THE FIRST STEPS OF A PAINTING

This is how I start a painting....lots of drawings. I have this idea for a painting which involves Georgia O'Keefe. I am working with very small images. I think I have decided to use a profile. She has such a fascinating one and I love the aged, weathered images. I don't quite have the likeness down but I am getting close to the essence. Another evening of drawing and I will be ready.

Thursday I will be on the road. Friday night I will be at the San Diego Watercolor Society Opening Reception for the Annual National Show. If you are planning to attend, be sure and come by and say hello.

PAGE 29!!!!

My complimentary copy of "STROKES OF GENIUS 2" arrived today and my contribution is on page 29. I immediately sat down and spent a few hours checking out all the images. The book is beautiful with so many different styles and techniques. I need to go back and write down some of the ideas that intrigued me. A simple graphite pencil and paper can produce exquisite results. There were lots of different surfaces and unusual combinations of materials. I am often interested in the materials and techniques even if I am not interested in working in the same style as the artist.

I am excited and inspired! Now, all I have to do is find lots more time.

ART SIGHTINGS IN THE REDWOODS!

I took a few days off and traveled up the California Coast, crossed over into Oregon and met some life-long friends now living in Portland (I'm talking high school here!) in a beautiful little coastal town called Gold Beach. It is right where the Rogue River meets the Pacific Ocean. It looked like Fisherman heaven! The weather was beautiful and we had a great time. We took a jet boat ride one day up the Rogue River. Spotted some Bald Eagles, blue herons, egrets, and many more birds.

It's a long drive up and equally long back, but we decided to take the scenic route home. There is a parallel road through the Red Woods for about 45 miles, so we got off 101 and took the slower path. This was originally a stagecoach road. There are small little hamlets nestled there in the woods. Here are two of the interesting carvings made from a Red Wood log. Lots of wood sculptures along the route. Now where does one put a giant Indian Head sculpture? It looked like it would have been out of place in the back yard, so we passed on the opportunity to buy.

I packed up my supplies for the Minneapolis workshop coming up. I don't know if I will have a chance to do any art for the coming week, but I will be working on something. I am looking forward to the reception for the San Diego Watercolor Society National Show next Friday Night. Another long drive, but it is worth it.

YES, VIRGINIA, YOU CAN PAINT ON FOIL

Here is the final result of the painting I started the other day. The GAC 200 worked beautifully. I used Golden Liquid Acrylics diluted a little with water and then full strength in subsequent layers. I purchased the GAC 200 at an art supply store that carries all the Golden Acrylic products. It helped hold the acrylic to the foil. The fun part was brushing alcohol on the painting and rubbing some of the acrylic away, then glazing over. I also sprayed some on the background and the hair. I had a strong urge to add some of the oil pastels on top but decided to save that for my next painting. I also think I want to crumple the foil a bit before gluing it down. I got a little carried away with the neck. I wish I had brought the shoulders up higher. I have been reading a book on Modigliani and you can really see the influence.

RESUSCITATION!

I have been busy preparing for my workshop in Minneapolis in a few weeks, holding the first session of a new Critique Group which will meet monthly, taking care of office stuff and today I had to do some holiday cooking. My baking skills have hit rock bottom. I made a box cake that turned out positively dreadful. Dump the powder into a bowl, add eggs and water, beat the living daylights out of it for 4 minutes, pour in greased pan and bake. How hard is that? Apparently, harder than I thought.
I couldn't stand being away from art making, so in between these boring chores, I decided to start a new painting. I wanted to explore painting on aluminum foil a little more. This is the first stage. I cut a piece of foil larger than the old painting I am going to cover over. Then, spread heavy acrylic gel over the painting and place the foil on top. I took a dull pencil and drew my image into the foil making sure not to tear it. Then I took a few rubber stamps and textured the background and the hair. I overlapped the patterns a little for interest. The acrylic gel creates a cushion so you can incise a line or pattern in the foil. Then I spread some GAC200 over the foil. It dries clear. I squirted some over the image and then used a foam roller to even it out and spread it around. This particular acrylic product is used for better adhesion of acrylic to a non porous surface. I haven't used this before so it will be interesting to see how this works.

This is the best I could photograph this stage of the painting process. The color is just reflections from surrounding objects and me standing in front of it taking the photo. Reflective surfaces require more technical knowledge and equipment than I possess. I am including a few details so you can see the idea. If you have never included foil in a painting, give it a try. The effect is exciting. Mary Todd Beam has a few techniques in her first book "Your Creative Self" and Creative Catalyst Productions has a DVD by Jacqueline Sullivan called Acrylics: Textures, Layers and Metallics.

RESURRECTION!

Today I decided to photograph my gesso transfer process for the new book. While I was covering up old, ugly paintings with white gesso, I decided to try an idea I had from the Brommer workshop. I covered another painting with red gesso with the intention to proceed with a collage on top. I think I need to re-photograph the transfer process because the photos are at awkward angles. I guess I need to put things on the floor and shoot down or stand on a ladder and shoot down.

There is something so liberating about resurrecting a piece of good paper with a bad painting on it from the scrap heap and turning it into a painting I like. By the time I finished, I'm not sure the red base influenced anything, but I had a great time working on it. I kept remembering Jerry Brommer's words of keep layering until you like what happens. There are a number of layers in play here. I also finally played around with a new product that was given to me as a gift by Kathy McChesney when I was teaching in Solano Beach. These water soluble oil pastels are called Portfolio (found in Michael's) and made by the people who bring us Crayola. It is a student grade product but WHAT FUN! Kathy does the most amazing paintings with them. I never figured out how to combine them with what I was doing until today.

I went to the website at www.portfolioseries.com and found some wonderful student work, and interesting projects by art teachers. One project, (under acrylic), was wooden chairs painted in the style of a famous artist. The kids did amazing work. Makes me want to create an entire set for myself. If you are looking for a dynamite way to create something exciting on a budget, check it out. Oh well, must stay on task Kudos to the talented kids and their dedicated, inspirational art teachers.

STAYING ON TRACK!

Today was a day to work at my desk, working on plans for a new critique group I am going to lead once a month. The first session starts next week. I am excited about the potential for growth for all the participants, including myself! What ever I teach, I put myself through the same process, in preparation. It helps me by building in some discipline and structure when I am only accountable to myself. Somehow we let ourselves down when we would never break our word to a friend or even a stranger.

That's why making a public commitment on the internet is so powerful. We will embarrass ourselves if we don't follow through with a project we want to do. Otherwise, it becomes like a New Year's Day resolution. You know what happens to those!

Okay, day two and I am still on track with my public commitment to work on silhouettes of action figures. Two days isn't so impressive, but every day I stay on target, I will get better and better at the task. I changed colors as I use up the paint in my old palette. I like the blue ink contour line on top. I am using a #10 Kolinsky sable brush with an excellent tip and I stand as I paint. By standing, my arm has more movement and I can manipulate the brush better. That semester of Chinese Brush Painting in college helped me gain control of my arm and hand without having to brace it against something. I personally find the process of painting more enjoyable if I am standing. More physical, like a dance, and less tedious. If you want to loosen up, try standing up!