Fresh off the Easel

"Gerbera Daisies: Harbingers of Spring"
12 x 12, Oil on Canvas
(c) Lesley Powell 2018

Is it possible that we have actually (finally!) experienced the last frost of the winter season? In most areas of the country, Spring arrived late this year, and been quite chilly. But that hasn't stopped me from expressing the enthusiasm of the season in my studio!

"Trio, Yellow"
12 x 12, Oil on Canvas
(c) Lesley Powell 2018

It all started with the Gerbera daisies. I have always regarded these flowers as true harbingers of spring, especially the yellow ones. Almost everybody finds the color yellow to be cheery and warm. After all, yellow has long been associated with the sun, with its bright and life-giving light. From a scientific point of view, it's also interesting to note that the

color yellow reflects more light than the other primary colors. As a result, it is most intense at a very high or "light" value.

"Quintet, Yellow"
16 x 12, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2018
(SOLD)

(As an illustrative aside, the other day I was working in the yard, and from the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a shaft of sunlight on the sidewalk next to me. It turned out to be a bright yellow line painted on the sidewalk by the gas line crew. Goes to show the power of yellow paint to suggest light...).

"Five Stems in Footed Vase"
18 x 18, Oilon Canvas
(c) Lesley Powell 2018

After painting the yellow daisies, I could not resist moving on to some yellow roses. There are many different shades of yellow roses, and I worked with several of them. Fellow painters doubtless know that yellow in the shade is a very difficult color to see right and to mix right.  I have read that this difficulty may be due to an aspect of human evolution. Whatever the reason, yellow completely changes its hue when it is out of the light. A great challenge to see and to paint! Sometimes it looks brown, other times green--and many variants in between, depending on the object nearby that are reflecting light onto it.

The last photo shows a bouquet of white roses. If you've enjoyed these, you can see more of the series here. Thanks for taking a look!