Gallery Hopping in Chicago

Gerrie and Anke my artist friends and I went gallery hopping in the Bucktown/Wicker Park District.

Many galleries from our list out of Chicago Gallery News were not easily accessible so we didn't see them. Either there was no parking or the area was not safe.

One gallery that we did like a lot was the Jackson Junge Gallery. The work was imaginative and executed very, very well. It was a delight to be there.

We then walked down Milwaukee Avenue to the Flat Iron Arts Building where there are lots of studio rooms. It was a trip just walking through there as it felt like you were in a maze. It was fun especially with some of the windows being dressed to entertain such as this whimsy looking fellow above!

Out of frustration in inaccessible galleries we decided to go back to the user friendly River North art district where you can park and walk from gallery to gallery. Our all time favorite is the Ann Nathan Gallery which always handles top notch work, and the new Eche gallery which was the Habitat Gallery. They had several large Chihuly pieces and some paintings of his.

Every time we go we feel that we are re-energized to paint...have a better perspective on what's out there- and maybe what's selling and the current trends and galleries.

It was a good day!

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.

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.

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.

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:

www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/

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.

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.

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.....

IN PROGRESS

This mural on canvas measures 6' 3" x 44" is a work I started a LONG time ago, and am just now starting to work on again..so it may look a little familiar.

At this stage I am just trying to find a language..waiting for the painting to tell me where it needs to go. I decided instead of a sun I made it a moon and threw in some stars to see how it would go. I throw things into a painting so I can see if I like the feel of the direction...after I know the language ,then I will continue to refine and clean it up, still continuing to make changes. So, this is a rough "in progress" photo.

I am adding the text "To the illuminated mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light" Emerson

I also would like to add but probably not is " Courage, strength and hope possess my sould...I will stand firmly and without fear".

Just a quick note: I did change the painting of "Forbidden Fruit" which this photo does not reflect...but at least you get the idea. When I get it back from the show I'll post the up-dated image.

Summer

Just to catch you up to date.

I went to pick up my pieces at the Chesterton Womens Show and found out Koi had SOLD. That was a nice surprise! That is the piece I won the BEST OF SHOW with.

So I hung a show at SOUTHSHORE ARTS GALLERY in Michigan City, Indiana for the SUMMER OF ART show that lasts for the month of July. It encompasses the entire county, so I hope I can sell some more pieces.

I also hung a show called "WHEN ATTITUDE BECOMES FORM" with 18 Artists at the CHESTERTON ART GALLERY in Chesterton, Indiana. This show will be for the month of July also. I will show you the two pieces I entered and what I had to say about these pieces.

The Forbidden Fruit

Dawn Fetty

Tension, conflict, chaos; as the young girl studies the forbidden fruit her attitude becomes form. Her feelings towards the forbidden fruit are conflicting in her pursuit of happiness. Her goal is one of peace, however she realizes there are different feelings that she needs to contend with.

Her eye is focused on the forbidden fruit…the golden ring…this ring becomes a part of her and almost enslaves her and yet she strives for peace within…she reaches out of this enslavement towards the oriental sign for “peace” as she struggles.

44x35 acrylic $999.00

Crazy Red Head

Dawn Fetty

Her attitude is cavalier….so she has flaming red hair, bright colored clothes and an attitude. She doesn’t even care if she’s a little on the eccentric side. Life is worth living and expressing the joy she holds within.

Life is a celebration for her and she is always living as if she’s in a Mardi Gras festival.

Her attitude creates the visual world she lives in.

Mixed Media on paper 33x26 $900.00

Artist Quote

It is not the form that dictates the color, but the color that brings out the form! ~ Hans Hofmann (1880-1966)

The FEEL of Beale Street-Memphis, Tennessee

Hi...I just came back from a trip to Memphis, Tennessee and had some shots of Beale Street I thought I'd share with you. The FEEL of Memphis! Southern-hot and humid!

Bragging Rights

O.K.., I have to tell the world because I am one happy camper. I got a phone call the other day saying I had won an award at a show. They wouldn't tell me which one, but I instantly thought it was my "Jazz Lady". Well, I missed going to the Father/DAughter White Sox game with my usually absent husband and daughter and grandaughter , thinking"oh it'll probably be 5th place. So, I go and to my shock.....I won Best of Show!!!! I am a happy camper. Not sure anyone reads this blog...but I am getting it out.

I'll tell you....I totally didn't see that coming at all! I started that painting and thought it would never turn out. So I told myself....o.k., if it's not going to turn out...just have fun with it and go with the flow. And whoala!

There were paintings there that I would have thought would have taken Best of Show that didn't..and I am always perplexed...

I went to a seminar in Elk Grove, Illionois with the Xanadu Gallery from Scottsdale, Arizona. The gentleman spoke about a lot of very interesting points. One comment stuck in my head. The painting that you don't like that you think won't sell will be the one someone loves!

Well, enough of this. gotta go and just be happy...

Good News

Just had a phone call yesterday that I won an award at a show. It's not a big show...but it's a show. It always feels good to get some recognition for your work. I had entered Jazz Lady and Koi.

I've been taking a break from being in the studio every day...as I felt I was just going backwards. I did sign up for another portrait class at RiverEast in Chicago which starts the end of July. I'm taking the class from Rory Cohen which I'd taken classes from before. I like him as an instructor because he pushed me and actually tried to help me. So I hope I get the same response this time. I also love his work. He's on the internet so check out his work!

Leaning Tree Museum in Boulder, Colorado

Just came back from Boulder, Colorado. While there I visited the Leaning Tree Museum. Actually I'd been before but the art is so wonderful you could never tire of going. Famous artists are countless. In the front of the museum they have these most wonderful sculptures. These are just a few.

Class with Romel @ Palette and Chisel

O.K...I told myself I would drive into Chicago early...get a parking spot close by and not be hurried and over anxious. I got there an hour and a half early! Then people started showing up...and a model came (which I thought this would possibly be still life?!!@#%) and she posed and everyone started painting. I was perplexed as Romel hadn't shown up yet and I was feeling a little lost. I started drawing the model on canvas. I thought I would just do her head to keep it simple..lol!!! Everyone there as I said is so good I can't believe they are taking classes...so I am as always intimidated...and I told myself I wouldn't get nervous...because when I'm nervous I just can't function at all. I got nervous...anyway Romel showed up 30minuets later and I begged for some direction as I wasn't even sure of what I was doing...(like I've never painted before!#$^&**) Talk about a mouse of a person and insecure...I have learned more about myself taking these classes then I have in a long time. When I left that night my painting looked so bad the next day I tried to remember seeing her and tried to fix it up. One thing I've learned is that not all canvas is created equally. The canvas I had kept repelling the paint..it took getting several layers on before it went down the way I wanted it to. Yes, it was primed...

The next class...same routine...model came and we did the same pose which was good for damage control...and Romel showed up 30 minuets late again. I think he must be coming from work . Once again I begged for help...and I feel like he thinks I am a total idiot. He did help me with the lightest highlights...apparently I'm not bold enough..and told me to soften my edges which I know I need to do but I need someone with a stick standing behind me reminding me to break my bad habits..yes...I hear you...we are not children anymore and we need to do these things on our own! Yes, I'm working on that.

This Monday is my last class as I have to fly to Denver for a week.I'm going up to our cabin in the mountains around Taos and spread my parents ashes around the cabin. The fun part of this trip will be going to the Boulder Fest in Boulder and spending time with two brothers and my sister in law.

Back to this class...I sometimes wonder why we pay to go paint somewhere with other people and get maybe 20 minuets worth of instruction. The 20 minuets is also questionable and your paying 1-$200.00+. Maybe it's me...because I'm so serious about it that I want a lot of direction on what I'm doing wrong...and I know it's wrong...but can't quite figure it out, and I'm feeling like nothing is being said. I get frustrated...I need to en joy the process and remember it's not life or death!

Tonight I start my class at the Palette and Chisel on edges, color, etc. I don't look forward to getting home at 11 p.m., but I need the class. I hope I don't have any problems as I'm getting carpel tunnel from painting too much I guess...what else do I do??

I don't know what it is but I feel like I am losing progress instead of gaining it. I actually liked my drawings and thought they were much better about 20 years ago. At times I think I'll just throw in the towel.

But then I remind myself that this is my personal journey and I said I wouldn't give up. I won't be a quitter. I recently read a comment from an artist that I admire that she felt discouraged as well. If she can get through these moments of frustration and disappointment, then I can too.

The sketch is a sketch on a 30 minuet pose. yes, I see things here too that need to be worked on. I have no pride!

I must say....I'm not sure I'm a traditional artist...I'm starting to feel some rebellion from all the academics, or maybe it could be because I've always walked to a different beat than most people.

Just wait till you see what I've done with a painting I had. You will really understand the rebellion attitude when you see it. That'll be my next post.

See you then....

ART CHICAGO

Monday was a good day to go through Art Chicago at the Mart. We bypassed the major crowds!

Started at 11:30a.m. and went till closing at 4p.m. and still didn't see it all!

My observation was that artists get on kicks too. Like a reoccurring theme was for the artist to take something old (like the Old Masters paintings) and make them new again..adding a twist. I like what most of them did...but some of it was so obvious it became redundant and I started thinking....did they all have the same art instructor that told them all the same thing or is it by word of mouth through the artist community that this is the thing to do?

Suzanne Unrein which is represented by the Boltax Gallery in New York did a wonderful job with this idea. I applaud her creative approach. It was so well done at first I thought it was just an abstract with beautiful colors until things started forming before my eyes, and then...woo la! You saw the actual painting of an old master redone!

VICTOR WANG is one artist I totally fell in love with! He painted very large canvases with figures mostly of women that usually always incorporates sun flowers. He uses sun flowers because when he lived in Northeast China near the Russian border he grew up around sunflowers and then during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the sunflower became a political symbol. Because sunflowers follow the sun, they were used to symbolize Mao, expressing that the people must follow Mao. After High School he was sent to a farm to do hard labor for 2 years and 8 months. It was called Reeducation through labor and because of the cultural revolution everyone who graduated from school had to do it. So he worked in sunflower fields.

His paintings were done with very, very thick oil paint. He would let the oil pain sit on newspaper for several days to let the oil be absorbed into the paper making the paint less fluid.

The portrait is a portioin of a painting by Victor Wang and the other is a small portion of the painting from Suzanne Unreins painting.

Cawain of Paris

To all those who have enquired about Cawain the artist I met in Paris awhile back on an older post, I must say that the post card he sent me with his e-mail or web site wasn't working...also I have googled him and have come up with nothing. For someone who is so talented he is not making himself available which is odd. He has such talent and could probably go farther than he's going if he would only make it easier for people to get a hold of him....

Well, I guess this means we'll have to take another trip to Paris!

I lied! I said I was done with my eccentric red head and I lied. I am never done with a painting. I worked on it some more...the eyes, the dress. This obsession of mine will never end.

The girl standing with the head scarf...was an experimental piece...at the top I'd written:

Walking through this life, trying ever so hard to be strong and walk a path with strength of character and compassion-trying to find that perfect balance between being soft or too stubborn..to find my purpose....or determine my purpose...it's a walk down the unexpected..talking to myself with every step".

I actually worked on this some more also...making the colors a little bolder...but I'm not re-shooting that one again.

I'm not sure this piece will ever find itself out of my studio...but what I've been doing lately is painting for me. Just allowing myself to let it lead me and to allow myself no rules.

The other images are just studies from life drawing sessions...the guy with the pony tail was a 20 minuet pose in Punta Gorda, Fl. while visiting my friend...and the other I think a 30 minuet pose at the Art Barn. None are refined...but I post them to show that even though I'm not posting....I'm working.

May 10th I take another class at the Palette and Chisel. This class will be on edges, color, precise drawing, etc..

Done With the Red Head

Here it is...I finally finished I think. I actually love the craziness of this painting. Something I can relate to! It's actually acrylic and pastel. Now to get it off to the framers. That will be a little fortune!

Now that I'm looking at it, I think I need to add a bolder stroke in the corner at top...too much around her face... well, like I said in earlier posts...I'm NEVER DONE with a painting...

Finished Portrait

After all this time and I finally finished the portrait I started in class. I was at least smart enough to bring the camera and ask the model if I could take her picture which she so graciously said "yes". I struggle with all my paintings..and this is no exception. My initial drawing was off so had several corrections. I think this is off a bit...but...I've spent enough time and am ready to move on.

I have to be honest. Lately I think I have regressed...and working on this portrait was proving something to myself. The perspective on this portrait was looking up at her from quite a ways below. She was on a large platform while I was low to the ground on a drawing horse. I struggled with what I saw and trying to make it work. Squinting is the best thing for an artist...so I guess I'll have to live with squint lines around my eyes!$%*

Long Pose Session at the Palette and Chisel

Tuesday I got up at 5 a.m., met Gerrie at Starbucks and headed to Chicago for the Palette and Chisel. We thought we were being smart by getting there early and getting a good spot in the studio. Well, when we got there almost every spot was already taken! We weren't so tricky after all.

This was my first time painting the figure (or half) other than the portrait class I just took. I struggled. When I go to these things I realize what I need to work on.

Everyone there uses oils....and I of course I use acrylics. Using retarder with acrylics makes them work just like oils. I know...because I use to use oils. In fact I actually had the old problem of not being able to go over some areas because it wasn't drying and was still too slick. I need to use less retarder next time.

I was the worst one in the class. Everyone else looked like the old masters. They were all just beautiful!!!! I felt really embarrassed at first but then I thought..."If every ones paintings looked so beautiful and like the old masters, then at least mine was more original". That's the way to take a bad situation and make it positive! I will not be humiliated into giving up...I just won't!!!

The frustrating part of painting from a live model versus photographs is that every time the model took a break....I had to repaint the folds in her dress...repaint the arms or the profile. It was maddening to say the least.... They are live, breathing people...and yes...they move!

I cropped off the bottom of the posted picture because I didn't get a chance to paint them and it just looked too funky... Also her nose looks big as Gerrie put it...but...hey...it was big. I don't go for pretty...I go for what I see.

I plan to drive in tomorrow and do a 3 hour session.

A Study from My Portrait Class

I thought I posted this. This is a study I did from the Portrait Class I took in Chicago with Bill Schneider. The original was done by Sargent.

I will write more about his method...and why I got lost in the dots but I just got back from being on vacation for a week in Belize Scuba diving.

The paintings from the actual models I have to finish. As soon as I do after getting re aclimated from everything I will post them.

My Portrait class at the Palette and Chisel

I must say I had such a fantastic time at William Schniders portrait class at the Palette and Chisel. It was an intense 4 days but I learned so much! Now to put the principles in action. I had a terrible time trying to do the measuring system. Easy to do, but when I had to translate it...I got lost in the dots. I had to resist the temptation to just draw it. It was like doing math homework for me and math was never my subject!

The first 2 days we copied masters works and then the following two days we had to paint a live model. This was a total first as I usually paint from photographs that don't move and I am also a solitude painter meaning when I paint I don't want anyone around me and I want to be totally alone listening to music. I don't like painting around people I guess because I don't want to feel like I'm being judged. Let me do my thing at my own time with no rushing to get through.

I am my happiest when I am painting and I so much enjoyed this class. I am anxious to sign up for another class when I get back from Belize!

I'm going to post some pictures of class, Bill Schneider doing his demonstration on a live model and then the Palette and Chisel. I love that building with all it's history!!

I met some very nice wonderful people in class that I hope I run into again.

Oh! Also I bought the demo piece as a suvenier of the class.

Tomorrow I'll post what I did in class and what I didn't get to finish and I won't post the ones that didn't turn out at all!!!! LOL

Up-date on the Red Head

My very good friend who lives in Richmond asked me today what I've been doing. I tell her "working on the red head". She wants to see progress so here it is Sheri. You probably won't see much of a difference..but I've moved the eyes and the nose and I've re-done her face more times than I can count, AND, I'm still working on it!

Palette and Chisel Academy of Arts

Yesterday before returning home from Chicago I went to the Palette and Chisel for the first time to take part in their 3 hour long pose study session. Everyone was very nice and the gentleman running that session was a cute older man with a jolly little smile. The other artists set up their easils to paint the subject and I set up a drawing horse to draw since I was there to get a feel how the sessions woud go.

The Palette and Chesil in Chicago was founded in 1895 and is the oldest art organization in the United States.

The founding members were principally evening students at the Art Institute of Chicago. Charles J. Mulligan, an assistant to sculptor Lorado Taft, was able to persuade Taft to rent the organization part of his seventh floor studio on Van Buren Street in Chicago.

The Palette & Chisel served as the artistic home of James Topping Walter Ufer, and Eugene Savage.In 1921, with the help of founding member, Fred Larson, who mortgaged his home for this purpose, the club purchased the mansion at 1012 N. Dearborn Street where it still resides. In 1933, the organization changed its name to the "Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art", as it became an educational, not-for-profit institution.

Some early members of note included:

• Carl Brandner (1898-1961)
• Benjamin Blessum (1877- 1954)
• Walter Marshall Clute (1870-1915)
• John Carl Doemling (1894-1955)
• Frank Dudley (1868-1957)
• J. Jeffrey Grant (1883-1960)
• Oskar Gross (1871-1963)
• Victor Higgins (1884-1949)
• Frank Holme (?-1904)
• Wilson Irvine (1869-1936)
• Thomas A. O'Shaughnessy (1870-1956)
• Karl Ouren (1882-1943)
• Edgar Alwin Payne (1883–1947)
• Emory Seidel (1881- )

Needless to say I plan to go back and eventually join the organization which will allow me to use the facility at will. they also have sculpting classes which interest me greatly!

Quote of the Day

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. Brian Tracy

Went on Facebook and a good friend of mine posted this. Somehow I think it fits! Things happen for a reason!! Thanks Michelle.

Days Off

Since last post I started a new painting of an unusual, wild red head that I am still working on. I'd post the progress but I'm in Chicago at Zanzibars coffee house. And as I said "progress" because I keep finding things wrong with it, and every painting is a painting in progress even when it's all done. At least for me.

I took a break from Valpo to spend three days with my daughter who lives in Chicago. Now on the 3rd day I am having lunch waiting for the Palette and Chisel to open so I can try out their long pose studies. I'm hoping it will all be as wonderful as I hope and I'll want to come back again. The Palette and Chisel is an Art Academy in a wonderfully old stone building on Dearborn St. It was founded I believe in the 1800s and has a very long history of rich stories.

I resigned from 18 Artists which I felt was not taking me where I wanted to go. I am determined not to get lost in apathy and venture into Chicago for more workshops and connections.

My daughter and I watched a movie last night with Leonard DeCaprio called Revolutionary Road. It was a little scary because somehow I related to it. That's how I feel about where we live.

One of my favorite Art Supply stores closed so I ventured over to Dick Blick which surprised me. I had a bad attitude about Dick Blick...because I remember the show as a child. I was never totally impressed with him....however I will say this new store on Kingsbury was very large and carried almost everything you could think of. Art Stores are like candy shops for me. I go crazy! It's like... "I want new toys!"