I’m happily back teaching a collage class
as part of the Life Long Learning program at Linden Ponds.
Yesterday we did simple abstracts using 5 different colored papers
cut into 5 different shape; then arranged.
Here are just a few of the fun results.
It is truly wonderful to spend time with these
entusiastic and charming residents.
Next week we’ll be doing landscapes!
We had a wonderful day playing with paint, cut paper, and glue
on Saturday at the North River Arts Society.
Nine brave artists pretending they were in
pre-school.
Here are some of the collage results.
The idea was to organize the shapes and colors
in a pleasing arrangement.
To me, there is nothing more fun than making art
in a room with other artists.
The sharing of different experiences, ideas, and approaches
is so fullfilling and truly inspiring.
In preparation for the one day workshop this Saturday,
I’m still playing around with using collage
as a means to simplify paintings.
Here is my process:
First I set up a simple still life.
Then I did a quick gouache sketch of it.
Using the painitng as a reference, I then did this collage.
Below is the quick painting I did using
the gouache and the collage as a reference.
I allowed this last one to get too literal and tight.
I’m still fnding the initial sketch and/or the collage more exciting than the final piece.
I think I’m over thinking this whole thing.
I’ve been missing in action while I transition from summer to fall.
A change in the seasons always interupts my focus and work flow.
Yesterday I finally got around to doing the painting
from the collage I did last month.
(see previous post)
Jayne’s Koi Pond
10 x 10 oil on board
Admittedly, I did not use the collage as a reference
as it was too confusing!
I ended up referring to the original image.
I do think that doing the collage informed my paint application and
simplification of shapes.
I tried to keep the details to mere suggestions.
I’m re-thinking the plan for the one day workshop
I’m teaching at NRAS on Oct 5.
NEWS:
I’m pleased to say that the painting below
won an honorable mention last week
at the NRAS Members Show!
”Hot Sunday”
20 x 20 oil
It’s fall and I’m thrilled to be
”back to school”.
I’m working on a new one day worskhop I’m offering at
North River Arts Society
Saturday October 5
Designing Paintings With Collage
9:30 – 3:30 Saturday Oct. 5 2019
A one day workshop geared for painters who are working toward a more modern, less representational approach to their paintings. We will discover how to design simple, strong paintings by experimenting with collage and mixed media. By nature, using cut or torn paper as a medium, releases you from the control you may have when painting. We’ll create simple collages, using images or paintings (either ours or one we admire) as a reference. Then we will paint a new painting using the collages as a reference. All mediums welcome. All levels. Limit 12. Collage materials provided.
I did this quick experiment yesterday,
using the image below as a reference.
(A Procreate sketch over a photo)
I’ll now use the collage as a reference to do a
mostly non-representational painting of the subject.
My goal is to find ways to use reality for the initial inspiration,
then allow the process to take over;
getting lost in the moment and materials.
Magic can happen when when that happens.
I was recently introduced to Cynthia Wick,
an artist who uses paper in her paintings.
Inspired by her work and a trip to a local flower farm,
I worked on this today without using a reference,
and just let it evolve.
“Buckets of Rununculus”
16 x 16 acrylic / cut paper
I started by lightly applying acrylic paint
to canson canva paper.
Then kept building with papers and more paint.
(Close up)
This is a terrifc way to allow yourself to play
and let the voice come out.
Hoping to do more of these!
This painting is the last of a long line of studies
that have been in the works since last winter.
The subject intrigued me after my husband and I got a tour of a
recently opened spa nearby.
I was taken by the contrast of the neutral wall and the red bathing suits,
and wanted to capture the feeling of steam and excitement in the air.
(I made up the red wine)
Spa Day 10 x 10 oil on board
Here’s one of the many initial sketches
including only two of the girls:
This larger 18 x 24 version
went through many changes throughout the winter
and eventually it just felt overworked,
so I put it away.
Another cropped version.
I thought the table and life saving ring were distracting.
18 x 18
A close up to show the mark making.
I wanted the feeling of steamy bubbles !?
I rarely explore a subject for so long,
so this was a challenging exercise.
I think I’ll leave it for now and see wait for a new subject to come along.
Happy Painting!
I’ve begun to get inquiries about private lessons
and I’m excited to be offering them again in late September.
The classes are held in my studio in Norwell, MA
and start at $175 for 3 hours.
If interested, please e-mail me a brief description of
where you are in your painting journey
and what you would like to gain from the class(es) .
We can then work out the details.
I’m fairly flexible but prefer mid-week days.
Meanwhile, here are a few pieces I’m playing with
at the beach.
Hope everyone is having a great summer.
Lazin’ 10 x 10 oil
Striped Suit 9 x 12 oil
Day Off 10 x 10 oil
During this heat wave,
I’ve had some time to experiment
with my favorite subject;
people on the beach.
Heat Wave 20 x 20 oil
I’m working toward stepping away from the reference
and expressing an idea or moment
(hot day on a crowded beach)
using just line, shape and color.
I’ll still work on this,
however the general feeling of it
is what I was after.
I’ve been exploring the use of line in painting recently.
I’m working on new exercises to introduce in a class I’ll be teaching this fall at North River Arts (TBA soon)
“Good Read” 12 x 12 gouache brush pen
I used a Japanese brush pen over the gouache to
delineate the shapes.
Then I used the sketch as a reference for this 20 x 20 oil.
“Good Read” 20 x 20 oil
Still a work in progress…I’m tempted to go in with thin black lines.
We’ll see.
NOTE:
Below is a view of my summer “satelite” studio.
Bare bones and bit make-shift but functional.
Having fun doing these quick gouache
studies at the beach.
“Serious Beach Chat”
10 x 10 gouache
brush pen
Day Off
10 x 10 gouache
brush pen
Trying to focus on taking a bit of reality
and making it about the shapes.
Every seasonal transiton upsets my painting rythum.
Since moving to the beach in early June
I’ve had limited time and space to do any serious painting,
so I’m trying to squeeze in quick gouach sketches,
to use as studies for larger studio paintings….
when the dust settles .
I have to remind myself that it’s ok to take a break
a few times a year.
Time with friends and family and just living life fully
gives us fresh eyes and new subject matter!
Sometimes the simplest subjects make
dynamic compositions.
“Yellow Cup”
12 x 12 gouache on paper
I don’t seem to have the time lately for long painting sessions
so it’s fun to do these quick gouache studies when I can.
Summer is finally here!
This week in class, we were talking about how value
can change the entire mood or feel of a painting.
This painting has been in the works for while,
so I used it to experiment.
Duned Inn 18 x 18 oil
The intitial idea was about the many houses on our coast
that are getting buried by rising sand dunes;
becoming “duned in” instead of “snowed in”.
I’d darkened the sky to make the sand dune more prominate.
When I put it into Procreate and adjusted the values
of the sky, house and sand;
each one tells a different story!
Using Procreate is a very helpful tool when
planning and changing paintings in progress.
I highly reccomend it.
It’s so fun to have such terrific subject matter
right outside my door these days.
This is an all time favorite.
These men can do this for hours on end…..
”Surf Casters” 9 x 12 gouache on paper
Playing with gouache and an ink pen
until I bring over my full painting gear.
Happy Father’s Day Weekend!
As the summer routine begins to take shape,
I’m inspired by new surroundings and getting some time to just play with paint!
Today I used a gessoed wood panel with oils,
very thin paint
and held my brush differently.
(using my wrist instead of my fingers)
Orange Throw 12 x 12 oil on board (Work in Progress)
Here’s how it went;
The block-in using my new favorite color: asphaltum
Adding one color note at a time.
Ug oh! Too many colors. And so it goes….
We’ll see where this takes me.
I’m channeling a bit of Diebenkorn
here, I think.
Go Bruins.
Summer is ramping up and the weather if finally starting to cooperate.
The Rosa Rugosa is in full bloom at the beach now
and the fragrance is out of this world.
My mother-in-law Rose planted these in the 60’s.
“Pink Cottage” 6 x 11 gouache
This iconic little beach cottage gets re-painted
a brighter pink every year and it looks stunning
amidst all of the
Rosa Rugosa surrounding it.
NOTE:
So far, I’ve only managed to bring my my gouache set to the beach
and plan on bringing over a full blown kit of supplies next week.
Let the summer begin!
I’ve been busy transitioning from winter to spring/summer,
so I’ve been a bit MIA in the painting department.
The change of weather and all that that brings;
gardening, house projects, celebrations,
and travelling have kept me pre-occupied.
New subject matter is popping up everywhere,
and I’m looking forward to the dust settling
so I can get to work!
Happy Spring/Summer
This painting has endured
many versions of itself.
“Lap Nap”
16 x 16 oil
The initial idea was to capture the essence of
my good friend and her pup.
Right off, I struggled with her face and the pup competing for attention.
After many attempts to pull it together
I switched gears and decided to crop it,
making it less a portrait,
and more an abstract expression.
I’m learning to let go of my initial idea
and let the painting evolve as needed.
Many of the new artists I’ve been discovering lately
paint very intuitively;
applying paint freely, then scrapping and re-applying.
I watched a demo of Martin Campos painting the figure today
and got inspired to try it.
I did this in oil over the acrylic block in below.
In both I used a limited pallet
(a blue, red, yellow black and white)
and tried not to get too hung up on the subject or drawing.
I applied the paint loosely and did a lot of scraping.
For me, this is a very sophisticated and fascinating way to paint.
No guidelines; just you and the paint.
NOTE:
I’ve wanted to paint the figure for a while now
but haven’t had a model, so I used this still shot
I took from a scene in
Bohemiam Rhapsody
