Fitz Henry Lane

                                                                                       
 

Fitz Henry Lane(1804 - 1865) was a leading marine painter of the mid - 19th Century. A great draftsman who could render a ship's portrayal in such detail with rigging as well as anyone in his day. Also, he was masterful at capturing the late day sun whether a ship was docked for the night or the setting sun cast across the harbor and distant landscape.

These are the qualities I think of when someone mentions the name - Fitz Henry Lane. Last week at the Portland Museum of Art, in Portland, Maine, one of his paintings on exhibit drew my attention. His painting: Annisquam Marshes, Near Gloucester Massachusetts, 1848(oil on canvas), has this warm glow of light toward the horizon with a river zig-zagging and meandering through the salt marches. This line of movement draws your eye deep into the picture.

I found this composition and Lane's mastery of color so captivating I studied it later in the week when I visited the museum a second time. Ironically, there are no ship's portrayed in this painting which was his trademark.

Sebago Lake

                                                                                       (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Recently, I spent some time in Portland, Maine, with my wife. On one of the hottest days we were there, we headed out to one of our favorite beaches. Sebago Lake, nearly an hour west of Portland is a good-sized lake with a beautiful, sandy, yet shady beach. It has a grove of tall pine trees lining the shoreline.

It was refreshing to swim and bob around in such clear water. The beach is so relaxing as there are no rocks or shells with sharps edges to be concerned about.

The only thing missing from this watercolor are people. However, it was not a crowded scene as one might expect. Often there are children from summer camps who get bussed out from the Portland area but not on the day we visited.

Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) certainly has a stellar reputation as a prolific illustrator and painter for nearly seven decades. I have always admired his drawing ability and was hoping at some point to acquire a book which featured his drawings.

This week I came upon that book and it is titled: Norman Rockwell:Drawings 1911-1976 by Stephanie Haboush Plunkett and Jesse Kowalski. Not only is it well written but it has many, many of his drawings of figures and models in his classic compositions for his commissioned works.

I just love his pencil drawings. His figures are so masterfully composed, I could look at the pages all day long. I am hoping to improve my figure drawing by practicing with some of his figures in my sketchbook.

 

Early Watercolor

                                                                                       (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Pen and ink with watercolor makes a dramatic statement. It adds a very illustrative quality to the finished appearance. Or at least the way I typically use pen and ink.

This watercolor was done many years ago during a time when I was also into colored inks. The colors are clearly defined just as the ink is.

This is another example of how diverse watercolor can be utilized. You can layer washes or blend pigments or as in this case paint by numbers pretty much.

Watercolor Studies

                                                                                       (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Watercolor studies are so important in developing your composition. In addition, simply recording a scene with direct painting is real valuable. I routinely do both of these practices.

However, I make other studies which consist of experimenting with color mixtures. There is an endless quantity of color swatches to explore. Ultimately, I turn these color swatches into landscape paintings.

Learning as many color combinations as I can creates a whole data bank to draw upon. Often times, subtle changes in color can make a major difference in your painting.

These four landscapes began as color studies which evolved rapidly as a way to experiment in how to use them in my paintings.

Plein Air

                                                                             (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Plein air painting is a great experience if you are willing to paint outside. However, painting outside for me this season has been a real challenge. Between poor air quality, rain and allergies like I have never experienced, it has been downright difficult to paint outside.

In addition, with a constantly changing schedule, it has been difficult to establish a routine. Hopefully, late summer and fall will be a different story.

This watercolor was painted at a boat landing along the Connecticut River. There is a freshness of approach in color and expression that I like in this picture.

Quinacridone Red

                                                                           (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Painting the landscape is the most rewarding. Tweaking the landscape to make it a stronger composition is even better.

Lately, I have been experimenting with quinacridone red and viridian as a mixture which can be seen in the foreground. Also, it is seen in the background in the woodland edge. It may look similar to a 'red brick' color. However, it is a lively color I intend on using in the future.

I have veered away from using payne's gray on it's own. It seems best when mixed with other pigments. So, I have turned to other pigmentations for most of my shadows. Here you can see I have applied the red and green combination.

It is very satisfying to try new colors and experiment with new techniques and brushes.

Sketchbook Drawing

                                                                                (C)2023 Dale DiMauro
 

It always feels great to do some drawing. If I haven't drawn for a few days I feel like something is missing from my life.

With such a strange Summer due to poor air quality, a nasty prolonged allergy season and rainy periods it doesn't seem like July. After all these are the longest days of the year.

However, drawing captures some aspect of the Summer which I can refer back to. Also, it is a great meditative activity.

Vermont Landscape

                                                                                       (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Vermont truly has a green landscape. Maybe not so much in the winter but definitely during the summer months. This watercolor actually depicts a spring scene during one of the drier seasons I can recall.

During a local garden tour I took a photograph of this scene because it was so verdant and calming. I knew I had to paint this at some point. I think I was drawn to the sky as much as the landscape.

This was painted on a watercolor block of 'The Masters Choice'. This paper has a rough surface which I have really come to embrace.

New Palette

                                                                          (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Several weeks ago my palette of a decade(seen below) separated from the top and simply gave out. This sized palette was great as it did not take up much space and was relatively portable. However, without a cover the pigments can spill and it became a challenge to transport. 

Several years ago I bought a second palette of the same dimensions and configurations which I thought I would use for painting portraits. So this one has been pressed into service. With a new palette it provides an opportunity to arrange ones's colors differently, or limit your palette or add new colors. Nevertheless, I have been agonizing over which changes I should make and then break in the new palette.

Normally, one is advised to put cool colors on one side and warm colors on the other side. So, I have stuck wth this tradition and added some of the umber and ochers in the strip above the mixing well.

While thinking about all this, I am propelled to paint larger with larger brushes which require a palette with larger paint wells. I included a larger brush in the photograph above which one can see does not fit easily into the smaller wells of this palette.

These decisions seem so important to me. Others may not see it this way. However, how you locate your pigments is critically important. When mixing pigments there are certain color combinations you rely upon to rapidly develop your painting. These color relationships evoke temperature and memories of past associations so it worth thinking this through.

Sketchbook

                                                                                      (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

It is always rewarding to draw or paint in my sketchbook. I really have no hesitation so the pen or brush starts flowing once I open it up. Plus, it is great to refer back to, as I experiment with numerous color combinations and thumbnail sketches.

Developing sketches on the human form are essential for me as my images become more and more fluid. In addition, I find it important to adjust my painting approach depending on which paper os surface I am using. Thin papers I am more likely to paint wet on dry while heavier surfaces I aim for more of a wet on wet approach, if it seems right.

Regardless, once I put pen or brush to paper, the creativity just oozes out. I increasingly want to paint with a larger brush on a bigger scale.

Color Mixes & Landscape Painting

                                                                                        (C)2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Discovering new color combinations is always inspiring. It simply changes my relationship to the landscape and transforms how I see the paper. 

This blue-gray pigmentation is the result of combining quinacridone violet with phthalocyanine green. The cool, yellow in the foreground is hansa yellow which seemed like a fit to drop into the foreground.

This blue-gray pigmentation seemed alive when it was wet and full of energy as I worked the edges of the wash. As lively as it is it seemed like a background color, nonetheless.

I write the names of these color combinations on my swatches so I can refer to them when necessary. It is sort of a vocabulary I can draw upon.

Square Format

                                                                                       (C)2023 Dale DiMauro

Using a square format is not something I utilize on a regular base. It is probably not the best format to portray a landscape, as a horizontal format is more suitable. However, this watercolor block was available without a painting on it and on a large scale(12" x 12") so I wanted to see what I could do with it.

This is a good format for painting a portrait but I do like to experiment and push the boundaries and see what I can learn from it. The square format I find makes an artist center their subject matter and technique in the middle of the paper which lends itself to a more formal approach.

I do like the color combinations and the suggestion of grass in the foreground with the absence of pigment.

Repairing a Watercolor Painting

                                                                           (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

This is a watercolor I am proud of. Last Wednesday as the forest fire smog had moved into the Northeastern states in America I had started to feel a bit sick and decided to stay indoors all day (as was recommended from local air quality advisories).

I started this watercolor but did not like some of the placement of my washes as they left hard edges in undesirable places, such as in the middle of the image. So I decided to lift paint from the paper in the middle and background. This took repeated damping of the paper with water and then absorbing the pigment with a paper towel.

This landscape became promising as I added new washes which clarified the middle and backgrounds. In addition, modifying the placement of the tree seemed more natural while framing the landscape.

As a result of this watercolor, I have a renewed confidence in repairing a painting when necessary instead of giving up on it.

Figure Study

                                                                        (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Watercolor is so versatile I love it. This morning I woke up with a cough and a sore throat, I think due to this poor air quality. Instead of painting a watercolor I did a figure study in my sketchbook. I pretty much painted this while standing up.

What makes watercolor so versatile is that you can paint on various scales with multiple-sized palettes. I have an expandable palette which will fit in a small ziploc bag and others the size of my computer. Plus, you can paint on so many different surfaces. I have painted on various textures of paper, illustration board, numerous sketch books and with mixed media.

For me keeping the continuity of painting going is important. It is all too easy to become distracted or sidetracked. I learn so much about watercolor painting on a daily basis.

Plein Air Magazine

                                                                             (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Plein Air Magazine has a monthly competition where artists can submit paintings and potentially win money and/or recognition at the same time. In addition, there is an annual competition with a winner taking home $15,000.

Well, this past week I entered photographs of two paintings into this competition. One of the paintings included is the watercolor above, which was done in plein air, in Keene, NH.

In the past entering art competitions on-line was very frustrating as the technology was challenging or required more time than I was willing to give. This submittal process went very smooth and really didn't require much of my time.

Hopefully, I will see one my paintings in one of their magazines and perhaps receive an award.

Allergies & Painting

                                                                             (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

The combination of the cool greens of the tree and the vibrant orange-yellow ground plane inspired me to paint this scene. I love the rising contours which add an element of mystery, too.

I feel like this is the best evergreen I have ever painted. Certainly, a bit more massing will it give more volume. However, I like the branching and colors and even the shadows. Also, it feels like it is rooted in the landscape.

After two months of allergies, preparing taxes and getting up to speed with a new computer my painting routine has been constantly disrupted. So it is feels good to get back to painting

Madame Sherri Forest

                                                                                       (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

On Friday I got in some plein air painting. After all it was a beautiful day.

However, this time I brought my full easel set-up, except I forgot my collapsable water container. Oops! I managed to adapt by using one of the deeper wells on my easel for water.

There were many people hiking the trails toward Indian Pond as well up to Madame Sherri's old remains in West Chesterfield. NH.

I took this photograph of my watercolor on my easel on site as it has much dappled light across the image. It was challenging with the changing light and rugged topography but the landscape was dominated with many layers of greens.

Hildene Estate

                                                                             (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Hildene, the Lincoln family estate in Manchester, VT is worth the visit. Hildene was the summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln and his wife, the son of Abraham Lincoln. Robert Todd Lincoln was the president of the Pullman Company which manufactured customized rail cars for wealthy people.

The residence was occupied by Lincoln descendants until 1975. Recently, I visited during my wife's school break in April. The grounds of Hildene occupy 412 acres with over 1,000 peonies near the residence.

I painted this watercolor because I love the character of old apple trees and the vibrant green of the lawn which had recently emerged.

Spring on the West River Trail

                                                                  (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

After traveling south from Vermont for a few days I appreciate the quality of life that Vermont provides. All the congestion on the roads and overpopulation of people on a Sunday, no less, was real aggravating. Getting outside in the natural environment and breathing fresh air is important to me.

Painting outside seems best when applied on a watercolor block. The paper doesn't buckle and you can move across the paper rapidly.

I love the freshness of this watercolor. Colors are good, shadows are great and it is not overworked. However, the qualities of the light may be the most appealing aspect.