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.