Nancy Van Blaricom

Re-works

2012-01-22T12:17:00.000-08:00

I decided to work on some paintings that I didn't think were painted as well as I had hoped. The first one I had started a long, long, time ago, back in 2007 (make sure and read both the blog post from the 24th and the 26th ... funny thing happened... has that ever happened to you?)
I worked on it a little yesterday and just couldn't seem to get the sky and the trail into the dense wooded area to look right, so I eliminated that darn awkward fence that was in the middle of the painting and just made a path and more brush.

8" x 10" oil

I like the bottom one - the after one -best, but I'm still not sure this is what I was hoping for when I started it back in June 2007.

6" x 8" Potted Primrose - oil

Also, I thought my primrose painting looked awkward with the blossoms and the leaves in the back upper left sticking up... even though this is what the plant looked like with I started painting. I painted over what I didn't like and reworked a couple of flowers. What do you think? Maybe now its too perfect?

So what about you:

Do you always let your painting set for a week or more to see how they read to you before you post them either on your blog or web-site?
So you ever re-work a painting that is from a couple of years ago?
Do you just put the paintings you don't like into the garbage or do you save them and try to do something with them at a later date?

The latest goings-on

2012-01-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

Surrounded by Vines 7" x 14" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

This is a painting I just completed. I took the reference photo a few years ago while we were boating up in British Columbia. The original photo shows a lot of water below, but this was what I was thinking when I took the photo. All that green with the bright white of the house in the sun just spoke to me.

I love the size of this one. I had bought a couple of these to try awhile back. I think I'll be buying a few more to have on hand when the right scene comes along.

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Cherries from Chauvet's Orchard

by Ruth Phillips

Recently while reading an art blog (I can't remember who's blog it was now) I read about a book they were in the middle of reading. This is a book written by the wife of Julian Merro-Smith of the Postcard from Provence blog, Ruth Phillips.

After reading an excerpt of the book on Amazon I decided to purchase it. As soon as it arrived I found I could hardly put it down. She is an excellent writer. If you are looking for a new book to read I recommend this one. I know I will re-read this one a few times.

This is the book description from Amazon:

This is When an English painter moves to Provence in search of the muse, he is looking not only for artistic fulfillment but also for love, family and community. This funny and touching memoir chronicles his unconventional route towards almost everything he desires, whilst painting a vivid picture of how hard it can be for one man to face a blank canvas - even in paradise.

Potted Primrose

2012-01-04T07:35:00.000-08:00

Potted Primrose 6" x 8" canvas

I bought these primroses day before yesterday, when I was at the grocery store, for $1.50 apiece. I only bought one ... now I wish I would have bought a yellow and a blue one also to use as a prop. Wouldn't that be a nice to have all three framed on a wall? I like how I can see some of the toned canvas here and there through out the painting. Dang, I may need to go back to the store for the other two colors ....

Hang it, Dang it!

2012-01-03T12:01:00.000-08:00

Click image to enlarge ~ Arakawa wall hanging system

My husband has always wanted me to hang more of my work in our home, but I just didn't want nail holes all over the place. I have one large painting in the living room, a group of 3 small ones in a guest bedroom and thats it. This year, for Christmas, we bought a wall hanging system to hang my work from and I love it. I can change my paintings as often as I want with out worry of damaging the walls.

When we lived in Oregon, the local Columbia Center was where the local art guild had all of our art shows. The Center researched hanging systems and found Arakawa, in Portland Oregon to purchase a wall hanging system. We could have monthly shows with out hurting any of the walls. Because I knew the quality of the product, when we were ready to purchase a hanging system I thought of Arakawa. The rail is hung high on the wall, wires are slid into the rail and placed anywhere you want. You can use as many wires as you need to hang your work from. Its a great quality hanging system and if you are in the market for such a thing I highly recommend them. I'm thrilled with it.

Wishing you the very best for 2012.

Back Yard Snow ...

2011-12-29T15:35:00.000-08:00

Back Yard Snow 8" x 6" Oil

With only a few days left until 2011 comes to an end I wanted to paint one last painting before the new year, something wintery. Looking through a stack of old photos I found a view of our back yard in a house we lived in before we moved here, a winter scene filled with snow. Our back yard (at the time) butted up to a 20 acre forest and a trail from our back yard ran through the forest and led to a creek then on back home. In the summer time the forest was a cool place to hike when it was hot outside. This view is just to the left of the trail.

All comments and critique are welcome.

Before the end of the year...

2011-12-16T12:35:00.001-08:00

I'm pretty happy with myself in the fact that during this busy time of year I have not used that as an excuse not to paint. I am still going forward and working toward becoming a better oil painter. During this last week ... well, since I completed the red ornament painting, I now have another finished oil to add to the first.

Reflections of Silver ~ 5" x 7" ~ oil

After I completed the red ornament painting I thought I should start another one right away so that what new skills I had used wouldn't be forgotten. Again, I'm happy with what I've produced. Although the painting I did with the red was nice, I think I'm liking this one better. Maybe its the warm browns and blue combination. Then again maybe its because I had so much fun seeing shapes and painting what I saw.

I think I may try one more holiday painting before the end of the year ..... but not until after some gifts are wrapped.

On another note, one of the blogs I frequent is by a wonderful Oregon artist named Marla Baggetta, her work is beautiful and I love the way she writes. In this post I really felt she was talking to me ....

Being Kind to Yourself

We beat ourselves up most of the time. If only we viewed ourselves like we view our own friends, we'd be better off. Quieting our voice of judgment and giving ourselves credit for what is working in our work and building on that. We are quick to find what is "wrong" and then discount the whole. We are fast at niggling away at those areas in our work and in life that aren't perfect. Well, perfection is a state of balance that to me, simply does not exist... Be nice to yourself, be slow to find error and quick to find the good. Be as patient with yourself as you would be to a good friend. You are your own best friend. Then, remember to paint, paint some more and then after that, paint!!!

Do you think she was singling me out?

I'm happy ...

2011-12-13T13:35:00.000-08:00

Reflections ~ 5"x7"~ oil

I've painted a holiday painting and I'm happy with it. Two amazing things when you think about it.

I have two of these small inexpensive panels measuring 5" x 7". I thought it would be nice to use them both for ornament paintings.

Its amazing all the reflections you can see in a round object. It really makes you focus your attention on shapes, not named objects. I really enjoyed painting this one. I'm happy .....

Reflecting ...

2011-12-07T08:11:00.000-08:00

Reflect : Verb

1. The snow reflects light ... (send back).

2. Their expressions reflected their feelings .... (indicate).

3. He reflected on his responsibilities ... (think about).

Lately, I'm sure it's because of the holidays, I keep seeing more and more artists painting reflected surfaces in their work. Bright, shiny objects. Pretty sparkling reflections in shiny objects. Being new to oil painting I thought I'd better do some practicing before I attempt to paint a reflection on canvas so I decided to do the 10 minute exercise to get me use to painting reflections.

oil on paper

In the first group of painting exercises I didn't even start out top to bottom or left to right. I had this lone red ornament sitting on a white paper towel. Looking back on these now I see my number #1 wasn't as bad as I originally thought and my number #4 wasn't as good as I thought. I like the reflection in number #1 best I think. "Reflecting" on it now, seeing the results, I'm more confident in giving this another try. Maybe on canvas this time.

oil on paper

Hmmm, what can I say about this second group of reflected surface exercises? When I showed this to my husband he said he was glad I told him what it was because he didn't recognize it as our sterling silver pepper shaker. I had placed a piece of cardboard behind the pepper shaker and it was sitting on a paper towel. Remember that in these exercises you are allowed 10 minutes and no pre drawing, so that is my excuse for having them look like they were bent and broken. Needless to say, #4 was no better than number #1. I'm gunna leave these out of my painting. If you own it and you still don't recognize the object after it's painted ... its best to move on.

Counting our blessings

2011-11-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

This time of year I need to reflect and ask myself some questions. Do you take the time to feel gratitude through-out the year, not just on Thanksgiving? When a friend calls, a loved one drops by, or when you are able to share a meal with others. The list goes on and on. I am so grateful for you all ... that you come back time and again and show interest in my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Art ... under your feet

2011-11-20T19:35:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed, I've been away. Not doing any art, but instead I've been taking a lot of inspiring photo's. I thought these three were worth sharing with you all. Can you imagine living with this beautiful tile work beneath your feet as you go about your business during the day? Even on a rainy day they make life look brighter.

Now I'm back to the real world where my calendar tells me that our local holiday bazaar is this next week-end and I still need to prepare some things for that, orders are coming in for Christmas cards using the note cards from the house portraits that I sold during the local art show earlier this year and I still have a list of works I can't wait to oil paint. Can you tell I'm going to be busy, busy, busy?

A book that inspires .....

2011-10-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

Winston S. Chruchill's book

PAINTING as a Pastime (click to enlarge)

Do you have a book that speaks to you ... one that gets you excited to paint when you read it? That makes you want to do as it says? I do. Its Winston Churchill's small book titled Painting as a Pastime. The first time I read it I couldn't believe how he described painting in oils. Although I had been using watercolors exclusively, his words made me want to rush out and buy oils and canvas.

He writes: "I write not word in disparagement of water-colours. But there really is nothing like oils. You have a medium at your disposal which offers real power, if you only can find out how to use it. Moreover, it is easier to get a certain distance along the road by its means than by water-colour." "One sweep of the palette-knife 'lifts' the blood and tears of the morning from the canvas and enables a fresh start to be made." "Lastly, the pigment itself is such a nice stuff to handle (if it dos not retaliate.")

This book is so small ... just 32 pages of written text, that you wouldn't think the words written in it could mean so much to someone reading it, but, each time I read it I can't wait to start painting in oils again.

If you are thinking of painting in oils or do already paint in oils, I think this book is one you'd like to be on your book shelf.

Do you have a book that inspires you to paint, draw or sculpt? I'd love to hear about it.

Overwhelming ...

2011-10-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

8" x 6" oil - unnamed

On the third day of Kathleen Dunphy's workshop we were to paint water. I ended up focusing on the greens of the trees and I became so confused. All the greens seemed to run together. Now in the studio with my reference photo, which was a poor photo, I find its still too confusing to me. And working on the painting today is not improving it. I think I need to pick a bush or two, but not a whole forest yet ...

Time to move on to another painting.

A bit of humor for you:

While we gone the last five weeks we stopped at both Yosemite National Park and Crater Lake National Park. Both parks ask you to store your food in bear safe containers. At Crater Lake National Part this is a sign we saw as we entered the campground ... Someone had a great sense of humor and put a stuffed bear on the sign.

Correcting a few problems ?

2011-09-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure I've improved much on the painting, but I did eliminate "trying to capture sunlight hitting the metal roof". I added a little bit of color to the edge closest to the trees, yes, I was nervous trying anything, but like Celeste said "go on to the next Plein Air painting". Think thats what I'll do.

The above photo is the corrected version. (I can never get two photo's to look the same as far as brightness, color saturation... neither one looks 'just' like the painting.

8' x 6" oil, unnamed

This was my painting from the first day of Kathleen's 3 day workshop. Well, actually I forgot to take a photo of what it looked like after my first day, but take my word for it, it looked nothing like this, just some strange blocked in shapes. This is the painting now after I worked on it a couple of days after I got home. Just in case you can't tell what it is, (ahem, lie to me please, tell me you knew what it was, ok?) it is a barn... with two roofs.

One of Kathleen's suggestions was that after we have worked on a painting and you think it is going south, ask your self some questions like: Is it the design? Is it the drawing? How are your values? etc. When I question this painting I find that the sunlight that is suppose to be on the barn, that lighter line going from left to right about in the middle of the painting, really doesn't look like sunlight on the metal roof. I have since attempted to correct that, but it still doesn't look like light hitting the metal roof. Also, in the upper right hand corner when I used a color isolator the afternoon of the workshop I found that the hill side really WAS that value and color, but I'm not sure I've depicted what that is in the painting. What do you think?

Even though the painting has a number of issues I don't find the whole painting bad ...some things that I do like are my trees, how the light is seen around the edges .. back lit. . Also I think I conveyed that it was a bright sunny day.

What do you think, I'd love to hear your thoughts ... How would you suggest I 'fix' this painting? Do you see some issues that I didn't?

Learning the hard way ...

2011-09-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

I think most of the time, good, really good lessons are learned the hard way. Such as me leaving my paint box palette filled with paint to harden ... for one week.

See the dried up mess on my almost new Guerrilla paintbox palette below? Ouch, what a mess.

Next photo you see a paper towel with paint scrapings from the above palette. I ended up using a palette knife, odorless turp and a retractable razor trying to remove the dried on paint. Some big globs, some small smearings of paint. All very hard to remove from the wood palette.

After working on this for quite awhile I've finally removed all the paint and I've learned my lesson to never leave the paint on my palette this long again.

In Kathleen Dunphy's workshop her palette was a beautiful grey that had accumulated from wiping up the oils. After time it had turned a beautiful hard smooth surface. I think I'll try this next time before my paint dries too hard. I chalk it up to being new at oils, what do you think? Have any of you learned this lesson the hard way?

My workshop with Kathleen Dunphy

2011-09-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

6" x 8" oil

Whew, just arrived home from a three day workshop with Kathleen Dunphy in Murphys California. Each of the three days was filled with Kathleen's generous knowledge of oils and plein air painting.

On our first day we started out with a three hour lecture followed by mixing our paints, then after lunch we went out to paint in the warm afternoon, or should I say I attempted to paint. Geesh, I was feeling so confident when I arrived and yet I froze with I got out in the field trying to put paint to canvas. Okay, my first day was less than I had wanted for myself but after I gave myself a little pep talk that evening the next day was much better. We all met at a local winery at nine the next morning and because it was pretty hot after a demo by Kathleen, I chose to set up my easel in the shade of a beautiful grape arbor facing the front of the wine tasting building. As I started painting Kathleen came by to see how I was progressing and was pleased with how I had started and her words were just what I needed to continue and not freeze like I had the day before. The above painting was the results of the day. I still may do a few more things to my painting, but for the most part I was very happy with the light I caught and the shaded of the front porch. I am thinking that now I may be able to pull the other two out of the ditch and make them better.

I was more than happy with my three days at the workshop ... and I think it was just what I needed to more forward with my goal of painting en plein air in oils as well as studio work using oils. Right now my head is reeling with all the information I received.

I hope to share more tid-bits of my trip as the week rolls along.

House portraits - done.

2011-08-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

Click photo to enlarge

Here's a collage of house portraits I've completed. I also finished two others but they are meant to be surprise gifts so it wouldn't be a good idea to show them yet on the blog. You can see one person wanted hers to be more of an illustrated holiday theme so she could use the cards as Christmas card. This helped break up the routine of the same-ness of this project.

It has been such a fun project and one I'd recommend to any artist. Each portrait is 5" x 7". I matted each one with white matt and also gave a 6 pack of cards with each portrait that they may reorder at any time for the regular price of $12.00. I packaged the portrait and the cards in a cellophane bag and tied them with a raffia bow.

Watercolor house portraits ...

2011-07-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

Two finished house portraits

I've been busy working on the house portraits that were commissioned during the Art Show and Sales event that took place on the 9th of July. Above are two of the house portraits I photographed this afternoon. I finished and delivered another but forgot to photograph it.

I like the presentation package I came up with. Each 5" x 7" painting is matted with a 8" x 10" white matt and foam core backing and encased in a clear envelope. The package of 6 note cards is in a clear package and attached to the front of the painting with a small piece of double stick tape. Both are then placed in a larger clear envelope and a bow of raffia encloses the whole package of note cards and painting together. A nice presentation for the owner of the house.

This is the first time I've really done house portraits. Do you have experience with this type of commission? Would you consider doing house portraits?

Saturday's Art Show and Sales

2011-07-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

7" x 5" watercolor sketch, matted to 10" x 8" with matching note cards

Remember me telling you about the Art Show and Sale ? Well Saturday was the day and the weather was perfect for such an event. It was well attended and a huge hit with both the vendors (aprox. 20) and attendees.

Lunch could be purchased for a $5.00 donation, proceeds going to a local school. The menu consisted of a glass of wine, sandwich wrap, 2 salads, 2 asparagus spears, and a huge strawberry, all served on a small clear plastic plate with a paper doily. It was a masterpiece in its self . Attendees could help themselves to dessert of either a lemon bar or brownie or both. As you can imagine the food was a huge hit.

I usually try to come up with something new for each of these shows and this year I offered a 5" x 7" watercolor portrait of the purchasers home, matted to 8" x 10" and a free pack of 6 matching note cards. I felt I could only offer it to 5 buyers because my schedule from August through November is very full and wouldn't have time to finish them after August. I sold out with-in the first hour. And, it was so fun to offer something that so many people were interested in. I even took two more orders from people who swore they didn't need the portrait until after the first of 2012.

The show was well advertised and it showed that those in charge had worked hard to make it the great event it was.

Now time for me to get back to work and get some painting done ....

Is my face red?

2011-06-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

How embarrassing ... Last night as I was cleaning up my studio I found step #4 of Franks Serrano's Step by Step under some paperwork on my desk. I didn't remember seeing it before. I was happy to see it yet since I had already posted the photo of what I thought was finished I was a little embarrassed. Oh well, what to do but attempt to make it more finished.

I stayed up and worked a little more on it as well as some this morning, but, I'm stopping now. Too much sticky paint.

I wish it would have been my photo reference so I'd 'know' what I was looking at in Franks demo. Even though I am not sure of all the detail I do think it looks better since I worked on it more.

8" x 8" on paper

This photo of Franks finished work shows what the painting was suppose to look like.

Another Frank Serrano Step by Step

2011-06-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

I should have been working on Exercise #17 of Charles Sovek's book Oil Painting Develop Your Natural Ability today, especially since we are finished with the house painting, but in #17 he wants you to have a person pose for you while you paint the person sitting and the shadow predominates so only a third of the figure is in light. So, maybe in a day or so when we have sun and I can get the poser to ~~nap~~ sit for me while I paint.

Meanwhile, I remembered I still had one more Frank Serrano Step by Step I had saved. (I think I found these on American Artist web-site some time ago)

You can see the first Frank Serrano step by step I did here.

Oil on paper ~ aprox. 8" x 8"

I would rather have painted a scene of the Northwest, but it was still nice to get my brush in the oils again an try to think shapes as I attempted to read what he suggested in steps 1, 2 and 3.

As I was painting I was thinking it didn't have enough detail, but now that I'm finished I think it has just the right amount of detail, especially since the title of his lessons were How to Paint en Plein Air: Beginner Landscape Oil Painting.

The top photograph is my take on Frank's Lesson 2: Conveying Time of Day. The second is the photo of his finished lesson.

Can you tell what time of day it is suppose to be? You may find it easier to guess by looking at Frank's finished painting, but it was tough for me to tell. All in all I'm happy with this one. Not perfect, but still pretty good. What do you think?

Still learning

2011-06-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

Back in March I told you I was working through Charles Sovek's book, Oil Painting Develop Your Natural Ability. I am finally getting back to where I left off at that time. About 3 weeks ago I started on Exercise #16 and promptly got buried with a number of other things and couldn't finish this easy (?) exercise. In his book he suggest working outdoors where you have direct sunlight striking your object. At that time it was raining here and the sun was only a memory. Instead I pick a photo that I had showing light and shadow very well after I put it in Photoshop and turned it into a black and white.

Click to enlarge this group of photos

The photo I chose was a street scene, plenty of light and shadow. I was to lay in opaque passages of blue for the shadows and cad orange and white for the lights. That was when I got interrupted and didn't get back to it until now. I did keep thinking about this when I was off doing other things and told myself "remember, big shapes", then "remember little shapes. You know, after the painted in the big shapes, I became frozen... "what now?".... deep breath ... "this isn't rocket science but canvas and paint ... if you mess up its nothing serious, move on." So I did, I kept working, not thinking of how the finished painting would look, only of shapes. Keeping the sunlit areas warm, the shadow area cool.

I'm finished with this one but think I need to attempt this exercise again when I can do it all in one sitting. The title of this exercise is "Using full color to show the various home values of objects within the light and shadow patterns of a composition." I will attempt this one sometime when I can be outside and see the colors better and not just the muted shapes in a photograph.

On to exercise #17.

Plain air easels, ohhhh my

2011-06-13T06:39:00.000-07:00

I have come to realize when its time to make a choice between two or more things, no matter what the things are, it's going to be tough for me to make a final decision.

Now that I'm trying to learn oil painting, I think ... I plan on doing, plenty of plein air painting. Years ago I had purchased a full Mabef French easel, not realizing how much it would weigh once I had filled it with paints, brushes, turps, etc. Plus its awkward if caring it any distance.

Recently I've been researching plein air easels and I found that there were plenty to choose from and a lot to consider. Weight, price and size were my main considerations. It makes a girl dizzy just looking at all of the types of plein air easels out there. I wanted something that was light weight, sturdy and relatively small, and not break the bank. I wanted to be able leave the house at any time and not worry about forgetting something.

It was a tough decision and I finally narrowed it down to 3, the Easy L Lite, the Coulter Plein Air System, and the 9" x 12" Guerrilla Box. I was able to make my final decision based on all three of my needs. Price, weight and size. I purchased the Guerrilla 9" x 12". I was fortunate to find a new Guerrilla Paint Box up for auction on Ebay (a friend found it for me on-line ... thank you Nancy) and won it for $69. A huge savings off the regular price of $179. It weights 5 lbs. but built solid and sturdy. Also, I was really sold on the idea that I can carry paint, turps etc all in the 9" x 12" paintbox. (I realize the weight will change once I pack it full of paint etc. ) And, its balanced so I can set it on a a table or use a tri-pod. I can grab my box and walk to the waters edge or paint out on the deck and have everything with me and ready to paint.

Its been a tough decision and one I didn't take lightly. I realize I'm new to oil painting and in time, after more experience, may change my mind. But for now I'm thrilled to have finally made a decision and a purchase. Yippee, that decision has been made!

Tell me, did you have as tough a time picking out your plein air easel? Did you have requirements you felt you had to have? Were you able to get them all in your plein air easel choice? Have you changed your mind and bought a second easel having realized you wanted something else?

That time of year ....

2011-06-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

I realize I haven't posted on my blog for awhile, but its not that I haven't been busy. I was asked to design a flyer for our little local art event and that took a bit of time. I was given the words as well as the photos of artists work, I just had to put them all together in a manner that looked good. I think I accomplished that, what do you think?

Click to enlarge

Don't think I haven't been painting up a storm. This time I'm using acrylic latex satin enamel. You guessed it, we are painting the outside out our house. Whew, I'm beginning to see the end in sight so maybe before long I can post some work in oils. Its that time of year when we find things that keep us busy both inside as well as outside. Happy painting.

Thanks Frank ... (and Kevin)

2011-05-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

I'm still trying to 'get it'. Block in the shapes. How hard can that be right? The other day I found a step by step from American Artist Magazine. Frank Serrano gave directions, step by step, on how to start a painting. The name of the article was "Paint En Plein Air: Beginner Landscape Oil-Paintnig Techniques From Frank Serrano". Wow, I thought, maybe this is just what I need. I have never really done a step by step and looking at his painting and the steps along the way, he made it look as if it was something I could complete ... and get right. Maybe I would finally 'get it' after all.

The above photo is Frank's (Frank Serrano) finished painting. What my painting would look like when I completed all of his steps in the article. ....( yea, right ). I had my canvas, a small 4" x 6 " I thought small would be best and let me finish faster. I've got to stop that. Small isn't necessarily better, in my case anyway.

I was very impressed with his instructions, his step by step. He was very thorough, even telling what colors he mixed to make the different painted passages. I'm thinking "how could I miss" with all the details he was giving. Soooo, when I got to the end of the article, the above photo is what I had accomplished. I was so disappointed. It looked horrible, it wasn't any better than I'd done before. Being frustrated I grabbed a Kevin MacPherson book and headed to the recliner to once again read about the process of painting. Ah haa.... there it was, I wasn't finished .... I just had the basic shapes down. Now was the time to go into the larger shapes and put down smaller shapes. I've never done that before! I've read about it and thought about it prior to picking up a brush, but now I went back to my painting and start to put down the smaller shapes.

The above picture is after I went back in and put in more shapes. Yippee, I think I'm finally getting it. No, I'm not mistaken by thinking this is a great painting ... Its great because I finally understand and have done what I'm suppose to. Big shapes, then add the smaller shapes after all the large shapes are down! Frank had said that, but I just hadn't read it that way.

I really appreciated the step by step as it made me finally realize about the blocking in of the large shape process. But, if I were to change anything about the article it would be that I could have seen a reference photo of the area and not just attempt to 'copy' Franks painting with out knowing 'why'.

There is still one more step by step he offered in the download and I'm thinking I'll give it a try also. Who knows maybe I really do finally understand.

Are your roses blooming yet?

2011-05-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who lives in France who paints the most beautiful flowers and she tells me her roses are blooming now.

This small little rose painting is no where near the beauty that she paints, but I thought she might appreciate seeing that I am thinking of her and her beautiful paintings.

3 1/2" x 3 1/2" oil on wood block

Garlic ~ a veggie?

2011-05-13T01:45:00.000-07:00

3 1/2" x 3 1/2" oil on wood block

Although I've been looking forward to starting a new oil painting since my return from vacation I keep running into obstacles. Yesterday with some garlic in hand I went to the studio and decided that I'd paint a small painting for Daily Paintworks weekly challenge, which happens to be Paint Your Vegetable this week.

~ I had gessoed a number of these small wood blocks awhile ago and thought they

would make nice little paintings if shown in a grouping. Although the size is attractive, I find them a little small to hold and try to paint, yet, I was having a hard time keeping it on my easel because of the 1/2" thickness of the board. Since painting this and taking a good honest look at it, I've decided that I'm not pleased with it and won't be posting it to the weekly challenge. Maybe I'll try another challenge or attempt another vegetable. Also, the real painting doesn't have this bright yellow in it, but I couldn't seem to get rid of it with photoshop.

Nancy ... where have you been?

2011-05-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

Watercolor sketch - somewhere in the Caribbean islands............

I bet you didn't even miss me ...... If you didn't that's because that is just how I had hoped it would be. I had painted my boat yard painting prior to leaving and took pictures as I finished each step and then scheduled the postings. This is the first time I've used that particular blogger feature and I can see where, if you painted ahead a lot, it could come in handy.

I wanted to tell you all that I really appreciate all the comments I received on my boatyard painting. I particularly love the tips I received. Invaluable. I've started a notebook to keep such suggestions and hopefully will not just write the tips down, but read and utilize them as well. Thanks bunches.

~~~ this little watercolor is a typical scene in the Caribbean. I used a 140 lb. Arches watercolor scrap, painted to about 4" square, that I had laying around. I painted this from memory. Trying to remember the beautiful white sand, the unbelievable turquoise water (who ever heard of such a thing?) and beautiful bright sky with huge white billowing clouds.

Finished ....

2011-04-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

I'm finished. I think I was too uptight when painting this one, but I'm ok with the finished product. Give me your thoughts? Do you have any tips you can share that I could try on my next attempt?

And more......

2011-04-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

I'm now thinking I might be getting too picky. I really would like to paint in loose style, but I don't see it happening on this one.

A little more work done ...

2011-04-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure you can tell, but I've done a little more work on the painting. I particularly enjoy adding the rust to the boat. Give me more rusty boats. Fun to paint maybe but not fun to work on in the boat yard.

Adding more color ...

2011-04-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

Even though I'm getting more color on the board I'm not feeling all that comfortable as an oil painter yet. I'm sure with experience I will learn to breath as I paint ... *grin. I think I am finally learning to wipe my brush off after I apply paint instead of going right into my turps and clean the brush. I was really getting some dirty thinner/turps and am glad to be changing that habit.

The next step ...

2011-04-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

I was a little nervous when trying to get some sky color on my support. What colors should I mix ... how do I 'say' it was a sunny day? All parts of my attempt to learn. I was painting this from a photograph and I don't think the sky reads the same as in person. Anyway I am moving forward, writing down some thoughts as I continue on. If you are wondering what that is in the bottom right corner, its a bulldog clip, holding my support onto my easel ...

The beginning ...

2011-04-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

I think a lot of you know the kind subjects I want to paint. I'm mostly interested in sea and landscapes. I am very interested in my surroundings of boats, saltwater, sea life, and birds of the pacific northwest. Knowing this you won't be too surprised to see the first subject to be painted on my freshly gessoed supports will be a boat. This reference for this painting was a boat I saw in a 'bone yard', slang for an area where old or discarded boats etc. are collected before being disposed of.

Above I was playing around with some thumbnails. Just getting the hang of seeing the boat and the drawing in the square format. I decided it was ok and plunged forward.

I was really happy with the warm underpainting I chose for one of my 10 minute Apple exercise
a few posts earlier and I wanted to try that again. I chose this bright yellowish gold. Next I
used drew a grid and my drawing on the support with a ball point pen. I don't think I would
ever have thought of using a ball point pen but I had read on Terry Miura's
March 18th blog post that he had used it andI am up for experimenting to see just
what I like and don't like when it comes to any part ofmy new oil painting journey.

I think I'm off to a great start.

Getting ready to get ready

2011-04-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

Having a full, well almost a full, bucket of acrylic gesso I decided it was time to gesso some wood and masonite in anticipation of putting some paintings on them. Somewhere I had read a small sponge roller works well with gesso and I did think it worked very well. Although being new to oil painting I'm not really sure what texture I should be looking for to paint on ... so this looked great to me after I gave the supports three coats. I had one masonite piece and forgot to paint the back or at least put an X of gesso on the back. I also had two 9" x 9" wood panels and 8 small 3.5" x 3.5" wood supports. On one of the 9" x 9" I did adhere some canvas to it and the other I left just gessoed. Now I think I'll put a coat of gesso on the canvas as well as the back of the masonite I forgot. So being I'm new at this ... do any of you have tips or thoughts that I should do next time?

Some painting exercises ..

2011-03-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

I have found too many things to occupy my time lately and have not been doing as much oil painting as I had hoped to. Here are some of the exercises I have completed since I last worked from the book "Oil Painting Develop Your Natural Ability" by Charles Sovek,. The next assignment will be working on exercise 16. I had just glanced at this exercise and for the last week or so assumed it needed me to observe a subject out of doors. Thinking I needed a lot of sun, I have not progressed further. Having read a little today I see I can work without bright sun. Good. I won't need to wait for three or more months until we see summer. Lesson learned, 'don't assume' anything.

Beach Grasses

2011-02-27T09:09:00.000-08:00

Small study on paper 6" x 8"

This started out approximately 8" x 8". After completing the painting I looked at it for awhile and I wasn't happy with the foreground so I decided to cropped it in Photoshop. Now I like it better - cropped. In the cropped out foreground I had attempted to put in some wet sand that was partially in shade and had some of the grasses, but I couldn't pull it off to make it look realistic.... crop, crop, crop.

So, what do you see?

What time of day is it?
Whats the overall feeling, mood?
Summer, Winter, Fall, Spring?

I'll give you a clue. This doesn't look anything like the photo reference I worked from.

Today, I'll attempt to paint another. Today, I'll do a value sketch. Today, I'll put in my shaded areas first. Today I'll start out with a list of things I must remember as I work. Todays a new day.

One more time...

2011-02-24T14:31:00.000-08:00

I think this will be my last 10 minute sketch photos that I share with you all for awhile. I have really enjoyed these exercises and do see the value in them, but, for the next couple of oils I'm going to work on something besides these exercises.

The top two apples were painted yesterday and this morning I did the last two. I toned the square in #4 and found I enjoyed seeing the orange some through the paint in different areas. Also, I think this exercise turned out the best ... even it I did have to cheat and add a minute or so. I think my green values could have been a little closer to each other than I was able to mix this time.

I found time today to mix some green color charts. I have it all written down as to how I mixed these and when the oils dry I'll write the color combinations on the canvas.

More 10 minute exercises

2011-02-22T07:19:00.000-08:00

Number 1 is starting at the top left, number 8 bottom right. I'm thinking I like number 7 the best and yet none of them turned out as I had hoped. I couldn't get the color of the perfume correct.

It is very pale with hardly any color to it. And my shadows .... huh, what was I thinking?

I think I would have done better to put it on something colorful instead of something white.

Having said all that I enjoy these 10 minute exercises. You really don't have time to dwell on anything. Think about it and move on. Things I know I'm having issue with is not thinning my paint when I should then having to stop and thin some, forgetting that dark is usually thin, light paint is usually thicker.

So what do you think, was my first mistake not putting the perfume bottle on something with more color? Also that I should have thinned my paint before I started the painting?

I have one green apple and before it is eaten or dies a shriveled death I think I will try the 10 minute exercise with it.

Fun times ... I'm enjoying this journey.

The 10 minute challenge

2011-02-18T14:40:00.000-08:00

10 (?) minute glass float painting exercise

Hey, I did it. Well, somewhat did it. Carol Marine challenged us to set our timer for 10 minutes and paint an object ..... 8 or so small square paintings (I was nervous and thought I'd just attempt painting 4) and choose one item to paint. I chose a small Japanese glass fishing float. (I bet you're glad I told you what these were suppose to be, huh?)

I started in the lower left corner. That was #1 and I forgot to set my timer but it was counting and when I stopped painting I had painted for 13 minutes. I'm a slow learner and did the same thing with the second painting, the lower right. I had forgot to set the timer to stop again and when I realized it, I stopped at 12 minutes. #3 is the upper left hand corner and I finally had set the timer for 10 minutes. Yeah, I can learn! theres hope after all *giggle. And, last, but in my case not least is the upper right, #4 10 minute painting. And I think the best.

I'm not sure there were any rules about pre-mixing your paints, which I did, or if you were to mix as you went.

It was such a fun challenge. I can see where it would benefit an artist to warm up for your painting session this way.

Evening Sky ...

2011-02-15T15:36:00.000-08:00

Evening Sky ~ 7" x 5"

I love the paintings I see with a hugh sky showing and just a sliver of land at the bottom of the canvas. Big billowing clouds. Wispy clouds. Threatening thunderous clouds. They all make for a beautiful painting and I've always wanted to paint a large canvas filled with sky. This is as far as I got today. One 7"x 5" calm and peaceful sky.

Wrapping up the Thomas Kitts workshop ....

2011-02-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

As I was leaving the workshop and discussing what I should work on at home to improve, Thomas thought I needed to work on the transition between objects. He could tell that I stalled when I got to those areas.

The room we painted in really did not have the best lighting for us to work from, as you can see in the above photo. We had light from the window as well as overhead florescent lights through out the room.

When I left the workshop the above painting is what I went home with. I really was having trouble grasping the idea of blocking in my objects ... ah ha.... finally I understood, but by then the workshop was over and time for me to be going home. I have let the painting ... the blocked in piece ... set on my easel since the workshop day, wondering if I should just leave it alone (like Thomas suggested) or work to complete it. Finally today I decided 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'. An so below is my finished piece. Now that I'm finished, of coarse, I can see that the folds in my cloth could be improve upon. I think I've got the idea about the transition areas, though I still need to think about these areas. I would like to have less detail in my work as I progress. I could have less hard edges and I'd certainly like to paint in a looser style, but, for now, considering that was my first workshop/class I think I am pretty happy with this one.

Finished painting from Thomas Jefferson Kitts one day workshop.

Thomas Jefferson Kitts Workshop

2011-02-09T13:43:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, February 4th, I attended Thomas Kitts one day workshop in Portland Oregon.

Being new to oils I had a lot of questions about the medium. I found it very helpful to watch Thomas paint while standing near-by and being able to ask questions as he demonstrated.

Thomas had about 4 still-lifes set around the large room we were using in the Oregon Society for Artists building and we were able to pick which ever one we wanted to try our hand at.

He chose the one above to use as his demo.

Below you can see he has most of his painting blocked in.

When it came time for the rest of us to choose our still-lifes I did not choose the one he had used as a demo ... Can you say intimidating? *grin. Instead mine had grapes, melon, wine bottle etc.

It was a very long day for me traveling 3 hours there and 3 back home, but I knew I had made the right choice in attending Thomas's workshop at the end of the day. We were busy the whole day and I found the time just flew by as I was busy trying to comprehend all that was being shared and painting my still-life. Although I wasn't able to complete my painting Thomas was very generous with his critique on my work for the day which was very encouraging.

I've been busy every since the workshop but am looking forward to getting some time in at the easel and put into practice what I've ~~hopefully~~ learned.

If you are in the Portland area don't hesitate to attend one of Thomas Kitts workshops. He's a very generous and helpful teacher.

In the Yard

2011-01-31T21:27:00.000-08:00

Before the first of the year, a friend gave me a box of blank greeting cards for oils or acrylics. I was so excited about having these that I thought I'd paint her a picture of a type of boat she use to own and send it to her as a Thank You. As you know, the best laid plans, etc. The above painting is the result of that attempt and needless to say she deserved better.

I've signed up for a workshop in Portland, OR, about 3 hours away from here, this coming Friday. If all goes well I will come home with some basics and more confidence in my oil painting tries.

I'm in the middle of some painting exercises from a Charles Sovek book and I'll post these later this week.

Another oil attempt

2011-01-25T15:52:00.000-08:00

So as not to give up and get too discouraged I thought I'd try another oil. I started out by blocking in the shapes and did not remember once to look for shapes after that.

I need to write myself notes and put them on my easel.

This is pretty small ... 6" x 4". Still, it was fun.

Oil Painting Practice #3

2011-01-24T14:44:00.000-08:00

No apologizes ... I'm still learning. *grin
I had an orange wedge as well as a whole orange that I set up on some white card stock and had a light shinning on the two. I drew the two (I use the term 'drew' lightly) on my support which happened to be another piece of card stock taped to some plexiglas and sitting on my french easel .... whew, so far so good. Now comes the hard part. I thought I'd mix my colors first so all I'd have to do is put the color down where needed. Well, that didn't work out too well as I kept having to mix more colors to match what I was seeing. I found I was thinning my paint too much at times and not at all other times.

Having said all that I realize I'm still learning and I'm pretty happy with the results. I've made notes to myself as to what I want to focus on with my next attempt.

don't thin the paint so much ... so frequently
look more closely at shapes
for now less blending
keep having fun!

Any suggestions you can offer are appreciated.

I'm just sayin'

2011-01-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

Is this a coincidence?

This top photo is of an oil painting that I cut out of an art magazine years ago. I think it was an ad for a gallery as I remember it. I liked the colors, the subject, the design.

In the bottom picture on the right hand side you see the original photograph that I had cut out of a magazine ...see my start at trying to copy the photograph on the left? So what do you think, is this just a coincident that the first oil painting I had cut out of a magazine years ago looks just like the photo of the same place I had torn out of an old magazine?

Anyway as you can see I'm still puttering around with oils. Not sure what I'm learning if anything. I'm forgetting to thin my oils and end up with such a thick mess. I'm not really trying to mix the proper colors, then get frustrated at the mess that I've created. Even with the down sides I'm still loving the oils. With a workshop coming up I'll learn some guidelines and have something to go on.

Oh and..... how do you guys ever make a straight line. My poor deck in the above photo was big then small and the pilings were so fat no one would know what they were. I'm thinking part of my problem was that I had too much thick paint I was trying to paint on instead of thin paint.

WARNING, do not try this at home ...

2011-01-13T18:38:00.000-08:00

Color charts, when done slowly and done well can not only be beautiful, but, so helpful. I love mixing color, but wow can you create a huge mess attempting to make one of these charts. I had oil paint on my face, up my arms all over my hands ... and I was being careful, LOL.

I started out with the original color right out of the tube, or mixed with another pigment right out of the tube, gradually adding white to each square going down. I mixed white with the color in the top of each column to progressively get a lighter value of that color. The bottom 5 rows I added a trace amount of black, or yellow or blue etc. I'm using a very limited palette of Cad Yellow Light, Permanent Red Medium and Ultramarine Blue.... plus black and white. Even with this limited palette the color combinations can still continue on.

I'm sure there was an easier less wasteful way to mix my paints. I feel when I was done I had way too large of a pile of brownish muck left over. See the pile on the left front of my palette. Also see my medium and turp cup open on my palette (Am I talking like one of the big kids now?) I did not thin or use medium with any of todays project, I just used some thinner to clean up a mess I had made on myself.

And finally, the above photo is my finished charts for today.
I had read that the tape you use to section each square off with should be taken off soon after painting the charts ... thats where most of my face and arms got into the project.

Don't try this at home or else you could end up with paint where you least expect it.
Oh what fun I had!

Paint Tube, Palette Knife and Medium

2011-01-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

Whew, finally I've put some pigment to canvas and now can say I've started ... officially!

I apologize for the glare.

I'm still getting use to the consistency of oil paints and how I want to handle them. For me I'm using the trial and error method.

I had put these three items that I sat on some white paper inside a cardboard box. For more controlled lighting (?????), then proceeded to paint. The problem was I just forged ahead and didn't go any preplanning. Next time I will plan, I'll do a value sketch. I always love to do value sketches but I think I just got caught up in the excitement of finally getting some pigment to canvas that I forgot. And, next time I'll plan my colors better.

Lets hope that next time I enjoy painting as much as I did this time.

All critiques and comments welcome.

Lets talk

2011-01-10T13:07:00.000-08:00

I'm probably one of the few people who is confused by the fact that I have three (is there more) choices as to how to receive someones latest blog post.

I can subscribe to their blog. Sign up on the opening page of their blog if they have a subscription box.
RSS feeds ... come right next to my mailbox. or
become a Follower.

The problem I see is that if you don't become a Follower, fellow bloggers can see who is 'following' them and will wonder why isn't 'so and so' following me. Unless I go to my blog and look to see what fellow bloggers are up to the new blog posts can be missed.

When you subscribe to a blog that means you receive e-mails in your box. If you don't get too much mail already this might be a good way to get the updates.

Then there's Subscription through rss feeds. They are there right beside my mail box and yet easy to ignore until I have the time to sit and enjoy them. This is my favorite way to be updated.

Does anyone else feel confused by the choices like I do?
Which is your chosen method of blog up-dates? and,
What if someone would rather subscribe by rss feeds and drops the other way of receiving your update... no one can tell if they are followed by rss feeds as I understand it.

Wanna talk?

How fun ...

2011-01-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

I've been going through Charles Sovek's book "Oil Painting Develop Your Natural Ability" chapter by chapter. I had been stuck on Chapter 2, Looking At The World Through Colored Glasses. Some of what he was telling me was not making any sense to me. Finally after re-reading it many times, then, leaving it alone for awhile I think I'm understanding it a little better.

Here are some exercises I've done from both Sovek's book as well as Macpherson's Fill Your Oil Paintings With Light & Color.

The above exercise was from Chapter 2 exercise 8. Lightening & Darkening the Home Value of Color

This was my favorite exercise, from Kevin Macpherson's book. I was to match the color at the top. Looking at the color, figuring out was it lighter than the blue from the tube, cooler, warmer etc. Lots of fun. I think this will require a lot of experience before it comes easy.

I am using a very limited palette. Ultramarine Blue, Cad Yellow, Permanent Red Medium, plus black and white, so the above exercise didn't take long at all. I was to make a value scale from black to white, then add my colors under the value that matched my pigments.

I love the challenge of a limited palette and learning to mix just the right color. I also spent some time mixing a bunch of different greens but I couldn't get a photograph to show all the wonderful differences. I did take notes but not as detailed as I will next time. Next on my list of things to do is color charts ... yippee, more color mixing.

Good-bye to 2010

2010-12-31T11:23:00.000-08:00

A collage of oil painting practices - Click to enlarge

Recently I've been busy with thoughts of what the new year will produce, but I quit making resolutions some time ago and if I make goals I usually keep them to myself. I seemed to never be able to complete the goal once I said it out loud ... jinxed from the get go.

I guess just to wrap this year up I'll say I hope to create better art in the new year. Learn to 'see' what I haven't been able to see before and produce art with a passion.

Happy New Year, Cheers!!

Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas ...

2010-12-21T08:12:00.000-08:00

Red, Red, Red ~ watercolor

This watercolor painting is so pretty in its gold frame and inner gold matting. Red and green could have easily made this a cold painting but with the pink of the under leaves and the gold surrounding the painting it warms up a room. Red, Red, Red is soon to be living in a new home.

Its been busy around here with Christmas soon to arrive and lots of socializing going on. I'm still in the process of learning something about oils. I've recently purchased a dvd to see how the big kids paint. I've purchased some new oil painting art supplies ... an early Christmas gift to myself. I'm reading the books I own on oil painting and also trying to learn to mix my oil paints to achieve different colors. I have a lot to learn but I'm enjoying the journey.
Merry Christmas ...

Wow, this is harder than it looks.........

2010-11-14T16:01:00.000-08:00

I'm still attempting to work in oils. My, but this is much harder than you oil painting bloggers make it look. You can see by the photo's above - the photo I took of the pumpkin and some fall leaves on a white background, then I turned it into black and white after I had completed my painting to see if I as close in values. Not so good ...

A few issues I'm having is that:

To thin the oil paint I find that I have more than once used turpentine to thin the paint instead of my medium.
My brush strokes are bazaar at best, I'm not use to seeing shapes.
Not knowing what brushes to use and when.
I'm also wondering if this set-up with the fall leaves was too much for me at this stage of my learning oil paints.

Those issues above really have nothing to do with the poor drawing skills I've shown, but non-the-less I'm going to continue my oil painting journey.

I'm open to all suggestions and advise ....( except 'quit while I'm ahead').

Exercises in oil paints

2010-11-12T07:55:00.000-08:00

I'm still attempting to go back to the basics. For now I'm trying my hand at oil paints. So far I am omitting color from each sketch, focusing on form and value. In the photo above you see where I massed in all the objects into one using only burnt sienna. In the photos below I also used white and where I'm not only trying to make recognizable shapes but also trying to show where my light source is coming from.

I have started keeping some notes and questions I have as I use them and assume I will learn as I go.

I was using a canvas pad for my support for these exercises then decided the work wasn't worthy of the canvas and switched to card stock. For now that's fine. I didn't paint on yellow canvas or blue canvas or card stock. I'll attempt to correct the lighting and camera settings next time I photograph the work.

more Back to Basics

2010-10-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

More sketches with markers. Fun work, trying to see the dark, middle and light values.

Getting back to basics

2010-10-11T17:30:00.001-07:00

Getting back to basics.... using 3 values using the white of the paper, a 50% cool gray marker and a black sharpie.

Studio update

2010-09-27T13:00:00.000-07:00

I thought it was time I updated you on my studio. A little over a year ago I came up with a few ideas that has really helped keep my space organized. I had a few of these storage bins but they were more or less just in the way. Then I decided to purchase more and store my art supplies in them in a way thatI could tell what was in each one and still give them a look of being organized. By lining them up along a wall (this wall is a sloping wall) and placing a label in the front of each bin I can tell what is in each one. I also can use the top of these storage bins for items that I might want to use immediately and since this wall is sloping I can use the space behind for large sheets of mat board, easel ... things I don't use everyday.

In the second photo I used an sheet to cover up items that I store under this table. Nothing fancy, but it works to keep it looking neat and tidy. It was an easy solution with some hot glue.

You can see some photos of the messy unorganized 'before' space by looking here and here .

If you click on the photo's you can probably read how I have the bins labeled. The row on the left is labeled "Misc. #1, #2 and #3 from top to bottom", the next bin in the center "Bazaar #1" and on the far right "Bazaar #2".... Now, those labels are funny, BAZAAR..... but I was just finishing up selling at a local Bazaar and so it sounded appropriate. Now it just seems bazaar! When I do sell at a Farmers Market, a holiday bazaar etc. I just pack both bins and I'm ready to go. I have two bins labeled "Frames #1" and Frames #2" that holds nothing but small frames. One bin "Oils" and one "Other Mediums".

Maybe you can use these storage ideas ... better yet, share with us some storage ideas you've used.

What happens when you don't think your paintings through.

2010-09-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

A pair of Oystercatchers...

Cropped to see the Oystercatcher on the right. Still not a strong painting.

Cropped to see the Oystercatcher on the left. Still not good.

After doing a few sketches (I posted the sketches earlier) I still didn't catch how boring this composition was. Its just all wrong.

On the other hand, what I do like is the 300 lb. cold press paper I used. It had been such a long time that I had forgotten how nice it is to work on. The surface stays nice and flat while you are working on it. Also it is so easy to do corrections on 300 lb. paper. Also, I like the bright colors.

In one of the artists group I attend occasionally one of the artists said it looked like an illustration. You think after all the illustrations I worked on for the children's book they might have become a habit?

A first for me...

2010-09-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

on the back of a large piece of paper folded to 10" x 8.5"

Once a long, long time ago I started to draw a self portrait. I didn't finish it ... it was a miserable attempt and soon realized it. Today I decided while sitting at my desk with some scratch paper (very unthreatening to use paper you don't care about- know what I mean?) and used a ball point pen and proceeded to sketch my portrait. I'm not sure it's even a decent likeness (my face can't be that fat and my eyes surely can't look like that) but I'm happy to have finally done a self portrait. So many artists paint/draw themselves numerous times a year... that way they always have a live model around who doesn't complain. I think I'll try this again sometime.

Speaking about my work and my critiquing of this ball point pen sketch, I'm wondering how you handle your self-critiques. Can you be objective and move on ... maybe you can continue on with more sketches, but what about a more important piece of work that you are really trying to complete for a show etc. Do you have a trusted person in your art life that can give you an honest critique? and possibly tell you what would have made your painting better? Fortunately I do have someone who is willing take a look at my work and if asked will offer suggestions to help me improve the work ... my husband. He isn't an artist yet he can take one look and more often than not give me a suggestion that makes the painting so much better. What about you?

A new site to help artists

2010-09-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

I have found a new web-site to help us artists. Its so exciting. A Live Talk Radio For Artists with hosts Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry. These two artists who live across the country from each other (one lives in Kentucky and the other lives in California) have a live talk radio show each week. You can listen to these programs live or download them to your iTunes and listen to them over and over like I do. Also on the web-site you can join in on a monthly painting challenge ... and in a year you will have enough paintings for a calendar. You can check the web-site out here . Also on the left hand column here on my blog you can click on one of the recorded radio programs and listen. They share some wonderful information with us fellow artists. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Annual Fall Open House

2010-09-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

Each year here on the Island the owner of Arts & Flowers Nursery opens her home to the public where she has invited numerous vendors/artisans to display their wares in her home. The cost to the vendors is only to bring a batch of cookies to share with the public. Last year was my first time to attend and I had a great time. It was so nice to meet a few new local vendors and see some folks from the island I hadn't seen in awhile and always enjoyable to meet new people who stop by my booth.

If you live near by please stop by and say hello or if you know of anyone who lives in the area please send them a link to this invitation. Hope to see you there.

Is there hope?

2010-09-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

You won't believe what happened... Last night I was sitting down at my computer thinking I'd do what Toni suggested. That is, play with my blog layout designs. Get comfortable with them. Oh My Gosh ! With-in two minutes I had completely changed my blog, losing my original template layout (yes, I did save the original template). What a shock. My all white blog was completely black. I about fainted. Deep breath, calm down, see if you can't get this under control. Finally I was able to get it to what you see now... white. I'm feeling better now. I'm still not sure how to do a few things, but before I beg for more help, I'm going to see if I can't resolve some of the issues myself.

Lets leave the blog issues for a minute and go on to some (non) painting issues:

I now have my seal drawing on my watercolor paper.
All whites have been masked out.
Now I can't go any further... A classic case of 'white paper fright' !

So in attempt to get past the white paper issue I've done a value pencil sketch of two Oystercatchers. Also, a color sketch. Just trying to move on to something other than the large seal painting. I figure I can fool myself into thinking none of the work is really important. Pathetic logic I know.

So, what do you think is there hope for me and my blog ...

My apologies ...

2010-08-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how long it's been since I updated my blog. I shouldn't have neglected it but I felt after working on the illustrations for the children's book for so long I was in need of getting away from any pressure I might put upon myself to get something accomplished. I've had a wonderful two months and am now ready to get back to painting.

Below you can see two preliminary sketches I've done for my next project. You can see the original photo I am using as a reference in the archives on the right side of the blog, dated July 23, 2009, (More on this subject in the next paragraph). On the left of this photo is a color sketch - using watersoluble crayons...CARAN d'ACHE. I haven't used them much and they will take a little getting use to, but, they did help me get a sense of color value for the project. Then there is a pencil sketch and also some watercolor test swatches. I need to get busy with this as there is a show coming up in October I'm hoping to enter.

Preliminary work for painting

Something I hope to run by you other bloggers ... As you may have read here before, I have the old classic blogger template and I keep thinking I need to update my blog. Such as having my archives listed differently.... geesh this is such a pain to have them listed this way. Also making other changes to the sidebars. I just don't want to have to go in and fiddle with this blog, I want an easier way. Can any of you coach me? I'm a nervous Nelly thinking of the things I could lose. I'm not sure completely starting over is really a bad thing, you know, getting rid of some things I wish were not here, but, I'd rather be the judge of that instead of randomly lose stuff. So, can any of you help me?

Again sorry to have been away for so long. But I'm back now and I hope to be posting a lot more often.

What a thrilling sight

2010-07-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

You may have trouble telling what these photo's are unless you are able to click on the photo photos to enlarge them. The photos are of killer whales. The first one is a pic. of one swimming by the second one is of it broaching. We were fortunate to be able to be on our boat when a number of Orca whales were going across our path. Definitely a thrill of a lifetime.

Cloud Study

2010-06-21T15:14:00.001-07:00

I took a few minutes today to practice painting clouds.

Frequently we have some beautiful clouds around here ... I need to practice if I'm ever going to be able to capture their formations.

The two images on the left are, from the top left, a pencil value study, bottom left, gray, black and white value study. Middle image is the photo I worked from ... and last is my little watercolor.

For some reason I'm not able to upload the better photo I took. Maybe its for the better.

If you click on the image you can enlarge it........

Something new....

2010-06-11T17:00:00.001-07:00

On Saturdays in the summer I can usually be found at the local Farmer's Market selling prints, originals and lots and lots of cards. I had been printing out some shipping labels that stuck to the bags that I put cards and prints in when I sold them. I think I printed something like Thank You and below that my web-site address. I wasn't too happy with them and finally came up with an idea I think I'll be happy with. I had a stamp made with my name/watercolors and web address on it. I love the look of craft paper bags and I think the stamp with my name looks much better than I was using before. What do you think ... do you like the stamp?

I hope by now you've all seen the preview of the book I've been illustrating for such a long time. If not you can see a preview by going to the previous blog entry and clicking on the book widget. This will take you to the preview where you can click through 15 pages of the book. The book can be enlarged by clicking on the "full screen" text in the upper right hand corner.

Annabelle's Wish

2010-06-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

Annabell's Wish

By Peter Kirk Todd

Book Preview

From my sketch book

2010-05-10T09:12:00.003-07:00

This sketch is from my watercolor sketchbook of my grandson. He is crazy about baseball and I think a great all around player. I love to watch him pitch. He's so in control of that ball and has such great focus for a 12 year old.

Still working on illustrations ...

2010-04-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

I'm still here ... I've been busy with a number of different art projects, but, mostly still working on the illustrations for the children's book I've mentioned before.

Illustrations © Nancy Van Blaricom 2010

Also, while working on the illustrations I'm also trying to learn more about my Mac and Photoshop Elements 8 for the Mac. Never having Photoshop before, you can imagine how it can make my head dizzy at times.

As of today I have finished all 28 pages of the illustrations. I still have the title page and book cover yet to do... after that the photographing of them and editing - this is where Photoshop comes in.

Wish me luck.

Beach art and more ....

2010-03-26T07:20:00.001-07:00

The above photo is of some very fun beach art I found one day. I'm not sure how a person happened to have some paint with them at the time of doing some beach combing, but I'm glad they did. The yellow paint made the driftwood look like an eagle, really, they had even attached some found feathers... not eagle feathers, they looked more like seagull feathers. On the right side of the eagle there is a face painted. You can see it's a woman with her mouth open sporting some pretty red lipstick. Then facing you, you see the drift has a face painted on it. Below that on the right is a painted face of a raccoon. It doesn't look as much like a raccoon here in the photo as it did in person. I never did figure out what the painted arm of the driftwood on the lower left was suppose to represent .... but, the whole things made me smile. I love it!

The other thing I want to share with you is a wildlife artist and author I've recently discovered, Sherry Chadwell. She has a weekly newsletter she sends out sharing some of the happenings she and her husband Jim encounter with their surroundings and creatures in their area. You can subscribe to these weekly stories on her web-site here. She also has a delightful book, The Saga of Peabody and other True Life Adventures, you can order off her site. Its filled with numerous short stories and sketches. I could go on and on about the delights of her stories, but you should just go find out for yourself.

Following the Masters - Robert Henri

2010-02-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

My painting of Marine Storm Sea after Robert Henri

On the blog Following the Masters this month Michelle has given us the opportunity to paint from Robert Henri's paintings. Although I have his book The Art Spirit, I had not really looked at his work much before. I ended up loving the painting I chose, "Marine Storm Sea". Before I finished the two studies and my interpretation of this painting I was sure I could feel the surge of Mr. Henri's sea.

(above) Robert Henri's Marine Storm Sea

a pencil value sketch as well as a watercolor and some white gouache

I swear to you every time I take a photo of my work it looks different, like I've changed the settings such as the lighting settings ... and I have not. Any suggestion's?

Pastel Chalk sketchbook ...

2010-02-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

Lemon ~ Pastel Chalk

(click on picture to enlarge)

I think I mentioned this sketchbook, as well as many others, back in February 2007. This one has a corrugated brown cardboard cover with brown paper bag type paper and appears to be hand bound. The only thing I put in this book is pastel chalk work. I just like the way it looks with color on the brown paper.

I really do need to update this blog.... I need a different archive system but this template that I am using is one of the first ones and it isn't easy to update.... Any suggestions about how to get a new template that I won't lose everything, or how to change some of the sidebar? I welcome all suggestion's. Can you tell I am not techie?

Pen and Ink Sketches from the shore

2010-02-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

Here are two pen and ink sketches from yesterdays walk along the shore line.

This is Mt Rainier in the back-ground. The body of water is Case Inlet and the shore below the mountain is Key Peninsula
I had planned on sketching the view from where I sat on a log ... then realized I had gotten carried away with making the trees too large to include anything else. Oops!

Also, I had done a couple studies of the small waves that were lapping along the shore and I just couldn't focus on how they were shaded. Today I may take my camera and see if I can't capture some wave action to study.

Virtual Paintout - San Francisco

2010-02-17T15:15:00.000-08:00

Yellow house on 6th Avenue- Virtual Paintout

I love contour drawing.....

I've decided to give Virtual Paintout a try. Oh boy, what fun. I found I was all over San Francisco using Google Street View. I was hooked on placing the 'person' icon in locations all over the city. Finally I settled down and picked this pretty yellow house to sketch, did a contour drawing and then painted it.

I'm looking forward to seeing where the Virtual Paintout will be next month. Give it a try!

Autumn Leaves ...

2010-02-05T20:08:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful sunny day it turned out to be. I think I heard the weather reporter this evening say it reached 61 degrees here today. I'm seeing daffodils ready to bloom in a lot of yards, and yesterday at a friends house I saw a rhododendron blooming. Its looking a lot like spring around here.

As the day wore on the better it seemed to get. I received a call that a couple would like to come look at the work I had available for sale ... in particular "Autumn Leaves". After they came and confirmed that was the one they had in mind I offered to let them take it home to see if it would work out for them in the particular spot they were thinking of. Within the hour they were back with a check ... Its a good day. "Autumn Leaves" SOLD.

Illustration update....

2010-02-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

All illustration's copyright ©2009-2010 Nancy Van Blaricom

In the photo above you can see a few pages of finished illustrations I have completed for the children's book I have been working on. Each actual painting is 8" x 8", on Arches 140 lb cold press paper measuring approx. 11" x 10". You can tell in the photo that I have each small painting slipped into a clear envelope (notice the glare) to keep them clean until time to photograph them for publication.

There are parts of the illustration process that I am thoroughly enjoying ... such as the physical painting of each page. Other parts like the deciding how the the character will look on each page is somewhat tougher.

~ "A wisely chosen illustration is almost essential to hasten the truth upon the ordinary mind, and no teacher can afford to neglect this part of his preparation". ~ Howard Crosby

Look what came in the mail ...

2010-01-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

Day before yesterday, the mail-man brought me a wonderful book. Its a huge book. The book measures 9" x 6" x 2". It is written in columns like a newspaper. It's ten years of over a thousand unabridged letters ... including an 82 page index. The book measures 9" x 6" x 2". Robert Genn sends out e-mail letters twice a-week, full of advise and inspiration. I have been a subscriber to his twice weekly letters for about 6 years and have never regreted it. You can subscribe to Roberts Genn's Twice Weekly Newsletters by following this link. If you don't already subscribe, give it a try.

a tale of two hales

2010-01-17T12:15:00.000-08:00

To the left, my small thumbnail

marker pen value sketch of Ellen

Hale's "Morning News" from the

magazine article.

In this Victoria magazine article, February 2002, the author Claire Whitcomb tells of two sisters-in-law, that were pursuing careers as professional artists. Ellen and Lilian Hale.

Ellen was born 1855 into one of Boston's most prominent families. Her father was the author and clergyman Edward Everett Hale and the grand niece of Harriet of Harriet Beecher Stow. Her mother encouraged Ellen and her seven brothers (in particular Philip) to draw. She later assisted Philip with his career as an artist.

In the 1870's she studied with William Morris Hunt, the city's foremost painter, who took on forty female pupils. Ellen finished her training in Paris, exhibited to critical acclaim and made her living as an artist until she died in 1940.

She paved the way for a second wave of women , among them a twenty year old, Lilian Westcott. Lilian was from Hartford Connecticut, and enrolled at Boston's Museum School in 1900, taking advanced drawing and skipping a class taught by Ellen's younger brother Philip Hale. She would recall later "I always took it for granted, being successful, I assumed I would be."

So did Philip Hale who courted her. Lilian did not want to marry and mix her art with marriage, but Philip persisted. He was 17 years her senior, an accomplished artist, teacher and critic. He is quoted, telling her, "We shall have you a great painter one of these days". They married in 1902 and had adjoining studios in Boston. In 1908 a daughter, Nancy, was born. When people would admire his paintings he would say "wait until you see Mrs. Hale's pictures.

Lilian's best subject was her daughter. Nancy was quoted as saying "I had to pose so much in childhood that when I reached the age of about 13 I finally figured out a requirement of my own. I wouldn't pose, I said, unless I could be painted with a book. So all subsequent picture pictures show me in the act of reading. Several are silhouetted against a window: some show the book, some don't but have the eyes downcast".

Philip continued to paint and teach in Boston. Once home he's go straight to Lilian's studio, receive a kiss and a call for a critique. He was needed in her career because of his unwavering vision of her as "the loveliest and noblest and most talented creature that ever was." When she was exhausted from jelly making, Phillip fussed. "The only thing my father ever wanted my mother to do was paint," wrote Nancy.

Having Ellen in the family and as a very important role model, it seemed that being a woman and an artist was not unusual. When Philip died unexpectedly in 1931, he was 65, she was 49 and forlorn. After 5 unhappy and lost years she came around and mounted a solo show. It was not well received. Modernism had set in. She never contemplated another solo exhibition but continued drawing. She would have Nancy's children sit for her. In 1963, before he death at 83, she won her final prize for a charcoal of a young girl given by Rockport Art Association.

The article ends with a wonderful quote from 1900, painter Anna Lea Merritt, The chief obstacle to a woman's success is that she can never have a wife." ~ Don't you love that quote? ~

The author goes one to say Lilian and Ellen Hale managed just the same.

If you enjoyed reading about these two, you may also enjoy reading Women Artists in Boston 1870-1940; Women Artists in Boston 1870-1940 by Erica E. Hirshler

In this article I think we once again see very confident women artists surrounded by support.

Book illustrations ...

2010-01-10T10:22:00.001-08:00

Now that the holidays are behind us I'm once again able to center my attention on the children's book I am illustrating. There are so many steps to making a book. Picture sequence, storyboard and book dummy, size, scale and shape, all need to be considered.

In the photo above you can see my story board to the upper left ..... small thumbnails of the sequence of the book, then to the right of this a dummy book a sketch of what you think the page may look like. You can see numerous watercolor sketches I've done, then on the bottom row, you see my drawing on tracing paper and to the right of that my finished drawing on watercolor paper. I haven't given myself a deadline, but I am looking forward to seeing this project completed.

"The Eminent Emmets"

2010-01-02T12:24:00.001-08:00

John Singer Sargent's The Fountain, Villa Torlonia, Frascati, Italy

This is a painting of Jane while she is sitting straight-backed at her easel beside her husband at the fountain.

The magazine article from the Victoria April 1993 magazine was titled The Eminent Emmets. In this article they are talking about a 19th-century family of five cousins - two sets of sisters. The first set of Emmet sisters to achieve fame was Rosina, (born in 1854), Lydia and Jane - raised in New York by their mother who had been formally trained as a painter. The article says that "To be an Emmet meant to be a creative woman." The second set of sisters, cousins, Ellen and Leslie, raised in San Francisco - they had no known role models. "yet when they moved to New York at the ages of nine and seven, their talent, especially Ellen's was discernible.

In the depth of the depression, the article goes on to say, two of the cousins earned salaries of $70,000 (yes you read that correct). Rosina was 23 years older than the youngest and was the one who blazed the path for them all. Rosina, in her mid-twenties had serious training in New York with American Impressionist William Merrit Chase in his Tenth Street Studio. She almost immediately began to earn money with her illustrations, such as a $1,000 prize for a Christmas card design.

When Lydia, who was eleven years younger than Rosina, was eighteen, Rosina took her to Paris where they both studied. When Lydia came back to New York, she took Ellen, her cousin, then fourteen and enrolled her in the Art Student's League. Later returning to Paris she took Ellen and supported them both in their studies, later making sure Jane came to stay with them.

Ellen and Leslie spent three years in Paris in the atelier of Frederic MacMonnies. John Singer Sargent told her cousin Henry James that she had more talent for her age than any man or woman he had seen.

They seemed to have a wonderful support system for each other. Ellen wrote to Leslie in Paris when she'd gone off to England to earn additional resources for their studies by painting portraits, "Do not stint yourself for paint or bread". When Ellen and Leslie's step father abandoned the family, Lydia offered to help raise funds. Ellen wrote saying "we can get along as long as I have ten good fingers".

None of the cousins were competitive with each other as their strengths went in different directions. Ellen was great at portraits, Lydia was famous for her "woman's touch" (not sue what that means) If Ellen painted husbands of the day, Lydia painted the wives and children.

Jane moved to England where she had moved to marry John Singer Sargent's best friend, artist Wilfrid de Glehn.

Indeed, "The Eminent Emmets".

After reading about these amazing cousins I was surprised that I hadn't heard of them before. I'm assuming I probably had and just forgot. Also, I was shocked at the amount of money these woman were earning from their art during that time. And I loved the fact that they helped each other both morally and financially. I wonder could we all succeed with this kind of support?

This is my sketch of a painting found in a scrapbook of Lydia's.

Below is her painting. She was able to achieve such depth in this simple little painting.

Are you ready for a new decade as well as a new year?

2009-12-31T13:48:00.000-08:00

From my watercolor journal/sketchbook

I'm starting out this new year with some big changes. I've switched to a Mac! I was tired of always having to stop what I was doing and re-boot or some foolish time wasting thing. I've only heard great things, from other artists, about a Mac and I am more than ready to make the switch. I've spent the last week moving from my PC to the Mac and now only need to spend some time becoming familiar with how things work.

This is a sketch I did minutes ago in my watercolor sketchbook. I'll journal later, but I wanted to make sure and end this year with a blog post.... so I had to hurry.

Lately I've been reading from some older magazines about artists, past and present, and I'm hoping to share some of what I've been reading with you. Reading about other artists always gets me motivated.... how about you?

I hope you all have had as good a year as I've had.

Here's to 2010, may it be all we wish. Cheers!

Happy New Year !

Reminisce - a sketch from 2008

2009-12-21T14:41:00.000-08:00

This is a little sketch I posted last December. His charming manner always brings a smile to my face, dressed prim and proper, yet so soft and adorable.

I've almost completed my list of Christmas chores and have started giving thought to what I may want to accomplish with my art in 2010. Although I usally have goals I hope to accomplish I find if I tell people, I almost always fail. Like, 'the secret's out, no use doing that now' way of thinking. I've had a successful year with my art and because of that I am feeling more confident that some of my goals will be obtainable.
What about you, care to share?

Are you thinking of some artist goals you'd like to accomplish this next year?
Are you taking stock of all that you did accomplish in 2009?

Merry Christmas

Book of People - Accordian Journal

2009-12-13T13:56:00.000-08:00

For our last watercolor class of the 6 weeks, I made each person an accordion sketchbook, approx. size of each page is 5" x 4". We started off with some un-intimidating paper and drew stick figures with our pencil. After a number of these we then progressed to using one color using our watercolor pigment and drawing stick figures. When we felt comfortable we added clothing to our stick figures. Finally, we were confident enough to use our new sketchbooks using photo references I had cut out of from numerous magazines. We proceded to add a fully clothed watercolored figure (with no facial details), one to each page in our new sketchbooks.

I found out later, when I had mentioned that we were going to paint people in class 6, a couple of students thought they might not come to that class. Some others were dreading it. It just didn't sound like fun to them. Before the class was over they all admited that it was one of the best classes.

This was such a fun exercise to do. If you haven't tried people painting yet, give it a try. It grows on you with each figure you paint.

Too many projects to do justice to any of them....

2009-12-06T11:21:00.001-08:00

Do you ever find you have started too many projects to do a good job on any of them? Probably not, but, I find I do this often. Such as teaching a watercolor class once a week, (this has been a great adventure for me and one that I will probably offer again in 2010) planning my next blog post (I bet you find this hard to believe since I post so seldom), thinking of what I will paint for our Christmas card this year, attempting to keep the house in some what of order and the other normal things that goes on in our lives. I need to slow down and stay focused so I can finish one project without rushing. The above snow scene has been abandoned because it isn't turning out the way I had hoped. Too rushed. Notice the branches of the largest tree ... reminds me of Alfalfa on The Little Rascals, with his hair parted down the middle, *sigh.

The group of paintings above are an accumulation of whats on my desk that are going in the 'unacceptable' pile. Most are just sketches I use in my thinking process .... but, when I look at all this work I think of all the time I've wasted and yet didn't complete a thing.

On a more uplifting note, the Harstine Island annual Holiday House Bazaar was a huge success and loved by all. Its so nice to be involved in a group effort that just overflows with success as this one does.

Its been a busy and artistic November ...

2009-11-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

I have been busy in the studio this month. Really it started in October with the preparations for the Annual Arts and Flowers week-end. They had a nice turn-out and I so enjoyed visiting with new and old friends. I also met some new vendor's I hadn't seen before ... that's always a treat!

For me it was a successful Halloween Saturday and it wasn't spooky at all. I was happy to not only sell a lot of my note cards, but this original as well.

Also .... I have also started teaching a 6 week watercolor class and we have just completed our third week ... and I think, speaking for all involved, they have been successful classes. I've taught one workshop prior to this, but a workshop is different than on going classes and I was a little timid. But, I shouldn't have been. My students are eagar to learn and have made my teaching easy. I had heard that teaching is a great way to learn and I will agree ... not only learn some new things but it has been a wonderful refresher coarse.

I am still working toward the annual Holiday House Bazaar, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, here on Harstine Island. I have some new display panels I'm anxious to use to exhibit my work. I've used a bi fold pegboard to display my work for the last number of years, but, I think these new panels will showcase the richness of my work much better. I will have some new note cards of my bird series and I'm hoping to have a new painting done that I will use for my annual Christmas card on display ... I'm running late on this project!

Busy, busy, busy!

Some preliminary work for a painting...

2009-10-28T14:50:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of preliminary thumbnail drawings I did today.

I love the green upward movement of the trees with the formation of the clouds in the background. I think this would be a fun painting to attempt in a loose style that I'm always wanting to master.

Autumn leaves are all around ...

2009-10-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

I'm finding it hard to believe that Autumn is in full swing and that we only have about 9 days left of October. This year seems particularly beautiful with more gold and yellow leaves with some occasional red hues thrown in. We are also enjoying the mild temps we've been having ... this makes walking in amongst the leaves a lot more enjoyable.

During the first week-end of October, Harstine Island has an Apple Squeeze celebrating the season with fresh cider, numerous crafters and a country band. This also marks the last of the Farmers Markets for the year and although I didn't participate in any of the earlier Farmers Markets I did take advantage of this event and set-up my tent this week-end. It was beautiful out and there were a lot of folks enjoying the days events. Along with my note cards, I had taken and displayed a few of my newer works and was so pleased when someone bought my "Jarrell's Cove Store" painting.

Lately I've been asked if would consider teaching some watercolor classes and I've heard from so many artists that this is a great way not only to share your knowledge with others, but to grow as an artist also. Sooooo, I'm in the process of deciding what all I need to do to get ready for this latest adventure. Please, I accept all suggestions ....

Where I'll be:

On October 31 from 10-3, I will be at 'Arts and Flowers' here on the island for their annual open house. I'll have a few new things as well as my cards to show. Drop by if you are in the area.....
Also, on November 28th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. I will once again be at the annual Holiday House Bazaar here on Harstine Island. This is a huge event that everyone looks forward to....

Hope to see you soon .........

This constant, unproductive preoccupation with all the things we have to do is the single largest consumer of time and energy. ~~~ Kerry Gleeson

Summer sketching ...

2009-09-21T10:56:00.001-07:00

I can't remember when I've had such a busy yet relaxing summer. The fact that I refused to put pressure on myself to paint any masterpieces has certainly helped. I do have plenty of projects I'm working on as far as the way I keep records, photo's of work and other parts of the business side of art. And while all of these are time consuming they are very rewarding when I accomplish these tasks and can cross them off my list.

Although I haven't been doing much serious art recently, here is a recent sketch from my 8" x 8" sketchbook I made some time ago. I used Arches 14o lb. paper with mat board front and back cover and I had it spiral bound at Kinko's.

Can you 'beet' this weather ...

2009-08-19T17:07:00.000-07:00

It was another hot day here and although I haven't been doin' what I think I should be doin', playing around with watercolor on the back of some printer paper made me feel I was at least doing something in the studio today.

After we had bought some beautiful fresh beets in a local farmers market this week-end I was tempted to do a watercolor sketch... problem was I had already eaten them when I came up with this idea. Today I found a picture to work from. Whew, it's not easy once the subject is long gone. *wink

Finding My Creative Mood: Trying to Get Back in the Groove

2009-08-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

Although my last commission almost painted itself, after coming back from vacation I am finding it hard to get myself back in the art producing spirit. In order to over come my less than creative mood, I thought that in preparation of my other commission I should just paint something that I've been wanting to explore to get me creatively energized.

Back in May, I mentioned that I wanted to explore water and reflections this summer. So I looked through some photo's I had taken on our vacation and found a photograph of some water and rocks that looked challenging yet if I cropped it down it may not be impossible for me to paint. So, on the back of a used ready to throw out really awful painting, I took my pencil and roughly drew out an 8 inch square and proceeded to draw what I wanted to show in my painting.

In the first photo you can see where I've started my drawing and have started masking out the areas I wanted to keep light.

By the time I took the second photo I feel I'm feeling I'm in over my head. I knew at this point I should have added darker first washes before I took off my masking. Really get what I wanted from the start. I don't us masking too often and I think I just forgot to think during that step of my painting. I was feeling a little frustrated by then and decided to start on the rocks. Later I realized I really shouldn't have. I would have done better to continue adding depth to my water area, finish that area and then move on.

When I started working on the rocks I lost most of my pencil lines yet should have stopped and drawn them in so I wouldn't wander aimlessly. There are so many factors I should have considered ...

Below is the painting. Along side the painting you can see my photo reference. I cropped the photo about middle bottom for my painting. I'm not going to continue. It's too far gone for that, but I have accomplished finding my creative spirit once again. Just getting started at a painting seemed to make me want to keep painting. Also, because I do want to do more work involving water I'm feeling confident that I could paint this again and do a better job.

Yes, mission accomplished!

What's the hardest subject to paint?

2009-07-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

Toddler - watercolor, 8"x 6"

After finishing the dog commission I posted last week, I think, by far, that a portrait has to be the most difficult subject for me to paint. Because we have met this person or studied the likeness we strive to make sure they are recognized as that person. The features need to be recognized by friends and loved ones. The portrait needs to be personal. And that's why I think they are the most difficult subject for me to paint. But, when I see work done by talented artists such as portrait and figure artist Peggy Habets they make it look so easy.

This painting is of an adodrable grandaughter of a woman I worked with, one of my first portraits done a few years ago.

Where did I go wrong?

2009-07-30T11:58:00.001-07:00

Looking back at a sketch I'd done a few years ago I have to wonder what this was all about. I hadn't finished this sketch when I put it away for the day ... week, month, ok, truth be known it's been 3 years since I've picked it up. And now when I attempted to add some finishing touches I'm pretty lost. I had neglected to make some important notes, such as:

Time of day. Was it morning, afternoon or evening? I should have written this information in a margin.

What direction was the sun coming from? A small arrow in one corner of the paper would have helped with this. How could the sailboat be in that much shade?

What was the temperature when I started this sketch? It appears to be a hot sunny day by the color of the sand and shadows of the trees in the sand, but, I really don't remember. Another small note in the margin would have helped.

Where was this? It looks familiar to me, yet I can't remember the name of this cove.

As you can tell, I'm not in the habit of taking notes when I sketch, but, I think if I would write some improtant facts down on my sketches it would in turn help me 'see' those important details in my paintings.

Do you have any suggestion's as to what else I should note when sketching? Do you take notes when you sketch? Are your sketches an important part of your paintings?

Beau - Commission completed

2009-07-27T09:49:00.001-07:00

Beau - watercolor aprox. 8" x 9

Matted to 11" x 14"

I've completed my commission of Beau. I was pleased with the results of this portrait and although I don't often do portraits, this one came together pretty easy. He's a handsome Australian Sheep Dog and it was a pleasure to try to capture his look on paper. Note, he has one eye that is pink and the other is black.

A Tribute To Vincent Van Gogh

2009-07-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

I received this in my mailbox while I was away. If you haven't seen it yet I think you'll enjoy it as much as I have.

"Starry Night A tribute to Van Gogh . The song was a tribute to Van Gogh. This is so worth sitting and watching....You'll marvel at the song and paintings! I Heard the song many times before, but until I saw this presentation, I was clueless that this song was written for Vincent Van Gogh, as a tribute by Don Mc Lean, in the?seventies.It is rumored that Van Gogh's painting of the 'starry nights' was painted during the time he was in an asylum and that he sold only one painting during his lifetime as he was not recognized. That's perhaps what caused him to fall into an abyss of depression which eventually led to his suicide ......... how tragic to have felt so hopeless and misunderstood in spite of being so gifted! Sit back and be enthralled by the works [paintings] of Vincent Van Gogh. "

Home from holiday...

2009-07-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

Seal - looking cute, bumming for some herring in the northwestern inland marine waterwasy of Washington

It's been a wonderful 3 weeks on vacation, but it's now time to look over my photo's and see what I can use for painting references (not to mention getting back to work on my commission's). I took a lot of photo's that should help me learn more about painting water. Here's a photo I took of a seal that was asking for herring from some fishermen. Isn't he cute? He might make a good painting subject don't you think?

Illustration's, who me?

2009-06-17T12:48:00.001-07:00

sketches for a children's book -Nancy Van Blaricom

Although I have not been doing any of the art work I had originally thought my summer would be filled with, mainly water scenes, I have been busy with some new commission's. I have been asked to illustrate a children's book and since I know nothing about illustrating, let alone illustrating for a children's book, this has brought on a lot of research. I've been reading everything I can find that might help me and I think I'm off to a pretty good start. Here is a photograph of a few of the sketches I've put down on some office card stock, just trying to get some idea of what the characters may look like.

Also I have a commission to paint a portrait of an Australian Sheepdog.

I have a full plate don't you think?

Sketchbook Sailboat

2009-05-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

Sailboat in Marina - sketchbook

I think this summer will be a time for enjoying sketching and exploring water and reflections. I have two books on the subject of painting water and I will be trying a few of the demo's in both Lakes and Rivers , and Painting Water where I will try to capture some of the scenes around me.

Artist's Award Ceremony & Reception

2009-05-11T07:14:00.000-07:00

Saturday I attended the Peninsula Art Association's Artist's Reception and Award Ceremony where I was thrilled to receive 2nd place in watercolor for my small Great Blue Heron painting.

Great Blue Heron #1, 5" x 5" watercolor

SOLD

There are so many wonderful artist's here locally that I was truely surprised when I found out I had received this award. I couldn't be happier.

Not quite finished ...

2009-05-05T14:39:00.001-07:00

Beach Rope Swing - 10.5" x 15" gessoed 300lb coldpress watercolor paper

This is a painting I briefly talked about having started back in March on the 17th. Today after working on it awhile I see I'm starting to obsess about every little detail, so for now I'll stop.

This paper came from a block that had not been properly sized and watercolor is absorbed immediately... instead of throwing it away I decided I'd gesso the front and see if I couldn't be used that way. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it ... but need to remember that the paint doesn't sink in at all now ... making it easy to lift off.

A watercolor from my sketchbook

2009-04-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

Another sketch from my sketchbook. I used ballpoint pen to sketch it out and watercolor from my small traveling palette. I love the bright colors of this IKEA umbrella. It even makes a rainy day more cheerful. I thought an umbrella sketch seemed very appropriate considering all the rain we've received lately. I added the color splashes after I finished the sketch and I think this time they took on a look of rain drops.