My Paintings Process VENTERS series

Defining Venters. The Palette.

Posted on September 1, 2016

Each season, in each place, has its own palette and I find that each informs my work, wherever I happen to be.  We’ve spent our spring and summer on the Puget Sound where I’ve been soaking up the way the water glistens, the seagulls call, the foghorns sound.

While here, in addition to the #100littleartworks project, I’ve been painting my VENTERS coastal series. Initially inspired by the wildness of the Oregon Coast and my memories of the beaches and marshes of North Florida, I wanted these paintings to have the palette and reflective transparency of sea glass and sunsets.

Seaglass and sunsets collage

top image found here; bottom image by me

As I do for each series, I put together a Pinterest board for my palette inspiration, printing and referencing these images as I worked in the studio.

Rope collage

painting knocking on heaven’s door, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 40x30x1.5

right image found here 

Eggs collage

painting how she moves, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 15x19x.75

bottom image found here

Angel collage

painting make me an angel, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 30x40x1.5

left image found here

As I look back on the completed series, I see the way the work and the palette shifted the longer we were here on the Sound.  I’m looking forward to finding my way through the Fall and the changes it may bring in my palette and my way of seeing.

PS– I’m shipping the last of the VENTERS paintings out to Art & Light Gallery very soon!  Then onto the next!

Painter, art and artist consultant, traveler, discoverer-- Lesley Frenz blogs and paints her way throughout the West Coast and Northwest, sharing the work she finds significant and meaningful. All while highly caffeinated.

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  • melissa
    September 1, 2016 at 4:15 PM

    Beautiful color palette here, and it does indeed remind me of Northwest Coasts! I have made a few trips out to the South Western United States recently, and it made me appreciate just how the precise color combination can just scream the southwest.

    I look forward to whatever surprises emerge with you fall palette!

    • Artsy Forager
      September 2, 2016 at 10:47 AM

      Hi Melissa! It thrills me to hear that you see the Northwest Coasts in my palette! Mission accomplished! haha The Southwest does have a beautifully distinctive palette. I would love to spend some time painting in New Mexico a la Georgia O’Keeffe. Isn’t it amazing how each place has such a unique color palette? One of my favorite things about traveling!

  • Erin
    September 4, 2016 at 5:53 AM

    This is such a great idea, and your palettes are so beautiful. Such wonderful tones and such stunning works created from them 🙂

    erin | words and pictures

    • Artsy Forager
      September 7, 2016 at 9:07 AM

      Thanks so much for your kind words, Erin! This “palette practice” of mine really helps get the creative juices rolling and keeps me from getting too stuck in one particular color palette.