Spring Break and Priorities

"A Walk In The Park"9x12 Oil on Raymar Canvas

It's spring break and Tyler is at home this week.  When he's around I like to spend time at home with him and with my husband, but I did manage to slip out for a bit on Sunday to watch my friend and former art teacher, Johanna Spinks, do a demo for the Valley Artists Guild.   Johanna  is a terrific gal and a wonderful artist.   She brought a friend with her to be the model.   Johanna just did a fabulous job of not only entertaining, informing AND painting a terrific demonstration head study!  I'm glad I went.  I got to see lots of my friends that I often don't get to talk with.  To top it all off, I won the raffle and was able to take home a beautiful head study that Johanna had generously donated to the group.

Today we're in San Diego to visit my youngest daughter, but for a bit yesterday, I finished up a plein air study I had started early last week.   I tried to "play with paint" and did have fun, but I think I lost the simplicity I should have had if I wanted to achieve what I should have on this one.   Balboa Park in the San Fernando Valley is alive with pretty cherry trees all in bloom.  They are really gorgeous in real life.   Perhaps a bit more practice with trees in in order, however.

I'll try to take some pictures while I'm down here... There will be no time for painting, but it is absolutely gorgeous today.  The weather man says it will be raining soon, but perhaps we'll have some outside time tomorrow as well.

In the meantime... have a wonderful Easter or Passover or celebration of spring.

JOHANNA SPINKS' PAINTING
Lucky me... I won it in the VAG raffle!!

Always Searching -- Currently Flummoxed

"Nature's Rhythm"
(Leo Carrillo)
12"x16" Oil (lots of it) on RayMar canvas board

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me by clicking the link HERE.

Although you can't tell because I haven't posted in a bit, I've been doing a lot of painting lately.  Mostly I've searched for spots of colorful flowers and in that search I've found some beautiful spots - some familiar and some I hadn't visited before.   Of these paintings, I've either not finished the plein air studies on site because of time constraints or what I painted was totally wood-chipper quality.

I've had a few successes that buoyed me up and some major disappointments -- all in the last week.  Sometimes when this happens, I just sit around and wonder... WHY am I doing this??  How do I know if I'm going forward or sideways or backward on this painting journey of mine?   All in all, I know I enjoy painting, and will keep on painting... but sometimes....  sigh... I just get flummoxed.

A while ago I had tried to take a class from landscape artist, David Gallup.  David has a fabulous project to paint all aspects of the Channel Islands and I've been fascinated by his adventures and by his wonderfully unique paintings.    Before I left for Mexico there was a weekday class that I ended up missing.  When I saw he was teaching another class, I signed up but only for the weekday - not the weekend days.  I do try to save weekends for being with Gastone and Tyler, and since I was away for a week not too long ago, I decided not to push it.

I have to tell you that yesterday I found myself totally confounded.  I really liked David's discussion of the various paintings that class members had brought in.  I think he tried to be honest without being hurtful.  There were some wonderful painters in the group that I'd like to get to know better.  David talked about what makes a painting something that a viewer - a buyer - or a juror will take a second look at.   He said there are lots of good paintings -- what we need to do is paint something that stands out.....    He discussed the importance of deliberate design and a limited number of interesting shapes that lead the eye through the painting.   All of these things I have heard before but I think hearing them over and over, may eventually drum them into my being.   I had brought in a couple of paintings I liked which he said were fine.... but they were "postcard" paintings.   I remembered that Sharon Kaiser once said that to me and it sort of suddenly had more meaning this time.  The idea of finding something unique in a spot rather than a standard panorama view draws the viewer in more.  Because we're painters and not photographers we need to make our work different in a way that only painters can do.   David also talked about a painting's "story".  This I took to mean almost a spiritual journey between the artist, the subject and the paint.   I need to work on that one.

During the day, David encouraged me to "play with the paint".  He talked about the opportunities lost by so many artists when they don't use wonderful, glorious colors for the dark shadowed areas.  If values are right, they look like shadows, but they include beautiful colors that can help harmonize with the lights and local colors of the rest of the painting.  He demoed paint mixing (using lots of paint, no medium and no palette knife, he cajoled and finally (probably exasperated with my reluctance), he just showed me.   I discovered some uncomfortable things about myself yesterday.  One... despite the fact that I KNOW a painting can be improved with good advice and counsel, I was unwilling to paint over one in the workshop.  I'm not sure... I may do it later or I may not.   HERE IS THE LEO CARRILLO PAINTING I DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE.  Rather, I started a whole new one of the same central theme (showing the wild waves and the rocks at Leo Carrillo State Beach) using his advice about cropping and color and paint strokes.   I was surprised about how anal and control-oriented I am, (probably those who know me well would not be surprised) but it was difficult to PLAY with the paint as David had encouraged.   However.... Once I got going, I DID enjoy myself.  And when I came home, I continued until I finished the painting -- well, okay finished it so far... LOL. 

I'm not sure if this is how I want to paint every painting, but David's theories and instruction will certainly help me find my way, even if right now, I'm still flummoxed.  

I would LOVE to paint again with David... either in the field or in a studio setting like yesterday, so I hope he does this again during the week.  Let me know, David, when you decide to do it again!

In Search Of Flowers

 

"Paramount Hills"
12"x16" Oil on Canvas

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please click HERE to contact me.

Ever since I went to Pt. Dume a month or so ago and sat high on the hill overlooking the ocean amid the gloriously blooming coreopsis, I have been searching for more beautiful fields of spring flowers.  I'm afraid I'll miss them as our SoCal spring is usually really brief.   I read online that Paramount Ranch usually had wildflowers and when I drove up this morning, I saw that the mustard fields were just beginning to spring up...  not quite in their full glory yet.

So I just went in to the area around the old western town to explore around until I settled on a scene I liked...   There were no fields of colorful flowers, but there were beautiful colors in the hills and trees just the same.  I really enjoyed myself.   I had decided to try going larger.  For the last several plein air sessions I've been painting on 11x14s and have done okay.   So I went a bit bigger ... on a 12x16.   -- Always trying to stretch myself.

The Park Rangers worked all around me clearing and cleaning -- getting ready for a movie shoot scheduled later in the day.   As I was working on the last bits and almost ready to clean up a bit after noon one of the rangers came over, made a nice comment about my work, and then suddenly froze.   He pointed ahead and we both watched as a rattlesnake crossed the cleared ground about 8 feet from where I was working.  I went a bit closer (behind the ranger) and got a shot of him as he scooted down into the grass ditch.  

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

When we were in Mexico, Frank Gardner had set up his easel for a demo.... until he discovered the shed skin of a rattler.   Then (wisely we all thought) we moved closer to a road.   We never saw the rattlesnake in Mexico....  Today was a different matter.    The ranger said that this is the time the snakes begin to come out to sun, but that most of the time, they try to stay away from people, if they hear things like people or animals around them. (like the rattler did today when he heard the ranger coming his way.)    I'm just happy the ranger saw him... I never did.   I was too busy painting.

I may tweak this a bit...after it has a chance to simmer,  but for the most part I'm am very pleased with it.

I hope you had a great day too!

Spring Greens

"Dance Of Spring"
10"x8" o/c panel

Last week was a spectacular weather week in SoCal.  We had fresh, clean air (not often the case in our smog-prone city) and warmish moderate temperatures.  Too beautiful to resist another outing to paint.

This time Sharon Weaver and I headed for Tapia State Park, not far from Malibu Creek State Park.   I had been several times in the fall but hadn't been in the spring and Sharon had never visited.  It was lovely but surprisingly I think I like the fall season best.   I've been hoping to see wildflowers out, but the flowers were not to be found.  Instead we found ourselves surrounded by the verdant greens of spring.

Sharon had fun with her new experiments in color and I just tried to have fun with the paint.   It was a good day.

At home, I've tried to catch up on business left unfinished since my trip to Mexico and I re-evaluated my Malibu Creek painting ... and tweaked it just a bit.
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If you are interested in purchasing either of these paintings, please click HERE to contact me.
     Thanks!
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Green, Green... Oh So Green!

"Spring Creek"
11"x14" Oil on RayMar Linen Panel

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me by clicking this link HERE.

I'm back home in beautiful sunny Southern California and appreciate the change of climate and scenery from the more arid beauty of central Mexico.  Well today it was evident that spring has definitely sprung.  Since today is St. Patrick's Day, I was really appreciating all of the green in my world.

The California Art Club Malibu / Ventura Chapter sponsored its monthly paint out today at Malibu State Creek Park.   This is a vast and varied State Park that is absolutely gorgeous no matter which season one visits.  One can paint near the parking lot or hike much further in and each spot will thrill the viewer with gorgeous views which are totally different.   I drove to the park with my friend, Sharon Weaver.   There we met other painter friends, George Malone, Annie Hoffman, Lynn Gertenbach, Maria Klar and several others.  Sharon and Annie and I walked down the trail further into the park for a bit, but then were entranced by the beautiful water in the creek.   More often than not, this creek has much less water.  Today it was flowing rather full.   The reflections were beautiful and the three of us set up and painted next to the joyously noisy stream.  Soon Lynn joined us.  

I think all of us enjoyed the morning.  Sharon and I and Lynn just were too in to painting to give up and eat with the group, so we missed their good company.  We were about to leave and Sharon discovered that the cap of her turp jar was missing.  It's a real mystery.   She had to go home without the top as we never discovered its hiding place... but we all had a great time in one of Southern California's most beautiful spots.

It's Hard To Say Goodbye - Frank Gardner's San Miguel De Allende Workshop Ends

"The View From Casa Del Sol"
11"x14" Oil on Raymar linen panel

If you are interested in either of these paintings, please contact me by clicking HERE.

Today, our last day in Frank Gardner's workshop was the best yet.  Not only did the weather cooperate -- beautiful sunny skies and almost NO WIND, but the painting gods must have been smiling.


Frank started out the day by bringing in three paintings he had previously started en plein air.  He discussed how he would adjust them in the studio using photographs and demonstrated as we watched.  Although sometimes he will return to the same spot several times to paint a painting that isn't finished the first time, on other times he will make adjustments which would improve a painting back in the studio using photographic references to help him remember a scene.  He reminded us to be careful with photographs.  Never try to rework the entire painting... We risk losing the spontaneity.  When painting en plein air we make lots of decision about color and what to leave out or move that normally should NOT be adjusted.  He prefers to suggest a scene rather than make a detail reproduction.

"Nopales"
10"x8" Oil on Raymar linen panel

A tell-tale sign of a painting that was done only using a photograph is putting in too much detail and having darks without any information.  Don't go too dark in the shadows.  As long as the relationships between values are accurate you are going to do well.  The benefit of painting from life is that you have more of an idea of the true value range than you can get from a photo which is generally too dark in the darks and too light in the lights.

We should always "raise the bar" on our work.


After Frank discussed the changes he would make on his first painting (note that he made the changes with the photograph and the painting upside down.), I thought he was finished and headed off to paint for an hour or so before lunch.  (As it was he discussed a second painting and I missed that demo.)   

I went off to paint cactus (nopales)... I had felt good about trying to capture what Frank had done the day before, so I thought I'd try it again by painting my own cactus painting.  I tried to remember what Frank had discussed as I painted my cactus, but in the end, having only an hour, I simply placed color on it to cover the canvas.   Surprisingly it turned out rather well, I think.

In the afternoon we all stayed relatively close although we all faced different directions and we painted alongside one another.   The painting on top was my final painting and I was rather happy with it.  I felt I had tried my best to apply the ideas and suggestions that Frank had been making during the week-long workshop.

I'm sad to say the class over.   Suzanne and I went out to celebrate a FANTASTIC WEEK...  I had some GREAT margaritas.... and yes, I tossed one back for my friends from previous painting adventures.  

Happy painting to all of you.

The Good Days Keep On Comin'

It is hard to believe that the workshop is coming to an end.  This morning the winds were light so Frank suggested that we all go out and paint and he would do his demo after lunch when the winds were due to rise. 





I decided to paint the same scene from the same spot that Frank had painted earlier.  Frank came by all of us to make suggestions and comments several times.   We had spread out all over the ranch so he really did have his work cut out for himself.   I had changed the format from vertical to horizontal because I didn't want to do something  that seemed like a copy.  (I needn't have worried...  It's nothing like Frank's... sigh.)   I really like the painting I did in the morning but when I compared it with Frank's after lunch I can see many many things that need to be done to it.

The lunch - as always - was delicious.  I've included two pictures so you can all see what a gourmet fair we are treated to daily.   It's nice to relax and be served and find out all about one another.






After lunch we walked out to an area with many nopales (cactus), where Frank did a demo for those of us who wanted to watch.  Frank took his time and mixed up several piles of colors that he saw in the cactus paddles and in the grasses.  He made "notes" or marks on the canvas to note the outside edges of the shape then roughly brushed in the basic overall color note.  As he began painting in the various paddles he grabbed colors and mixed between the piles of color on his palette.  he designed the painting as we went building up subtleties in colors to suggest what he saw and to make a pleasing design.  He reminded us not to become too specific too fast... he said he wanted to be able to make a nice orchestration on the canvas.   Frank decided to leave the background fairly loose.

We all left happy and satisfied today, but really tired.  Suzanne and I debated about whether to go out but when we heard the fireworks and drums and trumpets we had to go out to see what it was all about.  We never did find out why the people were having a parade, but it was interesting to watch.  It was a religious celebration of some sort... Most of the women were wearing pink and blue and they were carrying a statue of a saint.  However there were what appeared to be Aztec dancers as well along with a lively band group and mounted police to follow up.   After following the parade through town, we found a restaurant and had a great meal.

And now.... buenos noches!!

 

Mid-Week and Still Having a Great Time (and eating well!)

High up there among the many perks of Frank Gardner's workshops is the fantastic food we are served during our lunch break.  This year we are staying at Rancho Del Sol Dorado the whole week and they have created some absolutely wonderful menus.   I think the chile rellenos from yesterday's lunch were my favorite main course so far.   The chiles were stuffed with ground meat, raisins, corn and all sorts of good stuff and the sauce was out of this world.   Luckily we've been doing a lot of walking around town so we can sort of walk off the calories (at least I tell myself that.)

Today was clear and bright although still quite windy.   Frank suggested that we all head out and paint and that we would do a critique session and he'd talk about something he would paint that morning as well.  We met a lunch and after we were all filled up and happy he began discussing the good points and how we could make our paintings better.   Then he should us the "demo" painting that he had done and discussed what he felt he still needed to do on it.  (It was gorgeous.)

In the afternoon we spread out again and he came around and gave us pointers as we went.   I was happier with both paintings today.  Frank gave me some good suggestions that I may work on when I get home. 

Another walk through town with glorious sunlight and good company with Suzanne, my B&B buddy.  Now it's time to clean my brushes and catch up on the zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs

Day 2 - Frank Gardner Workshop

Today the skies were clear and the weather was perfect -- although there was a pretty hefty wind which sapped the water from your body and gave all of us excuses for not being able to paint a straight line.

No excuses for Frank.   He started the day with a demonstration that was challenging to say the least.  He wanted to show us all another approach to painting and to emphasize the point that most paintings are all about values.  He chose a scene that was almost all in the shade and he developed it thoughtfully and carefully emphasizing subtle color shifts of slight variances in value.  He reminded us that no value in the dark family (in this case in the shady area) cold be lighter than any value in the light family (the sunlit areas).  This was especially challenging because the carriage he was painting was WHITE!...   He began by establishing the lightest light (the sunlit area in front of the stable) rather than the darkest dark this time. I think that alone impressed me...   Although the demonstration took most of the morning, it was well worth it to see how he carefully selected values and colors that were very close together and deliberately put down strokes of paint to eventually let the painting emerge.  

Frank was also very careful with his drawing.. often checking his initial measurements.  He did not DRAW out the whole scene with detail but rather made "notes" to himself using a cad/ultramarine mix which he continued to check.  From there as he layed in each paint stroke, he reminded us to judge every value by comparing it with the lightest light and with the values closest to it.

He isolated color shapes and kept asking himself, "How dark is it compared to what is next to it?"  He said not to stare too long at something -- just get the impression of color and make value relationships using your last impression.  So much can be said with economy of stroke.  The look is more about feelings and colors... it is a study in greys.  -- It's like a poem.. Let the viewer imagine more....   Some paintings can be skillfully right but are just boring.  Push color variations, one stroke at a time.  Don't just paint in a section like a coloring book.

Thick texture comes toward you so be careful with your brushwork and use it to lead the eye.

After another delicious meal we all set out to paint on our own.   I did better than yesterday, but not as well as I would have liked.   None the less, it was another terrific day.   We all enjoyed hearing stories about all the painters who visited San Miguel earlier in the year.  Frank has several of their paintings up on his gallery walls alongside his own beautiful work.   It was interesting seeing how so many great artists can paint side by side and still create work which is unique and wonderfully different.        

Hasta manana!

An Encore Workshop with Frank Gardner and San Miguel de Allende!

I had such a wonderful time last year in Frank Gardner's plein air painting workshop that I decided to try it again, so here I am in Mexico.  When I got here, Frank offered to take me along with him to visit some of the beautiful churches I often see in his paintings.  Interestingly enough, many of these little gems are now being renovated for the upcoming independence celebration and Frank was a bit dismayed because parts of the aging sections that he likes so much were being "fixed".   Oh well --  It will be a new opportunity to paint what may seem like a new scene.

This year I'm staying in a different B & B because some of the artists from the workshop were staying here.  It is nice but not as beautiful as the B & B I stayed at last year.  It is, however, closer to the center of town.  I've enjoyed getting to know Suzanne -- it's always good to have a buddy to share your defeats and victories with..  (and to share a meal and a margarita with too!)   We walked all over town on Sunday.   There is a new beautiful scene around every corner.

Yesterday was the first day of the workshop.   Frank had said that he planned to do it a bit differently this year and do some practice block ins to work on value, and design.  I had reviewed all of his notes from the previous workshop the night before and was dismayed to realize how much of what he had said I had NOT been utilizing.  Makes me realize how much I should review the notes I take and try to take on one thing at a time until I've mastered it..  I have been working on color and value, but may never ever get to the point where I'd like to be.

As with last year, Frank talked about his limited palette of alizerin, cad red, cad yellow light, lemon yellow, french ultramarine blue and thalo with white.  He mixes piles of color with the palette knife to avoid dirtying the colors.  He tries to mix the colors that he sees in the scene he will be painting on the palette before he places them on the canvas or board.  I enjoy listening to Frank as he explains what he's doing.  If only I could internalize it better. 

If you get a chance when he offers his class next year, book it!  Between the great city of San Miguel, the fabulous gourmet meals on the painting site and the great instruction, this workshop is a real winner.  I've taken many workshops... enjoyed almost all of them and learned from all of them... but I came back for a second time to this one because I enjoyed it so much.     (Don't hold these paintings of mine against Frank!)

I painted three real dogs yesterday, but still had a good time.  After doing his demo, we began to paint and Frank talked to each of us several times as we worked, giving us pointers as we worked.  He wanted us to just to do block ins to get a feel for the values and the compositions as well as to do a bit of practice with the color mixing.  I was exhausted last night so didn't get much chance to blog and it's almost time to leave again this morning so I will finish up and post more later.  

In the meantime,   I wish you all happy painting.

The Cowpoke

This is the last week I have at home before I fly off to San Miguel de Allende to paint with Frank Gardner.   I'm looking forward to the coming week, but I seem to be moving through molasses while trying to get everything done before leaving. 

Additionally, the weatherman has predicted rainy weather off and on during the week (It's pouring right now) so I decided to go to the Monday uninstructed figure painting group which was inside.   The model was a cowboy and struck a relaxed but rough and tumble pose.   It was a fun morning and -- as always -- the wide variety of WONDERFUL work that emerged from the various artists in the group was inspiring.

Today I picked up my paintings from the photographer and then tried to take advantage of the beautiful weather before buckling down to business again.  I was hoping to see wildflowers.  I didn't see too many, but wow... what a gorgeous, amazing day!  I drove and stopped and took pictures and then drove on.  The clouds were billowy and amazing... They were all fluffy and majestic against the blue sky sailing along and making a great foil for the lush greens of the Las Virgenes / Malibu Mountainscapes.  Wow... life is sooooo good!

The top photo is looking down on the Malibu State Park Creek Bridge and through the gorge and the photo just below that is the view from my back yard overlooking the San Fernando Valley.

All the rest of the week I've been trying to finish up a variety of seascapes for entry in a couple of shows.  (I'm not sure why I keep trying to enter shows...  I guess I just crave the opportunity to show my work.)  Got it done, photographed and submitted ...
Now it's time to get ready and pack for the big Mexican adventure!