Watercolor: Painting a landscape from multiple reference photo's

Tuscan Memories
12 x 16 Watercolor Painting
by Pat Fiorello

I did the painting above as a demonstration in my landscape painting class this week. Part of the purpose of the demonstration was to show students techniques for painting a landscape and the sequencing of what comes first etc..  But also I wanted to show  how to go beyond sticking to painting from a single photo and how to plan and design a painting using multiple photo's.

Initial reference photo

I liked this one not only because of the memories associated with it from one of my early trips to Tuscany, but also because I liked the chunk of light buildings, clustered in an interesting shape surrounded by the dark trees. However the foreground left a bit to be desired. so I went to other photo's of that same area to see what other elements I could include.

 I found some Scotch broom wildflowers that are all over Tuscany and thought might make a good lead in to the painting and also an opportunity to introduce some more vivid color

Flower reference

Then I  thought it might be nice to include some vineyards for directional purposes and to be more attractive than the dirt in the original reference photo foreground . The vineyards are of course authentic to Tuscany so it would be plausible that there were some vineyards in this scene.

Reference photo for suggestion of vineyards

 Finally I put the elements together in a very simple value sketch with 3 values that reminded me of my light areas- sky and architecture, my dark areas; the trees, and then everything else was pretty much in between. I used Sepia and did it in watercolor. I find if I use a pencil I want to get too detailed, so I prefer to use a brush or big markers for my value sketches. In fact I think I'll start calling them value plans, because sketch conjures up a lot more drawing and detail than is needed at this point. Note I also sized my value plan to be proportionate to the final painting. I knew I was going to do the demo on a 12 x 16 block of watercolor paper, so my plan was 1/2 that size 6 x 8.

With my value plan and photo's available, I completed the demo of Tuscany Memories above.  It was a good warm up for me too as I'll be teaching a workshop in Tuscany in a few weeks.

simple value sketch- 3 values

Painting at Smith Gilbert Garden

Smith Gilbert Gazebo
10 x 14
Watercolor Painting demonstration
 by Pat Fiorello

Yesterday I taught a plein air workshop at Smith Gilbet Gardens in Kennesaw, GA. We had a beautiful day-it started in the mid 60's and got up to 80 degrees but not as humid as it had been last month.  It was the first time painting outdoors for one of the students and the others were relatively new to it too. It's fun to open the door to a new experience for someone and hopefully one they will return to to enjoy again and again.

Below is the reference for the demo (obviously I took some artistic license) and some photo's of students painting on location by the koi pond and rose garden.

Light and Shadow Studies

Pair of Roses
6 x 8 Oil Painting Study
by Pat Fiorello

Been concentrating a lot lately on capturing light and shadow and also experimenting more in the direction of impressionistic color. Took some photo's of flowers where I forced the difference in the lighting to practice. Below is the reference photo which I took some liberties with. I think I need to add a little more warmth into the deep shadows of the rose in shadow.   Well, back to the drawing board. More to come.

Making Memories

Tuscan Walkway
16 x 16 Oil Painting
 by Pat Fiorello
NFS

A did this painting a couple of years ago and it hangs in my dining room. It  is a favorite as it brings back special memories of one of my first painting trips to Tuscany in 2001. We were in the small town of Meleto at the Villa Barberino ( yes as in Vinny Barberino of "Welcome Back Kotter" fame- but no relation :)

Now, I'm looking forward to my 10th trip back to Italy to teach another workshop one month from now. One of the wonderful things about art is that it can conjure up memories of a special time or place for both the artist and the viewers. The workshops really create an opportunity for many rich memories of new places, people and experiences and that is part of what I love about leading them.

Yesterday was another day of making memories. I teach a one day workshop called  "Art for Non- Artists"  which is designed for absolute beginners. We do basic techniques and then a "paint along " so students see how to apply the techniques they just learned to a painting start to finish.  Below is a photo at the end of the day with 2 of my students - a father and daughter, Peter and Marilyn, with their paintings. I hope it will be a cherished memory for them of a day of fun and learning shared together.

Peter and his daughter Marilyn with their paintings.

Back in the Saddle

Pink Whispers
8 x 10 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$300

I've been away visiting my mom in NJ and doing some other travel recently. I haven't painted for over a week and have been going thru withdrawal. ( Yes, painting can be addictive).  Yesterday, when I got back home I was anxious to get back in the saddle. It was kind of late to set up a whole still life,  so I did this 8 x 10 oil painting from a photo I had of roses in the garden to at least get my brushes wet again. Was shooting to have it be simple and fresh, capturing the light and impression of the garden setting.

Today,  I'm off to buy some fresh flowers to get back to some still life set ups with some of the new "props" I picked up during my travels this summer. It's good to be home.

Loosening Up

White Mums
8 x 10 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$300

Been exploring a bit with loosening up from some of the more realistic still life painting. I painted the one below in a class last week and it was pretty loose and I felt maybe too loose, not sure if it actually read as mums, so the next day I tried again and came up with the version above. Still playing around with different places on the continuum from loose to specific and what balance I want to strike. Will continue to share my explorations and learnings.

White Mums Class Study