a Royal Enfield

6x8"   acrylic on boar

I spied this cool motorcycle recently--a Royal Enfield. Thought it was really old but when I looked it up, found out it's brand new although fashioned after it's predecessor - a 1940s war bike.  Enjoyed playing with the sunlight and bike shadow, the cars parked in the distance. Would really like to get a ride on this cool machine!

set up an art studio - any time, any place

Of course, it's great to have a room dedicated as your art studio --no worries about spilled paint etc. But  even if you don't have one, you shouldn't let that stop you from painting.  In class Saturday, more than one student mentioned the lack of having a studio/garage/dedicated room to paint in.  I want to encourage you not to let that keep you from painting.

Though I do have a studio, once in awhile I want to work on something at home.  We've been living in a temporary apartment for a couple of months and have lots in storage. While I have very little here here- it only took minutes to convert a space for a couple of hours painting.

I use the kitchen counter or table top (even couple tv trays would work), some grocery ads fliers that come in the mail, a small table-top easel,  brushes, paint, rags or paper towels, and water or mineral spirits for cleaning up depending on if I'm painting with oil or acrylic paint.  Here's what it looked like today.

(click for larger image)

Granted, didn't get very far on this piece. I don't have the original items anymore so just used it as a practice to get the metal of the bowl to glow.  I'll probably wipe off the board and begin a new painting.  

This is the same set-up I use occasionally when we're traveling.  So ....no excuses.  Get painting!

Unique Women making Unique Art

The class is Artistically Yours!   And the point is, for at least this one day, to make art that comes from deep inside - where you determine what and how you paint.  There are many wonderful classes on technique - and they are really important. But, at least once in awhile, you should put on some music, throw caution to the wind --and JUST PAINT.  Play. Experiment.  

If Picasso and Pollock had continued to paint portraits and landscapes, would we have known them? But they followed their vision - didn't listen to critiques - and their fearlessness made them universally known.

Some snaps of today's students on their personal journey.  It sounds easy but it is NOT!  You have to dig deep and be unafraid to follow a path that is not lit in front of you. I'm very proud of these unique women...and their unique art.
(sorry gals, not everyone got a great photo --the big windows blocked out a few of the photos)...

Artistially YOURS - a couple more empty spots!

 It's not too late - sign up tonight or tomorrow morning ... 

Get creative ~ have an adventure at Artistically YOURS!   
Oct. 25th  Saturday.   10:00 - 3:00; includes a lunch break.
College of Marin, Kentfield.  A one day workshop. 

We’ll have a series of exercises throughout with the day to set you on your personal journey. You’ll have a chance to explore and experiment in a relaxed, supportive environment. You will complete an original work -or two - or more!! ....without the aid of required subjects or photographs. 

All levels welcome.  Acrylic paint and/or hard pastel, markers or crayons.  

Sign up at HERE!  

SUPPLY LIST HERE    Be sure to use the right list! 

New painters - finding their voice - a wonderful variety of styles....

Notan Painting with modification

notan inspired still life     click to enlarge

Every so often I like to paint in a workshop with others to hone old skills and learn new ones.  I'm in one for the month October, every Friday, and am having a ball.  The first two Fridays we worked in the Notan style -with some modification.  Notan is a Japanese design concept - it has to do with the placement and power of your lights and darks.  Rather than think about the objects represented in your subject, you squint and find big masses of dark and light shape and paint those in an almost abstract manner.
 
Similar to monochromatic value paintings.  The idea is that for any painting (abstract to realism) to work well, it is how you use your -lights and darks - that contributes to its success.

The 'modification' I mentioned above: rather than black and white as you'll see in most examples of notan, we used Gamblin's Portland Grays (light/medium/deep).  The contrast isn't as great as notan b/w but it really trains you to use choose your values carefully in order to get some interest going.

First I painted in all the deep gray masses; then the middle, then the light.  I used a tiny bit of white for highlight in the focal point and a few very thin lines of black to define an edge here and there.

An anonymous quote found long ago --a repeat here...  "Color gets all the credit.... but value does the heavy lifting."   I use all the time in my classes (and in my head in the studio!)

Here's a kettle I found in an article....  one color, lots of values. You see the values give it it's depth and personality. If you had only one or two values it would be a pretty flat boring kettle.  By managing values this little pot has lots of personality.

 

You might enjoy reading more about Notan here.

So many artists - so little time....

In my workshops, students have a wide range in what they enjoy and what they want to paint. E.g. in Saturday's class, I met folks who like plein air (outdoor painting) and landscape, digital painting, impressionistic etc.

I encourage you to pick out several artists whose work you admire and sign up for their blog or email newsletters.  I have a hard time narrowing down a favorite style of art... I really love getting art email updates from many I admire.

Here are just of few of  my 'faves'. (I know as soon as I post this, I'll think of more I should have included...)


Qiang-Huang  still life and landscape   (currently in his native home of Bejing; having trouble blogging)

Regina Saura  (click on the second line of text for her paintings etc.) 

Tim Horn plein air/landscape   

Carol Marine     modern, stylized realism

Jacob Collins  realism  (doesn't have an updated blog)  

Ken DeWaard  plein air mostly.  

Kathleen Lipinski  local Marin landscape artists (she and her hubby, Steve Emery)

Julian Merrow-Smith - an English painter who lives in France.  

Also check out Daily Painters  and/or Daily Paintworks

Hot Day - Very Cool Class

Today's class was so into it!  Color charts and mixing,value scales and studies.  For a few it was the very first time they'd picked up a brush and painted.  Others wanted to step back and pick up some of the basics (terminology, techniques etc.) they missed along the way. Very open and friendly.  One of my favorite suggestion for painting loose and relaxed came from one budding artist:  "...and with a gin and tonic." Cheers to that!

So here are our 14 artists. Unfortunately it was hard to get the folks on the north side of the room- the light was pouring in. Sorry gals.

Thanks All for a great day.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE IT LARGE  _ THEN CLICK ON RIGHT SIDE TO SEE NEXT

Meditating a study

8x8"  oil on panel CLICK to enlarge

I was about to begin painting another painter who was standing at an easel well behind this young woman.  Couldn't resist taking a quick photo. She was sitting so calmly. The photo was from my camera and I'm not very steady with it. Maybe it's just as well - not much detail in the photo so the painting has to be pretty loose. What became of the painting of the woman with the easel, you ask?  Not good!  Wiped it off.