Mt. St. Helena rises above the Napa Valley floor just north of Calistoga. This field is part of an old farm called The Yellow Rose, on the upper edge of town. Every year the field is filled with mustard flowers, and the winter vines of the vineyard behind them looks vaguely purpley. I've painted it before, in a different, cooler, palette, and a very different size - 36"x48", in contrast to this small 8"x10" painting on panel. Mustard and Mt. St. Helena is another one of the small paintings on panels I'm working on for my show at Taste of Yountville in three weeks. I begin with the basic composition, then with blocking in the large areas of color. It's a process of painting successive layers of color, with each layer underneath influencing what's on top of it, and breaking down the large areas into smaller and smaller levels of detail with each layer. One of the things I appreciate about painting with acrylics is that its quicker drying process makes layering so wonderful, and enables me to leave bits and pieces of the painting underneath, as I continue painting new layers. There's still more to come!
3 Comments
12/8/2024 07:10:24 pm
Thank you for sharing the behind-the-scenes look at Mustard and Mt. St. Helena. It’s fascinating to read about your creative process and the inspiration behind the piece. I love how you incorporate both the natural landscape and personal elements into your work. The connection between the mustard and the mountain feels so rich with symbolism.
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Karen Lynn Ingalls
12/9/2024 11:47:09 am
Thank you so much, Daryl! I'm glad you enjoy the journey… I love seeing the process, each artist takes as they create their work, and I enjoyed doing that in my blog.
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Karen Lynn Ingalls
12/9/2024 11:56:58 am
Ahhh... I DID indeed write about the final stages of the process of this painting, but it took a few months before that process was completed! I remember many variations it went through, but I'd forgotten how drawn out the process was.
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Karen Lynn IngallsI am an artist in Napa and Sonoma Counties, in California. I paint colorist landscapes of rural California, teach art classes and lessons, and live in Calistoga, California. I also teach private, group, and corporate art workshops in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and other parts of Northern California. Archives
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