Series

Seeing a "thread" in my subject matter

as I explore more abstract approaches. 

Aerial View 

12 x 12 oil on canvas 

Coastal Living

12 x 12 oil on canvas 

I have a file of photos named

"abstract shapes" 

that I go to for ideas. 

I've noticed that the images of views 

from our beach house in summer  

seem to be grabbing my attention.  

A few more:

Summer Dreams 

12 x 12 oil on canvas 

Special Corner

10 x 8 oil on board 

Working in a series is a great way to explore a subject. 

using different approaches. 

Especially when it's not planned! 

Wabi-Sabi

We have been talking about Wabi- Sabi in the 

Mark Daniel Nelson E course I'm taking.

I'm amazed that I have never heard of this Japanese aesthetic 

and I intend to learn more about it. 

"Wabi-sabi is a beauty of things 

imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.

It is a beauty of things modest and humble. 

 It is a beauty of things unconventional."

by Leonard Koren 

That works for me. 

I'm sensing that this way of looking at things 

will be influencing my paintings

Complementary colors

This week in class we talked about complementary colors. 

We did a "kaleidoscope" exercise

 using two complementary colors plus white and black. 

First, we filled in spaces with 

each of the complementary colors right out of the tube. 

Then mix them together,

then add white and black to each and so on...

all spaces being filled with a different color. 

Cad scarlet and Cad green pale

Purple and Cad yellow

Then we painted a simple still life 

using complementary colors. 

It's a wonderful way to get 

beautiful neutrals and color harmony 

in our paintings. 

On Line Classes

I'm taking an e-course this month

with Mark Daniel Nelson.

We meet for an hour every Thursday and  

there is an assignment every week. 

"Coastal Living" 

12 x 12 oil

This week we were refocusing on 

three/four points of interest; 

(spots of sunlight, the dog bowl)  

as well as incorporating a

"big dumb shape".

(The purple deck) 

Fun! 

Back to Teaching!

It felt so good to be back teaching a two day 

"Intuitive Painting"workshop
at North River Arts Society this weekend.
I love that place.

It was a large group of mixed level painters,

so we attacked the basics on Day One.

Three Value Plan
Value to Color 

My demo 

Student work!

Limited Stroke 

(Surface quality) 

My 7 stroke demo

(with a mulligan) 

Student work

from a black and white photo. 

(his first oil painting!)  

Day Two:

Pattern Painting

We set up a large, busy, still life 

and everyone brought it objects.

We worked on zooming in with our I phones or I pads

to learn how to focus on shapes and colors. 

(No light and shadow) 

My demo

student work 

(she zoomed in on a pinecone and greenery 

in the orchid pot) 

I was so excited about the amazing work that was being created,  

I didn't get any other images.  

I'm newly inspired by the incredible

 sense of community

 and sharing of ideas

that happen during workshops.

Great work everyone.

It was a terrific weekend! 

Working Larger from a Study

Exploring the limited pallet idea  

I did this larger version of the study posted previously. 

"Engaged" 

20 x 20 oil 

This was painted over another painting

so there is a lot of texture. 

I think the tonal pallet gives it a 

mid-century modern feel.

NOTE:

The 10 x 10 study:

Jumping In

Jumping right in to the New Year;

 submitting work to Juried shows, 

prepping for class that starts next week 

("Intuitive Painting" 5 Tuesdays 9:30 - 12:30 

North River Arts Society)

and experimenting with some quick figure studies.  

Playing with color... 

"Catching Up"

10 x 10 oil 

...and using a limited pallet;

black, white, Indian yellow, and burnt umber.  

Untitled 

12 x 12 oil 

Happy to be wearing my "artist" hat again.