Happy Halloween and Friday's Class

Here we are, it's Halloween, and we're in between trick or treaters. That means it's time to post my efforts from Friday's class. By the way, this photo is not blurry, this is the way the painting actually looks. Our lesson on Friday was about painting reflections on water. The main idea is that the clarity of the reflection is based on the stillness of the water. The smoother the water, the more mirror like the reflection. The choppier the water, the more uneven the reflection. Also, the closer the object is to the water, the larger it appears in the reflection. In the above example the tree would appear much larger than the distant hills. Anyway, this is just a start, the initial drawing, with the lights, and darks, blocked in. It needs more work. So far, I have started five small paintings in various stages of needing more work, and our critique is next Friday. I have to get busy! Yikes!

Nevada Museum of Art

We just returned from a short trip to to the Sierras, and Reno, NV. We visited parents, and Brian attended a meeting in Reno. While Brian was in his meeting, I visited the Nevada Museum of Art. They had a wonderful exhibit of California landscapes. I loved the beautiful composition of this painting of cattle, by Maynard Dixon. This one photograph was discreetly taken, before being reprimanded by the guard. My excuse, was that I had I turned off the flash. Alas, they didn't care. I was was firmly told, no photography of any kind. Oh well, I tried.

More from the Higher Ground

Here is the redo of the photo from the last post. This time the photo was taken in the early morning. I think that it is a little better. It could be that the painting is just a little blurry. The second painting is more of the red plums. These are so much fun to paint. I can't seem to get enough. Meanwhile, I am still working on my landscape painting in my Friday class. Will post my latest one soon. It needs a little more work. So much to paint, so little time.

On Higher Ground

Now that I see this photo, I wish that it was better. It's a little blurry. I will try to redo this. In the meantime, please bear with me, I will try again tomorrow, and leave it for now.
One more "on the edge"painting, and still having fun. I'm back to the familiar, my comfort zone, only, this time with beautiful red plums. Hard to believe, but I still have more ideas for more on the edge paintings. At the same time, I'm also really enjoying my class in landscape painting, which, I had to miss last Friday. I will be in class this Friday, so stay tuned for more, more still life, and more landscape paintings to come.

Friday's Class

Friday was one more class with Carol Tarzier. She is such a wonderful instructor. Each class begins with a demo of Carol painting a landscape, from a photograph. After her demo, everyone paints the same landscape, using the same photo. So simple, but such a great way to learn. Never having done landscape painting, this class has been wonderful for me. I feel that I have learned so much, already. Carol also gives a short lecture in the beginning of class, based on ideas from the book, Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting, by John F. Carlson. This is all new information for me, even though this book has a original copyright date of 1929. Some ideas remain timeless!

All Ready Now

On Sunday, I took four of my framed pears over to the gallery, for our new exhibit, opening on Tuesday. If you are in the area, please come by the Lafayette Gallery to see all things "new".

Back from La Jolla

Last night we arrived home from a short trip to La Jolla. It was beautiful, great weather, gorgeous ocean, and wonderful restaurants! Here are some photos from a day at the Museum of Contemporary Art , complete with ocean views! This a fantastic museum, very modern and a perfect location. Once of the current exhibits, focused on cities, included an assemblage by Joseph Cornell , one of my favorite artists.

Three Reds

My friend Kathy asked me if I ever did Red Bartlett Pears. The answer is, yes, I do, and here they are. Another quick pear painting, done yesterday, thinking about Kathy. This was done quickly because we are leaving today for La Jolla, and won't be back until Wed. A short trip to attend a conference with Brian. I'll be on my own, looking at galleries and the sights, while Brian is attending the conference. More to come after we return.

Back to Class

Just finished day two in my painting class with Carol Tarzier. Here is the new landscape that was just started in this recent class. So many new ideas, that my head is spinning. So inspiring! Looking forward to more! Learning is a never ending adventure!

All Four of Us

One more pear painting for the upcoming exhibit. I still want to do a few more. This one was a quickie. Experimenting with blue, a color I normally don't use. For some reason, my comfort zone is a warmer color palette. I feel a little out of my element, but will forge ahead. I think it's always good to get away from the familiar, once in awhile.

A Strong Wind

Back to the pears. I need to bring some paintings in for our gallery exhibit change coming up. I am hoping to have a series of pears done, and ready for hanging by the 11th. Time seems to be flying by. Yikes!

Just Starting

This is the beginning of a landscape painting that I did in last week's painting class. Actually. my first attempt at landscape painting. Carol Tarzier is so inspiring, a brilliant teacher, and wonderful artist. I have enjoyed her so much already. Carol recommended using an apricot color for the ground, and purple to make the preliminary drawing. Those two colors are just beautiful together! Stay tuned for more updates on this W.I.P.

Still in Line

One more on the edge painting. I can't seem to get enough of this composition. It is still fun, and I still have more ideas. I'll keep moving onward and we'll see where we go with all of this. Stay tuned for more.

Color Wheels

These color wheels were done for the first assignment for Carol Tarzier's class. It seems like I have done many, many color wheels in the past. I am always amazed at how many colors can be made from just three colors. The top color wheel uses, cad. lemon yellow, alizarin crimson, and pthalo blue. The bottom one uses, cad. yellow, cad red, and ultramarine blue. The photo does not show an exact duplication of the colors, but you can get an idea. No matter how many times I have done this exercise, it's always fun, and I'm reminded of how many colors are just out there waiting to be used.

Still Friendly

More cherries, and more words of wisdom from Pam's blog. Pam mentioned that Quang Ho advised artists to make a decision, that no decision is wrong, only that it is wrong not to make a decision. I love that! It is useful advice for painting, and for life!

Very Friendly

I just finished reading Pam Holnback's newest post on her blog. She has done a great job sharing ideas from "The Weekend with the Masters" in Colorado Springs. It makes me wish that I was there. One of the ideas that she shared today, was Skip Whitcomb's quote, "simplicity is power". The more information you include in a painting the weaker the statement. I just love that idea. Again, if you have not seen Pam's blog, please go take a look, pamholnback.blogspot.com. She has generously shared all kinds of ideas from her "Weekend with the Masters"

Five and an Eighth

We just returned from Santa Fe, where I always get so inspired with all of the art everywhere. I ended up finishing several small paintings each day. I will try to keep the momentum going! Last night, after arriving home from the airport, I read Pam Holnback's blog about a workshop that she attended in Colorado. Quang Ho was one of the speakers with ideas for painters, also very inspiring. I can immediately see ways to improve this painting, just from reading her post about Quang Ho's presentation. To read about his inspiring ideas, visit Pam's wonderful blog at pamholnback.blogspot.com.

Way Up There

One more of the same composition. This is still a fun challenge for me. I'll forge ahead with more of the same, and we'll see how it goes!

More of the Edge

I'm still working on the same composition, with more tomatoes. I am also still trying to create a looser, less structured look. This is something that I need to work on. More of this to come.

More for the Tenth Anniversary Exhibit

This is a similar 22 X 30 monoprint, that was done in 2007. It is titled "Natasha at the Lafayette Art and Wine Festival". I decided that I will also bring this piece to the Orinda Library tomorrow for the installation of the "Lafayette Gallery's Tenth Anniversary Exhibit". I am not sure if there will be enough space for both pieces, but just in case there is, I'll be prepared. I also volunteered to help hang the exhibit. We'll have to see how much work needs to be hung. It would be great to have both pieces on display, if space allows. We'll hope for the best!

The Tenth Anniversary Exhibit

This year the Lafayette Gallery is celebrating it's ten year anniversary! The Gallery is currently showing a special exhibit titled, "Ten Years at the Lafayette Gallery". In addition, the Orinda Library will be showing an exhibit of work by current and past members of the gallery in honor of our ten year anniversary. There will also be a public reception at the Orinda Library on Sept. 10th to celebrate the occasion! Everyone is welcome, please come!
In the gallery, several of my small still life paintings are now on display. On Tuesday I will bring my monoprint, "Veronica at the Garden Party", to the Orinda Library for hanging. This monoprint was done last year, on a 22 X 30 sheet of printmaking paper. The red dress is rice paper that has been attached using chine colle.
For most of the past year I've concentrated on my small still life painting, which I love doing. Printmaking has been put on the back burner. This monoprint reminds me of how much fun printmaking is. I hope to be able to get back to Sherry's studio this fall to make some more of these monoprints.
In the meantime, I am so happy to be part of the Lafayette Gallery, and am looking forward to our upcoming anniversary celebration!

Very Close

More tomatoes, one of the best things about summer! Still working on the edge, and still enjoying it. There will be more "on the edge " to come, probably not tomatoes. Stay tuned for more.

More Secrets

Still working for a less finished, looser look. I remember being told in some long ago art class, that the mind likes to see something slightly unfinished, so that the rest can be left to the imagination. The idea is that the viewer is drawn into the painting to contemplate what isn't there. Who knows?