Reflections On My Fifth Course at The Cape School of Art - with instructor extraodinaire - Mary Giammarino

Provincetown in the rain.   I like beautiful weather, of course, but I also think that paintings in the rain have their own charm.  I'm sure I will get that chance on this painting trip!!

Every landscape class that I have taken at the Cape School of Art has started with a day of painting block studies, and this was no different.  Fortunately we had only one day of rain this past week and so, block studies in the school's studio was perfect.  Although,  we did miss a chance to paint blocks outside in full sun.

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The following block studies are helpful homework in learning to see color variations due to light, shadows and reflections. This has been a key concept of the Cape School of Art.

I wonder, if I were to do nothing but block studies for a month, what effect it would have on my landscape painting.  Painting blocks removes the complexities of a "thing" and leaves only the color to consider. 

We continued using putty knives the next day.  First we met at the studio to review our previous day's work, and then piled into our cars and headed to the Moors, which is located at the end of Bradford St in Provincetown. 

 

We applied tick repellent to our ankles, suntan lotion to our noses  and decided on the first scene of the week.  I usually find this to be a challenge.  Choosing a scene that I like while being mindful of composition usually takes me too long.  In fact, occasionally it stops me altogether.  Sometimes I just have to buckle down and start painting. The experience is analogous to writer's block..

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The canoe caught my eye and I imagined the quiet pleasure of drifting out into the water and thus my first painting arrived.

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Here is the result !!
Green Canoe
oil on masonite
12 X 16
$325

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