Value pattern painted on location

Last Monday I painted outdoors in pleasant late summer weather. I completed most of a small painting and started a larger canvas. Since the larger canvas was already toned with a mid-value red-orange, I established the light and dark pattern with white and black paint.

Storm Grove in progress

Today Hurricane Irma passed to the west of Columbia, bringing wind and rain and making us concerned for the welfare of friends and relatives in Florida and other parts of the southeast. Not being able to go outside, I worked in my studio most of the day. I decided to work on the large canvas I started last week, using the small painting as a reference. I decided on a yellow-green and purple complementary color scheme and painted quickly, limiting blending and preserving brush strokes.

My studio is surrounded by trees that swayed in the gray light of the storm as I worked.After blocking in the trees, I decided on a light purple sky and light green background foliage to show light coming through the trees. When I finished the painting, I felt that it reflected the weird light and uneasiness that comes with a storm.

Storm Grove
24×24 inches
Acrylic on gallery wrap canvas
©2017 Lucinda Howe