Friday, October 15, 2010

Hazy Light

I have an almost insane love of the hazy light of LA. Clear skies are pleasant, but when I'm painting, the more smog the better.

I was sitting outside a restaurant in Eagle Rock, looking toward a hot, low sun. The palm trees and utility poles were pale and milky silhouettes. This was painted in watercolor in a 5x8-inch Moleskine sketchbook.
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Let me take this moment to thank everyone for hosting my presentations so far at the studios and art schools: Trion, SJSU, A of A, CCA, TAD, Otis, Atelier Marchant, LCAD, DreamWorks and Carlsbad Library! It's been a blast meeting you all and seeing your amazing artwork. My head is spinning! Today we go to the Watts Atelier in Encinitas (which is sold out), and then across the desert to AI Phoenix!

13 comments:

David Teter said...

Ah yes... LA...Home.. Home.. hazy skies... where some deer and no antelope roam...
You picked the right time to visit, we have had an unusually cool, cloudy, hazy summer this year.
Most don't like our smog (can't blame them) but artists, like yourself, recognize the effect it has on the quality of light, the color of light.
You should see it after days of wildfires... the light, maybe the air itself, is amber colored, glazing the landscape like an old masters painting.

James Gurney said...

David--yes! Some of the best sunset paintings date from the year or two after the eruption of Krakatoa.

Finnian Beazlie said...

Thanks again for coming out to Sjsu, James. Your presentation was very enlightening, and I can't wait for your new book to come out. I've got some landscape sketches in gouache up on my blog, http://fdbeazlie.blogspot.com, and I would be very grateful if you could take a look at them.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the demo James!

This painting was by far my favorite, it inspired me to pull out my water color kit again :)

Anonymous said...

James - Thanks so much for the demo the other day at dreamworks . Very inspiring to say the least . I went straight out and ordered pencils and water brushes within 20 minutes of the demo ! You should get some sort of kickback or sponsorship from the makers .

Cheers and best regards .

Unknown said...

wonderful watercolor! wonderful!!

Micah said...

Have you ever thought about coming to Houston Jim?

Anonymous said...

Sadly I can't remember the name of the US watercolor impressionist who observed that his most popular paintings had three basic elements.

I'm not a fan of formulaic art, but here they are:
1. Atmosphere
2. Strong verticals
3. Human interest

tiffannysketchbook said...

you're so good. if you're ever giving watercolor workshops in austin texas, i will be the first to sign up.

Jsmom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Erik Bongers said...

Captured the light beautifuly

David Nakamura said...

Your presentation today at the Watts Atelier was amazing and very inspirational. Thank you so much for coming out!

António Araújo said...

Great picture.

Amazing how we see so much light in what are basically washes of some very dull colors.