All those extra tubes of paint...

Ok, so you want to simplify your palette of colors to the double primary palette... But what about all those extra tubes of paint you have?

Sorting- Get out all your tubes of paint. Sort them into 7 piles. A pile for each primary color - red, yellow and blue. A pile for each secondary color - orange, green and purple. And one pile for the "odd" colors.

Now choose two versions (a warm and a cool, or a bright and a dull) of each of our three primary colors - 2 reds, 2 yellows and 2 blues. This is your basic double primary palette. Six tubes of paint.

As you become familiar with this simplified palette, you can begin to substitute different colors in the same family such as an orange for one of your reds. Still using six tubes of paint.

This will give you an interesting range of colors and its is a fun way to use up those extra tubes of paint while still using only six tubes of paint.

Now add a tube of white and ivory black. Now you have all the colors you need.

Remove the "odd" pile of colors and put them away for another use.

After you have sorted through your tubes of paint, you will probably find that you have enough choices so that you won't have to buy any more paint - except maybe white - for a long time. Isn't that great!

Happy painting!        

 Celene

On Facebook at -  Celene Farris, A Maine Artist

 My Ebay Store Link

My website link - www.CeleneFarris.com

Using a Double Primary Palette.

Answering that frequent question - "What colors do you use?"

I use a double primary palette. Knowing that all the colors we see are created from the three primary colors - red, yellow and blue - I experimented with various tubed colors until I found the colors that worked for me. A warm and cool version of the three primaries gave me a complete range of color mixtures.

Over the years I have adjusted my choices but stayed with the basics - two versions of the three primary colors - 2 reds, 2 yellows and 2 blues. Plus black and white, of course.

Occasionally, especially with my night scenes I might need to add a bright color for artificial and neon lights. Flower paintings may also require bits of brighter colors. But these colors are infrequent additions and are stored in a separate container.

Be sure to choose the versions of the colors that fit the region where you paint. I live in Maine. Here I see muted colors, deep greens, earth colors, blue-grays - a soft palette. Years ago when we went to Florida for the winter, on my first trip I made the mistake of taking my “Maine” palette of colors. Big mistake. Florida colors are bright and tropical.

So experiment. But remember that you will need two versions of the three primary colors - red, yellow and blue - to create a full range of successful color mixtures. What versions you pick will be your personal choice. But by keeping your color palette simple, you will have better color harmony - simplify your painting procedure - and save money, too.

So, to answer the question, “What colors do you use?” Here is my current palette.

Cad Yellow Light and Raw Sienna

Light Red and Alizarin Crimson

Ultramarine Blue and Cerulean Blue

Titanium White and Ivory Black.

Note - I only use Ivory Black as a modifier. Some artists prefer Raw Umber. You can work without either, but I like having it on hand. 

Happy painting!  

      

 Celene

PS. Wondering what to do with all those extra tubes of paint.... See my next post...

Touring Mid Coast Maine - A Photo Journey

Belfast Harbor, Maine

I've been updating the website of our former Belfast art gallery  - The Working Art Gallery, which we owned and operated for 15 years in beautiful, downtown Belfast, Maine. I had created this year long photographic tour of our area as part of the website. 

I shot these pictures of Belfast and the surrounding areas - month by month for over a year. It was great fun!

As I reviewed this photo tour, I was again moved by the beauty of our area. I thought you might like to see our corner of Maine.

Come along and enjoy - Click Here for the tour.

Celene

Gone Home

A quick follow-up on my last post. This painting has now gone to live with the granddaughter of the old couple who lived and raised their family in that wonderful old house. The perfect ending....

 Celene

Remember Me?

 Remember Me? Welcome Home 11x14, oil

There was something about this old house....

Located on a country road between my home and Belfast, I would drive by this wonderful old house every day on my way to the gallery. This old house, full of old stories and memories, with its stately manner and bay windows, always made me think that it belonged on an island overlooking the sea instead of on the “flats” overlooking quiet fields and woods. Driving by in the evening, its welcoming light told me that I was almost home.

I stopped one night to snap a picture knowing that I had to paint it. The old house is gone now, replaced by a modern home and the road has lost some of its charm.  

This painting hangs in my living room, and its light says “Remember Me? Welcome Home”.  

Thanks for visiting,

 Celene

And I hope you will visit my Facebook page - Celene Farris, A Maine Artist

and My Ebay Store

and www.CeleneFarris.com

Back Street, 5x7 oil

 

Another nocturne from my studio.

Back Street, 5x7 oil

This painting is now available in my Ebay Store or directly through me.

Thanks for visiting.

 Celene

And I hope you will visit my Facebook page - Celene Farris, A Maine Artist

and My Ebay Store

and my website  www.CeleneFarris.com

Uptown Saturday Night, 5x7 oil

Another new painting in my rainy night series. 

Uptown Saturday Night 5x7, oil, sold

This painting was available in my Ebay Store.

Thanks for visiting.

 Celene

And please remember to visit my Facebook page - 

Celene Farris, A Maine Artist 

And My Ebay Store

www.CeleneFarris.com

Cityscape and a Focal Point

Bright City Lights,  8x10, oil, SOLD

In my last post I shared the beginning stage of my latest nocturne cityscape. Above is my finished painting. I maintained my established structure but allowed my story to evolve as I painted.

Bright City Lights, 8x10 WIP

Throughout the painting process it's crucial to keep in mind that only the subject of the painting (or focal point) will be in sharp focus. The remainder of the objects in the scene are seen in our peripheral vision and will be slightly out of focus. This is how our eye actually views a scene.

You can prove this to yourself by looking at one object and without moving your eye, use your peripheral vision to see the surrounding objects.

Forgetting the importance of a strong focal point and not painting the scene as the eye would naturally see it is a problem very often seen in student paintings. Everything is in sharp focus. The eye doesn't know what to focus on and the whole painting looks unnatural - often uncomfortable to view. Remember - one focal point per painting! 

Foregrounds can be another problem area. They are the areas closest to you and if you are looking straight ahead to your focal point - the foreground is definitely not in focus! 

An interesting painting gives us a lot to see. The eye wanders around exploring the scene but is always drawn back to the focal point. And leave your painting a bit unfinished. Don't tell the whole story. This bit of mystery allows your viewer to become a part of the painting's story. 

Thanks for visiting with me. Stay warm. Spring will be on the way soon, I hope.

Celene

And please remember to visit my new Facebook page - 

Celene Farris, A Maine Artist 

And My Ebay Store

www.CeleneFarris.com

Cityscape In Progress

Checking my blog this morning, I was amazed to see that my last blog post was over two months ago - in November.  Our Decembers are always a whirlwind of activity. Then comes January when our Maine winter begins in earnest. Cold, snow, ice. No wonder the animals go into hibernation. Now it is early February and another gloomy, gray, cold day. Snow everywhere and ice underfoot - but like the groundhog we are up and looking forward to spring.

I thought I would share the beginning of my newest cityscape nocturne. These are complicated paintings and require a strong under-structure of perspective lines and value patterns.

Reference photos are a must since there is no way I could be in all these places to take my own photos. I borrow bits and pieces from many photographs to tell my own story.  

For this under-structure I use acrylic paint (black and white with shades of gray) because it covers well and dries quickly. Corrections and adjustments are easily made. I found that trying to create this layer in oil paint is difficult as the oil stays wet and corrections are messy.  

In this example, I am working on a red, acrylic toned canvas. I have established my perspective lines and a strong value pattern. And, yes, I use a ruler! I found that horizontal lines can be fudged a bit, but unless you want a cartoonish look, your verticals must be correct.

When I am satisfied with my composition, shapes and values, I will complete the painting using a full colored oil palette.

Work in progress, 8x10

I hope your holiday season was great. Wishing you all a very happy New Year. 

Thanks for visiting. Stay safe, sane and warm.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com