Cityscape Painting - Mesa, AZ

"Crossing Broadway"

Oil on Linen

14" X 11"

$450

Rarely do I paint cityscapes but this scene at Broadway and Center in Mesa, AZ appealed to me.  Perspective is always hard for me but love it when it works.

Accuracy in Oil Painting Values

Starting Out With Correct Values In Oil Painting

One of the ways to ensure that your values are correct is to create a mono-color painting using four values.  I first tone my canvas with a mixture of Red and Burnt Sienna which has been thinned with Gamsol.  This becomes my mid-value.

Next I put in my darkest values using mostly Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Blue.  Then using a brush and more Gamsol I remove the first "Toning" to create my lightest value.  I also use  paper towel for larger areas.  Then I adjust my mid-tone values.

If I cannot create accurate values using a monochromatic scheme, then it is just going to be that much harder when I add color.  I check my values by constantly looking and trying to 'see' the painting in its monochromatic state.

The finished painting will have more than four values just through the process of completing the painting.

Still on the easel.  Needing a some adjustments

And the final Painting:

Storm Over Great Salt Lake

12" X 14"

Oil on Linen

"Aspens in Snow"

Oil on Linen, 9" X 10"

$325

I'm a bit shocked at the way the 'blue' is showing on my computer screen.  Hopefully it is better on yours.  Trust me it is not this blue in real life.  Actually, the photo on my computer looks so different from this view in Blogger.  Why is that?  I do think the blue on digital cameras often comes out too strong.

This is from a trip to Utah.  I took a drive on the Mount Nebo Loop Road.  Amazing scenery on the road.  There were just a few patches of snow.

From Plein Air Study to Studio Piece

This past July I was in Eastern Idaho painting,  actually on the West side of the Tetons.  I was given directions for a great place to paint called Fox Creek, but was told that there was water over the road but it is ok to drive through it.  So, off I went.  Saw the water and went on in.  Wow!  I got through it but the water was about 18 inches deep.  Thankfully I was in my 4Runner.  Of course, it was a dead end road, so I had to return.  This time I was smart enough to use the 4 wheel drive.

While out there i did this small study of Fox Creek.

Recently I revised the painting in my studio.  While I used the information from the study, I re-organized the painting and improved the composition.

This is the first video in a series of three that show me painting at the Grand Canyon.

Second video in the series

Last of the series of videos.  Each video is only about 2 minutes long.

This is the final painting

Another plein air piece from my South Rim Grand Canyon plein air painting trip.  This rock formation is called, "Duck on a Rock."  Frankly, I don't see a duck.    

I remember a number of years ago trying to paint this feature, when I just started painting plein air.  It was a disaster, but a humbling learning experience.  There is nothing like painting publicly, doing it poorly, and having people watch!

From Plein air to Studio Painting

String Lake sits at the base of the Tetons and is a popular place to paint, hike, swim and kayak.  I completed several plein air pieces here in July.

Above is my studio piece, below is the plein air piece.

If you are in the Phoenix area I will be leading some plein air painting expeditions and also teaching a workshop on using plein air pieces in the studio.

From Plein Air Study to Studio Piece

Each July, I leave home and spend the month camping and doing two plein air studies each day.  These studies become the basis for many of my studio pieces through the year.  Of course, I get to camp in places like Zion National Park and the Tetons.

The following photos show my process.

An early morning view of the Great White Throne in Zion.  I was able to set up my plein air easel at a view point along the inner canyon road.  This time of year only the shuttle buses travel this route.

This is the plein air piece that I completed along side the road.  I returned several days later to this same spot and completed this plein air piece ( The color is off in this piece due to using my phone to take the photo.)

Using these studies and some photos, I completed the following studio piece:

"Virgin River Sanctuary"

Oil on Belgian Linen

11" X 14"

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece

Bruce@BruceStam.com

To view my website please click here?  www.BruceStam.com