Rainy Day Palm, 8x10" oil, plein air, Diane Mannion
Persistence
Was beginning to think this painting panel was jinxed! Fought it through to this stage which I don't hate too much. Palm trees are difficult subjects, someone once told me it takes years to be able to paint a palm tree that doesn't look like a toilet brush.
Wanted to catch the neighbor's tree before the gardeners arrived and trimmed the old growth and gorgeous orange seeds off. There are also lovely bright green ferns that thrive on the upper trunk, all will be chopped off except for a few upper branches. This is a pineapple palm that grows in the yard across the way.
Here's the trail of wipeouts and scrapings…
1.Sketched over failed portrait
2. thumbnail sketches
3. First version painted from front doorway…meh.
4.First version after fiddling… too dark and gloomy
5.How it looked after wipeout, good table cloth design.
6.Block in, started to look much better. Could have (should have) left it like this.
And the finish again.
The palm before the rain started.
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