"Pisa Range"
Oil on board
495mm x 295mm
19½" x 11½"
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

The first light fall of Autumn snow dusts the peaks of the Pisa mountain range. Snow clouds begin to envelope the pinnacles bringing with it, the excitement of the change of season.  We call this place “Central” (Central Otago, New Zealand) - austere, raw, beautiful, haunting, vast skies above rugged ranges. Captivating, compelling and beckoning.

The oil painting technique I used for this painting began with an underglaze of a grey/purple. Once dry, I then used the block-in oil painting method of creating the basic 'local' color of each area. I used these colors as the basic mix to establish the different areas in the painting: variations of greys with tints of purple for the clouds, dark grey/greens for the foreground, pale purple/greys for the light areas of the mountains and of course blue for the sky - all helped me establish the basic painting layers. I left my underpainting to show through in some areas - especially in the mid toned mountain peaks.

The next step is to observe the changing colors within each section, mix those colors and apply the detail - keeping it true to nature. Each area has a myriad of hues that describe this light snow fall, the forms - with sharp as well as rolling edges and shapes.  There are many painting lessons within each of these subjects. Too many to write here of course. For those of you who are artists and would love to learn how to paint skies, clouds, mountains, falling snow  - I hope to release an oil painting DVD in 2012 that will cover all these things and so much more.

I also plan to release a new watercolor DVD. This one will focus on mini studies of many subjects: capturing numerous subjects. If you are not currently on my mailing list - do join up.

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In my Art Lessons section you will find helpful articles.

If you want to learn more about Watercolor Painting and Watercolor Technique check out my Watercolor DVDs.

Happy Painting!
Susan

"Ophir – Past and Present"
24"x20" - 610 mm x 510 mm
Oil on Belgian Linen
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

Time for sneak preview of another exhibition painting.

This time my oil painting is of an old house in Ophir New Zealand. Ophir is a beautiful village in Central Otago, New Zealand. Running alongside this and many other rustic villages in this area is the ‘Rail Trail”. A cycling trail along several kilometres of an old railway rising. Riding this rail trail is an exhilarating experience and if you are coming to NZ – do add it to your bucket list. You will love the experience! It is not to be missed.

I wanted to capture the atmosphere and presence of these old villages before the character and history within those layers of peeling paint and aged timbers are exchanged for a bright, fresh new cloak. These areas are revitalized by the rail trail, bringing new awareness of these magical places that speak so eloquently of times passed.

In my oil painting, you will notice one window shows a reflection of the old Ophir general store - the other window, the glass and surround is missing but it allows us to be drawn inside the building where we see the beginnings of a renovation taking place.

Old kauri timber, peeling wallpaper and boxes and cloth lay amongst the dust and detritus. They can barely be made-out in the darkness of the room. This is deliberate - we are drawn out of that room by the warm glow of orange light. Through an out-of-sight window an early evening twilight glows and dances on the wall of the room behind. I love the contrast between warm and cool, light and dark. Notice how the warmth of this glow pulls your attention through the painting and creates a path for you to follow.

In contrast we see the old drapery shop and the early evening sky reflected in the window pane. This is Ophir – Central Otago, New Zealand. Our history - our heritage.

Are you aware you have become part of this oil painting - Part of this early New Zealand land and village scape?

We stand in front of the painting – enticed to peek inside the dark room. Curiosity draws us in. The reflection is behind us – across the street. The grey/blue twilight behind us allows us to feel as if we are within this scene –  somewhere between these rustic windows and the blue/grey twilight and the old general store behind us. I want viewers of this piece to feel part of this painting – to experience the feeling of ‘being there’.

These places are our heritage, history, our past and our ever-evolving present.

No matter which medium you use, watercolor painting or oil painting, pastel or acrylic painting, these hints and tips and painting lessons on how to use color, color temperature and tone will stand you in good stead.

Please click to visit the Exhibiton page and see more
sneak previews of Susan's latest work

Learn  about my Watercolor Painting Technique in my Watercolor DVDs.

Learn about how to paint in my Free Art Lessons.