River of Reflections 12x16 PLEIN AIR PAINTING |
As an artist, to always play it safe, with what we "know" can be a sort of suicide. It is a slow death in creativity, when one is not willing to go into an uncomfortable arena...be it subject, color and value preferences, or whatever.
My greatest treasure is painting deep jewel tones...but with this piece, my goal was to work in high key (that is, light value).
Although the values are light, they are NOT "washed out" or "chalky". When I set up my values for a painting, there is a balancing act I have to follow...almost intuitively...of what has too much white, and what is "just right" for a mixed color.
There is no ONE answer.
One only gets a chalky painting, if there is ONLY chalky colors. Beautiful color sets on "chalky" and "muddy" colors alike...and that is a whole other story!
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Betty Jean Billups: bbillups@coldreams.com - (208) 263-1117
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Betty Billups+artist, B.J. Billups, Billups Art, Plein Air Painters of America