Leonardo da Vinci(1452-1519) created the Vitruvian Man around 1492. It depicts the ideal proportions of man. It is also one of the most important drawings in western art, if not, the most significant.
I purchased a small poster of the Vitruvian Man shortly after the New Year. This is a pen sketch I did with my fountain pen inspired by Leonardo's drawing. It sits in a sketchbook on my bureau which I pass by several times a day.
Each time I pass by my bureau I am struck at how simple of a sketch this really is. Also, how powerful this experience can be.
One can readily locate the facial features on our head with reference marks and then draw a face. Before long you begin to have a believable face with gender, emotion and some sense of age evident. Ultimately, you can begin to look into the sole of an individual through this exercise.
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| (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro |
Sometimes you have to paint a landscape several times. Even from a different vantage point. Or perhaps on a larger scale.
This watercolor is the evolution of all those considerations. That is the Green Mountains in the distance, even though they appear blue.
Late summer in Vermont is truly a special time of year to see the landscape for what it is. The colors can be vivid and the fields acquire a russet coloration. I have noticed the foliage has become blue-green and the shadows are often edged with this undulating quality.
Unconscious or not my landscapes seem to express a deeper saturation of color. In addition, I keep playing with how to depict the woodland edge. The initial washes freely stain the paper and thus, set the table for the rest of the painting.
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| (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro |
For all those people out there who think we don't have much color up in the North I beg to differ. It certainly is different than the landscape along the equator. However, as the days gain length the light particularly, late in the day acquires that special glow.
At this time of year I like how the sun and shadows roll over the snow revealing the undulating contours of the land. In addition, the colors projected on the ground reveal a lot of temperature - whether it is cold temperatures or receding snow.
I painted this watercolor in the afternoon as the warmth of the sun was such a delight. There is a freshness to the snow and brilliance of light which I could not resist.
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| (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro |
There are many rail trails throughout New England which have been converted to recreational corridors for our benefit. These are great places to walk, ride your bike or even cross country ski.
This is a view from the Northampton(MA) rail trail from last summer. It was painted earlier this evening. I took some artistic license in eliminating some of the brush in the middle distance even though the view is basically unaltered.
Recently, I have been paying attention to the shadows cast from objects outside and how I go about depicting them. Depending on the time of year, the temperature of the shadow can be quite telling. The edge of the shadow is critical in suggesting what may not be scene. In certain situations it is beneficial to go back in and detail some aspects within the shadow.
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| (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro |
This warmer weather has made me think of spring in advance of the calendar. So much snow has melted on our property that I considered doing some yard work earlier in the day. Regardless, it's always a great time to get some greens in your life.
Instead of painting an inspired winter scene of fresh drifting snow I keep thinking about painting a lush landscape. A fresh perspective I do find invigorating. A tweaking of a contour here and there or a new earthy color combination can transform the landscape.
Well.. I 'll see where this one takes me.
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| (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro |
This is a plein air painting I started last fall. I have it sitting on my summer easel in my living room. I was pressed for time that day and had to get back into town. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera that day.
There are qualities I like about this painting even in it's unfinished state. I like the perspective down and across the pond. Also, I like the quality of the washes and their natural tones. Last, the edge of the vegetation whether it's stringy or jagged says a lot about the plants in their natural environment. I appreciate it when plants are not hacked back like we often see in developed areas.
Sometimes I go ahead and finish a plein air watercolor from memory. In this instance, with no photograph as a reference, I hesitate to finish it. I suppose when the weather gets better in the spring I could finish it on site. However, for now it is on hold.
What would you do?
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| (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro |
Sometimes it is good to paint a value study. Instead of using payne's gray, I used ultramarine with burnt umber which gives the painting a warm gray quality. You can always add color later on. Or at least that is my approach, at times, when trying to capture a persons posture.
This watercolor was painted in five minutes but it lives on in my mind. I can readily change the scale of the person, put in a background or add more darks if I want. However, the essence of the figure is down on paper. I can even feel a bit of this person's presence.
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| (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro |
Landscape painting is a rewarding experience. Capturing the natural light or implying it gives life to a watercolor. Observing the landscape makes you see things for what they are. Over time you develop an eye for how to tweak the landscape to meet your vision.
When we add color, the landscape takes on greater meaning. We associate certain colors with certain seasons and elements in the landscape. For example, I have begun to notice a certain russet color in the late summer fields throughout New England.
Each time I start a landscape I approach it a little differently. This time I painted on Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper, which I have taken a liking too. This paper has an interesting weave like no other watercolor paper, from milling, but I like how it handles water and pigment.
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| (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro |
As the New Year begins it is time to reflect on the past year and embrace 2020. This is a collection of small watercolors I painted in the last year or so. There are many other paintings of various sizes that I painted outside in the elements or in the comforts of my studio.
With time and effort there is progress, as it has been said, by many who have preceded me. However, I do notice significant strides in both my drawing ability and painting skills. In particular, I have become more knowledgeable in my way around the palette. I do draw the head or human figure nearly every day in one of my various sketchbooks in pen, pencil and watercolor or in mixed media.
My goals for this year include greater progress towards mastering the human form while painting bigger and bolder watercolors.
Recently, I came to the realization that there are over 535 posts on this blog. For some reason I can't get beyond that. I allow myself to be self-absorbed for this one post and then move on.
I hope this post does not bore you, the reader, but perhaps inspires you to greater heights.
