Thursday, June 30, 2011

processing a workshop

12x6 pastel on Uart

4x4 pastel field sketch(on art spectrum suede, taped into sketchbook)
It's been a while since my last blog entry. So much has been going on in my head that I wasn't ready to post. 9 days with Richard McKinley and then 5 more on my own in the San Juan islands to digest my thoughts brings me to a point where I can finally share.

When I was in the workshop I produced absolute crud. Enough said.
I will go on to the whys. In a workshop one takes in so much information. It turns and swirls with the ideas already in your head. The object is to own the ideas, your ideas, no one else's.
Short way of saying that the two pastels above represent the door to my path. My idea.

Another thing that has been nibbling at me is time. Maybe it's really taking huge bites. Time is limited and painting needs time. In short, I will be blogging a lot less. I need to get invested in my bigger ideas and not open the computer. I will miss all my blogger friends, but I realize it is time.

So that's it for now. I will be back when I have something worth while to show and say.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

new methods of underpainting

step one
step two
Underpainting is a way to make the perfect "set-up" for your painting it doesn't matter which medium you use. Yesterday Richard made me, once again, rethink what I am doing, and at the perfect time. Before I left home I was already playing with what I could do with colors and edges using underpainting. And NOW!!!!
The ticket is Spectra-Fix, which is a fixative for pastels. Instead of using water as the spreading medium I use Spectra-Fix. Let me explain. First, you think of the scene you want to paint and lay down hard pastels ( my choice Creatacolors.) Second, you load your brush with Spectra-Fix and move those pastels around. Wait for it to dry. Then for a second layer, place watercolors on top. The last layer was pastel. Afterwards I altered it with more Spectra-Fix. The fun has just begun!

step three

Richard McKinley Workshop -day 1

I haven't had a moment to blog! This is a painting from my first day (yesterday.) The painting itself did not thrill me, but the fact that fellow blogger, Astrid and I both found the same site was fun. It's always great to meet another blogger! Even better, this time, Astrid Volquardsen and I will get to know each other since the workshop is 9 days long.
As you probably know, each year, I return to Richard's workshop. And while my painting is not like his (nor will it ever be), I have always felt he is the best teacher there is. Each time I hear his words I am in a new place in my own development as an artist.  Therefore "ah ha!" moments continue to happen.  I will share today's "ah ha" excitement tomorrow. For now, I need to drive back to my place and sleep so that I can get up early tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

neutrals and their placement

neutral with other neutrals

neutral placed with full color
the neutral alone

Neutrals (grays) are beautiful colors, but sometimes it is difficult to see them. Examine the top photo and that neutral, pictured alone here, looks colorful, even delicious. Now examine the middle photo, that same neutral appears unappealing, washed out next to all of that gorgeous, pure color. Simulataneous contrast works inside the box as well as on the paper/canvas. Nothing is truly what it is until it is next to something else. Simultaneous contrast is the effect of how color and value are relative. We need to keep that in mind in every facet of our work. This is the answer to the question Kvan posed, "Why did I separate neutrals? The answer, "I see more clearly."


Now I need to finish packing my bags. I leave early tomorrow morning for Washington State. I will once again join Richard for his workshop, then take off to my favorite painting spots in the state. I, of course, will try to share the experience right here.

For those inquiring, where have I been???
First, my health is fine. Thank you all for your concern.
I have been swamped at school. (Today was the last day.) Not only has it been the end of the year and the plein air event, but I will also be moving jobs next year. This meant I had to totally pack up a studio  (empty!) and then make plans for another studio (order shelving, materials etc.)  Sounds small, but no, it's a huge job, especially when I still continue 4 physical therapies and 2 doctors appointments a week!


Life is good and I can't wait for tomorrow!! Stay tuned.

Monday, June 13, 2011

what happens if I do....?

My paintings, all memory right now, begin as total abstracts. They are all about sunrise.  I will continue to play with color and edge. Testing the possibilities.
I am just seeing what happens.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

sunrise and essence

I have been absent from my blog for one full week. Oh dear.
Rather than talk about that, I instead will post one of my recent sunrise paintings. I have been obsessed with edges and sunrise. For my edge obsession I look to Rothko. And for my sunrise obsession I walk and memorize. When I was at the Mountain Maryland Plein Air I kept feeling that memory is essence and distillation and that my plein air painting is dull. I  will continue to sort through these feelings and ideas....more later.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Mountain Maryland Plein Air

10x10 pastel on acrylic wallis
OMG! What a roller coaster it has been!!! At moments I felt like a total failure. There's nothing like showing and working with some of the best painters on this side of the country. It was crazy. My thoughts went from"Just give it up, you know nothing" to "yay!"
Let me explain....the biggest frustration happened during the Quick Draw when I boldly decided to complete a 20x10 in 2 hours of time. Not only that, but it was a city scene...building, people and the like (not my faves.) So after I made that foolhardy decision I absentmindedly used a different paper (not wallis or Uart) and it warped when I put the watercolor on it. I will end the disaster at that. Let me move on to the upside...later that same day at the reception I learned that I had won an honorable mention for my painting (posted on Saturday)! My pants nearly fell off me! And then I learned that I had sold my work. Crazy would be an understatement! Up and down. In addition, as you probably already know, my emotions road that painting roller coaster all week. Phew!

One of the best parts of the experience was that I met so many wonderful people: townspeople, painters, and friends of my fabulous hosts. This is the second year I stayed with Bill and John. I just love the way they make me feel as if I am one of the family. Bill kept me rolling in laughter with his stories and John is just an amazing sweetheart. Kelly, who spearheaded that whole event and was the total go- to person, was so generous with her time and energy, always making each one of us feel special. Anne, my housemate, was kind and funny. When my frame was set up to be a vertical and I chose a horizontal, Anne whips out her framing tools and fixes it.

The people of Cumberland are awesome. I will give you an example. When I was painting the field painting I posted on Saturday the farmer began cutting his field. When he noticed I was there painting he came to me and asked if it was OK if he cut or was it a problem. WOW! Can you imagine that?!

All considered, it was a fun, anxiety producing, exhausting, learning experience.

Now for the painting posted above. This is a painting that took the entire week to complete, even though it is 10x10.  I painted at the field by the Martins grocery store..yes Cumberland has fields by  grocery stores ...so much land! The first morning  we had an amazing fog and the sky looked like this. I remembered it and held on the week long as I returned to paint when the sky had no fog.  I simplified the trees (probably too much) and had fun with the glow. It sure gives me ideas for more paintings.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

day 4 knowledge vs. intuition

10x20 pastel on wallis

So here it is. I just stopped thinking. This once again reminds me that it's important to know, but yet it's just as important to place that knowledge into the back of your brain and operate by feeling and intuition.
Now to the quick draw craziness.

Friday, June 3, 2011

simplify and take your time

Simplifying is much easier in the studio when I am working solely from memory. I now find myself drinking the koolaid of information and the side effects are painful. I find myself rushing to "get it" and just plain looking too much. So for this painting I took my time and simplified.
One visit was to just look. The second visit was to just put down an underpainting. The third visit I adjusted the underpainting to accurate values and big shapes. All that work made it much easier to just take my time and add pastel. The pastel began as "bookends"- lightest light and darkest dark, then straight to the diva. As it unfolded I relaxed more (finally) as I am starting to feel more like myself.
Casey noted yesterday that I am working bigger. Yes, that's true. Part of my goal was to increase size. That's also why I needed to slow down. Covering a 20x10 with pastel is slow going.
I think I may survive this. When I realized that just being here and painting upright for long periods of time was a feat. Hard to believe that one month ago I was still painting on the floor for very short periods. It reminds me of how grateful I am to everyone who has helped get me through this.

PS I just finished a long horizontal. It's my fave so far. I will post it tomorrow.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

day 2 critters galore

10x10 pastel on wallis
I must be wearing a sign on me, something like, "welcome critters." Let me explain. Yesterday morning I went to one of my favorite painting sites, set up and began painting. All of a sudden I started itching...itching like crazy. I come to find out there are ants crawling up my leg and entering my shorts.  My Mom was right when she would say I have ants in my pants. Egad.
Last night I was painting at sunset and these gigantic orange bugs swarmed me. And then when I came to my host's beautiful home there was a bat swooping around..inside. It entered my bedroom and I dove under the bedspread. Finally it left and I was able to sleep.
Long way of saying I am a little under slept and over itched.
Still this morning was better than my last times at the easel.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

day 1 and guilty

10x10 pastel on wallis

Oh dear! I am not off to a good start. I have fallen victim to the white disease. I know color makes light. Yesterday and today the light has been influenced by the  hazy, hot and humid conditions (temps in the 90s). Everywhere it seems white, touched by lemon meringue. I have been guilty of painting what I see.

I know that a good picture is a mix of beautiful color and neutrals- grays (mixes of the beautiful colors.) I know whites are non colors. Still my track record is awful. Last night, after painting, I returned to my host family's home and I borrowed their vacuum cleaner and sucked all the offending pastel OFF that painting! That one may get a second chance  tonight.
Today and I painted two so far. Still I don't think I can exhale yet.

PS These plein  air competitions are like running a long distance race. Just like horses charging at the gate. Like that horse, I was so hyper yesterday.  I guess  I still am.