I just finished reading Landscape Painting by Asher B. Durand and Birge Harrison. Great read. It is a combination of letters written by both artists to their students, Durand's originally published in 1855, and Harrison's originally published in 1909.

The combined reprint edition was published in 2013 and I really enjoyed it. All this to tell you it led me down the rabbit hole of exploring Durand and Harrison's work, and I really loved this sketch by Harrison. It is so simple. I couldn't find a painted version so I don't know if he followed through with it or not, but I wanted to give it a try. For sure.

Here is my effort.

Moonlight Meadow, Beth Cole after Birge Harrison, Oil, 8 x 10

This study taught me a boatload. I started with a warm red underpainting to see how it would work, I like the bits of red showing through.

Values just win every time, don't they? Harrison's sketch wouldn't work unless the values were right. I really tried to create distance and depth and interest with color and values. It was a really fun one to paint and I think one of my favorites so far because it is so simple.

I have more favorites to paint and share in the coming months. I'm trying to balance painting these masters along with drawing every day and painting my own pieces as well. All good. I am grateful.

Thanks for taking a look!

--Beth
Soli Deo Gloria

Art + Such Blog by Beth Cole

Painting With the Masters - Birge Harrison