Number 10? in the Alley Series

Late Spring in the Alley, 24x36, oil on canvas

Another alley has neared completion. Without taking an actual "head" count, I think this is #10. I have been waiting to post this painting until it was close to where I wanted it to be. I don't know that anything is "missing" but I have learned that any time I think a painting is done, I am majorly off base once I sit on it awhile. This piece has been sitting longer than most, and I did pick it up this weekend and do a few fiddly things with it.

Even though this scene is bright, it was an overcast morning where there was a diffuse light with no real cast shadows. This is called "local" tone in the vernacular. The reason being is that the "local" color of an object is not corrupted by light and shadow. Once you add a direct light source the real color of a thing is altered; So when you paint a local tone painting, the colors are more true and can have a saturated feel to them, especially if  wet as in after a rain.

What drew me to this scene initially was the catywampus-ness of the recycle bins mixed in with the dumpsters leading you down the alley to the blue Forester in the background. It just had a good flow to it. And then to compliment that was the yellow barn house and other yellowish houses and garage. I love the colors in this scene. The greens tie it all up in a nice way. Like it envelopes the alley with a feeling of freshness.