2 canvases, One painting

I didn't upload these very well, they are the same 24" high....painted side by side to make one long piece. Earlier this month, I was visiting Shaw and sketched the view back to San Juan Island. These 2 canvases are the results of that experience. 24 x 72" overall.

Getting out on location can be Challenging......

I was out by White Point this week, looking to to paint a spot I'd seen earlier in the summer. The sun was too low on the horizon, shading the barn I had hoped to capture in paint. I had forgot my usual small dishes to pour in medium, so I improvised with this clam shell

Fall Colors, San Juan Island Shoreline

I started this out on location, but moved inside, as our weather has turned to fall, wet, in other words. I'm getting canvases stretched, and others brought to completion (or ruin), in preparation for my December show at the San Juan Community Theater.
Other news, received a letter of acceptance as a member of the Arts Student League of New York. That makes me happy.

Reverse Painted on Glass, windows in place

Here in place are 3 reverse painting on glass windows. I used oil paint, playing with transparent and opaque paint. Today was sunny, I think the look will be quite different on cloudy days. Size about 5 feet tall.

Glorious Weather in September, Mosquito Pass

Painting out on the north end of San Juan Island, looking towards Mosquito Pass,and Henry Island. First one, 20 x 24" and second one 11 x 14" plein air oil paintings

September Workshop, Day Two

The September weather was beautiful for our weekend workshop. On day 2, Debra Nolan hosted us, with fantastic views across a small valley, pastoral San Juan Island. We tried a new technique, starting our paintings with black gesso, then glazing with a transparent color. This gave everyone a good "road map", and a lot of layered information. We talked a lot about mixing color. One artist found a nice shady spot and worked at creating a color wheel for himself, he said it was magic to mix color. Everyone participated in a demonstration of mixing greens. We used various blues and various yellows, and even some red to mix our greens. In looking at today's paintings, I see that everyone got a good grasp of mixing a variety of greens. We talked about the Fauves and the idea of brightening up the colors in the landscape. Some artists enjoyed playing with bright colors, and today's results were very exciting.
The first painting started as a very bright, fauve landscape demonstration. It was pretty bad...so I thought I'd see if I could make something happen by going back out on location. I used the bright under colors to help liven up the naturally dull colors of the natural palette. The sky was bright yellow at first, some of that flickers through to jazz up the sky. Everything was fine until my box of heavy paint slid over onto the surface of the wet canvas mushing about half of the painting...oh well, back to the easel....

September Workshop, Day One

Day One of this workshop was terrific!, Great weather, and unlimited subject matter down at Jensen's Shipyard. Jensen's will be celebrating 100 years next year. We might have to organize of show of all the paintings that have been done there over the years. Everyone got a good start today, finding interesting views, and doing well working with the paint. In particular, all artists had a good grasp of mixing color. Tomorrow we will go to a pastorial location and try our black gesso underpainting.

Blue Nude

Life size blue nude, acrylic on collaged surface, extra-button envelopes 38 x 42"

September Plein Air, View to Mt. Dallas

Started the morning with fog hanging over the trees, painted thru a small squall, and ended up with these 2 paintings. The first one is a 6 x 8" and second, view to Mt. Dallas is a 16" x 20". Click thru for online demonstration of this painting.

Final Summer Workshop, Paint the San Juans September 12 & 13

September is my favorite time of year with it's beautiful light. September 12 & 13 will be the last outdoor painting workshop for 2009. We will go out on location and develope our compositions,and then work on a larger canvas. My workshops are open to any media, though I demonstrate in oils. Outdoor or plein air painting lends itself to any medium. With oil paints, a painting is usually completed in 2 to 3 hours.
Demonstration painting from August workshop 15 X 30" oil over black gesso.
Call me at 360 378 2638 or stop by Funk & Junk in Friday Harbor if you would like to sign up. Scroll down to see photos of previous workshops.

Day One August Plein Air Workshop, Paint the San Juans!

Our August workshop was terrific, great people, and wonderful plein air paintings. We started by talking about a variety of approaches to getting started, looking and thumbnail sketching on location. We talked about a traditional academic approach, doing an under painting in a single color. Next we did a color study to determine what our color palette was going to be. By the time we started our painting, we had gathered a lot of information, making it easier to concentrate on the actual act of painting. Towards the end of day several artists worked on making a color wheel, giving them a deeper understanding of the pigments, and color mixing. Lisa McHugh hosted our first day, down near Cattle Point.

Day 2 on San Juan Island

The second day of the our workshop was quite remarkable, perfect weather, no wind, and 360 degrees of beauty. Everyone was inspired, and much more comfortable with painting and using the materials. We introduced a new technique, a non traditional approach,starting with a black gesso underpainting, followed by a transparent glaze to tone the canvas. All this before starting in with the regular opaque oil paint.This technique worked very successfully for everyone.

Portrait Painting Demonstration, San Juan County Fair 2009

Sue Schirmer was very gracious to sit for her portrait during my oil painting demonstration at this year's San Juan County Fair. During the Fair, many artists demonstrate their craft, and it gives people a chance to witness the creative process in action. The first thing I like to do is draw the model. Drawing helps me get familar with the shapes, and helps me to really look at the model.
I started this painting in a traditional manner, using a monochromatic underpainting. I used Terra Rosa, a warm brown pigment,and thinner, turpenoid, to draw in the form. In the beginning, I was concentrating only on shapes, edges and values. The second phase of the painting was to spot in color. Developing color becomes so much easier once the shapes and values are well established. This method makes the final phase of the painting, so much easier and fun. During my upcoming workshop we will be plein air painting in this traditional manner, spliting out composition and values from color. Stay tuned to see the results of this weekend"s workshop.

2 Late Summer Workshops August 22 & 23 and September 12 & 13

2 summer workshop are coming up here on San Juan Island. During the workshop, We will first work with a quick value study. Artists will pick a view they like and create a paint sketch in one color, to understand composition and the value structure, that is the lights and darks. Then we will do a color study, not worrying about shapes or form, just mixing colors. By the time we get to our painting, we will have gathered a lot of information. This will allow painters to concentrate on painting, putting down large bold strokes of color, Artists may simplify their compositions, working towards more abstract shapes. Beginning artists will enjoy this classic process, making it easier to understand visual information and then get it onto the canvas. There will be painting demonstrating both mornings. In the afternoon each artist will be working on their particular view, I will discuss issues that come up with each person at their easel. Each day we are in different and beautiful locations here on San Juan Island. Click here for materials list, Cost per 2 day workshop, $175. Call at 360 378 2638 for questions, or to sign up. Limit 12 people.

New Abstract Drawings and an Abstract Collage

This summer my regular painting group took a break from figure painting and tried out different ideas. We worked in a clay studio, tried print making, did abstract drawing, developed ideas with text, and last, worked on collage. Here are some of my efforts. With my text piece, I continued to develope it with collage.

Photos from Our recent Workshop, Day 1

Our plein air, outdoor painting workshop began by the shore at Pear Point. We talked about oil painting supplies, how to begin a painting on location by sketching first. Next everyone saw a quick demonstration of painting with a palette knife. Everyone found intriguing views, and created wonderful paintings.