Summer At Shenandoah National Park

I had the pleasure of going back to Shenandoah National Park this last week. It's one of my favorite places in Virginia. The mountains are so large and the landscape is painted with vibrant green rolling hills. The place we stayed had an incredible view in the "backyard" of the property. The choice had been made. I knew I had to paint it! 

Summer Evening In Etlan - 6x12 inches - $320 (Click here to purchase)

This was only part of the view. My painting was a more narrow cropping of the area. I wanted to get a sense of scale with the farm house as well. It was really challenging getting the lightness of the mountains the proper value. This painting was about an hour and a half. Maybe 2 hours, max. The light was changing fast, so I had to paint quickly.

It was so humid outside that my gouache paint never actually dried on the panel. I had to bring the painting inside in order for it to actually dry. I've never seen gouache act like that. It almost felt like oil painting again.

I had also decided I was only going to take my limited primary palette that I had been experimenting with over the last 2 weeks with still life paintings. So the colors I had with me were:

- Hansa Yellow                                        - Ultramarine 

- Cadmium Yellow                                  - Viridian

- Cadmium Red Light                             - Burnt Umber

- Quinacridone Magenta                         - Titanium White

 

All together totals to 8 tubes of color. Not bad! I can mix almost any color I need. Plus it's fun to add to the challenge of mixing colors. I had also decided I was going to try something different. Gesso hardboard panels cut and prepared by myself. 

That was several days of trial and error, not square edges, and saw dust everywhere. I ended up with 12 panels so far (with 3 more 2 x 4 sheets left to make more). So I'd say it was worth it! 

The second place I painted was in that same valley. But I had this great view of a cow pasture where the cows would hide under the shade of the trees, away from the sun. As the shadow moved, so did the cows—trying to stay with it.

A Place Where The Cows Lay - 8x10 inches - $400 (Click here to purchase)

The sun had just crested over the mountains. There were no direct lights or shadows. The lighting was more ambient and soft. This time the humidity was so high, I couldn't even sign my painting at the end! I had to wait for it to dry inside. This painting was even faster to complete at 40 minutes to an hour. The lighting was changing from minute to minute. 

When I wasn't painting, I was hiking up in Shenandoah national Park. I went on the Lewis Falls Loop trail and the Stoney Man loop trail. It was really fun! I had such a wonderful time. I can't wait to go back and paint more some day. Until then, Shenandoah!