Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Encaustic Class

I have a new respect for Encaustic painting. As you can see I tried to control it. Which you cannot!

We did a burn technique on this. You put varnish on with a rag and then set it on fire. That's where you ge the shinny dark color.

There are about 6+ l ayers on this. The more layers the more you hide things underneath, so you have to be very careful.

It was a lot of fun and I'd like to try it again.

Red Cup Cafe' Show

Saturday I spent the day in Chicago visiting an old friend. We walked to the Palette and Chisel since they were having an art show-small pieces for $250.00. I was sooo disappointed. It was like most (not all) but most were the artists rejects.

Sunday I got up and took an Encaustic class at the Chesterton ARt Gallery. It was a lot of fun. I'll post the picture of my first attempt. I have a new respect for Encaustics.

After the Encaustic class we attended an art opening for ART COMP and my friend Gerrie Govert won Best of Show. A lot of people asked why I didn't enter and my reply would be I need to work on new pieces so I'll have something to enter. I'm holding out on Forbidden Fruit for a show in Elk Hart next month.

AFer that we hung our show at the Red Cup Cafe with Gerrie and Mary Ann Pals. The show will be up through September during the Wizard of Oz Fest in Chesterton. I'm hoping it will be seen by a lot of people.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

more changes on Makenzie

I changed the background to green and a chair- and then I decided to add purple bees flying around her to make it a little surreal???
I took this right after painting so some areas have major highlights (glare) that will go away when it dries.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Makenzie in Progress

Yes, after uploading this I can see numerous things I need to work on...but I thought I'd let you see how it's changing from black and white to color. With the color it becomes more complicated for me. After painting with color I can also see that my face should have been a little longer. This is my grand daughter at about 3.5 yrs. old.

I'm thinking the folds almost are as important as the face...so I guess I should do something about that as well...also the curve of the cheek on the left needs to be corrected, etc. etc...but ...you can see the transition.


Monday, August 16, 2010

Saatchi on line gallery contest


Here is the corrected image of Forbidden Fruit. I just entered her into the Saatchi on line gallery compitition. People who go onto the site vote for the paintings of their liking. Here is the link:

It is just a shot for me since people from all around the world enter. Saatchi gallery is in the United Kingdom and is a very large museum. Check it out. I have a gallery on line with them. They have great information for artists of all types.


Thursday, August 12, 2010

Latest Project...Portrait Class

So Tuesdays I'm driving into Chicago for a Portrait class at River East Art Gallery with Rory Cohen. I took a Figure drawing class from Rory last year and I liked him because he does push you and actually shows you things. Unlike a lot of classes that instructors feel you pay a couple hundred dollars just to paint in their presence!

The drawing process was a little different but somewhat the same as my portrait class with William Schneider. They use the point system. I found Rory's point system a little easier than Bills because Rory's thinking is that as long as you have at least two points you can start and navigate which I also find to be true. So I marked the outside of an eye and then the outside of the nose and crossed the lines.

Then you were to finish the drawing and then put it on canvas with brown India ink, followed by a thin wash to get rid of the white of the canvas. I missed that class so had to do my drawing at home of which I didn't know a bout the India ink so I just painted it in brown and white, later adding ultramarine blue.

Next process after I'm done with this step is to add the color. This is actually an old technique, but a good value study lesson!

I'll post a picture of the finished picture.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Burnred Out!

How do I get into these predicaments? I have another show in Michigan City and I need two NEW paintings. I just used my latest two new paintings in another show in Chesterton. One of those paintings I'm holding out to enter into the Elk Hart Show so that leaves me only bringing ONE new painting...Crazy Red Head which I'm not too crazy about.

I had no idea I would grow up to be a juggler!

So, I have for the last 4 days been painting non-stop TRYING to get a picture together. My daughter encouraged me to do something abstract and weird. I'm not sure it's working as I get soooo burned out after working on them. I'm concerned it may be a little hokey looking.
The eyes on the fish are human eyes, and there is a bee on the picture. On the lower left is an oriental photo of a wave that I outlined in red. There is also under the paint texture that isn't showing up in the pic..

I went to a seminar by this Scottsdale, Az. gallery owner which said "you need to be painting 20-30 paintings a month...well...I don't think I will ever be ever to do this unless I want to die young!! Unless...of course you crank them out like an assembly line....and then..where's the art in mass producing????

I'm not sure if this will make it to Michigan City...we'll see.....