PSSST - Pass It On. A Plein Air Day at Sutter's Fort

March 30, 2011
Artists wanted for plein air day in a historic setting

California State Parks and the California State Indian Museum today issued a call for artists to participate in the second annual Plein Air Day on May 14.

The open-air painting event will take place on the shared grounds of Sutter's Fort State Historic Park and the Indian Museum.

Artists can register by calling (916) 324-0971 by May 6. The first 25 who sign up will receive a gift from the Indian Museum.

The general public is welcome to watch the artists at work outdoors between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The California State Indian Museum is at 2618 K St., Sacramento. For more information on museum exhibits and events: (916) 324-0971, www.parks.ca.gov/indianmuseum

-- Dixie Reid

Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/ticket/archives/2011/03/california-=

Correcting my Color Study Drawing

I finished this color study yesterday in two sessions. I came home and corrected my drawing. I have a tendency with oil to draw and paint leaning to one side. I started to use a level to correct this but it is still not working well. So, I held the work up to a mirror and used this to correct my study. I found the round bottle was too big on one side and the spout was leaning.
Here is the corrected piece.

Form and Cast Shadows on the Body

Here is my study from last week. We had a nude model and I had never drawn nor painted a bare back before. Here is my study. I mentioned before that I couldn't figure out the form and cast shadows. Well, I have it now. I have it now.

Having a Ball Drawing

I am studying several things regarding art. One is how to learn how to draw a human head. This is from the booklet I received with my planes of head. The booklet is written to show you the steps to learn how to draw. The first step, you take a ball, draw a face and glue on ears and nose. Then you draw the ball at different angles until you can memorize them.
Good study.

Remember our Troops are Deployed and Need Supplies

I love our veterans so I hope people are aware of Any Soldier web site www.anysoldier.com. Our soldiers actually list items they need and it is heartbreaking to know they cannot get simple supplies.
United States Postal Service has flat rate boxes that you can fill with wanted items.
The anysoldier.com home page will give you details.
Remember, we are the answer to their prayers.

Form and Cast Shadows

I am embarrassed to admit I had to have form shadows on a human body explained to me. It just wasn't registering. I was in class today painting a nude model. I was told to count my brush stokes. I had 170 before blocking in everything.
I have to learn longer strokes.
Then, I was told to distinguish between form and cast shadows. Now, I know a cast shadow is sharp but as for putting it down with oil on a curvy body. I was clueless.
After an excellent demo, I understand.

Advance Techniques is Hard - Because It Is Advanced..

I just finished four days of Advanced Techniques at the School of Light and Color. It was hard. It was hard because you are now taking all the information you know about color and taking it to an advanced level. I learned how to bend color. I learned brush stroke techniques, different methods for toning the canvas, advanced techniques for blocking in the values for a painting or study, how to use two different photos to create and paint a composition. I learned more about flowers, atmosphere, and backgrounds. I learned that the more you learn, the more you need to learn.
That to be a good colorist you must be a good tonalist but a good tonalist does not need to be a good colorist.
I am exhausted...
Here are two completed studies from the class. The other students did incredible work. Oh and Susan Sarback was, again, an outstanding and knowledgeable instructor. If you want to learn color and painting, her school is a must for all serious artist.

Go Figure

Figure studies are hard. Art is hard. Whine, whine, whine. Okay - so here is my very overworked study BUT... I am pleased with the foreshortened arms.
The legs are too long for the body but I recognized it and corrected it twice - not successfully.
I learned that I need to study fabric and how it fits on a body. I also need to study legs and arms. Before that, though, I think I will do portraits rather than the whole body.
Once I understand portraits better, I can then move onto the whole body.

Planes on a Head Study

I worked with soft and hard charcoal today in my drawing class to study the planes of head. My notes and scribbles are around the initial drawing. I had to remind myself not to draw dark lines but instead fill in the drawing with the appropriate values.
Always establish the darkest value first and then compare. I was reminded to keep the whites purse white.
I need to determine the highest point of the head and how it is related to the other parts of the face.
I need to be sure to make the back of the skull large enough.
I liked this exercise because it forced me to look at the shapes.
Good study.

Statue Study - 03/17/11

I am almost done with my color study of a statue. In this study, I learned to keep comparing my darks to the darkest area in order to ensure I didn't paint darker than my darkest dark.
That is a breakthrough. Don't you think?

New Study - Can You Guess What I Am Painting?

This is my new study. Can you guess what it is? You will see more later this week. I am just starting phase 3.

Portrait Study 3/11/2011

Here is my portrait study. The model was beautiful and posed for 3 hours. This is my study for the morning.

Almost Finished Color Study 03/10/2011

I am almost done with this color study. I just need to finish the blue bottle and check the entire study. I was in awe at what I can see now when I paint. The shape of the shadows on the bottle, the shape of the inside of the ellipse, and the colors.
I use to asked painters how do you know color and shape that it when looking at their work. The response was keep painting. I thought they were avoiding my question. I would try rephrasing and would get the response. Keep painting. Now, I understand. You must practice painting - daily - and then you will see more.

Figure Study - 3 hours later

I have started figure painting and it is amazing that I can forget all previous knowledge. My values were fine at the beginning and I just had to mess with it.
I am learning to see the shapes and simplify. Not easy regardless of your experience.

Flower Practice

Here is my morning flower practice. I will learn how to paint flowers!

Color Study - Stage 2 - 03/07/2011

Here is my color study for 03/07/2011. I am ready for stage 3 next time. The pink glass bottle was started with magenta in the shadow. These light was painted with rose. The blue bottle was painted with pure ultra marine blue.

Painting Portraits

I spent the morning painting a live model. I did a closeup of the models face. Every thing I knew about painting left me. My head went blank - like canvas... I still had a great time and can't wait for next week.

I think I am done... next painting, please

Here is my completed class study. I have to quit before I overwork it. Notice I am still working flowers into the studies.

Ordered My Heads

I just ordered my heads to learn the planes of a head. This is to help with my portraits. Check out the website, planes of the head. I bought the original and the new memorize.

Starting Figure Painting in Oil

I started my figure painting class today with Terry Miura. Wow. He makes it looks so easy. I was shown how to paint with using black, transparent red oxide and white. This is my study.
I did a very simple composition.
The canvas is toned first. You draw the figure and block in the values. You then mix a warm and a cool puddle of oil paint. This is used to paint the study.
Great lesson.

Class Study with Randy Blasquez

Here is my final class study with Randy Blasquez. I really enjoyed her Beginning Oil Painting class.
This study was fun. We were given copies of a well known painting and we recreated it in class. I thought it was a wonderful way to learn to how paint in oil.

Flower Practice - 3/1/2011

I practiced my flowers this morning. Not easy but I am learning to ignore the flower and paint the shape. This is a very simplified flower study. I didn't do much with the background. I was concentrating on those weird shapes.
I painted the dark shapes first then the light shapes.
I constantly had to stop and say to myself, "Don't think flowers. Think shapes".
That is like saying don't think of an elephant and all you can do is think of an elephant.