April 29, 2007 by Carrie L. Lewis.

For the second year in a row, the Newton, Kansas Chamber of Commerce organized a downtown event known as “Art & Music in the Heart of Newton”.

Participating downtown businesses are paired with artists and musicians for a two-hour evening event. This annual event is designed to reintroduce Newtonians and others to Newton’s growing downtown business district.

Last year, I participated in “Art & Music” by setting up with colored pencils at a new downtown business, The Creation Station.
The Creation Station is a relatively new business to Newton. Opened in November 2006 by Catherine Blocher, it is enjoying a growing reputation as the local source for beading supplies, scraping booking supplies and, of course, art supplies!

This year, I visited the same store, but set my table up with a different display. The exhibit featured a large collection of original ACEO landscape paintings, roughly half the ACEOs painted as part of my Landscape Painting a Day Challenge.

These miniature oil or acrylic paintings were very popular and led to a sale and a great deal of interest before the evening was over. Many people were quite amazed to realize the paintings was hand painted originals, rather than photographs or reduced scale reproductions
Also part of the exhibit was my newest portrait project, a pastoral scene featuring a Thoroughbred eventing horse named October Skies. Visitors were able to see how I work up a drawing from a collection of reference photographs using grids and multiple stages of development.

I even managed to get a little bit of work done on that project before the evening was over!

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April 28, 2007 by Carrie L. Lewis.

Landscape Study #137 2007

This is another dairy farm scene. I didn’t actually take the reference photograph. My brother did. I just wasn’t brave enough to climb up to the top of our silo in those days, though the photographs he took make me think the view in real life would have been wonderful!

3-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
Original oil on acrylic-sealed archival mat board

$25 unframed
Visit ACEO Landscape Painting A Day for more information.

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April 28, 2007 by Carrie L. Lewis.

Landscape Study #136 2007

This is one of the collection of images gathered at the beginning of the week. The cow in the reference photograph was named “Spot” and was a personal favorite. She loved to have her back scratched and would come stand beside me at the barn or on pasture until I scratched her back.

I have wanted paint this image since first seeing the developed print many years ago.

The palette is very limited. Titanium White, Yellow Ochre and Cadmium Orange in the sky. Burnt Umber and Burnt Sienna in the dark areas. To create the look of back lighting and a setting sun, I made the edges very soft on the cow.

3-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
Original oil on acrylic-sealed archival mat board

$25 unframed
Visit ACEO Landscape Painting A Day for more information

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April 28, 2007 by Carrie L. Lewis.

Landscape Study In progress
Second Step

Tonight, I worked up all parts of the painting and brought it nearly to completion. In fact, it could be considered complete but for the fact that I still need to paint in the rainbow.

Before I can do that, the sky and trees will need to be completely dry. Considering the rainy weather for the day, I am thinking the drying process will take a couple of days.

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April 25, 2007 by Carrie L. Lewis.

Landscape Study in Progress
First Step

Time and events conspired against me today. I had time to paint after work and before band practice, but not much time.

The event was choosing a rather complicated composition to begin my Michigan week. (See photo below)

I was able to block in all the shapes and colors for this painting, but that was all. It was very easy to see that it was going to take at least two painting sessions to complete because of all the layering that would be necessary. So today, I contented myself with bringing the painting along to this point.

The painting will be allowed to dry, then I will begin to add details.

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April 25, 2007 by Carrie L. Lewis.

Landscape Study #134 2007

Today’s work included this scene of summer trees and a quiet lake. It is reminiscent of many years growing up in Michigan.

The palette used for this painting and the others finished today (a total of two) was limited to Sap Green, Permanent Green Light, Cadmium Yellow, Cerulean Blue, French Ultramarine Blue and Titanium Blue. I used the same basic palette to work on a couple of other miniature landscapes that are being painted on samples of Belgian linen. What a delight that is, but that’s another story altogether!

3-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
Original oil on acrylic-sealed archival mat board

$25 unframed
Visit ACEO Landscape Painting A Day for more information.

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April 24, 2007 by Carrie L. Lewis.

Landscape Study #131 2007

Another Flint Hills scene in acrylic. This one took shape over the course of several hours and two days as I glazed a layer or two, then went about other work.

I am working more with shadows, specifically the shades of cool blue and green that appear in the shadows on a clear … or nearly clear! … day.

3-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
Original acrylic on archival mat board

$25 unframed
Visit ACEO Landscape Painting A Day for more information.

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April 24, 2007 by Carrie L. Lewis.

Landscape Study #130 2007

The Flint Hills have been a great inspiration. Even the stark, bare hills of winter can be a treat for the eye.
Covered with the lush green of spring, they are even more delightful.
3-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
Original acrylic on archival mat board

$25 unframed
Visit ACEO Landscape Painting A Day for more information.

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April 24, 2007 by Carrie L. Lewis.

Landscape Study #127 2007

There is something wonderful about the symmetry and repeating patterns to be found in the Filnt Hills and other similar natural formations. In the morning and evening, low, slanting light creates a wonderful mix of light and dark combined with the repeating pattern of curving hills.
3-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
Original acrylic on archival mat board

$25 unframed
Visit ACEO Landscape Painting A Day for more information.

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April 23, 2007 by Carrie L. Lewis.

Landscape Study #126 2007

Every now and again, I take a mental journey back to Michigan. It can be by way of looking through old photos or my weekly telephone talk with Mom.

Today, it came in the form of this landscape painting in oil.

Snow is as endlessly fascinating to paint as water. There are so many ways to paint white snow and so few of them involve a lot of white paint.

For this ACEO landscape, I used Titanium White and Cerulean Blue, with just a touch of Ivory Black added to the darkest darks.

3-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
Original oil on acrylic-sealed archival mat board

$25 unframed
Visit ACEO Landscape Painting A Day for more information.

Posted in Oil Landscapes | No Comments »