Colors Dazzle in the Desert

My Colorful Tucson Arizona Collage: Spring Break 2016

Happy June everyone! Thanks to my friends and followers for being patient while I took a “spring break” from just about everything but art and painting. In fact, the past couple of months were jam packed with non-stop exciting art events….

• Drove to the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) as a first timer in beautiful Tucson
• Taught a floral painting workshop
• Took a floral painting class (yes I enjoy painting flowers!)
• Taught 3 group classes a week until a few weeks ago
• Painted over 50 daily paintings for two art market!

Thanks to all my art collectors too who purchased paintings at the Park Hill Art Club Spring Art Show as well as the Summer Art Market last weekend. It was a beautiful but plus 90 degree June weekend so I greatly appreciate if you came out to support the event and all the 250+ artists.  Thanks!

My photo collage today is my tribute to all the dazzling desert colors from Tucson. Truthfully, I didn’t get much time to paint at PACE but did take photos every day. Late April was the perfect time to enjoy bright desert blooms and spring wildlife. I even had a lovely view of the Catalina Mountains from my patio at the relaxing El Conquistador Resort. (FYI, next year PACE is another one of my favorite cities--San Diego!)

 

There's so much I could write about PACE--from the really cool "welcome goody bag" to dozens of amazing demos and art talks by artists I've previously only seen in books or magazines. As advertised, it's a jam packed agenda from breakfast to late night. There was even a nocturne painting session with PBS parks painter Stefan Baumann.  And of course every day at PACE you meet nice artists from all over the country--So a quick hello to any fellow PACE attendees!

As an art supply lover another highlight was shopping in the Expo hall--I bought some new Rosemary and Richeson brushes, some Shiva paint (which I can't get locally)and this handy easel brush clip. LOL--You can even see me rushing around the hall in a PACE video as I side step the camera crew!

It's good though to be be back home in the studio and have some these big events behind me so I can connect with all of you as well as enjoy summer in the Rockies. Happy summer painting everyone!

You Can't Steal a Gift

Student "master copy" of Edgar Payne landscape (acrylic on canvas)

“You can’t steal a gift. Bird [Charlie Parker] gave the world his music, and if you can hear it you can have it.” Dizzy Gillespie

I'm back from my beachy summer break following June's Summer Art Market. It was a super busy sunny (rain free!) successful weekend! Thanks to everyone who helped and supported me--art shows take a village! Special gratitude to my collectors for ongoing their support of SAM and the Denver art community.

Coming Soon! Fall Painting Classes and Workshops
Back in the studio I've been putting together some really interesting new fall classes and workshops which you can find on the my website. Hope to see you there!

I'm particularly thrilled to be joining the Park Hill Art Club (PHAC) as a Thursday morning painting instructor starting September 17. Thank you again PHAC for inviting me!

My student Michele working on her version of a Wolf Kahn landscape.

If you're a Denver artist and not yet a member be sure to check out this very established and active group of almost 300 artists (you don't need to live in the Park Hill area to join). PHAC offers high quality affordable classes, workshops and other painting events.

Lately several of my students have been working on "master" copies (see Anita's lovely Payne landscape posted today). So wanted to share some thoughts about why a master copies are so helpful to artist. (Along these lines have you read Steal Like an Artist yet?)

In many ways the act of creating a painting is problem solving. For an artist viewing a great painting by a master artist is visual gift. One that helps us "solve" the same puzzle we're about to tackle.

Yes, I often work from photos. But the more I work with other artists I also find that painting (copying) another painting vs. painting (copying) from a photo reference is more relevant experience. It’s “apples to apples” or more specifically it’s “paint to paint” rather than “pixels to paint.”

Here are 10 questions you may find helpful while reviewing a masterwork (or a painting you simply really love.)

1. How do you think the artist started their painting? Why?
2. What colors (and even more specifically what pigments) did they use and why?
3. What attracts and holds your eye?
4. Why do you think they painted what they did?
5. How have they created form?
6. How did they arrange their values? Is there a dominant value?
7. Where do you see hard edges? Softer edges?
8. What design elements and principles can you find?
9. Consider the paint application and brushwork--Is it heavy, thick, thin, washy?
10. What do you like best? Least? Finally what elements could you incorporate into your own painting?

Thanks everyone--Have a sunny safe summer weekend!

Mixing it up in the Studio

"Love Nest" 16 x 16 acrylic mixed media (on hold for Summer Art Market)

There are colors which cause each other to shine brilliantly, which form a couple which complete each other like man and woman. Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh's birthday is this upcoming Monday (March 30) so that was my quote choice today. (Did you know you can read (or search) all of Van Gogh's letters archived online in this wonderful resource?)

Given his love of color, I think Vincent would approve of my painting goal this week. Which is 12 paintings each with a dominant color working around the color wheel. My initial plan was to go in chroma order but as you know a painting often takes you by surprise and so I let the main color emerge as I worked on it.

"Dream Tree" 16x16 acrylic mixed media (on hold for Summer Art Market)

"Bloom to Grow" 16x16 acrylic mixed media (on hold for Summer Art Market)

 My previous post was Green and Blue Green. Today I'm posting Yellow Orange (one that I really ended up loving), Violet, and Red (a strong hue so that was a challenge.)

Mixed media/acrylic paintings are perfect for this “exercise” because they dry quickly and are easy to change on the fly. It’s probably my favorite aspect of working with acrylics. FYI, most of my paintings from now until June will be available at the Summer Art Market: June 13 & 14. I like to have lots of inventory for SAM collectors who are so loyal to this wonderful event.

For more info about my Denver art classes or upcoming painting workshops please visit the Scarlet Owl Studio website.   Thanks and have a colorful spring week!

12 Fresh Primavera Painting Ideas

"My State Flower" 8x10 oil on panel

When you paint nature inspired paintings you always have new subject ideas. One of the art approaches I associate with spring is painting more high key with more delicate ethereal hues. (For more examples of high key paintings and art inspiration check out my Pinterest board: High Key Heaven.)

Vincent loved spring!

In addition to high key painting, consider all the wonderful subjects/themes an artist could capture in springtime or "primavera" (which just sounds more arty) as the Italians call this season. (Which aptly means first green.) You'll find some great examples of spring paintings on my Pinterest Board: Spring Flings.) And if you're ready to say good-bye to winter like I am here are some painting ideas for you:

1. Spring Flowers (daffodil, tulips, crocus, lillies, pansies)
2. Flowering Trees/Budding Branches (cherries, magnolias, lilacs)
3. Spring (or Baby) Vegetables 
4. Anything Parisian--as in April in Paris!
5. Brunch/Breakfast Themes 
6. Spring Animals (chicks, ducklings, bunnies, robins, lambs, kittens)
7. Eggs (natural or decorated) and Nests
8. Bonnets/Fancy Hats
9. Rainy Day Things (puddles, boots, rain coat, umbrellas, raindrops, rainbows)
10. Stormy Landscapes
11. Sunlit  "candy" colors: Pinks, pale blues, butter yellows, lavenders...
12. Things Found in a Garden (tools, birdhouses, fences, benches, statues, fountains)

Bonus painting idea: Paint one of your state symbols--here I've painted our beloved Colorado columbine. Have fun and happy painting! P.S. Most of my paintings posted between now and June will be for sale at the Summer Art Market.

Every Summer Has a Story

 

"Irresistible Iris" 8x10 oil on linen

Please click here to bid on DPW--thanks!

I've been doing a lot of abstract painting lately ,extremely abstract.
No brush, no paint, no canvas, I just think about it. ( Comedian Steven Wright)

Summer is such an amazing adventurous season to be an artist, isn’t it? First, I have to give a huge thanks to all my friends, students, and of course enthusiastic art buyers of all ages who stopped by to say hi and wish me well at the Summer Art Market (SAM) a few weeks ago. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the Market on a beautiful June weekend.

SAM was very successful and now I'm busy working on several commissioned paintings from the show as well which I love to do. Again thank you loyal Denver art patrons!

Early AM shoppers on Grant Street at the Summer Art Market

Tent all set up, art hung, and ready to go!

Whew—the SAM  is always an art whirlwind--both inspiring and exhausting.  Sometimes, it takes me a few weeks to get my groove back. But when I do I always feel like I’m at a new level of awareness since I’ve painted so much to get ready (including very late the night before!).

Speaking of re-energizing, summer is often a “hit the restart button” season for me. There’s something that just makes me braver and bolder in the summer.  Interestingly, I’ve talked with many other artists that feel the same. What works well for me is to explore a new path that feels both natural AND pushes me in a new direction. 

For example, if you love figure painting, maybe try a figure class but with a different medium than you’d typically use. In the summer, I like to work on both nature inspired oil paintings (such as my iris today) as well as abstract painting.  I’m currently in progress on a “master copy” of an Emily Mason color field oil abstract but in acrylic and mixed media.

Emily Mason "master copy" 24 x 24 in acrylic

As many of you who work in both oil and acrylic know, trying to "make" your acrylic paint “mimic” buttery oil paint can be an interesting challenge-- particularly in a warm arid climate. But it’s one of the best ways to really discover, push, explore, and learn new media techniques.

P.S. If you enjoy nature inspired art like I do check out my new Pinterest board this week dedicated to tree related art—it’s one of my favorite boards yet.  Summer cheers everyone!