Opinion Needed!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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'

'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

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

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!

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.

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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...

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

Improving

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.

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

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

I'm Back!

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!!

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!!

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

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

 

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...

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

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!