Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Series


Seeing a "thread" in my subject matter
as I explore more abstract approaches. 


Aerial View 
12 x 12 oil on canvas 

Coastal Living
12 x 12 oil on canvas 

I have a file of photos named
"abstract shapes" 
that I go to for ideas. 
I've noticed that the images of views 
from our beach house in summer  
seem to be grabbing my attention.  

A few more:

Summer Dreams 
12 x 12 oil on canvas 



Special Corner
10 x 8 oil on board 


Working in a series is a great way to explore a subject. 
using different approaches. 
Especially when it's not planned! 







Saturday, January 27, 2018

Wabi-Sabi


We have been talking about Wabi- Sabi in the 
Mark Daniel Nelson E course I'm taking.

I'm amazed that I have never heard of this Japanese aesthetic 
and I intend to learn more about it. 

"Wabi-sabi is a beauty of things 
imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.
It is a beauty of things modest and humble. 
 It is a beauty of things unconventional."


by Leonard Koren 


That works for me. 
I'm sensing that this way of looking at things 
will be influencing my paintings


Thursday, January 25, 2018

Complementary colors

This week in class we talked about complementary colors. 
We did a "kaleidoscope" exercise
 using two complementary colors plus white and black. 

First, we filled in spaces with 
each of the complementary colors right out of the tube. 
Then mix them together,
then add white and black to each and so on...
all spaces being filled with a different color. 

Cad scarlet and Cad green pale

Purple and Cad yellow


Then we painted a simple still life 
using complementary colors. 


It's a wonderful way to get 
beautiful neutrals and color harmony 
in our paintings. 

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

On Line Classes

I'm taking an e-course this month
with Mark Daniel Nelson.
We meet for an hour every Thursday and  
there is an assignment every week. 


"Coastal Living" 
12 x 12 oil

This week we were refocusing on 
three/four points of interest; 
(spots of sunlight, the dog bowl)  
as well as incorporating a
"big dumb shape".
(The purple deck) 

Fun! 



Monday, January 15, 2018

Back to Teaching!

It felt so good to be back teaching a two day 
"Intuitive Painting"workshop
at North River Arts Society this weekend.
I love that place.

It was a large group of mixed level painters,
so we attacked the basics on Day One.


Three Value Plan
Value to Color 
My demo 

Student work!

Limited Stroke 
(Surface quality) 

My 7 stroke demo
(with a mulligan) 




Student work
from a black and white photo. 
(his first oil painting!)  

Day Two:
Pattern Painting
We set up a large, busy, still life 
and everyone brought it objects.




We worked on zooming in with our I phones or I pads
to learn how to focus on shapes and colors. 
(No light and shadow) 





My demo



student work 
(she zoomed in on a pinecone and greenery 
in the orchid pot) 


I was so excited about the amazing work that was being created,  
I didn't get any other images.  

I'm newly inspired by the incredible
 sense of community
 and sharing of ideas
that happen during workshops.

Great work everyone.
It was a terrific weekend! 







Saturday, January 6, 2018

Working Larger from a Study

Exploring the limited pallet idea  
I did this larger version of the study posted previously. 



"Engaged" 
20 x 20 oil 


This was painted over another painting
so there is a lot of texture. 
I think the tonal pallet gives it a 
mid-century modern feel.



NOTE:
The 10 x 10 study:





Thursday, January 4, 2018

Jumping In


Jumping right in to the New Year;
 submitting work to Juried shows, 
prepping for class that starts next week 
("Intuitive Painting" 5 Tuesdays 9:30 - 12:30 
and experimenting with some quick figure studies.  

Playing with color... 


"Catching Up"
10 x 10 oil 

...and using a limited pallet;
black, white, Indian yellow, and burnt umber.  


Untitled 
12 x 12 oil 

Happy to be wearing my "artist" hat again.