Is Lying Forgivable If You Are An Artist?

I think I am honest until I get a brush in my hand and then I have a tendency to stretch the truth. Here are two examples of my study's from class today.  First, the bushes I painted were really trees.  The field... well, it was really a cliff. And I trimmed almost all the branches off the focal tree.  
So I asked myself.  Is lying forgivable if you are an artist?

5X7 Oil with Brush on Canvas

6X6 Oil with Brush On Canvas

If so, I am going to adopt the saying, "You know I am lying when my brush is moving".

Take Me To Thee Park, Please

6x6 on Canvas

I painted with a fellow painter, Brenda, today at the park. What a gorgeous day. There was another painter who joined us from Indiana. She gave me a great tip on where to find a good smoked ham in Kentucky.
I complete two small studies, sat on the grass and ate lunch with my husband who dropped by and enjoyed the company of other painters. I will make these into larger paintings after I work out a few problems.

5x7 on Gessoboard

It's Windy Outside!

I went out to the American River to draw and paint after being inspired by Gruppe on Painting this morning. It was so windy and I have painted in worse conditions.  But... after I did several drawings, took pictures and I decided to head back home to paint. 
Here is my 6X6 oil painting today. I enjoyed painting this small piece because I kept it simple. I put a red oxide under painting and blocked in the darks and lights. I then worked with the bands of color. 

6X6 Oil on Canvas with Brush

Winter On The Oregon Coast

It has been beautiful weather on the Oregon coast this year. One of the driest I can remember in awhile. I spent a morning painting from one of my favorite spots with a other fellow painters. We all layered up as the wind was blowing but it was still gorgeous.
Here is my study. Most of the trees and brush had lost all of its leaves. It was a great challenge.

Portrait Practice

Friday means portrait practice.  I worked from a photo and I found it difficult since there was no strong light and shadow. That is why painting from a life model is good.

It's All About Light and Shadow

This was a great lesson yesterday with a live model. The palette was ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, transparent red oxide and white.
The lesson enforced what I have previous learned including that I will become more confident with more drawing experience.
To always compare the angles with the known.
Simplify by combining the lights and darks. Keep in mind the expression don't paint the fleas before the dog.
Stand back after a few strokes to see your progress.

Tight Squeeze

Here is a complete study of three pears in a bowl.  This was another difficult painting. The pears had plane changes and I had to keep comparing them to each other to get the color, temperature and value correct.  There was a slight change in the light of the bowl. Then the color bouncing into the bowl shadow has to remain in shadow but still show that reflective color.
I had to keep from overworking the pears by remembering to make slight changes NOT extreme changes when comparing.

Practice Makes More Need To Practice

I painted at open studio today and enjoyed the time. I am trying not to put too much detail on the portrait study, combine lights and darks, and see the warms and cools.
As always... art is hard.

9X12 Canvas Sheet and Oil with Brush

Here is my portrait study.