Another Arizona Scene

[P. Barrie]

Painted this 8”x10” watercolor and gouache on 140# cold press. From a photo taken by Facebook friend. Used a new set of Arteza half pans and supplemented with ultramarine and white gouache. First time using pans, tricky to keep them clean.

 

[snoball]

I really like this. More greens than usually seen in a desert scene. Very nice!

 

[joe1It]

it's fabulous, I like it so much

 

[ntl]

Very nice. Reminds me of vistas at Saguaro Nat'l Park East. Nothing like starting out a Tuesday with a bit of nostalgia...
You nailed it!

 

[Artyczar]

Absolutely wonderful! I love the desert, so it's all great to me, and after a lot of rain, this is exactly what it looks like.

I started using pans too and it's impossible to keep them clean. I started giving up after the third little painting. Now they just looked well-loved. They are probably really great for being more portable maybe? I'm considering taking my giant porcelain palette back out and using my tubes again. What brand of pans did you get? I got a nice set of Holbeins.

 

[Nufocus]

Your play of light and shade is wonderful. Nice work.

 

[Iain]

I think you are masterly at capturing the essential essence of a scene or terrain. Wonderful.

 

[P. Barrie]

Thanks to all for commenting.
Sno, I exaggerated the greens somewhat. The mountains are much bluer in the pic, should have made them bluer so the would recede better.

Glad you like it Joe.

ntl, it may be that Park, I think the photographer lives near there.

Arty, I’m not sure I like the Arteza pans in comparison with the Daniel Smith and Schminke tubes I have. They are low cost and I did get them for the portability. May have to bone up and pay for Schminke pans if I decide to continue with pans.

Nufocus, the lighting is somewhat cameraized. Plein air would be different. However, I would not be able to look into the sun like that anyway, due to having age related macular degeneration. I usually wear wrap around sunglasses over my prescription glasses that also have UV block.

lain, I do strive to get the essence of form, color, and value with economical brushwork. Check out Albert Marquet, a contemporary of Matisse. He was masterful at that IMO.

 

[P. Barrie]

Made some changes adding another saguaro for composition.

 

[joe1It]

Barrie, it's great, it's even more beautiful that way. Lights, reflection, compozioni, very nice work

 

[snoball]

Yes, that was an improvement. It didn't need improving but it is even better now.

 

[Bongo]

Very good Barrie. Composition ehnanced with your changes.

 

[Artyczar]

Even better, but I wouldn't have known it needed improvement. Excellent!

 

[RobinZ]

Gorgeous!
I especially like the light hitting the little cacti near the bottom right next to the large one.

 

[Grapes]

So much light and atmosphere in your painting.

 

[jmfletch]

The play of light is eye catching.

 

[Jo Castillo]

Lovely, I love the desert.

 

[Terri]

Lovely! The way you handled the back-lit saguaro is impressive.

 

[Balaji]

This is beautiful. I like the backlighting in this painting very much.

 

[laika]

Oh, yeah I liked this one in your very first go at it. You' ll have saguaro forest if you keep at it, Patrick.