Confluence of Influence

"Kevin"

8 x 8 

I think this is a "confluence of influence".

Peggi Kroll Roberts, Ken Auster, and Charles Sovek, 

to name a few.

I'm "stealing" from my favorites!  

Another Beach Ride

I couldn't wait to try another
from the images I took of the Beach Riders.

Sunday Beach Ride 

16 x 20 

The composition is not as "edgy" as I'd like,

but I love painting this way. 

(Using a much bigger brush!) 

Note:

Check out what the Alzheimer patients did in class yesterday! 

Staying Outside as Long as We Can

We are determined to keep our Tuesday gatherings
outside as long as we can.
Today Christine graciously allowed us to paint
at her amazing French Country home in Milton.
(See how cool she is here!)

quick study for studio painting

8 x 10 

There was a sweet statue of a boy reading at the entrance 

that caught my eye, 

surrounded by all that late summer bright green. 

With this study, my sketches, and photos, 

I am hoping to do a larger version. (Or not.)

I'm just so happy to have been there today!  

Thank you Christine! 

Meanwhile, as recommended by fellow painter Nancy Hartley, 

I downloaded and read this book yesterday 

on my Kindle. 

Steal Like an Artist

10 things nobody told you about being creative

 by 

Austin Kleon 

Incredibly inspiring and practical.
A modern look at "new" truths about creativity.
Great great graphics....A MUST read for ANYONE who
 feels the urge to create something!
No kidding. Get this book!

Beach Ride

Last Sunday a Riding Club 

of nine young girls rode by on the beach.

Beach Ride 

16 x 20 

I took dozens of pictures

amazed at all the graphic shapes and 

strong shadows created by the late summer light.

I've been looking at the work of the 

Bay Area Figurative Expressionists lately.

Especially Dana Hooper. 

This amazing painting of hers got me thinking about 

how to keep things loose when painting larger. 

Taking risks with color and

"letting the strokes do the talking."  

Pattern Painting Exercise

Ever since I did that "pattern painting" this summer 

(after learning about if from a Peggi Kroll Roberts DVD)

I have wanted to try it as an exercise for my students.

The idea is to get them to think ONLY about design and composition
and to ignore any light and shadow pattern. 

It's just line and flat shapes arranged to make an

interesting "pattern".  

So for class yesterday, we set up this simple still life

(without a spot light)  

then did quick bold three value sketches first. 

This is key in planning what value to make the "local" color 

when filling in those shapes!

Only two of our gang were able to come yesterday, 

and they were good sports to try this out with me! 

Christine's simple big shapes look so Matisse- Van Gogh -like.

 I love it! 

This was a challenge for Paula 

as she likes to "blend" her strokes. 

She used lots of paint and got this great result! 

This is a totally different approach to painting than the one I teach,

and can be a real brain teaser! 

I think it is a valuable lesson though because 

 it forces you to THINK more ABSTRACTLY 

and for those of us who take things literally,  

that is a GOOD thing! 

Here are a few more I did from photos as experiments:

  

I Pad Play

I've been playing with the Brushes App on my I Pad. 

It's an awesome tool! 

Cherry Popsicles

12 x 12 

I used the image below as my reference for this, after I 

"painted" it over a photo on the I Pad 

using a large "brush".
(My finger) 

I eliminated all of the distracting details

and worked in just the big shapes in the right value.  

You can decide what to include and what to leave out ahead of time.
The possibilities are endless 

(and you can do it anywhere.)

Beach Bocce

Beach Bocce

8 x 10 

Painting this made me realize that the value of the sand 

at that time of the day 

is MUCH darker than you would think! 

It took me a while to get there.

FYI: 

Thanks to a little Goo Gone (for the back of the jeep) 

and baby wipes (for Cello's paws) 

all is fine after our "accident" the other day.

The paintings however, are history, 

which is probably a good thing.  

My plein air skills are pretty rusty! 

Sight Selection

We talked about sight selection and composition 

today at our first plein air gathering this season.  

An appropriate topic as we were gathered at my friends' beautiful property 

featuring out buildings, grape arbors, bird houses, 

raised beds, fences, tractors; you name it. 

A lot to choose from, but with our view finders, value sketches, and I phones

as aids, we were all off and running. 

Sue honed in on just one of the raised beds 

and did this gem!  

I can't post my demo or the other two paintings I did, 

because we had a little accident on the way home. 

I won't mention any names, 

but her initials are:

CELLO

Horribles Parade

A wonderful Labor Day tradition
at our small beach community is the  

"Horribles" Parade.

Families put together floats and kids get dressed up in costumes
and throw candy to the spectators. 

 There are antique cars, fire engines, and of course a local marching band. 

Who doesn't love a marching band?
I get choked up every time I hear one.  

Plymouth HS Marching Band

11 x 14 

I tried to highlight the strong horizontal and vertical darks

in this busy composition (for me).

 I'm not sure it works.  

I want to crop out the guys with the drums. 

They could be their own painting. 

May just try that.....next.    

TCB Days

I'm finally Taking Care of Business.

Getting ready for my 

Tuesday Morning Painting Sessions 

that start up again next week.

This is an informal gathering of three to five students. 

I present a challenge that we all work on together, 

learning from each other. 

It's very spontaneous and challenging

and I've missed it! 

I also updated my website! 

Added new paintings, news, and more!
www.nancycolella.com

Out of the Box

Our local North River Arts Society 

hosts an amazing event every late summer

called Out of the Box.

Members are given an 8 x 8 piece of foam core 

to create something that is 

"out of their comfort zone or not something they would normally do."

 I did this I Pad painting using the Brushes App. 

It's inspired by a print by George Xiong,

"A Summers Rest " 

The closing party is this Saturday where folks will find out 

whose work they bid on! 

Labor Day Weekend

 The "unofficial end of summer."

There is an air of melancholy at the beach as 

folks scramble to squeeze in all their favorite summer activities.

Gotta Have an Igloo

8 x 10 

I Got One!

8 x 8  8 

Even though I haven't had to go "back to school" for years now,

 I still have the urge to get organized, start fresh 

and buy new clothes right around now. 

Have a wonderful
"End of Summer"
Weekend!

Be sure to check out the "Girls Just Wanna Paint"
posts this month.
The challenge was "Music" this month.