Just the Three of Us

Diane Mannion, Just the Three of Us, 8x10" oil on linen

Palm and Sky Practice

Thought it might be a good idea to practice painting sky and palm trees in the studio.  They seem to cause me the most grief and anxiety (fear of clouds and palm trees)... combined with AA, Artist's Anxiety.  Then when I get outside to paint the real life subjects I'll be more relaxed and able to knock out masterpieces. 

Note...  Sarah Sedgewick coined the term AA for Artist's Anxiety.  Just want to give credit where credit's due.  Her work is fabulous!  Check it out... but not until you finish reading this post, thanks.

Here's my thumbnail for today's painting.  Wanted the trees to be inside the frame but they had a mind of their own and blossomed right off the canvas.  Palm trees are wild things, very difficult to control.

This is how the underpainting looked.  Indian yellow toned panel, painted sky and clouds in first.

And here's the finish again.  Didn't take any more progression photos because I fell into a trance and couldn't stop my frenzied, nail-biting paint slinging.  

I have no fear of painting objects or portraits.  I think clouds and palm trees are difficult for me because it's mostly made up.  There's not much to measure from like a nose or windows.  The fluffy, ephemeral quality of clouds and trees can be almost any shape.  Therefore, I worry too much and make too many changes while painting them.  And with palm trees... have to fight their ability to mimic toilet bowl brushes.