Satisfaction... Smiling At Yourself Daily

Stormy Path From Riomaggiore
Oil on Canvas
14" x 18"

Good News! My Dad is home from the hospital after having a stroke. If one has to have a stroke his was a "good" one. He's suffered a loss of some of his sight but he is otherwise in great shape. I don't know why the stroke happened, but Dad's attitude which starts each morning when he smiles at himself in the mirror to start out the day seems to make life's challenges easier to deal with. I've said it before.. Dad is my model. And he is always reminding me through his actions to appreciate the gifts we have every day.

On the painting scene, things are looking up as well. I felt very satisfied for the first time in a while and enjoyed painting this stormy scene. I've decided to try to paint a body of work themed around my visits to various places in Italy. I'll try to do figurative and landscape work, and I think it will be fun. If nothing else, it will memorialize some of the great people and interesting experiences I've had when traveling around my husband's homeland.

When I was painting in Cinque Terre with Scott Burdick in September of 2007, we encountered some lovely weather and some very stormy weather. (Click on this "Scott Burdick workshop" link to read about this terrific workshop.) Cinque Terre is a region that has five towns perched on the cliffs and beaches of North-Western Italy. It is known for the myriad of trails that link the five towns and for the absolutely breath-taking views. This scene is looking north along the trail from Riomaggiore, the southern-most jewel, toward its next neighbor, Manarola.

From a Wonderful Paint Out Event to Fear... All With A Stroke

The Valley Artists' Guild planned a paintout for Sunday and invited the San Fernando Valley Art Club and other artists to attend. My friend and first teacher, John Paul Thornton (seen painting one of the lovely models) is the president of VAG.

Southern California's weather has been strange to say the least lately and at first I feared the weather would be so scorching that it would be miserable, then within a week we had rain, and snow and lightning I thought the event would be rained out! Happily it wasn't. It was a terrific event. Scott Kiche Castro, VAG's VP, his wife and several others cooked while a crowd of artists sketched and painted one of two model set-ups. There were sketchers, pastelists, watercolorists, and oil painters... even some who just painted abstract art while together in the group. I had a great time talking to the various artists but found that I was too cold (I know I'm a wuss) and distracted by my little guy and my husband to paint. It was a WONDERFUL EVENT!! I hope they decide to do it as an annual event.

It was a good thing I decided not to paint. My dad called.. apparently he had lost his vision on his right side. Fearing a problem with wet macular degeneration, I encouraged him to call his doctor. The doctor told him to go to the hospital immediately and I took him. As it turned out ... it was a stroke. Thankfully if one has to have a stroke it was a relatively "good" one. This affected his occipital lobe giving him a "curtain" covering about 1/3 of his field of vision on the right side. He has no paralysis, loss of speech ability or motor skills. We're all hoping that he will recover his vision, but if not... contemplating such a loss is frightening.

So much of our enjoyment and mobility in this world depends on our vision. How would any of us be without it?

So, I'll say to you..... love those you love .... enjoy what you do... because as in a painting... a single stroke can change it all! Be well.

Miles and Miles of Paint

Morning Portrait Study In May

THE MODEL

We had a lovely model last week in my CAI class. I take a still life class in the morning and a figure painting class in the afternoon and every third week our teacher, Johanna Spinks, has a model in the morning AND in the afternoon.

STARTS AND FINISHES

So far I haven't taken advantage of the two sessions to try to do a more finished painting. I think I will try it next time instead of painting 2 three-hour poses, because although I will always need to work on my starts, I need to start polishing up my finishes.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

I've been asking colleagues and artists I respect about how to find the things about a painting that need to be refined. I've asked what needs to be done to bring a portrait that you want to consider more than a study to "completion". During a demo I watched, Aapo Puk said his best friends were "time, distance and a mirror." I have lists of things to look for, advice to go study the great masters and compare.... lots of advice. I think I've known all along though, that it will just take lots and lots of painting and experience and patience with myself. ---- I'm off.. wish me luck!

Watercolor Fun with Rea Nagel

Poppies In The Field
Watercolor Study

As I've mentioned before, one of the benefits of belonging to a local art club is meeting nice people who have common interests. Rea Nagel is an award winning water color artist and former public school teacher. She enjoys painting and she enjoys teaching. Last fall I took a series of classes from her and this week I took a one day class sponsored by my local art club, the San Fernando Valley Art Club, where she did a demonstration earlier this year at our monthly meeting.

Although initially when I began to paint, I wanted to learn watercolor, it wasn't what the "course" prescribed so instead I have been trying for years and years to master oils. I love oils. They ARE my favored medium. I still have tons to learn about using them and about drawing, painting, etc. But watercolor was beyond me until Rea's class.

The best thing Rea has taught me is that there are no "rules". She has an answer for everything. All the mistakes and "oopses" that I thought would bar me from doing anything remotely nice in watercolor are simply things to incorporate into your painting. She doesn't just use brushes. She uses sticks, credit cards, knives, toothbrushes, soft falling sprays and direct narrow sprays of water. Sometimes she even "drowns" paintings which didn't work out in the bathtub... awaiting rebirths after drying out again. She pulls news tricks out of her bag each time you look up. She's like the "Inspector Gadget" of watercolor!

If you ever get a chance to take a class from Rea, do it... You'll have fun... and you'll learn that watercolor is a lot more forgiving that many people would have you think!

The weather's improved, but I'm still painting inside - Another WIP to Critique

What's Up Next At Gale's?
16" x 12"

Oil on RayMar Canvas Board

Thankfully, SoCal is no longer suffering from three-figure temps. In fact it's gorgeous outside. I walked my 3 1/2 miles today and enjoyed the windy and pleasant day. The painting above is my impression of a kitchen scene from Gales' Restaurant in Pasadena. It is still a work in progress (WIP) and I will revisit it later when I have the gift of distance and time. Then I'll analyze its shortcomings and try to make it better. I sure would appreciate any comments you may feel you can make to help me on my way!

Yesterday I painted all day at my class in Thousand Oaks... I had two figure painting sessions with the same model. I could have painted the same thing all of the six hours, but instead I painted a head/shoulders portrait in the morning and in the afternoon 3-hour-session I attempted a full figure. Although I was called unexpectedly and early to pick up my little one and then proceeded to drop the painting (twice!), I was still fairly happy with my study outcomes. It's not that I'm painting masterpieces, but these studies are steps on my way to become a better painter. I do enjoy painting the figures and think that while slowly, I am making progress. Johanna Spinks, my teacher, has a quick wit, and a kind but honest way to help each student move ahead. I feel fortunate to have met her there at the California Art Institute.

A Friend's Show, Drawing A Mental Model, WIPs

Bringing In The Boats (Vernazza, Italy)
9" x 12"
Oil on RayMar Canvas Board

It's HOT here in Southern California! I wanted to paint something that made me think cool. I shouldn't complain. The weather is one of the great things about where I live, but right now it is unseasonably hot -- well over 100 and it's still May! So I've been staying inside trying to paint some great scenes from photos and studies I've done. The painting you see on this blog is one of two works in progress (WIP) that are almost finished. I'm at the point now where I'm going to take advice from a wonderful artist and blogger, Linda Blondheim and put them both away for a while then when I look at them again later, I'll go over a list she provided in her blog of today. Another artist friend, Laura Wambsgans, just sent me a list of the reasons she scraped down a painting. Gosh, there is so much to learn --- It's a joy to keep learning and practicing.

I also got good news from my friend, Carolyn Weisz. Carolyn's artist name is Carolyn Shore. ( C. Shore :o) ) I met her many, many years ago in our Mission Renaissance classes. I remember the week when seemingly suddenly her terrific style emerged! She was painting a large bar scene. It was bold and had great thick paint and great mood. I loved it. We've kept in touch over the years. She hosts an annual art party and we occasionally run into one another or we email. I never knew until more recently, however, that she had practiced another great artistic genre - that of Chinese brush painting! These are the paintings being shown at Vroman's in Pasadena. If you are in the area and get a chance go on by to see them, or check out the link.

Lastly, I came across this cute U-Tube video: I thought it was kind of a funny little "art lesson", called "Drawing a Mental Model". However, it reminded me of what all of my art teachers have always told me NOT to do. "Don't paint what you know, paint what you see." Too often we paint our inner vision of a cup or a boat, or a horse or a mouth... not really the shapes that are in front of us. Our mind "sees" things that aren't really there.

So... if you have any thoughts about the WIP I have posted at the beginning of this blog, please comment and I'll consider your ideas as I finalize the painting. Hopefully, as I painted, I didn't paint things that shouldn't have been there!

I'm In!!! -- The California Art Club "Natural Beauty" Exhibition

Great News!

I am very proud to announce that my painting, "Fresh Catch" was juried in to the California Art Club's "Natural Beauty" Exhibition at the Women's City Club of Pasadena.


The show runs from June 23, 2008 to November 26, 2008. Although I will post an update closer to the date, please put the reception on your calendar if you can. You will enjoy the wonderful art, the beautiful historical Blinn House that houses the Women's City Club, and a dramatization of Isadora Duncan during the reception and at the dinner.

RECEPTION: Saturday, July 12, 2008 5:00 - 7:00 p.m

If you wish, there is a dinner following the reception. Call for reservations: (626) 796-0560.

To read more about my art and my art journey, click on this link for my main web page blog: www.marianfortunati.com/blog/3975. If you'd like you can also browse around the site to see my other work.

Many of you know how long I've coveted a place in this show. I hope those of you who can, will try to come by and bring your friends for an evening of art and drama.

OTHER ARTIST FRIENDS IN THE SHOW:

I have also found out that some of my friends' work is going to be in the same show! This will be such fun!

• Sharon Weaver, whom I met through the San Fernando Valley Art Club
• Laura Wambsgans, whom I met at dinner when I volunteered at the last show at the Women's City Club
• Ying Liu, whom I met during a painting workshop with Scott Burdick in Cinque Terre
• Pat Franco is a neighbor, a sculptor and a member of the San Fernando Valley Art Club
  

On Track?? Adjustments in Goal Setting

California Gold
9" x 12"
Oil on RayMar Canvas Board

SETTING GOALS:
Clint Watson, the webmaster of my main website, puts out a newsletter with advice for artists. Some of the articles he writes and some he posts are written by others, but there is almost always something to learn about oneself and about the art world. One such article discussed the importance of setting long term and short term goals for oneself while continuing on the painting journey. For a very long time I've had a milestone or goal along my own journey: -to be juried in to a CAC Painting Patron Show. I've been juried in to other shows and have won awards, but so far I've never made it in to the CAC Exhibition.

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY:
Although painful, a really good thing DID come from my continual rejections. I was invited to observe the jurying process for an upcoming show. Of course I couldn't enter, but the trade-off seemed well worth it. Early in my blogging efforts, I described this terrific experience. I feel really fortunate to have had such an interesting experience and encourage all artists who participate in juried shows to try for a similar chance. However, I still hold the as yet unreached goal - actually being juried in to this CAC show!

PAINTING UNDER PRESSURE:
A few weeks back I was trying to paint under the pressure of this CAC exhibition that I have coveted for three years. I actually created a few nice paintings. One was the painting at the top of this page and another was one I blogged about earlier. I was not at my best and this created anxiety and made the painting not so enjoyable. Admittedly I have lots of room to grow with my painting, but each time it's submittal time, I give it a try and I have been continually disappointed. Painting should be fun and it hasn't been.

SOUL SEARCHING:
I've been re-evaluating over these last weeks and decided to return to the reasons I chose to retire nine months ago -- to spend more time with my family, to enjoy learning to paint better, and to meet new people, see new spots and just enjoy life. Then on Mother's Day my Daddy got sick. He's okay now, but our scare reminded me of what is really important -- the people I care for.... not getting in a show. To emphasize this point on Monday I received a newsletter from one of my local clubs (VAG). In it was an excerpt from an article written by artist Jim Warren, reminding artists that, "Success alone, I found was empty" and that "an artist provides himself with inspiration through his love of life and people." I still have goals, but I'm going to try not to let the goals take the joy out of painting. I want to paint the places I've been and the people I meet. My goals are still there, but I'll try not to let them ruin the fun I have when trying to create, learn and live.

Still Lifes Carry Meaning: Dad's Day Lilies

Dad's Day Lilies

12" x 9"

Oil on RayMar Canvas Panel

A week or so ago I decided to sit down and try to paint a simple still life partly to get away from plein air and figurative work. It was also partly to see if I could apply some of the things about value and notan that I've been mulling over for months. I was fairly happy with the result.

The set up is a simple vase with day lilies that I saw on my Dad's kitchen table. I liked the way the light was striking the petals and the patterns in the glass vase. Daddy always has flowers on his kitchen table. They are usually from his garden and they make me happy.

When I finished it I showed it to my teacher, Johanna Spinks, who suggested that I push back some of the edges using glazes. I used to think glazes were just used in a specific type of painting like those the old masters did where they painted a toned underpainting and later added many layers of transparent glazes over it. I've found out more recently from several artists that it is often used to push something back, to soften edges and just to add a richness to any type of painting. It's always nice to learn new tricks.

Alexis with a Funny Feathered Hat

Exhausted after my three day workshop with Ryan Wurmser, I had decided not to paint on Monday, but by Tuesday I was looking forward to my weekly day with my regular class and Johanna Spinks. Johanna had returned from a great weekend. Her painting of Norman Rockwell was unveiled to an appreciative crowd at the Player's Club and another wonderful painting won a great prize at the Oil Painters Of America Exhibition.

This was the day that Johanna had decided that we should all bring our own "makings" for a still life. Monday I visited several import stores looking for interesting things... not a good idea. I think I may try visiting yard sales to look through people's "junk" to see if I can find any treasures for the future. Anyway, what I ended up deciding to do was to raid my husband's well stocked kitchen and do a "Things to use when cooking an Italian meal" still life. I ended up with tomatoes, penne pasta, wooden spoons, a pepper mill and a round woven mat. I got a good start but didn't finish. Hopefully I will have time during the coming week to work on it more.

In the afternoon a model named Alexis posed for us. Apparently she's moving to New York to promote her modeling career -- sad for those of us who like to do figurative painting because she had an interesting face that was fun to paint.

I now need to regroup and rest... I'm tired. Here's my "Alexis with a Funny Feathered Hat". All of the work I try to do at the CAI is within a three hour envelope of time and we are always reminded (in many ways) that these are studies so I know that at some point I'm going to have to develop more skills and learn how to do more finished portraits. But for right now, I was happy with my study of Alexis. Good luck to her on her NY career adventure.

Days Two and Three of Ryan's workshop

Last weekend at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts was relatively quiet. It was evidently between sessions, so on Saturday only Ryan Wurmser's class and a few staff members were on site. LAAFA is a wonderful art academy. Compact but roomy, artistic but neat and clean. I was very favorably impressed. Before I move on to tell about Ryan's workshop, I'll say one more thing about our hosts. Sunday was really interesting. It seems that four times a year, the academy hosts a "Themed Model Uninstructed Workshop". We were painting away in a large studio way in the back of the academy when in wafted delicious smells and intriguing music. The themed workshop had begun. Two studios were filled with artists who wanted to sketch or paint one of two different models posed with an elaborate Egyptian costume and backdrop! It looked like fun. I'll have to try it when they do the next one!

RYAN WURMSER'S WORKSHOP

LINE AND MASS BLOCK IN

Ryan tried to demonstrate and help us practice a variety of techniques. Yesterday we did a grisaille. On Saturday he demonstrated a line and mass block in using a limited palette of titanium white, yellow ochre, cad red and ivory black.... (the Zorn palette). He had reminded me the previous day about careful measuring and carefully drawing in the subject and we watched while he carefully measured and sketched in the model, Forrest's face and upper body. Then before blocking in the masses, he began mixing his skin tones using the Zorn palette. Once again the focus was on trying to get the accurate values. Among the many things Ryan talked about was the need to compare values with those values near them. All values are relative and understanding how the eye responds to increasing contrasts and gradual changes in value. He also discussed color temperature as it relates to values. My day was made when Ryan gave me an "atta girl" on my drawing. Silly how a nice word can encourage you no matter how long you've been a learner.

SELECT START

On Sunday Ryan demonstrated the principle of a select start. In this process a detailed drawing isn't used. There is a general outline of the envelope and indications of the main gestures and face measurements, but the detail isn't necessary. Instead of trying to block in the large value masses all over the canvas, this method calls for completing one section before moving on. Usually the artist will select the center of interest to complete before moving on to the rest of the painting.

I enjoyed the workshop and I learned as I almost always do. It seems however, that the more I learn, the more I realize how very much more I have to learn. Oh well. In addition to the practice and reinforcement, I enjoyed the lunch and interplay when the model, Toni, joined us on the last day. She brought us food and regaled us with lively stories. Additionally I enjoyed getting to know another artist that I had met briefly in the past. It turned out that Lorelle Miller, another artist in this workshop, is a friend of Laura Wambsgans who has invited me to paintouts with her group and has been generally kind and encouraging. Lorelle and I even discovered that we'd gone to the same high school! (although not at the same time). What a small world we live in.

Ryan Wurmser Workshop at LAAFA

Liz In Grisaille

Oil on Canvas / Wood Board

by Marian Fortunati

14" x 11"

Today was the first day of a three day workshop I'm taking from Ryan Wurmser. Ryan is a wonderful artist and a good teacher. Three years ago his painting was awarded first place in the prestigious California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition. A year or so ago I took a class from him at the California Art Institute in Thousand Oaks. Because it is a long drive from my home and Ryan's class is at night, I haven't taken it again. However, this workshop is at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (LAAFA), so I fit it in between other things in my life. I'm always eager to practice with wonderful artists.

GRISAILLE

During today's class we all worked in a method called grisaille. According to wikipedia, grisaille (grĭ-zī', -zāl'; French: gris, grey) is a term for painting executed entirely in monochrome, usually in shades of grey or brown, particularly used in decoration to represent objects in relief. Italian examples may be described as work in grisaglia or chiaroscuro, although this term has other meanings as well. Ryan explained that this is good practice for better understanding values and is often used for an underpainting which is followed by many layers of transparent paint called glazes which creates paintings which seem to have great depth. I remember from back in my days at Mission: Renaissance when we did many paintings in the styles of the old masters who always used this glazing method.

5 VALUES

Ryan demonstrated and had us mix up 5 values using a combination of burnt umber and black as our darkest dark (he then had us lighten it a bit) and a toned white as our lightest light.

MEASURE, MEASURE, MEASURE

He painted his demo most of the morning emphasizing the importance of getting the drawing right first and then using patience and lots of time to get the values right. Ryan explained tiling which is a method to transition between shapes of value so that there is a smoother transition between values.

After he did most of his demo we were left with a little more than two hours to work on our painting. As usual, I needed to spend more time on measuring and drawing correctly. He thought my values were pretty good, but helped me work on some of the transitions.

Tomorrow we'll be doing a limited palette painting. Something to look forward to.

A Little Payback

Fresh Catch

Oil on canvas

12" x 16"

This is one of the paintings I finished last week and I was pleased with it. I like the way the light plays on the fish monger and his customers. The scene was from a trip I took to visit my husband's family it Italy several years back. They are Venetians. Originally the family lived right in Venice, but now as so many Venetians have done, they have moved to the mainland to embrace good plumbing and more modern conveniences. This particular fish market was in Chioggia, one of the many island cities surrounding Venice.

FUN WITH "COACHING"

I had an enjoyable day yesterday doing a favor for my art teacher, Johanna Spinks. Johanna had been reading a book called "I'd Rather Be in the Studio! by Alyson Stanfield" and had decided she'd like to start blogging. She's a wonderful portrait artists, does quite well in national exhibits and competitions (Her painting, "Heather's Braids" was juried into the Oil Painters of America Show which opens this Friday) and does (it seems to me) a lot of commissioned portraits. She already has a website but wanted to learn more and do more with her web presence by doing a blog. It was fun for me to help her. Reminded me that I like "teaching" and trying to do a bit of return for all she has taught me (or tried to). We met and very quickly she created a blog on blogspot. Check it out.

It was a good day.