Back to School Time!

Painting can get a bit lonely so it's always fun when it's time to teach and meet folks excited about making art.  This fall I'll teach my ol' standby as well as a couple new classes.  Check them out..maybe you or a friend might want to join me...
..."Get Ready to Paint" for total novices.  Sept. 1 and 15, College of Marin and Tam High respectively.

..."Artistically Yours",  a brand new one day workshop designed to tap into one's personal art style-- no rules, no expectations,  no mistakes...just heart-felt painting and fun.  

If you - or any of your pals, have thought about painting but are a little shy, these first two classes are just for you....see more at http://www.maryvalente.com/workshops.html   Contact me for supply list.

And last..Redwood High School - I'm especially excited as this will be my first time teaching high-school kids. An innovative Redwood teacher decided to offer a special three hour class weekly, after school for those art students who want more than their 50 minute art sessions a couple times a week.   I'll teach two or three evenings this semester.  Can't wait!

One tomato..two tomatoes

oil 6x6             click image to see details                       

We thought we'd seen the end of our summer  bounty so I did a little study one afternoon and then a new crop appeared. yeah!

Tried some new 6x6 boards - very smooth, Ampersand.  Found I don't' love them; they're just OK.  They drink up paint and dry really fast while I'm trying to paint color into color (or course, that can be good when you want to change something).  Found it harder to make thick brush strokes.

Tried a couple different background colors and angles.  Do you have a favorite?

On the blog images the reds are very different than on the real paintings.  But I'm repeating myself, no?  Reds - what's the deal?

click image to see details  

Painting tip: Palette for Oil Paint....and a viewing hint

Blog Viewing Hint:  when you receive a blog update with a new painting, click on the image and a large, cleaner, brighter picture will pop up.  The colors are truer.

Palette for oils:  I've been asked what I kind of palette I use for my oil paints...and how to store excess paint, so here you go...     There are dozens of options. Over the years, I've used a variety of palettes but I'm really happy with my most recent palette choice--very simply, glass --a clear piece of glass that I put in my old plastic palette paper box.  I line the box with a piece of cardboard then set the glass in.   Got the glass from an old picture frame, 11x`14".   Or you can have one cut to fit the box or any size you want.  I like having a little extra room between the glass and box edge to lift it easily. 

You can put your fresh paint around the edges of the glass and mix your colors in the middle.  When you are ready to wrap up for the day, merely wipe up the middle and pop the lid on.  Some folks put their covered paints (box or other palette) in the fridge or freezer; they can keep a long while that way.  If I'm going to be painting daily, I just clean the glass, cover and leave it in the studio. If the paint does get dry and hard, use a razor scraper.  ez.   Let me know if you have any questions.....

8x10 oil               Balboa Paddle Boys   click image enlarge

Continuing on my figurative painting journey.   It's challenging to get body proportions right: subtle tones of shadows and light to be learned; how to darken enough to create a conversation between dark and light and yet still reflect the warmth of skin.  These young lads were paddling along one of the canals in Balboa when I was down south for my recent class.  After class, pal Linda and I walked the island. Took photos of folks strolling, boating, paddling...and to top it off - a Balboa Bar (homemade ice cream dipped in your favorite type of chocolate- ymmm).

Elena & B #2

   6x6" oil            _________??    click image to enlarge

This is the second painting of several I plan to do of Elena and pal "B".  I began it yesterday but it was way too dull with little pep to it.  The colors were muted - too gray; the girls and background all sort of blended together. Today I brought the colors up (more saturated) and am happier with it.  Lots of funny shadows all over the arms and legs to deal work out. Not sure what to name this; any suggestions? The girls are looking at something inside the pail...and I forgot to ask what.
(btw, does it bother you that the background it blue..and not real (local) color/brown?

Two weeks+ since last post - geez!  But I have a good excuse - attended a color workshop.  Crazy -four full days and never made a painting. A technical workshop about the properties of color: hue/value/chroma (aka saturation/intensity).  I know a lot about hue and value but didn't have my head around chroma..and am still grappling with it.