Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Vincent Van Gogh


A few weeks ago, during President's week, my wife and I drove down to Montague, MA to visit the book mill. Now, I had never been to the Montague Book Mill, but it certainly has a ton of primarily, used books, at really good prices, in a lovely setting.

I ended up purchasing the New York Times Bestseller: Van Gogh: The Life(2012), written by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith for under ten dollars. As it is over eight hundred pages in length I will be reading this for quite some time. However, I always wanted to learn more about the life and times of Van Gogh.

Vincent Van Gogh(1853-1890) as many know, was a dutch impressionist painter who has become one of the most famous and recognizable painters in western art. He painted landscapes, still life's and portraits with bold color and expressive brushstrokes. In one decade alone he created nearly 2,100 artworks including 860 oil paintings, most of which he completed in the last two years of his life(Credit: Wikipedia).

Sunday, March 6, 2022

Retreat Field

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro

After this winter, it is refreshing to paint a summer scene full of greenery. I like how the vegetation in the foreground frames the landscape. It is not quite finished but I made some progress on this watercolor tonight.

This was painted on this Master's Choice watercolor paper which I have been working on lately. Except in this case I removed a sheet from the watercolor block to see if it would buckle when wet. I have been using the rough surface which buckles a little but it was quite workable, nonetheless. This paper seems to retain rich color and has a lively tooth to the surface.

Someone told me the back of the paper wasn't so accepting of paint. However, I disagree. I painted a section of the back and one can express lovely hard and soft edges with great variation.

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Northampton, MA

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

The rail trail in Northampton, MA is a favorite location of mine. It is well used, year round and well kept up. Also, it has nice views of the local landscape across agricultural land in many directions.

This watercolor is inspired from a recent outing along the corridor. I have yet to do some finishing touches but like how it is developing. Vibrant colors make the paper come to life.

This was painted on The Masters' Choice, a watercolor paper which I have taken a liking to. This paper has such a lovely texture and is unlike any other watercolor paper I have ever used.

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Abstract Landsape

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Watercolor is such a diverse medium. You can paint in a very direct way with a few washes or apply many precise layers with great control. You can take the medium outside and paint in the elements most of the year or work in the comfort of your studio. In addition, one can paint very small or on a sizable scale such as the work of the Hudson River Painters(even though they primarily painted in oil).

An artist can paint on very smooth paper or on medium or rough paper and achieve a very textured appearance. There are even illustration or watercolor boards which don't warp and are highly portable.

This watercolor sketch was done on cold press Arches paper. I have learned from experience that how you drag the brush across the surface can yield an infinite ranges of watercolor techniques. 

It can be beneficial to let the pigment run into other wet areas while at the same time preserving dry slivers of paper to suggest breaks in the water or waves crashing into the shore. After the paper dries you can go back in and paint tree trunks and define the shoreline or rock outcroppings.

I hope you feel as free as I do and experiment with various painting techniques which expand your opportunities for creativity.

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Winter Landscape

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

It is always rewarding to start painting with warm-up exercises before digging into a larger painting. This way you can can consider your paint mixtures in advance and move around the painting with greater fluidity.

The greenish vegetation in the distance was created by mixing raw sienna and payne's gray, a combination I normally don't use. Simply leaving the white of the paper in the foreground as is and adding shadows makes the ground appear to have snow on it.

There is a warmth to the colors in this watercolor which I find inviting. Also, a simplified palette makes the image easier on the eyes.

Sunday, February 20, 2022

The West River Trail

                                                                           (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro

It always feels good to paint on Arches watercolor paper. The pigment moves around well and the bead of the paper is familiar. Also, I find the back of the sheet is just as good to paint on as the front. If something goes awry there is no worry, nor waste.

Earlier in the winter when we had no snow or very little on the ground, the West River Trail was a great place to paint or exercise along. Also, the warmth of the sun was so inviting.

It can be a challenge to paint linear or paved surfaces as they can divide the composition in half but I like the feel of this path.  For me, part of the appeal, is that the trail is off-center with an irregular edge.

 

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Living Memorial Park

                                                                         (C)2022 Dale DiMauro
 

It feels good to paint a summer scene in contrast to the winter we have been having. After all, Vermont really is the Green Mountain State. Look at all the greens used in this watercolor.

The only dilemma with this picture I have is whether to tweak the line of the mountain seen through the distant tree. I figured I do not need to eliminate the whole line but sections of it to reduce the severity. On the other hand I could make some of the tree foliage darker to give it more strength than the distant hill. However, for now I left it as it is.

This was painted on that Chinese paper(Baohong) which I have grown to like. Of course, China has a rich watercolor tradition of their own. Lastly, this paper has an interesting tooth to the surface which gives the image a vibrant quality.


Sunday, February 13, 2022

By the Reservoir

               (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

It has been an unusual winter here in southern Vermont with ice storms outnumbering snow storms. Is this going to be a pattern as we head into the future? Will we be using more specialized boots and less of our skis?

We have had some arctic cold this winter, too! This watercolor has a lot of temperature in it. The warmth of the sun may be a delight but the cold in the shadows is another thing.

I like the diversity of growth and how the eye is drawn into the picture. 

This was painted on a watercolor block, marketed as The Masters' Choice. I really like the rough surface which gives the overall image a feeling of texture.

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Field of Dreams

                                                                           (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

There are days when I drive or walk around town often wondering what color I am seeing. Then I imagine what pigments I would mix to express what I am experiencing. 

I am proud of this painting. This picture is of a summer day in Vermont with high humidity dominating the landscape. The moisture is so strong in the air that the sky has become covered in gray.

So one may ask how do you express this atmospheric quality? I added alizarin crimson to cobalt blue in watered-down proportions to convey the color of the sky. Then I toned down the distant hill with a wash of clear water which soften edges and unifies the wet areas at the same time.

In contrast, the vivid yellow-green of the field radiates color which nearly glows off the paper. Even the shadows have a weight from the humidity which creates these inarticulate, fuzzy edges to them. 

Sunday, February 6, 2022

The Master's Choice: Artist Watercolor Block

                                                                     (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Shortly after the new year I purchased two new watercolor blocks of a paper that was new to me. Since then I have been experimenting and gaining experience using 'The Master's Choice', with origins to China called BAOHONG.

I have been painting on their rough surface which has a pleasing tooth to the paper. It appears to be a durable surface which can take many layers of washes and some say will not buckle when wet.

At this point it seems to only be available in this country from Jerry's Artarama. This paper also comes in cold pressed and hot pressed surfaces. 

It takes a little practice to become acquainted with the qualities of this paper. However, for those artists out there who like to try something new, this may be just what you are looking for. 

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Charles Reid

                                                                                   2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Charles Reid(1937-2019) was one of the most talented watercolor painters I have come upon. He was an artist, teacher and author of many books which I have mentioned in a previous post. This winter during some of the coldest days I have been reading up on Reid's approach to painting as I have accumulated several of his books found at local, used book stores.

Reid is well known for his figure painting done during workshops or in front of art groups with a model. Equally impressive to me are his landscapes and still life paintings which have a lot of color, yet are not overworked, which in itself is impressive.

One evening in my sketchbook I copied one of his compositions to study his technique and this is what I came up with. This watercolor sketch was done in less than ten minutes but was very rewarding. I like how all the shapes are pretty much linked together.

Sunday, January 30, 2022

On the Beach

                                                                                      (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Each time I paint with watercolors I learn something. Sometimes it is a small realization and at other times it is significant.

This painting has very few washes on it, enabling me to retain the white of the paper and move around the page rapidly. Also, the white of the paper is varied in it's character from dry brush areas to open areas. In addition, the sky where it is absent of paint at the horizon becomes part of the graded wash of blue which becomes darker in gradation the higher in the sky you go.

Finally, when I am dissatisfied with a watercolor I often turn it over and start another picture on the back. I find this works well and reliably with Arches watercolor paper.



Wednesday, January 26, 2022

More Experimenting

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Colors dominate our life in one form or another. Whether it is slick advertising on television or a greenhouse full of spring bulbs bursting forth. 

It can be challenging to determine if a color can stand on it's own. Also, it is a challenge to mix and arrive at a color you intend on.

In the evening I often jot down color combinations which seem intriguing or I select combinations I have zero experience with. Along the way I am able to expand my knowledge of my palette and become greater able to draw upon this information down the road.

The vibrant orange on the bottom is the result of combining quinacridone gold with permanent brown(a Daniel Smith pigment). Above, the base wash under the vegetation is the product of permanent brown and raw sienna.

These color combination give life to the paper which appeals to me. Also, they make the white of the paper come forward.

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Fort Dummer State Park

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro


Fort Dummer State Park is one of those understated parks that you might come upon dotted around the state of Vermont. It is located in Brattleboro, VT, not far from the local high school. It has history, recreational value and scenic qualities we take for granted. I often walk, hike or snowshoe the grounds and take in the mid-day sun, when I can.

This watercolor was inspired from a walk I took late last winter before the state was preparing to open for the summer season. It is a nice place to explore at that time of year as they don't seem to get much of a mud season. By this time bird activity ramps up quickly.

I like that this picture is between the seasons. Is it spring or still winter? The major challenge was to depict the woodland edge without fussing about too much. It easy to overwork the trees and get lost in the details. There is a warmth to the woods which I like which is not so inviting in the winter months.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Off the West River Trail

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

For a week or so I have been enjoying this new watercolor paper - marketed as The Masters' Choice. I particularly like the rough version. This is the second such watercolor I have done on this paper, both winter scenes. This paper has a lovely tooth to it.

The West River Trail offers many views of the river and woodland areas. Under a blanket of snow it is a totally different experience. I like the reddish growth in the distance against the white of the snow.

Sunday, January 16, 2022

Sepia & the White of the Paper

 

                                                                                      (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro


This tree was painted with the combination of sepia and permanent sap green. In the past I didn't really mix sepia with other pigments. I don't know why, but it never occurred to me. Since then I have been experimenting with a whole range of pigments to combine with sepia.

The tone of this color combination was appealing when wet and even in it's dry state. With this one wash on the paper the tree seems to have a presence on the page which is not overstated.

Lately, I have begun to appreciate the white of the paper more than ever before. Sometimes less paint can communicate more. Also, one can achieve greater depth in the picture if you leave the white of the paper in certain areas.

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

THE MASTERS CHOICE - A New Watercolor Paper

                                                                          (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Since last fall I had been eager to try this Chinese watercolor paper - Baohong, now marketed as The Master's Choice. There has been increasing interest and demand for this paper world-wide. Many say it is a high quality surface to paint on which does not buckle, yet can take many washes and repeated scrubbing.

The only retailer in the states who seems to carry this paper is Jerry's Artarama. Earlier this week I tried a rough version of this paper which has a tooth to it. This little watercolor is the result of my first experience using this paper.

There is something appealing about an image consisting of fresh snow and a blue sky. Perhaps, it is because this winter has been one challenge after another, so far. Messy and icy accumulations with sudden melting and refreezing has been frustrating to handle. On the other hand, fresh snow that blankets the landscape and stays in that condition for a period of days is both spiritually uplifting and lovely to ski or sled in.


Sunday, January 9, 2022

Winter 2022(so far)

                                                                           (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

This imaginary watercolor scene reminds me of the local outing club. That is the Brattleboro Outing Club which has been maintaining cross-country ski and snowshoe trails for the public, for years. Also, they offer instruction for school groups in the area, encouraging kids and adults to embrace all that winter has to offer.

However, this winter seems more challenging than most, partly due to COVID and in part to the unpredictable winter weather we are having. Will it rain, snow, sleet, ice over and melt in the next seventy-two hours? Well, there is good chance that several of those conditions will materialize.

With this kind of winter, when I leave the house I not only include several mask options but find myself preparing for the moment and the chance that when I return home it may be totally different outside. Thus, I include a hooded parka, sunglasses, gloves, hat, ice grippy's for my feet, a small fabric to clean the fog and moisture off my glasses, etc.

This watercolor was painted primarily with three colors: ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and payne's gray. With a razor I lifted some color to suggest birch trees in the distant woodland edge.


Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Winter Scene

                                                                                        (C)2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Since we haven't had much of a Winter so far, which is simply bizarre to me - I painted this imaginative one. Southern Vermont seems dark and out of place without snow or frozen ponds scattered about.

It is natural to keep the white of the paper as the snow and paint in the other landscape features. If you play up your dry brush washes it can provide texture in the field in the expression of your grasses, etc.

I find in painting the distant hills it is important to keep the upper areas painted with warm colors. As you work down the hill it is necessary to establish stronger values which are cooler in nature. Then you need a wash to link the whole area together which defines the shape.

This painting was done on 140 lb cold press Arches watercolor paper, which has evolved into my preferred surface. 



Sunday, January 2, 2022

Watercolor Doodle

                                                                            (D) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Cerulean Blue has been a pigment I have avoided for a while. I like how it granulates and makes a lovely blue sky. However, my cerulean blue, I believe, has become contaminated over time with other pigments in it's well. I really like this blue best on it's own, unmixed. 

These little landscape doodles are great because the pigment flows and there really is no holding back, painting-wise. I like the rich pigmentation and warmth of color. Quinacridone gold has become a must have pigment for my palette. I use it for mixing all kinds of greens such as the ground surface here.

Finally, before I forget, a Happy New Year to everyone! May 2022 become a much better year than 2021.