Apples with Pot

The father of every good work is discontent, and its mother is diligence.

Lajos Kassak

Yesterday my art teacher was back in class and gave me some final pointers for this painting. It's amazing how a small change can have such a huge impact. After three hours of tiny readjustments here and there I felt I had done all I could do. Fortunately, when my instructor came around again, he agreed. Finished! Now, of course, I need to wait 6 months to put a coat of varnish on but I can finally put this one aside ...... well, actually, now that I look more closely at it I see several places that could use a little more attention. Ugh.

Progress!

Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.

St. Francis de Sales


As I have written earlier I am very happy with my art instructor ~ he's insightful, supportive, and has a wonderful eye. This past week I took the three paintings in this post to class for his advice. Unfortunately, his wife was ill and we had a substitute ~ a wonderful teacher also. She looked at my paintings and declared me a "Renaissance painter." My heart soared. Now I know what I aspire to be! Renaissance art emerged about 1400 in Italy (that's why I feel so drawn to Italy, I'm sure ~ it is by far the most beautiful place I have had the privilege to visit). To me Renaissance art is closely associated with the classical painting done by the late 19th century masters. One of the best sites to visit to learn more about these artists and what is being done to preserve their work is the Art Renewal Center. It is well worth a visit. Anyway, it's nice to have a direction at last ~ one never knows how one comment can change another person's life!

Apples with Pot

Success is that old A B C ~ ability, breaks and courage.

Anonymous

The time had come to put the ring on the pot. I was in my art class and wanted to know the best technique to get a perfect ring drawn. I had all sorts of implements on hand and was anxious to discuss them with my teacher. When he came over and I began to explain all the steps I was going to take he just looked at me and smiled. "Draw it," he said, "just draw it." Then he handed me a white charcoal pencil and started to walk away. Why not, I thought, I can always paint over it. But, lo and behold, it worked! Perhaps success is really more C B A ~ I think courage has to come first.

A Pair of Eggs

Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.

John Ruskin

I have decided to try my hand at some painting with a very limited palette. For this one I used only four different colors ~ black, white, green, and brown. There's still some work to be done with the shadows and molding the eggs and jar but I think its gotten off to a nice start ~ certainly makes cleaning the brushes a lot simpler!

John Ruskin

Sunset Sail

Once a man would spend a week patiently waiting if he missed a stage coach, but now he rages if he misses the first section of a revolving door.

Simeon Strunsky

I fell in love with this picture the minute I saw it. Although a city girl, the feeling of solitude and isolation conveyed here really appealed to me. These colors are way out for me ~ but everyone in my class today loved them. Today was make-up day so I really didn't know anyone. Maybe they were just being nice. Anyway, for now I'm keeping this one vivid. It still has a long way to go but at least today I got the canvas covered.

Apples with Pot

If I try to be like him, who will be like me?

Yiddish proverb

The hardest thing about painting is making the painting one's own. Although my teacher says its fine to copy other people's work (particularly the masters), he strongly advocates setting up one's own still life or finding a particular place and taking your own photograph and working from it. Unfortunately, I tried that. I took a fabulous picture of a courtyard in St. Thomas and decided to paint it several weeks ago. After hours and hours of working on the stone courtyard I carefully placed the painting in the corner of my studio and dug out this photograph I found on Wet Canvas. I can claim no originality here but I am enjoying turning the photo into an oil painting with Carravagio in mind. That doesn't mean I don't like the above quote ~ it just means once in awhile it's okay to copy. There's a lot to be learned from other people's work.

Lion 3

Courage ~ fear that has said its prayers.

Dorothy Bernard

Well, with a little reshaping Leo is starting to look more like a lion and less like a monkey. I reshaped his snout and enlarged his head giving him a whole new profile. Now its just a matter of getting more and more texture in his mane and adding some more detail to the area above his mouth (what is that area called anyway?)

Lion 2

Everyone is a genius at least once a year; a real genius has his original ideas closer together.

G. C. Lichtenberg

I am used to going back over my paintings many, many times but when it comes to painting fur it's a whole new ball game. I don't know how many layers are on here but to my mind it still needs a lot more. He is starting to look quite fluffy though.

The above quote has nothing to do with this painting but everything to do with this blog. For days I have been going around and around trying to sign on using my user name and changing my password over and over all to no avail. Finally I just went to the blogspot website and signed on through that and it worked! I may not be a genius everyday but every once in awhile the light bulb does go off.

Anyway, back to this painting. I'm still not happy with the background ~ not happy with the shade of green. This week my art classes start again so I will ask my teacher for a little help. The green really makes the yellow in the lion pop but it's just not the right shade.

Bowl of Grapes 3

Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.

John Ruskin

I am having major issues with my blog server. As usual somebody wants to fix what isn't broken. Hopefully, I will be able to figure it out but for now this is the last post of the grapes.

Lion 1

Dogs come when they are called; cats take a message and get back to you.

Mary Bly

We are not a "cat" family. After one disastrous attempt to have a cat which resulted in a major flea infestation we have had only one pet, a lovely little Cocker Spaniel named Maggie. However, when I came across a photo of this magnificent lion I couldn't resist painting him. How regal and uninterested he appears. After painting feathers it seemed like a good thing to give fur a try. Once again I've found it's a matter of layers and layers.

Bowl of Grapes 2

Whether it be to failure or success, the first need of being is endurance ~ to endure with gladness if we can, with fortitude in any event.

Bliss Carman

It is amazing to me what one little bit of knowledge will do to change things drastically. I am contemplating buying a video painting workshop on color. The free introductory lesson taught me that the part of anything in shadow will have a touch of color that is opposite its main color on a color wheel. For example, the shadow side of the swans were grayish-purple. The shadow side of the grapes, above, therefore, would be reddish, orange. I'm not as brave as I know I should be but I'm working up to more and more contrasts in my paintings. That's what makes them pop. Anyway, the grapes are done for now ~ on to the pears!

Bowl of Grapes

In creating, the only hard thing's to begin;
A grass-blade's no easier to make than an oak.

James Russell Lowell

Although I took some quick photos of this painting earlier on this is the first time I have gotten to my computer to post anything. I found this photo on-line and fell in love with ts simplicity immediately. Of course, when I started to paint it I quickly realized that it is not simple at all. Each grape had a personality all its own. It was a real joy to tackle each one. I'll probably go over them all at least one more time but for now, I'm just happy to have this one sitting on the easel.

The Mating Game 11

A work of art is a corner of creation seen through a temperament.

Emile Zola

My computer was in the care of Best Buy for over two weeks and I cannot begin to describe how happy I was to get it back. At any rate, I am happy to post another rendition of the swans. I took them to class today and my teacher feels they are finished. My favorite critic does not. I will try to add a few more touches to them but actually will be quite happy to see them swim off into the sunset. While I feel I learned a lot about painting water, feathers are a whole other story! The quote above seemed to fit perfectly with this painting. Every time I approached it I had a different idea of the feeling I wanted to give to it. I'd try to give it one type of atmosphere at home only to have my teacher suggest something to give it a completely different feel. That little bit of still water in the lower right hand corner is me clinging to my original idea of still, placid water counterbalancing the tension between the swans. My teacher kept at me to swirl that water up but I hung tough. Today he didn't mention it all ~ maybe (probably) he was right, but it's my painting.

The Mating Game 10

If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it: Every arrow that flies feels the attraction of earth.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Feathers! Feathers! Feathers! I don't know how to paint them. Today I worked a long time on the swans. While I feel I have the shadowing in pretty well I would like to see much more definition within the feathers. The problem here is a continuity of style. While I acquiesced to my teacher and added lots of detail to the water overall the painting style is smooth and blended strokes. My original idea was to have strong and heavy strokes when I got to the feathers. I'm not sure this is going to fly with my teacher. So far I've been happy following his advice ~ can't wait to see what he says about mixing of painting techniques on one canvas. Also, I can already here him telling me to get more contrast in the swan's bodies. I know the one on the bottom needs more work ~ my arm just gave out.

The Mating Game 9

God gave man work, not to burden him, but to bless him, and useful work, willingly, cheerfully, effectively done, has always been the finest expression of the human spirit.

Walter R. Courtenay

Well, as you can see I put in a fair number of hours today on the water. This has been quite time consuming but once I got into I really enjoyed it. My teacher had some really good pointers about making the swans appear as if they are actually sitting in the water not on it. However, I am so anxious to get to work on the swans now. Although I am glad I listened to my teacher and spent more time on the pond, I feel it still needs a lot more work. The next session, however, will definitely be spent on the birds. Its time to give them a little attention. Since there's only one more class to go I want to be sure and get my teacher's input on them as well.

The Mating Game 8

Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into, the mind.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Well, as you can see my idea didn't fly with my teacher. He really thought the water needed a lot more attention. I've started at the bottom of the canvas and am adding more depth and detail. A lot of work left to be done here!

The Mating Game 7

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

William Butler Yeats

I've spent about eight hours on this since my last class working only on the water. The big question in class tomorrow will be how much more to put in. I like how still the water looks ~ it adds a real touch of serenity to the entire painting. I want the energy to come from the tension between the three swans. I'm guessing though that my teacher will want me to add some motion to the water. The beauty of oil paint is that I can try it and if it doesn't work just cover it up again. Painting the water like this took a tremendous amount of blending ~ no harsh edges between the different colors. Unfortunately I broke my favorite little blending brush ~ fortunately that means a trip to the art supply store.

The Mating Game 6

Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence.

Henry Chester

Today was art class again and my new favorite teacher was not there ~ ugh. I was all prepared with my questions and my working photographs. Although I didn't enjoy the instruction I thought I would get, the substituting teacher did have a few good pointers. My enthusiasm did not stay dampened for long! At any rate, today was background day and I have just begun to get the water laid in. Once I get a few more layers of paint on it will be time to go back and add in the highlights and darker shadows. Then feathers!

The Mating Game 5

They gave each other a smile with a future in it.

Ring Lardner

Well, this is coming along slowly. I've gotten a bit of the shading done on the lower feathers and more detail put in the faces. This white on white is quite a challenge! Since this is a combination of two different photographs this weeks job is to get the water to make sense. I'm going to work on not only the color but the movement. Also its time to start getting some reflection at least indicated. Because of the story within this painting I think its necessary to have patience in getting just the right amount of action on the canvas.

The Mating Game 4

The last thing a woman will consent to discover in a man whom she loves, or on whom she simply depends, is want of courage.

Joseph Conrad

The best paintings in my opinion tell a story and that's what I'm hoping to convey here. Is the little lady in the front beginning to look shy? I hope so. And does it look like the swan on the left is beginning to muster some courage to try to head the other swan off? At any rate I worked all day today getting more shading done. My class is on Thursday and I'm hoping to get some pointers on getting both the swans and the water to look more realistic. I'll have to let this dry until then so I can add some bold brush strokes to create feathers. I know my instructor is going to want me to add some foliage but I kind of like the serenity of the water in contrast to the emotional struggle going on. Ying and yang.

The Mating Game 3

If there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another, and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.

Albert Camus

Today I worked solely on the swan on the left. This is the one in this little scenario who is not happy with what's going on between the other two. He wants to be the one that attracts the lady swan in the front but he's waited too long ~ the other one is making his move. I've started doing some of the shading and blending but there's a long way to go to get him three dimensional. The problem with painting something white is that its difficult to give it form ~ a good exercise I learned in school when I first started studying painting was how to paint an egg on a white canvas. Give it a try.

The Public Speaker 2

Tell me and I'll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I'll understand.

Native American saying

Today I started my art class in Boca and knew right off the bat I had found a great teacher. He looked at my swans and asked me what my plan was. Then he smiled and said "We're going to have a lot of fun with this one". I decided to work on the Public Speaker today, however, simply because I want to get some better photographs of the swans to work from. As you can see I at least got some paint on the entire canvas. Every time the instructor would come by he taught me something new. He gave me some great tips on color mixing and also some pointers on making convincing shadows. He also suggested that next time I use an acrylic underpainting as it is frustrating to have to wait so long for oil to dry between sessions. I have avoided acrylics up until now because I don't think they give the same depth to a painting as oil paint does. Maybe they're worth a try, though. At any rate, it was great to be back in the classroom.

The Public Speaker

Say what you have to say and the first time you come to a sentence with a grammatical ending ~ sit down.

Winston Churchill


This week I am starting a new class at the Boca Raton Museum of Art School. It will be a real treat to be back in a studio with a group of artists and to have a new teacher. For my project I have decided to do an oil of this drawing I found in a book. Since it is black and white I am on my own as far as color. So far I've sketched it in on the canvas, sizing it up 1 1/2 times and have painted in a background. As I was working it occurred to me that he looked as if he was giving a speech so I have placed him on the edge of a stage. My first question to my new teacher ~ how should the background be handled? Second question ~ how do I tone down the yellow a bit and still keep it light so there will be a striking contrast between the background and his dark coat? Stay tuned.

The Mating Game 2

All profoundly original art looks ugly at first.

Clement Greenberg


Here I have placed the swans where they should be on the canvas and have begun to work on the background. Since they were floating about in a fairly shaded area the water had taken on a lovely green hue which works well with the brilliant white feathers. There will be quite a bit of blending to be done in the water to get the shadow lines softened and more depth to the water. Slow and steady it goes.

The Mating Game

The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.

Blaise Pascal

I have decided to go back to my original idea for this blog which is to trace a painting from its very beginning. Last week I went to the Palm Beach Zoo ~ a surprise outing but fortunately I had my camera along. After going through all the photos I decided to use a few of some beautiful swans I had taken. I printed them, cut them up and rearranged them to form a three-way flirting fest. The story will be a little clearer as I get to their facial expressions. For starters I just wanted to get them placed correctly with each other and on the canvas. It wasn't until I had gotten fairly into blocking everything in that I noticed the swan's body on the left is heart shaped ~ perfect symbolism for a love story.

The Steward

Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair.

George Burns

Although I've posted this one before and kind of even sort of put in in a frame I knew it wasn't really done. I put in maybe four or five more hours just tightening up some edges and loosening up others. My quote really doesn't have much to do with the work that I did only that maybe what one thinks is finished in Washington really isn't. ANYWAY, this is an art blog and I'll stick to the subject. I really enjoyed working on this one getting the different shades of gray to reflect where the light was coming from and also to give a three dimensional effect. My favorite critic told me I "nailed it" so this time I am done.

Evening Sunset 2

Music is a strange thing. I would almost say it is a miracle. For it stands halfway between thought and phenomenon, between spirit and matter.

Heinrich Heine

Mark O'Connor is the best fiddle player I've ever had the pleasure to hear. He started playing at the age of 11 and in less than a year was winning competitions at a national level. My absolute favorite number he does is Jerusalem Ridge. It is bluegrass fiddling at its finest. It's also the song I play when I want to really get moving on a painting. I haven't touched this Evening Sunset in quite a while but I knew that I needed to get more of an underpainting job done on the tree and other greenery. This is the point where its really important to work the whole canvas at once. Although it still doesn't look like much the bones are there. Mark had me flying all over this! Next session will be much slower ~ probably some yoga music ~ time to work on details.

The Window 2

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I almost titled this painting "Imagination" ~ what is outside of the window? Is that brilliant sunshine streaming in or a raging blizzard? Maybe my mind is focused on weather because my husband is traveling in a snowstorm on business and I am sitting on my porch in bright sunshine surrounded by palm trees. Emerson definitely had it right, though. No matter what the weather, the sky is always magnificent to behold.

As far as the painting goes, it was fun trying to create the look of an old structure. The inexact lines of the window frames coupled with the uneven paint on the wall definitely give the room an aged look. Also keeping the furniture to the bare minimum adds to the simplicity of the composition and helps to lead the eye to the focal point ~ the light from the window. No matter what the temperature is I hope the sun is shining on you.

The Window

Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.

Thomas A. Edison


Last weekend we took a trip to Winter Park, Florida. It is one of the most charming towns I have ever been in. One long street divides the town in two ~ a beautiful park on one side and a residential neighborhood on the other with beautiful homes overlooking tranquil lakes. The street is one long avenue of restaurants and shops. Although I still intend to finish off a lot of unfinished projects I was so taken with a small photograph in one of the shops I had to stop on the way home and pick up a small canvas and get to work on this little painting. I love the simplicity of the composition as well as the color scheme. Don't let the bed ruffle fool you ~ the black is just an underpainting for something softer.

Red Morning Bouquet 2

It is better to wear out than to rust out.

George Whitefield

I hope the above quote is true because I am on a tear to get so many projects done and yet I keep getting more ideas for new ones ~ not the least of which is working on my photography skills. At any rate, this one is going into the finished pile as well. Since I overworked that drawing last month I'm very hesitant to keep working on things too long. This will take months to dry before it can be varnished so it may go back into the "just a few more touches" pile before all is said and done.

Red Morning Bouquet

This is a prime example of why I need to take a course on how to photograph oil paintings to be posted on the computer. This painting looks much better in person (even if I do say so myself). Anyway, I have finally decided to make the flowers red. There is an underpainting of shades of blue and then another of shades of white which are working to give them some depth. Next step will be to get to work on the greenery and add more dimension to the pot. So far I'm pleased with how the light is cascading across the tips of the flowers ~ by darkening the greenery they should pop out even more. That's my leap!

Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how. The moment you know how, you begin to die a little. The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.

Agnes de Mille

New Year's Pear

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.

Charles Kingsley

I love New Year's Day! I love the idea of fresh beginnings ~ a chance to start anew, get organized, and make plans. That's where this pear came from ~ I plan to finish up many of my projects that have been sitting on the back burner. This one required about an hour of finishing touches. Of course, no painting is ever truly done in the eyes of an artist but I'm walking away from this one (for now). There's a lot I'm not happy with (the ribbon for one) but a lot I am happy with (the texture of the pear). Anyway, happy new year ~ may it be a healthy and peaceful one.