Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The Real Lesson



Back to Basics Class #2


The planned lesson this week was about defining 
and recognizing common painting vocabulary:

main source light / ambient light / cast shadows
 form shadows / shadow core / reflected light etc. 

I chose, what I thought would be a simple up 
for a quick demo. 


 I found myself in trouble right away, 
by making the shadow sides of the bananas way too dark. 
Then I noticed the reflected light off that red cloth 
actually made the bananas glow! 

As challenging as demos can be, 
they are great teaching and learning tools. 

Watching me struggle, figure it out, and make adjustments
was the real lesson here, I think. 
For all of us! 
















Monday, January 28, 2013

How Much Fussing?

I'm all "over the boards" subject wise, these days,  
just painting whatever comes my way.
While cleaning up files and organizing photos,
I found an image of my son and Cello from last summer. 


"I Got It!" 
6 x 8 

My intention was to 
 to keep it intuitive and loose,
without fussing too much. 

Big question is:
How much fussing is too much fussing? 

Friday, January 25, 2013

Staying Inside / Good Books

Four Poster
6 x 8 

I used this frigid day to stay inside
with a warmly lit interior. 

Having fun playing with paint, 
trying to get my groove back.
This is the best time of year for that!

Speaking of staying in;
I read two great books while away.
and
It's the pre-qual to The Glass Castle. 
Riveting story of her grandmother's life 
and how her mother was raised.
 

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Open Spaces

The South Street Gallery in Hingham, MA 
is hosting a show called 
"OPEN SPACES 
The Last Farms, Fields, and Meadows"
A portion of the painting sales will help support programs of the

Page's Field 
16 x 20 

I feel truly blessed to live in a place where open spaces abound
and am thrilled to be a part of this effort.
The Opening reception will be Friday Feb. 1. 

I enjoyed painting this mid-summer landscape while it 
was 5 degrees outside. 
I think that's why I worked on it so long  








Tuesday, January 22, 2013

I Love Teaching

Teaching is so good for me. 
It makes me organize my thoughts.
It makes me think on my feet. 
I get to interact with like minded folks.
And I learn so much! 

I started my six week Back to Basics class today 
and got all of the above in a big wonderful dose!

Session One: 
"Drawing for Painting"
I did a demo focussing on the position of objects 
 and their relationship with each other.  
And how to use your brush as a measuring tool.

I'd set up a life using objects from 
Note: 
Drawing simple spheres and blocks is not so simple. 
But once I got the drawing in, I was on a roll
 so it turned into a full blown discussion about value.
 That took the lesson much further than planned,  
so they only had 45 minutes to get to work. 
They dove right in with incredible results.  
Here are just two images of their work 
I managed to get with my I phone in all the excitement. 

   


This is going to be a great class.  
Tremendous enthusiasm and hidden talent.  
I'm inspired and energized again.
PHEW! 



Saturday, January 19, 2013

Hello again!

 I've just returned from a wonderful week away in a warm climate.   
As lucky and grateful as I am for this business trip we take every year,
I always feel a bit anxious about being away from the studio,
having just geared up again after the long holiday break!
I know. Poor me. 


I did this quick 6 x 8 sketch of Cello before I left.
Cello 
6 x 8 

I think I may have missed her more than the studio! 


Back to work for real now.
Back to Basics class starts Tuesday.
The Alzheimer gals on Wednesday.
Let's get 2013 started already!


Friday, January 11, 2013

Cupcakes, of course

Bing Cherry Cupcake 
6 x 6 
gallery wrapped canvas

I'll admit. 
I never  enjoy painting "to sell".
But in this case I really want to support the James Library 
so I'm digging in. 
And really?
These days, any painting is better than not painting
so I ended up enjoying this. 


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Dessert Paintings


Chocolate Cake 
8 x 8 

I went to Michaels and bought three gallery wrapped
canvas's for the "dessert" paintings I'm doing for
the Valentines event at the James Library in Feb.

I'd forgotten how thick the tooth is on these.
I chuckled all day
 thinking about Karin Jurick's recent description of
painting on canvas.
It's like buttering a cold waffle. 

Exactly!



Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Don't Try This at Home!

Painting chocolates is a lot more difficult than one would think.
How many shades of brown can there be? 

Box of Chocolates
8 x 8 

I put out all my "browns" and proceeded as if 
I was painting with chocolate! 
Dangerous, to say the least. 


NOTE: The James Library 
is hosting a Valentine Event on Friday February 8.
They have asked our GJWP group if we would do 
some themed paintings  
for display and sale that evening. 

  This is my first attempt

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Taking a Tub

 I couldn't get out of my own way today. 
A few wipers before I got what I was after.
(A Matisse-like pattern painting) 

"Taking a Tub" 
9 x 12 
 acrylic outline/ oil on board



Note: We recently stayed in a hotel room
 that had this awesome tub. 
Had to take a bath in it, 
then couldn't wait to paint it. 

Meanwhile. 
I just googled "taking a tub" and found this
Now I want to paint all of those tubs! 








Thursday, January 3, 2013

Paper White Finale


The traditional holiday Paper White bulbs,
"planted" right after Thanksgiving
are enjoying their final days.

Timed right, they bloom on Christmas morning  
making the house smell magically festive for the whole week.  



Paper White Finale 
9 x 12 

After packing and putting away everything "holiday",
I like to enjoy them in a sunny window
as the only decoration.

Bring on 2013!


Note: My pals over at GJWP 
did some awesome interiors last month 
for our Matisse challenge. 
They have inspired me so I'm thinking 
it's a wonderful time of the year to be warm inside
painting interiors! 




Tuesday, January 1, 2013

New Years Day

After all the hub bub of the holidays,  
we like to do nothing but relax at the beach to bring in the New Year. 
While on the couch reading the new Bon Appetite magazine 
I saw this ad and got inspired to paint. 

I had a small Winsor Newton watercolor set and  
my cool Isabey brush from france. 
Then I magically found 
eight small pre-cut  pieces of watercolor paper! 

 It was so fun to just play and
what a great way to relax! 
(and get geared up to get back to work in studio tomorrow!) 

"Statistically, we are not all the same"
eight 3" x 2" watercolors

Happy New Year one and all.
Can't wait to see what's going to happen next!