Trees on the Horizon

This is the same painting from the last post, with a little more work on  the trees. Still having fun with color, and lots of paint!

More from Sandy Ostrau

Just completed another WS with Sandy Ostrau.  I always learn new things from Sandy. Her ideas seem to be just what I need.  She talked about trees as being problematic, so much so, that sometimes she just leaves them out.  Using trees as a part of the design of the painting, by creating a grid pattern, was a possible way to solve the problem.  This is what I was trying to do here. This painting still needs work on the trees, so stay tuned for more...

Alina B., News Update!

Alina B., specializing in unique European fashion, both new and vintage, will be celebrating their grand opening on Sat., March 29th, from 5pm to 8pm.  Alina B., a long time local business, and seller of beautiful things, has just moved to their new location in Blackhawk Plaza, Danville.  Please come to the grand opening! All are welcome.  More details can be seen at Alina B. on Facebook.
Alina's boutique sells fabulous fashion, jewelry, and fine art. The jewelry is designed by Alina's sister, Irenka Kudlicki.  Alina B, is very much a family business with the beautiful interior design, done by Alina's son, Jacek, and daughter in law, Jasmine, both architects.
I am so happy to be part of it all. My paintings are now on display at Alina B., and will be on view for the grand opening!
Please come by for the celebration, 5 to 8, on Sat., March 29th! Hope to see you there!

The Collector Pop Up Shop at SFO

On it's way to the Collector Art Shop's new pop up store, at SFO.

Collector Art Shop's New Pop Up Gallery at SFO

Exciting news, the Collector Art Shop now has a pop up gallery at the San Francisco airport.
This little painting, along with 7 others, will be headed there next week. If you have plans to be at the airport, be sure and look for the Collector Art Store, pop up gallery, located at the San Francisco Airport, Terminal 3, post security boarding area E, for United Airlines.

Ideas From Sandy Ostrau

The focus of Sandy's workshop was reworking old paintings, unfinished paintings, and paintings that
never quite worked.  Here is what I did in class, the before and after versions, of an old unfinished painting.  The good news is, I have no lack of material for future work!

Sandy Ostrau's Work Shop

Sandy Ostrau is a fabulous painter, and WS teacher!  Last week, I was able to take a third inspiring WS with Sandy.  A lot of time was spent talking about  palettes, and color mixing.  She uses a 18 X 24 in, 1/4 in thick, plywood board, covered in freezer paper.  In her studio, she uses two of them!  Imagine, a huge palette!  One of Sandy's strengths, is her brilliant color sense.  See Sandy's paintings on her website, sandyostrau.com.

The talented, painter, and blogger, Debbi Smith Rourke, came all the way from Austin TX, to be a part of this WS.  This was Debbi's second WS in  CA, with Sandy.  We are both inspired to no end by Sandy's paintings. See Debbi's paintings at, debbismithrourkefineart.com.

Nine Trees, and New Exhibit at The Lafayette Gallery

        One more painting, based on an another, earlier 6 X 6, enlarged to 20 x 20. This painting, and more, are now on exhibit at the Lafayette Gallery.  Please mark your calenders, Feb. 1, gallery reception, come one, come all, 5 to 7 pm. Hope to see you there.
     
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Trees and Green Fields

This painting is a larger version of an earlier,  6 X 6.  Still having fun painting larger, and looking forward to more.

The Red Barn

 

New work, for the new year.  One of my goals for this year is to work larger.
Here is an 18 X 18. I trying the baby steps approach. Stay tuned, bigger will follow!

Happy 2014, to One and All

 

This has been such an exciting  time of year. We've celebrated everything in the past two months,
Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, my birthday, our 20th anniversary, winter solstice,
 Christmas, and now, on to the new year!
Here I am, with my ever supportive, and fabulous husband!
We both want to wish you Happy New Year.  May 2014 be your best year ever!

New Exhibit at the San Ramon Valley Conference Center

 

Recently, I was invited to be one of four artists, showing work in a California landscape exhibit. This exhibit is now hanging in the San Ramon Valley Conference Center. It will be on display for the next three months. The conference center is open  to the public, and  located at 3301 Crow Canyon Rd., San Ramon, CA. Please come by and take a look.
 

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone the very best holidays!  May all your  dreams come true!

Exciting News, The Lafayette Gallery has moved, Open Studios, and More

 

Exciting news!  The Lafayette Art Gallery has moved to a beautiful, new, larger space,  located in the Historic Forge. Read all about it on the Lafayette Gallery website.  Then address is 3420 Mt Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. The adjacent courtyard will be the location, for several artists, including me, for Open Studios, coming up on  Oct 19th and 20th, 11 to 4pm. Please come by to see lots of my paintings, including those above. Hope to see you there!

Workshop with Melinda Cootsona

Earlier this year, I took a workshop with Melinda Cootsona, "Using Photos, to Paint the Figure". This was a wonderful WS that got me started painting  figures, and painting larger.  This painting, and the figure painting, from one of my recent posts, both came from this class. Both area 20 X 20. I have several more figurative works in progress. Stay tuned!

Lafayette Art and Wine Festival

      Come one, come all!  The Lafayette Art and Wine Festival is this weekend, Sept 21st, and 22nd.
           I will be exhibiting, 10 to 7, on Sat., and 10 to 6, on Sun.. Hope to see you there!

More from Jenny's WS

 

 

More exercises from Jenny Nelson's workshop.  Making these small abstract painting was so much fun.
Jenny used exercises taken from the book, Expressive Drawing, a Practical Guide for Freeing the Artist Within, by Steven Aimone
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Work Shop with Jenny Nelson

 

 

 

 

Now for completely different, something that I have never done. A few weeks ago, I took a workshop from, abstract painter, Jenny Nelson. Jenny is very talented, and a wonderful instructor. I had lots of fun, and worked on several drawing, and painting exercises that opened a whole new world for me!  Here is some of what I did during the WS, and a cute photo of Jenny with her equally cute, and tall husband!
 

ArtFall, at the Valley Art Gallery

 Exciting News! The new exhibit at Valley Art Gallery will be showing my work, with  me, as the featured artist.  The exhibit opens Oct 5 and goes through Nov. 16th. Please come to the reception Oct 5th, from 4 to 6. Hope to see you there!

WIP, Inspired by Diebenkorn

I have not been posting too much lately, because I've been experimenting. 
I am way out of my comfort zone,  painting the figure. It has been a challenge. Here is one of my several recent works in progress. Stay tuned for more ...

More Richard Diebenkorn

 
 The wonderful  Diebenkorn book, showing lots of the magnificent work hanging  in the de Young Museum.
 

Diebenkorn at the de Young

 

Last week I had a chance to see the Richard Diebenkorn exhibit at the deYoung Museum.  Now, all I can think about is going to see it again.  It is up until the end of Sept.

Here are Richard Diebenkorn's , "Notes to Myself on Beginning a Painting",

 1.  Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.

    2. The pretty, initial position, which falls short of completeness, is not to be valued, except as a stimulus for further moves.

3. Do search, but in order to find other than what is searched for.

4. Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities, but consider them absolutely expendable.

5. Don't discover a subject, of any kind.

6. Somehow do not be bored, but if you must, use it in action. Use it's destructive potential.

7. Mistakes can't be erased, but they can move you from your present position.

8. Keep thinking about Pollyanna.

9. Tolerate chaos.

10. Be careful only in a very perverse way.

by Richard Diebenkorn

Summer Clouds

 

12 X12, oil on panel.

Yellow Fields

 

6 X 6, oil on panel.

Happy July

June has come and gone, way too quickly.  Time is racing by, and now it's July. Whew!
Here is one more 12 X 12, now hanging at Chow Restaurant.
 

Summer Skies

 

One more 12 X 12 oil,  painted on a wood panel, using a brush and palette knife.

Land and Water

 

One more 12 X 12, oil on panel.