Two Chairs in a Field with Aspen Seeds

After a night's rain the aspen? seeds were a little soggy in the field but still created a striking effect. First, the chairs were outlined and partially filled in, then wet-in-wet was used to outline the fuzzy poplar seeds. While still moist, warm and cool washes were applied to the seed casing, and little yellow ochre and raw sienna dots to represent the seeds. The foliage and grass was done with many small interlocking brush strokes. Recently I was given a coffee-table book on Cezanne the impressionist painter and I learned more about his way of constructing paintings. He explored the underlying geometry and geography of a scene, and then applied luxurious textures and careful brush strokes. It also took him hundreds of hours to complete each canvas. Today I could just squeeze in a few paintings before and after work hours. Done in the morning, the commuter train was whipping by in the background behind the tree line.
 

Two Chairs in a Field with Aspen Seeds, watercolour 8 x 10" Fabriano Artistico, June 2022 (No. 3036b)