Purple Iris Jul 4, 2016

 

A few friends joined me last week to paint in the backyard.

Like most artists, I spend many happy hours alone in quiet solitude.

But painting with others is an occasional treat that I really enjoy.

A collective creative energy develops to propel everyone forward together.

Like most artists, I’ll take all the help I can get.

Enjoy the video HERE

12X16
Watermedia on panel

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Comments Add Yours

  • Steve Gilzow says:

    Great to see the range of ages joining you. Wish I could have been there!

  • cynthia adams says:

    I am thrilled to have this on a major holiday! Didn’t expect it… Shared video is very inspiring also. Hope your 4th is wonderful…Cynthia

  • Patty Kenyon says:

    Love this!! Your painting and process are always so interesting to watch. And what a treat to see my Joe painting. Thanks for sharing.

    • Peter Huntoon says:

      Joe is a good man and great artist and I’m glad he could join us for a morning of art. Thanks Patty!

  • Patty Kenyon says:

    Meant to say my friend Joe! If you know Joe you know he only belongs to Mary! Sorry Mary and Joe. I’m sure they’ll have a good laugh over that faux pas.

  • Brian Dugan says:

    Great video. Thank you, as always, for my weekly dose of Vermont. Happy 4th of July.

  • Diane M. Rice says:

    Hello Peter I have you on Facebook , I watch you paint, I love to paint, I never had a lesson I study Mother Nature , I see today you have some people painting with you if you don’t mine I’d love to join you here at my apt. I’ll show you my painting when’s it’s done if it’s ok …..

  • Jane Phillips says:

    Loved your video & watching you develop your beautiful painting.
    Thank you,
    Jane

  • Jan Avery says:

    You made my day!

  • Brian Blaine says:

    Really enjoyed the video. I found myself hitting the pause button several times during the film to enjoy the “look” of the painting at various stages. The colors and abstract impressions were, in my opinion, especially nice around 4 minutes and 20 seconds or so into the video. A great foundation then progressed to a grand finish, but I would have been equally happy to frame and enjoy the earlier and more abstract version.

    • Peter Huntoon says:

      A strong start leads to a strong finish, and the opposite is also true. I’ve unintentionally tried to disprove this notion many times, unsuccessfully. Thanks Brian!

  • Lauren Riker says:

    Peter-So striking and fitting for the 4th of July with the hues of blue and standing tall. The iris is a favorite of mine and reminds me of my Mom, who resided in Rutland, VT for many years. Wonderfully done, yet again!

  • Your advice is BRILLIANT! Love it! A TRUE teacher! You encourage people to “do art” and “be art” according to what they FEEL….Love it! This IRIS is STUNNING!

    • Peter Huntoon says:

      I think when I “teach”, I’m simply reminding myself of what I consider to be important elements of art. I just talk out loud in case someone else wants to listen to my advice. Thanks Victoria!

  • Chris Edmunds says:

    I can’t thank you enough for ending my grand children’s two week Vermont vacation on such a high note. What we experienced will stand as the most unique and educational memory of the VT trip and to think it was all because of Mareva’s purple irises. Beautiful painting!!! You are so inspiring.

  • I am very curious about how a year of painting oils has influenced your watercolor. Are you famililiar with Robert Genn (deceased)? There is a chiseled approach to his work, as in your work, that I love….an exquisite dance of mark making indeed!

    • Peter Huntoon says:

      The two mediums definitely inform and influence each other Christine. From my perspective, which has some musical experience, I would make an anology like this. Jackson Browne is a great singer and song writer. His songs are heartfelt poetry and wonderful compositions. His voice is distinctive. If you were to see him in a solo concert he would play some songs on piano, and some on guitar. He could even play the same song on two different instruments, and they would still be great and distinctly his. To me, oil or watercolor is like choosing an instument. That choice is secondary to the primary goal of expressing yourself in a personal, authentic, beautiful way. Thanks Christine! And yes, I too love RG!

  • Debbie Megginson says:

    I loved watching you work with watercolors this week. I am curious about how opaque some parts appeared later in the painting. I paint in transparent w/c and am very intrigued by how you did this.

    • Peter Huntoon says:

      Thank you Debbie, yes I often add and use white gouache to my palette of transparent watercolor, integrating it throughout the process. It’s been a number years of experimentation and gradual evolution to come to my current approach. If you are looking for good How-To’s on combining transparent and opaque water media, I would point you in the direction of Steve Quiller…an old friend, great artist, and wonderful teacher. He has a number of excellent books and videos. Happy painting!

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