April 27th Class...

Here's what I worked on in class this week. The still life was great...but I just couldn't get the colors and shadows right!! Grrrrrrr! I may work on it some more...

But right now, I'm off to Atlanta for the Portrait Society of America annual conference!!

Sunflowers...

I had the opportunity to watch a demo by Andre Lucero at For Art's Sake last this past Tuesday. He painted a still life set-up with sunflowers and a very interesting looking vase. So I shot a couple of pics and decided to paint the still life in my own studio...

I really focused on being loose...something seems a bit off! I think I'm stuck in mid-values! Will work on expanding my value range! I learned a lot...and I really had fun!!

Lemon...

Here's a little (6" x 6") oil painting I just completed!

April 20, 2015 Class

Just a quick update...painting from life is really such an amazing experience! Here's just a piece of the still life from yesterday's class!

I learned...

1. Painting while being seated is really challenging! But my foot is happier for it!
2. White objects aren't really white!
3. I need to paint at least 4 times a week (in addition to class time!) if I expect to progress!!

And there you have it! I really think I'm becoming more comfortable with the medium and materials...and seeing shapes!! Until next time!

Oil Class - April 13, 2014

A quick update on yesterday's oil painting class!

A new still life...

My goals for yesterday's class were to:

1. Pay extra attention to cast shadows...especially values!
2. Work on "visual blending."

Here's what I learned (and what I plan on working on this week and in next week's class):

1. Composition (I wanted to get both top and side planes of the table/tablecloth! I wish I had paid closer attention to vertical placement of the vases...bringing them down an inch would've helped!!)
2. Better use of appropriate values to "turn the form." The forms "reads" flat...especially the little white one! I do like how the table turned out, though!!
3. Accuracy of drawing! The best use of color and values means very little when the drawing is inaccurate!! 

And that's it for now!! Back soon!

A new still life...

Still life color study from yesterday's class with instructor David Tanner. 

I've discovered several things in just 2 weeks of classes...

1. Stepping back is essential. I didn't realize until last evening that the angle of top box is wrong. Unfortunately, because of the location of my easel in class, I wasn't really able to step back. Next time I'll position myself better.
2. I have a desire to blend out my paint...and in this class, it's more about getting the colors and values right...and less about blending everything.
3. I need not be afraid to make the darks DARK! I am really timid when it comes to the darker values. Exploring the full range of values is definitely something I'm going to work on!
4. Standing for three full hours is really exhausting...next week I'm grabbing a stool to sit on for at least part of the class!

Oh...plus...David shared with the class that there is a 5-page article about him in Plein Air magazine. Very impressive! Am definitely buying that issue!!

Until next time...

Tomato omelette...

I set up a little still life...and then sent the afternoon "playing" with my oil paints!! This is result....

I rather like it...not bad for an early effort!! Best of all, I really enjoyed the process! Until next time....