Fun In The Sun and Sand -- Goleta Slough

Goleta Slough © Marian Fortunati 9"x12" Oil on RayMar Canvas Panel
Click on the above link for further details and Pay Pal information. .

While visiting my daughter in Santa Barbara, I stole a chance to get out to the beach on a gorgeous summer day.  South of UCSB is the Goleta Slough.  UCSB was my alma mater many years ago and I totally enjoyed the beautiful campus and nearby Isla Vista, where I lived, but I rarely visited this area.  My zoölogy major made me too intent on studies and ... oh... beer and boys, as well, maybe.

Nowadays I wish that I had spent more time exploring the off campus areas (without a keg nearby). 

This last weekend was spent sitting in the sand while painting near the end of the sand spit.   There were many families in the sand and in the water ... both in the low breaking surf area and in the calmer slough area.   The beautiful white cliffs gleamed on the other side of the inlet while the tide was swiftly coming in to the slough.   Adults tried to ford the inlet, but were often swept off their feet.  They'd come up sputtering and laughing. 

It was a fun day!

 

Comment on or Share this Article >>

Alanna - A Figurative Study

	Alanna © Marian Fortunati 16"x12" Oil on canvas board

Every Monday Julie Snyder hosts an uninstructed figure painting opportunity at McGroarty Art Center in Tujunga, CA.  I can't remember where I heard about it... perhaps from my friend, Lani Emanuel, but a few years back I tried to paint there every so often.

Although figure painting isn't my main love, a number of things conspired to send me back to the Art Center again last week:

• Julie announced on FB that she was starting the sessions up again.
• A total stranger from back east contacted me and wanted to buy one of the studies (A Boxer Study) I had painted a couple of years back.    (ALWAYS a pleasant thing to happen!)
• A good painter friend and I were talking, and as I was complaining about my need to improve my drawing skills, she suggested that rather than complain about it, that I should work on it.
• David Gallup's Master Class assignment was to write down our artist career goals, influences (contemporary and historical) and what about them influenced us AND the steps we are taking to reach the goals.

Well, since I realized that I enjoy looking at figurative work - Julie's is amazing -, and since I need to improve my ability to draw, these uninstructed sessions with a live model would be ideal for helping me along my path.    Although the sessions are not instructional... they really are because so many of the artists who attend are excellent and it's instructive just to see how they approach the drawing/ painting of these figures.

The set up

As it turned out, the model was Alanna, who is also a fellow student in David's Master class.   That was kind of fun, as I could talk with her about the session the next day in class.

Alanna Study (of the Study) 10"x8" O/C

I decided that I was really very pleased (and relieved) with my ability to get a likeness, but when compared to a master like Julie Snyder and some of the other students, I had a lot of work to do.   The color I used was okay but not "fun".   Edges are still my nemesis.

During the next week and between several plein air trips, I tried to paint Alanna again using the study as a study.   It's a bit more colorful, but I discovered how easy it is to lose the likeness.   It's amazing how tiny bits of color or value in the wrong place change the way someone looks!

Oh well, practice and more practice and more practice...  That's what I will do.

Comment on or Share this Article >>

Arlington Garden Irises - A Floral Landscape

Arlington Garden Irises © Marian Fortunati 12"x9" Oil on Canvas
Click on the above link for details and a Pay Pal link .

Within the city of South Pasadena in the San Gabriel Valley is a community garden called Arlington Gardens.   I've had the privilege of painting there several times in the last couple of years.  Just wandering through the wonderful areas filled with flowers and plants can uplift anyone's spirits.  Congratulations to those who envisioned it and continually make it a place of peace and beauty.

Varieties of irises are endless and it's fun to try to examine them all.  They go from fancy bearded ones to the beautifully delicate and simple ones we found up in the mountain meadow.  They are fun to paint as well.

In my mind, there was a WIP shot showing how the painting was blocked in with less initial drawing than I usually do, but alas, I can't find it.   David Gallup has suggested that drawing things first tends to make us "paint inside the lines" and I know he's right.   I think, however that  one has to have a better rendering skill set to "see" the painting as it emerges from loosely blocked in shapes.  But I will practice...... and practice...... and practice again.

One of my fellow painters suggested that the portrait set-up of this painting always brings Van Gogh's irises to mind, so she thought I should try a horizontal painting of irises to be a bit different.   Although I certainly wouldn't mind having people think of Van Gogh's irises when they look at this, I think I'll take her advice and do a square iris painting next ... for a change of pace AND more practice!

Comment on or Share this Article >>

Springtime Along Eaton Canyon Trail

Springtime Along Eaton Canyon Trail © Marian Fortunati 12"x9" Oil on Canvas
For more information about this painting, click the highlighted link.

A few weeks back I had to drop off paintings for a show in Pasadena.   Because I was already there in the San Gabriel Valley,  (quite a distance from my home) I decided to take advantage of being there.  My plan was to paint in Eaton Canyon  --a lovely canyon far east of my normal haunts, but where I have painted several times before.
I got there early in the morning and decided to explore before the day warmed up.   Normally, I paint not far into the canyon, but there was lots of running water in the creek, creating many gorgeous possibilities and I hiked on a bit further, looking for that "perfect spot".  As I walked further along,  I noticed a sign indicating the waterfall which was further up the canyon.  I'd forgotten about the waterfall.   Well, as it turned out, I hiked and hiked and got all the way to the waterfall! ... a feat I was proud of.... not so much because it was a mile and a half up the hill, but because the trail kept crossing the creek and I had to navigate back and forth across the rocks or logs spread across the creek without falling in.   I did get my toes damp once, but managed to balance well enough that I made it up and back without killing myself or doing any damage.   It was a glorious day.

I took many photos and will use them over time to help remember that beautiful day in Eaton Canyon.

When I decided to paint this scene, I kept the work of Margi Lucena's pastels of brushy arid areas in mind.  I loved the little buckwheat brush "flowers" along the trail as well as the lovely long lanky stalks with the red flowers on them.  (Looks like I need to get myself a field guide for flowers and native plants.  Do any of you know what those red flowers are?)   I've also long enjoyed Cylde Aspevig's "Land Snorkeling" series, and wished I could do justice to brushes and grasses like he does.  Additionally... as some of you know... ROCKS have been one of my stumbling blocks (so to speak) so I've been trying to paint them as often as I can on the theory that the more I painted rocks, the better I'd get doing it.   And so I painted rocks and weeds and wildflowers.

I have another scene in mind which includes many rocks in the creek....  That will come along soon.  I'm always trying to set a new challenge for myself!
 

Comment on or Share this Article

From the Mountains to the Sea -- "El Pescador" a Southern California Plein Air Coastal Oil Painting

	El Pescador © Marian Fortunati 8" x 10" Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel
	SOLD

This week has been overcast.   - Pleasant temperature-wise but not beautiful painting weather.

Last week, however, was clear and pretty.   On Thursday things worked out and I was free to do as I wished so I hopped in my car and headed toward the beach.  Happily the coastal fog which often shrouds the coast during May, June and July was not present.  It was a wonderful day.

I decided to go to a new painting spot.   I headed up on past Malibu and my more common painting spot at El Matador.  I explored a few beaches and decided to stay at El Pescador which is south of Point Mugu and Leo Carrillo State Beach.

When I arrived it was just me and a few surfers.  I walked around, enjoying the sounds and smells of the beach.  I took photos looking south, looking out at the surfers and of the beach birds.  Then I settled down near the cliff looking north.  I just had a delightful time painting and enjoying the scene.

I almost expected to see Gidget step out of the little beach shack (which belongs to a much larger home up on the top of the cliff).  I thought she'd enjoy showing all of the surfer boys how well she could handle the surfboard!!!  (LOL)

As I packed up, I turned around and was surprised to see the once empty beach filling with families happily enjoying themselves at this less popular Southern California beach.

Comment on or Share this Article >>

Painting in the "Middle of The Earth" - A Plein Air California Mountain Landscape

Middle Earth Majesty © Marian Fortunati 12" x 12" Oil on RayMar Canvas Panel click on the above link for further details and Pay Pal



Susan, Marian, Diane, Ernie, Lorelle and Laura

Five artists traveled up to Frazier Park in July to visit with another artist who lives up there.  She had told us stories of wild irises spread out in a little valley.  The six of us had one of our best painting days ever.   Susan, who lives there told us that the native Californian Chumash tribe considers the little meadow in the valley, "The Middle Of The Earth".  What a joy to be in such a magical place.

Susan Sjoberg invited me up to paint near her home and I brought along four other artists.    Painting and eating were Laura Wambsgans, Diane-Nelson Gold, Lorelle Miller and Ernie Dollman.  Check out their paintings.

Wild Irises

I painted the painting above after we broke for lunch.  We had a great time talking about places, our art and other friends we had in common.

The entire day was just a dream.  Susan described the "next

At the reception after a beautiful day of painting

wave of flowers".   We're all thinking about coming back up for the giant lupines or the calla lilies which will cover the meadow floor in the months to come.

I had to leave before evening because I was going to the reception for my show.  As it was I barely made it.. almost missed some of the people who came to see me.   (My painting, "Poppy Path" won a nice cash award!!  YAY!!  ).    

The next time we go up, we may plan it so we stay even later and try to catch the last light in the meadow.  

Can you imagine how THAT will look???

I posted my morning painting called "Mountain Meadow" on my last blog.   Which of the two, "Mountain Meadow" or "Middle Earth Majesty" do YOU like better?

Comment on or Share this Article >>

OMG -- A Southern California Mountain Meadow Plein Air Landscape

	Mountain Meadow © Marian Fortunati 12" x 9" Oil on RayMar Canvas click on this link for price

For those of you who have followed this blog, you may know that I've been in a kind of slump...  No muse.

Well, if there is ANYTHING that can get you out of the painting blues, it's getting out into a totally gorgeous spot which can inspire and make your heart sing.  

Hidden high up and nestled just below the summit is a little slice of heaven.   In July the wild irises are in bloom and spread their delicate pale blue petals across the meadow.  California's native Americans, the Chumash, have their gatherings up near the meadow each year and celebrate the beauty of this place they call "the Middle of the Earth".

Five artists traveled up to Frazier Park in July to visit with another artist who lives up there.  She had told us stories of wild irises spread out in a little valley.  The six of us had one of our best painting days ever.   What a joy to be in such a magical place.

Susan Sjoberg invited me up to paint near her home and I brought along four other artists.    Painting and eating were Laura Wambsgans, Diane-Nelson Gold, Lorelle Miller and Ernie Dollman.  Check out their paintings.

This was the painting I did before lunch.    I'll show my "after lunch" painting on another blog post.    Funny...  I liked the second one better ( I'll show you that one on the next post), but everyone else seems to like this one the best.   I was really happy with them both, but liked the 12"x12" I did after lunch the best.

Comment on or Share this Article >>

You Never Know..

I've been struggling with trying to paint anything worthwhile lately.

A Commission and a Missing Muse
Actually about a month ago I was commissioned to do a painting.  This made me feel very humble since the client has already purchased three of my paintings.  But for any number of reasons, I've put off trying to work on it.   (Fear of failure, perhaps??)  After a few back and forth exchanges with the client, and several attempts on a smaller format, we've settled on a larger sized canvas.   Even at the larger size, the figure --which is important to the client-- is tiny and is proving to be extremely difficult to make resemble the client's relative as he stands in front of his mountain cabin.   Ah well...  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  

And other paintings that I have in the works are just NOT moving the way I'd like either.   I think I've had the summer time blues or my painting muse is off surfing somewhere... or something.

Musical Chairs
In my last post I talked a bit about the musical chairs feeling of trying to decide which events to submit to and then which paintings to submit to which event.   Over the weekend I finally decided to submit to a local event and to forgo another event because of the cost.   Both exhibitions were being sponsored by Women Painters West, a club that, in general, highlights work which is less traditional than mine.   I usually don't get juried in to this group's shows.

Honoring Jane
The exhibition didn't have the snazzy venue, but a valued long time family friend, (Jane Friend - a wonderful water color artist) had encouraged me to join Women Painters West.   (She was a lifetime member).   Since she recently passed away at 93, one of the prizes offered was given in her name.   I entered this show to honor her and her good hopes for me. (Jane also taught at the venue where the show would be hung).  I figured I wouldn't enter the other exhibition at the fancier venue -- only this one.

Before I left, I put on a lovely stone bracelet which my friend, Diane Nelson-Gold, had given me.   Diane is a painter and she also makes jewelry.  I thought its energy would give me some good luck.  Upon driving to Burbank's Creative Arts Center and completing my paperwork at the entry desk, the other artists told me that the OTHER venue should NOT be passed up.   Hmmmmm.   I had entered THESE two paintings in THIS show because I wasn't going to enter either in the other venue.    Now what?   Still thinking about it now...   If I were to enter THAT one I'd have to come up with some different entries.  ----But I've still got almost a week.   SIGH.  Maybe...

************** SURPRISES!************************
The wonderful surprises came this afternoon when, after driving all the way back (with my fingers crossed and hoping I wouldn't have to take BOTH of my paintings home again), I found out that both were juried IN by the juror, Deanna Izen Miller, a gallerist with galleries in Marina Del Rey and Hawaii.   YAY!!

AND THEN I found out that she selected one of my paintings to receive a top cash prize!   WOW... WHAT a fabulous surprise and a wonderful honor!!!

Poppy Path

Point Lobos Poetry

If you can come by, I'd love to see you at the reception this coming Friday evening.

If you can't make it Friday, try to come by and see the show while it is hanging this month.  - Thanks!

Comment on or Share this Article >>