Austin Kleon

Thursday night, my friend and I went to
Trident Bookstore to hear
Austin Kleon
talk about his new book.   

Well, it's not really a book, but a journal! 

"It's jam packed with prompts and exercises 

that are geared to get you thinking more creatively. "

He was very entertaining, showed us samples of all kinds of journals,

and spoke a lot about why journaling is so important

during this technological age. 

Dang. 

Now everyone knows what they are getting for Christmas!

Drawing the Figure

There are numerous ways to accurately
describe the human figure.

My 20 minute demo for 

"proportions of the figure" exercise

for Monday class at NRAS. 

My three value study 

done for homework

at life drawing class 

Monday night.

No matter what method you use,

it's all about measuring and correcting.

And lots of practice!   

Teacher / Student

I did this quick study as part of an experiment 

for the class I'm taking at Mass Art. 

6 x 6 study 

For this approach, we use a "body bag" 

to determine the relationships of shapes. 

It's a bit confusing at first,

but I get why and how it works. 

I'm enjoying being a student again.  

I'm teaching three more sessions at NRAS this term 

and will take a bit of a sabbatical from teaching this winter. 

I want to enjoy being a student for awhile, 

and I think it will make me a better teacher.

I need new material. 

(And, I'm going to be Grandmother 

for the first time in a few weeks! )

Opening Reception tonight! (Friday)

My friend Page Pearson Railsback and I 

are hosting an opening reception for our art exhibit

"Two Friends / Two Views" 

tonight 9/25 from 6 - 8 pm at the  

Pratt Memorial Library 

Cohasset, MA 

"Bank On It" 

12 x 12 acrylic by 

Page Pearson Railsback 

"Colors of Summer"

20 x 20 oil 

by Nancy Colella 

Page and I met over 20 years ago, when I took a yoga class from her. 

At the time, she was an accomplished watercolorist and I was studying 

oil painting with John Kilroy at the North River Arts Society.

            Over the years, our friendship has evolved and grown, 

as have our paintings. 

Page’s work has been by inspired by many “colorists”; 

namely Roz Farbush, Cynthia Packard, Debenkorn and Matisse. 

Her focus has been on the affect colors had on each other. 

Meanwhile, I followed a more “tonalist”, representational approach 

to my paintings, inspired by many of the contemporary Plein Air painters 

such as Ken Auster, Charles Sovek, and Peggi Kroll Roberts, as well as Edward Hopper. 

My focus has been on establishing a strong value plan.

              As we took different paths on our artistic journeys, 

we learned a great deal from each other and our friendship flourished. 

Our mutual love of all things art, gardening, entertaining, traveling 

and just living life to the fullest, has been a gift to us both.

            The work in this show represents new work by both of us, 

depicting our different views on the world that surrounds us. 

The differences and similarities of the work demonstrate 

the subtle influences we have had on each other.

I hope you enjoy the show! 

Magic Happens

 You put a group of dynamic painters  

together for two days and magic happens. 

Our workshop this weekend at CCAA didn't disappoint!

A lot of sharing happened and I'm still processing it all.

A few demos...

20 minute 

Designing with three Values

limited stroke 

Upside down

No matter what level,
each painter interprets the exercises their way.

I think that's what excites me the most!

Slice of Green

It's rare to see lawn at the beach. 

This little slice of bright green caught my eye 

so I thought I'd build a painting around it.  

"Slice of Green" 

10 x 12 

Getting packed up and ready for the two day
"Expressive Painting from Photos" workshop 
I'm teaching on the Cape this weekend.

Looks like a great group.
Can't wait to see what they teach me!

Out of the Comfort Zone

Last week, I made it to Mass Art with 

plenty of time to park, get my ID and an iced coffee

before beginning my new foray in to painting. 

my last sketch done in class

20 minute pose 

There is nothing better than forcing yourself 

to go out of your comfort zone. 

It's humbling and enlightening!