finally it looks like tree bark

Finally, it started looking like tree bark. Now I can work on the bird again to make it a little more attractive.
This is the end of 2018. I couldn't make as many as I wanted but I'm hopeful for the coming year.

covering more areas

While filling more areas with colors I keep finding proportion isn't quite right at some specific areas like left vs. right and top of the rock vs. base, etc. I needed to keep adjusting them gradually.
At this stage, it's not a big deal because I can easily paint over not to worry about the mismatching colors with surrounding areas.

Looking for Bigger Shapes

I wanted to adjust bigger shapes not to be too off so that I won't be in trouble later changing them again.
So far the initial drawing doesn't seem to be too off, which I'm feeling better.
By the way the canvas size is 20x30.

Came back to Woodpecker

I haven't given this up just yet although I'm still now sure how I can finish the tree barks. I of course know it's just background. But I want to get feeling closer to finished background instead of still under-worked.

I just filled the saturated light on the left. Need to come back and make it more saturated.

New Landscape - Cape Falcon

Next landscape is also a coastal scene - Cape Falcon in Oswald West State Park, OR. Technically Cape Falcon is north corner of this peninsula while this view is on the south side. But it's probably ok to call this this way since I couldn't find its clear definition on the internet.
Anyway, the composition is simple as I painted there last summer. A big part of this painting is deep greenish ocean. The colors on the ocean would be the key for this painting.

Last Update for this Beach Painting

As you can see in the series of updates for this painting, I'm not adding anything big to this any more. I'm currently adding a little more depth to the rock shapes and vegetation on them. At the same time pulling some values and slightly modifying colors.

I still need to go back to sky to finish the part as well as white waves. But at that time I would call it done any moment. 

getting closer to the final colors on the ocean

Kept working on the ocean part. Color-wsie, it's getting closer to the final. A little more push and pull is needed but otherwise I'm getting satisfied with the outcome so far.
The small peninsula is still flat so I need to go back there to complete this painting.

worked on waves

First time after my vacation in Japan I worked on this and put more paints on the waves in the foreground. Now the beach is too dark compared to them, which I need to work on next.

I haven't given up this painting yet

Last two months I had to dedicate all my available time to study to get day-job related certification. Finally finished it and passed the exam earlier this week. Now I can go back and start painting again.

While I was away from painting, I kept thinking about which direction I want to go when I come back. Sometimes it's good to be away from something you keep working hard. I think I want to go more bold brush strokes and marks, instead of picking up tiny things from the reference photo. It might be too late for this one but I'll try.
Tonight I touched the background peninsula, and the top rocks on the main subject. I'm feeling better now.

Cape Falcon, OR, on-site

Yesterday, I was on Oregon coast hiked about a couple miles to get to one of tips of Cape Falcon in Oswald West State park. I spent only about an hour painting this since I still have to get home yesterday and didn't have much time in late afternoon.
I somehow thought about how Van Gogh would paint this scene. Fist thing I felt I saw this today was I thought I made the green ocean much more greener. Also I regret I didn't spend more time to paint those ripples in. It was quite breezy there.

Introducing a little purpole colors

Finally made some time available to come back this painting today.
I instroduced some purplish colors on some part of vegetation, which worked pretty well against greens. I need to put more colors on the water next.

Anacortes painting

I thought I wanted to see Plein Air WA's show at Scott-Milo Gallery in Anacortes, but didn't think about it was closed on Sundays. I should have remembered the fact. Instead, I painted on R Ave. looking toward Mt. Baker.
It was hot day so I didn't take my sun glass off - mistake #1. And again, the color&value shift of mountains based on distance isn't right. I need more practice about it.

Making bark colors lighter gradually. I'll probably need to go back and define lines to separate lighter parts. Then soon it would be the time to re-define the main subject again.

Painting in Skagit

I rode and headed north in the afternoon and started painting in Skagit valley looking toward Glacier Peak at 6PM. When I finished this Sun was still above horizon. I had problem with drowing at the beginning but managed to finish it. It's been two month since I did plein air last time in NoCal. Still can't get the formula mixing greens to get the sense of distance. Today I tried adding viridian but didn't work as I hoped.

First Round of Covering

I covered most of the canvas with at least one layer of paint. Originally I thought I would leave out the breaking waves because it's the lightest part of this painting as O'Hagan's instruction from the last workshop.
After the second thought, I changed mind and  filled up with rough brush strokes. Made them less lighter than the final colors. 

Slowly defining shapes

Not much progress but still slowly defining shapes around the peninsulas and rocks.
Consistency of paint mixtures is still problem and I'm making them too thin with Gamsol. Also probably concerning too much details, which I shouldn't have put in this painting. I need to reconsider those shapes. 

Put "Veins" on it

I didn't feel I would be able to make out bark by painting layers in the same way. So I decided to use a small brush and draw the "veins" on the tree trunk. Now it more looks like a tree trunk.
I'll go back to mid-size brushes and add layers between the veins.

Filling with darker colors

Still filling up darker parts. Since not much shadow in this frame, I probably need to make darker color part more darker than real, to keep balance and avoid bleached out painting.
I realized the ocean part is one of the darkests.

Still Tackling With Bark

Still can't figure out how to paint tree bark. Probably it would take more to come up with something that would satisfy myself. I just don't want to give up yet and will keep trying and trying. Strangely I'm not so frustrated.

Desmond O'Hagan 3 day workshop

Just came back from Desmond O'Hagan's workship on Bainbridge Island.
It was about reiteration of dark to light method with a larger brush (#8)  even on 9x12 surface, but it also exposed me more to realization of warm/cool color temperature handling and its effects.
Those two outputs were half completed by O'Hagan himself so I can't claim 100% credit. However, I intentionally picked his subjects (I regularly don't do stilllife, figures nor cityscapes) to learn from his style and technique. Although I have no intention of changing my subject matters at this moment, I'll definitely experiment more with warm&cool.
It was very good workshop after all.

New Monterey/Carmel Painting

Everytime I start a new painting, I get excited thinking about how this painting could go.
No exception with this painting, which I painted at Monastery Beach just north of Point Lobos State Reserve in a morning. That day, Point Lobos was closed due to bad weather a day before.
Quite horizontal format because I wanted to put crest of wave hitting beach in the composition. 20x32.

From NoCal Trip

The first series of outdoor painting of the year. So let's be honest about the problems on each one, then will move on to next chance and utilize the experiences when I make larger studio paintings with some of them, or from photos with other scenes I brought back.
Believe it or not, I've learned quite some and thinking again and again how to improve, which is the best outcome of the trip.
Actually three of them were made in one day. That's my personal record as a slow painter.

Office Mural - Collaboration - Project

At our office, we started a mural project by getting many people's participation, which paint on three 48"x48" canvas. And my role is to paint the back-drop of the mural. The photo above is the third canvas that would be placed on the right. I painted Mt. Rainier at the top part and everybody can fill the rest. The next would be the center canvas.

Last Update for St. Mary Lake

At least three - four times I changed the colors of left mountains and rocks in front of them. It's getting messier every time I change the colors. It's the time to stop. I wouldn't be able to improve any more.
Overall, it was somewhat disappointing outcome despite the fat I spent long time. Probably that's the main cause of the problems.
I think I've leaned something with this and need to move on.

Officially all parts are filled

Finally all parts are filled. Now I need to correct colors and sharpen up some edges, and so on, all over the canvas again.
I need to bring back unity to this painting to finish up this painting.

Maybe too dark as a far mountain

The pyramid shaped mountain is a little too dark at this moment, but leave it as is for now. I'll come back later.
After changing the colors on the small peninsula in front of the mountain, I'm ready to tackle with the foreground trees and fill the colors of the water surrounding them.

Clouds are mostly done

I almost finished the clouds. Likely I'll comeback later to push a little more values to create contrast. Otherwise, I'm quite satisfied what I came up with them.

Next is the right peak and the hill behind.

2nd update of the day

2nd update of the day...means I made good progress. The upper part of clouds are done basically. Still want to finish the bottom part of the distinctive-shaped cloud on the right and below.
Then move on to the right peak and background hill. And after that, I'll come down to the water and foreground trees.

New Year, still old painting

Still working on this piece continuously from the last year. I don't feel much of year change this time.

Been working on the mid peak to adjust colors and values in the cloud-cast shadow after almost finishing the clouds above. I still need to come back later but want to move on to the right section next; clouds and the right peak.