Karen's Spot

Man, Woman

2011-10-28T10:10:00.003-04:00

These two paintings are 30" x 36", and

are hanging together in the StutzArtSpace

Gallery. The current show, "Women of a

Certain Age", ends tonight with a lecture

by the show curator, Leigh Dunnington-

Jones, on the history of women's under-

garments! Tonight's reception is 6-8pm.

I hope some of you can attend, it should be

a very interesting lecture!

Both of these paintings, and "Coming and

Going" (seen in a previous blog) will be for

sale. Our calendars will also be available.

Please come join us!

Camping with Avery

2011-08-15T10:30:00.002-04:00

Is he not the cutest? This is my grandson, Avery. This is what I've been doing instead of painting, camping with the kids. Got some good scenery pictures of Sugar Creek to use as reference photos. Maybe this one should turn into a painting?

Progress

2011-08-09T17:32:00.001-04:00

Worked on this figure today, not sure if it's improved or not! Also, had my photo shoot today for the upcoming "Women of a Certain Age" calendar. Be sure to look for it, coming out to accompany the exhibit of the same name in October.

Value study

2011-08-06T10:48:00.001-04:00

I have a new iPhone and just added the bloggerplus app. Now able to post blogs from my phone, don't have to wait til I'm home at my desk top. This means more frequent blogs! Woo Hoo! just started this new figure painting, now waiting on the first layer to dry... getting ready for two shows at the Stutz, October and November. More to come!

Missing my Friend!

2011-07-23T17:41:00.002-04:00

This is the beginning of a tryptich mosaic tile wall art. Ran out of glue, so have to wait to do the other 2. Thought about Michelle while doing this, she is an awesome mosaic artist friend who just moved to Chicago. We miss her at the Stutz, and I'm sure they miss her in the Carmel Arts and Design district too!

Frolic

2011-07-21T11:35:00.002-04:00

Continuing to build a body of work (no pun intended) of nudes in oil. I'm hoping to have more time to paint, now that I am no longer president of the Stutz Artists Association. That's right! As of last night's elections, I am free to paint, draw, even to work at my paying job (nursing)! Very excited about the future, especially since there are two shows coming up this fall that I hope to be a part of. Stay tuned for October's "Women of a Certain Age..." and in November, Spirit and Place, "The Body". Both of these will be exciting events!

Napping on a Cloud

2011-07-19T07:38:00.001-04:00

Newest painting, started from our model two weeks ago. This is in oil, 20 x 24. It feels so good to paint!

Starting Something New

2011-07-18T23:08:00.003-04:00

Today I moved my mosaic supplies back to my studio. Hope to begin some conrete garden stones, then move on to something more sculptural. The possibilities are endless! This new inspiration came from seeing the work of a handful of other artists. It is apparent that GOOD art is done in community. I am excited about beginning!

Painting is a Process!

2011-07-07T20:11:00.003-04:00

Today I am posting 2 images. The one, "Coming and Going" you have seen from last week. I wasn't sure if it was finished, but I've made some adjustments, and I believe this is done. I notice that I have forgotten to sign it, though. Something I am frequently guilty of.

The other image is of a painting I'm not entirely satisfied with. I am happy with the compostition, a male nude in a contemplative pose. I am not happy with the colors, but need to let this percolate before tackling it again.

I am having fun painting again, though, and for that I am grateful!

Exposed

2011-07-05T16:15:00.002-04:00

I've been exploring Expressionism. It's really kind of fun! One result is that I'm beginning to think that it's possible to "draw" with paint. This opens up a whole new world for me, because drawing is what I really enjoy and feel called to do. This painting and the previous one are about drawing with paint, and about drawing what I like, often, this is the human figure.

Hope you like it!

Coming and Going

2011-07-01T11:52:00.003-04:00

After spending a couple of "dry" weeks, artistically, I decided to just DO something! I have always loved figures, but haven't attempted to paint them very often, thinking I need a model, and why pay for a model when the first paintings for a while won't be any good. So do you see how backward this thinking is? I decided to just do it, paint figures without worrying about making them realistic or even attractive to anyone but me. This is the start of my efforts. I began from a gestural drawing done in open figure last week. This isn't done, but not sure what more to do. It's large-ish, 34" square. It's oil with some charcoal. The charcoal is another piece which I decided to leave in, even enhance. Usually I just use charcoal to sketch the rough outlines, but I like charcoal, and I like line, so why not emphasize that? I kinda like it.

Are the Roses Finished Jumping?

2011-06-09T17:26:00.003-04:00

I have worked on this pastel painting, adjusting edges and color saturation to emphasize the intended focal point. Can you guess what it is? Thanks to Pam Newell, my pastel instructor, for the critique of my earlier work.

When Roses Jump Out

2011-06-01T17:33:00.003-04:00

Doesn't it look like the roses wanted to go for a walk? They just jumped out of the vase before they realized, they don't have feet!

This is pastel on Wallis paper, 24 x 18. Not sure I'm finished with it. It's "percolating" overnight.

Beach Umbrella, or Rain?

2011-05-30T14:05:00.003-04:00

This is the first of what I hope to be a short series of beach items. Useful on a rainy day, or a sunny one!

Hopefully, as this year as Stutz Artists Association president draws to a close, I will have the chance to do more art. I can hardly wait! I think I'm almost ready for an "immersion" into pastel still lifes. We shall see...

Coffee Break

2011-05-11T17:43:00.000-04:00

The hardest part about doing this still life is that I couldn't make coffee until I was done using my Mr. Coffee as a subject!

Don't you just love a fresh, hot cup o Joe?

Tea Time

2011-05-11T17:40:00.000-04:00

Did this pastel in class, taught by Pam Newell. What a great experience! Can't wait for the next class!

Also, I'm very excited to report that I sold four art works at the Open House this year. Most notably, "White Mums" found a new home with Justin, who has been eyeing it since last fall! Thanks to Justin!

IT'S HERE! OPEN HOUSE 2011

2011-04-23T10:42:00.002-04:00

This is the event I wait for all year! If you are a fan of mine, or of art in general, then you don't want to miss this! Come look me up in studio C 350. Some of the art from this blog will be framed and for sale. Hope to see you there!

Orange Hibiscus

2011-04-02T15:35:00.001-04:00

I've ordered frames, backing, etc. As soon as it arrives I will frame this and several other new pastels in time for the Open House April 29 and 30. Can't wait for the end of April!

Vegetables with Blue Bottle

2011-03-28T17:53:00.002-04:00

The downside of being a Still Life Artist... Your food is never very fresh because all your produce has to "pose" for a few days before you can eat it.

Sunflowers in a Basket

2011-03-27T18:21:00.001-04:00

I've not posted lately, but I have been busy doing pastels. Trying to have a body of work ready for the upcoming Stutz Open House! Mark your calendars, April 29 and 30. This will be a great show!

Bottles, Potatos, and Daffodils

2011-03-05T16:56:00.002-05:00

I was setting up this still life in my studio, with just the bottles, potatos, and vase, when Carol came in with a handful of daffodils and gave me these! Instantly my still life was more interesting. This is done in pastels on Wallis paper. I'm really appreciating the Wallis, it holds a lot more pastel than other sanded papers.

Still Life with Onions, a Progression

2011-02-26T13:27:00.002-05:00

I did this in the pastel class with Pam Newell. She set up this still life, and in the first session I got as far as the bottom picture. In 2 more sessions I ended up with what you see in the top picture. Not sure I like the finished version better than the unfinished. I feel like the unfinished version has more energy. Any comments/ opinions?

Pastel Landscape 4

2011-02-07T13:31:00.002-05:00

Last week between blizzards I made my way to my studio at the Stutz to pick up some art supplies to take home. So while the nation was covered in snow and ice, I printed out some reference photos from vacations of the past. This is the result. A landscape from a forgotten spot, but I believe it would have to be at an Indiana State Park.

More Fun with Pastels

2011-02-05T16:07:00.001-05:00

Something I did after attending two Pastel Painting classes taught by Pam Newell. Love the class!

Sunset, Key West

2011-01-13T20:28:00.002-05:00

Debby sent me a photo she took from Jerry's trawler in the Gulf off Key West. They are always beautiful, but sometimes spectacular. She know I hadn't seen one in a while. I had to recreate it with pastels.

Wedding Dress - Commission

2011-01-11T12:39:00.002-05:00

Had fun doing this commissioned drawing of a wedding dress, with images of Rome, the honeymoon destination, in the background. What a great idea for the first, "paper", anniversary!

2010-11-21T13:42:00.002-05:00

Whew! The Holdiay Exhibition is history for another year! It was great fun, if you didn't get there you missed a good party. This was my first ever, so I have nothing to compare, but there were lots of positive comments about the show, from artists as well as guests, which I'm very glad of! I sold a handful of small pieces and prints, which is more than I had expected. When will this economy be better for the arts??

Holiday Exhibition

2010-11-02T13:59:00.001-04:00

Come see me and the rest of my Stutzie friends to begin the Holiday Celebrations!!

Mosaic Mirror

2010-10-31T17:08:00.002-04:00

Been creating mosaics lately. Hoping to sell some at the upcoming Stutz Holiday Exhibition on Nov. 19th. There are 2 more blue tile mirrors similar to this one that can be hung together. Haven't done mosaics in almost a year, forgot how relaxing it can be!

White Mums

2010-10-23T22:43:00.002-04:00

Finally, a new painting! This is pastels, done from a still life I set up in the studio. I kinda like it, it feels happy! Last week I put down a deposit on a new studio space! Vicky and I are going to share a great spot on 3C at the Stutz. Since the classroom is closing, we're going to move Open Figure to our studio. This should be a fun and exciting new venture!

Creativity Cycle!

2010-10-22T06:58:00.004-04:00

So long since my last blog...

Creating art is such a cycle, currently I'm in the phase where I try something different each day. Nothing is turning out very good, I'm throwing a lot in the trash. Yesterday I started something that MAY turn out good, a largish pastel and charcoal still life of mums in a pitcher. I quit when it seemed like each stroke I made on the paper was a mistake! The trick to starting this one was to think about it before I went in to my studio. I needed to bring something to do a still life of, so I spent a few moments in my garden. Also brought in some Christmas bulbs and strings of beads. Hopefully this will lead to Holiday Show items!

Speaking of the Holiday Show, AAggghhh! It's coming up fast, I'm in charge of it and don't know what I'll exhibit myself. Lots of preparation work to do yet, but have had some volunteers, so that takes some of the pressure off. Thank goodness there are FRESH artists as well as SEASONED ones willing to pitch in!

Admitedly this pastel painting has nothing to do with the rest of this posting, but is something I did a few weeks ago from a live model. Sometimes it's good to look back at what you've done in order to see where you're going!

"Shades" has a new home!

2010-10-02T10:56:00.002-04:00

I'm SO excited to announce that one of my latest pastel paintings has found a new home with Mike Perigo, whose wife Julie is also a Stutz artist. Mike and Julie were at the opening reception for "Voices, Women of a Certain Age", where Julie also has art exhibited. Shades State Park is a favorite spot of theirs, and Mike said he just had to have this. Lucky for me!

Going West

2010-09-24T10:02:00.002-04:00

More fun with pastels! I'm enjoying this experiment. This time I "fixed" the underpainting with turpenoid, a little risky on a light wt. drawing paper. It was important to let the turpenoid dry completely before moving on. I tried a few of my new Nupastel brand, and I really like them. Maybe a large set for my birthday? I need a better way to store all my pastels, looks like a job for yard-saling.

Now that the weather is getting nicer I need to pack up a few things to do some plein aire pastel painting. I found a painter's tripod stool at a yard sale, it needs to see some action!

Model Lying

2010-09-21T13:04:00.006-04:00

Yesterday four of us met at Michelle's house to draw from this live model. He is one of the best, interesting poses. I used smaller paper than usual, 14x17", so made the composition close in to the subject, which is so much more satisfying to do. Also, played with mixing compressed charcoal with charcoal pencil for hatching and detail work, and used pencil eraser for hatching as well.

Oct. First Friday

2010-09-15T20:05:00.001-04:00

This should be a really good show! I'm planning to do gesture sketches for donations to the St. Margaret's Hospital Guild. Come one and all!

Approaching Glacier

2010-09-14T19:46:00.002-04:00

Started this pastel painting today on a large sheet of drawing paper. It started as a pen and ink sketch done 2 years ago while in the car driving to Glacier National Park. The landscape through Montana and Wyoming was awesome! Talk about your wide open spaces, something a city girl like me doesn't see very often. The mountains really are purple!

Central Park

2010-09-10T07:58:00.002-04:00

My newest pastel work is from a photograph I took last year while visiting NYC. It's a view from Central Park. Although the buildings in the background are an important piece of the compostion, I didn't want them to be the focus, so made them very sketchy. It was a bright day, and the front of the buildings were very light against a gray-blue sky. This is why I used a gray-blue sanded paper. It's small, 9 x 12 inches, so I used a lot of hard pastels that I had more control over.

Gallery Representation!

2010-09-04T12:16:00.002-04:00

For the first time ever! I am now going to be represented by a gallery! This is something I've always thought would mean that I've "made it" in the art world, I guess I have! Kathleen O'Niel-Stevens is the owner of this new gallery in Carmel's Arts and Design district. Please stop in to see my art, and that of a whole lot of terrific artists. Her Grand Opening is coming up, so should be a lot of fun!

More Practise with Pastels and Charcoal

2010-09-03T07:38:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was somewhat productive. It's always a good day whe I get to draw from a model! The bottom image was done in open figure, and was done over 3 20 minute sessions. The first 20 minutes was spent on the body, the 2nd session was spent on the face. At the break after that I realized the face looked too small for the body/head. Thank goodness for fellow artists who pointed out that the only thing wrong was the placement of the eyes. In the 3rd 20 minute session I simply moved the eyes and finished off the hair and top of the head. I'm pleased with the result.

The top image is done in pastels, 20 x 16. I tried a landscape in pastels for the first time. This is done from a photograph taken at Shades State Park years ago. It took 2 days to complete. I'm pleased with this as a first attempt, it is on charcoal paper, which I haven't used much, and feels different than the drawing paper I usually use. With this I did much less blending with fingers, only a little in the clouds. With this paper more of the ground shows through. I will look for orange charcoal paper to use for landscapes, but not too confident of finding any.

Opinion Needed!

2010-08-31T23:02:00.003-04:00

Today I did a still life (Thank you, Susan, for the porcelain teapot!) using mostly hard pastels. The bottom photo was taken when I stopped for a break, then I returned and proceeded to put in more color, as you can see in the top photo. I'm not sure if I've overworked the piece. I'm still having a little trouble with muddy colors, but I'm getting a feel for why this is happening. Mostly, I think I tend to get mud when I'm putting cool over warm or vice-versa. I love the rich colors I see in other artists' pastel paintings, but I seem to have better results using a very limited palette. I just can't seem to resist adding more colors!

Franciscan Roses

2010-08-27T09:05:00.002-04:00

This is a little different for me, brighter colors. It was fun to work on, because I was experimenting with different ways to blend pastels, vs not blending at all. Because I kept re-doing parts of it, I think it's a bit over worked, but was a good "LE". (learning experience). I still need to work on getting proportions right, esp. for symmetrical objects like vases.

Short Sketch

2010-08-26T09:43:00.002-04:00

This is a charcoal sketch done in open studio a few weeks ago. We usually start with short poses, this one was 5 minutes, before moving on to longer poses. The short ones are nice because the model can sometimes get into some very twisted shapes which would be impossible to hold for very long. But a positive thing for me is that I can't overdue the drawing, which I am sometimes apt to do. I also try to impose the rule on myself, once the pose is over, STOP WORKING ON THE DRAWING. When I'm able to follow the rule, the result is always better.

More Fun with Pastels

2010-08-24T20:14:00.002-04:00

I've been playing with pastels some more. Last Friday some of us hired a model, and this is one of the results. I actually just did this in charcoal from the live model, and added the pastel coloring in my studio later. I'm not entirely happy with the actual colors I used for skin tones, but am happy with the process. It would be preferable to add the color with the model there, but this was done at the end of our session! Also, did the facial features in my studio, without benefit of seeing the live model, and I think it shows. Anyway, I'm having fun with it!

Broken Pottery

2010-08-13T09:43:00.003-04:00

Just finished this today after starting it yesterday. It's charcoal and pastel, about 3 1/2 ft tall, on paper. Thanks to Michele Soncini for the paper and the encouragement, and thanks to Susan Mauck, the new Hoosier Salon ribbon winner, for the idea for this series. This will be the 1st of hopefully a series of large pastel paintings/drawings? of broken pottery. I'm really having fun with this! On another note... After going to the Hoosier Salon Artists reception last night, I'm once again more excited about painting, and will soon take up brush and palette again. More to come...

Seated Nude, Profile

2010-08-10T17:46:00.002-04:00

This charcoal drawing was done in figure drawing open studio a few months ago. The glare is from the glass, as this one is matted and framed. It's amazing what a nice frame with wide mat will do for a simple drawing! This is one of my favorites.

New Drawings, Open Studio

2010-08-05T15:19:00.002-04:00

In the spirit of "Returning to Drawing", here is one of my latest charcoal drawings from life, done in our open studio. We have gotten some different models lately, and it seems to be helping me improve my technique. This drawing was done after preparing the paper with a coat of cold wax medium. It lends a "raw" quality to the drawing, as it is not possible to fully control the charcoal on wax. I kind of like this effect.

Charcoal Drawings

2010-08-03T19:10:00.002-04:00

What an incredible month! My son was married to his lovely bride 2 weeks ago in my backyard. Last week I was elected president of the Stutz Artists Association, and now I am trying to get back into not only doing art, but posting it on my blog. I was feeling the need to go back to my origins as a drawer, so over the weekend I changed the art hanging on my studio walls. They are now covered with charcoal and pen and ink drawings, most are nudes done in Thursday's open studios. This picture is of a charcoal drawing that I did today. It was the first art I have done in a week, and felt really good to do something! I do enjoy a good drawing session! I tried adding a little color, not much, with pastel pencils. Hope you enjoy it!

Butler Pond, Another Version

2010-06-28T15:37:00.002-04:00

This is a 24 x 20 oil painting done in my studio, using my smaller plein air painting as a reference. I wanted to try adding some colors not seen on site, and I wanted to see what I could do in the studio over several sessions. Instead of the usual orange underpainting I covered the canvas in an earthy red tone, since I have a lot of it. I think it works as a background color, but definitely darkens the painting as a whole.

Pink Roses, reworked.

2010-06-16T15:19:00.001-04:00

Based on some advise, and my own dissatisfaction, I've reworked the previously posted painting, Pink Roses. I like it better now, anyone else have an opinion?

Butler Pond, June 2010

2010-06-16T09:48:00.002-04:00

Completed this 16x12 painting during my plein air class yesterday. One lesson learned is to make sure I'm comfortable, in the shade, or I get too flustered and frustrated. It takes a while to realize that my rising feeling of frustration comes from not being able to see my canvas when the sun moves over it. I'd like to try the water again in another painting. It was very green-brown, with really no blue sky reflections within my picture frame. Next time I'll try a different composition to include sky reflection, but this time I was focused on the tall pine tree that looked like it was dripping pine needles. I don't think I really captured its majesty, but the painting is pleasing overall, I think.

Pink Roses

2010-06-09T17:49:00.002-04:00

My "New Dawn" roses were in full bloom last week, so I cut some branches and brought in to the studio. This 20 x 24" painting was done in 3 sittings. I found that the roses did not last long, so was difficult to go back to them in the 2nd sitting, still, I tried to keep the style loose. It is a fun painting, I'll try to do more floweres.

Study in Greens

2010-06-09T17:21:00.002-04:00

Last week our class met at the IMA's Lilly House again, and, once again, it was ghastly hot! Standing under the portico and looking directly toward the river, there is lots of greenery, so the challenge was to make it look interesting by varying the greens. Hopefully, I've accomplished this to some extent!

Indiana Landscape

2010-06-02T07:44:00.003-04:00

This painting is from week one of the current session of oil painting classes. It is from the beautiful IMA grounds, near the east entrance. I'm pleased with it and anxious to improve on it in coming weeks. It will be available for purchase at Friday's "En Plein Air" art show opening. If you're available, come see it!

Portico

2010-05-28T16:26:00.002-04:00

This painting is also from the IMA, done while standing in the shade of the portico at the Lilly House on a 90 degree day! I think it has an "Old World" feel, something I'll try to capture more often.

To see this one and lots more, come visit me at the June 4th show, "En Plein Air", at the Stutz Gallery from 5-9pm. Many of our studios at the Stutz will be open to the public from 12 to 5pm, just before the show opening.

En Plein Air

2010-05-28T16:22:00.002-04:00

Last week was a big one for getting outdoors to paint. Several of us are preparing for a plein air show on June 4th. This painting was done just outside the Lilly House at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. What a charming garden area!

TC Steele Grounds

2010-05-17T18:38:00.002-04:00

I was able to save the rained out plein air painting today. It's not exactly plein air anymore, but I hope I've saved some of the spirit of it. Did a lot of scumbling, added some shadows that weren't there on site. I think it improves the compostion. Hope it's not too busy!

Rained Out Paint Out

2010-05-16T13:00:00.002-04:00

This was the result of my first Plein Air Paint Out, not exactly what I was expecting. It started out to be a beautiful sunny day at the Flowers of T.C. Steele paint out in Brown County. Jerry Points, Susan Mauck, and I had come together. For my first attempt, I set up my easel to paint the "Big House" amidst its blossoming garden. Unhappy with my painting, I decided to move on to a different spot with a clean canvas. I chose this view from below the house looking up from the woods. Just as I was beginning to put some thicker paint on my canvas it began to sprinkle, softly at first, but becoming more insistent. I packed up my things in a heavy downpour and headed back to the cars. When the time for judging was near, Jerry, Susan, and I set up our paintings alongside the others. The rain had let up, but not for good. Soon it was pouring again, and my painting began to show interesting orange speckles. People asked me with interest, how did I get that effect? I had to confess it was by accident. I started with an orange ground. Since there was so much "thin" paint still on the canvas, it came off with the rain. After an hour or so of heavy rain, this picture is all that was left. I hope to save some of it and re-post when it's finished.

2010-05-07T08:21:00.002-04:00

These three sketches were done along the Pacific Coast this past week. My husband and two daughters and I were there enjoying the sun and surf. I did several sketches of water and rocks before feeling comfortable with them, although, "comfort" is a strong word to use in reference with sketching water! Can't wait to turn some of this into paintings, as it was the colors of the sky and water that were spectacular!

'Stutz Artists Association- Romancing the Paper'

2010-05-06T10:27:00.000-04:00

'Stutz Artists Association- Romancing the Paper'

Tomorrow evening's First Friday will feature my artwork along with nine others from the Stutz, please join us for a great time!

Early Spring

2010-04-06T16:22:00.002-04:00

Sometimes a painting turns out totally different from the original vision, this is one such painting. I set up a still life of spirea branches in a glass vase, but everytime I tried to paint it I didn't like the compostion, but I liked the still life when I looked at it, so what was the problem? I asked myself what it was that attracted me to the still life I had set up, and the answer was the flow of the lines the branches took when sitting in the vase. So I painted that, without the vase or the table it sat on. I kind of like it, but it's very different from my usual. A case of art in "the eye of the beholder".

Waiting

2010-04-03T08:08:00.002-04:00

This is a larger than my usual size painting, 30 x 24. I started it a couple of weeks ago in open studio, when Marla was posed at a TV tray table with this hat and dress. In open studio we made up a whole story about how she was waiting at an outdoor cafe for a blind date, who hasn't shown up yet, but her real true love is the waiter standing in the background. (Yes, we were all women in open studio that day.) I didn't want to try to include the waiter however, so I've re-worked this painting a couple of times, and I think I like it better now.

First Attempt at Plein Aire for the Season!

2010-04-01T20:33:00.002-04:00

The forecast was for fabulous weather, so I packed up my box easel and lunch and went to Holiday Park. I forgot, it's spring break, so the park was PACKED with kids! In order to get some solitude I hauled my equipment (15 - 20 lbs?) down to the river bank, about a 15 minute walk, which wouldn't have been too bad except I had also done my longest run for the season this morning, and my legs are killing me!
Spring at a riverbank means MUD, and lots of it, which is what I set up my easel in. When I started I was in the shade, but within 30 minutes I was in sun, and could hardly see my canvas anymore from the glare. I forgot my Liquin, so used terpenoid as my medium, and forgot my sunscreen, but at least had water. After about an hour of painting I'd had it. I packed up my load and headed back, or at least what I thought was back the way I had come. After climbing some unfamiliar looking hills, and scrambling in more mud, I finally found another human being who pointed me in the right direction, which of course was not where I was headed. By the time I got back to my car I had been out over 2 hours, but only painted for one. I finished my first plein aire painting of the season in my studio.

2010-03-30T19:14:00.001-04:00

This is the event for which I'm preparing my studio. Everyone who's Anyone will be there, so see you there!

No Art Today

2010-03-30T19:06:00.001-04:00

If I were to post a photo of what I painted today, it wold be totally white. I painted the walls of my studio in preparation for the upcoming big Stutz Open House. After the art is hung on the walls I'll post a photo of it!

Tropical Sunset, finished?

2010-03-27T08:28:00.002-04:00

I think this is an improvement over the previously posted tropical sunset. I extended the beach, changing the composition. Also changed the color of the sand, and some of the sky became pink rather than orange. It's a little less glaring. I still wish I could have kept it a little "looser", but am working on that.

Henry County Stutz Show

2010-03-26T08:40:00.002-04:00

Last night a group of Stutz artists traveled to New Castle for the opening reception of our first traveling show. The Art Association of Henry County very generously offered to host this show of Stutz artists' work, timed just right... before our annual Open House. Edward Jones Investments sponsored the show. Despite the less than perfect weather, and the success of the Butler Bull Dogs happening simultaneously, we had a decent attendance. I was especially excited to see a few people stopping at my paintings to take another look. Who knows, maybe more "traveling" is in our future!

Yellow Roses

2010-03-23T17:23:00.002-04:00

Did this 11 x 14 painting in Jerry's last oil painting class of the season. I kind of like it, I think it's one of those paintings that worked well, and I feel I learned something from it. Now if I can only capture that lessen consistently in future paintings!

Rocky Creek

2010-03-23T17:21:00.001-04:00

I did this before studying Scott Christiansen's rocks, and then tried to go back and fix my rocks. Somewhat succeeded. It's a pleasant painting anyway.

Study for Rocks

2010-03-23T17:18:00.002-04:00

This is a small, 9 x 12 (unfinished) painting of rocks just to paint rocks. I was studying a book Jerry leant me, art of Scott Christiansen, who does terriic rocks!

Tropical Sunset

2010-03-23T17:15:00.001-04:00

I thought I was done with this painting, until I see it photographed. I think I'll work on it some more, some of the color needs to be muted, and the beach needs a little work. It's one of my larger paintings though, 30x24.

White China

2010-03-17T14:22:00.002-04:00

In a recent painting class we were challenged to paint all white objects on an off-white background. My painting from that class didn't turn out so well, so I tried again with pieces I've been saving in my studio to break into mosaic tesserae. These bits of china are a little beaten up, but looked nice on a sunny day. I like the darker background, and enjoyed playing with the border. It's a little unexpected, but I kind of like that.

Cupcakes!

2010-03-14T11:29:00.001-04:00

This 11 x 14 was done for my class, the cupcakes really did have that swirl on the top, but I wasn't able to get it quite right. After looking at it a few days I've decided it's still a pleasant painting.

Avery

2010-03-14T11:25:00.002-04:00

Avery is my 2 1/2 year old grandson. He slowed down long enough to lay on the back of my couch to watch cartoons, but just long enough for a very rough sketch. This is the painting I did alla prima from the sketch. That little foot in the air just kept bouncing up and down, up and down...

Cabin Fever = March in Indiana

2010-03-07T12:19:00.003-05:00

OK, Here we go again... After 3 trips to the computer hospital, I am able once again to post on my blog! This pencil drawing is one I started on site and finished from a photo. This was my view sitting on Smather's Beach in Key West. Anyone who knows me knows that this is my favorite place in the world, and I haven't been there in almost a year! I'm really having withdrawals, but am so busy I can't possibly travel right now. So I get out old photos and sketches of the beach, and sigh...

2010-02-25T07:21:00.001-05:00

A quick pen & ink sketch of my grandson Avery laying on the back of our couch. Did a painting from this sketch.

Improving

2010-02-23T14:51:00.006-05:00

I've posted these two paintings to illistrate a point... The bottom piece was one I did about 5 years ago from a photo I took in the Florida Keys. It was one of my first painting efforts ever, done in acrylics. The top piece is an oil painting I did last week in our class, from a photo Jerry took in Hawaii. I think I've improved somewhat, and can attribute that to 2 things: first, taking some art classes, and second, doing lots of paintings!

There is simply no substitute for either of these methods to improve, as has often been pointed out to me, no one creates in a vacuum. To get better you MUST view others' art, get feedback, create together, THINK about how others do it. But even more important, you MUST draw, draw, draw, and paint, paint, paint.

Self Portraits.

2010-02-21T17:50:00.003-05:00

After the classes in portrait painting, I've been all into portraits, but have only myself as a model. So... last week I took a mirror into my studio and did a couple of self portraits. These are 2 of them which look a little bit like me. I have found that I am much more comfortable doing portraits from life than from photo, which surprises me.

I have also been doing some sketches from my living room window. Check out Urban Sketchers - Indianapolis for some of these!

Shannon

2010-02-19T15:38:00.002-05:00

My beautiful daughter-in-law posed for us when Susan Mauck stepped in for Jerry's oil painting class. She taught us her portrait painting techniques, and after one week of dismal results, I was able to paint this the second week. Although not a very good likeness of Shannon, I'm please with the painting overall, and really excited to practise my new portrait painting skills!

View From My Studio

2010-02-19T15:32:00.005-05:00

I'm Back!

2010-02-19T15:32:00.004-05:00

Our computer is up and running again, HURRAH!!!! I now have a backlog of images to post, but will try to go slow, no need to bombard you with everything at once!

I did this painting recently of my view out the window of my studio. Remember, this is mid-winter. The day was gray, but not completely overcast, so there is some lights and shadows contrast on the buildings, but the color is very low-key, with not much detail visible. I think I've captured the feel of the view I could see.

Down, Not Out!!

2010-02-15T04:52:00.000-05:00

For anyone following my blog, it must seem that I've fallen off the face of the earth. No, I've just fallen off the world wide web. Thanks to a nasty virus, my computer crashed last week. It is now at the computer hospital being taken care of by the geek squad. No access to my photos or the internet. Currently I'm on the computer at work (the hospital) in order to have internet access. Hopefully, in a few days we'll have our own baby back, complete with photoshop elements and my saved artwork! Until then, happy sketching to all!!!

Finished At Last!!

2010-02-02T06:20:00.000-05:00

It's done! The differences from the last time I posted this painting are subtle, but I think they make a difference. Notice the sky...

Now, on to something new, maybe a skyline of the city?...

Broken Eggs

2010-01-31T18:46:00.000-05:00

This still life was begun in my Wednesday evening oil painting class. It started out OK, but quickly got very muddy and ugly. Everything was purple! After it dried, I went back in with a lot of drybrush and adjusted the color of almost everything, and I think it is much improved. The inspiration is from Carole Marine's paintings of eggs as shared by our instructor, Jerry Points.

Warm Ups

2010-01-31T17:29:00.000-05:00

These are two small paintings, 6" x 8", that I did as "warm up" this past week. It helps me get going with the larger work. Today, though, I went back to them to improve both the color and brushwork. Some how, I think I'm starting to get the hang of this thing!

It's close to done...

2010-01-31T17:19:00.000-05:00

I worked on the large painting some, and it's almost done. I'd like to change the sky a little, make it darker at the top and try to add a warm yellow glow at the horizon. Have to wait for the sky to dry first!

Carole's Painting

2010-01-26T18:55:00.000-05:00

I worked on the large painting today, it's for a friend who's been waiting a long time, until I took enough painting lessons to be able to do this! It's probably 2/3 of the way done. It isn't as large as I thought, but is just under 4 feet tall. Still large for me!

Very Small Painting

2010-01-25T18:31:00.002-05:00

Before beginning the large painting in the last post, I decided to try a small one, just to warm up. This painting of my coffee cup is just 6" x 8". It's not terrific, but it did serve it's purpose... I was ready to begin in earnest when I'd finished this one.

Very Large Painting

2010-01-25T18:24:00.002-05:00

This scene of a footbridge on the grounds of the IMA is one I've painted before. What's new, for me, is the size. It's nearly 5 feet tall, so I have to move it up and down to paint on different parts of it. It's just the beginning. The large areas of orange are actually acrylic paint applied to tone the canvas before beginning the oil painting. As you can see, it was not possible to even finish my color notes in one sitting. I'm definitley using a lot of paint on this one!

Lotus, for the Fourth Chakra

2010-01-24T14:00:00.001-05:00

I've finished the Lotus abstract. I plan to put it in the upcoming show at the Stutz on Friday Feb. 5th. Hope it will be well received, maybe even sell!

Classwork

2010-01-24T13:56:00.002-05:00

Painting these watermelons from life was the assignment in Jerry Points last oil painting class. Originally my still life had a warm neutral background, which was OK, but one of my classmates had put his watermelons on a black background, which I really liked. I changed mine the next day, to a very dark purple-blue background, and I think it works.

Still Life in Progress

2010-01-21T08:15:00.002-05:00

This is an unfinished still life I set up in my studio. I'm having trouble with the lower right quadrant. There are about 5 thin books that the green candle is sitting on, but when I've painted them in, it doesn't look good, so I've rubbed it out. But now the candle is floating in air. Something needs to go under it, but what? Any suggestions? Also am still struggling with the background texture, and the reflections on the glass vase. Hope to work on this some more today.

2010-01-19T06:53:00.003-05:00

My husband took our camera to work with him today, so no new photos from my studio. This is a charcoal drawing done at the open figure drawing at the Stutz a couple of months ago. It's probably the best figure drawing I've done. The Open Studio group took a winter break, we start up again this Thursday. Can't wait! I miss not only the drawing from life, but the group interaction. In my next life I'll be living in an artists' commune, where we live together, grow our own food, and do art all day. It will be in a place it's warm year round, with wonderful vistas and quaint surroundings... But for now, I love the Stutz!

The Fourth Chakra

2010-01-16T08:17:00.006-05:00

This is about half done, it's an abstract piece I'm working on for the Stutz first Friday show, "The Fourth Chakra". The show is inconjunction with the American Heart Assn., and part of the proceeds will go to them. The fourth Chakra is the heart, it's color is green, and it is represented by the 12 petaled lotus. It signifies universal love, compassion, and forgiveness. Hope this painting will turn out well, and perhaps help the AHA.

Finished Painting?

2010-01-15T08:20:00.002-05:00

Further refinements, and hopefully, better modeling of the bottles, though I think they are still a little flat. The thing I struggeled with most was getting colors right. During class that was what I concentrated on, never really happy with the outcome. In the studio, not having the still life in front of me, I was free to make a nice painting instead of recreating what I was seeing. It seems that either goal is valid, it would be nice to be able to attain both of them!

2010-01-15T08:18:00.002-05:00

I made some changes to the painting from the class the evening before. Lightened the background, and changed the table to draped fabric. Tried to improve the brushwork in the bottles. But still not satisfied...

Oil Painting Classwork

2010-01-15T08:11:00.002-05:00

Art class has started up again, with Jerry Points instructing. As usual, it's fun, interesting, frustrating, fulfilling, stimulating. I feel fortunate to have such terrific talent to learn from right here in Indianapolis. This painting is what I ended up with after the first class. It was a still life set up by Jerry after the Stutz Artists Assn. dinner, using "leftovers". There would have been more wine bottles, but someone from the dinner retrieved one or two just as class began! Of course, the glass bottles were very challenging, but the ice bucket is actually plastic, which didn't have the distortion and reflections that glass would have. I was not very happy with the painting at this point, so the next day...

Eagle Creek

2010-01-14T18:15:00.002-05:00

This is the result of an afternoon spent photographing Eagle Creek Park in November. I'm not a very good photographer. I used to think this was a hindrance to working from my own photos, but it allows me to explore changing the composition and colors rather than just trying to copy the photo. I like the contrast of the vertical tree trunks against the horizon, and the contrast of the orange tree trunks, with the blue-purple horizon.

Heart of the City, Canal

2010-01-14T17:53:00.002-05:00

This painting is of the view seen when coming out from under a pedestrian bridge while walking the canal downtown, just south of the Eiteljorg Museum. It is a view I have admired for some time, and finally took a camera with me on my walk to get this shot. The painting was done entirely in the studio.

This is the first painting I've started and finished while at my studio. I'm pleased with it, and certainly wouldn't have done as well without the comments/advice/guidance from fellow artists at the Stutz. I am definitley loving the art community here!

My Studio!!!!

2010-01-14T17:47:00.002-05:00

It's been awhile since I posted, but am resolved to be a better blogger this year! Since my last post, I have rented (sub-leased) studio space at the Stutz Building in downtown Indy. I ablsolutely love being a Stutzie! Here is a photo of part of the interior. Although I wasn't looking for studio space, this opportunity was too good to pass up, and I guess I was ready to make the plunge. This has to be considered an investment in my happiness, as it certainly isn't a money making endeavor yet.

Stage 2, Value Sketch

2009-10-20T16:20:00.002-04:00

At this stage I have added ultramarine blue with the alizarin crimson to create a very dark purple. I have used this to lightly fill in some of the darkest darks, to further the value sketch. At this stage I am still pleased with how the painting is going. It took about 20 minutes to complete stages 1 and 2.