Kate Withers - 'Painting Space'

24x24     oil on canvas I decided on a major change... now there is a larger juniper tree in the foreground and more bushes on the slopes. I needed to break-up the orange shape on the right.. it was too much and was competing with the main focus.. the towering citadel of stone. I also needed to balance the dark masses ..more of an entrance feeling. So don't be afraid to go for it.

Finished!.. [well except for a couple more strokes of paint]. On to the next project.. I'm thinking skies. The early spring skies have been amazing here in southern Nevada.. and I feel I want to do something more abstract and not as detailed. I need a break!

About 7/8 done.. getting closer. These large paintings are fun but can take a long time to complete.. probably a couple more days [weeks] in the studio. You can compare this version to the earlier underpainting post and see how it has evolved. Colors used are a fairly limited palette... naples yellow, cad orange, two earths [light red and terra rosa], two blues [prussian and ultramarine].. and a violet. 24x24 oil on gallery-wrapped canvas. Onwards.

Slow going on this piece... getting the values and lighting right is a challenge. There is something about this that I am not happy with.. haven't been able to put my finger on it yet.. but I will. The halfway mark is usually the most difficult part of the painting. Each piece 'wants' to come to fruition and needs me to concentrate and be open.. it's a synergistic process. The next post will be the finished piece [maybe].. and I expect it will be quite different than this image [like what happened to the "Queen of Spades Range']. So back to the easel!

The concept for this piece is based on a b&w photo I took while working in Zion Canyon last summer.   From that.. I drew with a brush and some muddy oil paint I had on my palette diluted with lots of thinner... just a rough sketch on the canvas.  This is only a guide.. the painting will evolve as it will when I add colors. Stay tuned!

Just recently returned from my nine month sojourn in Zion National Park.  Have been busy getting settled opening up my shop/studio and getting ready for some serious concentrated effort...yay!  While in Zion... I took hundreds of photos.. but I was only able to dash off a few small plein-air paintings while there...spent most of my free time hiking and exploring this magnificent area of southern Utah. This spring my plans are to complete several large oils focusing on the imposing Zion monoliths [see sample quick sketch below].  And as for plein-air work.. they will be of the deep deserts found in the outback around Las Vegas and Death Valley.  Hope to post some new work soon!

It is now the end of May in Zion.. so fabulous.. I cannot tell you how wonderful... the feeling of sanctuary.  Lots of rain this spring.. flowers and birdsong.. the Virgin River in full bore.  Hope to post some new paintings soon!