Monday, August 30, 2010

Robert Simmons Signet Oil Brushes


Signet leads the Robert Simmons tradition in manufacturing the finest quality brushes since its introduction forty five years ago. The brush is made of the finest quality Chungking bristles. Resilient natural flags hold and spread the maximum amount of color. Signet features interlocked construction so that each bristle curves inward resulting in a brush that gives a completely controlled stroke and retains its shape under all conditions of painting over years of rigorous use. Use these brushes with either acrylic or oil painting, and they can handle the heaviest paint with ease. Metallic tan handles are painted with a gold ring and a green tip.

Flat: Bold strokes and blending free-flowing color, glazing

Bright: Short strokes, blending heavy-bodied color

Round: Bold strokes and blending free-flowing color, glazing

Filbert: Soft-edged, controlled strokes

Egbert: Extra long white bristle for special blending techniques

Broad: Extra-wide size for backgrounds and murals

Fan: Softening and blending applied color, stippling, dry brush effects

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Art study of a kitten


I was working on this little guy for 2 days with Gamblin oil paints and no mediums. I got the chance to use my new Robert Simmons Signet Round and Egbert brushes.

Painted in Less Than Two Hours



Art instructor Ray Horner was kind enough to put together a video of me at work in his class at the Arts Guild of New Jersey. Titled “Painted in Less Than Two Hours” the short clip is an example of the results of alla prima painting. Where subject matter isn’t as important as the quick and spontaneous brush strokes of painting wet on wet in rendering a fresh interpretation of the subject, in this case Ray’s Jacket.

Thank you Ray for taking the time to put this video together. Once again you have demonstrated your generosity in supporting your students far above and beyond the call of duty.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Kinnelon book sale

My art library just keeps getting bigger and better thanks to all the local book sales. I got this stack of art books for only $25 bucks at the Kinnelon book sale yesterday.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Referance Casts for art study



These partial male and female figures from PCF Studios Inc. sculpted by Philippe Faraut cast in high quality plaster are designed to help the art student understand the anatomy of the visible bones and muscles of the torso. A useful reference piece for painters as well as sculptors. Check out there web page as they offer many other individual body parts as well as skulls and heads.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

House rules are when it rains you paint


When I woke up this morning it was raining, house rules are when it rains you paint. So I grabbed an old canvas that’s been giving me dirty looks ever since I used it for a palette in art class. ( had to do it forgot my palette that day). Anyway .....It had thick globs of paint all over it which I though would add nice texture to a painting . So without procrastinating to much I quickly grabbed some random stuff from around the room and went at it.

Abbott Handerson Thayer study

One of my favorite artists is without a doubt Abbott Handerson Thayer. While viewing his work I’m absorbed by the purity of his subject matter with there serious facial expressions . I find his subtle palette soothing to the eye and I feel an underlining sadness from his own personal loss coming through into his work.

Today after viewing some of his work at the Smithsonian American Art Museum on line. I decided to do a quick 18" x 24"sketch of one of my favorites called the virgin. I would like to try my hand at an oil painting one day. Perhaps over the winter I’ll give it a shot .

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Big Art Show August Call for Artists


SHOW YOUR ART!
Basically, a BIG ART SHOW is a big art party where you get space to show your work in an unpretentious environment. It is one night, you set up and break down the day of. No judging, no applications, just tell us you're coming and as long as we have space, we give you space.

A few things:
-This is an art show, not a flea market, you must have made the things you're showing.
-You can sell your work if you want but you don't have to, and in fact you'll probablly have more fun if you don't.
-You can sell your original artwork, bring prints of your work and anything hand made is fine, just use your judgement and err on the side of arty. We have nothing to do with you selling your work. We do not act as your art dealers or brokers.
-It's free for you to be in the show, but if you sell something and want to donate Pterodactyl a few bucks nobody's going to turn you down
- We are not responsible in any way for lost, stolen or damaged artwork. We just supply the space and the fun. By being in this show you agree that we are not responsible.
- You'll get about 6 vertical feet of space to show work (make the best of it!).

Want in? Great! e-mail us: BIGARTSHOW@pterodactylphiladelphia.org
please include your: name / e-mail addy / phone number / and a link to your work (for the website and for logistics of where we put you in the room)

You can also e-mail BIGARTSHOW@pterodactylphiladelphia.com if you have any questions.

More info:
bigartshow.com
flickr

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Dr Sketchy's Anti Art School North Jersey


Draw a burlesque queen at the Slipper Room
Dr. Sketchy’s is what happens when cabaret meets art school,” says founder and artist Molly Crabapple. A boozy good time is what happens when you and your $10 meet free cupcakes, booze and prizes, say us. Various locations, visit drsketchy.com. Sat 4pm; $10.

The New Jersey Location is in Clifton NJ

Life Drawing Classes in New Jersey



Life Drawing Classes in New Jersey






Sunday, August 1, 2010

Life drawing class


Burn

With a couple of sketches from my life drawing class as reference, I put together this painting giving myself the latitude to have fun and do whatever came to mind.

Using a mixture of walnut oil and demar varnish mixed into the oil paints, I loosely painted the sketches onto the canvas. After the painting was complete I blotted the whole painting with crumpled up plastic wrap and sketch paper.

The title of this painting is inspired by the Missy Higgins cover of a Ray LaMontagne song called Burn.