I hope those of you who agreed they'd like to have a place where we can post our pictures and get suggestions will join this group. I tried not using my name, but Art Buddies, or Art Buds were both taken. We can move the group or change the name, I don't care. And someone else can take it over (hint! hint! Susan?), but until then, let's see how we do.
I will post my latest and comment on it. I'd love comments and suggestions, and then I hope you'll post what you're working on and let us all comment on your work. I'd also love to do something intellectual like all reading the same book or commenting on a quote or something. We'll just see how it goes.
The latest canvas I haven't covered over with gesso (yet!) is called "In Praise of Tulips Past Their Prime." It is not the best thing I've ever done, but I don't hate it. It's 36" square and was painted over at least three failed previous paintings, which gives it some texture and depth, I hope. I don't think it's finished, but I don't know what else to do at the moment but look at it.
Some things I'd love to hear from people are: if you love gesso the way I do; if you paint over and over a piece of canvas; how you know when your painting is finished; if you have read "The Painter's Keys" by Robert Genn.
I'm issuing an invitation to my artist friends to join me in this group. When you come by, I hope you'll tell us a little bit about yourself and what you'd like to see us do in the group. I hope you'll also post something you are working on or have recently finished.
Thanks, and I hope to hear from you,
I'm new to this genre and learning as I go. (Thank you Lucy!)
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to see not only the art pieces being worked on, but maybe some discussion as to the techniques implemented. What steps have been taken & what are intended. Where did you find the materials you incorporated? How did you apply them? What difficulties did you encounter? What would you do differently?
I may be a annoyance, seeking guidance from you of accomplishment, so feel free to ignore my plea, I won't be offended. I sincerely enjoy even just looking at the works posted and trying to figure out the how myself. Just keep posting!
For myself, I am primarily a photographer. I have written poetry for most of my life, but have sashayed from it of late. I have started doing collage, partially due to Lucy's Ohio visit and local comrade, Michelle. I also enjoy doing assemblages, mostly in my garden, but have started to do a smaller scale for indoor pieces.
Hi Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteThanks for chiming in. I'd like to add to Cheryl's considerable credentials by saying this girl is a dynamo! She is a publisher (art and poetry journals), and I am very impressed with her energy. I met Cheryl and Nonnie when I went to Ohio to visit Michelle. Michelle took me to the local coffee shop for the regular meeting of a group of artists. We really clicked.
As to my painting technique, I am an acrylic enthusiast. I use primarily Golden products--Fluid acrylics, acrylic gel. I use any kind of gesso. Gesso was my "gateway drug" I guess you could say, into art. Once I discovered gesso, my fear of putting paint on anything disappeared. Gesso covers all. I use gesso in place of white acrylic paint as well.
I don't know how to use watercolor and I feel constitutionally unfit for the kind of watercolor I'd like to do (such as Linda Baker's stuff, the super realistic work that she does.) I'd like to work with oils, but feel constitutionally unfit for it as well. I can't stand waiting for oils to dry.
I'm working on working on an artist statement. I think it will have something in it about calling people's attention to the ordinary things in life. The painting above is an example. When you stop and look at ordinary things, you realize they are quite extraordinary. (The same with women past their prime."
Let's hear from the rest of you!
Hi Lucy.
ReplyDeleteLike Cheryl, I spent a good number of years (nearly twenty!) writing poetry but have recently returned to my first love, art. I love both words and art, but I don't remember ever catching myself smiling and humming while working on a poem the way I do when I'm painting (though the smile invariably fades when I step back to look at what I've done). I hope to return to words one day, and I hope to continue with art.
I've never read Genn's book, though I do know it's all words and no pictures! What are your thoughts on it?
I love, love, love gesso, though I recently read that we have to be careful when painting with it because it tends to crack.
Thank you for creating a space for creativity, expression, and friendship among kindred souls!
Love you,
M.
By the way, I love "In Praise of Tulips Past Their Prime." Are you working on the second painting in this series? I can't wait to see how it informs the first one, and vice versa. Your work always inspires me, as do you!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle ,
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining in. I recently got "The Painter's Keys," A Seminar with Robert Genn. The first chapter was particularly relevant to me; one of the things he wrote about was what he called, "Little Recipes." I think I'll share them with this group, one each day that I get around to it.
Here's the first: " Defocus: Paintings that are equally sharp and focused are boring. When we work from life, our eyes dart around the subject, focusing on each item, and this creates a problem. Real life is different. When each of you look at me I am in focus, but the no-smoking sign up here beside me is not. Your paintings will pick up life if subjects you wish to feature are sharper, and secondary elements softer."
Also, and Michelle already knows this, I got a call from the publisher at the York County Magazine yesterday (local). Each month he features an artist on the middle spread in the free magazine and he called to ask me to be a featured artist! Now, I've met Bill a couple times, but I suspected he had been into my friend Lell's Cafe where two of my paintings are hung prominently on the wall. Sure enough, Lell has been talking me up. He's coming out today for a two hour interview complete with head shot. I'm nervous but excited.
I see my workshop neighbor (we had adjacent tables) Lana has joined us as a follower. Welcome Lana, please introduce yourself and tell us what you've been working on.
Lucy
Hi Lucy,
ReplyDeleteJust returned from Houston and took all the paintings I did from Carla's workshop to my gallery. Glad you got the blog up and running and promise to keep in touch through it.
I too use gesso for new and old paintings. I love to leave a little of the "bad" ones showing through as it adds a little age and character to the newer one. I also like to sand down the gesso a little for a different effect.
As to color or value I am definitly a colorist although value does have to come into play even with this method.
Hope you can post the article on the blog as I dont think the mail service here in the Bahamas would get it to me in my lifetime!
Lana
Hi Lana,
ReplyDeleteLet me introduce Lana Williams, whose table was next to mine (lucky me!) in the Carla O'Connor workshop we took at Myrtle Beach in November. She and Susan Wiley (who I hope will join us eventually; her mother recently died) were on either side of me as we tried Carla's techniques. Apparently, Lana was more successful than I.
Lana, your paintings were good enough to put in your gallery???? I think I told you I gessoed over all of mine. Do you have pictures of them you could post for all of us envious people? Or tell us the website so we can see them?
Lana has a gallery in or near Houston, as I understand it. Her daughter runs it and Lana (as you can see from her note) lives in the Bahamas. Not too shabby, huh?
So, Lana, tell us how you define "colorist" and how you relate it to value. I find that very hard to do.
Thanks,
Lucy
Lucy
Hi Lucy,
ReplyDeleteSorry I am slow with this. Power off on island yesterday. Not unusual.
As to the difference in value painter and colorist I don't feel there is much as I am also using the value of each color starting from light to dark. I generally start with a dominant color overall with its opposite on the color wheel as the focal point but always keeping in mind each colors value. You are doing the same thing with black and white.
I did not photograph my paintings before I left for Houston thinking I would do it there and then ran out of time. If my daughter gets a chance she may do it for me and I will post.
Keep warm.
Lana
Lucy,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to share a website with the group that you may find interesting.
http:www.strathmoreartist.com/vjworkship2011.html
This is put on by Strathmore paper and I have found it to be fun and educational. Living on an island and being slightly isolated from the art community I have found sites like this to be just what I need to get me going on occasion!
Hope you enjoy.
Lana