We're Painting the Roses Red....

Confection   watercolor   8 x 5.5

sang the cards in "Alice in Wonderland".  I am singing it too...."Confection" is my response to our valentine challenge.  I guess I am somewhat satisfied with the work.  I took it as far as it would go.  Years ago while working in the greeting card industry, I painted more roses that I ever would want in a lifetime.  They are difficult, not only in their curling twisting forms, but in that deep red color which does not reflect light very well.  Actually, not at all with the overhead lighting at the art center.  Beginning painters often over-paint the rose, in an attempt to achieve that rich redness.  Permanent rose, Rose Madder and Opera Pink are all pink-oriented.  Alizarin tends toward brown.  But, once again, I dipped into it in order to achieve a darkness which the other hues could not provide.  I left a white which was gradually washed over in the final stages.

My regret with this work is its scale.  Too many things on the paper for its size.  I was using a odd-sized leftover.  Painting freely with one or two forms in the composition works.  Too many forms inhibit that freedom.

Note to myself:  on Valentine paintings, stay out of the Alizarin.  And, oh yeah, bring a bigger sheet of paper.

Homage...

Bundled   watercolor   14 x 10

is pronounced o-maj'  in French.  My friend Tom painted an homage to Dean Mitchell after viewing his exhibition in Canton.  My homage today is to my friend Mo.  She has studied with me for years.  She is an open-minded and fair individual.  She treats everyone with kindness.  She is enthusiastic.  We are both perpetual students.  And....she lives an artful and considerate life in every way.  Her portrait of me is just wonderful.  Simply rendered.  Texture has been liberally suggested.  Energetic.  And, as it seems to me, she only represented the good parts....of course, my hair and mouth were covered.  (definitely a good thing)

Mo was not at class last week.  Her wonderful dog Farina, who is also a member of our class, suffered an accident at a dog park and had to have surgery on Monday.  Farina's leg was dislocated as she leaped to get away from some other large dogs.  And the very sad thing is that not one individual stepped up to help her, or to acknowledge their part in the accident.  I would have to say that this is anti-Mo behavior.

Which is exactly why I like her so much.

Impure?...

Fallow   watercolor/mixed   25.75 x 11

It seems that there are purists in almost every detail of habitation these days. All cotton.  Strictly organic.  And transparent watercolor.  I'm afraid that I am a mutt.  Mixing it up in every way possible...especially if that seems to be the way to achieve what I am after.  "Fallow" started off as a watercolor for our class challenge of a vertical landscape.  After simplifying and reestablishing countless times, I introduced gouache....then watercolor pencils....then pastel...more watercolor....then a Lyra watersoluable grafit-kreide.  This work is about as far away from my usual as can be.  And, yet, the feel of this work is exactly the image inhabiting my brain ever since that Sunday walk down my road, the day that I needed to procure an image for the upcoming class.  Feel.  Important.

Yet, I feel a bit of guilt that I was unable to resolve the problem with pure watercolor.  Oh well.  I might just drown my sorrows with a slice of  smoked Gouda....or possibly Velveeta.

LOVE Day...

Chocolate Cupcake   watercolor   7 x 5

is here.  Our small festive celebrations punctuate our lives with little spurts of joy.  It seems that we, in our culture, are appreciating the visual quality of food as never before.  We are lucky to enjoy a standard of living that allows for this.  As we fill our homes with art...meaningful art...let's not forget to include the beauty of food....it is a huge part of our lives and provides us with a venue for artful living, no matter what our daily endeavors.

Oh yes....a cupcake with no calories!

Critiques...

Winter Nap   Charcoal/Pastel   28 x 18

are a regular event at our club here in Akron.  Last week, I took in a drawing done shortly before Christmas as a demonstration.  I really do like it.  I was successful in the "feel" of the work which was a winter nap.  It was a cold day and we were approaching the holiday season.  Once home, I quickly framed and put it on the wall.  Now, in January, I knew that it was time to reconsider the work.  Several artists pointed out the model's right arm and hand which, in its darkness and weight, commanded too much attention.  I agree.  OK.  Yet, on the other hand, I knew that the dark and weight were there to balance the right side of the drawing.  Judy Carducci made a great suggestion which was to remove a particular mark on that arm, leaving it more open to merge with the toned paper beneath.  The next day I tackled the project.  Because I had sprayed the work with fixative, the mark would not budge.  (I guess it's good to know that the stuff works)  The green pastel on the work had been put on first under the charcoal.  It had never occurred to me to reintroduce it.  Duh.  Putting in a passage or two lessened the power of that arm and, to me, solidified the whole.  Thank you to Judy, to Tom Campbell  and to JoAnn for your comments and suggestions.  In addition, friends Kim Moore and Tom Mullins suggested that this drawing would benefit from a floater frame....where no mat would be used.  Terrific idea.

No matter whether a work is quickly done or takes weeks, the consideration process goes on for quite a while.  At least for me.  A bit of separation from the work helps one to see things more clearly.

Isn't that Mary?...

Mary Sanders...a sketch

Every now and then I browse through the small drawings that have been uploaded onto my computer.  I came across a drawing of the back of Mary Sanders' head.  Yes, it has to be her.  You know, the Yupo guru?  I have come to realize that more and more, likeness has a whole lot to do with the simple geometric shapes that make up a face, a head, an arm, a body.  We recognize our friends from the back.  We even recognize them from very far away as they approach.  When we take the time to "nail" these simple shapes, we are rewarded.  This also explains my dislike for "the portraits of a thousand wrinkles", as if the aging of the face tells the story.  Simple shapes rule.

Of course it's her.  Why I'd recognize her anywhere.

It's all in the shape of the hairdo....not the individual hairs.

Texture...

Christmas Chaos   Watercolor on Yupo   8 x 8

is inherent when painting on Yupo.  I like texture in small doses but prefer it when played against the calm of a flatly painted area.  Right now I am picturing a greeting card that featured an elderly man dressed in stripes, checks and patterns of all kinds.  The greeting is "don't drink and dress".  Very funny.  Too many textures seem agitating.  Stories can get lost in texture.  I have come to believe that simple forms work out well on Yupo.  To the right are examples of our holiday still life paintings on Yupo.

Between the Cracks...

Peony Row   Watercolor on Yupo   11 x 15

As we were using Yupo in class, I recalled just one other time, many years previously, that I had used the stuff.  The memory was crisp....sitting the warm sun on my patio and tackling the peony row there....on Yupo.  I remember the frustration of the meandering paint, the frustration of not being able to layer.  These days I am, hopefully, more accepting of such challenges.  After some looking, I came upon that older work "Peony Row".  At the time, I was still taking the best work to a professional to be photographed and, apparently, I didn't feel that my peony painting was worthy.  Pulling it out, after all these years helped me to see that it was better than I had thought.

One quick swipe of a wet brush on Yupo takes the stroke back to the white surface...well, almost.  I found that I really did appreciate the colorful residue left behind on these strokes.  Very sublime.

Putting away questionable paintings is a good trick.  Several years later, I am able to make a better judgement regarding its success.  Sometimes, I am quite aware that the painting really does suck.  And, surprisingly, sometimes the work is better than the image of it that dwells in my subconscious.  That was the case here.  A work that had fallen between the cracks has redeemed itself to me.  Let's not be too hasty to judge.

How DOES he do that?...

Still Life with Jug and Poppies   watercolor   4 x 6

Dean Mitchell, I mean.  Painting small, I mean.  Returning to the studio after the holidays is always difficult.  I understand the supposed ripeness of the dormancy period.  But facing the white canvas or the white paper is scary....more so after being away for a while.  I found that my strokes were too heavy, too deliberate.  My sleight of hand had also been on holiday.  After perusing the Dean Mitchell book of exhibition paintings loaned by a friend, I was inspired by some of the miniature works and decided to paint a small still life.  As a painter who relishes large spaces and big brushes, this was truly a challenge.  Smaller brushes.  Less freedom.  Being concise is a virtue when painting small.

"Still Life with Jug and Poppies" is 4 x 6.  I am happy with it.  But I am ready to get big again.

Dean Mitchell:  Space, People and Places is on exhibit at the Canton Museum of Art through March 6.

New Pen...

Ivy Drive Seth...sketch done with Pilot Precise V7 Rolling Pen in Blue

I would guess that many art-supply addicts can also be seen in the dark alleys of office supply stores to get their fixes of adrenaline.  Years ago, and I mean years ago, I read an article about an artist who worked in travel journals with a Pilot Precise V7 Rolling Pen in blue ink.  These pens have a needlepoint somewhat like those nasty technical pens that always seem to be clogged. This  pen makes beautiful rolling and seamless lines.....AND it also responds to a water wash to soften and delight.  I immediately bought the pens and there they sat, in my desk drawer, as a reminder of things to be.  In the first days of the new year, we helped our son switch apartments in Charlottesville....lots of moving and cleaning.  Lucky for me, I glanced at those unopened pens before the trip and vowed to give them a try during our down-time.  Yes-in-deedy-di.  I am definitely not a line-driven artist, but the washy substance gives me a thrill.  I am afraid that I did not spend too much time on the drawings themselves, as I was so excited about the wash.  Experiments.  More tools in the creativity arsenal. 

Added to my small pouch of sketching supplies to be found in my bag:

1-Pilot V7 rolling pen in blue
1-small watercolor brush
1-folded paper towel for drying and blotting.

Life is good.

In the still...

Rick reading The Tree by John Fowler...s sketch

of the morning during our wonderful family holiday, I found some time to sketch and sip my morning java at the same time.  What a wonderful way to greet the day!  During these holidays, my studio is tidied and shut down....no large projects underway.  When I get itchy to draw, I contemplate family members before me, loving their contours, loving their similarities and differences.....loving them.  Some sketches are quick.  I ask no one to pose.  My goal is to grab what I am given.  In this sketch my Rick is reading a book which was a gift.  The light is behind him.  It is dim.  It is early.  The fire roars.

Drawing...

hand drawn Christmas card

In our DRAWING class we have a tradition before the holiday season...  we have a DRAWING to select names for a hand-drawn greeting card to be sent to the recipient.  Very exciting...a bit of a Secret Santa thing that allows for more drawing practice at the same time it excites the recipient to be the owner of an original drawing.  Yes!  I drew Lisa's name.  As time was short, I chose to work on my card during the ornament/greens lesson in class.  I brought in some vintage ornaments that had some patterns on them for a bit of a challenge.   I used a Strathmore card with a red deckled edge and masked off borders with artist's tape in order to have clean and smudge-free edges.  I began with a few marks with a red pastel in order to tie into that red border.  I worked the drawing in a fairly dark pencil.  At the end-of-class-critique, most artists felt that I needed more darks.  So, at home, I used some of my darkest leads to create a rhythm that would connect the elements.  I sprayed the card with fixative and sent it on its way, addressing it in pencil to tie into the drawing.

Contrast...

hand drawn Christmas card

A week ago in our Thursday drawing class, we brought in glass Christmas balls and greenery to set up for a still life.  Our goal was to contrast the hard, shiny and highly reflective balls with the textured greens of the season.  We all seemed to have a difficult time with contrasting values, as the greens and the balls were somewhat the same.  The overhead banks of fluorescent lights did not provide the bright sparkling highlights that we had hoped for.  In almost every case, the artists had to rework the drawings at home, adding deeper darks in order to make the drawings more easily read.  Concepcion chose two nearly-transparent hand-blown bulbs that were a gift.  The stems are visible through them.  She added a wrapped package and some fine rhythmic pine needles.  The varying forms make the drawing quite interesting.  The glass balls are very finely drawn.  The composition is quite strong.  Very successful....we all agreed.

Dussel Farm...

Dussel Farm in February   watercolor   8.25 x 23.25

Is a local farm that we frequent for sweet corn, pumpkins and the like.  My children passed it on the school bus each day.  The Dussel children were classmates.  There aren't so many farms like it anymore.  It is monumental to me.  "Dussel Farm in February" was painted at the end of last winter from reference photos shot across the street.  I like the horizontal format as it implies the unending lay of the land.

Leave that stroke alone!...

Julie   conte crayon on paper   17.5 x 10

Yes, my brain tells me this repeatedly!  Demonstrations offer the opportunity to draw from life and to relish what has been given to you.  Julie sank into the comfy chair and eventually became one with that chair as she relaxed.  The excitement was there for me....the notion of a winter nap.  At the end of the session, I was quite satisfied with the overall feel of the work but felt that there were several issues that still needed to be resolved.  At home, I worked a bit...maybe a half hour, but understood the danger of "fixing"...where areas do become neater, tidier, but at what cost?  .....at reducing the energy of the work.  Ask me how I learned this lesson.  Ask anyone who has ever worked in watercolor.  Sometimes I look around at model sessions and classes and see well-versed artists repeatedly stroking (licking) areas again and again to no avail.....trying to get it "right".  It takes a long while to learn to trust yourself...to trust what you see...to realize that every stroke is valid, that every stroke, every mark, every squiggle is valid.  Trust......yeah, I get it now....hopefully it will stick.

To Draw is to Feel...

Bob...a sketch

It is no secret that my feelings are completely evident in my work....Words have become nearly superfluous to me...good listeners are rare.  True communication through words is nearly impossible to me.  The paper, the canvas....now they allow me to express myself completely and unconditionally.  Bob is a feeling artist as well.  In the past several years Bob has put his heart on paper.  To call his work nostalgic would be a misnomer.  His work celebrates the momentous parts of his life....those things worth keeping, worth expressing.  Bob's drawing of baby shoes on a toned piece of paper drew admiration from the other artists in our class.  The shoes are tenderly drawn.

Very often artists consider the background to be a separate entity from the subject matter....and we are often sucked into rendering the table, the chair, the curtain....just because they are there.  Bob's very slight horizontal strokes solve the problem of weight....the necessity of having the shoes rest on something so that they do not appear to float.  Those few strokes are worth the price of admission to me.  So much power in such a simple drawing!

Feetured Artists..

my feet...a sketch

On Thursday last the artists in drawing class drew our own feet!  Believe me, there were lots of complaints!  .....of having feet like Bilbo Baggins and Fred Flintstone....feet so dexterous that they can pick up objects from the floor....one artist too shy and cold to reveal anything at all...and my own high-arched complaint of never feeling quite grounded.  All in all, it was very wonderful.  We noticed tendons.  We noticed negative space.  Each and every drawing is animated and demonstrates a lively interaction between the two feet.  I thought of creating a matching game with posted faces and feet drawings.....that would have involved far too much work and, perhaps, a bit too much exposure.  Instead, we have a slide show of feet!

Enjoy our feet.  Enjoy our drawings.  Ah.....the thrill of da feet.

It's Hoppin'!...

Winter Nap   charcoal/pastel   28 x 18

Sugar.  Caffeine.  Diet Coke.  Love them all.  But in this case I am talking about downtown Akron.  It is supremely satisfying to see your city in the process of waking up to the creative arts.  This coming Saturday, December 4, is the monthly artwalk and things are hopping at Summit Artspace and in many downtown venues.  We are painting in the ASA Studio on the 3rd floor starting at 5 pm.  On Sunday, December 5, I will be doing a figure drawing demonstration, also on the 3rd floor, starting at 1 pm.  Oh, the possibilities.  I am excited and have already purchased a wonderful piece of paper.  (yes, it's the little things)  Julie DiSiena will be my model.  I cannot promise success......but I can promise a heartfelt searching. 

Shopping provides a momentary buzz.  Making art is lasting.  Consider giving a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork.  Support local artists.  Have a cup of coffee to ward off the chill.  Enjoy the buzz.

Sinus Headache...

Heavy Frost   watercolor   3.5 x 17

Yes I do have one.  Last week we were coatless.  This week a dusting of snow.  Those changes that affect our beings are in some way momentous.  Noteworthy.

Last week's assignment was a painting of a late November landscape.  Come class day, I still had no reference as the holiday weekend had usurped my energy.  I awoke to a heavy frost, the headache, and decided to paint the view that I see as I sip my morning java.  And, I decided to paint small, really small....something I rarely do.  One glance into my studio currently reveals 6 unfinished paintings and, with the holidays abreast, I didn't want to add to that number.  An hour or so before class, I thrifted a small, small horizontal frame.....perfect!  I painting sitting down...with small brushes....barely touching the surface....and.....a light-hearted attitude.

I am truly happy with the result.  The finished work is 3.5 x 17".  Very very small.  This extreme exercise was good for me in many ways.  Learning to play the softer notes.

And, I guess we should have put up the outdoor lights last week.

Winter Red...Cardinals at the feeder

Winter Red   watercolor   19 x 12.5

The first dusting of snow greeted us this morning.  Coffee.  Cardinals at the feeder.  Life is good.

There is a frenzy about the holiday season...

Filling In   watercolor   10 x 10

that has nothing at all to do with shopping or cookie-baking.  It has to do with a cleansing of our environment....both Rick and I become obsessed with pounding in those errant nails that we have lived with the entire year, ridding the shower curtain of that mildew smell and checking out the size of the dust bunnies behind the refrigerator.  I used to think it was because his parents came to visit.  Now I think of it more as a creating of more negative space in which to dwell in peace.  AND SO CAME THE CLEANING OF THE STUDIO.   For years I had been meaning to paint the antique jelly cupboard that houses my supplies.  The brown wood was depressing.  The paint job took several days, as I chose to do it in three colors (but of course!) and the cupboard is happier.  I am happier.  Then the cupboard led to cleaning out the files......there are always surprises involved.  For the most part, I find that earlier work is better than I remember....almost fresher when I knew less, perhaps relied more on instinct.  "Filling In" is such a work.  When our model did not show up one evening, a newcomer instantly declared her willingness to shed clothing and fill in.  None of us knew much about this girl.  She had no art supplies and painted with eye makeup on paper.  At the end of the session her husband came into the studio to pick her up. I never knew her name.  We never saw her again.  It was a bit of a Santa Claus experience and I was the benefactor.  I have always loved this painting and was surprised, in my reorganization, at its honesty.

...but not the hominy....

Stack of books and gourd...a sketch showing two-point perspective

The only vegetable I can remember totally refusing as a child was hominy.  It was a memorable experience as my mom chose to serve it on trick-or-treat night.  My mother finally relented and let me go out for the begging, only after she realized that I was so very serious about my hatred for this vegetable that I was willing to give up costume, treats and fun.  2-point perspective is much more palatable than that!  Our drawing class members stacked up books and boxes.  First we discussed the two vanishing points for each object which can only be seen when the objects are drawn from a big distance...i..e. on a drawing that is quite small on a fairly large sheet of paper.  When we understood what was happening, we drew our piles of objects that were placed in front of us on the table.  I chose a stack of three different kinds of books, each one with its own particular vanishing points along with its own particular degree of recession. (even though the horizon line at eye-level remains the same).   I placed a handmade gourd on top for patterning, and because I like organic line playing with all of the straights....the yin and the yang.

An astute artist pointed out the apparent faultiness of my bottom book.  This spiral-bound paperback, had a laminated cover that was not laying flat and had slipped down to the spiral area destroying the perfection of the receding form.  I liken it to clothing on a model.  The book's binding is still receding....it is just a bit disguised.  Another way to help with the perspective issue when drawing items that are close to us is to accurately judge and record angles of edges, and to pay close attention to the shapes of the negative or counter-spaces....i.e. the spaces between the objects.  We keep each other on our toes!

Ah, mom, do we have to eat our veggies?

One-point perspective drawing

I liken a lesson on perspective to eating our veggies when we are kids....do we really have to?  The artists in our Thursday drawing class are really very good....good at prioritizing the forms, good with shadowing, good with values and good with rhythms.  It was only when I realized that the lack of knowledge regarding one-point and two-point perspective was interfering with our success, that I decided to devote a couple of lessons to it.  In the past, I have done an entire 8-week class on these basics.  Last week we took on the one-point....objects placed directly in front of us that recede to vanishing point on the horizon which is at our eye level.  The vanishing point would then represent an imaginary spot (at least I hope so) directly between our eyes.  My subject was an enamelware pan.  As I prefer any composition with both organic and geometric shapes, I put two apples in the back of the pan.  The lighting in the classroom was overhead.  I tried to shift the focal area to the back of the pan.  Indicating the chips on the enamel was fun and, hopefully, helped to indicate the material from which the pan was constructed.

Broccoli really isn't so bad after all.

Concept or Technique?

Hidden Symmetry   oil/canvas   48 x 24 x 1.5

Making art can be approached in different ways.  A young painting major in university told me that he always starts by putting his ideas on paper, by crafting a concept that he wishes to explore.  I find that university programs are concept-oriented, getting students to think outside of the box, to intellectually explore new ways of thinking through art.  Excellent.  This way of thinking produces thought-provoking work.

Local and regional art organizations tend to revere technique, the drawing and redrawing, the painting and repainting in the hopes of getting it right, of improving draftspersonship and the ages-old methods of paint application.  Lighting is everything.  Painting what you see right down to the yellow drape behind the model.  Also excellent.  This way of working can produce art that is beautifully engaging, work that creates pause through its paint application and color use.

I cannot imagine beginning a work by making a list....my life is already too filled with lists.  I am trying to escape lists!  My own method is strictly intuitive, creating movement and rhythm through stroke and color.  In many instances, when the subject simply does not challenge my intellect or my sensibilities, the work is discarded.

It is my own belief that the best of all scenarios is the work that marries technique along with concept.  Work from each school of thought is sought out and admired.  Judges seem to favor one or the other and it is our aim in Kaleidoscope to provide an opportunity for all work to shine.

No answers.  Just more questions.

I

Hey, kids, let's have a show!...

Visionary   watercolor/mixed on paper   11 x 17

Those were my favorite lines on the Spanky and Our Gang television show when I was a kid!  Who can forget Alphafa singing, "I'm the Barber of Seville" in his screechy voice?  And, so, the four Akron area art groups come together once a year for a juried exhibition.  The postcard this year is my design.  The idea came to me in my sleep and I was simply unable to go anywhere else with the concept.  My friend with three young sons came over for a photo shoot on my patio where I posed and photographed the boys in various ways with a kaleidoscope.  I ended up using some shots of the youngest whose hands cupping his eyes seemed more naive and, in some ways, more interesting without a prop.  The figure was rendered in watercolor pencil.  The three circular motifs were done by reduction printing.  Watercolor washes were added to tie it altogether.  The color palette of an acid green, turquoise and ultramarine spun my fan, or, in this case, my wheel.  I call it "Visionary".

Seeing as a child.  Excited by the oh-so-many possibilities.  The joy of singing without caring about perfection.  I love you, Alphalfa!

Values...

Twelve Eagles   watercolor   27.5 x 17

provide a given artwork with a meaning all their own, I believe.  Works that are light-light-light on the value scale seem romantic and carefree.  Personally, I have a difficult time taking them seriously.  Sometimes they seem just too hap-hap-happy.  Works that utilize values in the mid-range, without strong lights or darks, seem quite moody.  Those on the dark end of the scale are just that...dark.  I prefer the high drama of works that utilize values from both ends, as well as those in-between.  We recently had a Native American model from the Cherokee Nation.  This whole problem was a bit difficult, as the resultant work darkened with each pass.  I wanted to give the work a serious treatment.  All too often, the Native American paintings seem a bit trite, a bit too dark in the eyes and rosy in the cheek.  And, conversely, those on display at The Butler Institute of American Art which were painted during the Westward Expansion seem almost scientific, as if these people were objectified and painted as if they were pinned butterflies.  I knew what I wanted but did not know how to achieve it.  The painting was critiqued by a couple of artist friends whose suggestions were valid.....originally, the feathers were much lighter.  They created a distraction and a problem that worked against the head area.  More washes.  More adjustments.  I have released the painting.  I do not yet know if I achieved my goal.  Ask me in a year.....maybe 10.  How does one paint honor, pride and wisdom that often seems outside of my grasp?  I do not know.

Communion...

Wednesday Night   charcoal/pastel   22.5 s 14

I have heard it said that musicians tend to work well together as being a part of a greater good, a greater sound, if you will, is in their nature. As for visual artists, well...they kind of have their own personal thing going on so the individuality sometimes gets in the way.  It seems to be true to some degree.  But there is nothing like the silent communion that fills the air on our model nights where artists of varying mediums and experience take to the easel to hone their skills and draw from a common model.  It really is wonderful to be in the company of so many fine artists who have no need for idle chatter and choose to spend that few hours doing what they love most.  Very satisfying.

As for me, I love these nights, as I usually set a playful goal for myself...one that may help me to solve problems on the canvas or paper later on down the line.  Last Wednesday evening, Jamie was our model....she is absolutely excellent!  Her professionalism and high regard for working time is to be admired.  I have painted Jamie many times in the past, and I have to say, that I really enjoyed working with her again.

It is always a delight to see so many individual takes on the model....just don't ask us to collaborate.

Odd Devil Out...

Devil in Disguise...a sketch

At the Halloween mask session, we had an uneven number of artists in class that evening.  Lucky for me, the mirrors on the side of the room provided a place for me to study my own portrait.  The devil mask of cloth was a relief compared to the other choices in my dress-up box which included several full-face rubber masks.  The cloth mask seemed less irritating to my head cold.  My goals were:  to describe the mask in such a way that viewers would be able to understand the material from which it was made; to bring up the likeness on the bottom half so that it would contrast with the mask on top; and to describe the eyes in such a way so we understand that they are in shadow and definitely on a plane behind the holes of the mask.

I found that the eye-cut-outs were askew and that tickled my fancy.  That added to the fun of it all.

In addition, I find that whole devil/angel notion of paired opposites to be interesting as well as intriguing.  Positively devilish.

Relationships...

That October Feeling   watercolor   12.75 x 9

can be tricky.  The more relationships one has, it seems to me, the more complex life becomes.  The same with paintings.  The more objects in the painting, the more complex the painting of it becomes.  We started out this week in class by piling a large number of organic autumn objects onto a well-lit table.  Gourds.  Pumpkins.  Grasses.  Branches.  Mums.  Squashes.  Even a Caramel Apple.  We are using our handmade cropping windows to find interesting compositions.  Everyone's is different.  In the beginning, we paint each object separately to the best of our abilities.  Then later, we need to contemplate the prioritizing of the elements, and, in turn, to consider the hard and soft edges that support this prioritization.  For me, the relationships of the forms become more important than the objects themselves.  I look for hidden rhythms to carry out my intentions.  Forms become alive, almost like persons who make up a crowd....persons at a party, persons at a meeting.  Persons having a conversation.

Animated objects.  Struggling in relationships.  Mirroring reality.

Halloween Parade

Kitty   watercolor   10 x 13.75

The highlight of all-childhood-Halloween-memories-that-meld-into-one was the Halloween Parade where all of the classes lined up and paraded the block around Windermere Elementary School in Akron where homeowners and eager parents  looked on.  They seemed to be amazed and delighted with our transformation from "just kids" into superheroes and monsters.  I, myself, was amazed and delighted.  And so, today, I present the Halloween parade of most of the paintings and drawings created last week in class.

We were transformed.  Please pretend to be amazed.

Golden...

Five O'Clock Shadow   watercolor   20 x 13

It really is a great time to paint landscapes...what, with all the color and all.  Our weekly painting assignment was to capture a beautiful autumn landscape with our cameras.  We would be painting from our photos, as working outdoors is impossible during class.  ( I do believe, however, that those who paint out of doors on a regular basis are more able to translate these photos in a realistic and natural way).  I don't much enjoy landscapes.  I prefer including houses or people or some element of humanity.  My husband does not understand it.  That being said, I was fretting about the weekly assignment myself.  Our niece's wedding reception was being held at Hale Farm and Village.  Accompanying us were my husband's parents who had made the trip up from North Carolina.  As there was a bit of a gap between the wedding and the reception, we sat on picnic tables in the crisp autumn air, waiting for the the caterers to complete the set-up.  Voila.  Before me the sun was magical in its goldenness.  The time: 5 pm.  The memory:  wonderful.  "Five O'Clock Shadow" was the result.  My assignment:  complete.

Whew.

Goal Setting and Problem Solving...

What's Up Jack?  watercolor/gouache   11.75 x 7

are things we strive for in each class.  They vary from session to session.  At the first class, I try to establish a list of problems that artists would like to work on.  One of the suggestions was learning to paint things that are wet.....things that reflect into wetness.  Who among us has not greatly admired those night time street scenes where tail lights and street lights are reflected into the wet pavement?  Replicating such a problem in our classroom with overhead lighting is a bit tricky.  We brought in small vanity mirrors and placed objects on top in order to understand the object/reflected object relationship.  Very tricky.  In our particular situation, the reflected objects seemed just as solid as the objects themselves.  I chose a vertical format and also chose to elongate the reflection that I saw for aesthetic purposes.  My subject matter - "jacks" - was so simple that I added calligraphy words related to the game.

Great fun.  Memories of many childhood hours playing jacks on the sidewalk. 

Onesies.  Cherries in a basket.  Paintsies.

Paper Dolls? Surely you Jest........

Paper Linda  watercolor/mixed...a paper doll  11.5.x 7

Paper Linda (back)

One of our first creative problems to solve in watercolor class involved the making of paper dolls.  Needless to say, the project was met with skepticism.  My motivation was twofold:  to understand the moving of painting in three dimensions in the focal area (the face) to a more flatly rendered body and clothing; as well as to paint what is imagined, yet unseen (the back of the figure).

Artists brought picture of themselves as children.  One artist just painted a self-portrait that moved from detail into more of an abstract presentation at the bottom.  I ended up painting a front and a back, as well, stitched the edges on my sewing machine and stuffed it lightly with cotton balls.  All in all, the project was a bit of silly fun.  Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously.

I love technology...

Dappled   oil/canvas   30 x 40 x 1.5

when I am able to view an exhibit online.  "Dappled" was selected for inclusion in the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional exhibition being held at Walls Gallery in Wilmington, North Carolina.

I feel honored to have my work shown in this good company!

Walls Gallery

The Drawing of the 10,000 Kernels...

Indian Corn...a sketch

began last evening....each artist was given an ear of dried Indian corn to draw.  The results were fabulous!  Each drawing was as individual as the artist him/herself.  The twisting leaves were a challenge, as well as the rendering of the rows of multi-colored kernels.  We re-learned that the form of the entire ear is more important, and should be more dominant, than the individual kernels.  Even the beginning artists turned out highly successful drawings.  Pleasant surprises......let the good times roll.

Last Chance...

Sunflower Head   watercolor   8 x 8

warnings always bring me back to reality.  As I spend a good deal of time in my imagination, I tend to overlook some important things until they become a crisis:  i.e.  last gas station for the next 200 miles, last chance to use the restroom until the plane lands, and last chance to visit Stuckey's pecan roll superstore.  The sunflowers came and went in my garden throughout the summer.  As they waned, we placed the heads near the bird feeder.  I thought the opportunity to paint them had passed me by.  Then early in September, I noticed two tender sunflowers that had sprouted from the bird droppings.  Having painted sunflowers many times before, I wanted this attempt to be different from all of the others.

It was, after all, my last chance.

Painting Challenges...

Bartlett Pear   watercolor and thread   5 x 8

are an excellent way to keep one's work fresh.  Most professional artists I know give themselves challenges on a regular basis.  Goal-setting is a related notion.  It keeps us from stagnation or becoming embedded in a comfort zone.  On the first night of watercolor class, we were each given a pear and selected a goal out of a hat.  My goal was to focus on value only by painting in one color.  Others were:  painting only with a flat brush; using an analogous color palette; using a power stroke; using both organic and straight line; and using a huge wash brush for the entire painting. 

"Bartlett Pear" is the result.  I used only a brown mix that was in the mixing well during class.  The yellow-green was added at home.

Seeing the Universal in the Specific

Many years ago I was assigned, by the print company for which I worked, to paint a series of angels.  I worked so hard on those angels.  But the series was rejected for print because they looked too much like real people.  I have struggled with this notion.  I yearn to see universal humanity through an individual, not the reverse.  The market is flooded with images of generic people, done so because, supposedly, more people can relate when a particular visage is rendered in an undefinable way.  These images smack of mass marketing to me and seem somehow cheapened.  And so it goes.

So when I read the following quote about H. Craig Hanna on the website from Amelia Johnson Contemporary, my heart was lightened.....someone else feels the same as I do.

 He paints recognizable human beings as opposed to standard images of physically perfect or stereotypically imperfect 'types'.  They are not, however, portraits, and most have their identities effaced, faces obstructed, but their presence is the strongest and most captivating element in the painting.

 Affirmation.  Sweet.

Falling in Love

There is nothing like the feeling of falling in love....very very intense.  It doesn't happen that often.  During our recent visit to San Francisco, we visited a couple of galleries in St. Helena.  Although the galleries were spectacular in every way and there was an abundance of beautiful art objects to grace the home, the works on the walls were disappointing to me.  They were too slick, too impersonal;  i.e. an immense work in black and white of pounding horses' hooves.  Nothing that touched my soul.  The next day, I spotted a poster in a shop window on 24th Street in the city.  The painting pulled me across the street where I quickly jotted down the information.  Back at home on my computer I was able to pull up the wonderful wonderful work of H. Craig Hanna.

Another muse.............totally inspiring.  Hi art.

Mile High Sketch Club

Mile High Man...a sketch

I am a member of the mile high club.....sketching, that is.  Is there another?   One row up across the aisle is the perfect position for acquiring an unknowing model.  This gentleman was a fidgeter....tall and lanky.  He spent lots of time standing in the aisle where his legs could expand.  During the sitting intervals, he provided me with ample drawing opportunity.  The difficulty was in his slight lateral movements to the left and right, where the degree of eyeglasses and nose changed from time to time.  Therein lies the challenge.  Values were all midtones, so there were no extremes on which to build a stronger sense of patterning.  No strong light.  I was satisfied.

Have Sketchbook Will Travel...

Chicago O'Hare...a sketch

Life presents many wonderful opportunities for travel...most recently, it was the marriage of our son on the west coast.  My first thoughts in preparing for a trip always have to do with my art-making.  Painting provides my way of maneuvering through the difficulties that life presents.  Quite simply, it is an addiction.  It is difficult for me to do without the wonder that art-making provides.  Sketching fits the bill.  A small sketchbook and set of pencils is always at the ready in my bag.  An unexpected delay of 4 hours at Chicago O'Hare provided the opportunity to observe and sketch many weary travelers, myself included.  Although most of the sketches remain unfinished and unresolved in so many ways, the freedom of the mark-making and the resultant calming are ever-present.  When a book is filled with sketches, there is always a pleasure in returning to this visual diary.  For a visual person, there is nothing better.

Kathy Johnson is at it again!

Loves Me   oil/canvas   6 x 6

The owner of Hudson Fine Art & Framing is hosting an unusual "In The Pink" exhibit this year.  Over 50 small canvasses (6 x 6) will be raffled to support The Gathering Place, a support venue for cancer patients and their families.


A wine and cheese reception will be held this Friday, October 1 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm.  The exhibit will continue throughout the month. 

"Loves Me" is my offering.

Clarity...

Buddies   oil/canvas   20 x 10 x .5

results when the temperature drops a bit in September.  The humidity is lower.  The mornings are crisp and clear.  As a result, everything seems to come into focus...flowers, landscapes and feelings seem to be crisper.  We are lucky to live close to a large reservoir that is used year round recreationally for many folks who fish, boat and hike.  I believe that fishing is a tranquilizer for those who enjoy it just as painting is for me.  Peace.  Quiet.  Oneness.  Fresh Air.  The losing of the self in the activity.

I don't much enjoy the notion of painting a landscape.  Perhaps it all seems so far away.  My subjects tend to be pulled in more closely.  A  vertical "slice of landscape" seems to fit the aesthetic bill for me. I am able to hear the water lapping against the sides of the aluminum canoe.

Buddies is an observation.  Fishing with a friend.

The term "high art"

implies  a polar opposite which would likely be deemed "low art".  High. Low.  The image perceived is that of a ladder where concepts and individuals are in a position where some have a leg up, and others a leg down.  Verticality.  Yang thinking.  A paradigm construed of aggression, authority, words and left-brained thinking.  I guess then, that Hummers and McMansions would then be seen as higher up than Volkswagon Beetles and cottages.  And what is deemed high or low would be defined by our own position on the ladder....we humans are egocentric creatures.  I propose a change from "high art" to "hi art" (as in "hello", the greeting)....that which speaks to an individual, no matter what place that individual holds on the perceived totem.  A shift to the horizontal, the yin......respecting differences, respecting the vast spectrum of visual appeal.  Intuition.  Feeling.  And, yes, sentiment.  Tolerance.  Different art, different music, different tribes.  All cool.  I guess then that the work of Thomas Kinkaid could be considered "Hi Art" to lots of people.  The deciders of what is "hi art" could then be individuals themselves, rather than the "authority on high" deciding what is worthy and what is not.

Hi Art.

Question  Authority.

They're Playing Our Song...

Marci   oil/canvas   20 x 10 x .5

is currently showing at Weathervane Theater in Akron until September 26.  This play revolves around a songwriter and a lyricist whose creative quirks in their collaboration provide lots of laughs. And, to be quite truthful, I saw our own relationship being played out in several scenes.  Rick and I are showing work in the lobby, so we were treated to the production last evening........hilarious, touching and quick-tempoed.  What a great production to open the season!  Rick has sculptures and photographs.  Mine contribution is a collection of paintings celebrating both music and the harvest season that is upon us.  Our good friend Marci Paolucci is the curator for the gallery there and has been at if for over 25 years!  Her contribution to the local arts is an important one and she takes pride in touching the lives of the artists whose work she chooses to exhibit.  I had a very difficult time writing a collaborative bio for the two of us.  She took the information the whipped it into a wonderful few paragraphs.  Here's to Marci!  Here's to another stimulating theater season at Weathervane Playhouse!  Hope you all have time to take it in.

Things that Become Tangled...

Pepper Party   oil/canvas   6 x 6 x 1.5

should be a category on Jeopardy......strings, hair, thread, and, yes, vines.  I have painted many tangled vines before and find a special delight in it, actually.  It appeals to my sense of hidden rhythms and puzzle solving as far as prioritizing.  If all of the pieces/parts are equally described, the work becomes very difficult to read visually.  In "Pepper Party", I subdued the leaves and the vines, for the most part, even though they are oh-so-appealing in order to give dominance to the peppers themselves.  Still a tangle.  But then,  I also like frayed things, things marred by age and plants and bushes grown a bit out of control.  I like the wildness.  Wabi Sabi.

Quick Painting/Slow Painting

Tomato Tango   oil/canvas   8 x 8 x 1

I believe that, with a little planning, a good painting can result from a short session or several longer sessions that last months.  Goals need to be adjusted.  The open house at Cuyahoga Valley Art Center is a festive affair....lots of friendly people, great conversations, chatting with colleagues, sampling tasty hors d'oeuvres and very little focus.  It's the nature of the gathering.  And, so, I came armed with a small 6 x 6  canvas that was pre-toned in violet.  My attention was diverted every few minutes so each stroke had to count.  "Tomato Tango" is the result.  A bit wildly painted.  I'm afraid that, given another session, I may have been tempted to fine tune it a bit.  And I'm not sure that would have been a good thing.  My standards seem to be different from what they used to be.  Perhaps I am just happier with who I am.

Revisiting...

Baughman Barn  oil/canvas board   12 x 12

a dry work has both advantages and disadvantages.  Rhythms and brushwork, often determined by the current mood of the artist, will be invariably different.  I have to feel that my time will be well-spent in returning to the work.  These are not studio paintings.  These are plein-air works that were "finished" (but often not to my satisfaction) on the spot.  I am gradually learning how to paint in one session which requires a maximum amount of thought and a minimum amount of paint.  Otherwise, the colors all become murky, in a mid-value range.  Revisiting allows for corrections in color temperature and in value...reestablishing the darkest darks and the lightest lights.  If the draftsmanship is off, I won't even bother.  "Baughman Barn" was revisited yesterday to my satisfaction.  Although the yellow-golden quality is gone and the color temperature has shifted to cool, I believe that the work has been improved.

Seeing...

Sun Queen   oil/canvas   20 x 16 x .5

the smaller things around us is such a pleasure.  A bit of quiet time allows these heretofore background scenes to permeate our consciousness.  These days our children live elsewhere and, for the first time ever, (temporarily, anyways) there are no pets in our home.  The bird feeders outside have been full of activity all summer along.  We are attentive to the comings, the goings and the rhythms of the bird world.  Goldfinches are perched at the tops of the sunflower stalks where they enjoy pulling out the seeds.  Enthusiasm gone wild.  Terrific.  The ebb and flow of the seasons.  A delight to behold.

Tale of Two Betties...

Betty Crawford   oil/canvas   20 x 16 x .5

Betty Wolfe   oil/canvas   20 x 16 x .5

I have had the privilege this month of painting two women named Betty.  Both Betties are fixtures in the Akron area arts community.  Betty C. is a painter and frequent volunteer at Cuyahoga Valley Art Center....she is often the smiling face behind the desk.  Betty W. is also a painter whose work is often seen at regional exhibits.  These small works were created in my summer "Painting the Human Figure" class.  The canvasses were pre-toned.  That allows for a more finished presentation, even if the work remains somewhat unresolved due to the time constraints of the class.  Both works consisted of 2-2 hour in classes live sessions and 1-1 hour session using a photo at home.  This last session helps me to purify somewhat the flesh tones that have become muddied; to repair glaring drawing errors; and to consider rhythms utilizing hard or soft edges.  I am happy with each one.  And I also love the Betties.....

Dussel Farm...

Bi-Color   oil/canvas   11 x 14  

in Brimfield is where we shop for corn....the tastiest thing going in this harvest season.  The circular driveway is arranged so that you literally drive-through and just open your window.  Members of the Dussel family are ready to serve you a dozen or a half (with an extra one included).  These are hard-working people, local farmers, who depend on our support for their existence.  Sure, it is a bit out of the way.  Sure, it costs a fraction more.  But ever so much more delicious than the genetically engineered stuff that fills the bins at Marc's.  It seems to me that if we artists seriously value the notion of one-of-a-kind art, then it follows that we would be apt to support and sustain the farms and farmers of our locale and in our farmer's markets.  Amen.  Please pass the butter.