Carnation, 6x6 Inches, Oil

SOLD

Last week at the workshop in my studio this was one of the demo's.  First we painted the image as a value study.  Then we matched the colors we applied to the values of the study.  Good to do, as it keeps you on track in terms of values.  If your values (lights and darks) are off, the painting will not have the punch you hope it will.

I don't know about you, artist friends, but I am very excited about Wednesday's Artists Helping Artists Blogtalk Radio Show at noon, EST.  Carol and David Marine have an exciting announcement.  Hopefully while I am listening I will finally paint my Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge - nothing like waiting till the last minute!!!

Plein Air Demo, 5x7 Inches

Last week we had our first Painting Safari - a fun, plein air class that happens in a different location each week.  I swear I'm the luckiest person in the world - these students are amazing women and we have the BEST time!  Aside from losing my camera (found the next day...) it was a perfect day.  Above is an enlargement of a portion of it - I made use of Laurel Daniel's "mother color" which is ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson and a bit of burnt umber, to establish the darks.

  Then, because the light changes so much outdoors, I made "color notes - see below - so I'd have accurate colors from the MOMENT I had chosen to paint:

This image seems to have lost the lavender sky at the horizon, but you get the idea.  We believe we were looking across the river at Barrington, RI.  

If you live nearby, you can check the upcoming location for our Safari and join us!

Red Ribbon, 6x6 Inches, Oil

This silver bowl was a great lesson on reflective surfaces.  I put it together to paint as a demo for my class last week, then I thought "Holy Cow, I haven't painted a shiny silver surface in, like, a YEAR - why am I doing a DEMO with one?"  Something like this really puts you through the paces, which is a good thing.  And the ribbon was just fun, and gave a nice reflection inside the bowl.   I just have to say... I have such a GREAT group of artists in my class... I'm so grateful for their enthusiasm and focus!

Holiday Greens Plus

I began this painting the day I did a demo for an art association, and did the same subject for them.  It's so different when I can control the light, have unlimited time, and there are no questions to answer!  I was able to make a more finished piece.  The demo I did for the East Greenwich folk is below:

I just couldn't do things like the ribbon in the time it took to do the demo, answer questions, explain about blogging - as it was I put the poor woman right in front of me to SLEEP!  Riveting, that's me! ;)