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One of my favorite art styles is Tonalism, which is uniquely American. I don't even remember how I stumbled across it! It is mainly identifiable by the darker, moodier palettes used by artists like James Whistler (Whistler's Mother - the unofficial, more famous name of a painting called Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1 - is a Tonalist painting). Often dark, limited palettes of grays, purples, browns and blues.
A few years ago, as exercises for learning oil pastels, I copied a few from one of my favorite Tonalist painters, Charles Warren Eaton, who often used brighter values in his paintings, which I like.
Hint: his are better. You should check him out!
The first two are done on gray construction paper, roughly 9x12"
Sunset Pines:
Silence of the Night:
And a personal favorite that I just had to try because it was so freaky, and very liberating to paint it, Sunset Trees:
This last one was done on cheap green construction paper.
I mangled them all pretty well (these were done in 2017), missed the color casts, etc. - but I did learn a lot, which was the point. Thanks for looking!
A few years ago, as exercises for learning oil pastels, I copied a few from one of my favorite Tonalist painters, Charles Warren Eaton, who often used brighter values in his paintings, which I like.
Hint: his are better. You should check him out!
The first two are done on gray construction paper, roughly 9x12"
Sunset Pines:
Silence of the Night:
And a personal favorite that I just had to try because it was so freaky, and very liberating to paint it, Sunset Trees:
This last one was done on cheap green construction paper.
I mangled them all pretty well (these were done in 2017), missed the color casts, etc. - but I did learn a lot, which was the point. Thanks for looking!