The Painting Group: Painting pink pears!
About once a month now I have a group of friends come over to paint. All are “art school”/art degree artists (except me) and some are regular/active painters, and some have been sitting on the sidelines for a few years. All are super talented and great company too! We take turns coming up with a “plan” for painting. Today, Rebecca was “in charge” of our activity and brought some fruit for a still life. Her catch was that we all had to use palatte knives (which I do not normally use as a primary tool), and we could not use any color on the painting that was on the fruit. For example she had pears with green/yellow/red coloring. We could not use green, yellow or red in our paintings. So should we begin painting our pears pink? Hmm. She gave us a tool, a canvas and 15 minutes. It sounds fun, and it is fun. I am not a still life kind of gal-so it was challenging to begin with. At first my analytical side of the brain engaged: “Should I switch all yellows to its complimentary color? Should I switch all greens to purples? How will I get those curves with a palate knife? What color should my shadow be?
Fortunately, my thinking side gave up quickly and I began to “just” paint. It was wonderful to see how very different everyone used the palate knife, and their color combinations too. After we did this “warm up exercise” we were then given another 15 minutes to do another study, but no color restrictions. It is always “hard” to do something different for my brain, but wow what a great opportunity to push through fear! Thanks for a great session Rebecca.
Here are just a few shots from our morning:
Pink Pear Warm up in progress
- Naturalistic study
Pear still life
- Painting Group
Fall colors inspire art, but test the limits of paint, pigment and imagination:
Hello Fall! Inspiration for color is everywhere! We had a few overcast weeks here-but after the hurricane the sun is out and the color is glorious!
Loving the changes!
Inspiration
It is easy to understand how fall colors can inspire anyone to want to paint. However, sometimes painting those colors can prove to be tricky if you think too hard..
Sometimes instead of just “feeling” a painting-I start to think. I started out with “feeling” I began doing some paintings with fall color as I “saw” it. Well, that led to some of my birch tree paintings with lots of fuchsia and purple and orange.
Birch Reflections, 12 x 16, 240.00
Then I started picking up leaves as I was walking one day. I decided I wanted to paint those colors…no matter how I mixed my paints-I couldn’t get what I wanted.
At this point I decided to take the various color combinations I had been mixing and dabbling with and put them onto some leaves just to see how close I was getting:
Inspiration getting technical
Well these are just two examples-but they show that it isn’t as easy as you would think to “make” the colors of nature. Well, not exactly. It then became more of a scientific experiement for me. All artistic thinking was put aside and I was briefly inspired to master this challenge. After a bit (and some success) I was reminded of
paint colors testing on an all natural paint chip
something artist John Poon said to me once. We were painting plein air on the N.C. coast and I was struggling to get “just the right color”-aka exactly what I saw in front of me. John reminded me that pigment has limitations. We could not make that exact color-but that was ok. Over the months since that conversation I have come to a couple of conclusions about this topic. A) I need to remember to stay with my “feelings”-in this case I interpreted fall colors as fuschia’s, purple and oranges. It’s a good thing because that is me and the way I paint. I am not a super realist or overly naturalistic landscape painter-so I don’t have to match anything! B) As humans we cannot copy or make exactly all the colors out there that God gave us. I see that as awesome, and a great reminder of how amazing and powerful He is! So, now that I have had my fun and color mixing time, it is back to painting “my way” just as I was created to do!
Happy Birthday Bob Ross!
We Believe……. He was an encouragement to so many! (I have a lot of “happy accidents”) . Now if I could only find that squirrel..
Extreme Plein Air: Roos Schuring (part two)
Roos on a pretty day
So, you think you’re a plein air painter?
I recently posted about Dutch Plein Air artist, Roos Schuring. You may recall my raving about her incredible use of grays. She really is inspiring- amazing with her technique! There is another reason to find inspiration with Roos Schuring, and that is her attitude and approach to plein air painting. This woman is not a “hot house flower”, oh no! She lets nothing get in the way of her painting. In fact I propose that we (as artists) now come up with a new category of painters: “Extreme Plein Air Painters”. Not only would she qualify, but she would be the first elected to be president of the group! Now, I love to paint plein air. However, living in NC means that I could be outside in 105 degree weather with extreme humidity and mosquitos/ticks/spiders/fire ants and copperheads hanging around my ankles. Doesn’t sound too appealing to most, but for Roos it would probably feel like vacation. Most of us would pack up if we are outside and it really starts to rain. (Those easel umbrellas are meant to block the sun.) But Roos might start setting up in bad weather.
You might be an extreme plein air painter if I peaked into your plein air “bag” and saw:
1. sand bags used to weigh down your easel
2. duct tape for securing the canvas to the easel,
3. heavy waterproof parka,
4. (steel toe?) boots.
5. no food (could be a distraction)
(if you have your iPhone in the bag-you may be disqualified)
You see if you are going to paint in the middle of a tropical storm..well, these items will come in handy. Does a little rain bother YOU when painting plein air?
Cityscape of Amsterdam by Roos Schuring
I now submit for your review a video/demo of Roos doing what she does best:
Roos on the news!
There is so much to like about Roos Schuring. Her incredible work, her “nothing will stop me” attitude, the way she SHARES how she is successful, even her sense of humor (she has a video called “10 reasons why NOT to take a plein air workshop with Roos Schuring”). As good as she is, she still seems humble too. Via email correspondence she shared with me that she had just been out painting for six hours. At the end of the day, she wiped it all off. Meaning-she had “nothing” to show for her day of painting. Now, that type of thing happens to me all the time (acrylic version-paint over). But I would not have thought it happened to her. To top it off she does this “extreme plein air painting” right after she drops her kids off to school. WOW! What an encouragement she is to me!
Thank you Roos! Check out Roo’s work at http://www.roosschuring.nl/
Artists Who Inspire Me: Roos Schuring (part one)
A stunning Seascape by Roos Schuring
Seascape Roos Schuring
The funny thing is that anyone who knows me would say that I love big bold color and lots of contrast. So you might wonder why I find Roos Schuring to be such an inspiration? I’m so glad you asked!
She makes the color grey full of life and power in a way that speaks to me. I mean I use grey in my paintings but she USES grey-in a way that makes it vibrant and bold. It whispers to you at first glance..then WOW! Look at her work, and then step back and look again. Very powerful.
The seascapes of Roos Schuring are not your typical idyllic sunny day, toddler with brightly colored sand pails. No, not exactly.
The neat thing about her seascapes is that they can be moody. Roos is not afraid of the weather-so she paints the sea on cloudy, rainy, grey and overcast days.
Really her work is so compelling and I find great emotion in her work. She captures moments in such an unexpected way-Her paintings are like a gift of life.
Artists that inspire me: Lee Boynton
I am inspired! Renowned artist Lee Boynton, known for his plein air impressionist landscapes-gave a one day workshop last weekend. I had the opportunity to attend, and am so glad that I did. Lee studied under Henry Hensche, known for his teachings on light and color. I realized this may be as close to the Cape Cod School of Art as I will ever come.
The blocks in shadow and light
We started with the very famous study of colored blocks in both light and shadow. What is really great about this exercise is that it takes the “weight” of drawing out of the situation. Drawing can be challenging for some of us, and if you are trying to focus on light and color-the drawing can get in the way! This was simple but clear.
Lee’s initial sketch
We could focus on shape, then light/shadow and color. We were told to ignore the local color (i.e. grass is green, a red block is red) and truly SEE what was there. Hmm. I think I need some special glasses!
Though as the day continued I began to “see” more like Lee. What color is the “red” block in light (kind of yellow-orange) and in shadow (a bit more like blue-violet)?
Lee shows us the real color
This lesson helped us prepare for the next step of painting in the landscape. We headed out to MacNairs Horse Farm to finish the day.
The scene to be painted
Lee’s painting in progress
Look at the colors you see in the photo of the barn, then look at his painting. Do you SEE it the same way? He is quite a painter! I have to say the thing that I enjoyed most about the Lee Boynton workshop was his attitude. He was so enthusiastic, energetic, and emphatic about his approach to seeing and painting. He has done this a long time, and he still seems incredibly passionate and excited about what he does. This is inspiring to me and I think it was to others as well.
As a special treat to myself (see my Happy Birthday to Me post), I did purchase one of his demos. I have placed it in my studio where I can look at it as a reminder to SEE what is really out there. THANKS LEE!
Check out Lee Boynton at www.leeboynton.com
Painting on the Pamlico River-En Plein Air
Painting En Plein Air on the Pamlico River-North Carolina:
I love to paint En Plain Air-especially when the weather is beautiful and the breeze is blowing. Now to be honest, that doesn’t happen all that often. What looks to be a “perfect day” is not always so. Take Labor Day weekend for example. I am at the beautiful Pamlico River:
Setting up on the Pamlico River
Everything LOOKS amazing! You can see that I am getting set up and trying to pick out a composition-view finder and sketch book in use.
What you don’t see is the thermometer-showing that it was close to 100 degrees, or the sweat running down my back. What you don’t FEEL was the still air-NO BREEZE blowing! Ugh! But hey, I am used to this and love it-so I just kept on and on. There is one other thing you do not see in these photos-and that would be the vicious and tenacious biting flies that seemed to swarm around my ankles. For some strange reason I did not pack the bug spray, long pants and boots that are so important and as common to Plein air painters as the paints and brushes-the things you don’t go without. There is a first (and LAST for) time for everything!
However, what I was looking at was so lovely that I just had to stay:
Possible Painting?
After swatting the flies like a champion player in “Whack a Mole” for about two hours, I confess I gave up. However, I did get some sketches and photos and notations of colors etc.
I took the advice of my dog, and packed it up and called it a day. Keep your eyes out for a studio painting of this pretty scene!
“Meydele” : “This heat is for the dogs! Take me inside”!
Things that Inspire Me: PARIS!
- The Best thing in the Mail
Okay, i’ll admit it-I did not go to Paris myself (sigh) but for me the mere thought of Paris (art, romance, architecture and food) gets my head in the clouds and ready to paint. I received this wonderful card from my dear friend Kosima, visiting the very city which houses the largest museum in the world. The post mark on the envelope, and the art on the card got me inspired to google and browse through some of the fine museums located in France (some of us do have to travel vicariously through others).
Front of the Card
Back of the card is inspiring as well!
Of the museums, the Musee d’Orsay was the one that kept me connected and that held the art that was personally inspiring:
Most recently the Musee d’Orsay had an exhibition titled “Degas and the Nude” . One exhibit I would love to have been able to attend. The exhibit includes the work of Degas in quite a few mediums including sculpture, and pastel. Below is a video from the Musee d’Orsay on the exhibit which I hope you will inspire you too!
Studying the figure, including painting nudes is challenging for me. I have made a few attempts-one is shown on my website www.bethcarringtonbrown.com. Having worked on an unclothed figure in the past gives me even greater appreciation for all this exhibit.
It is amazing how as artists we are inspired by other artists and hopefully become a source of inspiration to others. Artist to artist influence (if ever questioned) was most profoundly answered at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s “Cezanne and Beyond” exhibition-but I digress and will return to that another day) is very real in my own work. Not that I want to paint “like” someone else-but just the appreciation and understanding of the work of certain artists-creates a desire to grow and push my boundaries.
Things that inspire me: Bright and Beautiful Garden Color
I am fortunate to have a wonderful garden of flowers-All I need to do is look out my window to smile. I needed just a tiny bouquet this morning, and stepped outside to gather a few roses, and other beauties. The smell of the roses alone is enough to change a foul mood into a happy, relaxed and ready to paint mood. While I don’t often paint the flowers I love so much-I do use them as inspiration for color for my palette. Anytime I find myself challenged with choosing colors or simply adding spark to a painting-I go outside. It never fails to amaze me the combinations I see within a few flowers together- I see them in all their simple, yet bold and brilliant glory-it’s all I need to get the canvas going!
ARTISTS THAT INSPIRE ME
I have a long list of artists that inspire me. Many famous, and many that are still hidden gems. But to understand my frame of reference for anyone’s work-I must first talk about the artist that inspired me to pursue painting “full time”.
That person is North Carolina artist Catherine Martin.
When you first spot her work in a gallery window, you may think “wow” in reference to her use of color. Then as you cross the street to get closer, you will again say “wow” in reference to the bold brush work.
Her work grabs me by my collar and yanks me in! Oh yes there are many wonderful subtleties to her paintings-but sometimes it takes a few moments to get past the big “wow”s for it to all sink in.
Catherine is an educated or “trained” artist. She knows all the rules-all the things that are supposed to make a painting “work”, or that one might do so a painting is technically correct. She can teach/preach “shapes and values” all day and then effortlessly and with great joy she can do what she teaches.
(but) What I LOVE about Catherine is that whiles she knows all these art rules, she breaks every last one of them. What kills me about her rule breaking-is that when SHE does it-It works! Not only does it work-but it ROCKS!
For example (on a very basic level), painters know that greying things/cooling things down with color “pushes something back” or recedes an object. Warmer colors bring things closer to you. So in theory, the flowers in the “front” of the painting should be predominantly warm and the ones in the distance should be predominantly cool.
You with me?
Look at this fantastic landscape she painted:
See all those “cools” she has in the foreground? I see rules a breakin’!
No, it is not a traditional “naturalistic” landscape. But hey-it works! I love this painting and am glad to now claim it as my own (even my dog likes it)
Here is a “nude” she painted a few years back:
Another inspiring thing about Catherine is how she is constantly re-inventing herself. It is fun to watch her work change as she embraces different things. Her figures, or one of her more recent and provocative interiors are all “her”. The subject and composition is always changing but they all speak of her.
One other thing I have to mention is that as a teacher, she doesn’t keep her “secrets” secret. She doesn’t fear her students becoming successful-she willingly shares her knowledge and experience. She doesn’t just save the best for herself-she gives it away and does so with joy. She paints fearlessly and I hope to be able paint with the same amount of “abandon” that she does, someday.
If you are in the area, stop by and see her at The Red Canvas in Apex, or check her out on the web at www.catherinecmartin.com
