The Poetic Landscape

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Marsh Landscape, Experimenting with Gouache on Black, Jan Blencowe

Gouache Marsh, approx. 5x5, Turner Acryl Gouache on black paper

Need to contact me? jan.blencowe@comcast.net
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Looking for my encaustic (bees wax) paintings? Click here

In between my larger landscapes, which are taking longer and longer as I work larger and pursue a surface texture and paint surface that needs to be carefully built up over time, I find myself enjoying working in other watermedia and experimenting in my sketchbooks.

With my last order from www.jerrysartarama.com I received a sample set of Turner Acryl Gouache. (that's pronounced like squash, but with a hard "g" in the beginning).

I'm trying to figure out what exactly these acryl-gouache are. Traditional gouache is made with gum arabic just like watercolors. These apparently are made with acrylic polymer just like an acrylic except that they dry without any gloss, they have the characteristic matte finish gouache is known for. A little less in this small pochade because I received the three primaries and I had to use regular acrylic white for mixing. So this leaves me wondering if this is truly gouache or if it's just another incarnation of the many brands of matte acrylics available.

I've also been trying to find out if these must go under glass like traditional gouache, which has a more fragile paint surface when dry and can crack. I've done a bit of research and it seems that these acryl-gouache are water resistant when dry and maintain a flexible paint surface. If that's true I would really like that because I'm likely to use them on Canson board or another rigid panel and give them a final coat of acrylic matte varnish and pop them into a frame.

So, I hope by now you know what's coming next. ( think about yesterday's marker & pen confession) A purchase of course. LOL The big decision will be whether I stick with the Turner brand or go with an other.

I'll have to do a little more research before coming to a final decision. If any of you out there have experience with the new acrylic gouaches I'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment below and we'll chat about it.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Plein Air Pen & Watercolor Landscape Sketch, Jan Blencowe

Cedars in the Marsh, watercolor & marker sketch, 4x6

Purchase a print here

Need to contact me? jan.blencowe@comcast.net

Visit my website www.janblencowe.com for acrylic & oil paintings

You all know how much I love these expressive, colorful little sketches I do in my beloved sketch book. They are a personal record of my day and travels, and of the peaceful moments I spend quietly observing nature.

I've had many requests to purchase these but I just can't bare to part with them.

Good News...the watercolor and pen sketches are now available as giclee prints!!

I have a terrific Watercolor Print Gallery set up at Fine Art America. There are 10+ in the gallery right now and I will be adding more in the coming days. If you had a favorite sketch you've seen here on the blog that's not in the print gallery yet just let me know and I'll add it.

Here's Why the New Watercolor Print Gallery is So Great!

Fine art prints on a variety of papers & canvas
Available in three sizes
Framed, stretched or rolled in a tube
Professionally assembled on shipped
Ships within 2-3 business days
Starting at $22
30 day money back guarantee
Also available as note cards

I hope you'll take a moment to visit the new Watercolor Print Gallery and let me know what you think!

Monday, November 09, 2009

Plein Air Pen & Watercolor Landscape Sketch, Jan Blencowe

Pen & Watercolor Landscape Sketch, Hammonasset, November, 4x6

Need to contact Me? jan.blencowe@comcast.net

Looking for acrylic and oil paintings? Visit my website http://www.janblencowe.com/

OK I admit it, I'm a pen & marker addict! I love drawing and sketching with them and combining them with watercolor.

I have a full set of 120 Faber-Castell brush tip markers which I absolutely adore. (I've searched the net for a link, but I can't find one for the full 120 marker set. Hmmm, wonder if they make that anymore?) I have a bunch of prismacolor markers and a set of 20 Staedler Triplus Color markers and lots of assorted Uniball Vision markers, Sarassa gel pens, a Koh-I-Noor sepia pen and a Lamy Safari fountain pen.

This however did not stop me when I saw a huge display in Staples the other day featuring Bic Mark*it fine point permanent markers in lots and lots of gorgeous colors. (This link is for a set of 36, but at the Staples store you could buy individual colors for .99 each or 10 for $6.99)

I restrained myself and only bought six. I chose colors specifically for sketching the late autumn and winter landscape. Soon it will be too cold to sketch outdoor and I"ll have to sit in the car and when it's that cold I often don't want to be dealing with water for watercolors and I'll rely on just markers.

Here are the colors I chose:

Cloud Nine Grey
Honey Brown
Woodsy Brown
Misty Blue
Tiki Hut Tan
Summer Melon

For the above sketch the drawing was done entirely with the Honey Brown. The bright bits of yellow are a Prismacolor yellow ochre marker and the rest of the color is Yarka watercolor. Enjoy!

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Tonalist Marsh Landscape Painting, Autumn Glory, Jan Blencowe

Tonalist Marsh Landscape, Autumn Glory, 24x30, acrylic on linen

For Purchase information email me jan.blencowe@comcast.net

Visit my website for more paintings www.janblencowe.com

Last week I posted several progress photos as I worked my way through this painting. About mid-week I hit a rough patch with the water, I just could not get it they way I wanted it.

Here's how I worked through it. I painted over everything with a single flat color in the correct value. Then I did some research.

I spent a couple of hours look at paintings by artists I admire that I know do a lot of scenes with water in them. I studied the paintings and looked for clues to how they created their water effects. I also looked for things each water painting had in common, though the basic style of each artist was different many things were the same in each painting. The placement of differing values of the water color was of particular interest to me. Deeper values appear at the bottom of the small wave or ripple, and the shape of the lighter value on the crest of the ripple can make a difference in effect, triangular tops on the ripples or waves creates more movement, and a choppy feel while a more rounded shape creates a more placid feel. I also took note of the patterns of ripples in the water which can be used as a compositional device to move a viewers eye through the painting.

After a while I knew I was ready to get back to the canvas and re-do the water. After doing the research the water came along easily and I got the effect I was looking for.

I hope you enjoy this painting. I'm very pleased with the result and I'm considering entering it into a museum show in December.

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Pond with Water Lilies, impressionist painting, Jan Blencowe

Pond with Water Lilies, 16x20 acrylic on panel, unframed

Here's the study for this painting, just 6x8 inches.....

It's really hard to make a painting of a waterlily pond, though we have a lovely one just a 10 minute walk from our house. Sunflowers are another subject it's almost impossible to do.

Do you know why?

It's because these subjects are forever etched in our minds as Monet's and Van Gogh's. When ever someone sees any artist's water lily pond painting they invariably say "Oh, just like Monet!" They are absolutely delighted with themselves for being able to make the connection and identify an artists work.

For artist however this is a heavy burden to bear! I for one don't really think I can compete with Monet or Van Gogh when it comes to some of their most innovative and iconic paintings.

But the charm of the subject matter is alluring, you can easily see why Monet and Van Gogh choose these subjects and I guess artists just can't help themselves. We all tackle them sooner or later in one form or another.

For me this was a fascinating exercise and allowed me to revisit Monet's great masterpieces with new eyes. This is a very good thing since many very familiar paintings can loose their power when they become too familiar to our eyes on calendars, coffee mugs and umbrellas. Nothing like emulating a master to deepen your insight into a work of art.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Watercolor & Pen Plein Air Landscape Sketch, Jan Blencowe

watercolor & pen plein air sketch

Need to contact me? jan.blencowe@comcast.net

View acrylic & oil paintings on my website www.janblencowe.com

I did this little 4x6 plein air sketch on Monday, and my how the colors have changed from the fiery colors of October to the muted tones of November.

I'm still working on the large marsh landscape and hope to have it done by the end of the week end. I will probably be able to post the finished piece on Monday. If you follow me on Twitter you'll get to see it sooner. Find me on Twitter here

Speaking of Twitter the 140 Hours of Fame Twitter Art Auction begins Thursday, Nov. 5th at 12:01 pm NY Time. This is an amazing opportunity to purchase one of paintings, with the opening bid on Sky & Marsh , 16x20, only $300. If you are on Twitter follow 140Hours and you're automatically able to bid.

I have recently entered 2 important competitions and will be entering a third in early December. Say a prayer, send positive energy and wish me luck!

Attention TEXANS

Banks Fine Art, 1231 Dragon Street, Dallas carries my work and they have lost their lease and are moving to a much smaller location. Therefore they are having an amazing sale on everything, 50-75% off. I will still receive my usual commission, they will take the reduction in profit and you will get an amazing deal on some of my paintings. The sale has begun and ends Dec. 19th. If you are in the great state of Texas and have wanted to purchase some of my work now would be the time.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Work in Progress UPDATE , tonalist marsh landscape, Jan Blencowe

copyright 2009 , Jan Blencowe, Connecticut, USA
Need to contact me? jan.blencowe@comcast.net
View more paintings on my website http://www.janblencowe.com/

On Monday I showed you the under painting (imprimatura) done in transparent red oxide for this painting. Today the block in has been completed and I've been working on the top half of the painting developing the sky, distant tree line and distant marsh. The water and nearest piece of marsh is still in the block in phase.

This is a moderately large painting, 24x30 and I have quite a long way to go yet. Indirect painting methods take time, even with acrylics. For the final product to have sophisticated color modulations, complex layers of scumble and glaze, refined edges, evocative atmosphere, interesting surface texture and luminescence takes many hours of patiently building up the paint.

I have never been as happy with my work as I am now and these kinds of methods produce paintings that truly express my own authentic visual voice. So I am content in my work and don;t mind the long hours necessary to produce these paintings.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Watercolor & Pen Plein Air Landscape Sketch, Jan Blencowe

Lieutentant River, Late October, watercolor & pen sketch

Need to contact me? jan.blencowe@comcast.net

Visit my website for acrylic & oil paintings www.janblencowe.com

Just three days left until the 140 Hours of Fame Twitter Art Auction. This is the first event of its kind. A group of international artists, a gallery and a socila media platform combine to bring art work directly to the bidders in real time. The buzz is really building and I think this has the potential to be a really successful event!

See my auction painting Sky & Marsh here. If you're already on Twitter sinmply follow 140Hours and you are automatically registered to bid. If not sign up for a free Twitter account at www.twitter.com

The big day is Thursday November 5th, bidding begins at 12:01pm est.

I'm continuing to fill my second plein air sketchbook, and I'm also working on the painting I showed yesterday which was in its underpainting stage. The block in is done now and the real painting process begins tomorrow!

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Work in Progress, new tonalist marsh landscape, Jan Blencowe

contact me jan.blencowe@comcast.net

View more paintings on my website http://www.janblencowe.com/

Here's the latest, a bare bones beginning of a new painting. This is a 24x30, acrylic on linen This under painting is done in transparent red oxide and provides a roadmap of values for the final painting.

I really like starting out with this kind of scenario. Thin paint is easily wiped off while the composition is fleshed out and then the thin paint allows for an easy way to scrub in an indication of texture. Light areas are easily ragged out while the paint is wet setting the stage for the luminosity I'm always after.

If you've never created a painting by first laying in an under painting I highly recommend you try it a few times and see if it can help you achieve your goals.

My next step is going to be laying a few glazes of ultramarine blue to further accentuate to shadow areas, before going in with color.

During the week I'll be showing a few watercolor sketches along with more updates of this paintings progress.

8 Artists Worth Seeing at Old Lyme's New England Landscape Show

Blue Moon, 20x30, acrylic on linen

I just entered this in to an important competition! Wish me luck!

Contact me jan.blencowe@comcast.net

Visit my website for more paintings www.janblencowe.com

One of the really teriffic things you can do for yourself as an artist or an art lover or collector is go to an art show.

Lyme Art Association is an old and historic group, I've been a member there on and off for some years and occassionally will enter a painting into one of their shows. Lately I've been so busy supplying galleries, selling on the internet and entering larger regional and national shows I haven't had much time to be involved there. But because of it's historic place in our local art history I like to support their events.

Today I went to see their New England Landscape & Invitational show. Some artists were invited to exhibit, including my Twitter friend Stapelton Kearns, the day he dropped off his work for the show I met him at the art association and we went and did some plein air painting at Rocky Neck. Always great when the internet brings people together in real life!

Over all the exhibit was good with a some real standouts that caught my eye, and with a couple that left me wondering how they passed the jury selection. There were 114 pieces in all.

Here are some of my favorites, with a bit of commentary and links to the artist's websites.

Christopher Magadini...Tending the Garden This one had it all great color, composition, brushwork and values all masterfully pulled together in a fresh, lively way.

Sergio Roffo...October Marsh I love his work and this is the first time I've seen it in person and it did not disappoint. His painitngs are filled with detail that remains fresh and lively, never tight or fussy. Beautiful sense of light, space and serenity.

David Bareford...Schuykill River This painting captures two teams crewing beneath the arches of an imposing stone bridge. With great compositional mastery and skilled painting techiniques particularly on the stone masonry of the bridge and the figures this was a joy to look at. Just enough is painted to tell both the narrative and the visual story of the paint without ever saying too much, such amazing economy of brushwork.

Stapleton Kearns...Autumn A gorgeous symphony of earthy hues and tones,with an evocative yellow sky, and a lovely, sensitive paint surface. Classic New England painting.

Diane Aeschliman...Buttonwoods Farm A lovely haunting mood created by a grey sky that's clearing to blue above a hillside of daffodils and a farmhouse bathed in soft light and atmosphere. This piece perfectly captures the capricious weather of spring.

Christine Ivers...P.M. Rhapsody Mood, mood and more mood! An intriguuing, evocative, tonalist, low light serene scene.

Caleb Stone...Winter Still & Stone Age Both of these visually satisfying pieces show such fabulous color mastery expressed in confident blocks of color shapes that interlock to create the scene. Lot's of strength in his paintings.

Angie Falstrom... First Light A tiny, true miniature painting in watercolor contains everything that would make a large size work successful. There's atmosphere, compositonal cohesion, impact, color mastery, value control and perfect detail all miniaturized. A gorgeous little gem.