Wednesday night art class

I got to class a little late, so I didn’t get the best location to set up and paint from. But that's ok because I remember the story about John Singer Sargent going out doors to paint. When all the other artists would walk very far to get the best combination of nature and light, John would set up right away and paint. He would turn a fence post into a masterpiece. So I guess that its not always about what you paint but what you put into it. Does that make any sense ?

Art demos are a big help !

Last Wednesday night at the Arts Guild of Rahway we had the pleasure of a still life demo from our instructor Ray Horner.

It was amazing to watch how quickly Ray sketched out the composition with oil paint while slowly building up the form and color, he made it look so easy. Ray broke it down step by step for us and was happy to answer all of our questions while he worked.

Some times you can talk about how to paint till your blue in the face and still not get it...you have to see the process...watch a pro at work and that’s when the little bell goes off in your head...so that’s how you do it ! Thanks Ray !

Ellen Key Quote

The more horrifying this world becomes, the more art becomes abstract.
Ellen Key

Art quote of the day

Art is about paying attention.
Laurie Anderson

Self portrait in progress

I’ve been working on and off of this self portrait for a few weeks now. I'm having some difficulty getting the features right, so I’ll take a little break and start up again soon.........or it just might go in the closet with all the other failures....I mean incomplete masterpieces!

My sketchbook practice

Art quote of the day

I cry out for order and find it only in art.
Helen Hayes

Movies for the Oil Painter

The Agony and the Ecstasy

Adapted by Philip Dunne from the novel by Irving Stone, The Agony and the Ecstacy is the story of the 16th century war of wills between Renaissance artist Michelangelo (Charlton Heston) and "warrior pope" Julius II (Rex Harrison). Commissioned to paint a religious fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the independent-minded Michelangelo balks at the assignment. He is virtually strongarmed into accepting the job by Pope Julius, who wants to leave something for future generations to remember him by. Director Carol Reed deftly juggles screen time between the Pope's activities on the battlefield and Michelangelo's slow, arduous completion of his monumental task. The film also gingerly approaches the subject of Michelangelo's sexual orientation vis-a-vis his relationship with the Contessina de Medici (Diane Cilento). Too long and limited in subject matter to score at the box office, The Agony and the Ecstacy holds up pretty well when seen today, especially when viewed in a wide-screen print.

Art quote of the day

Every child is an artist ,the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

Pablo Picasso

Norman Rockewll book review

I just finished reading two books on Norman Rockwell, Readers Digest Norman Rockwell’s America and Norman Rockwell artist and illustrator by Thomas S. Buechner. Both books have a lot to offer on Americas most beloved illustrator. His Subject was always average America and he painted with benevolent affection for so many years, moving millions of people with his picture stories about awkwardness of youth and the comforts of age, about pride in country, history and heritage, about reverence, loyalty and compassion. He truly painted a century of America life. His work has always amazed me and while reading these two books I took some notes on the way he worked with the hope that some of his talent would rub off on me.

1- be technically competent
2- like what you paint
3- if you love what you are painting, people will be bound to feel the same way
4- dramatize themes with universal appeal
5- portray emotion making the viewer an eye witness
6- you can't paint a house until it’s built
7- the design must have strong graphic qualities
8- serious subjects demand a large canvas, light and humorous a small size
9- he traced his charcoal drawings onto the canvas or used carbon paper he also projected it using a baloptican.
10- he did monochromatic under paintings usually with mars black or he put a thin wash over the drawing.
11- He painted whites and extreme lights very thickly and almost every tone from there down so thinly that the canvas provides the dominant texture.
12- he used a variety of whites as local color and capacity to make things sparkle, this was achieved by a fascinating treatment of contours and edges as well as building layers of varying thicknesses.
13- he treated most flesh tones as values of roughly the same hue, that is the flesh is one color that gets lighter or darker depending on how the light falls.
14- his other approach to flesh is to vary the color itself between reddish and greenish tones
15- in some cases particularly where the flesh area is light surrounded by dark, it looks tinted rather then painted.
16- in 1937 he started working from photographs
17- he likes his edges well defined
18- he likes back rounds close in and parallel to the picture plane.
19- horizontals and verticals make him happier then diagonals
20- he uses the object in the foreground to invite the viewer into the picture.

Art quote of the day

A man paints with his brains and not with his hands.
Michelangelo

The basic rule of thirds

The basic rule of thirds are the basic building blocks of composition. The aim is to create a visually compelling painting that leads the viewers eye around the painting to tell a story.

Simply the rule of thirds states that the object of attention should be placed at the intersection of the dividing lines. Because most people's attention doesn't travel to the center of the painting, it scans the edges.

You can also place the object along one of the dividing lines and your not limited to just one subject. You can use two or more. It is recommended that you place the main subject on one dividing line and a secondary subject on another.

Wednesday night art class

With just a few random items from the class room placed on the table. The assignment was to finish the painting in one sitting. I’ve been making every effort to loosen up lately. So I’m painting with paint and lots of it, sometimes blending my colors on the canvas and using palette knives. I have to admit it’s a very satisfying way to paint, a little messy but fun.

Wednesday night art class

Here is a painting from art class yesterday.

Movies for the Oil Painter, What Dreams Come True

What Dreams Come True

Based on a metaphysical 1978 novel by science fiction and horror author Richard Matheson, this romantic fantasy-drama won an Oscar for its expensive and impressive visual vistas depicting an imaginative afterlife. Robin Williams stars as Chris Nielsen, a doctor who has suffered with his artist wife Annie (Annabella Sciorra) through the devastating loss of their children, Marie and Ian, who were killed in a car accident. Although Annie's all-consuming depression nearly destroyed their marriage, the couple rebuilt their relationship and are now living out a comfortable middle age. Stopping one night to help a motorist in a wreck, Chris is struck by a car and killed. At first confused about where he is, Chris meets Albert (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a spiritual guide who helps him to realize he's passed away and that he must move on to the next world. After trying with only limited success to communicate with the devastated Annie, Chris moves on and discovers an afterlife that can become whatever one envisions, where even his pet dog awaits him. What Chris envisions as paradise are the paintings of his wife, and he happily takes up residence there, awaiting the far-off day when Annie will eventually join him. He also meets his children, although they have chosen different appearances than the ones they had in life. Then tragedy strikes when Annie, inconsolable, commits suicide and goes to Hell. Although it is rarely done, Chris insists on traveling there, risking his eternal soul to save the woman he loves. Accompanied part of the way by Albert and a wizened guide called The Tracker (Max von Sydow), Chris finally reaches Annie in Hell, and must convince her of the truth in order to release her from her dark prison.

Artists Case for Class

I’ve tried a few different bags for bringing my art supplies to class, but they were all to small and poorly organized. I like to bring a variety of paints and brushes to class and it had become a jugging act getting from the car to the classroom..... I needed a wheel barrel. Then one day I noticed this metal tool case at Home Depot for 28 bucks and figured with a few simple modifications it would be perfect. It’s sturdy, keeps thing organized and is easy to grab and run out the door when your late for class.

Anatomy for the Artist

To help improve my figure drawing skills it was clear I needed a good anatomy book. After checking out the reviews I decided to get Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simblet. This hard covered book measures 10" by 12" and has more then 250 photographs and 100 drawings, making it a great reference guide for improving your skills of rendering the human form. The book is sectioned for individual body parts and there are nice clear plastic transparent over layering pages that are very useful. $40 bucks at the Barns&Noble store at the mall....Amazon.com on line only $26 bucks !! with free shipping.

Fly fishing and oil painting

There’s nothing more peaceful then a day of fly fishing....well except for oil painting of course. I do believe they are both good for the soul.

Malcolm T. Liepek's inspirational words of wisdom

I came across an article in American Artist magazine on Malcolm T. Liepke . I have always admired his unique way of capturing people in there intimate moments. I can easily see why so many artist would want to copy his style. Malcolm T. Liepek is primarily a self taught artist with a wonderful state of mind, that I believe makes his work connect with so many people. Here are some of his inspirational words of wisdom.

" No matter how alone we feel in the world, how we imagine we are experiencing things in a vacuum. We all share the same human experience, we all have basic needs for connection, love and understanding. Try to reach those universal needs, it is whats primal in art."

"Everyone goes through life with their own problems, but we live in a pretty universal world, the more personal a piece the more people will connect."

EmptyEasel.com

Just thought I’d share this great web page I found called EmptyEasel. Empty Easel is an online art magazine that offers practical advice, tips, and tutorials for creating and selling art. Lots of great stuff here , check it out !

Figure drawing class

Here are some fifteen minute sketches from my first figure drawing class.

Still life assignment for art class.

Still life assignment for art class.

Here I am after my second day of painting.

Still life arrangement for art class

Art Class

I took some time off of oil painting to help a family member with there home repairs, once again life gets in the way of art. Just thought I’d post this picture of me in art class working. The cool thing about this picture is the Arts Guild of Rahway used it on there web page.