Class Study Begins

Here is a new class study. It took me a while to get the drawing on the board. I still struggle with ellipses but I can tell when they are wrong.
I can't wait to see the progress on this study. It is more difficult but a good one. I like the composition, too.

Contour and Flower

I worked on a loose contour drawing today with my sharpie just to relax and draw. I added some highlights to an oil and I worked on seeing simple shapes in a flower. No, two stage painting today. I couldn't find two hours today after visiting my son, the gym, church and taking care of the house. I did find time to draw and, later, paint for an hour.
Tomorrow is another day. I can't wait.

About Done

Here is color study that I continued to work on. I think it is almost done.
Here are the stages.

Thrift Store Score

Here are the pieces I picked up on my thrift store score. I shop the half off days and this it what I found. Small blue bottle, a flower in resign in clear, round, glass vase, a nice oriental pottery vase and a beautiful black pitcher with lid.
You can't see me right now but I am dancing to the music in my head.

Three down and Forty Seven to Go

Here is today's stage 2 study. I went thrift store shopping to get a few more items for my still life studies.
This is a poppy in a bottle with a pear.
Fun.

My ezPort Arrived!

I saw oil painting artists with the ezPort carriers and I had to have one. Why? My paints slide all over the place in my car. It wasn't a problem at first because I was using my large plastic paint tray. Now that I don't have an extra paint tray, I have wet paintings all over the place.
With the ezPort, I won't have such a problem. I bought the 12X16 Wet Penal Carrier from Artwork Essentials because you can store different size panels in it. I needed on for 11X14, 9X12 and 8X10. I ordered it early Thursday morning and it arrive by 9:15 AM Saturday. I am thrilled.
I can even store my brush washer in it!
Click HERE for their website or go to http://www.artworkessentials.com/

The First Two of Stage Two - Forty Eight to Go!

I am working with studies taking them to stage two of the process I am learning at the School of Light and Color in Fair Oaks with Susan Sarback.
Here are two of today's studies. The study with the blocks was painted while it was overcast so I didn't put shadows. I started everything cool but the orange. I will ask if that it correct next time I am in class.
The sun started to come out so I setup another study because I decided after I waited for the clouds, again, that it was going to remain sunny. No - that it not a complaint. I am always glad to see the sun.
I set up a second study with a cobalt vase and an orange.
Both of these studies are to be done quickly and constantly comparing the light and dark, warm and cool, bright and dull. Great exercises.

Drawing Class Today

I decided to work on a value study today in class. This will be a ongoing process for me because I need to train my eye to see the differences in plane changes and values. I also need to improve my drawing skills.
I worked on newspaper print using charcoal and a white conte crayon. I also add notes to it as I work.
I included a close up of the work. The bottles are straight. I just take pictures crooked.

Priming for Studies

I was priming over my old studies with primer paint to start my 50 stage 2 studies.
I found it messier than gesso so I painted over a few studies. The boards that I have that are blank on one side I gessoed.

Good Goals After the Color Intensity Workshop with Susan Sarback

Here is a great goal from the Color Intensity Workshop. Paint at least 50 stage 2 paintings. So, that is what I will be doing for the next month.
I love stage 2.
Here is an example. BTW - there isn't a camera made that will ever pick up the true color of these studies and paintings.

Catching Up On My Picture Posts

Here is the completed study of a rose in a jar. I love it.

Painting and Study - I fixed my reader card problem

Okay - I was able to fix my reader card problem to post my painting and study from the Color Intensity Workshop. After critique, I was told to work on more peripheral studies.
Oh - and the workshop was incredible.

Still Working On Paintings

I am working on an oil painting of objects cropped very close and large in the workshop I am taking, the Color Intensity workshop. Sorry no pictures. I am still forget to take pictures before the sun goes down. In the meantime, the Color Intensity workshop at the School of Light and Color has been outstanding. The instruction by Susan Sarback and the hard working classmates has made it an incredible experience.
It was only offered once this year but if you want to start to learn color, this is the workshop you should take.

Conquering My Fear of Flowers

I don't have enough light to post my finished painting tonight but I will tomorrow. Boy, I struggle with those flowers. I like how the vase, bottle and shell came out but those flowers... they are a challenge.
I will learn how to see the color and light of those complex beautiful objects called flowers.
Basically, it take 95 percent hard work and 5 percent talent.

Almost to the Finish Line

Here is the painting I am almost done with. It needs to be taken to stage 4. I will need to emphasize the focal point and adjust the colors.

Freshening my Paint

I always use a clean paint palette each time I start a new day. I like to keep it clean so I can mix my paints. So, while I was changing out the paper and freshening the paints, I took a picture of stage 2 of today's painting.
Oh - I keep it all in the freezer. The paint palette and the painting. That is why it was good time to take a picture and post it.

Color Intensive Workshop

I am taking the Color Intensive Workshop at the School of Light and Color in Fair Oaks, California. I took this last year and was encouraged to take it, again. Each time you take the workshop, you will hear and learn something new regardless of your experience. I highly recommend this workshop.
I am currently working on a painting that I took to stage 2 today. It was very difficult because the values were so similar with the flowers, the vase in the light and the background color. I, also, have to be careful with top of the shell and the tablecloth. The shell needs to be darker in the light.
Well, I am happy and exhausted at the same time.
I will post the picture later.

New Year's Resolution to Practice Flowers

I took an half an hour to practice flowers today in between preparing dinner, laundry, entertaining the cat and finding time to eat.

Perspective Drawing of a Church

Here is a drawing I did in class today of a church. There were several parts of the building that offered me a chance to see 4 point perspectives. I drew the horizon line in first and then carefully measured the shapes using my pencil as a tool.
I enjoyed the drawing. It is getting easier to do this type of subject. Hurray.

Beginning Oil Painitng - Day 2

Here is the results of my day 2 oil painting with Randy Basquez. Great instruction and information.
I am enjoying mixing the colors and placing them on the canvas. It is very relaxing.
What I thought was interesting was I began to see details I had missed. I really need to paint with my glasses on. I miss a lot of important detail.

Gorgeous Day

It is a gorgeous day but I took time to paint with a brush. I really dislike the clean up involved as opposed to a palette knife but I am enjoying the brush.
I took out two incomplete studies to practice. They are not completely done but I like the results so far. The reason I can't complete them is I do not have the still life in front of me so I am not sure how the light is effecting them.
I did need to practice on my flowers so it was a good time to pull out the unfinished flowers.

Class Study- 1/17/2001

Here is today's class study covered in plastic wrap and heading for the freezer. I hate painting flowers. So... as I have stated before, I am learning to paint them. I struggle with each color mass. I will learn how to paint flowers before the year is over so help me.

Today is a Brush Study

Here is my brush study. Yes - it is the same pitcher and lemon I have painted in the past. I just wanted to see the difference between brush with a toned background and palette knife where the color is mixed on the white canvas.

Cityscape Drawing

I spent this morning drawing a cityscape of downtown Indianapolis. It took me two hours measuring and drawing. I was happy with the lesson.

Beginning Oil Painting with a Brush

I decided take a beginning oil painting class from a woman, Randy Blasguez who is a wonderful oil painter. I found out today what a great instructor she is, too. I fumbled with oils for years - pushing paint around - and not knowing the stages to oil painting.
Watercolor to me is so much easier.
With the classes at the School of Light and Color, I am learning color, how to improve my drawings and now, the basics of brush painting in oils.
I learned so much in one hour session. I was so pleased. What I loved the most was I was understanding the vocabulary.
I could, also, see the color in the objects and knew without hesitation what colors to mix at the beginning stage.
Here is the link to Randy's blog. Good stuff.

School is back in session

I am back to classes this week and very happy! I am working on a study of a jar of roses. It was a good start.
It is currently in the freezer covered with plastic wrap.

Continued with my bowl

I continued working on my bowl. Still no pictures to show yet.
Still no sun for the cat but she isn't blaming me so much today. It is now my husband's fault.
Went to a local thrift store and found two great retro, green, leather chairs that rock. I couldn't believe the score!
Oh - not too happy with the bowl so here is a block study I did about 5 months ago.

Foggy Days and My Cat, Sheeba

I set up a small white bowl so I could paint. It was foggy so I decided not to open up the house. My cat, Sheeba, does not like foggy days. She wanted the house opened up and so... through her persistent stares, I opened the curtain. She was very disappointed and believed I took away the sun. She wanted me to get it back. To console her, I offered her a warm lap to curl up on. It was the second best thing.
Bottom line, I was able to only paint to stage 2 on my bowl.
Oh - and she found out about this thing called bottled water when she stuck her nose into my bottled water. Now, she insists she gets fresh bottled water on her side table. Fresh bottled water - only. She knows the difference. Oh and my memory card to my digital camera died.
That was my day. Here is a picture of Sheeba on a sunny day. Notice the smile.

Going to Utrecht

I am heading off to Utrecht to get some artist supplies for a beginning oil class that I am taking soon. I love Utrecht. The staff, I have dealt with, are artist and are knowledgeable.
Here is a product I recently picked up there. It is Grey Matters Paper Palette. It is used by many painters because the neutral grey sheets are accurate for color mixing. There is, also, an invaluable color guide inside. I recommend this to any artist.

Gorgeous day to paint lemon wedges

It is so gorgeous here today. I setup a lemon and wedges, painted them with a big happy smile on my face and took in the sun. Oh, wonderful sun.
This is a 5X7 study. I quit at where I liked it so it would be considered incomplete but I need to know when to STOP.

Here is my 1/4/2011 Study

I really liked how this piece was going so I stopped messing with it. I am learning to love painting white.
I left the lemon wedges at stage 2 and 3.
I enjoyed this. The sun is shining and the cat and I are taking in the vitamin D on the deck.

Art Goals and the New Year

I got up this morning and worked on my study that I did yesterday and decided it is time to create my 2011 art goals.
1) Take the time to do a more complete value study before painting.
2) Study painting flowers this year. This is big deal because, like many painters I have encountered, they don't like painting flowers. Why? Because they are difficult but perfect for seeing color changes.
3) Continue study of perspective and buildings
4) Throw more pottery - No. Not against the wall.