Thursday, January 31, 2019

Challenge for January, Paint a Flower Quickly

The challenge for January was to paint flowers in watercolor quickly and simply.

Carmen's Response to the Challenge

I did several paintings but got 'fussy' with them. It's so hard to stop!
Yellow Rose


Lilies
Pink Poppies


In all honesty, I believe the very simplified painting below fulfills the intent of the challenge. A few strokes quickly applied, and a flower appears. 

Carmen Beecher
Carmensart.etsy.com
Carmenbeecher.com

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Donna's Response to the Challenge

This was a tough one for all of us impatient oil painters. I have to say that I spent lots of time on this one.  It wasn't a total loss though, through the frustration of trying to do something so simple I realized that I had gotten very tight and fussy.  I joined a 5 day 20 min. painting challenge and it really felt great to just paint.   I think I learned a lot, loosened up and made some progress.  This painting was done after I had painted a 20 minute oil on day 2 of the challenge.


OH Happy Day
donnavinesart.blogspot.com
donnavinesart.Etsy.com
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Carol's Response to the Challenge

Watercolor is, indeed, a challenge, for me.  I only do about one watercolor a decade!




I was attracted to this image, because of the strong shapes and colors.
Thank you, to Donna Vines, for allowing me to use your photo reference.

I have to admit, I do feel inspired to try another!

Carol Schiff


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Kathy's Response to the Challenge
I stopped at Walmart on my way to Ralph’s to pick up some lilies and a Gerbera daisy for our flower painting challenge. Below are my results. I’m glad we were able to do this    challenge all together during our session as I will miss painting with The Pieces during the rest of the month.

Kathy Garvey

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Fay's Response to the Challenge

Now I know for sure if I want to do water colors, I need to take some lessons. Not that I didn't try. I just didn't get the results I wanted. To wit. 
Here is the photo I wished to portray.



In doing a watercolor, I wanted to capture the intense color and the interesting formation of the leaves. The following are the tree best of what I managed to produce after six tries. Although none of the ones I finished really pleased me, I have a favorite. Can you guess?







Back to collage for me!
Fay


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Jean's response to the challenge

Tried painting from a real orchid, not a photo. The challenge for me is to paint fast!
I tried, really I did, to paint more quickly. 

There is a lot of truth to the expression, "knowing when to quit!"
So I did after the second one. 




Monday, January 28, 2019

Sketchbook fun with the grands

By Kathy Garvey

I love the variety in my sketchbook when visiting my grandchildren.
There are games like The Rules where they take turns making rules and we all have to draw our understanding of that rule. Or we cooperate drawing a “goat robot” after taking a three mile mountain trail with three real goats.

Sometimes they like to include their own entries like the robot on the top of this first page. Or they ask me to draw things I would never think of, like the same five year old’s request for “lots of teddy bears that look like they are holding a meeting.” Then there are requests for “butterflies sitting down,” and princesses and “the first robot to land on Mars.”

Anyway, my grands are a constant source of inspiration!








Saturday, January 26, 2019

Twenty-Minute Challenge, Small Paintings

Donna Vines introduced me to artist Mary Gilkerson's 20-minute challenge, which means doing a small painting in just 20 minutes. Here is my first attempt, a scene in Florence, Italy. I learned from this one that the subject was a bit too complex for a 20-minute execution!


This was my second attempt, and it went much easier. No buildings or people!


I was more deliberate with this last one, and stopped panicking over the time ticking by.


If you want to paint more loosely, this is a great exercise. One important tip: mix up your paint before you set the time.

Below is a page from my sketch journal, starting with my gym class the other day. Jean Thomas's class really inspired me to sketch more about everyday happenings.


Carmen

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Oil on Canvas, Euphorbia Francoisii Caudiform Rare Succulent Plant Painting 11x14

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Euphorbia francoisii, a small caudiciform succulent from Madagascar, has the most variable leaves in the plant kingdom. No two plants have the exact same leaf shape or color, even if they are clones. The new leaves emerge as new shapes and colors, completely unpredictable! Some plants will have several different leaf shapes, sizes and colors all on one plant! So weird. This plant is on the critically endangered list.

I will be painting more from the exotic world of succulents. They are some of the most interesting plants on Earth. For the real thing, check out Paradise Found Nursery.

Carmen

Monday, January 21, 2019

Daily Painting, Fiddlehead Fern Painting, Small OIl Painting, 11x14 Oil NFS

This small oil painting came about because of a trip I took to North Carolina.. I used to live in Florida,  where we didn't get a lot of spring flowers, and when I saw this bed of ferns coming to life, I had to paint them.

NFS
I was surprised how quickly they grew, with obvious growth from day to day.
I decided to use a dark background to really highlight the ferns and keep my palette restricted to greens, blues and purples. I have been pleased with the results of this painting, which is a departure from my usual style. Blues are very difficult to photograph accurately and although the background color appears to be a deep blue, the actual color is close to a black,
This piece is available  at the link above as an original, or here as a giclee'  canvas print in the size of your choice.
Thanks for viewing my blog today.  I hope you take time every day,  to smell the roses.

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MY PRINTS

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Wildlife Painting, Small Oil Painting, Daily Painting, "Gray Squirrel" by Carol Schiff, 6x8" Oil SOLD

Have you ever tried to photograph wildlife?  I have, and consider it an exercise in frustration.  Many blurred images later, my friend and photographer, Ted Fuhrer, offered me the use of his images.  Thanks so much, Ted.

SOLD
This little guy looks very inquisitive and ready to bolt at the least movement.

  I enjoyed experimenting with painting his fur and directing the viewer's eye.  The animal is much the same color as the background in this scene.

 I put it in one of my black frames.  They seem to work perfectly for just about any painting.

Happy day to you!

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Friday, January 11, 2019

Where do I go from here?, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting

Traditionally, January is when we evaluate our performance over the last twelve months, and look at the direction we are headed.  I am a little late!

Artistically, I see nothing but question marks.  I want to have a clear plan, a path to follow and mark my progress, but alas, it evades me.


I looked through my posts from last year, and picked out my favorite pieces, hoping against hope that they will tell me where I am headed.



 Abstract Expressionism?


Maybe....


Thick Paint?

 Impressionism?




 Brushwork?
 Knife?

Really thin paint?




Or does it really matter?



All this thinking is making my head hurt!  

I am happy I found this many pieces, from last year, that speak to ME.  I am happy with them which makes me happy with me.

Maybe 2018 will find me treading the straight and narrow.....but somehow, I don't think so.

Thank you all, for joining me on my crazy, unplanned journey!

Friday, January 4, 2019

Mr. Eker is not a farmer, not a history prof or even a philosopher...he is a financial wealth motivational speaker.  I probably don't embrace his agenda for fattening my bank account but I do think he has a point here about roots.  I'll explain.

Lately I've been obsessed with "roots."  In every aspect of the word, in every application of the nuance, the symbolism and the literalness...in short, the word just keeps percolating in my tired little brain over and over again.  I must have hundreds of photos of roots.  Everything I have read, fiction and non, over the past year somehow circles back to a theme involving roots.
What does this mean? I'm not sure.  But the obsession has, of course, crept into my painting and I've decided to ride it as far as it takes me.  Does anyone really want a painting of roots in their living room? I don't know and for the moment I can't care...I need to paint these fascinating twists and turns and see where they take me.  It could be a private project or a fabulous show...no idea.  
These magnificent formations all become anthropomorphic as I paint them.  They are also an excellent exercise in transforming a 2D surface into a 3D visual, it takes a certain skill to make those limbs come out at the viewer or dive back into the ground.
Even my sketches relate to the idea that roots have something to tell us...uptight, snarled root balls don't survive, meandering, exploring ones that graft onto others thrive. hmmm.
In the midst of hardened places you often find hope, there is a lone fern (to be) nestled amongst these (work in progress) roots.  And, and....
And who knows where this will lead or if next week it all comes to a screaching halt.  So bear with me as I dig beneath the surface and see what needs attention.  Or share with me and perhaps I'll discover just why this is grabbing me so.  As always,
CURIOUS,
Cindy 
art@cindymichaud.com
p.s. all of the above illustrations are still on the easel, works-in-progress!



Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Morning on the beach, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, Beach Painting, Seagull on the Beach, 11x14" Original Oil

I have run from the snowy mountains, to the beaches of Florida.  Lucky me, I can walk on the beach, and work at the same time.




Purchase Here
 I photoed this guy, during my morning walk and painted soon after.




The birds are so conditioned to people, they barely move when you approach.  In the morning, it is all business, as they are looking for food.

We are enjoying our Florida winter on the beach.  Being a snowbird is a good thing!




Carol Schiff

Ballard Park, Original Oil on Canvas

  I had not painted outside in two years, so this was quite a challenge. It was one of those paintings I had to improve upon in the studio. ...