A couple weeks in the Bay Area, 9 x 12, oil by Ron Donoughe

What a nice change to experience crisp light and shadow after being enveloped by damp gray! I'm doing two paintings a day while I stay here. The change pushes my palette in a new direction. Or is it that sweet smell of the smoke on the streets of Haight/Ashbury where I'm staying?

Two seasons, same place, 9 x 12, oil by Ron Donoughe

These two small studies were painted from the exact location two months apart. I revisited this place to see what the lake looked like in winter. I just estimated the composition because I didn't have the autumn painting with me, but it is surprisingly close. The coldness of winter affects how I feel when painting, just as a warm sunny does. The austere day we had here on Sunday is reflected in the bottom piece. It is an interesting contrast, not just color, but emotion.

Outcropping, 8 x 10, oil, by Ron Donoughe

The forest is very austere this time of year. (I'm patiently waiting for a beautiful white blanket to appear.) These rock ledges caught my attention while on a hike last week. They are quite beautiful once you stop to observe them. Painting on location gives me an opportunity to enjoy the free gifts nature offers.

Drained, 36 x 60, by Ron Donoughe

There have been so many great postings lately and I regret not commenting on them! The autumn season is crazy busy. Most of you can probably relate.

The small study for this painting was done on Wednesday morning and the big canvas was done yesterday morning. I started it at sunrise and finished around 11am. I really liked the shadowed mud in the foreground. The lake was being drained and this caused a pattern of watery ruts. I love to get set up while it is still dark and wait for the sun to creep up into the scene.

Morning Light, 11 x 14, by Ron Donoughe

A simple house portrait painted in morning light. Someone stopped to give me a cold can of soda. That surprised me. A nice gesture from a total stranger can really lift your spirits while painting on location. I've had plenty of scary events as well over the years. One guy said he had me in his gun scope because he thought I was surveying his property.

Morning Walk, 9 x 12, by Ron Donoughe

This is typical of the alley ways near my house and studio. I've always liked them but only recently started doing an entire series of paintings. These new pieces get to the essence of city life. I especially enjoy describing the texture and shapes as they recede in the distance.

Red Barn Arts Workshop by Ron Donoughe

That's weird. I was just posting a photo of Julie working on a painting from the workshop. Claire Carnell and Julie Riker were both doing nice work the entire weekend. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed the magnificent landscape of Wellsboro, PA.

Here is the demo I did on Saturday morning.

A few more images from the weekend.

Fuel Storage, 9 x 12, oil by Ron Donoughe

I just got back from the Plein Air Easton event. It was a pretty big deal with 58 painters from across the United States. Going in I didn't think it would be my "cup of tea". Well to put it mildly it was an amazing event. The caliber of work was extremely high and the folks I met were all very nice. It is a highly organized event and the folks that run it are determined to make the artists feel special. They did indeed. I won honorable mention for Fuel Storage.

If anyone is interested I'll be teaching a 3 day workshop in Wellsboro, PA, Aug 10 - 12. I believe Julie and Claire are joining me. Should be fun. Maybe I'll learn something from them!
It is at Red Barn Arts,
http://redbarnarts.wordpress.com/home/workshops/

Contrast of City/Country, 6 x 8, oil by Ron Donoughe

I did these both on evenings last week. The top painting is the vista from my studio building's third floor. The bottom is the yard in Loretto. I grew up here and own the house with my twin brother. The contrast between my city studio and country home is great. The journey of 90 miles seems worth it every time.

Seine Reflections, 8 x 10, oil by Ron Donoughe

Last year I finally got to Paris. While there I felt too overwhelmed to paint. I was recently asked to donate a painting to the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and The Alliance Française de Pittsburgh 5th Annual Bastille Day Celebration auction. So it was a good excuse to go through my photos and make this little sketch. And reflect upon the trip, thus the title.

Garbage Cans, 24 x 30, by Ron Donoughe

It is always fun to check out what people put out for trash, especially on bulk pickup day. I've done my share of dumpster diving. I've painted this alley before in winter so it felt good to warm it up on this piece.

Rt 22 April Snow by Ron Donoughe

Last weekend we got about 7 inches of snow in Cambria County. That's pretty freakish for late April. On my way back to Pittsburgh I couldn't resist stopping to enjoy the subtle beauty of the lightly tinted landscape.

If anyone is interested,  I'll be offering a 3-day workshop in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, August 10-12. I've never been there but it looks like a charming town with lots of Victorian architecture.
http://redbarnarts.wordpress.com/home/workshops/

Fisk, 30x40, oil on linen, Ron Donoughe

This one was a struggle to enlarge from a 9x12. I wanted to get the feeling of warm light at the last moments of the day. This location is just around the corner from my studio. The building that is barely visible at the back is the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Lawrenceville branch. It was one of his 2,811 free libraries, built in 1898.

Interview with Ron Donoughe by Taryn Day

I'm going to start conducting monthly interviews on my blog with painters I admire. My first subject was Ron Donoughe. I'm not sure whether I should post the entire interview on this site, but here is the link:
http://www.awakeandpainting.blogspot.com/2012/04/interview-with-ron-donoughe.html

Fisk, 9 x 12, oil on panel by Ron Donoughe

This little study is now being made into a 30 x 40. I'll post the completed larger piece later this week. My drawing group, which has been meeting for 26 years every other Monday night, gave meet a critique of this one. They mostly liked it. A few thought the sky could be a tad lighter.

Shearing Time, 16 x 20, oil on panel, Ron Donoughe

Apparently another painter loves sheep. Taryn just posted another great one, which makes me reluctant to  post this but I actually did this today. They are such funny creatures.

Got some nice news, I'll be in the Easton Plein Air Competition and Arts Festival.
For more information visit www.pleinaireaston.com

Last Days of Steel, 50 x 68, Ron Donoughe

This is the last painting I'm doing for the Johnstown exhibition. I titled it, Last Days of Steel because it was painted from rare film footage shot in the mill before it closed. It was a complete happenstance that I met Greg from The Magic Lantern. His small multimedia company is located about 200 feet from my studio. It was there I sat down with an editor and selected the frames that would be my source. The original painting is 4 x 6 feet, oil on linen. I'm having limited edition prints made for the Johnstown exhibition. I also set up a business page on Facebook. Check it out. I'm posting some process oriented photos on it.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ron-Donoughe/246041748821953

Staple Bend Tunnel, 9 x 12, Ron Donoughe

Over the last 15 months I've done about 60 small plein air paintings of Johnstown. Most were done while standing next to my truck. This one required a bit more effort. It was a 2-mile walk from the parking area, which meant carrying my supplies 4 miles to do this. This tunnel, just 4 miles east of Johnstown, was the first railroad tunnel built in the United States. It was constructed between 1831-34 and is 900 feet long.
The exhibition, Scenes of Johnstown and Cambria County opens April 14.

Champagne Lane, 30 x 40, Ron Donoughe

I'm having an exhibition in Johnstown, April 14. It will feature about 65 paintings from the last 15 months. I think of it as a portrait of the rust belt city. The above painting is Luzerne Street, actually in Westmont. It is the last cathedral-arched boulevard left in the United States. There are 195 elms, the longest continuous stand of American Elms in the country, planted along the street. I call it Champagne Lane because, not only is a lovely street, an elm tree has a champagne glass shape to it.

Lights On, 8 x 10, Ron Donoughe

On a walk the other night I noticed this scene, which is a little different for me. One of my favorite times of the day is when the sun goes down and there is still enough ambient light to see. It about this time some interior lights come on, giving spots of warmth to the overall darkened cool landscape. I painted it from a very grainy iphone pic and memory when I returned to my studio.