Black, Orange, Yellow & White

So I've been having fun playing around with just using these 4 colors: Ivory Black, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Yellow and Flake White. Essentially they are the three primaries. Ivory Black is blue, orange is my red and yellow is yellow- ha. I have been looking a lot at the Barbizon painters this month (Corot, Daubigny and Rousseau) and I was amazed at how effective their paintings were even without an array of color.  Nowadays (hee hee), we have soooo many choices when it comes to color - and I love it. I mean I can't imagine a world without Sorolla's cobalt violet  - BUT I think about all of the beautiful works that were created hundreds of years ago like DaVinci, Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Velasquez and Titian. In fact I think it was Titian that said all you needed was a red, black, yellow and white to paint.  Also, if you look at some of Sorolla's early academy works the presence of all that fun bold color is not there.  Of course I'm not poo pooing color, but I think there is something to be learned from their use of the limited colors they had - the subtlety and restraint, and also how strong their other skills had to be to carry the painting without the salivation of color. Sometimes, when we have so much readily available we can also lose something special.

  I've always gone back to a limited palette from time time when I feel it's time to strengthen my skills again. I experimented with this particular combo on some of my sunrises.   I wanted to try exploring this limited palette to see if I could get more harmony in my work.  I feel as though it is taking me back to focusing on using temperature changes and how the more de-saturated tones help the saturated colors have stronger effect. I also think that it forces me to focus on other things that need improvement in my work, like composition, shapes and value...once I don't have the distraction of "color matching".

So here are some of the results and I hope you will give it a try as well!  (If you use social media use the #blackandorangepainting so we can follow along). 


I was really amazed how just Ivory Black + White looks so blue among all of the other orange and yellow tones....and vice versa. Here are a couple of examples:

 

 

The greens in this one were just made with Ivory Black & Cadmium Yellow

 

Again the colors that were achievable in this one amazed me too. I love how Cadmium Orange looks so pink with just a little bit of white and it looks purple with a little bit of black and white.

 

 

This one was done with a little bit different combo, I just substituted the cadmium orange with Burnt Sienna. The Sienna is transparent and does not look so cupcake pink as the orange. I loved the warmth and luminosity of this one.

 

On these two I substituted black with Burnt Umber + Cobalt Blue.

 

 

 

Ebb & Flow

April's Mini Painting Giveaway

Winner is Carlos Herrera. Congratulations Carlos!!!

It seems like a daily challenge as an artist to actually make art! Ironic since it is our very job and since we chose the profession...it must be in our nature... to make it. Yes?  I am sure that I am not alone in that, however that may be, I seem to have a resistance to actually doing the work.  Some people seem to us to be super human and  above these lowly commoner feelings (wink), but I guarantee you they are not, but maybe they have developed better tools to make the load a little lighter.  I think everyone struggles with this to a certain degree and some wind up paralyzed and like a dusty forgotten book on a shelf, rotting in isolation, never having the chance to fulfill their purpose.  What's underneath this green goblin is of course the usual suspects: fear of failure/rejection and a biological disdain for discomfort.  So how do people move past these issues to become champions, the best in their field or just productive enough to not feel like shit about themselves?  My personal experience has been that I must accept that this is a daily fight and that it is part of being human.  I am not exempt from being human. It's in our nature to have fears, doubts, disappointments and jealousy. 

So the first step, I think, is to show some compassion and understanding for yourself. After all this is the person who is trying to protect you from pain, embarrassment and wants you to fit in so you don't get clobbered by criticism.  It's just trying to do it's job.

Step #2   is while acknowledging this part of yourself and not shaming yourself for it, you must develop a plan to deal with it.  I know that when I give in to this side and don't create, the next day  will be even harder and I walk with a heavier chain of shame and regret. If this is you, and you have 100 links of chain of regret and shame of not creating then I beg you to forgive yourself and give yourself a NEW beginning.

Part of my plan is that I write down what my biggest triggers are for inaction and then I write what I will do when this happens to take action.  So for example,

• Trigger: Jealousy. 
• Result: Hopeless and don't want to make art. 
• Cause: Fear that I am not enough. 
•  Actions: 1. Find 3 people to compliment and appreciate their efforts. 2. Examine my own history and actions and thank myself for all that I have done. Appreciate the hard work I have put in.

Step #3   Say YES to pain.  One way to build up your pain tolerance is to keep experiencing it. Every time you push through pain and realize that you are not going to die from it, you get a little bit stronger. It doesn't get easier, but you will get stronger. Yes, just accept that it never gets easier.  One way I have integrated this is my life is by taking action immediately. Part of doing the sunrise paintings is that I am immediately dealing with this problem as soon as I wake up.  I don't give myself time to think. I wake up, make coffee, get in the car and go paint. Immediately, I am saying to myself you are a creator and today you will create. 
Self Talk Tactics.  Another thing I like to do is, self talk. So I will literally say, "Let's do it!", "Bring it on!" "Bring on the pain!" "I'm willing to fail!" "I'm ready to suck!". "Let's do it!" "Let's get it started!"  Yes, you feel kind of silly - but it changes your state of mind.  Then, immediately move into action after this.  Sometimes for me, it's actually jumping in the car to do a plein air sketch and setting up a simple still life right away.

Their are periods when the struggle is harder and I find being an artist so hard....then because our bodies and minds have to change...(Enter the song Spinning Wheel....You know the song, what goes up must come down....).......the next period is followed by almost a euphoria or enlightenment of "What was my problem?" This is so easy!  Don't be fooled by the latter, the former will show up again. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, again just saying that this is the natural ebb and flow. Your awareness of that ebb and flow can help you to get through the ebb and enjoy the flow but realizing that the ebb must follow it.

Happy Painting Everyone!!!!!!!  Wishing you all much success!


My favorite books are:

The Art of war
The Art spirit
The Artist's way - Daily
The Tools - by Phil Stutz & Barry Michels

Some of my Take Action paintings while I was in Ebb. :)

Some of my Favorite Tools

Hey Guys! I just thought I would share some of my favorite tools with you this week.

1. Color Reducer - Value Finder

The first thing I think you have to learn to do either in drawing or painting is understanding value comparison.  This is one tool that is really great for that because it cancels out all of the color into one color, in this case red (sometimes comes in green too). So that you can look at your scene and your painting with it and make your comparisons.  This is just to help you learn to see value instead of color, as some colors can really fool our eye into thinking they are either lighter or darker.

You can purchase this particular one here: http://www.cheapjoes.com/cheap-joe-s-value-sketch-and-composition-finder.html

 2. A Value Finder-  I like this one because you can hold the little cut out holes over an object to judge what value it truly is.  Simultaneous contrast is especially something that can make us misjudge a value. For instance when you are staring into a shadow that has a brilliant reflected light, the more you stare at it in that isolated way the brighter and lighter the reflection will look. Always compare it to something in the light to get the true value or brilliance, but if you just can't see it resort to a tool like this to reveal the truth.

You can get it here: http://www.dickblick.com/products/gray-scale-and-value-finder/



 

 

 

 

 3.  A Good Ol' Color Wheel - This can help you come up with pleasing color schemes for you painting or can help you if you are struggling with judging your saturation levels or hues.  A lot of times student may resort too much to white to lighten and they lose the brilliance of the color. You can hold up the scale to the object that you are painting and to what you painted to see where you are off.  Also, it's a good idea to go through paintings by artists that you admire and just see what kind of color schemes they are using. A lot of times they are altering reality to fit into a pleasing color strategy. I like this particular color wheel because of the gray overlay and that it gives you some color theory education too!

They have this one here: http://www.amazon.com/Cox-3389-Creative-Color-Wheel/dp/B005F6S0BU or if you have a Hobby Lobby they have them there too.

Okay. That's it!  I also want to thank everyone who has been supporting me. All the MINI sales, likes, comments, shares, watching you tube videos and purchasing video lessons at www.openstudioonline.com  You all keep me able to live the dream as a full time artist and I am so grateful to you!

 

HAPPY PAINTING TO YOU ALL!

 

 

I WILL BE GIVING AWAY ANOTHER FREE MINI ON APRIL 1st! SO PLEASE JOIN THE BLOG FOR A CHANCE TO WIN.

Get Back in the Saddle

I can't believe it is already the middle of March!  Wow. I have to admit that the beginning of this month really  sidetracked me from my goals that I set at the first of the year. I had committed to a show last fall that I was invited to and while it was an honor to be asked (and I even won an award so what am I bitching about! ha ha) at any rate it was a big time consumer, distracting and not very profitable. I will say, I really had some help from some wonderful fellow artists and students and I do not regret at all the time that I had to spend time with them and their help was so appreciated.  I did however get pretty bummed out after the show, which was my fault, and so I spent a few days in the deep well of defeat and self pity! I am laughing now ;)

What did I learn? 

Don't just focus on this one moment!
This is my biggest trap that I fall into. I tend to forget all the previous past successes and possible future opportunities. Remind yourself of where you came from and where you are going. When I first started taking art lessons I could give a rats ass about winning awards or selling anything, that wasn't even on my radar. What I cared about was trying my damnedest to learn how to draw, paint and sculpt.

Pick yourself up as fast as you can! 
Really you're only losing more time and missing out on happy moments by being defeated.  The faster you re-visit your written goals (you do have them right?) and get back on task, the better.

Focus on the positives!
Really, I have never been in a situation that did not lead to good somewhere in the future. I've been at many shows where the sales are low and let me tell you it is no fun when everyone is being a bunch of grumpy butts because they aren't selling.  I have been a grumpy butt too, but  there are positives to focus  on and it's not just about a sale.

Be a Realist!
For some reason I think as artists (maybe just humans in general) we tend to take not selling so personally. It's not because we're a bunch of greedy bastards, but because it is a form of affirmation or validation of our work.  So I say, be a realist....there are many reasons outside of the fact that your work must certainly suck that people aren't buying it. Could be it just wasn't the right place or time to cast your net. If the same is happening to the majority of the other artists this is certainly the case. Of course, if you keep doing the same thing over and over and your not getting results -STOP IT! ha ha.

Contribute!
Get the focus off of yourself. There is someone out there you can inspire by making your best art and sharing your journey. We all need each other!

Look to Others!
I am often times a giver and get a lot of fuel by sharing my work with others. When people share that my work is inspiring them, teaching them or motivating them it really fills me up, but sometimes I need that too. Looking at artists you admire or finding new artists can really kick up your desire to get back in the game.

Photos of the recent show:

 

This month's 1 hour Daily MINIs so far:

"Copper Pot and a Carnation" - 6"x6" - Still available here:
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/526523

"Copper and Pink Carnation" - 5"x7" -Sold

 

"Happy Sunrise" - 8"x10" - on auction here:
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/527309

Three Little Apples - 5"x7" - available here:
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/528928

"Dramatic Rosebuds" 5"x7" - available here:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/528929

It's been getting so sunny and warm out now, here in Oklahoma so I decided to try some still life's plein air :) So much fun doing some cool shadows and warm lights for a change.

"Hot Sunny Carnations" - 6"x6" - available here:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/528930

"Foggy Quiet Morning" 6"x6" available here:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/528855

"One White Carnation" - 7"x5" available here:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/528931

"Sunlit Lilies and Red Glass" - 6"x6" - available here:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/528932

"Hot Sunny Carnations" - 6"x6" - available here:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/528940

"Sunrise Through the Trees" - 8"x8" available here:
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/528941
 

What do I do with all these paintings? + February's MINI WINNER!

Let's do the fun stuff first!!!!  FEBRUARY'S MINI GIVEAWAY WINNER IS:......

SHARON EGAN!    

 Congratulations Sharon.

How do I pick a random winner???  I use an automated random number generator website to pick a number from my list of members, and that's who wins that month)

I want to say thank you so much you guys for your constant support! For taking the time to look at, like, share and purchase my art. I was only 2 minis away from my sales goal for the month, so I am super happy about that!

WHAT DO I DO WITH ALL THESE PAINTINGS?

So this weeks post is about a question/comment I get probably at every workshop or class. I have heard it so regularly that it has forced me to really contemplate it over the years.....as I had never fully understood the mindset of the question and never really knew how to answer it. 

I could give you all kinds of ideas for what you can do with these paintings. I probably have and will, but I really feel like the question is a mindset and if one is not careful this question can be the seed of quitting or stagnation in your development.  So I have a few suggestions that hopefully you can use to shift how you see all of those paintings stacked up in your studio. So what do you do with all these paintings? It's time for a paradigm shift!

1. CELEBRATE!!!!!!  Honestly, you should celebrate. Stack 'em all up, lay them all out and celebrate.  Look at all of the time you have given to developing your skill. Every painting is a document of what you understood at the time and every painting is an inch closer to your dream of creating even more beautiful work.  Because you can't get there without stacks of canvases and a road made of painted panels.

2. IT'S AN EXPERIENCE NOT A PRODUCT!   I think that part of the hang up with making paintings is the fact that it is a tangible object that we have produced. It exists in the world now, you can pick it up, touch it, hang it on the wall....and so generally we feel that something should be done with it.  It should be shown, it should be sold, etc.  Now contrast that with let's say going to the gym and exercising to get stronger.  To me, it's the same thing.  When I go to the gym, I'm putting in my time and energy....investing in me......and there is no one paying me at the end of the workout.....and I can't really see any tangible results on any one workout.  It takes a lot to change your body, to change your mind, to build a skillset.  There are a lot of misses, a lot of failures and you don't always get a reward. 

3. ACCEPT THAT A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR WORK WILL NEVER GO ANYWHERE! This is how it has worked for me at least.  In the beginning let's say that only 10% of your work might be worth anything and 90% gets chucked. Year after year that percentage comes closer together. Even now after 8 years of at least 40 hours a week of painting and 4 years of art school I would say at least 25% of my work goes nowhere.  Yes, it is definitely rewarding when people want to buy your work... and for me it's definitely necessary to do it as a living....but if I couldn't make a living doing this I think I would still do it when I could because I love the work and the gratification of making something gorgeous.  

 

4.  YOUR IN GOOD COMPANY!!!  If you have stacks and stacks of paintings in your studio, your in good company!  In fact, I'd say it's a REQUIREMENT for success.  Yes, I have been able to sell a lot of paintings (anyone who knows me knows that I am all for selling & showing), but I also have had a ton of paintings get thrown in the trash, get sanded off and painted over. I've given paintings as gifts to family, donated to charities, etc. Right now, if I counted up I would guess I have at least 100 paintings in my condo that are yet to sell or show.  Some will find a home, some will be content to stay with me.  If you ask any professional artist they will probably tell you the same thing.  As a matter of fact on a visit to Quang Ho's studio last year he had probably the biggest stacks of paintings in his studio that I have ever seen (which I desperately wanted to dig through all of them-ha ha). 

 

5.  YOUR TREASURE CHEST!  I love keeping old paintings around for a long time. To me they are unfinished ideas....that may have been a really great idea and I just couldn't complete it at the time.  I have a bunch out in my garage right now and every time I pull the car in or go out there, I go on a little memory lane dig.  I often find an oldie that just makes me smile and I think...hmmmm....I just revisit that- that wasn't a bad idea.  In fact, I did have one that I had hanging up for a year and I finally pulled it off the garage wall and took it inside and finished it. It is one of my most satisfying paintings. Sometimes I think our mind just needs time to figure out what to do with them.

 

6. PURGE!!!  So this is the last option, but also a very very good one. Purge those babies! Throw them in the trash.  Or in my case, I had built up an entire wall of portrait sketches which I am trying to get better at. For several weeks, they were inspiring. I was studying where I could improve....but one day they just looked like this black cloud and felt like such a burden so I just took them all down at once.  They were on linen sheets, so I just stacked them up in a nice tidy pile and tucked them away for the time being (I was ready to chuck them just yet).  It was a huge relief. I literally had a start over.

It's a BADGE OF HONOR you guys. Keep working! ENJOY your work!  Every painting is not destined to go anywhere, but to help you in the future. 

 Here are some paintings I completed this month:

 

This is one of the larger (12x24" oil on linen) paintings that I worked on this month. 1 out of 3 finished gallery works I did. I really tried to push myself longer on these paintings in order to get more depth, richness and subtlety.  The time investment is sometimes agonizing for me, but worth it in the end.

 

 

A few of the recent MINIs. All 6"x6": 

Power to Influence

Have you ever been in the presence of someone that just by being around them you felt elevated, inspired to be your best self.  I recently had this experience in a simple exercise class. Just watching this woman standing and walking strong, filled with the glow of life left me knowing that we all can embody greatness in our daily lives and through the simplest of tasks. You know that saying that you become who you are around?  Well, I believe it. What a gift to others in your life to be this kind of person! 

Having this experience really reminded me of how much I - we - can have an impact on each other.  We are in this together and we need each other's strength, patience, love, courage, compassion and vulnerability.  Sometimes we forget we have this super power. We forget why we should use it.  We forget that we can start where we are. We can let our inner critic, the outer critics, our insecurities, surrounding negativity and MEDIOCRITY get the better of us and play it small.  You don't have to follow the herd.

As a person who was not instilled with a lot of self esteem as a child, as an adult I have had to work very hard to give myself credit for the good things that I do and try to be even better tomorrow. I have had to learn that I am worth it, that my life is worth it!   Every week I try to affirm my "musts" which are my values that I live by.  Things that I must do in order to be satisfied with my life.  I check in on this at least weekly. I don't know what I can accomplish. I don't know what I can do yet.  I fall short, but the reflection on what I did that week to work towards my musts builds me up and creates a stronger center of self.  This is ESSENTIAL for my mental and emotional well being. 

Especially, the more I put myself out there, showing my work publicly and especially online.  You want a test of your self-esteem just put up a YouTube video, or post work on Facebook.  Unfortunately, there are people out there who will take every chance to tear you down.  I've been criticized on almost everything I can imagine.....and it's not constructive criticism....including my voice and that I talk to slow.  I've had people tell me to "get a life" that my painting sucks! Ha Ha. Then others who are not as hateful, but decide to take it upon themselves to send me "helpful" ideas and pointing out where the flaws are in my work - when they are not even in the arena themselves! They are sitting up in the stands pointing their fingers at everyone else whose trying.   Sometimes these ridiculous comments can catch me off guard and take me back a bit. I always have to remind myself that I know I am working towards my values every day, in the arena contributing what I can.  I also have to remind myself for every criticism there are probably 50 times that in positive feedback. A few comments cannot rock the bedrock of 8 years of hard work.

I hope you will find your gifts and refine them ever day to give back as a gift to the rest of us!


Here is some of the work I completed over the last 10 days.

 

Minis! Don't forget to JOIN the blog for a chance to win a MINI on March 1st:

"Hot Pink!" - 7"x5" - Starting bid $50 here:

 http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/504907

"Lavender Rose" - 90 minute Classroom demonstration

starting bid: $125

available here: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/505669

 

"Daisies in Glass" - 6x6" - oil on panel - 60 minute MINI

I made a YouTube video showing how I painted this one, that you can view here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noaNCQZsQdc

"Moroccan Blue Jar" - 16"x20" - oil on linen - $2400

This one I worked on several days and still think I will go back for a few more touch ups/changes. I wanted to do a combo of rich warm oranges and yellows with the cool turquoise blue and I wanted it to be filled with light and atmosphere.

 

Along with teaching taking up 3 days, I also took another 3 days to record/edit some new videos. This painting "The Blue Ginger Jar" is a new lesson that I recorded on video.  It is over 2 hours long with me talking about what I am doing and why every step of the way. It also includes several pages of written material as well. 

It will be available this week for $25 at www.openstudioonline.com

 

 

 

Thank you everyone for your ongoing support!  My goal this month is to raise $1500 through my MINI and demo sales (to go towards my student loan debt) and I am more than a 1/3 there so far!

 

Please share my work on Google+, Pinterest, Follow me on Facebook, Like my YouTube videos. Every little bit helps!

 

 

  

Winner of January's Mini Giveaway!

Drumroll please.............(did you really do it?).......The lucky winner is...........

 

Jim Serrett!   Congratulations Jim. I will email you with further instructions- this message with self destruct in 5,4,3....

Thank you so much everyone for your support this month!  Please follow along with my journey. I will be giving away another Mini Painting March 1st!

Here are some new minis just completed.

• range from 4"x4" - 6"x6"
•  1 hour sketches  starting bid $50 or buy it now $75
•   if you are not signed up on Daily Paintworks or don't have paypal please let me know via email kelli@kellifolsom.com or a Facebook message. I have other options for you.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/500997

 

 http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/501009

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/501362

 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/501363

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/501364