Yehiam painting progression

I am working on a 16" X 20" acrylic painting of Yehiam from my photos and earlier study.  I posted my smaller study in the last post.  This painting is on gessoed hardboard, not canvas.  I like working on this surface with acrylic paints. I think the landscape would look even better worked in oils, but I don't seem to have the patience to let them dry.  It's easier working in layers with acrylic paints.  I had a hard time making the rocks look old. I decided to use a sponge with some darker colors on top of the undercolor.  I also watched a video on painting stone/rock and came away with the understanding that I didn't need to paint each stone, give a suggestion of them.  I think that helps.  The photo was taken in spring and everything was very green.  The Mediterranean Sea can be seen in the background. The fortress is up high on the hills in Israel.

My first try at the undercolors and basic shapes.  I felt that the background trees were too dark, had too much blue.

Adding more detail and starting to fill in the dark spaces.  Again, I felt that there was too much blue and wound up using some black later on in the crevices and openings in the walls.

I'm happy with my progress so far and may switch off to something totally different for a while, then come back to this to finish it up.

More studies and one finished painting

This is a 9 X 12 acrylic study done from a photo I took in Israel in 2012.  The ruins are of a Crusader Castle overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. They are part of Yehiam Fortress National Park.  I liked the study enough so that I have started on a larger painting.  I have just started on the undercolor (photo below) so far and a little of the trees. I will work on it more this week.  I'm painting this one with acrylics on gessoed hardboard (not canvas). I like to experiment with different surfaces.  I cheated a little and borrowed a friend's projector to enlarge the painting. I didn't feel like doing a grid to enlarge it.

Yehiam study undercolor 16" X 20"

I had an exhibit at the Bedford NH Library during the month of January 2016. When I looked at one of my paintings, I realized that it had a small area that I wasn't happy with. Now that I have it back, I have fixed it. Here is the final version of November Day.

Meanwhile I have applied for a summer exhibit in a bank that is expanding and is looking for artists willing to hang 15 paintings for six months.  I have a lot of competition for that space, but I'm hoping that they will choose me for one of their upcoming exhibits.

On the personal front, I have a medial meniscus tear so I am having to paint sitting down for now.  I find that I prefer painting standing at my easel as I have more freedom of arm movement and I like to walk back and forth to the easel to see how the painting is looking as I make progress with it.  Hopefully, this will heal soon.  We are having a mild winter in New Hampshire, unlike the states to the south, so I am a little frustrated that I can't walk and hike as much as I used to do. I remind myself that "this too will pass" (famous wise words when the children were teenagers!).