Sunset at the Block 1

 

I painted the downtown San Angelo (locals call it the Block 1) late afternoon on October 26, 2023. It was quite an experience. The perspective was not hard, but it was very time consuming to make all the buildings look right proportionally. The light was moving super fast and the bright sun was shinning right into my eyes. I was blind by the strong light and hardly could identify any local colors. At the last moment of the sunset. The colors was so beautiful, but the brightness of the light faded so fast and my palette got dark so quickly and it was hard to identify and mix the right colors. Can we really capture the genuine colors on a sunset painting with a plein air approach?  I doubt it. However, the easy part of sunset painting is the colors do not have to be "genuine". The color scheme is so simple. The chroma is high, and the local colors have been dominated by the light source colors. If you have painted a few times, you will find the freedom in this apparently difficult subject.

Gentry Creek

 

The second painting during my ranch stay was "Gentry Creek". I want to thank the ranch owner Stephen for showing us his property. It was a windy day. I managed to make the painting work under the windy condition. The pile of rock by the water was so beautiful. I really like the warm afternoon sun light against the cool purplish shadows. The color at the site was so rich, but I only captured a small portion of it. The painting experience at the Gentry Creek has implied that I still have a long way to go on my journey as an oil painter.

Morning Sunshine

 

I have just come back from San Angelo TX participating the En Plein Air Texas painting competition. This event started on October 21 and ended yesterday on October 29. For the first 3 days, I stay at a Texas ranch near Junction TX. I want to thank Ramsey Koschalk for his hospitality and kindness of inviting artists staying at his ranch. I did 4 paintings there. This is first one. I emphasized the warm and cool play of the morning sun on this beautiful masonry work. I have enjoyed the curved geometry to lead our eyes from the near field to the afar background.

Tuscany Geometry

 I am testing new ideas using geometric shapes to create a design. Although you may still recognize the scene as Tuscany rolling hills, but I have minimized the realistic presentation as much as possible. So the abstract geometric design was my goal. However, the color relationship I try to be as realistically correct as possible so people can see this is still a landscape painting. Since I am so new for this idea, and I will not consider this design is a really good one, but it is a good start. I have enjoyed using knifes for this painting. I hope I can push this approach to get some good paintings.

Positiveness of Covid

 

Positive means bad, and negative means good. Isn't that ironic. Recently, I was tested positive for Covid 19. I have to cancel the recent OPA event, which have been planned a while ago. I sincerely apologize to OPA for the problem I have caused. This painting was planned as my demo for OPA. Now, I have done it during my isolation.

I try to look into the positive side of being Covid positive. It is a good learning experience. Humans are invincible only in the movies. The Nature (or ourselves) can destroy our "long term" civilization so easily. The purpose that we come to (or come out of, to be more exact) the world is not to prove "I am better than you", but to witness the miracles around us. So be humble, respectful, and egoless. 

The last piece of sunshine

I am still wandering in the Texas wilderness. With this painting I played the game of two light sources, one warm and one cool. Many people who have seen my recent paintings made this general comment: "Qiang, that does not look like your paintings any more". I agree absolutely. It is what I mean that I have lost my identity. I often ask myself why I paint. The reason is very simple: I want to be recognized. I feel good if I have got recognized. I feel I have accomplished something. That makes my life meaningful. Painting is the second face of mine, and the paint on it is the makeup. I want to my paintings look good so I can hide my weakness in other part of my life. However, I have understood now that my ego is the biggest trap of my life. I have lost my freedom with it, and I feel the hesitation to come out of my comfort zoon. I am suffering because of all the limitations I have. I have made my art. Now it is the time to destroy it.

Cool Breeze Through Aspen

 

First time painting aspen. I have enjoyed it very much. The photo was taken last year in Utah. It was a cloudy day after a storm. The color temperature distribution had cooler light and warmer shadow. I like the color purple. It reminds me the cool weather in the parks. Austin was 107 F yesterday. It will be similar today. It is just another hot day in Texas.

Rainbow Roses

This painting took me more than a month to do. It was started around last Thanksgiving, and finished after last Christmas. So many things had happened during this period of time, visiting doctors, a surgery, relocate my studio, and holiday stuff. I was on and off painting and my mood was up and downs. Anyway, I have finished it. It works as a reminder to me what I have gone through. I was using regular oils for this one. Now the Beatles' song "Yesterday" is singing in my mind: Yesterday. All my trouble seems so far away. ...

"1914 Case"

One of those ranch painting days, I found this old tractor in Christoval. It is quite unique; it has a steam engine. I had so much fun painting it. I was told that the owner of this machine found this old clunker abandoned somewhere in Texas wilderness. He disassembled it and shipped all the pieces back to his home in Christoval. He put it back together. Moreover, he made it run again. I myself really admire those handy people who can do almost anything.

This painting is still available

"Old Diesel" --- Sold

This is another painting I did on the En Plein Air Texas. It was very windy day. My easel has tipped over a few times. My Gamsol container flipped on my palette and got stuck in my fresh paint... what a mess it was. But I like this painting.

"Quick Draw at Easton" --- Sold

This painting is my quick draw piece at Plein Air Easton. Gush! I have already forgot what title I gave to it. I have enjoyed so much of the color play during the time I painted it. I used to be a tonal painter and using value and light to show most of my intentions. But now I am more and more into the effect of what color can do.

"Morning Shimmer"

The hot and steamy weather continues. I was at the Maritime Museum, St. Michaels MD. The scene was quite busy. I just love it. I saw all kinds of plays: the geometric play, the color play, the value play and so on. When you see through the reality, you will see the true art.

“The Flag Day"

What attracted me when I saw this little storage shed was the light. One side of the little house was under a cool sky light, and on the other side the bright sun light was shining on the ground and a strong warm reflection had brightened the side of the house.

This painting is available. Please contact me.

“Tilghman Blue"

The painting was done at Tilghman Island as my first one for the Easton Plein Air Festival. It was a good day. I enjoyed the turquoise in the painting. This painting is still available. Please contact: https://studiobartgallery.com/artist/qiang-huang/ for details.

"Morning light at Ardrossan" --- Sold

I did this painting less about one and a half hours. I was not plan that way, but the light changed too quickly. I have to abandoned completely my usual approach, and just went with the flow. It was a relatively large painting. I even did not have the confidence that I can finish it. But the result was surprising.

In my last post, I talked about my "Off-the-Grid living" project. I must say I did not do it for my philosophy only.  Currently, we live in a relatively big house that I have paid it off 10 years ago, but now I can't afford to pay its $14,000 per year property tax. We have decided to downsize. We are buying a small house brand new, and sell the big house. Everybody says: Austin is such a booming city, and your house will sell in no time. Well, it has been on the market more than 2 months now, and it does not move. I have reduced its price twice, and it did not help. The small house will close tomorrow. Since the bank only gives me a small loan (I am an artist you know), I need to use up almost all my cash to buy it.  We also must to rent the small house out immediately (I need good luck for that as well), otherwise my property tax will shoot up way above $20,000 at the end of the year, not talking about paying the mortgage. After renting out the small house, we will have no place to move if the big house sells. That is the reason I am building my "Off-the-Grid" storage shed like crazy. Sometime, I feel what fool I am --- living in a storage shed but paying $20,000 property tax.

I like the song "Hotel California" by the "Eagles". "We are all just prisoners here of our own device". Modern life is such a trap. "You can check out anytime, but you can never leave". "Welcome to the Hotel California, such lovely place. Such lovely face"...

"Gramercy Farm" --- Sold

I really like to paint old barns. This painting was done on a private property. It was cold and windy. I did not see any other artists at this location. It was a struggle, but the result was rewarding.

"Time Impression"

I spent two morning hours painting this old barn at Easton. I love to paint old stuff. This barn I painted last year. I saw it gets run down even more this year. Things fall apart. That is a very profound truth. On one hand we try to improve, wish we get better and better. On the other hand, we fall apart. The world is balanced in a weird way.

"Red Roof" --- Sold

This is my first painting on the Plein Air Easton Festival. This was done at Tilghman Island MD.

Thanks to all the friends providing suggestions and share ideas after my previous post. I know I am in a slump right now. It is rather difficult to relax and rest.  I meditated quite often recently, and realized how badly I am attached to this world. I am learning in baby steps, both artistically and spiritually.

"Easton Rain" --- Sold

It was an honor to participate the Plein Air Easton competition the 2nd time. This is a painting I did in the rain in down town Easton. I am very happy that this painting has won the 1st place of Quick Draw. I want to thank Plein Air Easton and the Judge Jill Carver for this honor.

"Uptown Sedona"

This painting was my last one on the Sedona Plein Air Festival. Instead of painting red rocks, I painted a group of yellow umbrellas. Sedona Plein Air was my 2nd time participating plein air painting festivals. I sold 3 paintings, and got two awards. I felt very satisfied. Most important, I have met quite a few wonderful plein air artists.