mitchell art

What to do with those old paintings?

2012-01-10T10:37:00.000-08:00

I'm taking a short break from my plein air blogging because I have a predicament. After the start of a new year I, like most people start thinking about making new goals for the year ahead. I have been working on getting my body in shape and alas feel the need to also get my studio into shape.

After spending the last week or so mucking out my studio space, I have come to the conclusion that I have a lot of stuff that I no longer need. Old dried up paint and broken picture frames I can deal with but what to do with all those old paintings? I, like a lot of you have stacks of framed paintings lying around my studio.

What do you do with all those framed paintings from years gone by?

My Plein Air Journey ~ Season Six and Seven

2011-11-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

2008 and 2009 seasons of outdoor painting I continued to experiment with surfaces and washes to create my paintings.

"Path of Least Resistance" is on illustration board using water soluble colored pencils and dry colored pencils over the top. I tried to keep the fluid effect of the watercolor in this painting.

"Santiam Sunrise" is on Ampersand aquaboard. After the painting was completed I sprayed it with a fixative and then several light coats of lacquer. The painting is then sealed and does not require glazing.

I soon decided to start experimenting with the surface texture. The manufactured surfaces I tried had a very distinct uniform pattern and I wanted something more random.

"Where the Spirits Dwell" is on illustration board with tissue paper and gesso. This gave me a much more random textured surface.

2009 brought still more experimentation.

"Headwaters" was done on a sanded paper from UART. It comes in different grits and is made for use with pastels. It has been my experience that any paper that is good for pastels is also good for colored pencils.

"The South Forty" is on a very smooth light yellow paper called Pastelmat from France. Though it was smooth it seemed to take allot of layers.

My Plein Air Journey ~ Season Four & Five

2011-10-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

2006 and 2007 mark a turning point in my plain air journey. I started out the 2006 season with the fluid acrylics on canvas as I had in the 2005 season but while I was at a retreat in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge I had an "Aha moment" and decided I would combine fluid acrylic with colored pencil.

I randomly brushed gesso onto some museum boards and then applied fluid acrylic in a equally indiscriminate fashion. This gave me a totally haphazaed surface as a "start" for my landscapes.

"Airley Vineyard" is one of my first successful attempts on this surface. The texture and color on the surface made it hard to do a lot of intricate detail thus forcing me to work faster and think more about shapes. (approximately 8X11~ private collection)

This becomes even more apparent in " Under The Vines". I used the technique of negative painting to create the leaf shapes. Original is 8" X 10" for sale ~ $300.00 framed. Custom size prints of this painting are available at Imagekind.

"Yin Yang" is a small 5 X 13 inch painting but it was a major breakthrough in my artistic journey. I was in a private garden and was inspired by the small clover like plants that were growing in a small pond. I worked on the painting and I remember thinking little about the placement of the plants and I did not intend to include the fish swimming among them. As the painting process progressed however the fish just seemed to manifest in the colored background. Viewed from a distance the painting reminded me of the Chinese Yin Yang symbol, thus the title. This painting is in my collection and I do not intend to part with it (one of my Hubby's personal favorites) but custom size prints are available at Imagekind.

My Plein Air Journey ~ Season Three

2011-09-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

Season three I decided to change my approach and try something different. I had some fluid acrylic paints from a workshop I had attended and decided I would give them a try. I proceeded to buy ALL the colors Golden paint had to offer and a fancy but inexpensive French type easel to boot.

My fist attempts were soon painted over but I did manage a few somewhat successful paintings.

"Farmers Market" was one of my first successes on a 12 X 24 inch wrapped canvas. It was painted in the studio from sketches done on location.

"Walk With Me" was painted on location but with great frustration on my part. It was a very hot day. The paint would dry almost before I could apply it to the canvas. It is also a 12 x 24 inch wrapped canvas.

"Blue Drifting Dreamily" is one I consider to be the most successful of that season. It was one of those rare occasions when as an artist you need only get out of the way of the process, for the painting moves through you and out onto the canvas. I worked with very watered down paint that day, so wet that I was a bit concerned the canvas might warp. Thank goodness no one was painting too close to me because I would apply paint and then rotate the canvas, sometimes flinging it to move the paint around the way I wanted. It is on a 8 X 24 inch wrapped canvas and hangs in my family room where I can enjoy it every day.

My Plein Air Journey ~ Season One and Two

2011-08-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

I became interested in plein air painting many years ago and I spend a great deal of time during the summer months painting plein air (outside on location). My objective is to create a painting in a few hours capturing the mood or light on the given subject in natural light. I am not a purest, I do not think the entire painting need be finished on location but I do think my personal work is fresher if I can capture most of the subject in one setting. The seasons I've spent plain air painting are beginning to run together but I believe I began in the summer of 2003. I thought it might be fun to document my journey visually beginning with that summer.

Back in the late summer of 2003, I remember setting in a peach orchard. I could hear the thump of ripe peaches falling from the trees around me. It was hot, most likely August. This was my first season out painting and I was not very efficient or prepared. Prior to that summer I had been working almost exclusively with colored pencils. I knew that I could not complete a piece in a small amount of time using only colored pencils so I decided to combine water soluble colored pencils with dry ones. The group I paint with starts at around 9:00 a.m. and paints till around noon when we stop and gather for a critique of our work and eat our lunch. I remember having just a faint sketch done by noon and very little color on my piece. I started out using a half sheet of water color paper. The painting was enormous for the technique I was using!

I struggled through 2003 and 2004 trying to complete a painting in a few hours time. Heck, I would have been pleased to have one half done by noon!

"Just Peachy" and "A Gray Morn" are the result of those first few seasons. Both are rather large, about 14 X 20 inches and both are on hot press water color paper with water soluble colored pencils and dry pencils.

YOU Are The First Filter

2011-08-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

As artists we tend to have an emotional connection with each painting we work on. Something inspired us to paint the subject in the first place. As we work through the process of creating we reach a point when we must decide if it is finished. When that time comes is different for each of us. I like to live with a painting for a few days or weeks before I decide it is finished. I may "tweak" it a bit and then reassess. My final decision is based upon one question. Do I like it? If the answer is yes, it is finished, simple as that. If the answer is no, one of two things needs to happen. I must continue to adjust it or, I need to abandon it and move on. Sometimes making the decision to move on is not an easy one.

A few weeks ago I was out paining along the Willamette River. I was motivated by the river and it's bends and the way the light reflected off the water and banks. I especially liked the light on the cliffs. There was a tree at the top of the cliff that was bent over, barley hanging onto it's precarious perch. This intrigued me. I have worked on this painting, tweaked it, worked on it more and have finally come to the conclusion it is never going to be one of my better paintings. I didn't capture the feeling that originally inspired me. I have fussed with it, adjusted the color, worked it over again and again. I just don't "like it". I'll put a layer of gesso over it and hope the next painting turns out more to my liking.

Landscape Painting Workshop at Bald Hill Farm

2011-07-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

Bald Hill Farm is the site of the 2nd western settler to the Corvallis area, Johnson Mulkey. The farm is 587-acres of strategically located open space and to help sustain the rural character of the Willamette Valley Greenbelt Land Trust is raising money to purchase the property. The goal is to raise $2 million in community contributions and private foundations to protect the farm adjacent to Bald Hill Natural Area, where public trails combine with cows, endangered wildlife and plants find refuge, and children come to learn about the natural world. This is an urban Farm that supports local food production, ecological restoration, recreation and education. There is nothing else like it.

To help in this efforts I was asked to lead a plein air workshop at the farm. It was a beautiful spring morning with a slight overcast so it was not too hot. I met about a dozen artists at the farm and gave a quick talk about how I approach an outdoor subject and then we dispersed for a morning of painting. I had a few people watch as I worked on my piece and we talked about the choices I was making and the birds and animals we spotted. At one point a flock of wild turkeys crested the hill top and we watched the tom's strut their stuff for the hens. Around mid morning a flock of sheep also appeared from over the hill and took refuge under the shade of a huge White Oak tree in the pasture. At noon we ate our lunch and shared the paintings started that morning as well as work the Greenbelt Land Trust was doing to preserve this magical place.

The top picture is my painting from that morning. I was far from finished with it, in fact one of the last things I did before lunch was to remove a tree I had placed smack dab in the center of my canvas! The only thing that remained was the top and it became the tree to the left of the barn. I placed the painting in my living room where I could study it for a while and decide what to do to finish it.

After looking at the painting for a few days I decided the pasture was too boring, and needed something to give it some intrust. I thought about adding some wild flowers and then remembered the sheep that morning at the farm. I live in the country and my next door neighbor has some sheep. One escaped through the fence and was happily munching grass in my pasture. Instead of running out to chase the beast from my grass I decided to grab my pencils and start sketching him into my painting. He was quite accommodating, first posing one way and then another till I had a whole flock of sheep grazing on the grasses in my painting.

The second picture is my final painting. I like it so it must be finished! I will be donating this to the Greenbelt Land Trust and they will auction it off as part of their fundraising. I am honored to be part of preserving this special place.

"Urban Farmland" 12" X 12" X 2"

For Sale Through The Greenbelt Land Trust auction

Sometimes You Get a Keeper, Sometimes You Don't

2011-06-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

I was out painting today and I'm not at all happy with this one. There are a few things that are working for me but overall I just don't like it. I'll let it sit a bit and see if I can salvage anything. If not I'll clean the surface and do another.

Sometimes things work out and other times they don't. Clint Brown once compared painting outside to going fishing: "Sometimes you get a keeper, sometimes you don't".

Last week I was in the middle of the Willamette Valley painting and I got a "keeper".

"Almost Home" 12 X 12 X 2 inch $440.00

Plein Air Time at Last!

2011-06-13T15:12:00.000-07:00

It's finally spring weather outside and that means going outside to paint! Plein air painting season is in full swing, not to say any season can't be plain air but I am one of those fair weather plain air painters. I like the weather to be just right, not too hot, not too cold and defiantly NOT raining.

I have been experimenting with my technique this year. I start with a pre-made wrapped wood panel and then add my rice paper or tissue paper gesso sandwich technique to create a random textured surface.

Next I do a watercolor wash or value study in watercolor onto the surface and then apply my colored pencils. Usually I start with Prismacolor Art Stixs and then may add regular pencils since the stix colors are somewhat limited. Sometimes I use Caran d'Ache Neocolor II Water Soluable Pastels.

I was at a local nursery a few weeks ago and did this small piece primarily with the pastels, dry without wetting them. I liked the old twisted willow tree that greats guests as you enter the nursery and have long wanted to do a painting of it so, here it is!

I then spray the piece with a fixative and then a few light coats of UV protective varnish to seal it and it is ready to hang on your wall or stand it on the shelf!

"Old Twisted Willow" 8 X 10 X 1 inches $160.00

A Pair of Spotted Towhee

2011-05-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

I was setting at my computer this morning catching up on my emails when I heard a whack on the window. Oh no, I thought, a bird has flown into my window. I got up to investigate fearing the worst. To my delight the poor thing was setting upright, only dazed.

I then noticed a movement out of the corner of my eye. It was another bird like the one lying on my deck. This one must have noticed my movement for it soon flew away.

I waited a few minutes and decided the dazed bird would recover so went to refill my cup. Out my kitchen window I noticed the second bird had perched in a nearby tree and seemed to be watching the dazed bird. I slowly walked back to the window where I could see the dazed bird, just to be sure it was still there. Indeed the dazed bird sat on my deck recovering from its bought with the window and perched in the tree was what surely must be it's mate.

The mate sat in the tree, watching. It seemed to me to be talking, coaxing, reassuring it's mate. It stayed near for quite some time till the dazed bird recovered and started hoping about. Then the bird in the tree flew down to the deck and joined it's mate and soon they flew away together.

I take things like this that happen to me quite seriously. I do not believe in chance, I believe things happen for a reason. What is the reason for my experience this morning? Is it to show me the compassion the two birds had for one another? Do I have a need for more compassion in my life? I don't know what the "Universe" is trying to tell me, I do know it will come to light sometime in the future if I am ready and willing to see it.

Don't Be Afraid To Start Again

2011-04-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

When I start a piece I have a mental vision of how the final image will look. I don't always follow my final vision. Sometimes I go with what the piece needs as I work and follow where it leads me. Not so in the case of the "Butterfly Ball".

My posting on February 9th talks about my plan. I worked on the piece till I got about 1/4 done. I did not like the way things were working. I wanted the butterflies to have more detail and in such a small space (8"X8") it was tough going so, I decided to start over! Hard choice when you have hours invested in a piece.

The second time around I felt much better about how the butterflies were looking. I think the first start helped me understand how they needed to fit together. I used a lighter touch and built the layers up slower the second time.

I would only be able to work for a little less than an hour at a time and then take a break. My eyes would start to get fatigued from trying to figure out what was what on all those butterfly body parts.

Perseverance prevailed and I am quite happy with the final piece.

Colored Pencil

8" x 8"

"Fly Ball"

Teaching and Loving It

2011-03-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I traveled north to Wilsonville for the Colored Pencil Society of America Portland District Chapter meeting.

Last week I was in Albany with the Coast to the Cascades Society of Decorative Painters.

Have I mentioned I love to teach! What a great time I had with both groups sharing some techniques with colored pencils.

The "Coast to the Cascades" group worked on some color theory and blending techniques then produced some beautiful cards from the new-found knowledge they gained.

The "Colored Pencil District 201" bunch worked on the color green producing some beautiful green hues by blending.

More importantly, everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time enjoying a few hours of creative retreat from the wows of the world outside.

Art is very therapeutic!

Oh my, I have been super busy!

2011-03-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

First off I would like to announce the long awaited launch of my new web site KRISMITCHELL.COM

I have been working since last fall trying to get everything together to get my site up and running and finally all the pieces have fallen into place thanks to a friend pointing me to a super easy WYSIWYG software program and a handsome techie guy to get my site onto the server.

Please stop by and look around and I do hope you enjoy your visit.

I have been working on my "Butterfly Ball" painting and hope to post updates soon. It got off to a rocky start and I ended up starting over but I'll save the details for when I get the posts done.

Next month is the Colored Pencil Society of America Portland District Chapter Show. It is in Corvallis at Oregon State University LaSells Stewart Center from April 1st to May 1st. I will have four pieces in along with another 130 or so from colored pencil artists around the state. Should be a very good show so if you are in the area or traveling through do treat yourself to some eye candy.

Butterfly Ball step 1

2011-02-09T17:52:00.000-08:00

My newest colored pencil painting is a ball of Peacock butterflies!

Peacock butterflies are named after the large eye-like patterns on their wings, which are similar to the magnificent patterns on peacock tails. The peacock (bird) is unmistakable thanks to the “eyes” that are visible when the male bird displays its tail as part of its mating display. The peacock butterfly is similarly unmistakable, although the “eyes” have a different function, namely to frighten off predators when the butterfly opens its wings.

Peacock butterflies are a much-loved and welcome sight in Britain, when over-wintering adults emerge from hibernation in February and March. They are immediately recognizable due to their vibrant red wings, punctuated by four unmistakable false 'eyes', positioned in the corner of each wing.

The Peacock butterfly lives a relatively long life, up to one year. During the winter, Peacock butterflies hibernate in large groups. They can create a hissing sound by rubbing their wings together if disturbed or bothered.

I have just started the paining and the faint outline of the ball is hard to see. The piece is rather small, only 8" x 8". I am using the Strathmore marbleized paper I like so well.

Loreena Mckennitt

2011-02-07T09:45:00.000-08:00

McKennitt's music has generally been classified as World / Celtic music even though it contains aspects and characteristics of music from around the globe and is sometimes classified as Folk music in record stores.
Before McKennitt composes any music, she engages in considerable research on a specific subject which then forms the general concept of the album. Before creating Elemental and Parallel Dreams, she traveled to Ireland where she was born, for inspiration from the country's history, folklore, geography and culture. The album The Mask and Mirror was preceded by research in Spain where she engaged in studying Galicia, a Celtic section of Spain, along with its abundant Arabic roots. The result was an album that included elements of Celtic and Arabic music. According to the jacket notes, her album An Ancient Muse was inspired by travels among and reading about the various cultures along the Silk Road.

It is this mix of world cultures in her music that I love and why I decided to add her music to my blog. We are all on this beautiful blue planet we call Earth together. I hope you enjoy her music as much as I do.

Humungus Fungus!

2011-02-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

I have finished the "Turkey Tail Fungus" painting. In the final steps I worked to blend the edges of the painting into the surrounding background and make them interesting. It is important to keep the principles of design in mind and move the viewers eyes around the painting slowly and allow them to discover the detail.

I think I will call it "Humungus Fungus". Did you know there is a Humungus Fungus Fest that takes place in August each year in the small town of Crystal Falls, Michigan. Several years ago a "humungus fungus" (a GIGANTIC mushroom) was discovered in the Crystal Falls area. It weighs roughly 11 tons and covers 37 acres. This makes it the largest mushroom (fungus) in the world. Based on the average rate of growth through the soil, the Humungus Fungus is probably more than 1,500 years old - imagine that!

"Turkey Tail Fungus" Next Step

2011-01-18T14:20:00.000-08:00

I have now finished the lower left corner. My original intent was to matte the piece along the sides where I stopped with the colored pencil. I have changed my mind and have decided to extend the painting into the border region and let it vignette. (An unbordered picture, often a portrait, that shades off into the surrounding color at the edges.)

As you can see I have started working on softening the border. It is important to stand back at this point and take a look at your work. It is okay to change direction or deviate from your original purpose or intent if that is what the painting needs. Be brave!

Accepted into CPSA Explore This 7 Show!

2011-01-12T14:10:00.000-08:00

I just received word that my painting titled "Yin Yang" was accepted into the Colored Pencil Society of America's Explore This 7 Show! The show is an on line juried show and will be up starting Febuary 1st on the CPSA site. This show requires 60% colored pencil and some other type of medium as opposed to the 100% colored pencil show. "Yin Yang" was done with gesso and acrylic paint with colored pencil on top.

"Turkey Tail Fungus" update

2011-01-11T08:38:00.000-08:00

My "Turkey Tail Fungus" painting is progressing. I have only the lower left corner to complete. I am a bit stuck at this point in the painting. I'm not quite sure how to proceed. The forms in the lower left corner are darker like the one in the upper left. If I make them dark I am afraid the painting will be heavy on the left side. At this point I am going to think about the overall painting and work at making the composition tie together.

Back to work!

2011-01-06T07:09:00.000-08:00

After the holiday season and a much needed rest it is time once again to get back to work. I am so fortunate that work is also play for me. I get to work with many talented artists in my teaching job. My students drive me to work harder at my own art. Working with them and watching them develop as artists is such a joy to me. I have said may times that I learn as much, or more, from them than I feel they learn from me.

This time last year I was in quite a slump. A "Dead Working Period". No drive, desire or motivation. This time of year it is hard to stay motivated. The short days and lack of natural light. The studio is the only practical space to work due to the weather. All these factors combine and make it hard to get inspired. This year is different. This year I cannot find enough time to work on the many things I have planned in my mind. So much to do , so little time! What a difference a year makes.

Happy creating!

A Short Story for the Season

2010-11-27T14:09:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving, also know as "Black Friday" when multitudes of shoppers descend on the malls and retail establishments like locust in search of the bargains to be had from within. This year my husband and I joined the ritual that I have taken part in for the past several years. It was Ted's virgin voyage on this journey of mayhem.

We awoke in the wee hours of the morning, grabbed a quick shower and a cup of coffee and drove to the shopping center near our home. I was anxious to see Ted's reaction to the crowds of shoppers and the famous department store chain we visited first was not to disappoint. "Oh my god" was his reaction as we approached the car park to find autos circling in search of a spot. We nearly got hit as one crazed shopper rounded a corner rather speedily to acquire a soon to be vacated spot.

After s few hours and a few stores we found ourselves at yet another retailer while lines were forming awaiting the opening of the doors. On the corner we spotted a coffee shop and decided to duck in for a cup of coffee and danish and wait in the comfort inside. As I was waiting for our coffee order I notice a large box for the "U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program" sitting next to the pick up counter. The mission of the program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. Since Ted served in the Marine Corps it has been one of our family traditions to donate toys to this program every year. I made a mental note of the box location and thought it would be easy to purchase the toys while inside the department store and drop them off in the coffee shop collection box as we exited.

We were in the check out line before I remembered my plan hatched in the coffee shop but I noticed a large display of big bags of building blocks a short distance away and sent Ted to collect one for our donation. We paid for our haul and exited the store. I took our shopping bag and handed Ted the bag of blocks to drop in the box. I watched as he entered the coffee shop. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as I witnessed him make his way through the crowd of patrons to the drop off. I stood in silence as he unceremoniously dropped in the bag of blocks and exited.

In the early morning hours, among all the hustle and bustle of the holiday buying frenzy, one small act of giving went totally unnoticed. It warmed my heart so deeply I nearly cried. We walked away hand in hand in silence back to our car. 'Tis the season!

( You can make a donation in the comfort of your home at "Toys for Tots")

What if we treated driving like we treat the arts?

2010-11-15T16:20:00.000-08:00

We'd assume that people were either born to drive or not. We'd wait and see if, as children, they started driving on their own, if they had talent and a calling. If they did, we would be careful not to interfere with their talent and possibly suppress it. We would make sure to encourage only those who seemed they'd be able to drive professionally. We'd pay some of them millions of dollars to drive and lavish them with fame; others we would refuse to support, encouraging them to do something more useful for society. Everyone else would assume that they would never be able to drive and would just stand on the sidewalk and watch the traffic. At least the ozone layer would be in better shape.

From: "The Creative License" by Danny Gregory

Thanks Duck Store

2010-11-12T17:33:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the University of Oregon Duck Store for inviting me to participate in the "Tools of the Trade Show". This was the 29th year of this fabulous event and I have been attending for the past several years to stock up on the great bargains.

This year I was invited to participate and demonstrate my colored pencils and talk about them to the attendees. It was a jam packed couple of days and I'm dog tired but I had a blast!

The personnel at the book store were all fabulous, the fellow artists were a treasure trove of tips and techniques and the art supply vendors had loads of valuble information. It seemed that customers were non stop and I thoroughly enjoyed talking to them and answering questions. I am always impressed by the support the city of Eugene has for the arts. Thanks again!

Duck Store Trade Show!

2010-11-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

I will be at the U of O book store next Wednesday and Thursday demonstrating colored pencils at the "Tools of the Trade Show". Drop by if you are in the area and say hello. You can also get 25% off on all art supplies!

Turkey Tail Fungus 1&2

2010-11-02T16:04:00.000-07:00

Worked a few hours last week and a few hours today. One of the hardest things is stopping the process to take some pictures :)

This is colored pencil on Strathmore marbleized paper.

Turkey Tail Fungus (Trametes versicolor)

2010-10-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday I am starting a new project of turkey tail fungus. My plan is for a diptych, that could be a triptych when added to my "Rhubarb" painting. My inspiration comes from some turkey tail fungus I photographed in a friend's garden growing from a tree stump. I am intrigued by the patterns of the growth. I plan to do both paintings 8" wide and 16" tall. I have played around with my photographs and after much cropping and rotating, have two compositions I like. I will be changing the colors to make them a bit more exciting using a complimentary color pattern of blue and orange.

Top Bid!

2010-10-25T21:35:00.000-07:00

My barrel got high bid! The auction closed on Oct. 17. For more information and to read about my five minutes of fame go to Gazette Times.

Visit my blog post dated June 22 to see photos of the finished barrel.

Vistas and Vineyards Annual Show

2010-10-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

It is always a surprise when I enter juried art shows. I wrote in my posting dated September 30th about the three paintings I submitted and am pleased to announce two of the three were selected.

"Between the Vines" and "Under the White Oak" were hung on the walls and "The Far End of the Lake" came home to hang in my personal gallery.

Oh well, time to move on to the next great painting.

(FYI - I designed the postcard for the show)

Crapshoot

2010-09-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

Yikes, here it is the last day of September and I have not updated my blog in weeks! I have been very busy out making art and have not been writing about it.

The last few days I have been getting paintings ready for the Annual Vistas and Vineyards art show at the Oregon State University LaSells Stewart Center Gallery. Every year that I have been a member of this group of outdoor artists I have entered and have been lucky enough to have one or more of my paintings selected. This year I can enter three paintings to be juried.

I have chosen three of my strongest pieces and hope that at least one will be judged worthy enough to hang on the wall.

Entering art shows is always a" crapshoot". One never knows what will strike a cord with the judge. You just have to enter and take a chance.

I'm posting my three entries so you can see for yourself. You be the judge. Will they make it in? What one do you like the best? I'll let you know how it goes.

The first is titled "The Far End of the Lake"
The next is "Between the Vines" and the last is "Under the White Oak".

My First Art Fair

2010-08-08T08:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day in a booth at the Corvallis Art Guild Clothesline Art Sale.
What an exciting day it was. I shared my booth with a fellow (literally) artist. By sharing the space we also shared the set up and take down tasks and had someone to man (not literally) the booth at all times. It was fun but exhausting.

Some things I learned:

Set up early - the serious shoppers are out early for the best deals.

Be organized - by spending time before the event to get everything organized pays off in getting things set up. No last minute frantic runs for parts.

Take lots of water - It is important to keep hydrated during the day, it could be very hot!

Take a lunch and snacks - You may not get a chance to break away to go get lunch so bring it or have someone bring you a lunch. Also take time to eat. Don't wait for a lull in costumers, it may never happen but do be prepared to interrupt your meal to talk to someone about your art.

Talk about your art - Don't be shy in striking up a conversation with people in your booth. You can never tell if they are "tire kickers" or "serious shoppers" so strike up a conversation. Say, hello, ask if they are enjoying their day? This will either lead to more conversation or not.

Get a good nights rest the night before - it could be a very long day and getting some rest before the big day is a must.

Get help tearing down - If you can get some help in taking the booth down, after several hours at the fair it is a welcoming site to have help arrive at the end of the day to help pack things up! (Thanks so much to our spousal partners!)

All in all it was a fun day and well worth my efforts in monitory and social value though I do not plan taking my art "on the road" any time in the near future :)

One on One with Nature!

2010-08-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday I was at Beazell Memorial Forest in the morning and out at Tyee Wine Cellars in the evening.

The Greenbelt Land Trust was honoring 21 years of conservation with a celebration. A fellow artist and I listened to music and enjoyed a beautiful sunset while trying to capture the rapidly changing light.

Oh, the joys of summer!

Featured Artist on Imagekind!!!!

2010-07-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

I am totally jazzed about being selected as one of the featured artists on the Imagekind web site, the #1 place on the web to discover and purchase original art!!!!

Check out my gallery link on my blog :)

Roll Out The Barrel Final Chapter

2010-06-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

The day has come to deliver my barrel. It is a bitter sweet parting. After spending the last four weeks getting acquainted and forming a relationship, fighting, and making up, I will miss my barrel, we part as old friends.

One of the last things I needed to do to the barrel was to put some kind of a protective coating on it. It will spend the next few weeks outside the entrance of the Benton County Historical Museum so it needs to be protected from the elements. I decided on a product from Minwax called Helmsman Spar Urethane.

"Helmsman® Spar Urethane is a specially formulated protective clear finish for exterior or interior wood that is exposed to sunlight, water, or temperature changes. It contains UV blockers to reduce the sun's graying and fading effects. Helmsman® Spar Urethane forms a protective barrier against rain and moisture and its special oils allow the finish to expand and contract with the wood as seasons and temperatures change." (from Minwax)

It is also water clean up, always a plus in my book. I chose a "Satin" sheen.

I was 99% sure it would go over my acrylic painting with out a problem but there is always that 1% chance something could go terribly wrong. The first coat was a bit stressful but all went as planed and four coats later it looks great.

Beginning July 2nd the barrels will be auctioned off and part of the proceeds will go to the Philomath Downtown Association and part to the artists. The link to more information and the on line auction is Philomath Downtown Association.

Roll Out The Barrel Part 5

2010-06-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

I am the happiest when I am painting. All of my troubles disappear and I am lost in the joy of creating.

I am very close to having my barrel completed!

I painted a grape vine mandala on the top of my barrel and touched up the black rings with some black paint.

All I need to do is seal it and deliver it!

My intention was to stay true to the origin of the barrel and keep it in as much of it's original state as possible. I used grape vines around the top ring and a grape vine mandala on the top. The center ring depicts landscape scenes from around the local area including the Benton County Museum, Alsea Falls, Marys Peak, vineyards and Philomath's welcome sign.

I am very pleased with the way it turned out :)

Roll Out The Barrel Part 4

2010-06-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

Today was both rewarding and frustrating.

I started work early this morning. The weather today was much cooler and a bit rainy. This has helped with the paint, extending my work time before it dries. I started with the last fiddle bits on the band around the middle.

The bunghole has been a bit of an issue from the start. When I received my barrel it had a bunghole and I was given the bung to reinstall if I so chose. I was not sure whether I wanted to put it in or leave it out. I thought about how I could incorporate the hole in my painting and tossed a few ideas around. Mother nature helped make up my mind. On a warm afternoon I noticed a lot of gnats flying around the barrel. They were drawn to the wine smell emanating from inside. I decided to reinstall the bung.

The bung is a small round piece of wood and when inserted in the bunghole sticks out about 1/2 inch. I glued it in place and left it to dry contemplating how I was going to cut of the excess and sand it to match the surrounding surface. The next morning while drinking my coffee and staring at the barrel inspiration struck. I decided to paint the bung to look like the welcome signs as you enter Philomath. The signs are mounted on large logs and great traffic at both ends of town. Voila, problem solved.

I was finished with the middle band by around 11:30 and had the rest of the afternoon to finish the smaller bands. My plan was to paint a grape vine around the small bands. Shouldn't be too tough, right? Wrong! I tried to get the vine to look right all afternoon. Around 4:00 I gave up and worked in the garden for awhile. When I came back I realized the vines were too close to the same value as the barrel and needed to be much darker to stand out from the background. The last thing I did before calling it a day was use a very large brush and paint over the leaves. They need more work but that will have to wait for another day. I'm beat!

Roll Out The Barrel Part 3

2010-06-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

Ah, perseverance shall prevail!

Today went very smoothly, a bit cooler so the paint was not drying before I could apply it to the barrel. I am also feeling better about working with acrylic paint again, it is not my normal medium of choice.

I managed to get about 90% of the band around the center very close to finished by early afternoon so I decided to knock off early and give it a break. I'm exhausted! Creativity is hard work.

"It is very hard work to turn out anything that looks like a good painting." Georgia O'Keeffe

Roll Out The Barrel Part 2

2010-06-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

Another LONG day of painting. Thank goodness it has warmed up and stopped raining, at least for the time being. Unfortunately the warm weather is also drying my paint much faster.

I managed to make progress dispute the speedy drying of paint. Most all of the color is blocked in and I have about 1/4 of the painting on the center section done, or close to done.

It is at it's ugly stage. This is when I begin to doubt myself and the painting. I have to push through my fear and self doubt and do battle with this invisible enemy. "Creativity takes courage" Henry Matisse.

Roll Out The Barrel Part 1

2010-06-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

Philomath Downtown Association is hosting a "Roll out the Barrels" art exhibit. I have been chosen as one of the participating artists. Two weeks ago I picked up my wine barrel and we have been getting acquainted. These empty wine barrels will be painted by artists and will showcase the beauty of the region. All the barrels on exhibit will be available for purchase through the Philomath Downtown Association (PDA) website’s silent auction. Minimum bids per barrel start at $100 and bidding will begin July 2nd.

I had some ideas for my barrel but it was not until I actually obtained my the barrel that I could start visualizing how my plan might work. My plan is to paint a panoramic view of scenes around the area on the band around the center of the barrel. I will be using acrylic paint instead of my colored pencils since the barrel is quite large. It is set up in my back deck, much too big for my little studio. (Hint, Hint)

The weather and other obligations have postponed my starting. I started on my barrel yesterday. I began by lightly sketching the position of the major masses with charcoal onto the barrel. This allows me to understand the placement and make corrections as necessary. I then started the painting process beginning with the sky and working my way down and around the barrel. I originally thought I would paint one side at a time but have found it is better if I work around the barrel tying one scene to the next with color and scale.

It looks like another sunny day so I'm off to paint!!

Outside Painting a Last!

2010-05-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

Finally out painting again! Last week I was at a local nursery. This is one of my favorite places to go and get inspiration for my garden so it was hard to settle on a location to paint. Mother nature made the choice for me. Just as I set my chair up to paint the rain began. I promptly picked up my gear and headed for cover in one of the greenhouses.

This is a little painting I did of the pots and plants surrounding me. Not bad for the first outing of the season.

I am still working on my plein air set up. I found a small folding chair that works quite nicely. It has a Velcro strap to secure it and a strap to fling over my shoulder. It is just right!

Close to Plein Air Time

2010-04-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

The days are growing longer and the weather here in the Willamette Valley is becoming, well shall I say not quite so wet, so I am preparing for the plein air season! For the past several years I have been out during the late spring and summer painting on location with a group of local artists enjoying the benefits of working from real life. I have become addicted to painting one on one with nature.

In preparing for this year I am thinking about the best way to pack and carry my supplies. I don't want to lug a bunch of gear up and down and around the valley. In the past I have pretty much packed my supplies in whatever I had on hand. I have used a canvas portfolio to transport my paper, a clip board, and anything else I could zip into it. The rest of my stuff has been packed into a canvas bag. I also take along my handy, dandy tote bag full of pencils. I want to continue to have ample supplies for whatever comes my way but I also feel a need to compact as much as possible and make my outings a bit more comfortable.

With paint the artist can use a few tubes and mix many colors on a palette. With pencils I need many colors to mix the pigment on the paper. My handy tool tote bag filled with my pencils is a great way to transport my pencils to a class or workshop but it's a bit awkward when working in the middle of a rye grass field.

My quest is to find the perfect plein air kit for working with colored pencils, and a way cool lunch pail :)

Final Waterfall Painting

2010-03-12T14:59:00.000-08:00

Final version.

Very small changes. I softened the edges of the falls. I also softened the grasses in the foreground and added yet more depth to the middle ground trees and softened the edges.

Very large change. I was told by someone who's judgment I trust that the top right section of trees was confusing. I eliminated them and worked on the transition from trees to canyon wall.

I am happy with the painting so I consider it finished.

Just before I fell asleep one night the title came to me.... "Anticipation".

Waterfall Painting Progress Part3

2010-03-11T06:40:00.000-08:00

Not very big changes now, just some minor adjusting.

The main change was to the waterfall. It is important in making the fall look convincing that the water falls straight down. I used a ruler to make sure I had a straight fall.

I also added some detail to the water with lights and shadow.

I added more dark foliage at the base of the falls where it disappears behind the trees.

Waterfall Painting Progress Part2

2010-03-09T13:15:00.000-08:00

After receiving critiques from those I trust I worked on adding more depth to the foliage especially the middle ground trees. They needed more shadow to make them feel round and, as an artist friend said, "holes for the birds to fly through".

I added more dark values, I wanted to emphasize the feeling of the light as it poured out from above the canyon rim so I needed allot of contrast. I also worked on opening a space in the row of foliage just past the front grasses to allow the viewer to move back into the painting.

I added more trees to the canyon rim and more color to the sky.

Waterfall Painting

2010-02-23T16:16:00.001-08:00

This is my waterfall painting after a couple of painting sessions. I am pretty pleased with the results so far just not sure what needed to happen next so, I asked.

I showed my painting to several of my friends and asked for their comments. This can be rather intimidating the first few times. An artist's skin has to be thick. I want an honest answer from my friends when I ask for an opinion but they don't want to say anything bad to hurt my feelings.

After several years of creating a relationship I am fortunate to have several friends whom I trust to give me an honest critique and they know I don't take it personally. Actually sometimes I don't take their opinion at all. In the end it is up to me.

Inspiration at last!

2010-02-10T11:39:00.001-08:00

Finally back in the studio working again!

I have been thinking about doing a painting of a waterfall for several years. I was in the Columbia River Gorge at an artist retreat a few years ago. On my last morning there, I sat before one of the falls and sketched just as the sun was starting to break above the rim of the canyon. I snapped several reference photos and headed for home.

Well, that was three or four years ago. In my search for inspiration I cam across the sketch I did that morning in the canyon.

Unfortunately or maybe fortunately I have not been able to locate the pictures I shot that morning. Here is my sketch and a thumbnail I did for the larger painting.

"If you want to be a painter never look at pictures." - Winslow Homer

I have a frame all ready, actually it is an old painting I did many years ago so I am recycling! The frame measures 16" X 32".

"Dead Working Period"

2010-01-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

"I believe in listening to cycles. I listen by not forcing. If I am in a dead working period, I wait, though these periods are hard to deal with. For the future, I'll see what happens. I'll be content if I get started again. If I feel that alive again. If I find myself working with the old intensity again."

~ Lee Krasner 1908-1983
from Artist to Artist compiled by Clint Brown

This struck a cord with me when I read it. I am so in a "Dead working period" as Krasner put it, and I am so frustrated with the wait!

I shall try harder to not force it...

A Time to Reflect

2010-01-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year I turn my thoughts back and reflect on the past year. I expect this is pretty typical as one year fades into the next, the days shorten and time slows. It has been a good year, I have many artsy experiences I can put a check next to in my sketch book. I am looking forward to 2010 and new wonders I will find.

Happy New year!

"If you worry about how good the art is, you're never going to make your own art". -- Eric Fischl

Demo Part 4

2009-10-30T09:12:00.001-07:00

A few final details are all that is needed to complete the painting.

I add a few dark grasses crossing the lighter grasses in the foreground. I also decided to add some tall weed seed pods to the grasses to add some variation.

I added a bare branch to the trees on the left.

I lightened the value in the center where the path disappears. It had become too dark and was not allowing the eye to travel beyond into the far field.

I added a little color and detail to the distant trees.

A little more blue was added to the sky. One of my students thought it would make it more dramatic.

I was happy with the painting so I signed it!

Title - "The South Forty"

Demo Part 3

2009-10-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

I added more color to the grasses. I am building up layers of color to create depth in the grass. I use the side of my pencil and long strokes especially in the front where the grass is quite tall. I have adjusted the slant of the tree on the left so it points inward toward the center of the painting. I have added some clouds to make the sky more interesting.

Now I can start adding more and more detail. I keep added grasses this time adding some that cross the ones in back for variation. I adjust the values in the grasses so they are lighter towards the center of the painting to draw the eye inward.
I add more detail to the leaves of the trees.
I decided to add more to the distant hills in the center of the painting to give the feeling of the valley extending beyond.

I needed something to slow the pace of the strong line in the path so I added some dark spots between the grasses. I am paying very close attention to any strong lines and breaking them up with variation in color and/or value.

Demo Part 2

2009-10-28T10:31:00.001-07:00

After laying in my basic color washes while doing my demo I then worked in my studio adjusting the composition and adding more color.

In this next step you can see that I added more area to the distant field. I wanted more of it to show in the painting, more like my original sketch. I accomplished this by erasing the distant trees and raising them up higher on the picture plane. This also moved my horizon line. Now it's not right in the middle of the painting making for a stronger composition. Secondly, I dropped the base of the trees on the left. They had becoming too close to the same level as the trees on the right. My intent in the original sketch was for the left tree mass to be closer on the picture plane then the trees on the right.

I am building up the color layers, concentrating on color so sometimes I loose the composition. I find it very helpful to keep checking my sketch so I keep my composition true to my original.

Demo at the Duck Store (Part1)

2009-10-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

I started with a thumbnail sketch of my composition and values.

I then transferred my composition sketch to my paper. I decided to try some new paper I just purchased called PastelMat. It is a pastel paper from France and the color is sort of a yellow ocher. I drew my sketch with a water soluble graphite pencil and then wet it to create graphite washes for my values.

After it had dried I started adding colored pencils. I started with French Gray 10% in the sky with some light pink and a bit of light blue. I applied the color in long strokes going first diagonally one direction and then diagonally in another direction.

All of the colored pencils that came next were applied while I was doing my demo. I found it quite hard to work and talk at the same time, so left verses right brain. I tried to let people know what I was thinking and why I was making the choices I was making as I was working.

Down to the Wire

2009-10-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Late Friday afternoon and still nothing to demonstrate for Saturday.

I am scheduled to do a two hour demonstration on colored pencils at the U of O bookstore on Saturday and I have been struggling all week trying to come up with something. The first hour will be no problem, I can talk about all the pencils and papers available to colored pencil artists as well as the many tips on ways to use them. But what can I demonstrate for the second hour?
Finally inspiration hits me! I will demonstrate how I approach a landscape painting. A fall scene!

First thing to do is gather some photographs. I will be in a basement so will have to work from reference photos rather than life.

I took this photo a few days earlier from my car window. I loved the color in the foliage.

The second is of a hill covered with fall colored trees and grasses in the foreground.

The last one was taken earlier this year. I like the path in the grass and the distant field.

Waiting for Insperation

2009-10-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

My muse has left me. Oh, come back to me my beloved.

I am stuck! Cannot find inspiration. I have searched my photos, taken more photos, spent what feels like hours searching through art books and art magazines. So far no luck. I need something new and different to challenge me.

I guess I shall just have to quit trying so hard and be patient.

" I go to studio every day. Some days the work comes easily. Other days nothing happens. Yet on the good days the inspiration is only an accumulation of all the other days, the nonproductive ones." - Beverly Pepper 1924 (from Artist to Artist by Clint Brown)

It is tough just waiting.

What next?

2009-10-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

I have finished all of my major art projects. The rains of autumn have arrived and I am feeling the need to begin another project. What shall I do? There are so many choices. I want to do another long detailed colored pencil painting but of what? This is where it all begins. What will my subject be? I begin my search through my reference photos to see if anything sparks my imagination. So, I make a pot of tea, and start searching.

Okay, really, I'm done!

2009-09-17T17:49:00.000-07:00

I went back to "The Learning Tree" at Benton Center this morning for the last and final tweaks. The last thing I did on Tuesday was add some metallic paint. I knew I would have to return and knock back the finish after it had dried. I found a few more places that needed touched up. A bit of green hear, a smudge of yellow there, you know, the fussing stage. I fusses and tweaked (technical artist terms) and would still be there if Shirley had not kicked me out. Sometimes you just can't help fussing with your art. Well, all the paint is cleaned up and the ladder is back home so, it is finished.

The Learning Tree

2009-09-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

I began work around 8 this morning. I worked alone today because I needed to make decisions on color as I worked. I mixed colors and glaze to get the effect I wanted and applied them to the wall. A bit of red hear and a bit of green there, softening and blending as I went.

I finished at about 3:30 and just had time to get things cleaned up before a small gathering of board members assembled in the area for a five year anniversary party for the remodel of the building.

I was trying to get out before the shindig began but was asked by the president of Benton Center if I would stick around so he could introduce me and my "Tree of Learning". Needless to say I was not dressed for the impromptu unveiling but it was nice to get the warm appreciation of all who were present.

Thanks Jeff and Shirley.

The tree is a white oak, native to the Willamette Valley and growing outside of the Benton Center. The colors where chosen to represent all four seasons as well as coordinate with the surrounding colors in the building. The symbols represent the different things taught at the center and are hidden in the tree to be discovered upon close inspection. I am pleased with the way it turned out, so it must be done.

The Wall... continued

2009-09-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

Wow!
Things are going much faster than I originally anticipated.

I arrived this morning at Benton Center around 9:00 and started sketching in the icons that represent the classes offered here. I then painted them with a dark brown almost black paint. Around 10:30 a good friend arrived to help. Having help always makes the job much more enjoyable and fun. It didn't take long before we had the dark section of the tree done.

We then mixed up our glaze colors, five in all, a dark red, a pea green, an orange and a golden yellow along with a wall color glaze. The glaze is mixed about 4 to 1 with the paint color. We applied the glaze with natural sponges starting with the dark red, then green, then orange and finally the yellow. I must admit the thing was looking a bit garish after the colors were added but we then went over it with the wall color glaze and it all softened and became quite subtle.

I fussed with it awhile adding lights till I decided it needed time to dry and I needed a soak in a warm tub.

Thank you Nancy for all your help today. It was not easy being brave and sponging such bold color onto the wall. You did an awesome job!

The Wall... continued

2009-09-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I put a layer of primer and then a layer of wall color paint on the wall. I am ready to start painting the details on the tree!

The Wall... continued

2009-09-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I want back to the Benton Center and added more joint compound to sections of the tree to define more depth. Jessica was able to join me. Jessica recently graduated from UofO with an Art degree and she specializes in sculpture. It was good to have another pair of eyes to evaluate where more depth was needed. Thank you Jessica!

I will give the wall the next 5 days to dry. It should be good and dry by then and I will be able to put a layer of primer over the sculpture and then a layer of wall color paint.

Wall Sculpture

2009-09-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

Today I started the "Tree of Learning" mural at Benton Center. My plan for today was to start putting the texture on the wall to create a 3D tree. I was originally thinking about using a material called Kwik Fix but after talking to my carpenter friend Steve, I decided a setting type joint compound would work better.

This type of drywall compound is very different from other types of drywall mud. This type dries through a chemical reaction and is typically very hard. Available as a powder with drying times ranging from 20 minutes to several hours depending on the type used.

I used the 90 minute type. It has excellent bonding capabilities to a variety of surfaces. Other benefits include less shrinkage and cracking, also it is much harder than regular All-Purpose drywall mud.

I used a trowel to apply the compound to the trunk and root area, then I used a textured roller, then knocked the surface ridges down with my trowel. It worked great and really likes like bark.

I applied the compound with a natural sponge to the leaf areas, some thin and some thick. I twisted the sponge and made sure not to get any repeating pattern, just random texture.

In the photos the tan area is the wet joint compound. I decided to allow this to dry a day or so and then go back and add more depth.

It must be going okay because I had several people come by and say it looked like a tree. :))

From Inches to Feet

2009-08-31T11:52:00.000-07:00

I'm trading in my pencils for a few weeks and taking large paint brushes in hand to create a mural in the Benton Center lobby.

The plan is to create a "Tree of Learning" on the wall along the ramp leading to the older section of the building. The wall has some challenges with a hand rail as well as a slope. My plan is to use the hand rail as a horizon line and put the roots of the tree under the rail and the trunk and leaves above.

The request is for the tree to have some dimension, so my next challenge will be putting some sort of material on the wall that I can sculpt to look like a tree. My plan is to use a dry wall texture, in dry form so I can control the thickness.

I have put a layer of primer on the wall and have drawn the tree out roughly where I want it. This week I will be working on the sculpting part.

Wish me luck!

Silver Creek

2009-08-25T19:58:00.001-07:00

Last week I was in some of the most beautiful country in the world. I happily found myself in the Boise National Forest in Peace Valley, Idaho along a clear mountain stream named Silver Creek. I was fascinated by the huge granite rock formations and canyons. It has been a long time since I was surrounded by this beauty.

I awoke early my first day and ventured out to find a spot to paint. It didn't take long to find a spot along the banks of the stream that inspired me. I set to work and within a few hours caught the picturesque setting on my paper. Several fishermen and woman stopped to take a look as I worked. I don't know how they did with fishing but I came away with "a keeper".

It was fun painting in a place that I don't usually get to visit.

Something Different

2009-08-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready for a mini vacation to visit family and some places of my youth. I am planing to take my supplies with me and try a bit of outdoor painting in a different part of the country, most likely without as much green.

When packing for this kind of a trip I cannot take as many supplies as I would painting locally. I plan to take only what I feel I have to have with me. I plan to pack everything into a small carrying case so it is all in one place.

I have a small portfolio that should hold all I will need. I will take some colored pencils packed in a small box, some colored pencil sticks, also in a small box, some paper, a drawing board, and a folding chair. My camera is already in my purse.

Idaho, ready or not here I come!

Out, out, darn PINK!

2009-07-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

There is no substitute for landscape painting like being outdoors painting. The experience is quite often daunting but the rewards are worth the effort.

I have been out weekly during the warm weather of summer creating colored pencil paintings from nature. Some worked out well, others not so much. Never the less I keep at it for it is through my outdoor experience that I learn the most.

A few weeks ago I was at a beautiful location right in front of a spectacular water fall. I was happy with my painting till I returned home and viewed it inside out of the direct light. Too pink!

I worked on it in the studio adding more blue and white to the water but lost some of the spontaneity in the painting. The more I tried to get rid of the pink the more it worked its way to the surface. I was working on a sanded surface that I had not tried before. I liked the surface but what was it with all this pink?

I finally realized I had used a dark purple and dark red color in the dark rocks, the more I tried to get white water the more lavender and pink it would turn. I used an electric eraser to get rid of most of the dark red and purple and then I was then able to use white without all that pink coming back (the sanded surface ate through several erasers). I think it is a bit overworked but I am happy with the final version.

Happy painting :)

When is it Done?

2009-06-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

No matter how many paintings I do I always have trouble with this question. Is a painting done when you are finished? Is it done when it is signed?

For me I don't always know when a piece is completed. It may be done when I am finished adding the last stroke of color, ready for my signature and a frame. Other times it has to set for awhile and "percolate" slowly showing me what needs to be changed. This is when I place the piece where I can observe it at various times of day and varying light. Sometimes I have taken a piece out of the frame and tweaked something that needs changed.

This is my latest piece, started a few weeks ago and just now completed due to life's other challenges.

Is it done?

I think so, but then it's not framed yet.

Painting in the Great Outdoors

2009-05-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of this seasons Vistas and Vineyards painting “en plein aire” at local sites in the mid-valley. I have been so excited about this day!

I awoke this morning with a sinus headache. Oh, the joys of spring. This was nothing to sneeze at so I took some medication and packed my gear. I decided I would not set high expectations for my first day out. I just wanted to go, nothing more. Camera, chair, pencils, art sticks, paper, lunch, all loaded in the car and off I went.

I arrived at the park where our first paint out was scheduled and started looking around for a suitable site to work. I grabbed my camera and set out on foot up and down trails to find my inspiration. Alas, nothing was very inspiring, everything just looked green! Don't get me wrong I love living in Oregon and the Willamette Valley because it so green and lush but this spring has been very wet and damp especially after a long rainy winter. Everywhere I looked all I could see was green, green, and more green.

I got back into the car and drove to the opposite end of the park where I could find more natural scenes and less manicured grass. I finally found a grove of trees in a small ravine with yellow and purple wild flowers growing among the long grass. I parked my car and set up my chair and reached for my small sketch pad to work out my composition. Oops, no small sketch pad. It was not in my bag where I usually keep it. I must have used it over the winter and did not get it put back into my bag, darn. Luckily I found a small piece of scratch paper to use.

It was cold out and the sun was not going to break through the cloud cover, in fact it was beginning to look more and more like rain. Not to let this dampen my spirits I decided I could set in the back seat of my car and work instead of out in the rain and cold. I set my supplies on the seat next to me and began working. Hours went by. What time is it anyway? I looked at my cell phone for the time, I cannot see the hands on a watch anymore, much to my surprise it was nearly noon. At noon we usually meet as a group and critique our work and eat our lunch. I took a look at my work. It looks like crap! I decide to skip the group critique and see if I can salvage anything in my painting. My feet are cold.

Thirty minutes later I am getting nowhere with my painting, my feet are numb, my head is beginning to pound and I am getting hungry. I give up!

I did not get a "keeper" today but I did what I set out to do, I went.

I can't wait till next week!

Art Shows... emotional roller coaster.

2009-05-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

My painting of the "Rhubarb" has been accepted into the International Colored Pencil Show.

I entered the international show many, many years ago and did not get accepted. I told myself it was because I was not yet good enough. Many years later I decided to give it another try. Alas, once again I was not accepted. I told myself it was the judge. I entered last years show thinking I would surely get in this time. No, drat foiled again! I told myself it didn't matter, the judge must be an imbecile! I don't need to waste my effort, money, or time.

A friend told me I needed to change my attitude. I needed to start looking at the entry as I have told my students for years "It is one persons opinion on one day". She said I may or may not get in this year or next but I need to keep trying and improving. I decided to enter again this year.

I have mixed feelings about being accepted. I know I should be thrilled but I am not. Maybe it just hasn't sunk in yet, or maybe it is all those years of telling myself "It is no big deal". Then again maybe the pressure is on now to make signature status, I don't know.

I entered the same painting last year and was not accepted. I guess it is true "It is one persons opinion on one day". It must be really hard to be a judge.

Workshop Success

2009-04-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

I just spent the weekend in a two day workshop with one of my favorite colored pencil artists.

I signed up for the workshop several months in advance and marked my calendar so I would not forget. As the time for the workshop approached I took a look at my supply list and started gathering them together.

Last week as the weekend drew near I started to doubt my wisdom in signing up for a workshop that would take my time for an entire weekend. My husband and I are in the middle of a bathroom remodel, my schedule has left me little time this spring for yard work, the weeds are taking over my flower garden and I'm sure I could think of a thousand more reasons not to go. I was already committed and planed carpooling with a friend, as well as pre-paying, so early Saturday morning I was off.

Once we were on the road our hour drive was filled with catching up on things we were doing as well as views of some beautiful scenes of the valley in the morning light. We talked of stopping to take photos but did not. We were anxious to get to the workshop and find good spots to set up, close to the front so we would not miss a thing. Our plan payed off and we were able to get seats in the front row right up close so we could see and hear all that the instructor was saying. We worked from 9 till 4 with a short break for lunch. My friend and I packed a lunch so we were able to eat and talk and get right back to work. By Saturday night when I arrived home I was exhausted and ready for a good nights rest.

Sunday morning we were off again, this time we did stop and take a few photos. We arrived early, made the coffee for the group and our instructor and once again went to work. The day was just as intense as the one before and we all worked very hard. By mid day I could tell my ugly duckling of a piece was going to turn into something beautiful. I was just as exhausted by the end of the day but very glad I went. Workshops are HARD work!

I thought I would list a few things to do to help make your workshop experience a good one.

1 - Research the artists that will be instructing the workshop. Check the artists work on their web site. Think about how the artists work and your work relate. If the workshop is about portraits and you like to do landscapes, the workshop may not be the best "fit" for you.

2 - Gather the pieces and materials that you plan to bring. Check your supply list and make sure you have all the supplies listed as well as any other supplies you might like to use that are not listed. Don't plan to bring your entire studio but a good selection of materials and extra supplies can always be left in the car and are close at hand just in case.

3 - Clear your schedule. Your focus for the duration of the artist's workshop should be solely on the workshop and the pieces that you are creating during this time. Plan to stay in a Hotel close by or if you are close enough to drive, plan to have dinner ready when you get home or pick something up on the way. Keep your evening free for relaxing and get a good night rest for each day.

4 - Attend all sessions. Plan ahead and plan to arrive early to set up. It is a good idea to pack a lunch or know where you can get a quick lunch nearby. You want to make sure you are on time so you don't miss an important lesson.

5 - Make time to speak one-on-one with the instructor. Don't feel like a nuisance if you take up the artist's time. You paid the money to attend and should get as much feedback about your work as possible. On the other hand don't take up ALL of the instructors time, be courteous to the other attendees, they paid for the workshop as well and deserve equal time for feedback.

6 - Keep your attitude positive! If you have a positive attitude about your work no matter what level of experience you are and about yourself it will come through in your work. My goal is not to have a completed piece of work by the end of a workshop, but to learn as much as I can about new techniques and practice new skills. If I only finish a small section and get a feel for how new techniques work, I consider the workshop worth my time and money. Sometimes I feel I only really "get" one thing from a workshop but that one thing leads to one more thing, and one more, and I keep improving and building my skills. Besides, no one wants to hear me whining about how my back hurts from sitting too long or how my bunions are inflamed and swelling!

A workshop is a great place to meet new artists and new friends. If you do some planning you can assure your workshop experience will be a good one.

I want to thank Pat Averill for all her hard work putting together a wonderful workshop (believe me, I know how much work goes into a workshop). I also want to thank Nancy Rogge for helping me make coffee and keeping me laughing :))

Bonus! I got a beautiful painting to keep as a reminder as well as loads of new techniques to try on my own colored pencil paintings.

Corvallis Art Guild

2009-04-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

Practice, practice, practice!
I practice all day long. I would go over and over my speech so I knew it by memory, which by the way, ain't as good as it used to be. All my work payed off.

I was in Corvallis last night at the Art Guild meeting and did a presentation about colored pencils. There were around forty or so artists present and my presentation went off without much of a hitch. I only wish my slides would have projected better. Technology is such a fickle thing. It is very difficult to get an image on a computer monitor to look like the original and even more troublesome to get it to project accurately.

I had a great time talking about my passion, art, and my love of colored pencils. The Corvallis Art Guild is a fabulous bunch of artists and I am proud to be one of them. Thank You CAG.

Comments:

I really thought you did a great job last night - very informative... I was in the back of the room - everyone was entranced with the capabilities of cp and what one could do with it. I think you surprised a number of people. There seemed to be a good crowd up front after the presentation. I would have to rate it as one of the better presentations this year as the amount of information provided and the way it was presented. Cool job... !
Terry Tallis

btw- I have added Terry's blog to my Art Links. Terry has written a fabulous book for photographers. Check it out on his blog!

Hi Kris. That was a really good talk last night. I had no idea how varied your styles and subject matter are! Great work. I especially was intrigued by your plein air "starts". When I looked at the one you brought, I realized you didn't even need to be near a landscape to see one in it. Congratulations for being able to make the move from fine detail to broad ideas. I can't do that...yet?

I think you should give a mini-workshop to the CPSA on your plein air techniques. I think a lot of people (me, anyway) would be interested.
Thanks!
Kelly

Hi Kris,
That was a wonderful presentation. You covered a lot of material, which was organized in an easy-to-follow way. Making the samples available to touch and see at the end was a great. It's one thing to see/hear how you do it; to actually touch it makes a greater impression. Thanks
joyfully,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady

FYI I have added "The Mandala Lady" to my links as well. Check out Maureen's beautiful Mandalas.

Happy Anniversary

2009-04-04T15:11:00.001-07:00

March 2oth marked the first year anniversary of mitchellart blog.

Happy Blog Birthday!

Busy, Busy, Busy Time ... No Fool-en!

2009-04-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Well, this time of year is so busy! The flowers are stating to bloom in my garden and I am just itch-en to get outdoors and paint, never mind those pesky weeds, they will have to wait.

I will be back in Eugene this Friday for another "First Friday ArtWalk" and I'm sure it will be just as much fun as last month. I finished the paintings I was working on last month so I am busy getting new ones started so I will have something to demo. I had such fun with my abstract piece I think I will do another.

I will be giving a presentation on Monday to the Corvallis Art Guild and am trying to get the final preparations finished up. The presentation will be on Colored Pencils and is titled "The Many Styles of Colored Pencil". I am very pleased to be able to share my work and the work of other local Colored Pencil artists with the Guild.

Classes are starting this week and that is always a little hectic but I will soon be back into the routine once again.

Oh, and I am a grandmother again! Charlie Dean arrived March 26th at 3:03 am. Both he and Mom are back home and doing great. I have posted pictures on my "Facebook" page and you can view them on my badge at the bottom right of this blog.

Art Guild Presentation

2009-03-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

I'm getting things ready for my presentation to the Corvallis Art Guild on "The Many Styles of Colored Pencil".

I'm so excited about this opportunity to share colored pencil art with the community. There is always such a "WOW" factor when people see the wide range of possibilities and effects colored pencil artists create.

I am also getting my just finished painting framed for the "Ruth and Jim Howland Community Open" at the Arts Center in Corvallis. It is a painting I was not in love with when I started it, but like the way it turned out.

Crayons!

2009-03-11T21:05:00.000-07:00

I am recovering from a two day workshop on the coast coloring with friends and crayons.

Hats off to Eugene!

2009-03-07T06:55:00.000-08:00

WOW! Last night I was in the colorful city of Eugene doing a demo on colored pencils for the Colored Pencil Society of America District Chapter 201. The chapter hosts a show every year and one of our main difficulties is finding a gallery where we can hold it. Having a large portion of our group in the Portland metro area we usually have the show up north. This is our first year in Eugene.

Eugene has a "First Friday ARTWalk" on obviously the first Friday of the month sponsored by the Lane Arts Council where the guided tour includes stops at galleries and interviews with artists. Some people go with the tour and others go it in smaller groups. Our show was at The Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts (DIVA) a not-for-profit Center located in the heart of Eugene. I was at the gallery doing a demo of my work from around 5:00 p.m. to 8:00. I had a BLAST! It was estimated that over 600 people came through the gallery. They were of all ages and all sectors of the community and a joy to talk to. When I was not talking to people about colored pencils I was listening to the "Wows" as they viewed the art. The atmosphere was energized and people were just out having a great time.

In my many years being involved in this show I have never experienced anything like this. HATS OFF TO EUGENE AND YOUR SUPPORT OF THE ATRS!

Thank you to CJ for being there to document the event in pictures as well as moral support, Do Mi for demoing with me and Kelly for manning or should I say womaning the "Try It" table. Thanks also to Barbara for getting us into the gallery and her hubby Dan for backup and Sharrie for doing all the work as exhibit chairman, and my hubby for escorting me, and a BIG Thank You Eugene!

Where The River Rests

2009-02-20T13:35:00.000-08:00

I am done with the river rock painting. I have had it in my studio, resting on my easel for the past few weeks. From here I can view it in changing light and tweak it here and there. I decided it was complete and signed it. Today I am taking photos and framing it for a Colored Pencil Show in March and April.

River Painting Final...

2009-01-29T14:11:00.000-08:00

Hmmmm, O.K. after taking my painting into my workshop and having quite a lovely discussion, I have come to the realization that this did not go abstract so much as impressionist. I'm o.k. with that. As a mater of fact I love impressionism. That may have something to do with the results. So, I have sprayed a workable fixative on it and will let it set in the studio for a few days, that is if I can keep my mitts off it, and let it tell me what it needs, if anything.

To be continued...

River Painting Final?

2009-01-27T11:55:00.000-08:00

Well I couldn't let it alone for long. I also could not stop the creative process and take photos.

I pushed and pulled colors. I scrubbed and added, took off and added more. At one point I decided the painting would never be any good and I would just moth ball it and move on. I'm glad I pushed on. I am feeling very good about the painting now.

What do you think?

River Painting step 3,4,and more

2009-01-24T14:17:00.000-08:00

In this next photo I have started applying colored pencil with sticks. I decided to use some natural mineral spirits to blend the colors. I had somewhat mixed results. The colors would blend well but would muddy if I didn't work from the light colors to the dark colors. If I had the "Rub N' Buff" under the color it would get muddy as well. I ended up using a lot of mineral spirits and the areas where I used it stayed tacky for the rest of the day.

Unfortunately I was in too big a hurry on the next photo and it was out of focus so... fast forward to the next day and a lot more color.

I am struggling with the painting now and feel it is moving more and more away from an abstract. I think I will let it sit for awhile and look at it and think about what it needs.

River Painting step 2

2009-01-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

Next I applied some "Rub N' Buff" with my finger in some places. This reminded me of finger painting! What fun. I was just careful to keep applying the color in some places and not all over, standing back and looking for where I thought I would like more. I used a turquoise color, some silver and a bit of gold and red.

I then decided to add water soluble colored pencils. In the first photo I have the color on dry. The next photo shows the color after I applied water.

After it is dry I will start adding color with colored pencil sticks.

River Painting step 1

2009-01-22T16:58:00.000-08:00

O.K. Once again I am going to try and share my process in the creation of my painting.

Last fall I stopped along a local river and took some photos of the river and autumn foliage. The water level was so low I could almost walk across the river on the river bed. I loved the formation the water had carved on the rock bed.

I have decided this will be my subject. I begin by creating thumb nail sketches. Very quickly I realized that I had two paintings to consider. One of the landscape including the rocks in the river and another of just the rock patterns.

After some thought I have decided to do both paintings starting with the rocks. I looked through all my reference photos and started to crop just the rock patterns till I came across something I liked. I decided I would attempt to do this one as an abstract. I have not attempted an abstract painting in over 30 years so we will see how it goes.

I decided to make the painting 28 1/2 by 23 inches because I already have a frame that will fit that size. I have also decided to put it on illustration board. I cut the board and taped off a 2 3/4" border all around for the 3" mat. This will give me a 1/4" all around to make sure my mat will cover.

I then decided to texture the board with Gesso and a sponge. I applied a thin coat of Gesso on a small area and dabbed the sponge over the wet Gesso. After it dried I sketched out some guide lines with a gray pencil.

The hardest part is remembering to stop and take a photo.

Doubt...

2009-01-19T17:07:00.000-08:00

I was contemplating starting a painting I have been thinking about since last Fall. I started doing some thumb nail sketches and was in the process of scanning the images to share on my blog when I came to a stop. It was almost like a vail came down and covered me, smothered me. I began to question why I would want to go through the process of doing yet another painting. No one would buy it and it would sit with my other paintings in a corner of my studio gathering dust. Why bother?

I spent the rest of the day digging myself out of my gloom and doom, telling myself time and again, I do it because I have to. I do my art because it is in me and I need to let it out to feel whole, to feel like I am complete. I do my art for me! Why dose it get to be so complicated sometimes?

Why do we question our talent and abilities to just express ourselves through our art and not care what the rest of the world thinks? Maybe it is the gray days of winter or the alignment of the planets that caused such doubt to overcome me. This too shall pass, and thankfully it has. I am ready to begin anew!

Early Spring Clean

2009-01-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

Well, it's a brand new year and time to think about the future. I have been thinking about my art and what new directions it will take in 2009.

To begin the process I am cleaning out my studio space. Yikes! At first it seemed a daunting and insurmountable task but my loving partner helped me with the first steps. We broke it down and just started by sorting through the closet. He suggested that I remove anything that did not have to do with art or the business of art. That got the ball rolling and I have been proceeding quite successfully. I have a pile for the thrift store, a pile for recycle, and a pile of garbage. When I finish I hope to have a room where I can work that inspires me.

I think it is important to have a space for your art work, small or large, someplace where your art is center to everything else. I also think if I clear out old stuff it will make room for fresh ideas to enter, a kind of Fug Shui concept. So, get busy and clear some space for your art in 2009!

Artist in the Classroom

2008-12-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had the privilege of spending 90 minutes in Mrs. Eastwood's high school art class talking about and sharing my love of colored pencils. It began with a request from Mrs. Eastwood to the Corvallis Art Guild for artists to spend time in the art room with the kids teaching techniques and discussing the business side of the art world. I was privileged in high school to have a very talented and enthusiastic teacher who introduced me to a variety of different art forms. It was under her encouragement that I learned the joy of the community of artist. I jumped at the chance to give back in whatever way I could.

Thank you Mrs. Eastwood and students for allowing me to share my colored pencil art with you. Thank you Mrs. Horting for your encouragement all those years ago.

Rose in progress - Final Steps

2008-11-25T07:56:00.000-08:00

I can now add a variety of gray pencils to create the petals and leaves of the rose. I began in the center of the rose and worked toward the outer edge. I was surprised at the amount of color that is found in some gray pencils. Some of the dark gray pencils have allot of blue in them and so would not work for a black, white, and gray painting. Some of the grays as most of you know, like French Gray's, have allot of brown in them. This was harder than I thought it would be and I had to experiment with different pencil combinations to get what I wanted for value. The background was pretty straight forward requiring only the addition of lighter values as planned. I was careful around the top of the rose to keep the white of the surface where the frost was for I had a special plan for this area.

Once the colored pencil was complete and I was satisfied it was done, I sprayed it with a fixative spray. Three or four light coats. Next I sealed the surface with three or four light coats of Golden Archival Varnish. I added Golden Heavy Gel (Gloss) with a toothpick to the frost areas and before it dried sprinkled a very fine crystal glitter on top. This gives the frost a sparkle when the light hits it. I titled the painting "First Frost".

Experimenting with this painting I learned several techniques I will apply to paintings in the future.

Rose in progress - Next Steps

2008-11-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

I have cut the Illustration board to fit my frame, 8" x 6". Now I need to think about the surface. Do I want to prepare the surface of the Illustration board or leave it as is? I have a very dark background around the rose and I do not necessarily want to try and get that dark with pencils or paint. I think I will cover the background with a coat of black gesso. That way I will only need to add the lighter values to the background. If I add black gesso to the background and not the rose this will leave the rose light enough to get the light values it needs.

I also think I need more tooth or texture on the surface, so I have decided to apply a thin layer of Acrylic ground for Pastels manufactured by Gamble to the entire surface first. This will give me a slightly sandy surface. I will allow this to dry, transfer my cartoon drawing, then apply black gesso carefully to the background. Once the gesso is dry I can begin to apply colored pencil.

Rose in progress - First steps

2008-10-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

O.K. I promised awhile ago to show my step by step process when I start a painting. So, here goes.

I decided to enter a "Black, White, and Gray" show. I have an old used frame used for oil painting with some black velvet and silver on it, so I thought it would work well for a B&W piece. The inside dimensions are 8" by 6". Not very big so it should not take too long to finish.

I know what size I want the piece to be, and I know what colors or lack of, it will have. Now I need a subject. My search begins with a trip through my hard drive going to all those photos I have been taking thinking I may want to use someday. After perusing my photos I found a rose picture I shot in the park one morning after a frost. I loved the way the frost lightly coated each blossom and I took several photographs that morning. This is the one I decided to work with.

Next I opened the photo in a photo manipulation program (like Photoshop or GIMP) and started playing with it to get a good design for my picture format. This is when all those design principles come into play. I am looking at what will be my main subject, where I will place the main subject. I am also paying close attention to the negative space and the edges of my picture. So I flip and turn and crop till I find something I like.

Next step is to convert the image to black and white. Now that I have a subject it is time to think about the surface. I know that I do not want to use a glazzing surface over the painting like glass or plexi, so I decided on illustration board. Illustration board can be sprayed with varnish to protect the surface. It will also hold up to all the abuse I might give it. So, off to cut some board!

Enid Joy Mount Gallery Award

2008-10-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

Whoopee! My painting at the Keizer Art Association show won the Enid Joy Mount Gallery Award!
It is the one posted earlier on the blog of the fall leaf. The painting of the leaf is titled "Fall's Festival" it is 32"X 20". The painting is colored pencil with just a touch of gold and copper leaf along some leaf edges. The painting is sealed with fixative and then sprayed with varnish so no glazing is needed. I had fun playing with the hanging position. It looks and feels different depending on which way it is hung (Landscape or Portrait).

I could not decide the direction I liked best so I put wire on so it could be hung either way. Then I left it to the hanging committee to decide.

Mrs. Cellophane

2008-09-24T12:47:00.001-07:00

This is my space to rant and rave so here goes.

I recently had the great pleasure of being accepted into a juried show at a art center. Imagine my excitement at receiving an acceptance letter and not a rejection letter, we all have oodles of those. The time for the show approaches and I send out press releases to my local art guild. I get a response back telling me "It looks like at least 6 so I probably won't call out anyone specifically." I then find out my name has been omitted from the list of artist in the art center's press material. My name is not on the post cards, press releases, nothing! I get the art guild newsletter and guess what, they call out the artists who are in the show specifically, but of course my name is not among them. Needless to say I am quite bummed. I feel like Mrs. Cellophane, you know like in the Broadway Musical of Chicago. Well, there is not much I can do about it except to gripe about it on my blog.

So, if you have ever had a similar experience please let me know.

Oh, and my colored pencil painting titled "YIN YANG" is in the show.

Fall is the season for art shows!

2008-09-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

OH, my! Here it is the middle of September and I have not had time to post anything on my blog this month. I am sure that time is moving faster. It seems as though the summer barely started and now it is nearly over. Classes will be starting soon and the weather will force me into the studio.

Don't you just love Fall's colors!

The leaves are turning and the Mums are blooming.
I have been busy all summer creating art for different art shows. It seems to me "When it rains, it pours" I have one show after another and they overlap in such a way as to not allow me to use the same pieces twice, Yikes! Well that is one way to get you off your backside and into the studio or outside creating.

Here is a rundown of the shows I have going:
Benton County Historical Museum in Philomath has a show of LBCC Benton Center Art Instructors. I have SIX colored pencil pieces in this show. Runs through October 4th.
Just dropped off a piece for at the Art Center in Corvallis for the 6th Around Oregon Annual Show. It runs October 2nd - 30th.
Have just finished a painting for the Showcase of Local Artists at this years Fall Festival Saturday and Sunday September 27th and 28th.
I am working on paintings to be juried Monday for the Vista's and Vineyards Annual Show at LaSells Stewart Center, OSU Campus. It will run September 29th to October 29th.

The painting of the leaf is in titled "Fall's Festival" it is 32"X 20". It is colored pencil with just a touch of gold and copper leaf along the leaf edges.

Drawing or Painting?

2008-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was going to start a post on my step by step process on how I approach my painting but got a little side tracked. Instead I will share a few of my thoughts on the debate over what to call a CP finished work.

Recently the debate about colored pencil painting verses drawing has surfaced once more. Through my many years as a member of CPSA I have struggled with the question, are my colored pencil pieces drawings or paintings? I admit in the beginning I had little doubt that my works in colored pencil were drawings. Now, I have little doubt that they are paintings.

In my search for the answer I started with the definitions.

Merriam-Webster defines the verb "paint" as: to produce in lines and colors on a surface by applying pigments. The definition of the verb "draw" as: to produce a likeness or representation of by making lines on a surface.

My search then turned to past exhibition statements of judges like this one by Kaywin Feldman, director of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art in the 2004 CPSA exhibition. Kaywin had this to say: "How appropriate that until the late 18th century the term pencil was used instead of the word brush and the word penciling could mean coloring, brushwork, or drawing. Even a quick survey of the drawings submitted for this exhibition reveals artists who are often able to manipulate their pencils as though they used brushes or chalks."

In 2005 juror Suzanne Folds McCullagh, curator of the Art Institute of Chicago had this to say: "Who could imagine the variety of technical effects that one can achieve with that most portable and apparently simple of tools - a pencil? Although drawing with colored chalks can be traced to the sixteenth century, the availability of colored pencils and the profusion of works in them is certainly a more recent phenomenon... The two highest prizewinners demonstrate the dazzling achievement of widely different applications of the medium and resulting effects: while the first could rival any watercolor, pastel, or oil painting in its lush layering of the medium on its support, the second plays off adept and colorful lines against a generous sheet of paper with a draftsmanship and imagination that is at once exciting and powerful."

In conclusion I don't think it much matters if you refer to your work as a drawing or a painting. For me, having worked in a plethora of different mediums, I use colored pencils more as if I were painting than as if I were drawing and I refer to them as fine art paintings. "You say tomato, I say tomahto". I leave you with the words of William Martin Jean, director of the Continuing Education at Cleveland Art Museum and juror of the 1995 exhibition: "The 1995 CPSA Exhibition will demonstrate the scope and range of colored pencil as a medium. As with other media, it can be concealed in the rendering of the subject or it can be used more expressively and show the marks of the artist. Works can be explosive or subtle, colorful or subdued, textural or smooth, realistic or abstract; its limits have not yet been reached."

The debate goes on.

Pun Intended

2008-08-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

A friend and fellow artist has just written a book for photographers. He has a great sense of humor and is known for his puns.

"Upon discovering that Miles Black, the famous phrenologist from Yorkshire was going to take up yodeling to lonely goats in Bali, James White decided to balance four planks of wood on a beer keg and call it an abstract work of art in the style of a famous fourteenth-century architect, just going to prove that people will read any old garbage if they think there will be a good pun at the end of it."

Thanks Terry!

If you want more information about Terry's "The Handy Photography Booklet" let me know.

Art Museums

2008-08-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

I just returned from the International Colored Pencil Show in Seattle. Wow, what fun! I attended two great workshops, ate yummy food, stayed in a very posh hotel, and visited with old friends, can't get much better than that. OH, but it did, before we left the city original built on seven hills, we went to the Seattle Art Museum and viewed an exhibit on Impressionism Painters. What a thrill to stand before such masterful works. I almost came to tears more than once just by being in the presence of these paintings.

So, let me know if you have had the same kind of reaction when viewing masterpieces at an art museum, or perhaps a different reaction.

Colored Pencil Art?

2008-06-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

Wow! Where dose the time go? Here it is the middle of June already. I have been out enjoying our beautiful vistas and painting up a storm. I hesitate saying storm since we have been experiencing many showers this spring, as the growth of the weeds in my garden are attributed to.
Recently I have been experiencing confusion about colored pencil art as a "fine" art medium.

Webster defines painting as "to produce in lines and colors on a surface by applying pigments". Most colored pencil artists refer to their work as a painting because of the application of color washes as well as the color layers that are applied. These washes are not wet as with conventional forms of paint like oil or watercolor but are used in much the same way. Some even use paint brushes, as I do to blend color.

A little colored pencil history: Available since the early nineteenth century, a moderate range of 15-20 colors was manufactured in both America and Europe by the early 20th century. The pencils, however, were not highly pigmented and did not contain as much wax as today's products, nor were they marketed for artistic use. A circa 1905 catalog refers to "commercial colors for checking and marking". By 1924, colored pencils in over 60 colors were being sold for artistic use by A.W. Faber; that same year Caran d'Ache, a leading manufacturer of artists' colored pencils, was founded in Switzerland, with Schwan Stabilo in Germany following a year later. In America, Berol Prismacolors, advertised for their velvety texture and wide range of laboratory tested colors, were introduced in 1938. Today's artists have at their disposal an enormous range of colored pencils to choose from, in both water and organic solvent soluble varieties, as well as a professional organization to represent their interests, The Colored Pencil Society of America.

Most people when they think of colored pencils. think of the hard, pale colored pencils of childhood, the ones they used in school to color cell diagrams in science classes. Colored pencils have come a long way. It is the proportion of pigments, which are fairly expensive, versus filler material that separate artistic grade colored pencils from other colored pencils.

In the late 1970’s, after years of testing, light fastness standards were written for oils, watercolors, acrylics, and alkyds. Since then, paints suitable for fine artwork (IE: will not fade over time) are marked with Light fastness symbols I and II, providing artists the option of choosing materials that have been stringently tested for light fastness. In the early 1990’s, a standard for gouache was written. Testing has just begun for a pastel and ink jet ink light fastness standard.

In the early 1990’s, with the founding of the Colored Pencil Society of America, CPSA, and the increasing use of colored pencil for creating fine art, it became necessary to have a standard of light fastness for this medium. The impetus for a standard from artists and CPSA was overwhelming.

Research began in the early 1990’s and has just culminated in 2003 in the writing of ASTM D6901 Standard Specification for Artists’ Colored Pencils.

Artists choosing light fast colored pencils as their medium can now work with confidence in knowing that their art will not fade. Public awareness of this fact will increase their artworks value and profitability.

Some people will tell you that oils are the only valid medium for realistic paintings. Colored pencils are fairly new to the fine art world compared to oils. The exploration of this new medium has just begun and I think we will see much more in the years to come.

For more information about colored pencils go to www.CPSA.org

Drawing Skills

2008-05-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

You know, having the ability to draw has served me well through the years. I first made and sold felt cut outs of my school mascot in grade school and later in high school I made posters and sold them. When my children were in school I would draw images for their reports and help in the school plays by designing and painting the sets. I have a friend who is a surgical nurse and she is going in for back surgery. She requested that I draw the the three wise monkeys on her back "see no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil". This is one of the most outlandish requests I have had but I figured, what the heck! I think they look quite hilarious! I am sure the surgical team will get a kick out of them as well.

Good luck Nancy, I will be thinking of you :)

En plein air

2008-05-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Today I made my first outing of the summer to paint. I joined a group of local artists at a plant nursery this morning for some En plein air painting. En plein air is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors. I am a member of a group that paints outdoors every Wednesday morning during the summer. This is a great group of artists and a wonderful opportunity to join together in the security of a group.

If you have not experienced painting outdoors I highly recommend it. There is noting quite like spending some time outdoors in a beautiful location painting. This is the painting I did this morning. It is quite small, only about 8x6 inches. I thought I should start small till I got back into the grove. I am just pleased as punch to be out painting again!

Artist or Not?

2008-04-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

The other day, in one of my classes, I had a student say something like, "Well you are a professional artist...". Anyway, this is the part of the conversation I remember the most because it caught me a bit off guard. In another class I had a student say, "She was not an artist, just liked to paint". Why is it that we, as artists, find it hard to acknowledge our accomplishments? If you paint, sculpt, draw, photograph, sing, dance, play a musical instrument, are you not an artist?

Pat B. Allen wrote in her book Art is a Way of Knowing, "Art making is my way of bringing soul back into my life." How can we not call ourselves artists when we express ourselves, our soul, through our art? Granted, we may be at different stages, and even different paths in our journey as artists and we sometimes brand ourselves as such, saying things like: I am an amateur painter, photographer, etc., etc., fill in the blank. It seems to me that an amateur painter is still an artist.

A quote from Max Beckmann 1884 -1950 found in Clint Brown's book Artist to Artist: "Art is creative for the sake of realization, not for amusement: for transfiguration, not for the sake of play. It is the quest of our self that drives us along the eternal and never-ending journey we must all make." So, in searching for realization and transfiguration and the quest of our self, stand tall, take a deep breath, and call yourself an artist!

Artist Receptions

2008-04-07T08:03:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of the company of two delightful gentlemen at the 17th Annual Colored Pencil Society District Chapter 201 show and artist reception. My husband and a friend joined me on a trek to Oregon City for a wonderful afternoon of art and conversation.
I can't count the number of artist receptions I have attended through the years. They are to me both exciting and a chore. I very much enjoy going and mingling with the other artist, the excitement and anticipation of the awards seems to fill the space. On the other hand I sometimes find it hard to come up with chit chatty things to say and worry when the conversation drops to silence.
To my surprise and joy I was awarded a prize for one of my paintings. It is always nice to be recognized at one of these receptions, though I have entered many and not been awarded. Thinking back to the first show I entered, and this was a great many years ago, it was a competition during my years in high school sponsored by a local manufacturing company. The first, second and third place winners were to be awarded cash prizes, as usual, but the art was to become the possession of the company. As it turned out, the judge was aquatinted with the mother of one of the students who entered and the names were on the pieces being judged so, to make a long story short I did receive third place and my wonderful wall hanging was purchased for not quite what the materials cost. I came away from that experience a little bitter to say the least.
Well, I am glad to have that off my chest!
Back to receptions. Tell me what you think about artist receptions. Do you have an experience to share? Send me your comment.
Thanks Ted and Jim for a delightful afternoon and dinner.
Oh, the painting at the right is the award winner and the title is "Flavor of Rhubarb"

Recovery

2008-04-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

Slowly but surely I am recovering from the tea party. Wow, what a lot goes into hosting high tea! All in all I think everyone had a good time. I have asked one of the guests to send me pictures, I was far too busy making sure my guests had what they needed to take pictures. As soon as I can I'll post some.
I had the pleasure of the company of five little girls at the tea, each dressed in their best dresses and shoes, some with hats, some with fine hairdos, ranging in age from nine to three. I think they were a bit put out at the fact that they couldn't go outside and play, but we drank tea and juice, had some great food and wonderful conversations. Thank you to all my guests and a big thank you to my daughter Jodie and her friend Lindsey for all their help.

Now I am reeling from the first week of spring term classes. The first week is always a bit chaotic. I had one class on my calendar at 10 and it started at 9! Oh well, stuff happens. It is also quite exciting to see new faces and learn their story and journey as artists.

The Art of the Tea Party

2008-03-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

This morning I am up early to finish the final preparations for a tea party. Every since my granddaughter was born more than three years ago, I have talked about having high tea with her grand ma ma. Well, the day has finally arrived. Today will be the first high tea.

In preparation I have discovered a whole tea culture. There is a plethora of web sites and blogs dealing with nothing but tea and tea parties. I had no idea. Anything and everything you would or could ever want or need to know about tea is out there, from recipes for cucumber sandwiches to what kind of tea to serve with different foods. We are keeping things relatively simple, some quiche and strawberries, scones and tea sandwiches, and of course tea cake.

I have discovered there is an art to tea parties. If you have a story you would like to share with me about your experience with the art of tea, please send me your comments.

Keep an eye out for photos of the party. It should be fun!

Garden Artists

2008-03-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of those rare spring days in Oregon, when it is warm enough and not pouring rain, to get into the garden and do a bit of spring cleaning. I spent the day weeding my flower beds and taking inventory of the plants that survived the past winter months. My back is complaining today.

I relish the time I have in the garden for it gives me time to think about things. Growth and renewal, plans for the future, what to fix for dinner. I found myself thinking about art and how gardeners are artists that paint with flowers. A bit of red here, a little white there.

So tell me, do you paint with plants in your garden? If so do you plan your painting or, do as I do and just let it happen?

This is a colored pencil painting I did several years ago of the Mohawk River (Earnest) Covered Bridge in spring time.