Painting the Spirit of Nature

"Glorious Gull" Click here to bid on DPW-thanks!

“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly.”
― Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Happy Monday everyone! Yesterday, it felt like summer. I finally turned off the studio heat, opened all the windows and enjoyed an iced coffee instead of a winter cappuccino. Not quite spring break in Cabo but still pretty relaxing for mid March.

Prior to this weekend though, I’ve been getting more than a little anxious waiting for spring. But of course, as many winter plein air painters know nature is still all around us. You just might have to look a little more closely (and be willing to brave the cold.) 

"Crow on Ice" 8x10 oil on linen

As I’ve noted before I get my daily winter nature fix at my nearby park where several large ponds attract plenty of usual aviary suspects even on the coldest days such as crows, gulls, geese, starlings, pigeons, flickers and ducks. .  

Washington Park bald eagle (hanging out in evergreens)

This year we also had some eagle and hawk sightings (as you can see) which was exciting but truthfully I enjoy painting the “everyday” birds like my high key gull and snowbound crow today. It was a happy coincidence that a recent  DPW weekly painting challenge a couple of weeks ago was bird themed. The challenge inspired by this wonderful Robert Henri (his book The Art Spirit is one of my favorites) quote:

Paint the flying SPIRIT of the bird 

rather than its FEATHERS.

It's another gorgeous day so time to get back to the easel and find out what I already know....Have a colorful week! P.S. For more info about my upcoming spring and summer workshops please visit my website.

A Creative Spring Break in the City

"Splashdown" 8x10 oil on archival panel

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Before I took my “spring break” a few weeks ago to recharge my creative batteries I was thinking that spring was just around the corner…But I’m still eagerly awaiting the pale pink apple blossoms which mark the official start each year. 

I wish I could say I ran off with my paints to sunny Cabo--especially as I watch the tiny spring snow flakes fall outside the studio this morning. But I’m saving up for some May travel. So I decided to find as much positive creative energy as possible in my own neck of the woods. Here are a few things that have kept me busy (but in a good way), inspired, and ready to take my art to the next level...

Beautiful tiger at Denver Zoo

Photos , photos, photos…At the Zoo, at Rocky Mountain Arsenal (which is now a wildlife refuge), lots of parks and trails, etc. Today’s gull painting was a photo I took a few weeks ago at Washington Park where the ubiquitous waterfowl are some of the best wildlife models in the city year round.

Visited Denver Art Museum Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit.  You see so many O’Keeffe’s on posters, mugs, etc. that’s it’s always fascinating to see her art in person. This simple but powerful turkey feather and horseshoe painting was one of my favorites.

Traded my paint splattered apron for black sequins to attend the Art and Soul event--Wonderful to see hundreds of people attended a fundraising event in support of the arts and local artists. Thanks Denver!

Tried out some new art supplies—including Lefranc et Bourgeois titanium white—Used in the gull today and loved it--It's like French vanilla butter cream frosting...

Went to the movies (not just a DVD), enjoyed a "real" sit down lunch (amazing cheddar soup at Ghost Bar--thanks George--and yes it's haunted),  took my first bike ride of the year, had my eyes checked (super important fellow artists!), re-read some of my favorite art books, shopped for "non black" spring clothes and ended up with black capris (ladies you know how that goes). Most importantly I actually feel like I'm ready to paint with a refreshed vision and "cleaner" energy...It's good to be back!

P.S. Spring always brings new students so I want to welcome you all and thank my ongoing students who have also been at the mercy of this crazy spring weather!

Suddenly Seagulls

Marco Island Gull 8x8 Oil on Linen
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Each day has its own individuality of color. Charles Hawthorne.

When I was in Florida last week I was consistently captivated by all the high key colors created by the sun, water, and tropical atmosphere. This gull was perched on a weathered post by my table at a waterfront restaurant. I immediately knew I wanted to paint the water reflections on his white feathers when I returned home.

As I noted in my previous post, I was lucky enough to spend a week on Marco Island for a Dreama Tolle Perry oil painting workshop. More specifically, I was learning how to keep my oil colors really bright and fresh by using more transparent oil pigments (ultra, rose, sap, diox, etc.) in my initial block in stages.

For you orange lovers out there, in this gull painting, I used a gorgeous citrus-y Gamblin Transparent Orange (which I read is a favorite of painter Wolf Kahn’s) for some of my initial color block-in. You could also mix a nice transparent orange with Perm Rose (or Perm. Alizarin) and Indian Yellow.

You’ve probably noticed that most yellow pigments, though light in value, are not usually transparent. If you’re not sure if your paint is transparent you’ll find that any tubes now (often on the back) are labeled with a small "opacity rating" box as you can see below. If the box is clear (open) the pigment is transparent.

If the box is solid black the pigment is opaque. If there’s a line through it the pigment is semi-transparent. Some tubes also note (usually near the pigment info) the transparency level.  For more info about pigments check the detailed pigment database (for oils, acrylics, and watercolor) on the Art is Creation website.