Long Shadows at Los Olivos painting begins

Thursday, February 18th, 2010 | Posted in: demonstrations, paintings of beautiful places

Long Shadows at Los Olivos Private Collection

In 2008 we spent almost 2 months traveling down the Pacific Coast Highway visiting the small village of Los Olivos, California taking time to explore the  surrounding countryside while there. I’ve included the photo of the beautiful scene we found on that clear, sunlit day. I was especially taken with the long shadows that fell down the hillside and that became the inspiration for my painting. It was beautiful to be able to stand looking down on the splendid scene that was to become the painting I call Long Shadows at Los Olivos.

To begin I loosely sketched the composition on an 18×24 tones canvas laying in value and shadow with thinned Burnt Umber. More warmth was added with additional layers of yellow and orange where needed to depict the sunlight. These warm colors will shine through subsequent layers of paint to help describe the feeling of that special day. A soft cloth dipped in mineral spirits was used to wipe back to the light canvas to further assign sun struck areas. Thin color is worked over the entire painting not staying in any one place for too long. I don’t allow myself to think about or add any detail at this point instead waiting until all large areas have been massed in and warm and cool color placed.

In an effort to cover all the canvas I continue blocking in color keeping in mind value and color relationships. The yellow under painting looks too bright now but  will sparkle through adding warmth and color harmony through out the painting. I continue to refine the painting by adjusting values and temperatures relationships and finally work on detail which I always save until last.