PALETTE KNIFE STUDY BY TOM BROWN

“EDGE OF THE CITRUS GROVE”
3x4 INCH PLEIN AIR STUDY
ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING BY TOM BROWN
SOLD

Capturing a moment in time – that was the point of this small study. It’s small, but it packs a big punch. And it recorded the true feeling of the scene better than my camera.

There was no time to set up for a full-sized painting so I grabbed my pochade box and quickly recorded the essential light and color of the scene with a palette knife.

Streaks of sunlight were slicing down the shadowy hillside. Tops of the citrus trees caught the last rays of golden light. And the sky came alive with subtle hues for a few moments before fading into darkness.

For backup reference I also shot the photo shown here. The photo will provide helpful details in case I later want to use the plein air study as the basis for a larger gallery painting. But the quick plein air study recorded the color and light that made this scene a work of art.

It’s interesting to compare the painting with the photo. In the photo, the sky is bleached out to blandness, and the rich texture and color on the hillside is lifeless.

The small oil study captured the true essence of the moment. That’s one of the advantages in doing these quick plein air studies.

These are some of the lessons I’ll pass along to the students in my plein air workshop beginning this coming Saturday morning. If you’re an artist living in the Orange County area perhaps you might be interested in joining us. Email me for details.

Thanks for stopping to look. Have a relaxing day. And if you would like to own this little jewel, email me at: tombrownstudio@cox.net