Fun Day!

Morning Snow Trees...what the sun can do with color!!

Today was a blast! I went across town to my friend Carol Nelson's house to have a lesson in fauvist portraits. For those of you who aren't familiar with Carol Nelson you have to pop over to her blog to see what she is doing with portraits! It is nothing short of AWESOME!!

For some time I have been frozen when it comes to portraits. I learned portrait painting when I started painting in watercolor many years ago, but for some reason I freak out at the thought of doing them in acrylic (NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY) or oil. So, my friend Carol graciously allowed me to come to see her work and I learned a TON! I like the idea of working in the fauvist style for portraits (and now am getting excited about ideas for landscapes incorporating some of what I absorbed from Carol) because it isn't working in the "realistic" color palette that we are used to. If you are wondering what fauvism is hop on over to Carol's blog for the visuals...but in the simplest way I know to explain it is a style of painting that artists like Matisse worked in that incorporates wild colors..."wild beasts" they were called! Somehow working in colors that were not at all realistic was a blast!...and not the least intimidating...HOWEVER, I learned...

Me...soon to be sort of fauvist...but remember it will be my FIRST attempt...so be kind...ha

Doing a portrait in acrylic is VERY difficult as it is hard to blend...so often the portrait comes out looking like a paint by number...as you will see evidence of when I post my self portrait that was my practice. I'd do it today, but I have a bit of tweaking to do...things like adjust the size of an eye and get rid of a dark shadow in green that looks a bit like a 5 o'clock shadow. I'm just not ready for the world to see me as a man...:) But, I'm up tomorrow, tweaking and then I'll post the results of my first fauvist lesson!

Second I learned the value of oil painting for landscapes as well...WHEN you are just painting...so I plan to play with that again...BUT, my collage work will remain working with acrylics as they work best for that medium. So...lots of work to do for me!! FUN!!

Carol, as is her nature, was the most wonderful of teachers...she gave me thoughts on ways to interesting up my landscapes. We artists are always looking for that "thing" that sets our work apart...I'm not different! I had almost forgotten how very rewarding it is to paint along side another fellow artist (and friend)...the ideas, the learning...the thing in common! It is a lonely life up here in the mountains for me the artist...so to have a day for this was pure heaven!!

SOOOO...since I'm not posting what I did today, today...I'm posting the pic I worked from...and a wonderful view of my trees this morning...The pink is NOT a different tree...it is the sun on the snow covered trees!! AWESOME!!

And...I promised Carol I would not post the pics I took of her painting subject today as she will be posting the finished product, but it was my son! That was incredible to see him come alive under her fingers!! SO exciting!! So...here is a pic of two of her little pups...they were quite the loving pair...I forgot their names, but I'm in love with them already!!Carol's babies!! SO sweet!

Thank you Carol for a wonderfully fun day!! Can't wait to have my painting of Jonathan for my very own!!

Large Aspen in Process...

30x24" Aspen in process...

I almost didn't post today as I'm working large and it takes a bit longer than the smaller pieces...sometimes...AND, the light is not good for photographing, BUT...what is happening is important to note, so as I am dedicated to talking about process I wanted to note today's process.

If this were a sculpture I would say it is blocked and some of the larger shapes are roughed in...I guess that works for painting as well. I've been playing around with things a lot more than I usually do when I start a piece. I usually know more of what will happen than I have with this one. I'm having FUN! I first painted the main trees and decided I was too bored, so I put some papers in place and have begun to paint the trees on the paper. I enjoy immensely the texture that applying paper affords my aspen trunks...sort of 3-D effect if you will...however slight. Then I began to play with shadow color as I also began to lay in some leaves. The photo has a TON of leaves...I'm deciding as I go just how many I want to show.

I'm liking showing some of the sky color so I may leave that...even my put a tad back...who knows at this stage.

I don't know about the rest of you who paint from home, but I am still hearing the call of my house as I paint and plan the next one in my head...I feel very pulled in several directions some days...and today is one of them. My husband is flying home from a business trip and so I am very aware of the mess I've made while he was gone...oh bother!!

I am also accidentally playing with my computer editing and found some fun buttons to push that make the sunrise pics I took rather interesting to me...You would have had to see the pic when I started to know just how neat this is...(yep, that word dates me!!)...And I also wanted to show you the difference in my world within 5 minutes...You see the sun and the beautiful clouds...and then...the fog...Not kidding...it took about 5 minutes to go from one to the other...WOW, what a place!

From one minute...

To the next...no lie!! (well...about 5 minutes)

Tomorrow is my day with my friend Carol...so you will see...again...a different piece when I return. Gonna learn a bit about fauvist portraits...I HOPE I learn that is!!

Have a great day!!

Playing around in a "serious" (tee hee) way...:)

I have so much yet to do to this...but playing around with a few little cast leaves...hmmm

The detail in the cast is a little contemporary...hmmm...will see how it works when I try to paint them...LOVE TO EXPERIMENT!!

So, today is the last day of warm weather for awhile so it was down the mountain this a.m. for errands and gathering of stuff so when I'm locked inside tomorrow it will be all business!

I never have given up on my paper cast ideas...just keep putting them on hold until something feels right. So, I decided to play with the aspen 4x4 piece and the paper cast idea. I found something that made it a bit easier to make a tiny mold for aspen leaves...I'm not saying I'm committed to this...but I'm playing with the idea...again!

And...It has been SO long I'm sure you all forgot my molds I've made of leaves...and how I painted on them...well...this...maple (I believe) leaf cast was painted over with an awful painting...so I gesso'd over it and have another idea for painting...

So...not only do I have the unfinished pieces I've posted these last couple of days, but this maple leaf...I'm bound and determined!!

Let's see what tomorrow's productivity will do for at least one or two of these unfinished babies...

Thursday I'm so excited to get to go to my friend Carol Nelson's and hopefully soak up som fauvist portrait info!! I've got to go through photos of me or someone so I can practice! FUN DAYS!!

Two beginnings...and not one finish...:)

Today was my day to travel to the little city of Golden to paint with the group who calls themselves the "Painted Toe Society". I'm a substitute for the month of January. Their group has a limited number due to the size of the room they rent at the Foothills Art Gallery in Golden Colorado. Foothills hosts many shows throughout the year...some national...so I understand why they stay. Some member will be out of town, so I get to sub! YEA.

I didn't take my large aspen painting as I didn't know if there would be room, so I took a couple small supports and just began them. The little 4x4 (which will be a contest give-away choice) is just laid in...ready for some more sumpin sumpin...we shall see...

The tall skinny is a 12x4" wrapped canvas that will be another aspen trunk and some other sumpin...:) Most of the time I work from reference photos...but when I begin a piece with trees I allow myself to veer from reality as much as I'm in the mood for at the moment...so that is why I'm never sure just WHAT they will turn out like...I collaged a bit on top...and will finish these in the coming days...then we will all see what they look like finished! ha

Til we meet again..(probably tomorrow)....HAPPY PAINTING!!

Feeling Puny

Yep...all the hustle and bustle of the holidays finally caught up with me. Feeling a little "puny" as my grandmother used to say. Don't think it is anything but good ole tired! So...no painting today...BUT, I got up and the clouds were so colorful this morning...so thought I would share this.

I am excited this month as I get to be a substitute for a wonderful group in Golden called the "Painted Toe Society". A great group of artists who have graciously allowed me to fill in for one of their regular members who will not be there this month. So, Monday's this month will be pure joy! Looking forward to that!!

I also get to go down later this week and sit at the feet of a wonderful artist: Carol Nelson who is running a personal challenge for the next 100 days of painting a portrait a day in the fauvist style. I have long admired Carol's work and was privileged to be able to be a part of a gallery with her a few years ago. If you have not seen Carol's work lately take a hop over to her blog...You won't be disappointed! I am excited for what I may learn from this most prolific and versatile of artists! And proud to also call her friend!!