“Front Porch”

Oil     6”x8”      Canvas Board  
This wonderful old Victorian house served as the subject for our plein air painting group a couple of weeks ago. There were so many great possibilities to choose from when deciding what to paint…bay windows, dormers, a charming front door. But I was drawn to this porch and the way it stood out against the trees behind it. After all, what’s not to like about a porch? The sun was getting low in the sky and casting interesting shadows in the foreground. There were two almost opposite challenges with this subject: the angles, perspective, and straight edges of the house itself, and the softness of the light coming through the trees and touching the beautiful landscaping around the house. Another example of why contrast and variety are so important in art.