Radical Impressionist: A Mathematician Paints

The history of this painting began during a Mentoring Program by Albert Handell in June 2015.  I pointed out that the Santa Fe River was running, and so we painted there twice during the week.  The location is on Alameda on the southeast side of the river a block from Delgado Street. What a great location when the water is flowing. I enjoyed sitting and standing, painting and listening to the water babble as it flowed over the rocks, watching the neighborhood children and dogs frolicking in the waves.  My first two "en plein air" studies were during this program.: "Santa Fe River Flows I", oil, 6x12" (sold) "Santa Fe River Flows II", oil, 6x12"  { I then returned to the river on my own the next year and painted the larger "Santa Fe River Turbulence". As I was painting, I was conscious of utilizing a "golden spiral" with a focal point at the golden mean. Fortunately I had chosen a golden ratio for the panel: 10

Now that I am no longer teaching a class I have neglected to post my paintings and lessons learned.  But I do want to begin again.  Two days ago a painting was sold at the Marigold Arts Gallery on Canyon Road of a scene that happens to be in my favorite area to paint: Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu and the Chama River.  So I am inspired to paint there again (before my next planned trip in early June). In particular I decided to look back over my notes to see the stages for the Chimney Rocks (now I) painting I did last February 27 and do the painting in a different size. Here's the painting that sold: "Chimney Rocks almost final", 11x14, oil by Karen Halbert "Chimney Rocks", 11x14, oil by Karen Halbert (SOLD) Notice that I changed the sky quite a bit and adjusted the green of the bushes.  Actually for the sold version I toned down the signature from the dark blue to a softer green so that it wasn't as prominent. So, today I began a new version on a 1

I plan to concentrate on palette knife work in the April 8 session.  I will have two paintings that were executed primarily with palette knife: "Sedona Cliffs", 9x12, oil, Karen Halbert "Kewala Winds", 5x7, oil, Karen Halbert And another painting I finished with Palette Knife touches: "Return to the River", 16x20, oil on linen, Karen Halbert Here are two images of this Aspen Grove painting before I added the palette knife touches: And finally, this week's plein air painting start, using palette knife exclusively after a light wash-in with yellow ochre and then some color in the sky and mountain range.  I will complete the sky and mountain range in class with a palette knife. Palo Verde along an Arroyo (nearing completion), 8x10, oil, by Karen Halbert palette knife "Palo Verde along an Arroyo", nearing completion References:  Oil Painting with a Palette Knife by Powell.   Oil-Pai

I have separated the remaining sessions into categories. These photos will be available on April 8 to the class for future reference. Details and descriptions will be added later. Sedona Photos: My Sedona Paintings (will have them in the class) Other Sedona Paintings: JBrad Holt, Sedona Series VI Beth Ray Sedona Paintings: Beth Ray Larger 16x20 or 18x24 Beth Ray Sedona 9x12 - 12x16 (see below)