Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

Merry Christmas - Happy Holiday





Merry Christmas
Happy Holiday
Happy Hanukkah
Happy everyday!

See you all next year! Here are some scenes of my pre-Christmas...

Down Time


O.K.. I know....here I go ...messing around again...but I will say...not HAVING to do anything (now that I'm caught up for the holidays) has given me a chance to take one of my old life drawing sketches and play around with it. I've never taken a collage class, but have always wanted to learn, so I started playing with my water color sticks...then added some acrylic, then I started playing with some torn paper..I needed to hold the paper up to see if I liked it or not...then....POOF!!! It hit me...Eureka...(I think) . The tape I was using a good friend had given me years ago...and it reads "Smart women hold it together"...so I thought..why not just leave the tape on there since it's a figure of a woman...and I'm thinking I'll do some light something with pencil in the background that relates to that theme...just to add a little interest.

I may wind up throwing it out...but...it's fun to be like a kid to "play" and not worry if it turns out or not!! And, maybe in the process I'll learn something!

I pick my daughter and granddaughter up in Chicago Wednesday...and I'm going through withdrawals not being by a young little person that still believes in magic. I'm an adult....and I still like the magic!!!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Lucian Freud Quotes

I want paint to work as flesh, I know my idea of portraiture came from dissatisfaction with portraits that resembled people. I would wish my portraits to be of the people, not like them. Not having to look at the sitter, being them. As far as I am concerned, the paint is the person. I want it to work for me just as the flesh does.

+ The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes, and, ironically, the more real.

German born British figurative painter Lucian Freud
born Lucian Michael Freud - Berlin, Germany - 8th of December, 1922 / Lives London, UK
Popular Lucian Freud works include figurative paintings and etchings of the nude and portraits. His paintings are worked and reworked over time, using the skills and methods of old masters to create contemporary works that comfortably exist in the present.

Playing with pastels


Last Wednesday was the last Life drawing session before the holidays. I did a sketch of our model and because I was so busy with the holidays didn't really get a chance to really get into anything. I put the sketch up in the studio and just kept playing with it. Not having the model in front of me to figure out all the shadows or to make corrections...I just messed around... The leg looks off...but it is what it is. The face I'm not sure is in scale...but...it's art...which means I could put two heads on her if I wanted...and it would be "art"...so...here is my messing around creative endeavors until after the holidays.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Pastel


Another week, another session on Life Drawing....
I attempted to use a medium I haven't used in years and a medium I never learned a lot about. In drawing everyone uses different mediums....paint, ink, graphite, watercolor..and me...well, I was just needing to get back in the saddle and needed desperately to practice so I used graphite ...but....last week I did try pastel. I attempted to block in as my friend Gerrie does and it came out absolutely horrible!!!! SHE...has perfected her style...Finally on the longer pose I drew her, then used pastel. I combination of method and it was a little better.

It's hard to do anything as this month consumes me trying to get all the necessary things done for the holidays. I can feel I am a whirlwind-just blowing around errands.

This drawing is surly not perfect...her torso-yes, is a little long towards her hips...but...that's why I keep going!

She looks like she was falling asleep...she was!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Wednesdays Life Drawing session


Gerrie my friend who is also an artist is a blessing for me. To be able to have someone who understands and shares the same interest is a great treasure. Wednesday evenings from 6-9:30 we go together to the Art Barn to do our Life Drawing sessions with a few other serious artists. This is such a cute place. It's out in the middle of nowhere. An old farm converted to an artists haven which carries several art shows every year. The stools, easels, tables and floors are coated with layers and layers of paint while paintings hang along the walls. Big windows to look out over the sunflower and corn fields. Trees with small painted hanging bird houses throughout. It is totally adorable! I'll have to take a picture and post it so you'll know what I'm talking about.

I watched my friend Gerrie on our 30 minuets sketch since I was curious how she started her pastel sketches. Normally I just do graphite and my approach is very rigid. It was interesting as she just scribbled color down in a block and then her hand was in a rhythm, moving around until her marks created spaces that she kept refining. The finished product was loose and beautiful! So next week...I'll give it a try.
p.s. You can obviously tell this is my drawing since it isn't loose....I messed around with it later. I look forward to trying Gerrie's technique next week.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Chicago show



An opportunity to show in Chicago came up quickly and I seized it. Someone in Chicago had an empty building they were willing to give us to show our work as long as we paid the utilities for the month. Not bad!

It was amazing the way we all descended on this empty quiet building on a 6 way intersection on Lincoln Avenue and transformed it into a decent looking Art Gallery in a matter of about 2-3 hours. My daughter who lives in Chicago god bless her helped out along with my grandaughter of 4 and several other artists. Assembling the folding screens and numerous other little duties was a learning experience for me.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Christmas Painting for contest


I started this a couple days ago for a contest in Michigan City. I always wanted to do my own Christmas cards and always never did...so I thought this would motivate me. Last year I posted some pictures of the ornaments on my tree I just loved and Bill another artist from another blog encouraged me to paint one....so Bill....I did finally! Any way...it's hard to believe that Christmas is almost here....I still feel like I never got summer...and now the year is slowly closing on me.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Quote of the Day


“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

-Pablo Picasso




A shot from the show at Miller Beach at the Lakefront Gallery last month.


Vegetarian and Three Graces


Friday, November 13, 2009

Quote of the Day

"When we discovered Cubism, we did not have the aim of discovering Cubism. We only wanted to express what was in us."
~ Pablo Picasso

Ode to Klimt


Yes, Klimt is one of my favorite artists. So when I decided I wanted to just PLAY around with a little with collage I picked some of my old calendars I'd saved with his work, and intuitively worked on this piece. Sometimes It's fun to just "mess" around.

So here is my "just messing around" piece.

I wonder how someone would interpret this since It's done intuitively???? Maybe I don't want to know!?

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Art Quotes

Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is
taking the risk to be alive.. the risk to be alive and express
what we really are.
::: Don Miguel Ruiz :::

You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle
of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.
::: Paulo Coelho :::

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Monday, October 19, 2009

Can you see the difference???

This is the part of fine tuning...where the painting is either working or it's NOT. Can you even notice what I've changed???? I pushed back the buildings and the tops of the trees and the guy's back on her right. Darkened her shadows...tried to soften the mouth on the girl sleeping in the foreground. I put translucent sparkles on her highlights and on the top of the umbrella which you wouldn't notice unless the sun hit her. I darkened under the trees.

anymore suggestions???

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Jazz Lady


The hardest part of finishing a painting is the fine tuning at the end. It's the nit picking part...the part where you decide something really needs to go, or something else is really needed. Well, that is where I am with this painting. You look at the same painting all day, every day and it get's hard to fine tune because you are looking at it so much. Maybe this is the part where you let it go for awhile and then come back to it with a fresh look.

I was trying to make this painting about the "Jazz Lady". We were at the Chicago Jazz Fest and I just loved to see this older women in all her splendor, bravado or what every word you'd put to her...just plopping herself down with her suitcase and enjoying this moment for herself...before getting on the train and heading for the airport. I love her attitude and I hope when I'm her age I do the same!

Any way....I'm thinking the trunks and limbs of the trees are creating static noise for me. Too unnecessary...so...what do you think??? Darken-more blurry- under the trees..(by the people).

I know this is a busy picture....I took out a lot...but the whole thing is her and Chicago...the parks, the crowds, the fests...and....her. So that is why I put in what I did. This is the busiest picture I've done. Not sure I'd want to do something like this again...but I still need to finish it.

So, comments please!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Correction on Churning SEa

I was tired when I wrote that last post. CORRECTION......SHE ONLY USED ONE COLOR....BLACK. All the highlights you see were reflections from the strokes...It was totally all ONE color...so you can see how important the brushstrokes in this painting were.

I was given trial color by GOLDEN called Torret Grey which I thought I might try in the painting I am presently working on ...and I'm guess Karen must have used such a color that had a metallic in the black in order for those brush strokes to creat or catch that much light.!?

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Churning Sea by Karen Gunderson


While in Santa Fe we ventured over to the Railyard District . The Railroad District was to have lots of Galleries, but several had closed probably due to the economy.

We were in the William Siegal Gallery of Ancient Contemporary art. While walking around I passed a large 72" x 72" painting, and then slowly backed up. I stared at the painting which was d one only in black and white. While staring I found myself backing up and holding my gaze. I was totally enchanted and perplexed by this painting. A painting that I could have easily missed but once my eye caught the image I was spell bound. Believe me....I don't usually get spell bound by many paintings. I literally stood there for 20 minuets.

The painting is by a New York artist called Karen Gunderson. She works ONLY in black and white. Sounds boring...but it is amazing what she has done. Her other works were wonderful, but this one painting is beyond phenominal!!

I'll post the picture titled "Churning Sea" which is exactly what it looks like. How she planned each stroke that catches the light in such a way that the waves are actually moving while you move.

BRAVO to Karen! You've opened up a new world for me. Who would have thought of only using black and white and the direction of the strokes determines how the light catches it and creates the painting!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Friday, September 18, 2009

Casita in la Sierra






Yes, I know.....I just got back....Life can be stressful....the good lord never promised us a Rose Garden.

My paradise is our cabin in Colorado...so now... that is where I will retreat and recoup.

This is a place where you can hear yourself think, regain some creative juices and chill.

p.s. These are older pictures...my dad is sitting in the main room. He built this cabin hauling large beams up a ladder on his shoulder. This cabin was my mothers dream. And soon they will both be together and we will always have this wonderful place to remember them.

Adios till I'm back.....


Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Art Quote

+ The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place; from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web. By, Picasso

Friday, September 4, 2009

Last Get together at River East



Gerrie and I went into Chicago early to go to Pearl Art Supply and then do Gallery Row just off of Chicago St. Going in and out of the galleries made me realize that artists seem to jump on band wagons and then before you know it....your getting bored because you are seeing the same kind of work done in every gallery. The galleries I enjoyed most were the ones that carried a variety of work. Now mind you...I enjoy all styles of art if done well. I found most galleries carrying a lot of abstract (which I love if done well), but there was a lot of mediocre work in mostly all abstract.

One of the last few galleries we went in were a treat however. Gallery KH on West Superior carried wonderful abstracts from artist Rick Stevens and another artist that did landscapes in a somewhat contemporary manner. The Director Lissa Kivisto was very friendly which in some galleries is not always the case.

The other gallery and forgive me but the name escapes me..on the same street a little farther down had the most wonderful very, very large charcoal drawing of himself (the artist) being operated on and himself contemplating the death experience. His skill in drawing was superb and the subject matter drew you into the work.

We caught a sandwhich in a small little deli and then proceeded to Gallery RiverEast for the student reception and the open studios of the resident artists there. It was very nice as they had wine stations situated in several locations in the gallery, cheeses and fruit. We got there early...andleft a little early. All the artists with studios down belowe were really very, very nice. We enjoyed talking with them.

Our work (I should say mine) wasn't done, but it was still on view. We heard some positive feed back on the paintings which made us feel good....so we left happy campers!

Still not sure if I should use that apple or paint curtains behind her?? Still thinking on how to finish this painting!!!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

$300.00 for New Brushes!



Quick up-date. I took 3rd place at the Illiana show last week. I entered the dog at the table with the duck titled "vegetarian". So now I have $300.00 to buy some sorely needed brushes!!!

I would love to take the Portrait class at River East but I would wind up missing too many classes as I need to fly to Tucson soon to be with my dad for a week ...and then we'd already planned a trip to Colorado to go to our cabin and then a quick trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

This Thursday we have open Thursday at the Gallery for students and artists that have studios there. Here's a link to River East. Check it out if you come to Chicago. It's a real awesome place. www.rivereastartcenter.com


Saturday, August 22, 2009

Figure Painting

I have been painting all day...trying to get it right and playing around with this. Our model was looking up so I thought...well, let's have fun...so I think I am going to try and paint in an apple hanging down in front of her...The painting was so horizontal by pose so I played around with stripes to break it up... It's slapped on, but I've kept in fairly loose for me...Roroy said no small brushes....(only a few strokes around the face). It's got along way to go, but I'm kinda liking it. I even like it with the drips...but I can't keep it like that. Anyway...it's fun...I'll show when it's all done.

Friday, August 21, 2009









I'm dragging this morning....another exciting class in Chicago. It's a good group of people and Rory the artist in charge is awesome. I've been keeping late night hours all week and it's catching up with me. And tonight it's a White Sox game....so back in Chicago I go. Tomorrow I drive back in to have lunch with my daughter Shannon, her friend Jessica who just moved back from Los Angeles and her beautiful mother from Canada. Do you think I should just LIVE in Chicago????

I'm posting some pictures of class. Next week is our last class and I think I'd like to take the portrait class next as I LOVE faces and people!

The guy with the big smile is Rory. He is an amazing artist. I posted his link earlier in another post. Check it out.

The outdoor pictures are showing you the back side of classes along the river. When we take a break we can walk out and enjoy the scenery. It's beautiful and Chicago has so much energy. I love it!
Squirrel...who was not afraid of anyone....until I got on my stomach to get a real close up...and once I got down to his level.....it freaked him out! Go wonder!#$^&*(

Thursday, August 20, 2009



Went to drawing last night despite tornado warnings. Do you think that shows my determination? The model Robin said that if the building were hit, please make sure to put some clothes on her so her dad won't find out she models in the nude. I thought that was amusing!

At the end of the session my fellow artists ask" How'd you do tonight?" and I have to reply that I'm so into drawing that I have to wait awhile (days) to look and figure out if what I did was right or not. Sometimes I know immediately and other times I don't see my mistakes until later...then I go "Oh My Gosh!!!! What was I thinking (or seeing)!!!"

I think the head turning on the body facing forward is off...but can't correct it since I can't see the model. And I think the torso on the one with the back is a little too long...but anyway...it is what it is...

I admire the artists that don't worry about every single line, and even though their drawings don't look like the model they are still very interesting drawings that I like. They seem to have their own style.

Feel free to let me know what you think is off..

Tonight it's class in Chicago. Another late night. We are starting on another painting.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009


Quote
"In a successful painting everything is integral.. all the parts belong to the whole. If you remove an aspect or element you are removing its wholeness."
~ Richard Diebenkorn

Friday, August 14, 2009

Final painting-done and framed-something for fun!

I forgot to post this picture I just entered into a local show. . It's done.

I figure if I don't sell it my son's will wind up getting dog pictures for Christmas!

Mixed media on cold pressed paper.
water color-pencil-acrylic-etc.

Show me your messed up Paintings!

I would just love, just love to see others messed up/didn't turn out paintings! I want to see their mistakes so I can feel better. I want to know they were where I am now.

So what's wrong showing your imperfect self? Don't you wish you could see the Masters paintings that were horrible when they just started out? I do.

It's like the hand blown lamp that you buy that reads "All the imperfections in the hand made item add to the distinctiveness of the item". All the imperfections in our art and our life add up to a sum that equals perfection.

Who says everything we do has to be perfect? It's NOT!


Well, painted some more on the figure at class last night. I was having a hard time getting the paint to blend and go on. I tried the Alkyd medium which was like honey. Not sure it works for me. It didn't seem to allow the paint to flow...however I may not have been using it right.

Got home last night at 11pm, got up at 6a.m. and Gerrie and I went to the park around the house. We were inspired by some of the blogs we like such as "Daily Painters", so we thought we would give it a try...so off we went this a.m. I found a spot and roasted in the sun.. We gave ourselves an hour for the painting...I had an appointment which cut our time short.

This is only the 2nd time in my life I've tried Plein Air. I hope to try it again and keep on learning. I did take a photo of the spot so I could finish it in the studio.

In case you can't tell what it is...Its holly hocks or some type of flowers by the edge of a pond/little lake with trees on the other side.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Moving forward



Went to drawing last night at the Art Barn till 9pm. They start out with 1 minuet poses then work to 10 minuet poses, 15 and then one 55 minuet pose. This was done on a 15 minuet pose. I am just perplexed at how people can get a whole drawing in 15 minuets. Somehow I was lucky I was able to get this whole figure in. The other poses weren't so lucky. I was so use to working with photos that don't move and I don't have a timer going.

I don't know if it's just me...but its like working out at the gym doing these drawings. I have "in the ZONE" days and out of the ZONE days. Last night I was "out of the Zone". Gerrie my side kick said it was because there was so much light on the model it was like drawing a silhouette. Her drawings were finished pieces of art. She uses a lot of colored pastel to draw the model. They were absolutely beautiful. Wished I could post one of her drawings for you. I'll have to ask her.


The painting of the sail boat is a commission from my brother and sister in law in Boulder. It's done after the artist Sally Caldwell Fisher. I changed the number of boats and the colors and the houses in the back. They found the image on a birthday card and loved it. I will of course put her name by me. I still have tweaking to do before it's done.

That's all I've been up to. Getting ready to start on a new project.

Friday, August 7, 2009

River East Classes




O.k...I bear all my faults and soul. Here are a few drawings from class...they are never completed and usually off...but hey...I'm trying. I'm use to using photo's and it's been YEARS since I worked with a model... The painting....We have to work on next week. Last week we drew it on canvas and the started painting. What I think will be intersting is how is she going to be in the exact spot so I can finish it???? Mybe that's why I liked photos. Half the time while I'm drawing they fall asleep and the neck and arms move...frustration galore....
It's coming along...however so far there has been no real information...everyone just comes and draws and paints...so hopefully I'll get some pointers that are new. I like the instructor..his work is awesome...just need more info...and of course I'm like the little kid in the class room always calling on the teacher...I guess I can be obnoxious at times.
It's 11pm at night by the time we get home, so I'm glad I have my talented friend Gerrie with me. Gerrie already has her work in Museums and is published in a book...not sure she really needed the class but she's looking to stretch and learn like all of us.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Roy Coynes Art Classes

Started my classes last night with friend and fellow artist Gerrie Govert. We got there early and had a salad and sandwich at my favorite store called Fox and Obel. It's a high end small city grocery store with a deli. We got there early to figure out the parking and had a quick bite and then walk along the galleries at River East.




Click on his name or the paragraphs above to see his work.




Quote
"Great art is art that strips you of words, and then allows you to find the new words to describe that experience."
~ Eric Fishl (1948-)

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Home Again, Home Again!!!


Back once again! We traveled to Richmond, Virginia to see our good friends, then onto Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.. We took several trips to the museums and of course I had to take some pictures (it was permissible). Always enjoying forms all around me. I LOVED the contemporary galleries very much.


I'm posting the picture of me standing next to a Joan Miro. This painting I had not seen before. It must have been done as the artist was evolving. I was in intrigued.

I handed over my logo job and declared that I am an artist not a graphic designer. I started out with drawings, but cannot adjust things on all the programs I was attempting to
down-load. So now I can get on with the business of ART. Tomorrow I start a class in Chicago at the River East Center on figure painting from life. I haven't touched my oils in a year. So now with some old large tubes of 6.75 oz which weigh a ton because I don't want to buy new tubes I go on! I have been spoiled by acrylics. So I know I will be intimidated but I have never been afraid of a challenge. A kite only rises against the wind NOT with it!!!

Last note....we went to the Capital Steps in the Ronald Reagan Building...and for those who get to Washington and haven't seen it yet...."Go!" It was great! It made fun of both parties...it was a good laugh!!

Thursday, July 9, 2009


Does anyone out there know of a good graphic design program that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? I bought a cheap program called Logo Design Pro Studio by MacWare which is useless. I've had more problems with it. someone told me about a free download called Inkscape which scares me since it's free. I have a Mac which means I don't get hardly any viruses, but it's still a possibility. If I can finish these last two projects I can move on.

We went to Kansas City for the 4th for 5 days to visit an old college buddy and his wife which happens to be our financial planner as well. I had time to visit the Nielsen- Atkins Museum which was beautiful! Kansas surprised me. The downtown looked like Rodeo Drive. Beautiful architecture which I thought odd for Kansas. Spanish-kinda European-middle eastern influences.

I spent some time in their Barnes and Nobles ( which I love doing) and was amazed at the volume of books they had in the Art section. It was awesome! I found a book that inspired me. I want to finish these projects so I can be creative again. The books called "Rethinking Acrylic" by Patti Brady. She shows a lot of great techniques to make your paintings look Encaustic when their not..or to make it look like glass, etc, etc. and all the layer and depth you can achieve.

I used oils for years, but I have found that with all the new mediums acrylics are easier and just as forgiving and less toxic and not such a mess to clean up.

Well, best get something done. The picture is one I did about 10 years ago in oils.



Monday, June 22, 2009

Turning another page...






It's Monday. A day to start digging in again. Friday I delivered my three canvases for the commission job in Schererville...so now I turn another page and start on another commission piece. The client had already an idea of what she wanted with colors and all which made it much easier. I really enjoyed doing that last piece, and the client was just as nice as anyone could be. It was a pleasure.

I have so many loose ends I need to tie. I have to, because I still have all these ideas in my brain that I want to execute!

I feel so blessed that I love what I do and that it is such a part of me. My art, I could do anywhere and at any time. For those that have no driving force in their life or interests; I just can't imagine.

Need to run so I can start on those loose ends!



Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Quote of the Day


"With me, it's much more a matter of just accepting whatever happens, accepting all these elements from the outside and then trying to work with them in a sort of free collaboration. That's what makes painting an adventure, which is what it is for me."
~ Robert Rauschenberg
(1925-2008)



This painting I did quite awhile back. It actually hung in the governors residence for awhile and I won an award with it.

It's called "Robs Birthday". This is my younger son when he was in high school. The billiard balls show his birthday with the eight ball and the blue two ball representing his birth-year of 1982...etc.etc.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Bamboo tablet and Corel X program


I wanted to mention that for Mothers Day I was given the Corel X and the Wacom Bamboo Tablet and am going crazy wanting to just spend days (if I could) just playing with the program. It is AWESOME!!! Yes, I'm sure most of you have had this for quite some time but it's new for me and the program starting out can be frustrating...but I am determined and love it.

Not just for digital art, but I can do sketches on the program and play with colors to see about possible paintings, etc. You can do pastel, oils, acrylics, etc, etc, with a variety of brushes and tools. It's cool!!!


I still know virtually nothing about the program but did do one project with a photograph which didn't consist of the fun painting process I hope to get into.

The photo above is Andrew Jones, a Corel Painter Master...the self portrait he did is done with the Corel Painter program.