Late October Trickery

This image began with a color photo that I took a couple of years ago in Boston's Back Bay on a bright sunny day. Today I decided to use some digital trickery on this image to make a post for October 31st.  First, I used the Prisma app to add the "Daryl Feril" filter.  I saved the image, reloaded it into Prisma and edited it with a second filter, "Monoke".  Then I opened the image in iPhoto and adjusted the exposure and contrast to make the image darker.  Now this Boston Brownstone looks like it might be a haunted house. . .

White Pumpkins at Marini Farm (with Prisma filter)

To continue the pumpkin theme, here's another photo that I took at Marini farms in early October.  White and orange pumpkins were arranged on the grass and honestly, it was more of an artistic installation than a typical display.  So I took some pictures.   I recently added Prisma's "Flora" filter and then cropped the image to get this composition.

Rows of Pumpkins (with Prisma filter)

Took this photo a few weeks ago and recently added Prisma app’s Watercolor filter. Posting today because this makes me think of the traffic on 128 as everyone tries to get to Salem in late October.

Pumpkins at Marini Farm (with Prisma app)

This image began with a photo that I took a few weeks ago, during a little outing to Marini Farm (a local farm stand).  There were pumpkins everywhere, so I took some pictures.  I have been saving my pumpkin photos to post this week.  Salem is the next town over,  and October is a major tourist season around here. As October 31 approaches, there are almost as many tourists as there are pumpkins!  Today I used the Prisma app on my phone to apply a filter.  After some trial and error, I chose the "Dolphin" filter.  Edited in Prisma app with Dolphin

Pergola at Long Hill (Oil Bar Painting)

Here's my oil bar painting as it looked on October 12, 2022, the day I finished it.  I made too many small adjustments to list here.  I added to the foliage around the Pergola.  I adjusted the shape of the pink tree. I toned down the yellow light where the sunshine hits the pergola.  And I changed the light of the sky from pale blue to pale yellow.  I pronounced this painting finished, with just enough time to spare to let it dry, sign it and attach a wire for hanging. This is how it looked when I delivered to the Beverly Historical Society just two days later, narrowly making the deadline for their show, "Icons, Myths, and Legends of Beverly," running from October 21st to December 17th.

Pergola at Long Hill (Oil Bar Painting as of October 11, 2022)

Here is my latest oil bar painting as it looked on October 11th.  The day before, this painting had been sideways in the ease while I painted the sides of the canvas. Once the paint dried enough,  I turned the painting right-side-up, and I knew it was time to modify the composition.  I was planning to add more foliage to the area around the pergola.  (Although it wasn't obvious in my reference photo, the path to the pergola is lined with azalea bushes.) Since I was going to add more detail in that area, I wanted to simplify the rest.  I extended the shape of the pink tree behind the pergola. (This is a departure from the reference photo.)  Then I eliminated a row of dark green overhanging leaves at the top of the canvas. This immediately simplified the background on the upper left side and made the trees in the background look taller.  I wanted some light to show through the trees, but limited that to two small areas that would suggest  a nice diagonal line between them. This is also different from the reference photo.  But when I paint from a photo reference, there almost always comes a point when what is on the canvas becomes more important than what is in the photo.  I knew there was more to do, but I felt like I was on the right track. 

Pergola at Long Hill (Oil Bar Painting as of October 10, 2022)

Here is my oil bar painting as it looked on October 10, 2022., last Monday.  I had been working on this painting for an art show, and it was due to be turned in on the 14th or 15th.  The painting wasn't finished but I needed to "seal" the sides with paint, but it would take several days to dry, so it was time to start. So this painting was turned sideways on the easel.  At first, I thought that meant I wouldn't be able to work on it, but I realized that I often turn paintings upside-down to work on them.  So I turned my photo reference sideways too, and kept going, although I didn't attempt major changes.  I worked on light and dark on the Pergola and developed some detail in the foreground.  When I took this photo, the painting was still on its side.

Pergola at Long Hill (Oil Bar Painting as of October 9, 2022)

Here is my oil bar painting as of October 9th.  I began to work on the background, using my photo reference, as well as other photos I have taken there.  I also began to focus on the sunlight coming through the trees and shining on the pergola.

Pergola at Long Hill (Oil Bar Painting as of October 8, 2022)

Here is my latest painting as it looked on October 8, 2022. I began to add foliage around the pergola. It was fun to add the yellow. I also extended the branches of the pink tree behind the structure.

Pergola at Long Hill (Oil Bar Painting as of October 7

Here is my painting as it looked on October 7, 2022.  I worked almost exclusively on the little pergola, measuring and straightening the lines and fine-tuning the color.  These are not flashy changes; but they are necessary because that little pergola is central to the painting.  

Pergola at Long Hill (Oil Bar Painting as of October 6, 2022)

Here is my current painting as it looked on October 6th. That day, I was concentrating on establishing the background.  This is oil bar on a canvas 20 x 20 inches.  I am working from a photo* that I took at Long Hill Gardens, here in Beverly, Massachusetts *Digitally edited to modify the composition.

Pergola at Long Hill (Oil Bar Painting as of October 5, 2022)

Here is my current painting as it looked on October 5th.  I added a bit more detail to the pergola (including painting the roof), and began to establish the background.  At this point, I was using only a few colors to keep things simple.  (But it is never simple, is it?)

Pergola at Long Hill (Oil Bar Painting as of Oct. 4, 2022)

Here is my current painting as it looked on October 4th.  I started by painting the pergola, relying on my sketch and the photo reference.  Then I also began roughing in the rest of the composition.  To be continued. . . 

Pergola at Long Hill (Sketch on Canvas)

This is how my current project looked back on October 3rd, I started my painting by making this sketch on the canvas, using conte crayon.  As you can see, I spent most of my time trying to draw the pergola.  I was relieved because the drawing seemed to come together without too much trouble.   To be continued. . .

Pergola at Long Hill (Reference for Painting)

My photo of the pergola at Long Hill Gardens (posted here on October 3) is the inspiration for my current painting project.  But before I could use the photo as a painting reference, I used my Painter program on the computer to make some changes.  First, I cropped the image into a square format.  Then, for the sake of the composition, I shifted over the big trees in the background, and modified the position of some of the foliage that was hiding too much of the pergola.  I did all of this with Painter's cut-and-paste and some digital chalk.  The result, posted here, is a very rough image, but it is a helpful tool.  I have taken some other photos of the same subject, and plan to use them as references as well.

A Smooth Path Ahead (with Prisma filter)

This is my photo of the path at Kelleher Pond, with the Prisma app's "Watercolor" filter applied. I recently posted this image as part of my greeting for Yom Kippur, (See post for October 4th, 

 with text and background added with Canva.) As the new year begins in earnest, here is the image by itself. 

Wishing You a Smooth Path Ahead

The image is my photo of the path at Kelleher Pond, posted here recently, with a Prisma filter added.  I used the Canva app to put this all together. Sending this out, as Yom Kippur approaches, to wish everyone a smooth path ahead.  

Reposting: Pergola at Long Hill (Inspiration for painting)

I took this photo back in 2011, but came across it recently. This is the pergola at Long Hill Gardens. It is the inspiration for my next painting. 

Apples on the Tree (In New Home)

Back in 2015, I used oil bars to paint these apples.  Last year, I sent the painting off to Colorado Springs, to its new owners.  Yesterday I received a photo of it, now framed by the new owners and hanging in its new home.  I liked the way it looks, so I took this picture.