Saturday, October 30, 2010

Celebration

Yesterday I posted a painting I did in Walla Walla, today I am posting another painting that I donated to a charity auction in Walla Walla. This was done in oil bar, the title is "Celebration". I saw a couple in one of the posh restaurants in Walla Walla, and while waiting for our order to come I quickly sketched them. More and more I am drawn to painting people, and, I love trying to capture them just enjoying the moment. I used more medium in this painting so I could really move the paint around quickly. I try to leave some areas of quiet, but I still seem to be trying to make everything important. I have a few more women in the market place paintings, and then I will try something new.

Friday, October 29, 2010

What could be better!

I love cheese, and I loved painting this scene at the Monteillet Fromagerie in Walla Walla, Washington State's wine country. We were there last March and I wanted to visit the Fromagerie, after seeing an article about them in the local paper. Joan, the owner and her husband were so welcoming, even though it was lambing season, they invited us in. She spent a wonderful morning tell us about making cheese and explaining the different cheeses, giving us samples. I want to go back and spend a day making cheese and learning more. They have a wonderful cottage to rent, there are wine and cheese pairings during the summer, a fresh vegetable garden,  fresh eggs,  beautiful surroundings, what could be better!.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

The Artist and the Inner Critic

So, how many of you out there have a resident inner critic? I know I do, and I find it quite annoying, most of the the time, and sometimes quite helpful. Today I have been trying to figure out how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements, and how to take a decent picture with a point and shoot camera. And, to top it off I have been working with a brush and oils trying to get those loose wonderful strokes. So, my critic is having a wonderful time! The painting today is a test, I wanted to see if I could get a decent picture, and then if I could figure out how to get it cropped and posted. So, if anyone has any thoughts on the picture or hushing the inner critic, please let me know. I love a quote that I read from Samuel Goldwyn " Don't pay any attention to the critics. Don't even ignore them" It makes sense, if you spend time listening and worrying then you won't have time to do what is necessary. I laugh whenever I think of that quote!

Monday, October 25, 2010

I love the idea of painting every day, but somehow am not as excited to share my blunders, but then who is? So, I am remembering one of my professors who said "draw every day" and made us keep a small sketch book. He always quoted Cennino Cennini from his ll LibroDell'Arte " Do not fail, as you go on, to draw something everyday, for no matter how little it is, it will be well worth while, and will do you a world of good." And, so today there are so many of us doing just that, following the words written in the early 15th century. It is well worth while, and I do love seeing what everyone else is doing and sharing, there are so many wonderful artists out there sharing their knowledge. I look forward to seeing and learning each day.

This lady was in Singapore, I love visiting markets and this one was especially lively and colorful, so I just concentrated on color again. This one is done in oil bars too, and I am getting ready to try working in oil. 

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Color and Shapes

I was reading Hawthorne on Painting, and came across a paragraph where he suggests if you get to a point and don't know what to do "just go back and simplify the big notes of color." Well that's what I did in this painting of the tea shop in Paris. I was struck by the color and shapes and I just concentrated on that in this painting. I loved the lady behind the counter, we managed to communicate with each other, and parted as friends. So, another woman in the market place reminds me of all the women out there that I have had the honor to meet. Hope you enjoy, as much as I enjoyed painting her and her wonderful little shop, just near  Place du Terte, where all the artists set up their easels.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Remembering Fiji

So far my plans for posting daily are falling by the wayside. We have been blessed with some beautiful sunny autumn days that have enticed me outside. I was remembering a trip to Fiji, and the shell collectors. I saw these two women talking and laughing and collecting shells early one morning, and later that day they were in the market selling shells to the tourists. It was a lovely day.

This was done with oil bars, not as impressionistic as I would like. But then that is the joy of painting, doing and learning, enjoying the process.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

One thing leads to another

It is amazing how we start doing something and then realize that by doing one thing it leads to another. That's what happened with this series. I did one painting and it got me thinking about all the women I had met as we traveled and suddenly there I was painting pictures of them and my memories. When we lived in Manila, I studied Chinese Brush Painting with Professor Chen Bing Sun. I adored that man, he really made us work, and at the same time taught us how to observe and "get to the essence".

This painting is a woman who lived in Baguio, in the mountains north of Manila. She wove beautiful fabric. We have a table runner that she made. I always remember her and that beautiful country whenever it is on the table. So, I hope I have gotten to the essence of the weaver.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Women in the Market Place

I started doing a series of paintings about women in the market place and I am posting the first one that I did, it is a picture of a wonderful woman that I met. She owned a small restaurant, and was interested in hanging my art work, and she did. I had several sales, and she always gave me free soup or a latte whenever I came in to check on the paintings or hang new ones. I admired the way she was so friendly and made each customer feel special, she invited the local bead shop to have morning coffees and bead shows, she had special ladies nights when it was Monday night football and the husbands were home. All in all she was so passionate about food and art, so when it came time to think about a new series for painting that was it.......Women in the Market Place. I have met many women over the years who have been out there in the market place, and if we don't speak the same language we still communicate with each other and understand. I hope you enjoy seeing some of the wonderful women that I have met. Now it is time for me to start considering another series and I have been thinking about that, but for now I will post some of my favorites. Let me know what you think, or how you work. This painting is done in oil bars.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Pike Street Market

Another busy week! Where does the time go? Today I am posting a painting I did at Pike street market, I love to see all the vegetables and fruits, and of course all the people. It is a place full of energy. Hope you enjoy it. This painting was juried into the EAFA Fall members show.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The fall rains have arrived here in the Northwest, so it is a good time to plan for the coming year.  My biggest challenge is taking pictures of my paintings to post here. So, if anyone out there has any recommendations I would appreciate any advice. I am posting another one of my Chef paintings, also done in oil bar. This was in Nagasaki, I loved the attitude of the chef, so precise and careful. This painting is currently on view at The Women Painters Of Washington Gallery.

Thank you to all who have stopped by. I must also learn how to insert your names into the text so others can see your fabulous work! This is so much, exchanging ideas and meeting new people.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

It takes a long time to bring excellence to maturity.........Pubilius Syrus.  I read that quote just the other day and got to thinking that we need to have patience and just steadily work toward our goals. I have been out of the studio this week, so I am late again posting. But, I will just keep at it until It is in fact every day. I love the Olives and it was a fun painting to do.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Take a break!

Well, after adding just one painting I got so confused and frustrated because nobody could find me, I took time off to work in the garden. I decided that I will eventually learn how to blog, but first I had dozens of spring bulbs waiting to be planted. Here is a painting that always reminds me how to enjoy the simple things in life! The wonder of a field full of daffodils! This is done with oil bars, fun and quick! I would love to hear from anyone who works with oil bars.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Keep Growing

I have just finished re-reading several of Rilke's books and am once again filled with with enthusiasm for creating and learning. I especially like his Letters to a young Poet. This is my first post, so any comments are most welcome.  The Chef was done with oil bars, like finger painting for adults.! The colors are fun, and there is a great variety. No opportunity to get too detailed, but I still try. Hopefully by the end of the year I will be more impressionistic.