Autumn Woods

Autumn Woods, Acrylic on Gessoboard, 6"x6", $100

The part of autumn that I like the best is when only some of the trees have changed color.  Somehow, the yellows, oranges and reds are so much more intense when there are fewer of them. As the trees change color, they also start to shed a lot of their leaves.  That allows more sunshine to come through the canopy giving the entire woods a golden glow.

Sap Buckets SOLD

Sap Buckets, Acrylic on Gessoboard, 6"x6", $100

The days are finally getting warm enough for the sap to flow in the sugar maples.  Some of the small syrup makers still use buckets instead of the now more common tubing.  One of our neighbors still uses buckets on the trees along the river.  We had a big snowstorm last week setting up perfect conditions for sap gathering - sunny days with highs in the low 40s, nighttime lows in the 20s, a north wind, and snow on the ground.

To purchase this painting, please go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery (icon at right).

Sun-Dappled Path

Sun-Dappled Path, Acrylic on Gessoboard, 6"x6", $100

As I was going through some old photos, I came upon several of the Long Trail. This painting is based on one of those photos.  The trail winds through some wonderful forest. On this stretch, my husband and I were walking in dappled shade.  I love the way the light filters through the trees.  This is one of those scenes that paint can do much better than photography.

To purchase, please go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery (icon at right).

Woodland Stream

Woodland Stream, Acrylic on Gessoboard, 6"x6", $100

Last week I decided to paint landscapes.  This one is based on a photo I took on the Long Trail several years ago.  It was a really hot day and I was standing in the shade of a hemlock tree when I took this. 

To purchase this painting, please go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery (icon at right).

Three Apples

Three Apples, Acrylic on Canvas, 11"x14", $250

This is a little different from the last few paintings.  I first did this painting (acrylic with palette knife on canvas) a couple of years ago as I was experimenting with new techniques. I liked a lot of what I had done, but part of it just didn't feel right.  So I set it aside until I could figure out what it needed.  That happened a couple of weeks ago thanks to better skills and a fresh set of eyes.

To purchase, please go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery (icon at right).

Two Pears and Some Strawberries

Two Pears and Strawberries, Acrylic on Gessoboard, 6"x6", $100

This is the third in my group of strawberry paintings.  In this one, I really had fun with the interplay of the three primary colors. I used lines to add a bit of playfulness. I like doing series because I find I get more creative in how I address the topic with each new painting - I work with the composition, adding, deleting, and moving elements, I play with the colors, and I experiment with paint application and technique.  One subject, distinctly different results.  The other two paintings in my strawberry mini-series are below.

Pear and Strawberries, Acrylic on Gessoboard, 6"x6", $100

 

Bowl of Strawberries, Acrylic on Gessoboard, 6"x6", $100

   To purchase one of these paintings, please go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery (icon at right).

A Bowl of Strawberries

Bowl of Strawberries, Acrylic on Gessoboard, 6"x6", $100

Last week I was inspired by strawberries.  We are now in the "cabin fever" part of winter - color starved and tired of the cold.  So the brilliant red and dusty greens of the berries and their foliage were very enticing.  Eating them after the paintings were done was a bonus. This painting is the second of the three.

To purchase, please go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery (icon on right).

Pear and Strawberries

Pear and Strawberries, Acrylic on Gessoboard, 6"x6", $100

Strawberries are back in the stores at less than usurious prices. So I went out and bought a box. I couldn't resist doing a painting of them (actually I did three).  I just love the brilliant red of the berries.  In this painting, I used a squeegee and a palette knife (fracturing) to create the shapes and textures. 

To purchase, please go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery (icon at right).

Autumn Yellows

Autumn Day, Acrylic on Paper, 6.5"x6.5", $100

In this painting I tried to capture the warm yellow hues that say "Autumn".  Most years, we have an amazing fall foliage season ("Leaf Peeper Season" to those that live here).  The oranges, yellows and reds are gorgeous.  They are also incredibly difficult to paint well. 

To purchase, go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery (icon at right), or go to my website (www.annavreman.com)

Summer Bouquet

Summer Bouquet, Acrylic on Paper, 10"x9", $250

One of the techniques that I have been exploring for some time is the use of line in a painting.  I have discovered that there are as many ways to use lines as there are artists to do so.  It is really easy to over-do the quantity and weight of lines. Some artists whose line work I especially like are Angus Wilson, Roger Akesson, and Britt Freda.  Each of them use lines in a distinctive way that adds to the quality and originality of their work.

In this painting, I wanted the lines to give a sense of energy and liveliness to the flowers without getting fussy. I think I was able to get that.

Onions - Red and Yellow

Fractured Onions, Acrylic on Paper, 6.5"x6.5", $100

Both of these paintings were made using a palette knife. The subjects were even the very same onions.  By using the fracturing technique (see Julie Ford Oliver's blog), the texture of the paint and the edges on the painted objects came out a lot different from the Alliums painting below.  The substrate also made a considerable difference - the gessoed watercolor paper that I used for Fractured Onions has a lot more tooth (texture) than the gessoboard which is really quite smooth and slippery. 

Alliums, Acrylic on Gessoboard, 6"x6", $100

To purchase these paintings, please go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery (icon to the right).

Spring Green

Spring Green, Acrylic on Paper, 6"x6", $100

This painting is one of several new experiments capturing the landscape.  Many of my landscapes over the last several years were of expansive views with mountains, farms, lakes, etc.  This painting is more concerned with what is close by - the feeling of light and shadow in a forest or at the edge of a meadow in the springtime.

To purchase this painting, please go to my Daily Paint Works Gallery (icon on right) or my website at www.AnnaVreman.com.

Day Lilies

Day Lily #4, Acrylic on Paper, 7"x5", $100

One of the things I do when I'm exploring a topic is paint the same subject using several different styles or methods of paint application.  This allows me to see how different combinations of color, texture, and edges affect the impact of the painting. 

In Day Lily #4, above, I applied a cadmium orange underpainting and then used a palette knife to create the broken color of the lily. In Day Lily #1, below, I used a brilliant golden yellow underpainting, allowing it to show through for the golden throat of the blossom. I used a neutral gray background to really make the gold and burnt orange to pop.  In Day Lily #2, below at bottom, I  also used a golden yellow underpainting, but, rather than giving the lily a neutral background, I applied a variety of broken colors to give the impression of a dappled garden environment.  Although all three of the paintings depict the same day lily, each one is completely different from the other two.

Day Lily #1, Acrylic on Paper, 7"x5", $100

Day Lily #2, Acrylic on Paper, 7"x5", $100

Birches at the Corner

Birches at the Corner, Acrylic on Paper, 7"x5", $100

Birches and maples grow in and near the old stone walls that line the fields in much of Vermont.  

I've been experimenting with the use of lines in paintings recently - learning how much line, how dark, etc. I liked the effect of the lines in this painting; they make the trees and rocks pop without overwhelming the spring greens in the grass and foliage.

To purchase this painting, please go to my Daily Paint Works Gallery (icon to the right), or my web site at www.AnnaVreman.com.