and I am pretty much stuck with my car, because I tend to paint larger.

The wind is a big problem and one doesnt want stuff to blow away as one paints so clips are good.

Here's the whole list:

Landscape Painting Supplies

I recommend ordering from Utrect or Daniel Smith online.
I recommend Utrect, Gamblin paint or Daniel Smith paint.
Oil Paint:
Titanium/ Zinc mix White. At least 2 tubes large
37ml. Small tubes are ok but buy large, 150ml if you plan to continue on your own.
One each:
Burnt Umber
Burnt Sienna
Yellow Ochre
Alizarin Crimson
Napthol or Cadmium red Light Hue, or Permanent Red
Cerulean Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Chromium Oxide Green (this is a grey green and goes by different names)
small Viridian we dont use much of this
Cadmium Yellow hue light and
Cadmium Yellow Medium, or
or Hansa Yellow and Hansa Yellow Deep
( these yellows one Lt and one deep, real cadmium oil is expensive and poisonous but covers best, up to you, see my blog for more discussion)
Mars/ Ivory Black mix
Testright 100 or 3x3 around 80 $ easel in D Smith catalog I think best. Or any other is fine, some may have a French style box easel outfitted with small tubes of paint. I myself use larger quantities of everything and they dont fit in box drawers so I dont use one, but it is a good solution if you like to make smaller paintings.
Canvases around 15 x 20 ", 20 x 30" some smaller some larger, horizonal for landscape.
We will probably make 10 paintings. Buy these or make yourself. (see blog)
Traditional stretched canvas in Utrect or Winsor Newton streched cotton in D Smith.
(Gamsol gallons and Painting medium Galkyd Qts I will order for class)
Filbert brushes as many as you wish 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 You can do with 2 of each.
Red boar bristle or Platinum in Daniel Smith and #219 or 209 in Utrect catalogs
2 @ 1 1/2" brush for large areas .
Pallette 16 x 24 " I will make and supply. 1/4 " Luan Plywood.
3"paint scraper to clean pallette or large pallette knife
Cotton Rags towels from thrift store.
Paper towels, and Baby wipes (good for hands)
Clips from Hardware store see blog
Saran Wrap
also maybe:
pliers, screw driver, utility knife, measuring tape, pencil
Must:
Hat sunscreen and water
Knap sack or crate to carry materials
please email me at gregorybotts (at) gmail.com if you have questions, that is @. I write so, as not to get spam here.
also see my blog here:
http://bottspaumanok.blogspot.com/2008/09/paint.html
and follow me as I paint this month in California Here:
http://paintingacrossamerica.blogspot.com/

See Painting Blog

2008-09-04T09:11:00.001-07:00

See Painting Blog:

http://gregorybotts.blogspot.com/