J Hicks Fine Art » paintings of beautiful places

Rural Rhythm in Virginia

jhicks — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:31:26 +0000

I am drawn to open fields and the way planted rows curve away into the landscape. I’ve now painted several field paintings that were inspired while traveling through the open countryside. As you can see from my photo below I deviated quite a bit from the original scene. The main thing I was attracted to was the way the rows curved over the landscape in a very rhythmic way…..

Rural Rhythm in Virginia 22x30

a simple space is all one needs to paint in watercolor

I painted from this small sketch

The scene that inspired the painting!

Fresh off the easel

jhicks — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 01:13:18 +0000

Just finished my latest painting and the paint is barely dry. I’ve included the photo of the scene that inspired the painting and as usually I made lots of changes in order to achieve a more dramatic statement. I caught the scene from our car window as we sped down the highway on a mostly flat, overcast day. I capitalized on the way the plowed field visually took my eye back into the landscape and the softness of the shadowless day. I think I accomplished what I set out to do and feel pleased with the result.

I’d like to share a quote from fellow artist Jerry Stitt that sums up what I strive for with each and every one of my paintings. “A painting isn’t good because it looks like something; it is good because it feels like something.”

A Way of Life 22x30

A Way of Life Pencil Sketch

A Way of Life 9x12 color study

The scene that inspired the painting!

Painting Mendocino, California

jhicks — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:41:24 +0000

A 2008 road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway took us through scenic Mendocino, California. I fell in love with the quaint architecture of this small coastal village that sat at the edge of the sea. This scene was the subject of a demonstration painting I did for the Martin Museum of Art at Baylor University in Waco, Texas a couple of weeks ago. As you can see I took artistic liberty and simplified the scene leaving just what I felt was necessary in order to capture the essence of the time and place. I hope you like my interpretation called “Mendocino Moment.”

16x20 Mendocino Moment

The scene that inspired the painting

Pennsylvania Peonies inspires painting

jhicks — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:48:40 +0000

In 2009 while traveling through beautiful Pennsylvania I was able to collect lots of information for paintings. Following is a scene I’ve wanted to paint for quite some time. I hope you will enjoy my interpretation of a scene that seemed quite ordinary at first, but the old red house and pink peonies soon became all the inspiration needed.

Peonies I Saw in Pennsylvania 18x24

The scene that inspired the painting

Peonies I Saw in Pennsylvania sketch

Coastal scene inspires new watercolor painting

jhicks — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:00:50 +0000

This new 18×24 painting is from a road trip we took down Highway One along the Pacific Coast Highway. We stopped for lunch in the small coastal village of Elk, California and I spotted this quaint seaside cottage. I couldn’t resist stopping to photograph and sketch my impressions and the following is my interpretation of the scene……

Sunny in Elk, California 18x24

Sunny in Elk, California 9x12 Study

Preliminary Sketch

The scene that inspired the painting

Cambria California Farm Inspires New Painting

jhicks — Fri, 06 May 2011 02:20:49 +0000

In 2008 we traveled down the Pacific Coast Highway visiting many coastal villages along the way. In Cambria, California we took a drive out Santa Rosa Creek Road where I found this lovely old farm sitting before a vineyard. I’ve included some images of the work in progress and hope you will enjoy my interpretation of the scene…..

Vineyard Farm in Cambria 18x24

Blocking in largest shapes first

Almost time to start thinking about adding detai

Pencil Sketch establishes composition and values

The scene that inspired the painting

Latest large Watercolor inspired by Virginia Barns

jhicks — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:00:33 +0000

My latest large watercolor painting was inspired by our travels through Virginia. Peaceful pastoral scenes like this one dot the beautiful Virginia countryside. I’ve included the sequence for the painting beginning with the photo taken from the car window as we sped down the highway on a very cloudy overcast day. I prefer painting scenes touched by the sun so that is what I did. I hope you’ll enjoy this painting just as much as I enjoyed painting it.

White Barnes in Virginia 22x30

Watercolor demo

12x16 Virginia Barns Watercolor Study

Virginia Barns Pencil Sketch

The Virginia Scene that inspired the painting

Pennsylvania Idyll a new painting from small study

jhicks — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:49:51 +0000

Below is my latest large 18×24 Original Watercolor Painting I call Pennsylvania Idyll. I have included photos of it’s evolution for those who may be interested. Inspiration is the all important catalyst for any painting and that was not hard to come by when we traveled through the lush Pennsylvania country side as one idyllic scene after another rolled by.

I was drawn to the arrangement of the foreground bush and distant trees and how they punctuated the landscape visually taking me back to the farm buildings. I was sorry that the field had already been harvested but artistic license made it simple to put back. I wanted it there for the textural interest and direction it would provide. After sketching and painting a 12×16 watercolor study I felt ready to put my vision on a large sheet of watercolor paper.

First I loosely sketch the scene on to my paper with pencil. No detail just outlines. I don’t like too many lines on the paper to direct and hamper my ability to paint spontaneously. I want to let my feelings for the scene dictate my brush strokes instead. I paint quickly to establish my big shapes staying in a mid value range. There won’t be any significant whites reserved and only minimal darks with 95% painted in a mid-value range. Once my paper is covered I start adding detail and use Gamboge Yellow and Benzemide Orange as a final glaze in key areas to exaggerate and emphasize sunlight. I hope you will enjoy my version and interpretation of Pennsylvania Idyll…

Pennsylvania Idyll 18x24 Original Watercolor Painting

Pennsylvania Idyll Sketch

Country Life 12x16 Watercolor Study SOLD

Pennsylvania Idyll Demo

Pennsylvania Idyll photo that inspired the painting

Sunny Palette for New Watercolor Study

jhicks — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 01:30:43 +0000

Just Around the Bend is what I’ll call this new watercolor study and I can already imagine it as a large 22×30 studio piece. As you see can see I took this shot from the front car window as we neared the bend in the road. Everything was overcast that day and shadows for depth were non existent but that was an easy problem to remedy. Because of the yellow house I wanted the scene to be warm and sunny so I created a summer palette that I think expressed it perfectly. The warm greens and yellows were various mixtures of Harvest Gold, Burnt Sienna, Viridian, Manganese and Prussian Blue. Painting this piece made me want to be back on that old country road somewhere in Pennsylvania….

9x12 Watercolor Just Around the Bend $225

Just Around the Bend Photo

Laurel Mountain Highlands Barn Study

jhicks — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:32:37 +0000

The Laurel Mountain Highlands area in Pennsylvania is so beautiful and picturesque and I loved every minute of our time there. Some of the small villages in the area are Somerset, Mount Pleasant and Donegal. Below is a new watercolor study of one of the many different and unique barns that dot the countryside.