"NEW" Swimmining-in-Paint SUMMER SCHEDULE

All of us have spring break and summer  travel plans in play. Myself, I have a  project that will require my full attention over the next many months. The critique and problem solving is the most valuable contribution I bring to the SIP table.

I came up with a cool summer idea for the SIP team; particularly the members who have relentlessly supported Swimming-in-Paint over the last few years. A twice monthly "Critique, Problems & Fixes" session. This will replace our normal weekend SIP sessions at Crossroads starting May 1, 2018 through  August 2018.

Recharge our batteries!

 

NEW SIP SCHEDULE
(class room 2)

• May 9th & 23rd - 3:30 to 6:30pm

• June 13th & 27th  - 3:30 to 6:30pm

• July 11th & 25th - 3:30 to 6:30pm

• August 8th & 22nd - 3:30 to 6:30pm

The mission will be no different other than we will work at home and communicate via blog and email with a twice monthly Crossroads "Critique, Problems & Fixes". Basically a show & tell where we can actually fix any unresolved problems on site. The team will be welcome to paint, observe the critiques or simply catch up and share our stories.

The personal critique will be scheduled in half hour increments.

The summer "WOW" wall paintings will be selected from the "Critique". As paintings sell they will be replaced. If a sale is from the Coaches WOW wall the artist will have priority on a replacement work.

Finally, class demos will be discontinued and reserved for Crossroads regularly scheduled opening nights every two months. 

There you have it, a holiday solution to something some of us have been chatting about lately:=)  

 PS: Off this morning to "Art Reflecting Nature" at Upper Shirley Vineyards to meet up with SIP team and many other plein air artists for painting madness! Event is sponsored by the Rice Rivers Center VCU. Hope the sun stays out to warm things up....

Transitions

The Gardenia was often used as a decoration during the first part of the 19th century. I rather like the formality and elegant style of that era which really crumbled to the mid-century Modern era soon after world war 11.

This new canvas, like "Theater" will start off with a basic grey-scale Isadora Duncan reference - can't wait to see where it goes......

CANVAS 1240 (54x46)

The huge sun surprised me when I actually used it! And then to make it a major sized element as it is...just WOW....now what! However, when I added the tiny white gardenia flower, it was oddly in check. Amazing how something so small can redirect the eye. It also became clear this was going to be a story about innocence, maturity and perhaps motherly advice.

RED GUIDELINES

When it came to developing an expanding composition, I particularly liked the challenge a simple gray scale reference posed. My red guidelines work well. I prefer strong design moves that pull the eye off the canvas.  It suggests only a snippet is exposed. 

The sheer fabric on the right quickly evolved into a major design element in my composition. It did leave me with a problem tho....... a space beyond. I'm not sure the stairs were needed,....they just happened at the last minute. I needed a connection other than having them floating/suspended off into the solar system. 

The final composition was split vertically between youthful simplicity and mature elegance. It seemed appropriate to the "Transitions" story

"Transitions" 54x46 oil on linen (4-20-18 canvas 1240)

The mug shots in my previous post were to improve my flesh and paint quality. Something I see closeup needs more work if I continue down this particular path..... never ends!

Mug shots

My new fun project, a series of quick succession mug shots done over the last few weekends during Swimming-in-Paint at Crossroads Art Center.

Going down a crazy path - bits and pieces

Often paintings are a collage of bits and pieces, remolded, shaped to fit new narratives. This theatrical painting was very much a construction of many bits and pieces. Beyond a couple black and white photos of Isadora Duncan and Loie Fuller poses below....there was no plan beyond that.

BITS & PIECES

SOME THEATER IN OIL

Theater 50x44 oil on linen (4-12-18 canvas 1237)

My favorite bit!

The jury is still out on this one but its more fun to ramble down that crazy path because it can conjure up new adventures too.... and it did:=)

Before and after

Six years ago this month I was hot on the trail of the Ballet. I believe at the time Black Swan was a popular DVD release.... good but dark movie. Anyway, a rather large failed painting came out of it. The sketch below was used as my starting point .

BEFORE

EXPELLED SWANS!

Expelled 56x46 oil on linen (4-19-12)

The other day I stumbled on it again with fresh eyes...... I remember wanting evil eyes, and after several missed attempts it was packed away and forgotten. Well, with fresh eyes... forget her eyes, her head was awkwardly positioned, oversized and too damn long!! It deserved to be locked away!

AFTER

Her shoulders and head were completely repainted. The male figure was highlighted a bit to match. I can't says she's evil but I like her better.
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Resurrection 56x46 oil on linen (4-6-18 canvas 1233)

(original 4-19-18 canvas 650)
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FRAMED

 DETAILS

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This is one of those times a crystal ball would be nice to gaze into "Resurrections"  future......