The Triple Treat.

"Snowy Day at Sponds"

By James Swanson / Traveler Angela

14" x 18"

"Waltham Farm"

By James Swanson / Traveler Angela

12" x 16"oil on canvas

"Green Valley Shack"

By James Swanson / Traveler Angela

10" x 20" oil on canvas

Sometimes you come across something to good to be true, in the case of our next Traveler. 

Our Friend traveler Angela and walking pal Bailey.

Traveler Angela from the UK has been featured once before here for the Artist and the Traveler, but this time instead of showing just 1 painting from one of here great walks, James will be showing three. 

Angela's photo  that was used for the painting.

 Traveler Painting "Waltham Farm" Finding inspiration is one of the hardest things for an artist. Finding something that interests you and motivates you to not just start an image, but to finish it. Traveler Angela's photo albums have inspired 4 paintings for this project so far. The first one was Hay Day at Waltham which was painted earlier. Here are the other 3. First one up "Waltham Farm".

The sketch on canvas-
What I liked about Angela's photo was this big empty coldness.
In my design for the painting I  wanted to capture that same feeling.

I went for big snow instead of a big sky for the painting.
 I wanted to have some fun with the snow. 

Traveler Tale from Angela on the farm she past: Yes, it was but it's been empty for a long time. We expect it to be being renovated every time we pass, although it's quite a long way from the road & amp; doesn't seem to have an access track.

With the buildings blocked in the sky needed to be addressed.
It was a good time to paint it in with the  area underneath it wet.
It made for easy soft edges, which help create depth.

With the sky in, all that's left to fill in is the snow
and the painting will be blocked-in.

It really getting there now. just a few more details and clean up.

Done.  A few of the windows were put in and the sky was cleaned up

Details from the painting.

"Waltham Farm"
By James Swanson / Traveler Angela
12" x 16"

I started the painting off with a large canvas knowing that later
I would cut the canvas down to a different size.
With the sketch drawn in the dark colors were painted in.

 Traveler Painting:" Green Valley Shack"Our friend Angela was on another one of her wonderful walks for this next one. I came across this next project painting while painting the above painting Waltham Farm.

Next the greens were put in.
I wanted these colors laid in now before
 I paint in the lighter snow colors.

Next the sky is painted in.
The sky needed to be painted in because all the
cool  colors  coming up next need to work with it.

The snow colors are next to be added.
 I like to getting the lightest light color in about 
here in a painting. It's far enough along 
to help judging them other colors next to it.

Alright, it's all blocked in and the details are next to be added.

I painted this painting with the option to re size it to where
I wanted it in the end.

Done. I moved some snow around, 
added a few small details to the pen and cleaned up the sky

"Green Valley Shack"
By James Swanson / Traveler Angela
10" x 20" oil

This last painting in fact was one of the first paintings that I ever attempted of Traveler Angela's. I just never got around to doing the blog for it. 

At this point this painting has sat for over a year waiting for the inspiration to finish it.

Done, Finally after painting a few others from Angela I saw what needed to be done to finish this painting. Adding the house she past by helped give some weight to the right side that was missing. The sky also was too dark and bright.

"Snowy Day at Sponds"
By James Swanson / Traveler Angela
14" x 18"
Three paintings for the price of one on this one. Traveler Angela has really been very kind to this project with the use of her photos. As a thanks she will be receiving this last painting in the mail when it is totally dry. Thanks Angela!!!

If you or someone you know has been to some place interesting and have a story to tell contact the artist Jim Swanson here or at the website www.theartistandthetraveler.org
I'm in the mood for some more snow, so our next Traveler will be from North Dakota. Until then keep on the straight and narrow.