Tree Composition

Tree Composition
Acrylic on gessobord
8"x10"
Chris Breier © 2017

I took a walk around the neighborhood for the pleasure of it. I wasn't looking for exercise or looking for subject matter, but then I spotted the way this sunlit tree and I decided I wanted to make a painting from it. I've always had an affinity for trees. When I was younger I had a book that could be used to identify the various species that are found in the Northeast. The funny thing is that I can't identify this tree by looking at the painting, I'd have to go back to take a look at the leaves and bark.

Trees Along Lake Ontario

Trees Along Lake Ontario
Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper
8"x10"
Chris Breier © 2017

That small strip of blue along the horizon is Lake Ontario. According to Wikipedia "Ontario" means "Lake of Shining Waters" in the Wyandot language. I find that it's impossible to capture the massive scale of the lake in a small two dimensional painting. Lake Ontario is 53 miles wide, 192 miles long, and it's the 14th largest lake in the world. It's so large you can't see the Canadian side of it, although if it's a clear day with low humidity you can see the top of CN tower in Toronto. In this painting I focused more on the landscape of the park and used the lake as a backdrop.

Misty Afternoon

Misty Afternoon
Acrylic on Raymar canvas panel
8"x10"
Chris Breier © 2017

I thought the afternoon was going to be a dud because it started raining when my brother and drove to the lake, but it cleared up a half hour after we arrived. The rain soaked all of the benches and picnic tables but the misty atmosphere improved the mood of this painting. It was one of those days where you could literally see the moisture in the air and feel it on your skin.

This park has a variety of trees, some of them are evergreen trees and I wanted to capture the feeling of being in a park after a rainstorm. I will consider this a successful painting if you can smell the earthy smell of the woods and the scent of pine trees when you look at it...
 

Trees at Krull Park

Trees at Krull Park
Watercolor and pencil on paper
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

A hot and sunny afternoon. Some local peaches. Stopping at a local popcorn stand. An afternoon of free time at a serene park by the water. What more could you ask for? It’s these simple pleasures that I enjoy most and it’s often the subject of my art. Sometimes I paint on location but I also take photos so that I can work in my studio. When I paint a scene I not only get to enjoy it while I’m working on it, but also when it’s hanging on the wall. When I hang it on the wall it gives me a boost whenever I glance at it.

The Pond at Glen Park

The Pond at Glen Park
Acrylic on paper
8"x10"
Chris Breier © 2017

I enjoy painting outdoors during the summer when the weather allows. On this occasion my brother and I decided to paint at Glen Falls. On previous painting excursions I have painted the waterfall at Glen Falls but this time I decided to focus on area with the ponds. A small strip of the pond is visible in this painting and it continues under the arch of the bridge. My brother and I refer to the park as "Duck Paradise" because that's where they like to congregate, although on this occasson they were hanging out at the other end of the pond so I didn't get a chance to put them in the painting.

It's a serene place to visit and and that's what I aimed to capture with this painting. It's a small oasis in the middle of the bustling village. Many people who work in the area spend their lunch breaks there. As a painter, it's a great location to spend an evening painting outdoors while listening to the sounds of rushing water and quacking ducks.

The majority of this painting was completed outside with a few finishing touches applied back in my studio.

I have also painted part of the gravel path at Glen Park,  Autumn trees at glen Park, a watercolor painting of the waterfall, and another plein aire acrylic painting of Glen Falls.

Autumn Afternoon

Autumn Afternoon
Acrylic on gessobord
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

We're heading into Autumn which is one of my favorite seasons. The saturated colors and the longer shadows make for more dramatic landscapes. I sometimes feel as though the colors in my painting are exaggerated but some of the colors found in nature are even brighter. On occasion I'll be walking through the woods and I'll stumble upon a scene that seems like magic- in this scene it was the saturated yellow greens of grass and the long shadows that stopped me in my tracks.

Nature Walk

Nature Walk
Acrylic on gessobord
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

I've painted this lake many times over the past few years. Anybody who follows my work should know that I get a lot of my inspiration for my paintings from taking walks in nature or near bodies of water. I enjoy the solitude and the seclusion from the stress of modern life. I believe every body should take time away from cell phones, email, social media, and work each day to daydream and think about things.

Before the Falls

Before the Falls
Acrylic on gessobord
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

During the summer I often wake up early to take a walk over to Island Park to visit the library, or buy fresh tomatoes, sweet corn, and blueberries at the farmers market. I enjoy walking early in the morning, especially on a warm and sunny day. The birds are active and shops are beginning to open. The sunlight is at a dramatic angle, and it's warm but not uncomfortably hot. I often bring my camera with me to capture some of these scenes so that I can use them as reference material for paintings.

This vantage point is of Ellicott Creek as seen from the only bridge to the island. The creek flows around the island and then passes underneath Main street before going over Glen Falls.

A House in the Woods

 

A House in the Woods
Acrylic on Gessobord
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

I spotted this view of a white home on the shores of Ellicott Creek and it gave me the impression that it’s a lone house in the wilderness. In reality, it’s part of a suburban neighborhood but working on this painting made me think about what it would be like to live in the woods in the middle of nowhere with a creek in the backyard. I would survive, as long as there was enough room for a painting studio… and a garden.

Ellicott Creek at Dusk

Ellicott Creek at Dusk
Acrylic on Gessobord
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

What attracted me to painting this scene was the surreal mood that the woods can take on right after sunset. I wanted to capture the luminosity of the sky and water so I used acrylics in a transparent manner similar to watercolor. I know from my experience with watercolor that if I overwork the painting it can lose the brilliance that can be achieved with transparent washes, so I focused on the essence of the image and aimed to get the colors and the values correct without making too many corrections. The original painting is available.

Sunlight and Trees

Sunlight and trees
Acrylic on Gessobord
5”x7”
Chris Breier © 2017

This is another painting from the bike path. As I was walking I noticed how the sunlight was illuminating the trees so I walked into the weeds to take a few reference photos. The sunlight brought out the warm colors of the bark which works well against the blue reflections in the water. I took the time to take a number of photographs so that I could try out a number of compositions, but I used the one that positioned the creek so that it was curving off to the right as it receded into the distance. The original painting is available, bid on Sunlight and Trees in the auction.

Trees and Puddles

Trees and puddles
Acrylic on gessobord
5”x7”
Chris Breier © 2017

This stand of trees is in a slight valley near one of my favorite walking paths. Whenever it rains these puddles form around around them which creates bright silvery reflections. The sunset was starting to wind down and the warm colors of the sky play well off the cool saturated greens of the landscape. I enjoy observing these moments in nature, it's a good way to get away the stress of modern life. Bid in the auction for Trees and Puddles.

Walking at Dusk

Walking at dusk
Acrylic on gessobord
5”x7”
Chris Breier © 2017

I took a walk just before sunset and by the time I made it the point where I normally turn around, the sun had just sunk below the horizon. On one hand that means there’s going to more mosquitos to deal with, but on the other hand the sky had turned into an impressive display of color. I took a few reference photos so I could create a painting of it in my studio. It took a number of tries to get the colors of the sky right. I used thick brushstrokes in some areas which created subtle texture and the painting has a glossy finish. Bid in the auction for Walking at Dusk.

A Walk at Ellicott Creek

A Walk at Ellicott Creek
Acrylic on Gessobord
5”x7”
Chris Breier © 2017

I enjoy taking walks near water, it’s a good way to clear my mind especially after working at computer or working on something that requires a lot of mental focus. The reference photograph for this painting was from Spring so the trees were just starting to form buds. I captured some of the light green color of the buds in the bank of trees in the background. The light value of the trees also creates a sense of depth, especially when I painted the darker tree trunks over them. Bid in the auction for A Walk at Ellicott Creek.

Trees at Lake Audubon

Trees at Lake Audubon
Acrylic on Canvas
8"x10"
Chris Breier © 2017

This is one of my favorite paintings, I should probably keep it for myself and frame it. It has all of my favorite features: water reflections, fall foliage, interesting tree shapes, and dramatic lighting. I also used the point of the brush handle to scrape out the tree trunks on the opposite side of the lake. That's normally hard to do with acrylic because it dries so quickly, but if you're quick or mist the paint with water to keep it wet, it can be done. The original painting is available.

Turning Leaves

Turning Leaves
Acrylic on Canvas Panel
8"x10"
Chris Breier © 2017

As I mentioned in yesterdays post, I had visited Lake Audubon on a calm day and the water was so still that it looked like a mirror. The sun was at a low angle so it was raking across the grass and the weeds in the foreground. When I encounter a scene like this, I take advantage of it and take lots of reference photos for future paintings! 

Autumn Reflections

Autumn Reflections
Acrylic on Canvas Panel
8"x10"
Chris Breier © 2017

I took the reference photo for this painting last fall on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately I had spent the majority of the day at a car dealership, but after late lunch I was able to take a walk at Lake Audubon. When we arrived, I was awestruck by fall foliage and the mirror like reflections of the water. I’ve never seen the surface of the lake so smooth and mirrorlike.

The original painting is available.

Country Boats

Country Boats
Watercolor and ink on paper
8"x10"
© 2017 Chris Breier

When you first glanced at this painting I bet you didn't notice the house peaking out between the trees in the background. While I was working on this painting, I daydreamed about what it would be like to live there. I could take the boat out on the lake on a hot summer day, and tend to the tomato patch in the backyard. Perhaps a fire pit would be nice for those cold summer nights. Someday...
The original painting is available.

The Pier

The Pier
Acrylic on Raymar canvas panel
8"x10" © Chris Breier

Painters often exclude distracting elements from paintings and in this case I left out the teenagers that were jumping their bikes into the lake. It was a creative yet dangerous way for them to cool off on a hot evening. They had set up a ramp at the end of the pier so they launch themselves into the water and try learning new flips and tricks. If a trick was unsuccessful they had to push the bike away so it wouldn't land on their heads. I, on the other hand, was eating popcorn while sitting on a park bench.

I considered including them in the painting but I realized the figures would be too small to be recognizable. What inspired me to paint this scene was the way the tree was lined up against the sunset. I realized I could paint the tree in silhouette so that it would become a strong graphic shape and create a nice contrast against the sunset. The original painting is available.

Creekview

Creekview
Watercolor on paper
8"x10"
Chris Breier © 2016

The original painting is for sale. I was walking down Main Street in Williamsville New York when I saw the scene and recognized it immediately as a watercolor painting. I lined up the handrail of the bridge so that points at the subject matter, which are the people dining inside the restaurant.

The wet into wet technique helped to create soft edges between color transitions. I also didn't want to have too many sharp edges, I only added detail to the focal point.

There is a time lapse video of me painting this on YouTube, please check it out and subscribe!