Angel of Abundance

I updated my Angel of Abundance illustration!

Peder Mork Monsted

For years I've been studying the paintings of Peder Mork Monsted. I love the way he captures values, color, lighting, and form. Here are 4 of my studies of his work. He worked in oil paint, but I thought I'd see if I could reproduce his technique in several different mediums.

Acrylic paint (Golden Matte Acrylic)

Oil paint

Acrylic paint (Nova Paint)

Casein paint 

What amazes me about Monsted is that his paintings seem almost photographic, but they are actually fairly loosely painted. I think it is his mastery of values and lighting that creates this effect.  My first attempt was with oil paint, but I discovered that I can capture this style just as well in acrylic or casein. 

Paintings Sketches

More painting sketches - all from the last week or so. All painted on location in less than an hour.

Tumamoc

Acrylic on paper

6x8 inch

From Tumamoc Hill. Everything is drying up, but the saguaros are in full bloom.

Afternoon on the Patio

Acrylic on paper

6x8 inch

I was sitting on the patio and loved the way the sunlight caught the hanging spider plant and potted plants. I had to grab my paints and try to capture the values and colors.

Morning on the Patio

Acrylic on paper

6x8 inch

Once again working on values - shaded foreground plants with sunlight bathed landscape behind.

Updated website

I just totally revamped my website and uploaded over a 150 paintings. Check it out:
http://billsingleton.net

Quick painting

I've been working on quick little paintings from nature. These are fast paintings done in under two hours. This one was done in about 50 minutes. This really helps me focus on getting the core values, colors, lighting, form and composition before I have time to think about it and over work it. I painted this one on my back patio.

"View from the patio"

Acrylic

6 x 8 inch 

paper

Tumamoc Courtyard

Tucson is getting hotter now, so I found a shady spot on the patio of the Research Center on Tumamoc Hill and painted the courtyard. I've painted this area several times in different seasons. As we move into the hottest, driest time of the year, I notice a lot of plants are shriveling up and going into drought dormancy. The brittle bush which was vibrant with flowers just a few weeks ago, are now just brown leafless twigs. The Foothills Palo Verde trees are in the final weeks of flowering as are the cholla.

Tumamoc Courtyard 5-9-16

Acrylic on canvas

8x10 inch

Palo Verde Bloom

The Palo Trees are blooming again in Tucson. The Blue Palo Verde is in full bloom in Tucson and the valley floors, and the Foothills Palo Verde is just starting to bloom on the hillsides. I did this one inspired by the intense yellow flowers in an almost "Jackson Pollock" abstract manner.

Bloom

Acrylic on canvas 

9x12 inch