"Crabs For Sale" By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

It is a gorgeous day on the coast and I met with Kathy Huxley to paint at the Brookings/Harbor Port. We couldn't resist this boat with the American flag and crabs for sale. Here is my painting of this crab boat docked at a pier.

"Crabs For Sale" 8"x8" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Pizza Is Plein Air Comfort Food

I spent Mother's Day in Gold Beach, OR painting. I started off with a good start and then I didn't stick to my plan. I ended the day eating great pizza at Sunset Family Pizza.  Pizza always makes the bad go away.

Rainy and Foggy - No Problem For Birdie Houses

I woke up to a rainy and foggy day on the coast with a cold or allergies or some sort of plague. I can't let it distract me too much. I was busy in my studio putting together my small, clay bird house. It is pretty, gosh darn cute if I say so myself. I like to put compost and grow sedum in mine. They are easily watered from the top to keep them moist and there is a drainage hole at the bottom. Yes, I did put some thought into the design and tested it in my own garden.  They are perfect if you you want to add a little color or whimsey to your garden, container garden, pot or your green house. They fit in the palm of your hand and you can adjust the length to your needs.

Small Birdie House - High fired to cone 5.

"Bandana Cat" - SOLD

Thank you for purchasing my art and cat print card. I appreciate your business.

"Bandana Cat" SOLD

Pine Street, Brookings, OR

I love to paint Pine Street in Brookings, OR. It is hard to resist the quiet neighborhood, the park and Manley Art Center nearby.  Today I wanted to focus on the American flag in this artwork. After all Memorial Day is coming up and I love our veterans and troops.  They will always be my heroes.
 

"American Tradition" 8"X10" Oil on Linen $80.00

My Pottery Plant Markers Are Now At Flora Pacifica, Harbor, OR

I love pottery and gardening so I created pottery markers.  I use them in my square foot garden and I must say I am happy with the results.  They were very popular last garden season at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery and now you can now find my pottery markers at Flora Pacifica in Harbor, Oregon.
These  re-usable clay, stoneware, plant markers are fired to cone 5.  You can use a sharpie or a ceramic pen to write on them. They come in several designs to mark plants in your garden, pots and even your orchids. 

Stoneware Plant Markers

Stop The Presses

I am excited to announce that I am artist of the month at Crescent Harbor Gallery. The show includes my local plein air art and, of course, cat paintings. If you get a chance, please stop by and say hello to the wonderful volunteers.   The gallery is located at 140 Marine Way, Crescent City, CA 95531. 

These are some of the paintings available.

"Adoration" SOLD

Thank you for purchasing "Adoration". I hope you enjoy this cat painting as much as I loved painting it.
Thank you, again.

"Adoration" SOLD

Uppity Beach Boutons Available In Crescent City, CA

My Uppity Beach Boutons are currently available at The Perfect Yarn located at 124 Hwy 101 N Crescent City, CA 95531. 
These buttons come in variety of earth colors and are high fired to cone 5. 

 

The Details Are In The Car

The sun was out and the landscape class met in the park. This is my plein air study. The detail is in the car since it is my focal point. I put a purple and magenta under painting in the dark areas. I was reminded to put the mirrors on my car. (I wouldn't want it to get ticketed).
Nothing is better than painting on a nice day except fishing. 

"Car Detailing"  8"x10" Oil on Linen NFS

Am I Done Yet?

When I get towards the end of a study, I want to be done. I don't want to finish it. This is one of my worse tendencies. I would rather hand it off to someone for proofing and let them finish it. 
So, I asked the question in yesterday's class.  How exactly do I finish a study? Here are the answers I remember.

Mid-Values Study

Compare the values.
Compare the brights and dulls.
Compare the warms and cools.
Do you have sharp edges at your focal point?
Look at the shadows, the background and foreground. Is there variation?
Make slight adjustments. Again - slight adjustments. 
I think of it as checking your answers to a test before turning it in.  Remember to go over each question and answer to be sure they are correct. 

Going Gray

I saved my mixed colors from yesterday's paint out to make a big, gray, paint puddle.  Using just the gray, I blocked in a composition from an art book onto a small 8"X10" canvas board.   I added dark and light colors trying to keep it  loose and abstract while keeping in mind values, planes and distance. It was a wonderful way to loosen up.

"Going Gray" Study

Wah Hop Store, Coloma, CA

Yesterday was a fun day. I attended the CAC paint out in Coloma, CA and painted this historic Wah Hop Store. Then off to celebrate my husband's 50th birthday at a Chinese restaurant, the Green Jade, and then 3 games of Lazer Force and arcade games.  He will always be a kid at heart. I love it.

"Wah Hop Store, Coloma, CA" Oil On 8"X10" Linen Canvas $80.00

 

Two Minute Pose

When figure drawing, a two minute pose can seem too short or too long depending on how well you are doing with the drawing.

Yesterday's Palette Painting Today

I hate wasting paint. So my solution is cleaning my brush and palette knife onto a recycled canvas. You know, the artwork that you stack in the corner - hating to throw out but you don't know what to do with it.
When I am painting, I put one of these recycled canvas to use.
This is yesterday's palette painting that was created while I was working on yesterday's value study.
It is painted on a linen gallery wrap canvas and is 8X8.

Studying Value Through Payne

I painted Edgar Payne's work  as a lesson in value today in Randy Blasquez's class. I was given two copies of boats.  One to paint and one to cut up by it's grouped values. Then I mixed the mother colors, drew my composition and blocked in the mother colors.
This is the result of my study. I should mention I used an alizarin crimson under painting.
Great lesson. Fun study.

Value Study 8"X10" Oil on Canvas Sheet

Some Days I Need A Push

There are some days where I need to be pushed to finish a study.  I just want to be done with it. This was one such painting and I was pushed to finish it. There were things I saw that I could do but I wanted to pack my gear and go home. Silly.
I am glad I was pushed. Here is my still life study of  yellow bottle.  Notice the brushwork carefully layered to keep the beautiful under painting.
I love this method. I am also grateful for the push. Thanks, Susan.

"Yellow Bottle" Painted with Brush on 9"X12" Canvas Sheet.

"Green Flash Sunset" By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

This is a large 16"X20" abstract, oil palette painting I have read  a momentary green flash occurs at sunset when the sun meets the horizon. I reflected this flash into the water.

"Green Flash Sunset" By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas 16"x20" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Art For Sale At The Manley Art Center

I am having a studio sale at the Manley Art Center in Brookings, OR.  I am sharing panels in the classroom with fellow painters Kathy Huxley and Verna Pooler.  Come by and see the work.  It will be available until the end of April.

Uppity Beach Buttons

For the life of me I cannot find my camera... again.  I have two and I normally toss on in the car and the other in a side table basket. Neither were available when I needed them. So my dear spouse took these pictures for me with his fancy phone.
Now for the drum roll. Here are my latest new Uppity Beach Buttons. They are designed from a homemade clay stamp from a beautiful brown clay and high fired to a cone 5 with food safe glazes.
I love to buy sweaters and jackets at the local thrift stores and these buttons are fun to dress up my thrift store finds.  They are also perfect to add to hats, purses and scarves. All you fiber arts people know what I am talking about. (No offense to the spouse and his fancy phone but better pictures will be coming soon).

Uppity Beach Buttons

Have A Wonderful Easter

What a wonderful day today is.  I hope you have a wonderful Easter.

Pottery and Painting

So I can't seem to figure out what to do first. Pottery or painting. I decided to do both.

Hand-built Pottery Bird House with Bird Bead

High Fired to Cone 5 My Uppity Beach Buttons, Bird Beads and Bird House

"Dark and Overcast" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas 11" X 14"

Making A Big Deal Out of Nothing

We have all experienced trying to find something interesting to paint when we are outside painting. The classic story was told in yesterday's landscape class.  The plein air artist drives around for hours trying to find something to paint outdoors and the sun goes down.  Hence, you lost a day of painting. This happens to all of regardless of artistic skill or level.
The solution. Don't focus on the perfect picture.  Find something ordinary right in front of you such as an uninteresting tree, car, sign, rock, etc.  Draw and paint it as a focal paint with contrast, sharp edges and then add the surrounding objects with little detail.  Paint them as shapes.  Put the highlights on your focal point at the end. Yes - you still need to think about composition. I love this idea. Sounds simple but can you do it?
Here is an example. I spent less than an hour and a half on this in class just to get the understanding. I simplified the street scene from the original photo as a wall instead as businesses and trees.
Fun!

"Rendezvous" Study 9" x 12" Oil on Canvas Paper

Why Is Fishing Always The Best Time Ever?

I got up at 4:18 AM this morning, loaded my car with fishing gear, worms, high tech fishing supplies, my fishing bucket and drove 1 1/2 hours in the dark to a secluded lake. When I arrived, it was freezing cold, overcast and windy. I hiked my gear down to the water over rocks and lots of goose poop.  I ended up with worm parts in my nails and rainbow glitter power bait in my hair and all over my pants.   My lips were blue by the time I decided to pack it up and start home six hours later.  I probably spent 100 dollars on gas, gear, supplies, gate fees and I didn't even get a bite.  It was the best time ever!
I can't wait to go back tomorrow.

Floral Study With Transparent Under Painting

This is my floral study with transparent under paintings that I painted today.  The goal is to keep the beautiful under painting while layering opaque color over it. You have to be very "present" when painting this method; else, you will lose the under painting.

Floral Study On 9x12 Canvas Sheet

New Painting For Sale At Manley Art Center, Brookings, OR

I have artwork for sale at the Manely Art Center in Brookings, OR. They are open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 until 4. Look for my work on the panels in the classroom. I am fortunate to be sharing the panels with artists Kathy Huxley and Verna Pooler.
This work will be on display until the end of April.

Where Did the Time Go?

I spent the last two weeks sprucing up my garden, weeding, planting and mulching.  The vegetable garden beds needed new peat moss, vermiculite and compost.  So I hauled 20 bags into the back yard to amend the soil in the raised beds. (I am a square foot gardener). 
Then I decided it was time to pressure wash the sidewalk, gutters, windows and driveway.  I noticed the moss overtaking my yard and had to address that issue.
Of course, due to this winter's high winds I had to replace the flag stand that sheered off my art studio.  Since I had the drill out I installed a coat hanger for my exterior entryway. It is a must with all the rain we get and no one wants to bring a wet, dripping coat into their house. Then I finished framing paintings for a show.
That is when I noticed I should wash the interior windows. It went on and on.
Now, I can take a break and get back to painting... but first, my husband wanted dinner. I had live crab I cooked the night before and cooled in the refrigerator so everything was prepared pretty fast.
I still wonder-  where did the time go?

We named  him "Dinner".

My husband, Gerry, loves Auburn Alehouse beer.

Thank You For Purchasing "A Year and A Brush With Brookings/Harbor, Oregon"

I want to thank those of you who recently purchased my first publication of "A Year and A Brush With Brookings/Harbor, Oregon".  The book contains last year paintings along the Southern Oregon coast. I appreciate your support and I hope you enjoy it!

Eva Marie Tanner Klaas

Saved By Fed Ex and Amazon

My laptop charger arrived as promised by Amazon and Fed Ex. Two day delivery and on time. When you are out in the middle of nowhere, they can be your best friend. And it was inexpensive - less than 12 dollars for the charger and delivery.  Hurray.
So I will play catch up with my posts. Last weekend, I spent three days in Susan Sarback's advanced techniques class in Fair Oaks, CA. Excellent workshop. The instruction primarily focused on her painting method using brush and included three different approaches using her color technique.
Here are the studies.

Paint mixed on the canvas

Opaque paints layered the canvas

Transparent under paintings and opaque painted layered on top

Again, transparent under painting and opaque painted layered on top

Where is My Power Cord?

I have had a wonderful week painting in a workshop. I will post as soon as I find my laptop power cord. I took my laptop and case out with me and haven't seen my power cord since. Thank goodness I was able to order another one. But at this point, I am at 30 percent battery power and can't post for a few days.