South River View - Color Study

South River View - Color Study Paint Out

Color studies are sometimes used by painters to create a record of a scene when the ultimate goal is to paint a large scale or particularly complicated scene back in the studio.   This great reference tool is far superior to a photograph, supplying more accurate hues and other memorable aspects of the scene.   The goal is to match the fresh direct color from the plein air experience and then apply it to the large canvas. 

When I arrived at the painting location I was very pleasantly surprised!  Sometimes the suggestion of a particular view may or may not make a nice painting, but in this case, the view was just stunning! The vantage from the nicely elevated deck revealed an 180 degree expanse of the South River and surrounding marshes in Marshfield.    By looking east, (the direction of the painting), the southernmost section of Humarock, the northerly parts of Rexhame, and Rexhame Beach sandwiched in between, were visible.

South River View - Color Study in Progress

As for the color, this was probably the perfect time of year to paint the salt marsh.   The "extreme greens" of summer were now supplemented with the toned-down hints of red and gold that signaled September.   I wished it was sunnier, but the sun was occasionally peaking through enough to allow a good study.



South River Color Study

The paint mixing was done exclusively with a palette knife, as was the paint application.   I wanted to be sure that the color study had a generous amount of paint so that back in the studio, it would be clear which colors I was going after for the larger work.  After all it was not necessarily to come up with an accurate drawing for the color study.   The accuracy of drawing and placement would be important for the larger work though, and for that, a photograph would make a perfect reference.

The color study has its own (very loose) feel and was not only ready to serve its purpose, but a nice enough painting in its own right.  

Coming up soon, the large scale painting...