Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino. 6" by 8"- oil on linen board.
This little building at San Galgano, Italy was irresistible. It had rained earlier in the day and in the early evening all the greens were so saturated. I find painting greens always a challenge.
plein air painting in Tuscany, small painting
"Carmen's House"Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino. Oil on linen board 8 by 10 in.
Here is a demo painting I did one day of the Plein Air Painting in Tuscany workshop using the Gamblin Portland grays. I think it was a good exercise to help students see value. I used portland gray light, medium, deep, chromatic black and titanium white.I layed in the grayscale painting first painting thinly and then added the local colors in afterward. The day was a bit hazy and lent itself to focusing on a range of values rather than strong plays of light and shade.
You can see the grayscale stage of the painting in this photo.
Copyrighted ©2009 by Linda Warner Constantino. Oil on linen 6 by 8 in.
This is a doorway that I love at Spannocchia with the grapevine growing around it. I was struck with its casual kind of beauty.
Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino. Oil on linen 6 by 8 in.
I have returned from the Plein Air Painting in Tuscany workshop that I taught last week at Spannocchia near Siena, Italy. We had great food, great weather, and a good group. I will be posting more of a recap of the workshop on my other blog Plein Air Painting in Tuscany. If all goes as planned I will be teaching this workshop again next year, so check back if you are interested or email me and I will put you on the mailing list.
This is a little study of some farmhouses on the grounds of Spannocchia. They are surrounded by grape vineyards.
I am Italy preparing for my Plein Air Painting workshop this coming week. Please check out my Plein Air Painting in Tuscany blog where I will be posting photos and paintings.
Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino - 8" by 10"- oil on gessoboard.
When I woke up this morning it looked ominous. We have been having a lot of rain lately, but it cleared and got very hot around 8:30 am and out I went. This location is actually behind the local mall! I tried to work quickly but without reworking my strokes. I have found with gessoboard it helps to use a medium (classic - mineral spirits, stand oil, linseed oil) otherwise the porous nature of the board sucks the oil out of the paint and looks chalky the next day. I also like the consistency of the medium on this surface. When painting on oil primed linen I usually do not feel the need for a medium.
Copyrighted ©2009 by Linda Warner Constantino - 5"by7"- oil on gessoboard.
I certainly have been out of the loop with my blog but I am back. It was a very crazily busy winter and spring quarter at school. I did take a watercolor workshop in Fallbrook California with Joseph Zbukvic who was a wonderful teacher and very professional. I will be posting more paintings on by watercolor blog when I return from my workshop in Italy.
Yes!! In just two weeks I will be teaching a plein air painting workshop at a small working organic farm in Tuscany called Spannocchia. If all goes well I will make it an annual event.
The painting above is a small study I did in my friend Lynn Parrot's back yard. I liked the way the sun was hitting the trellis.
Copyrighted © by Linda Warner Constantino. 8" by 10" oil on canvas board.
Girl in a Straw Hat
I like to put up a portrait study every once in a while. I was never brave enough to be a full time portrait painter but I do love painting portraits.
My quarter is nearly over the winter session at school which was totally hectic. I need a break even if it is only a week.I am excited that I have enough participants for my Plein Air Painting in Tuscany workshop. We are going the last part of June.(There is still some room if you are interested.) I think it will be beautiful and most memorable. I love to travel and for me plein air painting is such a great way to savor the memories of a particular place. There is a remote chance I will be painting in France too, this summer. If it works out I will of course funnel the experience through this blog so stay tuned.
Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino. Oil on gessoboard. 12" by 12"
Citymarket
I am trying to enter more juried shows this year as time allows. This painting made it into the Hilton Head 2009 National Juried Show that was juried by Craig Srebnik.
Also, I am honored to be the featured artist for the month of March International Plein Air Painters webiste.
Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino.
"Olives"
6"by 6" oil on gesso board.
$100 plus $5 shipping. Email me if interested.
It's hard to believe I have not posted in almost a month. I am teaching an overload at school and designing and illustrating a wine label. It has been just crazy!
So getting back to the easel has been approach/avoidance. I wanted to paint but was afraid I forgot everything. Why is that? I also did not know how I would paint it. There is part of me that can be as tight as a botanical illustrator (in watercolors at least) and another part of me that so enjoys a loose painterly approach to realistic subject matter.
I decided to photograph the stages of this painting on the left. Of course this put the pressure on it to be a great painting but I decided to do it anyway. I am still mourning the loss of my good camera that I dropped in the tub a few months ago(do not ask). The camera I am using is alright but does not take as good photos. Anyway, here are the stages.
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