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.

Our instructor is Roy Coyne.. His work is very edgy and good. My friend Gerrie who is already very, very accomplished received praises from instructor and students alike for her drawings. ( Not sure s

he really needed this class, but it's only the first class.)

I found out Roy went to school at the University of New Mexico. I use to live in Albuquerque so was excited to hear this as I loved Albuquerque.

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-)

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!!

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.

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!

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.

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.

OLD TOWN ARTS FAIR

My most favorite art fair in Chicago is the Old Town Art Fair and this year not even the rain kept us from our yearly visual stimulation. When we arrived, there were very few people due to the rain which was wonderful...but then the sun came out and so did the people. I over heard one of the artist state that he felt that people were walking around looking as though they were walking through a zoo. I could imagine it would seem that way. We went through the whole show and then walked down Wells Street to the "Adobe" Mexican restaurant that we love for a beer and appetizers. I bought some earrings that were "Fun" and it was a good day!

Across the street was the yearly Wells Festival but it doesn't have as many nationally known artists as the Old Town Art Fair has. Anyway...Saturday was hopping in Chicago! (and my feet held out reasonably well!!)

Some of my favorite things at the show were pastel drawings by Jody DePew McLeane from Eagle River, Wisconsin; dolls of porcelain by Cathy Rose of Orlando, Fl.,paintings by Christine Brenner of Halifax, Vermont, little songbirds made from wood and antique jewelry by Jim and Tori Mullan of Pompano Beach, Fl. and saw an interesting technique by Suzy Scarborough of Columbia, SC.. I've posted their calling cards.

Art Quotes

From the living fountain of instinct flows everything that is
creative; hence the unconscious is not merely conditioned by
history, but is the very source of the creative impulse.
::: Carl Jung :::

I'm still working on this commissioned piece. I'll post a picture when I'm done.

Not much new.  I'm going to figure drawing with Gerri my friend tonight.  I've missed going.  This will be my first time back since surgery.

I've signed up for a figure painting class in Chicago at the River East.  I look forward to that as well. It runs from July 29 through all of August.

Lots of positive things happening my way!

The picture is from St. Lucia...we were there awhile back.  It's a beautiful place!  I have to post a picture..because I'm so visual that I can't read an enjoy unless I have something new to look at.   Enjoy!

QUOTE of the Day

"And it began to dawn on me that all these men were very stubbornly looking at the world their own way and that fancy word style had to do with a strong-minded guy deciding this is how he wanted to look at the world."
~ George Segal
(1924-2000)

A house I liked in Amsterdam...

What's Up???

Some may think I dropped off the planet...or just disappeared...well neither. I am just now able to walk around without crutches and will be able to stand long enough to start working again...Thank the Lord as I am so incredibly thirsty for some creative endeavor!!!

I actually have several assignments right out the gate. I have been commissioned to do 3- 30x40 canvases for an Interior Designer AND a logo for a company called "Milk Money". The company handles the software that allows Universities to give credit to the students for spending on necessities. I know I didn't explain that quite right. I actually did the drawings awhile back but now they are ready to "GO" with it. Now I will have to refine what I had done which will be challenging since I have a different computer and the images didn't transfer over, but I think I can handle it.

We've also had lot's of company, but now I have to get SERIOUS!

My brother in Boston is starting up his own company and also is in need of a logo. His company will be IQ Associates and the company will perform Information Quality assurance testing and validation for corporate data warehouses, business intelligence and predictive model validation.

And, I have a canvas for my brother in Boulder that needs to be done. On some much needed downtime I hope to start another small painting of the woman sitting at the Chicago Jazz fest with a flowery hat sitting on her suitcases under her pink parasol. Doesn't sound interesting, but I love the color and how odd to see this older woman sitting on her suitcases in the the middle of a jazz fest!!!

The one picture is of Ron's sister Cheri, my daughter Shannon, me in the wheel chair and Makenzie at the Art Institutes. We tried to go to the new Modern Wing, but it was way too crowded so wound up in the main section instead.
The other photo is of a new vase I bought in an Antique Store in Michigan that was made in Italy. I have this old piano shawl and was trying to come up with a still life study to work on. I have always loved the colors in this photo!
Shannon is the one with short hair, then Cheri Ron's sister from Maryland.....

Quote of the Day

Just for laughs I put the picture of my grandaughter in...How can you NOT smile at this.  It's soooo funny!  Enjoy your week-end. Today I am going into  Chicago to see the new  Modern Wing at the ARt Institute and will bring the camera along for my next post.

"Things are not difficult to make; what is difficult is putting ourselves in the state of mind to make them." 
~ Constantin Brancusi 
(1879-1957) 

Releasing Emotions in my Art

I am an intense person.  This I know.

I painted this after my mother had passed away.  I was with her a lot while she was on her journey to the other side and we shared a lot.

We talked about visions she would have of people who would walk into her room...people only she could see.  Some of these people she knew who had passed away and others she did not know. 

The writing around the painting are conversations we had.

While in Hospice mom would see this tall man walking a dog.  I told the nurses about it and the nurses were familiar with this.  They said that a lot of  people there would see the dog...and if the dog was white it meant that they were ready to pass onto the other side....So I asked mom what color was the dog?  She said a sandy color...which meant she wasn't ready yet.  And she wasn't because she left the Hospice center later to return. My mother was supposed to die 3-4 times before she actually did.  She had a remarkable strong spirit.  I used red on the blanket to signify her passion..She's boldly looking at the viewer and facing her challenge...the turquoise ring she always wore for luck...and she's holding on.

Doing this piece  helped me release the intensity of the experience for me. 

This is a piece that will remain in my basement, but at the time was something I needed to do.

What do you do with something like this...??????  

Art Therapy...Brute I think it's called....

Thank heaven I haven't had a need to do another piece for a release!!!!

Does anyone else have any similar experiences?

I'm hoping for a walking cast this Thursday..then I can start painting again!

P.s.

The dove was spirit...being released by gods hand which is bigger than us....A stronger presence..My mother also loved the song that went something like "God sends his pure sweet love on the wings of a snow white dove".

A VIEW FROM A ROOM

The view from my room whiling laying in bed and trying to stay off my foot. 

The dresser is totally wrong...the left is  off...but after I was almost done with the drawers on the left, I decided I didn't want to erase and start over...so, it is what it is.

"I have wanted to do Art all my life. I have an incredibly busy life. I am hoping for solace. Art provides that to me. " 
Ali Y., Vancouver, BC 

Here is yet another quote I can relate to!

My first post after surgery.  To all my friends who sent cards and flowers and goodies....thank you very much!!!

Staying in bed for a week and a half...two by the time I get my cast on...can get pretty tough in itself!  Thursday I go to get a permanent cast on and then I still have to be off the foot for a month and a half...but at least I can use crutches to get to the computer as long as I keep the foot up.  I am going through art withdrawls so today I plan to do a sketch while sitting in bed and use it as a post tomorrow.  I MUST do something!!!

One nice thing about laying around it gives you time to think about things.  So I am playing with the idea of (thinking of the mural) putting a large space on her tummy where you can see the universe...as though she is a part of the cosmos. I've decided that I do not like the flowers.  Sheri found some sayings in a catalogue that I really liked and think I will work them into her hair and behind her by her feet.

"Courage, strength and hope possess my soul...I will stand firmly and without fear". by Goethe

and

"To the illuminated mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light" by Emerson

Having my good friend here who is also very creative (is a writer/author) inspires my thoughts.

Well, best go...now that I am recovering I hope to be able to get closer to normal and do more posts, etc.  I am NOT a numbers person...but I have gotten pretty good at Saduko.  

The picture I posted is a picture from a famous church I think..St. Catherines ? but not sure if I'm remembering it correctly...I'm not good at remembering names...but anyway as we were walking to the top of the church bell tower from the outside on these tiny steps we passed several connected towers that were blocked off..this one was but I thought it interesting..so this is my shot of what I thought was an artistic view....

I finally figured out how to upload on a Mac.  So now I have pictures.

The pictures have stories..but to make it short..the one with the building (Duomo-not sure if I spelled that right)..but we went out to eat in Lucca, Italy.  We came back to the apartment, got our bikes and a bottle of wine with our cameras and sat in the town square drinking wine and smoking.  I felt like a kid.  I don't smoke.  So it was more exciting to be something I shouldn't have!  Jim took this awesome picture of the Duomo (church) and to me it's a poem.   The other picture is Sheri and I being like kids again!
The other is a  sculpture in Carrera, Italy.  I probably spelled that wrong too.  It's where the marble comes from.  We ran into this gentleman which was a character that had a big studio doing sculptures.  He was working on some sculptures for an artist in NYC!

The last one was a young girl playing the flute just in back of the Louve in Paris.  It was like magic!

I guess I'm recalling some fun times since I'm going under the knife soon.  I'd best leave this post alone and get some things done!

Well the days are closing in on me.  I wanted to do a new post but my other computer crashed due to no memory left...it was only 7 years old.  I bought an I-Mac and am constantly needing to learn how to do the things that had become second nature to me on a PC.  But I keep telling myself that it's good for the brain to learn something new and I definetly am not afraid of challenges. The only problem is Thursday evening is my last day before I'm down for the count, so I won't be able to do what I want with this post. I'm still in the crawling to learn stage!  Uploading a photo is proving to be a challenge- so ,no visuals.

See you all when I literally "Get back on my feet!"

Another Old Painting back on the drawing board!

Yes, I am still working on my mural. But I felt the need to unload some old things I never was happy with Taos Roses. I started painting these roses as it was sentimental. My mother was still alive and we had made a trip to our cabin in Colorado. We then drove to Taos, New Mexico and stayed at the Fechin Inn. Yes, the artist Nikolai Fechin and these roses were on a wall in front. My mother LOVED the Fechin Inn!

The composition is awkward I admit. I am thinking about
putting a rose bud just opening at the bottom. You can see where I put one in slightly with colored chalk to get an idea of how it might look.

The drawing is a 30 minuet sketch from our drawing session. Yes, I know...it's out of proportion in a lot of different areas. At the time I'm drawing I try and connect the dots and make sure the arm is falling where the chin has stopped, etc, etc, and the over all weight of things...I get so caught up in detail I over look the drawing as a whole and this is what happens. I know I need some help. I need more time to draw. I'm a slow drawer. I have to have time to walk away for awhile and see a fresh perspective and see my flaws in the drawing. You don't get that opportunity when your drawing from a live model.

Bill, I have a lot of courage to post this especially after looking at yours and Lisa's awesome work! But I have no pride. I am still on a journey and I don't care if it takes me another 20 years to get there. I will eventually get there.

I have saved a newspaper clipping from Memphis that talked of a woman in her 80's that had her first show. I have saved that as inspiration in that if I'm in my 80's and reach my goal I'll die a happy woman!

I'm Back from Little Cayman!

Well, I was actually able to dive. Our good friend rigged up a sock with padding to put in my fin and it worked perfect! The diving was nice. The highlight was a swim through that came out at 104 feet.
My son Rob got certified and had a blast! It was a little too cool for me and I wore a jacket half the time. It was nice being in the sun again. This island was so small that we flew in on a twin engine plane on an airstrip that was as big as a single road. The airport was as small as my guest room and it was the Fire Dept./Post Office and Air Port terminal!
The only thing you could do on this island was dive and drink.
The deteriorated conch shell reminded me of the bones of cattle out in the desert that Georgia O'Keefe painted...so this was my interpretation Caribbean style.

Here are some works by my friend Gerri Govert...she works in all mediums but mostly I think pastels.

I love the strokes in the picture of the gentleman with the beard.

Another page added to the Journal of my journey.

I've lengthened the legs and feet on my mural as they were out of proportion. Tonight when my friend Gerri comes by to pick me up for our Life Drawing session I'll get her feed back as she is more accomplished than I at this. I'll post some of her work. She is an awesome artist! I have to thank her for steering me to these Life Drawing Sessions. I REALLY love them!!!

We are getting ready for a show at the Cornerstone Gallery in Whiting. It'll run from April to May.

This Saturday we are leaving for Little Cayman to go scuba diving for a week with our good friends in Richmond, Va. and our son in Memphis who will finish his certification on the island. This will be my last hurray before my surgery. After that there will be no more posts for quite awhile as it's two weeks in bed, then two months not putting my foot down, then therapy for 6 weeks. So I figure it'll be while. If I'm lucky???? I'd love to get an Apple lap top to use in bed while down for the count. Then I could surf and post!! Oh Santa Clause...where are you??? But with the E-Crunch we'll have to see. Dream, dream, dream.

The picture is me in Roaton Honduras taken by my side kick Sheri last year. We both went through the advanced certification course and we were doing underwater photography. Now just to own a camera to get all those awesome sights!!! Let's dream of a robust economy , maybe all those positive thoughts will help.

I'm going slowly thinking about what to add, where to add...Now I'm playing with flowers, putting them in lightly until I know for sure it's working.

Went to my Life Drawing session last night. I felt like I was doing a little better, but still need to work on it.

It's actually snowing here this morning! Big fluffy flakes. I tried to take a picture for all those out west and down south who have constant sunshine!@$%^

You can't see those fluffy things falling in the pictures. The view is from my studio. The brown looking picture is the corner of my shade walk through garden that is totally asleep in the ground. Oh so you can feel good about your weather....this morning it was like 18 degrees!!!!!! You have to love it or you'll go insane like me!!!

I'm still working on the mural...trying to make decisions.

I went to a Life Drawing class with a friend who is a well accomplished artist (Gerrie Govert) at the Art Barn. I had not drawn in YEARS from a live model. Usually it's from photo's as it's cheaper! It felt so good to be drawing from life again, but made me realize how rusty and off I've become, which is good because now I can work on it. Get back in the saddle as they say. I have always loved drawing from life because it's a form of meditation for me.


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

Quotes

"A picture is an artificial work - something apart from nature, which requires as much wiliness as the perpetration of a crime." ~ Edward Degas "Construction. That is the real basis of the picture, its scaffolding, its skeleton, its physical body." ~ Paul Klee

Yes, it has been awhile since I was able to just paint. It felt wonderful. I know I'm moving slow on this piece but I'm not sure exactly how to execute this. i don't know where I'm going until I get there. I am going to change directions as I've already done several times. I took colored chalk pencil and played with the bottom. First starting out trying to put plants and vines as I knew them in my head. I kept wiping them off. It just was not working. I did this SEVERAL times. Our inspiration comes at odd times. Like when I was walking into the guest bathroom, I looked at a rug I bought from Anthropology a shop in Chicago I just LOVE. Well, I LOVE this rug. It had exotic birds and a plant that was done just with design with different colored branches and different flowers growing on it. I thought" well, if I love this rug, and that vine isn't real, why can't I make my own plant based on design as well". So I did. Now I have to put the foliage on it. That color more than likely is not going to stay.

Her hair looks thick, but I have to keep telling myself that this is my painting and I like the idea of design, not executing this piece to look real life. It's make believe from my head. My other world.
I am thinking I will make that sun smaller. It is too over-powering. It has too much importance, but that's easily changeable.

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.
Pablo Picasso

The picture was taken a couple years ago while at our cabin in Colorado. We drove to Taos and on the way took this picture because it reminded me of the Georgia O'Keefe painting "clouds". You understood why she was inspired.

This mural is becoming more of a challenge than others I have done. Right now I'm working with bigger negative space than before. I'm also challenged with getting the paint spread evenly.

There was a comment that she looked too famished with her ribs showing..I'm not worried because I will be painting over the body again. I like to feel the structure before worrying about that.

I was getting an overdose of purple and orange so started to add some blue violets to the back ground..changed my mind on the bottom a couple times, so I am where I need to sit back for awhile and THINK about this. Her hair needs to be much darker, and I need to start putting in other elements as plants, bird, rabbit. My daughter stated that she did NOT like this painting because it looked sacrilegious which bothered me so I'm hoping that adding the animals, etc, it'll come across as more about the nature aspect of it. This was never to be a religious painting.
So now everyone knows how I go about it. Like moving furniture...

May not be able post for awhile as I have to watch my granddaughter for a week and also I am on stand-by as my father is in the hospital and I may need to fly down to Fort Walton Beach, Florida. So if there are no posts...you know why.

With Ron being in Minnesota today I was able to paint non-stop other than stopping to shop for some paint. I always get blown away by the prices of some colors. $30.00 for one SMALL tube of paint. Amazing considering I have a whole wall sized canvas to paint on!!!

Received word today that the MRI showed a fracture and torn ligament, but when I see the doctor on the 19th in Chicago I'll get the low down. So I guess this means no scuba diving!!! I guess I'll be the co-pilot on the boat and hand everyone their towels as then ascend from that beautiful blue water. The reconstructive surgery will be AFTER the trip.

I will post every day I paint...but really you can't tell much difference..but I'll post it anyway. The hair has to change... I need to start focusing on the earth and the other elements I want to put in now. You know...every painting takes on it's own life, regardless of my vision...you know what the painting reminds me at this point??? A southwestern, south of the border tattoo or car decal. What about you? I plan to change that as I go along!!!!

Well, I painted a little more but need to hit the sack as I have to get up early and drive to St. Louis.
Give it time...it'll come around....I hope! It's a lot of canvas to cover.
It's not really that crooked...it's the way I took the picture..

Women and Strength

I started a new piece yesterday. It's 6 feet by 3'6". Don't panic..it won't look like this. I feel my way through things...so what I do is darken all the slight curves and then I'll go in and soften and do away with a lot of that. My model was in a bathing suit...but I am going to have her hair flowing across her to cover her essential parts. The picture should look quite a bit different than this..I call this roughing in. I like getting darker than I should and then lightening things up.

The idea is that women gain their strength from the earth..The elements...her feet will have roots coming from her toes..her feet being planted in the ground...I'm playing with the idea of greenery growing from the ground and maybe I'm not sure growing up one leg...or maybe a rabbit leaning up looking at her which would give a feeling of the gentleness.
I'm not sure how large I want that sun or moon to be...I like keeping my options open. The picture will be way much darker at the bottom, getting lighter towards the sun or moon...whichever I decide. It's a large canvas I hung on the wall...It takes a lot of paint and time to cover the areas.

Just listening to Simon and Garfunkle and chilling out in the studio and painting.

We had 2feet of snow the other day and believe it or not we're suppose to be up to 40 degrees today which means we'll probably have some flooding!#$^&*(

Hope you have a good week-end.

I think I need to learn how to place these pictures on my posts so I have more control over where they are other than left, middle, right.

I think I can not call myself an artist. I mess around too much constantly searching for something?!#$^&*()

Anyway, I'm posting my reference on the duck, and tried working on it more..however I'm still struggling. Yes, someone needs to just steels the thing and hide from me. It's hard to admit defeat!'

Also I had some extra blue paint on my palette so just used that to block out the background on "Joy"...just to see if I liked it better. I do...but need to lose some of that blue now, and I'll have to think about the background..maybe scumble some paint in the back, and I feel like those silly bricks are still popping through too much.

But, I AM TRYING!!!