True Pleasure

8"x10" oil

I understand our arctic temperatures are going to reach seasonal norms tomorrow.  Yeah!  That means 20-30 degrees which sounds down right balmy to me right now!  And...we are going to have sunshine to-boot!  In celebration I decided to paint this picture which was inspired by a photo I saw a long time ago in a newspaper.  There were several kids in the photo, but I thought this expression told the whole story.  We should all find this much pleasure in the simple things!

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Siesta oil 8"x10" #306

I have learned a bunch of new things which I am trying to apply in an accurate way. One of those is about photographing my work. There are some improvements but the colors aren't quite right as I was trying to compensate for a washed out look the photo had. I need to try a couple of different set-ups until I come up with one that really works. I painted on stretched canvas for this workshop and I realized that I really prefer smooth panels. I have never tried linen panels....maybe I will like those. The texture is the problem for me. I worked on creating more mystery and toning down my colors in all but the focal point. This was a lot harder for me than I would have thought. I really am drawn to very saturated colors, but I understand how this can be overwhelming. I was in a Mexican restaurant decorated with really saturated oranges browns and earthy greens. A woman came in who had on royal blue pants, a bright red shirt and magenta/purple hair. I suddenly realized why such saturated colors in abundance can be an assault on your sensitivities! I shared a still-life set-up with Grace, a beautiful lady and painter from Arizona. We were matched well, but in sharing the still-life there were compensations to be made. I didn't get the placement right and our lighting wasn't great for this one but we both learned a lot in the process.

Mud Season oil abstract 8"x10" #262

I really felt like doing an abstract today. Vermont's unique spring season is referred to as "Mud Season" so that is my inspiration. It is a landscape of sorts dominated by the colors of mud but with the hope of spring popping through.

15 minute pose II oil 8x10" #238

This is another quick pose. I see there is a glare on the photo. I don't usually paint on canvas board which is what this is. I, like so many other daily painters, like gesso board or a similar slick surface. There is something to be said about trying different effects, surfaces, colors, brushes, etc. I also painted these with a very thin purple underpainting instead of the usual black or red that I use. Yesterday I took a new lift to the terrain park when I was skiing. The lift is the oldest three person lift in the state and is pretty jerky. It doesn't take much to throw me off, and although I did fine, my nerves were on edge the whole time. This is what it is like for me when my "usual" conditions are challenged in painting.

15 Minute Pose oil 8"x10" #237

Belinda del Pesco posted this today: "Painter Gerald Brommer says you have to paint a minimum of three days a week just to keep from getting worse." That is motivation! I am a newer skier and although I am approaching 60 and not a big athlete, I know that I have to get out a couple of hours almost every day to keep my rhythm and courage, especially when I have half the year when I can't do it. Next year when I go out again it will take me a couple of weeks before I start to feel comfortable on the slopes. That is the way it is with drawing and painting. It is a bit like riding a bike in that you don't forget, but it takes practice to keep the rhythm and there will still be failures, but they will be wrapped in a lot of successes. I have really busy Thursdays so I don't get to paint until the evening when I meet with other artists and a model. It is mostly short poses and a lot of drawing, but I try to do a couple of really quick oil sketches so that I can get better at them. Even though they don't take much time, they take a lot of effort, quick thinking and fast movement. Sometimes I get something exciting and sometimes it is just a hot mess!

Candida 8"x10" oil sketch #114

I follow a number of blogs that painters produce. One of them is Dana Cooper (danacooperfineart.blogspot.com) who has been taking a workshop with Carolyn Anderson (carolynanderson.com). Carolyn's work is very fresh and understated. Her brushstrokes are exciting and thinly applied and she captures the essence of the subject in her work. I worked to smooth everything out in this painting of Candida. She looks separate from the board. I am always asking myself how far to go with the quick oil sketches. Someone in our live drawing session said she thought my work looked unfinished. My husband likes this one because he also likes a finished look. I don't really feel that way. How much do you need to say? There is such beauty in seeing an image barely immerge from a canvas, like someone coming out of a fog. There is a real connection with the process...the brush strokes and the paint. I am going to think about this when I go to the Chaffee on Thursday.

Sunday On Wall Street

Wall Street scene which has been de-cluttered. Actually there are many flags hanging and the buildings have more detail and there were lots more people. So, I am calling this Sunday on Wall Street. It is a quieter version of Wall Street. #34

Deep Discussion

This is another Friday Nite Live snapshot of three peaple in deep discussion in front of the Book King. I like how they are holding their hands in interesting positions. #33