Fine Art by Don Whittemore

Moonlight Painting Completed

donaldrw — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:52:03 +0000

I finished this painting today. I started with a photograph of some rocks I saw while kayaking on Lake Massabesic, NH last summer. I’ve been looking at the photo for some time, and decided to go with a deep blue sky and show the rocks as if bathed in moonlight.

I started with a well prepared canvas with four coats of gesso. A Burnt Sienna wash followed and several layers of Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue and Winsor Blue scumbled over this. Trees and rocks were under painted with Red Oxide and Burnt Sienna. The trees finished with layers of gray using varying amounts of Burnt Umber, Hookers Green Deep, Winsor Blue, White and a touch of Cadmium Red Hue.

This was followed up with washes, glazes and dry brushing using all of the same colors to bring out the different textures of the rocks. The foliage and moss was done with Hookers Green Deep, Hookers Green, a touch of Cadmium Red Hue, Red Oxide and white.

Moonlight

20 X 16

Acrylic on Canvas

$500

Students Finish One Work; Three Others in Progress

donaldrw — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:11:46 +0000

Marc P. is well along on a difficult subject. February, 2012.

Nancy S. is well underway with her vase of flowers. February, 2012.

Joanne K. has just started a painting of cabbages with lots of good under painting. February, 2012.

Jerry F. completed his fall landscape in early February, 2012.

Pomegranates, Lemons and Limes Completed

donaldrw — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:04:27 +0000

I finished the Pomegranates, Lemons and Limes painting today. This was a fun painting to do. Acrylic on canvas, 16 X 20.

First Painting of 2012 Started

donaldrw — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:04:03 +0000

I have started my first painting for 2012. I used a 16 X 20 Fredric canvas and prepared it in my usual way by rolling on two coats of gesso. I wanted to paint a pomegranate so I purchased one as well as a lemon and a lime. I set up a three-sided stage on my work table using scrap mat board taped together to photograph the fruit. I cut up the fruits and arranged them on this mini stage and lit the arrangement with a single source of light from a small quartz halogen desk lamp. I shut off all the other lights in the room. I took a bunch of photos, rearranged the fruit in different ways and moved the camera angle around. With a digital camera, you can take dozens of photos and only print the best ones for reference photos.

I did a small sketch to check out the composition, and then did a light pencil sketch on the canvas. I started painting the background with a splotchy wash of Ultramarine Blue. I applied a thin wash on the fruit with the opposite color. I used Hookers Green for the pomegranate, Cadmium Red for the limes, and a violet wash for the lemons. A quick wash of Yellow Oxide and Raw Sienna was added to the table top.

I find it helps a great deal to soak the back of the canvas with a spray bottle of water with a little liquid dishwashing detergent. This tightens up the canvas and slows down the drying time slightly so I can work wet-in-wet. I used a series of washes, scumbles, and wet-in-wet painting to bring up the shapes of the pomegranates, lemons and limes. I darkened the background with more splotchy paint at this point.

I used the printed photographs and my laptop computer to view the pictures. This is something new I’m trying, and it gives me better back lighting, a brighter image and truer color than the printed photos. This also allows me to see how the fruit is structured, since I can zoom in to get the fine details. I also save many of the better photos, and can view them from different angles.

I continue to work around the painting, bringing each piece of fruit along with additional detail, color and form. If things aren’t going well, this is the best time to make adjustments on the work. I set the painting aside and study it from different angles for a day or two. I saw that several minor adjustments were needed, so I placed small bits of blue painter’s tape near the needed corrections. The next painting session, I make the necessary corrections before continuing with the work.

At this point, the painting is almost complete. I’ll add the rest of the steps I’ve taken and post them soon so you can see how this all worked out. Stay tuned!

Three Students Work Coming Along Well

donaldrw — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:19:57 +0000

Here are three of the Senior’s works in progress. Each painting is coming along well and should be completed in a few weeks.

Jerry F. fall landscape. January, 2011

Armand B. is almost done with this heron painting. January, 2011

Joanne K. is painting Robert Frost’s mailbox. January, 2011.

Seniors Compete Two More Paintings

donaldrw — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:14:59 +0000

Jerry F. completed one more painting this week.

Michael M. completed his very first painting this week too.

Two Small Works Completed

donaldrw — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:55:14 +0000

I did a couple of small (5 X 7) paintings for a donation today. These will be raffled off to support the local Meals on Wheels program at the Salem Senior Services.

Another Student Painting Added

donaldrw — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:41:49 +0000

Dave G. October, 2011

Seniors Complete Two More Paintings

donaldrw — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:55:21 +0000

Armand B. November, 2011

Jerry F. November, 2011

New Gallery Opens in Haverhill, MA

donaldrw — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:30:00 +0000

The Sage Art Gallery has opened in Haverhill MA. Donald Herook, President of the Greater Haverhill Arts Association owns the gallery, and he offers the artists of the Merrimack valley region a convenient, cost-effective opportunity to promote the display and sale of their art. I am showing three pieces of art at the gallery including Apples in Sunshine, Taylor’s Sawmill and Native American Dancer Don Barnaby. My blank note cards are also available.

Located at 136 Washington Street, Haverhill MA, the gallery is in the center of an active area of dining, shopping and entertainment establishments. Plenty of parking is available including the new parking facility in the downtown area. Check out their web site at www.sagegallery.com For details about showing your work or purchasing the fine art available, contact Donald Herook at www.sageartgallery@yahoo.com.

The Sage Gallery will be holding three juries shows per year, as well as art demonstrations, art critiques, art classes and a variety of art related events, so check the web site frequently.