What has compounded the workload is the fact that I'm flying out to New Mexico a couple of hours after the show finishes, for my 'Painting a Day' course with Carole Marine at the Andreeva Portrait Academy! I'm so excited!
Even though the course is about painting still life painting, I'm hoping to apply the lessons in colour theory, observation and value development to figure painting (as well as still life) when I return. I'm modelling for a portrait class at Lake Tahoe Community College at the moment, taught by artist Phyllis Shafer. This means for the first time in years, I'm surrounded by young artists learning about drawing, and I'm totally inspired by it all. I'm sitting there staring into space just itching to pick up some charcoal and draw. It's great, I really needed the reminder of the importance of drawing. I've been so preoccupied with painting lately, I've really neglected it.
Phyllis's technical approach to teaching this class has been a fascinating experience to witness, far removed from the emphasis on expressive markmaking and intuitive drawing I was taught at art school. I love both styles, and I think a firm grounding in technique is crucial before you can embark on more expressive renderings of human form. Phyllis a pretty amazing artist, and now I've seen her teaching I'm a bit in awe of her! I'm already in awe of Carole Marine, so I feel honoured that I am able to make contact with the people whose work I respect.
This is definately an accelerated period of learning for me - all of life is about learning, although sometimes it's more subtle. I'll be back next weekend, hopefully with about 20 new paintings to post!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Arts in Bloom
Monday, May 5, 2008
The Magic Number
The Magic NumberOil on Canvas
6x6"
Today's painting is dedicated to my friend Ali Drew. Ali was my neighbor at the Stables Courtyard in Betws y Coed, so we would emerge from our studios several times a day to drink tea and talk about everything in the world. She's a brilliant ceramic artist, living in North Wales, and creates the most beautiful cups out of porcelain. I've never met anyone so committed to the perfection of form. These aren't her cups in the painting, but you can see them on her website at www.alidrew.co.uk. She's also had a little boy since I saw her last, with her lovely man, Ben - hence the magic number.
I'm pleased with the restraint I managed to exercise over myself with the colours today. It started with some quite vibrant yellows and oranges, (which you can still see the remnants of) but they just overtook the forms. I wanted to try and achieve something more delicate - which is difficult for me as my style can tend to be a little heavy-handed (anyone who has played pool with me will attest to my lack of subtlety...as the ball goes crashing off the table into someone's lap) so this is a bit of a challenge for me.
I used to watch Ali carefully developing her forms through repetition and experiment, meticulously mapping every curve and direction of her cups with her hands and eyes - ruthlessly crushing down forms if they weren't just right. The resulting collections were incredibly tranquil, the lack of chaos hypnotising and awe inspiring. I even got to drink out of these incredible things - something bizarre for a 2D artist used to a strictly hands off approach to finished work.
I'm pleased with the restraint I managed to exercise over myself with the colours today. It started with some quite vibrant yellows and oranges, (which you can still see the remnants of) but they just overtook the forms. I wanted to try and achieve something more delicate - which is difficult for me as my style can tend to be a little heavy-handed (anyone who has played pool with me will attest to my lack of subtlety...as the ball goes crashing off the table into someone's lap) so this is a bit of a challenge for me.
I used to watch Ali carefully developing her forms through repetition and experiment, meticulously mapping every curve and direction of her cups with her hands and eyes - ruthlessly crushing down forms if they weren't just right. The resulting collections were incredibly tranquil, the lack of chaos hypnotising and awe inspiring. I even got to drink out of these incredible things - something bizarre for a 2D artist used to a strictly hands off approach to finished work.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The Line Up (ii)
You know, so far I haven't felt inclined to anthropomorphosise any of these still life studies - until now. It occurred to me in the night, that the reason I am so compelled by the little espresso cup especially, is for the same reason I was compelled by the little Amish boy standing slightly away from the others in 'Amish Schoolhouse' (below)
Amish Schoolhouse
Oil on Canvas
30x15"
SOLD
Oil on Canvas
30x15"
SOLD
There's something quietly confident about this little guy with his hands in his pockets, levelling his gaze straight at you. Even though you can't see his features, you know he's looking at you - analysing you, summing you up.
Back to the cups though, I was experimenting with backlighting, and although I'm not too pleased with the way this one came out, it's a new way of looking at the same subject, and I think it's healthy to challenge yourself in this way. I'll have another shot at it later. Maybe the reason I'm not getting bored with the same subject (like I normally do) is the sense of an underlying drama, or dialogue in these inanimate objects. I think it's a very human thing to interpret meaning into the things we see, to attach some romantic (in the classical sense) idea to things to help us make sense of things.
I'm reading Edward Abbey's novel, 'Desert Solitaire' at the moment, and his resistance to this very tendancy (with respect to the desert) connected with this musing in the night, and compelled me to write about it today.
I'm also 2 chapters into Paul Dorell's brilliant book, 'Living the Artist's Life', which I already highly recommend to anyone working in the arts, or who has to put up with a crazy artist in their life.
Back to the cups though, I was experimenting with backlighting, and although I'm not too pleased with the way this one came out, it's a new way of looking at the same subject, and I think it's healthy to challenge yourself in this way. I'll have another shot at it later. Maybe the reason I'm not getting bored with the same subject (like I normally do) is the sense of an underlying drama, or dialogue in these inanimate objects. I think it's a very human thing to interpret meaning into the things we see, to attach some romantic (in the classical sense) idea to things to help us make sense of things.
I'm reading Edward Abbey's novel, 'Desert Solitaire' at the moment, and his resistance to this very tendancy (with respect to the desert) connected with this musing in the night, and compelled me to write about it today.
I'm also 2 chapters into Paul Dorell's brilliant book, 'Living the Artist's Life', which I already highly recommend to anyone working in the arts, or who has to put up with a crazy artist in their life.
Friday, May 2, 2008
The line up
I found these cups at the thrift store yesterday - the best place for random objects I get it into my head to paint! I'm going to experiment with lighting the same subject over the next few days - I went into the studio this morning and the sunshine was casting a beautiful backlight on them, as I 'd left the cups set up from yesterday. I find the simple white forms really peaceful. I'm also stretching canvases today, for my multi-tasking experiment of 3 canvases at once....I might be in the loony bin by next week.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Blue Glasses
I've been finding it difficult to motivate myself for my daily paintings for the past couple of weeks. I've still been painting - bigger pieces, but I feel like I'm getting off track with what I should be painting...and who knows what that is? I'm at the point now where it's really bothering me that I can't settle on one subject to focus on - everything around me draws me in, I want to paint everything - as with most people, if I've got too many things going on, I can end up doing nothing....just procrastinating.
I've bought canvas and stretchers do a series of 30x40" paintings. I'm going to try working on 2 or 3 at a time, and see if I can't reign myself in from 'moving on' after each painting. It's like I draw a line under every canvas I paint, and then I can't go back. It's not that I feel I've accomplished everything I can with each painting - far from it - I'm just restless to start on the next one after having seen something amazing, or woken up in the night with a 'brilliant' idea. Maybe the discipline of this series will help!
Good news though - the Welsh Sale in the UK went really well! All 8 pieces I submitted sold, and they want more for their October Sale. I'm also in negotiations with a gallery in North Wales - so watch this space.
Tonight: My Exhibition, 'Kokanee: Recent Work' at the Foyer Gallery at Lake Tahoe Community College opening reception is on tonight, from 5 - 7 pm. Admission is free.
I've bought canvas and stretchers do a series of 30x40" paintings. I'm going to try working on 2 or 3 at a time, and see if I can't reign myself in from 'moving on' after each painting. It's like I draw a line under every canvas I paint, and then I can't go back. It's not that I feel I've accomplished everything I can with each painting - far from it - I'm just restless to start on the next one after having seen something amazing, or woken up in the night with a 'brilliant' idea. Maybe the discipline of this series will help!
Good news though - the Welsh Sale in the UK went really well! All 8 pieces I submitted sold, and they want more for their October Sale. I'm also in negotiations with a gallery in North Wales - so watch this space.
Tonight: My Exhibition, 'Kokanee: Recent Work' at the Foyer Gallery at Lake Tahoe Community College opening reception is on tonight, from 5 - 7 pm. Admission is free.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Blue Vase
Blue VaseOil on Canvas Panel
6x6"
Click here to buy
I thought I'd have a go at painting blue glass for the first time today. It's really fun - all the cool reflections and colours are pretty hard to capture though - I'll have another go with some different blue glass forms next week I think. We're off to Bishop climbing again this weekend, so no posts till Monday - have a good one!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Indian Paintbrush (ii)
Indian Paintbrush (ii)
Oil on Canvas Panel
5x7"
Click here to buy
This painting is much darker than yesterdays...and that was partly to do with the angle of the sun. I can't decide which one I prefer, but this one definitely has a different kind of drama.
Oil on Canvas Panel
5x7"
Click here to buy
This painting is much darker than yesterdays...and that was partly to do with the angle of the sun. I can't decide which one I prefer, but this one definitely has a different kind of drama.
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