Close to home
Posted: September 13, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized 14 CommentsI’ve been getting out to sketch and paint in my new neighbourhood, and in my old one too. The other day I spotted this yellow dumpster in Hudson. What would have been a very mundane scene on an overcast day was made a lot more interesting with the sunlight on the front of the dumpster. Someone asked me what I used for the shadow on yellow. I had some Payne’s Grey on my palette and I mixed that into some leftover yellow wash I had in the mixing well. That gave me the greenish dark that seemed to work for the shadow colour.
This morning I went back to the old neighbourhood and parked in my usual spot to look at the boats on the breakwater. I had my easel with me, but with dark clouds on the horizon I decided to paint from my car. It was no easy feat to balance a 12″ x 16″ block of paper on my lap. It’s probably the biggest size I’ve ever worked on in the car. I almost tipped over my palette a few times, I definitely splashed some Naples yellow on the steering wheel when I was painting the sky, and I had a near disaster when a wasp flew into the car. But happily I managed to finish it.
Well, that near disaster turned out to be a masterpice – very nice!!
Carol
Better than a dumpster fire, right?
What an exciting outing, which could have been just average. Now you have a story to tell! hee hee Well done – love the yellow dumpster 🙂
Thanks so much Lynn!
Love that you made an interesting painting out of the usually mundane!!!
Marlene, thank you!!
The sky over the breakwater and the trees are gorgeous!
Thanks so much!
Both are lovely. The yellow is sstriking. Never thought of using Paynes gray with yellow. I love the mood in the second one.
Judy, thanks for having a look.
Love the dumpster ptg. Those yellow and blues compliment each other.
Thanks Nancy.
I love when you paint the ordinary things in life…but find that little something that gives them a richness. Thanks for sharing.
Joan, thank YOU for always having a look and sending me a comment.