Exploring ideas on canvas

Yesterday I was at my studio easel early to continue on with my small  one session 12x12 exploratory paintings....my homework. My project subject, Venice, was started a few weeks ago in Swimming-in-Paint. I already know my final 2-day painting will be moody and atmospheric...my studies already tell me that.

The reference for the painting below was a very cool Eastern moon rise  taken from my studio deck a few years ago while the setting sun was still warming clouds.

CANVAS 1117 (one session)

Venetian Moon 12x12 oil on linen (1-26-17 canvas 1117)

TIME FOR ONE MORE 
(one session canvas 1118)

Venetian fog 12x12 oil on linen (1-27-17 canvas 1118)

My 12x12 warmups over, I'm now thinking about my weekend painting. The last few weeks were well worth my time because now I have have a few ideas for my final painting. I know Venice will be  suggestive and moody. I also know my canvas will be almost square at 40x44......not sure if it will be horizontal or vertical yet.

 Size comparison between a 12x12 and 40x44

(5) Warmup atmospheric paintings

Team, I'll be at Crossroads to open the doors at 9:30am. Don't forget to bring all your paintings related to our project including references and canvas. I have a few 24x24 canvases available. We have a big weekend ahead of us.

In the groove...:=)

Extended time off can be refreshing and welcome. However, at least for me, rust sets in...so getting back in the old groove takes a bit to brush it off.  

Coaching Swimming-in-Paint is now part of my painting plan going forward and something I look forward to each weekend. How it affects my own solo painting is a work-in-progress. 

The first thing I did this year was organize the class painting mission to run parallel with mine. I have a basket of subjects I rotate and occasionally explore a new one. I like to binge paint an idea to a conclusion. It turned out to be an efficient and organized work process.....something I would like to pass on to the team and others.

• The team has (5) full day sessions each month to explore a single subject and complete a final (2) day painting. 

Personally I don't work on multiple ideas or paintings at a time. Each is completed to the best of my ability regardless of time. Good or bad, each is signed, numbered, recorded......when the energy is spent I move on to a fresh idea. As a daily painter working from a home studio, there are no work rules. It's a self motivated routine. Keeping it fresh and engaging is a constant.

• It's my hope each member continues exploring their chosen subject between sessions at home.......basically some good old fashion homework. The important thing here is to stay engaged and not lose focus until the project is completed. 

My painting style is quick, typically in 10 or 15 minute spurts... step back, listen to the music, look for my next move and immediately get up and do it. That would describe a typical work day for me. Sound familiar...... may match your own routine. My best time is the first hours in the morning. The important parts of any painting is always first on my list each day. The first sloppy or lazy mistake.....the session ends!

On the weekends during Swimming-in-Paint, I operate exactly the same. When I paint, I break every few minutes to visit each member..... help them work through a problem or simply give encouragement. At the same time, glancing at mine looking forward to the next few minutes I get to work on it. LOL..sometimes I don't get back to the easel as I should.

FIRST DAY -UNFINISHED

1113 Unfinished 12x12 oil on linen (1-14-17)

By our 2nd session I decided to join the team and select my own subject to work on.......a painting plan for coach:=)

I'm working on one of my favorites, Venice, with an emphasis on atmosphere. Like the rest of the team I have all week to decide what my final painting will look like.

SECOND DAY - A PLAN

 1114 Venice 12x12 oil on linen (1-15-17)

 THIRD DAY

 1115 Unfinished 20x16 oil on linen (1-21-16)

FOURTH DAY - IN THE GROOVE....LOVE IT!!

 1116 Magistry 12x12 oil on linen (1-22-17)

I can't wait, because this coming Saturday and Sunday, I and the team get our first opportunity to show our stuff doing our final project of the month. In the meantime, I'll do some homework by doing a few more 12x12's as a warm up for Saturday:=)

Swimming-in-Paint

I always know when we have a good day at Swimming-in-Paint.......few photos to share. But, at the last moment I got a few before we got out of there. The team, like last week, stayed on their painting plan..."get to know your subject a bit before jumping in on our more formal painting" which we'll tackle next weekend. Time flies when you're having fun:=)

HUNT THEME

 CARNIVAL THEME

 LILY THEME

 FLOWERS AND LIGHT

BEACH THEME

GARDEN IRIS

SNOW THEME

AND I HAD SOME TIME TO WORK ON MY THEME, VENICE

"Sunday Painters", I'll be at Crossroads at 9:30am to open the doors. The first thing we'll do is turn up the heat! Damp and chilly here this morning...

"SUNDAY PAINTERS"

This year each month the first (3) Sundays is designated as single sessions and make-up dates. Last Sunday, our first of the year, was a mixed bag of old friends getting together and a few putting their toes into the sandbox for the first time with us.

The team, like last year, jumped right in. I was struck by the diversity shown below. So we had a good day. I also noticed some cleaner palettes, working off single piles of paint and a bit less paint on them and me and more on the canvas where it belongs!  "Progress" the coach loves to see!

WINTER SNOW IN THE LANDSCAPE

FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE

  

MAYMONT

PEONIES & SUNSHINE

GARDEN IRIS

CARNIVAL

VENICE

LILY PONDS

I'm headed on over to Crossroads now to open the doors at 9:30 for the Saturday team......can't wait to see their smiley faces this morning because I'm in the mood to paint!

Getting back in the groove

WOW! Last week was hectic, getting back into the painting groove after a long holiday always is. Like the first day at school, exciting but not sure what to expect and a million questions. After the first day I was always glad when the last bell rang..... unless we were doing art projects, then there was no limit on my time. Swimming-in-Paint is a bit like that. If you're not at a stopping point no one wants to pack-up and leave...not even me:=)

This year Swimming-in-Paint is a bit different from last. Our class will cover a full month. We have three Saturdays set aside for quick studies - basically working on a single theme chosen at the outset. The last weekend of the month, Saturday and Sunday, is left to a more serious work based on our previous three Saturdays. The process will be repeated each month throughout the year.

(The first three weeks)

OUR MISSION STORY BOARD

Our first class gave me some visual material to assemble a mission board for the team going forward. 

SELECT A THEME

 (example: HORSES AND THE HUNT)

SETTLING IN ON THE HUNT

The hunt has many elements attached to it besides horses and riders in red riding coats. The hounds, the fox, the landscape setting, trees, sky and weather conditions.......hummmm. Well, no question when it's laid out like this, there's a lot of moving parts to a grand painting theme. Because of that, each element depends on the next, any weakness distracts from the whole and why paintings can fail.

Ideally a representational artist needs to paint anything well so it makes sense to organize and work one step at a time........toward an end goal.

Can't wait to see how this plays out in our last weekend!!

The team, this year is using Jerry's cost effective Centurion oil linen painting pads for our first 3-week exercise. The pads are effective, easy to store flat and if worthy of a frame can be stretched. Blue tape keeps it contained and gives us a preview of what it might look like in a frame. My favorite part, ripping the tape off! 

"Every painting presents problems, how fast we solve them will have an everlasting effect on our result. Keep it simple, work on your weakness! "  

SWIMMING-IN-PAINT - SUNDAY PAINTERS IS CANCELED

Due to snow and ice Sunday class at Crossroads is canceled. Call Crossroads Monday to reschedule 804-278-8950

Keep safe and warm!

First post of a new year!! Hughes Wall Easel

A Happy and Successful New Year to all!! 

I took some time off from painting and blogging....to clean out the attic, only to fill it up with "new stuff". I wanted to start the new year with a clean slate that required a major home decluttering and revamping.....mission accomplished! Now my studio is so wonderful and nice, I hate to mess it up, but will soon enough:=)

I'm often asked about my studio. Construction of the easel, floor recess and skylights were done a few years ago. I just now got around to making it presentable. Check it out below!

NEW REDECORATED STUDIO

 NEW 5X10 LAMINATE INSET

FLOOR CUTOUT

 CANVAS DOWN

 CANVAS UP

DUEL NORTH/SOUTH SKYLIGHTS

 LED LIGHTING ON THE CHEAP (next project)

My wall mount easel setup with pit and open ceiling will easily accommodate a 8'x10' canvas - completely finger tip adjustable to eye level while standing or sitting - custom made by Hughes Easels.

I can say with more than (2) years of use and hundreds of paintings my Hughes easel is undoubtedly the best thought-out piece of equipment on the market. Counter balanced for ease of movement regardless of the weight......large heavy frames, a piece of cake. As big as this wall mount easel is, it takes very little room, is simple to adjust.....which makes it a no brainer.

NOTE TO SWIMMING-IN-PAINT TEAM

This Saturday will start the second year for Swimming-in-Paint and I'm very excited to get back to it. I'll be a little rusty at first and we may have a little snow to deal with but I'll be there at 9:30am to let the troops in. 

 BABY JAX'S

I wonder what this generaton will be called?