How Does She Do That?

I typically paint at my art exhibits- its fun for me and my collectors who come to watch. When I am at the Wailea Beach Resort, guests come and go all day and stop by to see the progress. "We'll be back after lunch and see how far along you are..." is a typical phrase. And they do.

Below I'm starting the scene of "Blue Fence at Kapalua Bay" working from my photos and sketches.

(One of the photo contest entries from last year was a snapshot from that spot, I loved it, it did not win the contest, but I kept it to remind me to get there and paint it.) (Sold but reproductions are available)

Most of the time in the hotel, I'm painting pretty slow- I stop to chat with onlookers, explain my process to the kids and adults alike, describe what I'm planning to paint in next. If you've met me at the resort, this looks familiar! At home in my studio I can make a concentrated effort to finish section of my work in one sitting- important to do with larger pieces.

I decided to do some time lapse videos as I'm working this week on a new painting (12 x 36) I've never watched myself paint! I'm going to include a few segments on my website if you want to check them out as I work toward the completion of it this week. See VIDEO Tab.

I start with a few measurements to decide how to divide up the canvas with the various elements, such as where to place the shore, the horizon line and angle of the tree line using light pencil lines on the prepped canvas.

I tint the canvas with a color that I think will enhance the work when I decide to scumble- a term that describes using a little paint and sort of scrubbing the canvas with it to create certain effects--broken, speckled, or scratchy color is added over another color so that bits of the lower layer(s) of color show through. The result gives a sense of depth and color variation to an area, a critical part for the clouds and beach in this scene. Maui is typically a warm color place so I tend to use a dull light gold to peach and even to a rusty red or coral. It will contrast well with the blue waters.

Here I am working in the middle of the palm trees, determining their coloration based upon their distance from the viewpoint and the angle of the late day sun (off to the right). I work the sky at the the same time as the palm trees, blocking in the darkest colors first. All of the painting you see right now is WET (below) and is a work in process with just the major blocks of color going in and the details will follow, along with the water. The water and rocky shore will be the lower left side.

You may have noticed the cottage needs some windows! That detail goes in at the last- 95% of the painting is done before I get to that point. I've heard artists call it the "calligraphy" or "hanging the jewelry" on the painting. The high contrast of the white trim, like the posts you see now on the dark green cottage, will catch the eye and draw in your view. The eye will continue to travel along the tree line and out to sea. My plan is to have the clouds bring you back into the painting. When completed, I'll post the painting on my Facebook page and on my website under "WET PAINT".

I hope you enjoyed this mini studio painting tour!

Maui #artist #DianeSnoeyAppler #painterofparadise paints #maui #tropical #paradise and explains a bit about the #processofpainting in #oilpaints a #mauicottage #beach lined with #palmtrees and includes a #workingvideo from her #artstudio in Maui #Hawaii