New Technique in Oil

I had an opportunity to attend a class of a local artist Julie Hanson, who had attended the Cape Cod School of Art under Lois Griffel. (Her book is "Painting the Impressionist Landscape). Julie teaches this impressionistic style of plein air painting. The style can really only be done in oil. Basically, the technique is with palette knives only, and involves an under painting of the local color and values. First the lightest light is chosen and then the next 3 lightest values. These are called first notes, and are put on a white canvas or primed Masonite board. Next the darkest dark is established scaled down 2 more values. The under painting then consists of 7 values.

Concentration is also placed on the temperature of the color, warm or cool, and this is the basis of the under painting, rather than the local color. The local color is then applied wet into wet. It is a very intense process and ideally should be done in one sitting.

Julie uses Graham oil paints, which are in walnut oil. I used Lukas 1862 oils, as they are very reasonable on ASW or Jerry's Artarama.

One of the greatest advantages of this style in Plein air is the limited palette and the use of the palette knives. You do not have to take any solvents with you, just paper towels and a disposable palette.

The paintings here I did in the studio after the class to enforce what I learned.

Also see, posting on The Strange Tree.