Fantastic Class, 8 weeks of Figure Painting, Long Pose

Here are the results of the final class, Terry Cooter model. Each painting is quite different and impressive for first time figure painters. WE started with composition, laying things in with just one color. the second week, we did a color poster and then worked on adding color. The third and final week, we redrew our paintings and really put on the paint. Great Job by Everyone!!

Painting the Figure, Long Pose, Class

Our winter painting class is off to a GREAT start! We have 2 sessions going, a Thursday night session and a Sunday morning group. Our models are holding the same pose for 2 weeks, giving us an opportunity to develop a painting, but mostly to increase our ability to LOOK. The first week we drew with pencil to get a feel for the pose then we switched into simple painting with burnt umber. By the end of the night we had the figure established on the canvas with the light and dark areas blocked in.
This first look at form made our job the second week a lot easier when we started to apply color. The first thing we did was make corrections by looking at our paintings backwards with a small hand mirror. Next we laid out a simple palette of colors, cad yellow medium, cad red light, french blue, cobalt blue ,burnt umber and white. I would have liked to have had yellow ochre as well but didn't. I started in the shadows, cooling off my flesh tones with a mild mix of cobalt blue into my flesh colors of white, cad yellow and a pinch of cad red light. After I laid in shadow colors, I started to address the flesh colors in light, which was most of this portrait, I had flat lighting being set up beind the light. As the night went on, the models face became a touch redder in color, I liked to be able to add as much red and other colors as possible to the face.
Demo in the sunday morning class, setting up the palette and starting by premixing some colors.

Test Panels for Mural

Here are a couple of panels painted with liquid dispersion paint. I took them over to Larry's Autobody shop and had them coated with industrial clear coat urethane.
Research is continuing for the mural project. Next will be the design stage, soon!

Next Mural in the Works!!

This fall I've been researching and designing a 60 foot heritage mural for the new Peace-Health hospital here on San Juan Island. The subject will be the history of healthcare in the San Juan Islands. Our story parallels the story of modern medicine, in an island way. I am creating a timeline of the characters and innovations that are unique to these islands. From that I plan to design panels that tell our story.
Gayle Carter, Dr Heath and Roy Franklin loading a patient into the aircraft, The big three of San Juan Healthcare from the 1950's to the 1970's.

End of Summer Paintings

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End of Summer along the San Juan Shoreline, Sculpted Alive on Westcott Bay

Beautiful September Workshop, Day Two

Our second day we painted along the shore of Pear Point facing east on San Juan Island. I demonstrated one of my favorite plein air techniques of using black gesso and a colored transparent glaze as an under-painting, a great way to build up layered information quickly. Some people experimented with color palettes, others took the plunge and tried oil paints for the first time. Experienced painters took time to develop their compositions and try new ideas, tools or techniques.

Beautiful September Workshop, Day One

WE started this workshop on the Westside of San Juan Island, the setting was magnificent. We had a variety of supplies to experiment with: collage materials, sumi ink, acrylics, watercolors, pencils and paint. This day started in the spirit of PLAY. Each artist took their own approach to finding their voice. Some artists completely abstracted form, building up an idea with the use of collage. Most artists worked expressively with color and simplified shapes. Everyone tried something new. This kind of playful approach paid off when people started to develope their small canvases in the afternoon.