SQUAM STILLWATER: Five Pines {8}

AS EVER HIDDEN

Squam Stillwater: Five Pines   ( in progress)

James Aponovich

Oil on canvas, 24" x 18"

Now the painting is in the home stretch. To most eyes it

appears to be finished but I know that there still remains hours of 

painting ( pine needles ) ahead. I originally had something happening

where the air meets the water. On the surface of the water I painted

a Mayfly which has just landed and underneath you could see a trout

 rising to catch it. I understand that things like that occur. I realized that was

 in complete juxtaposition of the tranquility I was trying to capture.

So out came the hungry fish and if old 'Golden Pond' ( Squam Lake)

is known for anything.....

(detail)

.......it's Loons

copyright2019 James Aponovich

all rights reserved 

SQUAM STILLWATER: Five Pines { 7 }

What would happen if one combined the Japanese like elegance of native

pines with 15th Century Florentine musical ratios by way of the Greek

Philosopher Pythagoras ? Let's find out.

Squam Stillwater: Five Pines ( in-progress)
James Aponovich
oil on canvas, 24" x 18"



The painting has stood in a corner of the studio for the greater
part of a month. I had to attend to a Sunflower painting. Now it's
back on the easel so I repainted the sky ( 8 colors & values) and
the water ( 10 colors and values).

The sky is dry so I begin the
arduous process of painting the pines, plus the distant
mountain and hills. Did I mention I hate the color green?

Detail

SQUAM STILLWATER: FIVE PINES {6}

What would happen if one combines the Japanese like elegance of native

pines with 15th Century Florentine musical ratios by way of the Greek

Philosopher Pythagoras?  Let's find out.....

MID POINT 

( But still swimming upstream )

Squam Stillwater: Five Pines (in progress)

James Aponovich

oil on canvas, 24" x 18"

Finally the entire surface has paint on it. I want to

emphasize that this is only the first coat. By the time the

painting is finished you will not see this layer. This is the

'Ugly Duckling' stage with all the miscues and warts

showing. I now let it dry then scrape it down smooth and

start over again. Are we having fun yet?

Oh, I should mention...there is something happening

where the air and water meet.  (?)

copyright 2019 James Aponovich

all rights reserved

SQUAM STILLWATER : FIVE PINES {3}

What would happen if one combines the Japanese like elegance of native

pines with 15th Century Florentine musical ratios by way of

the Greek Philosopher Pythagoras? Let's find out.

THE BLOCK- IN

Squam Stillwater: Five Pines  ( in progress)

James Aponovich

oil on canvas, 24" x 18"

I now need to cover the entire surface of the canvas with a coat of paint.

 Since most of the painting is sky ( or reflected sky) I can rely on

my ' sky progression' sequence, ie. pale Naples Yellow transitioning

into Ultramarine Blue. There are usually seven colors of deepening

value, each reflected in the water. The land is a soft Cobalt Green

with Mt. Chocorua bathed in distant sunlight.

So...with all the blues, violets and greens everything is quite cool.

That usually means I will want a 'Hot Spot'.

Stayed tuned.....

Copyright 2019 James Aponovich
All rights reserved

SQUAM STILLWATER: FIVE PINES {2}

What would happen if one combines the Japanese like elegance of native

pines with 15th Century Florentine musical ratios by way of

the Greek philosopher, Pythagoras?

Let's find out.

THE WASH

Squam Stillwater: Five Pines ( in progress)

James Aponovich

oil on canvas, 24" x 18"

The oil wash does a couple of things. First, it covers the pencil with

a thin semi-transparent coat of oil paint. It also darkens the trees so

that I can see them through the subsequent coats of paint.

By the way, after the first twenty minutes or so, 

the 'fun' is over. It's all work( albeit enjoyable) now.

Copyright 2019 James Aponovich

All rights reserved