"Spring azaleas were spotlighted by morning sun in the little town of Archer, Florida, outside of Gainesville. As often happens, locals stopped by and filled me in on the history of the place. It was once the residence of the owners of the local ironworks located across the street. Still in business after over 100 years, it still prospers. With personable managers who are enthusiastic about what they are doing, it's no wonder." --- SFG
"These quick little paintings are such a joy to do. Catching the quality of light and shadow is the goal and the subject matter is the icing on the cake. This small building is located on the only privately owned property within a wilderness area in the United States. The owners graciously invite my family from time to time. It is certainly one of the most beautiful areas in California." --- SFG
"This rickety shed is set among the litter so typical of the charmingly trashy-chic community of McCloud, California. The small-town atmosphere and spectacular views of Mt. Shasta nullify any need for conformity to standards applied elsewhere. Once a rough-and-ready lumber town, it is now a get-away community for those from the Bay area or southern California. Artists who visit are grateful that it maintains this character for it is infinitely more interesting than planned and rigidly supervised resorts." --- SFG
"Artists find subjects wherever they are. This was painted on the front porch of our daughter's business Equigen in Archer, Florida. The landscaping near the building featured this handsome Sego Palm that grows so beautifully in the area. The glare of the sunlight behind the palm was actually the subject of the painting." --- SFG
NOTE TO ARTISTS:
Look beyond the obvious. Sometimes the negative areas say more than the positive ones.
"Kanapaha Gardens in Gainesville, Florida is rewarding to locals and visitors alike, even on an overcast day as this one was. Its lush plantings near the stream on the west end of the gardens offered pattern and color." --- SFG
NOTE TO ARTISTS:
This is a "pattern" composition. Though you can find a focal point in the white flowers against the shadowed water and stone, they are not strong enough to carry the load. Sometimes, when you don't see a very dominant point of interest in your subject, the painting will still be successful if you emphasize patterns and texture throughout it.
