Friday, June 11, 2010

Light after the Rain, Front Street Toronto

8x10 Oil on Canvas
I love the rain, but almost everyone else is a sun seeker. This adage would apply to the owners of these lovely outdoor patios that sit vacant during a summer rain. This patio is at the Papillon Restaurant on Front, a couple of doors down from the Expresso Bar I found when storm chasing.
I recently rented a couple of  DVD's by Richard Schmid. He is so methodical and careful in his placement of paint and brush strokes. I was amazed. In one segment, he talked about using a knife to get a nice crisp line. He said that you have one go at it...it must be done right the first time... to which I thought to myself, "Not in this lifetime :)"


10 comments:

Jan Yates, SCA said...

Catherine I'm really liking your pallet--especially in the last two--also the fluidity --nice push/pull. This upcoming show will really bring a good audience for your outstanding work- don't forget us when you're rich and famous "D

Montag said...

We're sun seekrs, and that's why we rely upon you to evoque the mystery of the rain: the mirroring reflections of the pavement seem to leap off the canvas.

Marie Theron said...

Refreshing after the rain. This scene gave you the opportunity to work with yellow this time, Catherine!

Molly said...

I love the captions with your paintings, "not in this lifetime"...ahh I miss your sense of humour. Hope your summer is going well! XX

Mary Anne Cary said...

Sounds like your exploring is fruitful on many levels. You are funny with your rain, I crave the sun! We have had some gray days, cool and rainy lately, and I am going nuts!! Still love your paintings though, you create so much atmosphere and character with your work!! When is your show again?

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

CJ, You get so much color in your rainy day scenes..now with a sunny scene it just sings, expoldes onto the canvas!

Gwen Bell said...

Love that bit of sun on the yellow umbrella and the amber glow throughout.

Going to have to check out some of Richard Schmid's DVDs. I usually think of him as a portrait painter but you seem to be getting a lot of mileage from his instruction.

Tammy Hext said...

Wow - these last too are great. I will have to check out Richard Schmid as well. I love the palette you are using.

Catherine Jeffrey said...

Thanks everyone for your comments. Thanks for that vote of confidence Jan re:the show. Right now I just want to have a successful showing...I'll worry about the money later :)
Montag, I'm glad you pointed out the fact that the reflections stand out. I was concerned that I didn't accentuate them more.
Marie, it was certainly a nice change to add some yellow for a change!
Mary Anne, the show is July 9th.
Tammy and Gwen,I ordered two of Richard Schmid's DVD's from netflix. They are about landscape painting, but can apply to almost anything and I am learning about his palette from his book: Alla Prima.

Montag said...

...and "storm chasing" reminds me of fictional owls - the birds of Athena - that might very well fly across the countryside, fleeing the oncoming dawn.