Artist Spotlite – Donald Neff

Artist: Donald Neff

Title: “Winter Break”

Dimensions: 30×40

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Donald’s Comments : “I did a plein air at this same spot last winter looking in the opposite direction on the river. I saved this scene for a large studio work.”

Please leave any comments, critiques or words of encouragement in the comments box below. Thank You!

Tags: artist, artist spotlight, Artist Spotlite, donald neff, original art work, original artwork

Comments

67 Comments on "Artist Spotlite – Donald Neff"

Brenda on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:17 pm

Very beautiful. I love the warm browns in the centre of the painting. They really bring the focus inward and make the scene feel inviting rather than cold.

Ginger on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:19 pm

Oh wow.. so inviting… as I sit here sweltering in 90 degree heat, LOL.. it really is gorgeous.

Shakeh on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:24 pm

This is wonderful Great details and composition.

Tiffany Pacileo on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:25 pm

Beautiful execution, Donald! Masterful capture of the pines. The tone of the painting is very serene. You have captured warmth on a cold winter day.

Honor on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:25 pm

WOW!!! Great Job

Joanie on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:34 pm

Very nice painting … I like the effective use of lost and found edges.

Mary on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:34 pm

WOW!! What a breathtaking view! I gather this is either acrylic or oil. I’m just getting back to my watercolors myself and don’t really feel like I’m a good critic of other artists’ work. The only thing I might change is to add more contrast; especially in the center where it looks like the sun is hitting the water.

Great Painting!

Mary

Nick on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:39 pm

It’s amazing to feel the warmth of the painting even though you’re looking at a winter scene! Great job!

Gretchen M. on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:41 pm

Very beautiful painting! It almost looks like a photo.
I really would like to learn how to paint in acrylics on canvas.
I’m intimidated by the large white canvas. I read on your blog,
how you block in your colors so that you can see your value
changes better, and get rid of all the white. That is a great
suggestion. If I can work up my nerve to try something, I’m going to
do it that way. I loved all of your paintings. They really capture the
essance of the scene.

Bernie Rosage Jr on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:44 pm

Don… A very inviting scene… makes me wish I was there this very minute enjoying the solitude and breaking this heat wave! Masterfully done…

Kay on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 5:46 pm

Absolutely stunning! Beautifully captures warmth, beauty, and seasonal reality! Do you give lessons?

Saso on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 6:01 pm

It’s a beautiuful landscape, but you should use more variations of colours to the snow on the shore and make more contrast to create depth so the elements can look near or far.

Roger Cummiskey on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 6:14 pm

I like this one. Very picture postcardy.

wilma on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 6:27 pm

Beautiful, especially the water.

Mark Juby on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 6:28 pm

Fantastic job Donald. The teatment of the trees, the mountains and the water are all first class, but what makes the picture for me are the highlights on the snow, especially the one on the ridge in the foreground. You almost don’t see it, but eventually your eye is drawn to it.

Ingrid on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 6:28 pm

Very nice work! A good atmosphere has been captured and one can truly feel the cool moisture in the area. Only one tiny suggestion: In the water reflections, maybe break up the solid orange area next to the bank. Why? When I squint down to see this lovely painting through my eyes, this orange area in the water steals the show!

Lovely emotion and good painting!

Bernie on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 6:32 pm

Very nice and quite inviting…wish I had a cabin I could just drop right into…I love the way you handled the water.

Malcolm Tilley on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 6:40 pm

We can see through your eyes Imaginable beauty -as only your eyes perceived, with the actual reality.

To me it is the beauty of the swirling mist in the mountains,and the ice cold waters as they mirror all about, wending gently through this gorgeous scene..

I wish i had such a gift.

carolyn Bishop on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 6:48 pm

Beautiful work, Donald! I especially love how you’ve depicted the light on the water! Wow!

Terry on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 7:44 pm

Wonderful! I love how you painted your trees. They are so life like. The feel of this painting is just so inviting!

Katherine on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 8:11 pm

Really lovely work- I especially like the golds on the water- I would not have thought to use those tones, but it works perfectly! A lovely landscape.

Kay Price on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 8:12 pm

Very beautiful job!! It really does look like a photograph! Excellent details in the trees and the water! The light in the center is a wonderful contrast to the shadows, adding to the realism of the painting. I love it!!

wilma on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 8:27 pm

very nice painting, especially the water.

Jayne Cummins on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 9:27 pm

Fantastic painting, I live in New Zealand and we are experiencing weather like this at the moment. You have captured just the right amount of detail in the closer areas compared to the mountains. The way the light hits too makes it totally realistic and beautifully painted. Well done. Inspiring.
Jayne C

Wayne Cooper on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 10:31 pm

I really enjoy the way you have captured the feeling of the mid-season. That’s something all too evident up here in northern Ontario.
Lovely colours and i love the execution of the trees……not too much detail that would detract from the overall flow of the painting.
My only ‘off’ comment might be the reddish colours reflected in the water, which, while beautifully done, don’t really reflect what is on the shore unless ‘our ( your) view is lower down at the water’s edge.
I hope you aren’t offended by my observation…..it is many times beyond my ability and it is definitely a place I would love to visit.
I hope you will continue to submit paintings and I will definitely visit your site.
Thank you.

Jane Frederick on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 11:04 pm

Just beautiful. Reminds me of winter trips to Colorado. You really captured the cold wintry light. Well done.

Susan Dickens on Sat, 26th Jul 2008 11:13 pm

Love the water and the trees. Almost like a David Armstrong. glad to see such peaceful scenes on this blog.

Helen on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 12:14 am

Absolutely Beautiful!!

Lillian on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 12:40 am

You surely have captured the essence of that beautiful pristine setting. I am in no way an expert but I think you did a great job and there would be little room for improvement. I love the colours and the perception of distance. My eye is carried right through the painting right up to the blue in the sky.

Shirley on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 1:08 am

Wow, wonderful work. I like how you handled the light.
I agree with what was suggested for the orange reflection in the water.
Good work.

Valerie Sasaki on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 1:25 am

Beautiful, I can hear the running water and the wind in the trees. Great colors. You captured a wonderful scene and made it your own.

Monette on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 1:27 am

Beautiful, beautiful! The painting radiates peace while intimating the power and majesty of Nature!

Alan on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 1:42 am

One of the nicest and realistic scenes of mountain woods I’ve seen. The colors are pleasing and natural as if you were standing
there. The water makes you want to go over and get a drink.

Neil on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 5:08 am

As someone who has only connected with the art world recently I sometime feel inadequate to comment. But I just love the way you have captured the beauty of the season, it certainly draws the viewer into the scene. Awesome!

Joy McKenzie on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 6:27 am

The is a brilliant painting I love everything about it…great job…well done.
Joy in Australia

Dorothy on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 8:17 am

first may i say thank you for sending your painting for us to veiw,i found it a very calming veiw.well painted,and composed.

Gert on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 8:23 am

Fabulous atmosphere and colors. I would have preferred more of a distance between the tops of the trees and the tops of the mountains though; but the overall impression is truly stunning!

Jne Smith on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 11:51 am

Donald – your my kind of guy – absolutely amazing – I am going to print this and try to practise the water – I mentioned in my letter to Tammy this is my key problem
If I can find someone to take some photos of my work and put them on a CD – I will send some work
Right now I do not know anyone – thank you so much for sending your painting in — I love the entire painting but it is the water that got me
June

Rod Llacer, Jr. on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 1:34 pm

Breath taking, captivating, and wow, beautifully crafted. I’ve never been to a place where there is snow, but you certainly made me feel it’s not that cold the way you put warmth in this painting. Great painting, I really love it!

John on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 2:14 pm

I have spent alot of time in the woods and this is so real looking. Especially the dead tree leaning over on the others.

Rollin on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 3:02 pm

Very beautiful work

I also love the warm tones in the middle. Very peaceful and gives a great representation of solitude. Thanks for sharing this work.

Cindi Picou on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 3:02 pm

this is a lovely scene – I can hear the water rushing past. The way you handled the snow is great.

from videotron.ca' rel='external nofollow' class='url'>Jeannine on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 3:48 pm

Hi Donald! Wow! this is a very believable painting! As the others have mentionned: the warmth of this end-of-winter day is wonderful! I love your trees; such detail. The water with it’s reflections is great!!! The mountains are very real looking!
Thank you for sharing your work!

Mary Ann on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 5:02 pm

this is really well done.

Paul McCall on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 6:05 pm

Very good work, it puts me in early spring. Trees are still bare water is running, patches of bare ground it gives off a cool feeling of rebirth and that you are serious about your work. Thank you for allowing my critique.

Amanda on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 8:09 pm

Beautiful work Donald! ………the clarity and detail are excellent and you obviously have a great eye for light. I liked your work very much. You are a talented painter. Inspiring!

Flossie on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 10:12 pm

This is a fantastic painting . The browns bring it to reality
Great work

Jan on Sun, 27th Jul 2008 10:38 pm

The painting is beautiful. It gives the chance for us to visit the river with you. I read the other comment about two much brown in the middle of the painting. I thought it was a muddy area of the river. What ever- it is a beautiful and very believabe river scene. I appreciate the opportunity to see it Keep up the good work

Mary on Mon, 28th Jul 2008 12:34 am

I throughly enjoyed your scene, it is something I would love to have in my home. Awsome.

Oregon Joe on Mon, 28th Jul 2008 12:41 am

This is Beautiful! Wonder what it would look like done Water Color?

David on Mon, 28th Jul 2008 6:17 am

Apart from your painting skill, what keeps me looking at this painting is – the tree starting to fall on the left, it keeps my eye circulating from the river to the mountains and back again.

Soroya on Mon, 28th Jul 2008 9:38 am

Dearest Donald thank you for sharing this awesome piece I am a lover of the mountains and your painting took me back to some very fond memories. I especially loved the tranquil earth tones and the orangey bit in the water as it made me feel that truly there was a lot more than meets the eye. I was also totally impressed with your web site and look forward to taking my time and looking at more of your art. My art is not at all realism, I paint mostly modernistic or surreal, So your work is one of great appreciation to me. God bless, thanks again for sharing

susan on Mon, 28th Jul 2008 4:22 pm

You certainly have much talent. You have captured the essense of the scene beautifully. I strive to be as good as you one day.

Julie Blight on Tue, 29th Jul 2008 2:51 am

Wow … Donald I love your painting.
I live in the Australian Never-Never where it is always hot and dry and your painting made me feel so cool, the colours are just beautiful.

Donald Neff on Tue, 29th Jul 2008 4:34 am

Just thought I would respond to some of the posts.

First of all, I am overwhelmed by all the wonderful comments on the painting. I truly appreciate all of you giving your comments, including the constructive ones.

One item which many seem to mention is the bright sienna/orange in the water lit by the sun. This is a shallow part of the Merced River as it winds through Yosemite Valley, and actually in real life it can get even brighter! I don’t have an online photo of this exact spot, but if you want to look at my weblog during that trip (Februrary 2008) , there are similar photos–

http://www.donaldneff.com/blog/
(then page to or click on February 2008)

Or here is a direct reference to one of the photos–

http://www.donaldneff.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/yosday2a.jpg

Once again, thanks for the response!

Dr. Derek P. Blake on Tue, 29th Jul 2008 3:18 pm

A very pleasing picture with good natural foliage and mountains, however the river water looks rather muddy, this may be intended but one’s mind looks foe crystal water. Generally a picture I would hang on my office wall.

Lori on Tue, 29th Jul 2008 3:32 pm

Love the reflections in the water. Also the depth, it’s a very serene painting.

Pat on Wed, 30th Jul 2008 9:36 am

Donald,

Beautiful, crisp and clear. I want to be there.

Patricia

james moxey on Fri, 1st Aug 2008 11:39 am

Masterfull!Your technique is admirable, everything is perfect, envy, envy!!Congrats!

sana on Fri, 1st Aug 2008 6:33 pm

It is really a great and amazing work ,you do not need encouragement because you are a real artist

sana on Fri, 1st Aug 2008 6:40 pm

i am from Iraq God bless you

karen on Fri, 15th Aug 2008 8:19 pm

if I had just stepped outside and saw this scene, I would have stood in awe. I feel the peace, I see the colors that God painted just for me to enjoy. Good work, keep paionting

karen on Fri, 15th Aug 2008 8:26 pm

If I had just stepped outside and saw this scene I would have stood in awe. I fell the peace, I see the colors that God painted just for me to enjoy. Good work, keep painting.

Brooke Young on Tue, 26th Aug 2008 11:32 am