Small Studies...

A while ago, I started painting small studies in my classes to illustrate the lesson .

Some of my students asked if they could purchase them, so I mounted, varnished and framed a number of them to show and sell as small works.

They are priced well below retail as they were quick impressions.

I have posted about half of the available images.

These painting will be available for sale at the Winslow Art Center in Winslow WA on Bainbridge Island, Friday December 12th and Saturday December 13th.

 



          

A Bend in the River

12 x 16

$175 

Painted to illustrate the power of using fewer pigments

 

  

                                    

A Peaceful Place

 12 x 16    

 $175

We painted this image together using several different color combinations                

 

Apple Basket

8 x 8

$100

We each painted a copy of this from a black and white photo to see if we could find warm light, cool shadows and reflected light. I had the students work very quickly to not overthink.

 

 Backlit Aspen

10 x 8

SOLD

Painted as a quick Plein Air demo several years ago.

 

Bagno Vignoni

12 x 9

$150

Plein Air demo in Italy done during a short sun break between rain bursts.

 

 

Blue Shadow

9 x 12

$150

Painted as a demonstration exaggerating the coolness of shadows in warn light.

 

 

 Bright Winter

$250

In this class exercize, I gave my students a black and white photo I took in a small town in Eastern Washington, and a copy of a winter painting by Russian Impressionist, Isaac Levitan, and we attempted to merge ideas from both images.

 

 

 

Castella Di Piano

12 x 9

Sold

 

 

 

 

 Fall Colors

16 x 20

$550

Painted as an in class demonstration at Winslow Art Center to illustrate finding the unique color harmonies of Autumn

 

 

 

 

 

 Green Magic

8 x 10

$100

Painted to illustrate using an analagous color harmony (all greens).

 

 

 

 

 

Poppy Solo

12 x 9

$150

I had my students paint this several times using different triads of colors.

 

 

 

 Red Tea Pot

12 x 12

$175

Painted to illustrate ways to light, shadows and reflections on Red

 

 

 

A Busy Week

Open Window 24" x 18" 
 

Life as an artist is never boring, but I have periods of quiet time and deep reflection where it seems like all inspiration has fled and I know I need to recharge, and periods of frantic activity to get to a deadline.  This was my frantic week last week.







A Well Worn Path 24" x 30"

Tuscan Morning 24" x 24"

 I was finishing a collection of paintings for a show at the Blue Horse Gallery in Bellingham.  This included putting finishing details on 6 of the 15 pieces, sealing the backs of the panels, signing, varnishing, photograph, cataloging, framing and wrapping the frames, putting the pieces on the website, hand building and refinishing some of the frames...teaching three classes and a workshop, and leading a critique session.....at the end of the week I found myself finishing a workshop in Winslow, and dashing to get to the ferry...to drive through Seattle rush hour traffic north to Bellingham for the show opening.  I was on the road for 3 hours.  I'm not complaining, though,  I love this pace.  It really is wonderful and satisfying.

 I usually feel weirdly out of place at show openings, but that dissipates as I take a deep breath, temporarily banish  my gigantic self doubts and go introduce myself. People are usually so kind and gracious...that helps when I have put little pieces of my heart on the wall.

Today I am facing a house and studio that look like chaos...I always seem to leave a wake of rubble in my path when there is a looming deadline.  So today I am cleaning up my house and shovelling out my studio in preparation for the next wave of crazy activity.

Workshop Demo

Roses on the Ruins 36" x 24" Acrylic on Masonite

This weekend I taught another workshop at the Winslow Arts Center. This painting was a demonstration on using a limited palette.  It was completed in a little over an hour of furious painting.  I did it during the lunch break because I wanted my students to get back to their own work.
It was amazing to see the progress they all made in two short days.

Friday Workshop

Last Friday I taught a one day workshop at the Winslow Arts Center on Bainbridge Island.  It was so much fun.  There were some really great painters there, and everyone stepped out of their comfort zone.  Here are photos of a few of the participants work.  I will be teaching another workshop there on October 6th and 7th.

Off to Winslow

In Quiet Water 18" x 14" acrylic on masonite

   This Painting was the product of my stay on Bainbridge Island in August  where I taught a three day plein air workshop.  I go there again tomorrow to teach another workshop.  It's been a busy month with my classes starting, exhibitions going up and others coming down, meetings (blah...blah...blah..).  My commute time from my home on a little island is about an hour and a half each way.  Sometimes I feel like I'm just rushing from one minute to the next.
     Then there's painting.  It seems to suspend time...or better, time seems to stretch sideways.  And there is the added benefit of slowing down, standing for hours very quietly in front of something that inspires me...trying to observe every nuance.  The act of painting is very personal to me and frames everything else with meaning and purpose.