Painting Class-negative and positive shape, among other things

Yesterdays painting class was the study of negative and positive shapes using the subject of flower.  Students brought in a flower to study and arrange in a composition.  Some brought in a flower while others worked from photos. Above is the demonstration, starting with a block in using cadmium red progressing to local color.  I found this a great subject because of the interesting shapes the forms made. 
 

This is the finished painting.

"Dance of the Cyclamen"   Oil   9x12

I used painting gel in the background to give texture. This was a fun painting...feels happy, like dancing.

Start of new series

One of my New Year resolutions is to be in nature more.  After one of my recent walks through San Mateo State Park,  I decided to start a new series of paintings featuring the state parks.  I painted a study at Doheny about 3 months ago and loved it so much I decided to make it the first of my series.  The painting is BIG, 24 x 36.  Look at it in reference to the life size sculpture bust next to it.  This is the start of the "block in."  It is very exciting to work this big because I feel it will give me plenty of opportunity to experiment with the paint.  I plan on using a lot of  gel to the paint for body and quick drying.  I am now on my way to Doheny Beach with Rosie to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day.

Three more video paintings

"One Plus Two"    9x12  Oil

These three paintings are subjects I used in teaching videos for Martin F/Weber soon to be released.  I just finished framing them and getting ready to display at the CHA convention in LA January 29-February 1. 

"Waves at Sunset"    9x12   Oil

"Rosie"   9x12   Oil

Making the videos was a great experience and I hope to do more in the future....sculpture?

Apple demo

In Nov.2010 the Martin F. Weber Co/ filmed me teaching a series on "how to oil paint."  This apple was the first, a promotional video really.  Still haven't seen it or the other three.  I know they are in process and hopefully by the end of this month they will be out. 

Organizing Day

 After yesterdays day of sculpting and previous days of painting, my studio was a mess.  Decided to clean and organize. 

 Whew, ready to start again... Better put on my think cap.  Who is that crazy person that got on my blog?

finished La Boheme

I felt the sculpture needed to be lifted because it was very top heavy visually so I created the plinth (bottom portion made of same material that the subject sits on.)  Great, all is going well and ready to let dry....but alas.....long story short... everything started to fall apart.  This is because it was a quick demonstration rather than a planned sculpture.  Armatures are very important.

Rather than piece it all together, I decided to fire the head, which is also splitting apart, and re-bag the clay for future sculptures.  Here's the final sculpture.

Right now it sits in my studio, wrapped in a towel with the hopes of keeping it together.  Let's see what I can do with it when and if it fires.  Onward!

CHA Convention Project

January 29-February 1 I will be teaching a free 1 hour class on painting using WOil paints during the CHA convention at the Los Angeles Convention Center with the Martin F. Weber Company as host.  We will be painting the simple subject of "Apple." Above is the first step in the painting; the block in.

This is a finished painting using the Direct Painting Method, which simply explained is; Wet-into-Wet, starting with the darks and building to the lights.

Fresh off the easel

Just finished this painting of Hydrangea in the WOil Paint.  Sorry, I haven't posted the steps each day, just kinda new to blogging.  This painting was created from a photo I took of some fabulous flowers a student brought to class.    I started with a block in using lavender and then local color.  The photo was used for reference and inspiration, but color was created by emotion and drawing was liberated with brush stroke.

Back in October, the Martin F. Weber Company asked me to create videos for them in WOil, so I went on location and painted several 9x12 paintings to see if I liked the oil.   From those I selected this image and painted a 18x24 in my studio.  I loved the oil paint and was very excited that the  Weber Company selected me to be their spokesperson.  At this time, a promotional video has been published, (which I still am waiting to see) and hopefully the teaching videos will be ready for sale by the end of this month.