Thursday, April 30, 2009

Carol Marine - "Escaping"



Carol Marine - "Escaping" - 6x6in.

I found this simple leafy plant growing in my new yard out in the country. Unfortunately it drooped rather quickly under my lamp, so I had to paint the leaves and shadows first and fast, and took my time with the rest. I felt the redish underpainting would look nice under the mostly turquoise color scheme.

I will be in Sedona this next week teaching a workshop at the Sedona Art Center. I am really looking forward to it as I've only been in Sedona one other time and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Acrylic Underpainting - Vince Fazio


"Tower" 24x30 acrylic on canvas NFS

The second stage of the painting involves both palette knife and brush with acrylics. Though it seems I have simply "covered over" the background area completly, the initial layer I had there is still showing through and affecting the colors I have added since. I may do some more textural work in the middle-ground area and then might begin with oils.
Please Email me for purchase information.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Betsey Nelson - Taylor Study




Betsey Nelson - Taylor Study 10x8 oil NFS
This shows the two stages in trying to work out a painting that was commissioned.
The first stage was done at the end of an afternoon of work. I needed to get the gesture of the subject right before I committed to the pose. Having realized this goal i stopped work and decided to see how i felt about it the next day.
The next day i decided it was good enough to continue add some features and work out some color/values.
Again i felt i was on the right path so not needing any more information i stopped work on the study and will now work on the actual piece.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Adele Earnshaw - "Nopales"


This oil wasn't exactly painted in a day but I'm currently working on large southwest pieces and did not have a small painting that I could post today.

"Nopales" is on a 30" x 30" Ampersand cradleboard. Cradleboard is a gessoed panel mounted on 2" deep birch ply. It gives my work a contemporary look that doesn't require framing. I paint the sides of the cradleboard a solid color to complement the painting.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Vince Fazio - Acrylic Underpainting


"Tower" 24x30 acrylic on canvas NFS
This was a demonstration done in the gallery space at the Sedona Arts Center. Starting with a white canvas I did a few charcoal marks to start the drawing then jumped into a loose acrylic underpainting to start the painting process. I got as far as placing some palette knife work (still in acrylic) on the 'Tower' formations right hand side. I anticipate finishing with oils after more development in acrylic. Will follow up next week...
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Libby Caldwell - It starts with a book...



In my journaling workshops we start by making our own books. I have found that this is actually very important and the making of the book creates on some level the intimacy and connectedness we feel with what goes inside. There is no right and wrong way to approach journaling nor is there a skill level required for success, it is all about being engaged in a personal way. The Spring workshop 'The Reflective Journey' takes place next weekend at the Sedona Arts Center...there is still room for two more participants.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Robert Burridge - Small Study


I teach a series of workshops titled "Loosen Up" - Loosen Up with Aquamedia Painting, Loosen Up your Landscapes, etc. Everybody wants to loosen up and stay loose as an approach to painting! In my studio and workshops, I create the challenge of staying loose by painting quickly, yet purposefully. The small floral study above is 10"x10" acrylic on paper, painted with a large brush and paper towels. The paper was toned overall in orange - negative shape painting created the flowers. You can see some orange peeking out all over the painting.
I work on six of these at a time. After two "passes" of laying down color and shapes, I will come back in and add sketchy detail.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Betsey Nelson - Pampas Grass


BetseyNelson- Pampas Grass pastel 13.5x18 NFS
A difficult painting is sometimes a wonderful surprise. Don't be afaid to tackle something you have no idea how to paint. This piece was a plein air piece done in an unfamilar place at the time of day which usually is hard to get a strong piece high noon to 2pm. Throwing caution to the wind i went for it and was very pleased with the result. It will be a part of my own collection and may someday be the basis of a studio painting. Right now it is a constant remonder of what can be when you take a chance.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Carol Marine "Life Among the Ruins"



Carol Marine - "Life Among the Ruins" - 6x6in. - click to bid

I recently took a workshop from Jill Carver, a fabulous landscape teacher and artist! It was in Salado, TX and one of the locations we painted from was the Salado College Ruins. It was very interesting being on the observing/learning side of the workshop after teaching so many in a row. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and highly recommend Jill's class to anyone considering it!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Robert Burridge - Painting on Glass


I live in California, on the central coast in the middle of fifty-two wineries. Actually there are many more if you take into account the surrounding wine growing areas of Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. Because of this, I am asked to take part in fund raisers that feature art and wine. This year, the Paso Robles Art Association is having a fund raiser called “Magnum Masterpieces.” Many artists were asked to paint on bottles that will be auctioned in May. This 3D painting is titled “Hoochie Choochie.”

Painting on glass is not that much different than painting on any other surface. First I primed the glass with acrylic gesso. First coat - a variety of blues acrylic paint, and finally “drew” all over the bottle with Decco oil-based markers. Finishing with a final coat of clear varnish.

Go to the auction page by copying and pasting this link in your web browser: http://pasoroblesart.org/magnum-masterpiece/

Friday, April 10, 2009

Betsey Nelson- aztec final painting

Betsey Nelson- Aztec Final Painting

This is the final part of a three part post to show the painting process (pastel). Sometimes viewing parts of the process allows the viewer to see how the artists organizes their thoughts (or doesn't organize as the case could be). Either way i believe it is a good way to learn about the process not to paint like that artist but to be open to the different ways different people work. The student can then use what may work for them and disregard that which they don't like.

Friday, April 3, 2009

aztec painting in progress

Betsey Nelson
Second post of pastel painting Aztec Regalia