Happy New Year

Instead of making "resolutions" 

I like to set specific challenges and goals 

for the New Year. 

Both personally and artistically. 

Sudden Breeze

10 x 5 oil on carton board 

I snuck a few hours in the studio 

today and tackled one of my first artistic challenges; 

adding texture and working on edges.

This just got me more excited for the New year!  

"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. 

Because if you are making mistakes, you are making new things, 

trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, 

changing your world. 

You're doing things you've never done before, 

and more importantly,

 your doing something. "

Neil Gaiman 

Happy New Year

 and I'll see you in 2016.

 

Happy Holidays!

Our long term project for the semester was to do a painting from life,
working on it over many weeks.

I chose to do a self portrait

(so my subject would always be available.)

Self Portrait 

11 x 14 oil 

Painting yourself is an eye opening process,
and this is the final version after many attempts.
Looking at yourself in a mirror for hours on end
certainly leads to self-discovery!

"Are we to paint what's on the face, what's inside the face,
or what's behind it?"
Pablo Picasso


Happy Holidays everyone!
I'll see you in 2016!

Nico 

6 weeks old  

Last Class

Yesterday was our last class of the semester.

For homework, I did "copy" of 

Odalisque by Ingres 1814.

Note:  An Odalisque is a female slave 

or concubine in a Turkish harem. 

Who knew?  

This semester has been an extraordinary experience.

I am leaving with countless new ideas and insights, 

and I can't wait to see where it all takes me.

Catherine Kehoe 

is an amazing instructor. 

I'm going to miss the weekly challenges, 

the camaraderie, and sharing.  

I highly recommend taking a college level course.

Any where, any age! 

Path to Discovery

It's almost the end of the term 

and I'm happily seeing positive results!

  

. 

At first, I resisted the whole idea of doing a drawing using straight lines

and "a body bag" before painting the figure.  

I found it tedious and thought it would take away some of my 

"spontaneity".  

Now, I can see the benefits of slowing down 

to get the drawing correct by measuring.  

 That way, when I start to paint, 

I can focus on finding the correct colors and values. 

It's actually more freeing!

I've always wondered why some folks take classes/workshops

and resist doing the lessons presented. 

Letting go of preconceived "truths" 

is an essential path to discovery in painting! 

(And life in general, I think!) 

Copying an Old Master

Our homework this week was to "copy" 

a very detailed and complicated Old Master painting

using the fewest shapes possible.

My version of  Vermeer's "The Letter"
8 x 10 oil
(image shows inaccurate colors,
but you get the idea) ) 

The exercise is a great way to force yourself to
simplify and focus on the shapes
 in the correct colors and values.
I loved doing this.

The Head

It was great to be back in class today after 

a two week break. 

We are now working on the head.

Our goal was to break the motif down to 10 shapes. 

Head Study 

8 x 8  

These exercises are incredibly eye opening.

 Today I worked on skin tones. 

There are so many color combinations, 

and not many are "Barbie pink"!