CHASING LIGHT PROJECT 2015- SPOTS 2, 3 & 4



Here are the results from the next 3 painting locations.  I am doing the very best I can to study these scenes and paint them to the best of my ability.  I can't say that I "enjoy" it 100% of the time.  It's hot, it's sticky, I'm sweaty, I'm sunburned, I'm covered in mosquito bites....you get the picture and it's not pretty.  But I keep thinking about the legacy that's come before me. Every artist that has studied and practiced their craft so hard throughout the centuries has left me with a mandate to try harder. I think about Sorolla hauling his canvases down to the beach to paint from life. How Thomas Moran hiked up the sides of mountains and I laugh at myself. Modern life has led me to like comfort, but surprisingly that's not always rewarding!  Getting out of my comfort zone is not pleasant, but it is rewarding. The fun thing is, I become a different version of myself every time I complete one of these paintings.  That's pretty great.  So, I hope you will enjoy the results of my project.....and watch as I keep being uncomfortable! I am about halfway through my practice right now. Temperatures keep rising. We are getting more rain today and tomorrow which is halting me, but I am determined to see the 10 locations, 60 paintings through.  I hope you are enjoying the paintings and thank you for following the project.

Painting Spot #2 - Tree in North Pasture - Sunrise to Sunset- West Facing

 

Painting Spot #2 - Farm with Silo - Sunrise to Sunset- East Facing

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Painting Spot #4 - Hay Field - Sunrise to Sunset- Northwest Facing

CHASING LIGHT - A Series of Landscape Studies - 2015

So over the winter, I had come across this humorous article by the New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/a-few-thoughts-from-monet-on-those-stacks-of-wheat

It was so funny to read some of the thoughts that Monet wrote in his journal about his "stacks of wheat" paintings. Then I remembered reading about him taking out his stacks of canvases to paint a new painting every time the light changed.  I have to confess, I am not a Monet expert, neither am I really a huge fan of his work- but something about his idea and his dedication to study and work ethic, truly inspired me.  I realized what resolve was within him that he took out a stack of canvases determined to complete each one as ardently as he could. Also when I read his quote " I would like to paint the way a bird sings", I decided he had to be pretty great and I overlooked him.


So, I set me course of action - an achievable goal (ha!.....little did I know how difficult it would be).

10 Locations x 6 paintings throughout the day = 60 paintings

They are little, 6"x8" or 8"x10", nothing too grandiose. Just humble scenery that for whatever reason I feel drawn too.  I don't know if people will enjoy this and frankly that's really never the point.  I always hope so, and it's always disappointing if they don't.....but mostly I am doing this because I have to.  Because I have to do something different from my usual routine.  Just like with the sunrise paintings last year, I want to be changed by this- be rejuvenated - be in each and every painting and give all that I have to it.  I hope that I will grow. 

So here is my first scene that I painted.  I was driving around on Route 66 outside of Edmond,OK in a little town called Arcadia.  I love it out here, it feels like home- with lots of farm land, hay fields, old white wood houses, barns, cows and ponds.  As much as I adore being next to the ocean, this scenery is in my bones and just feels good to look at. What can I say, you can take the girl out of Oklahoma, but you can't......you get the idea.  I decided, I would start with this simple grove of trees.

Here are the results of that scene from sunrise to sunset. I sure hope you enjoy :)

Sunrise!  Always a challenge to capture that fast changing light....30 minutes and it's totally different. But it is one of the most gorgeous times of day. I just can't get enough of that soft peachy color in the morning sky. The challenge is waking up early enough and being "awake enough" to think. 

Morning! Between the hours of 8-10 a.m.  Usually you still get some beautiful strong lights and shadows, but in this case it was an overcast morning - still some residue form all that crazy rain we had here!

Noon -  The heat isn't totally bleaching out all of the colors yet at noon and you get that gorgeous clear blue sky and puffy clouds.  I like the colors in this one and tried to capture the gesture of the clouds and trees.

Afternoon - The sun is highest in the sky and blazing hot. I tried to change up my composition by adding the little trees on the right.  This was a hard scene to paint and I kept breaking out the how to books. Which by the way I strongly recommend any of Kevin McPherson's books, but I love this one:http://www.amazon.com/Fill-Your-Paintings-Light-Color/dp/1581800533  

Evening - Ahhh, again beautiful soft colors that were so inspiring. This one was an 8x10 so I tried to see if I could get a bit more refinement than the others. 

Sunset- This one is probably my favorite, although not very resolved. I did another 8x10 for the sunset, which the light changed so fast -it really challenged my memory.  The sun was setting behind me and throwing the most stunning hot orange light on the tree trunks. The cools and warms are simply a fascinating thing to see. 

 

I hope you will follow along with me for the next 9 spots! 

If you can support me financially in this project, please go to my Kickstarter Campaign to pledge. I am trying to raise a fraction of the costs that it takes for me to complete this.

 

Click here for more details:

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1093372456/chasing-light-a-series-of-landscape-oil-sketches

 

As always Thank you!

Malibu Coast Painting Trip

Mostly, I just wanted to share my paintings from my trip to Malibu.  I decided to go to L.A. a few days before the David Leffel workshop in April, so that I could go down by the coast and paint.  The first morning after arriving at  L.A.X. and getting my rental car.  I immediately got on the Pacific Coast Highway going north up towards the Malibu area. I only had a couple of days to paint so I decided to just focus on a specific area instead of trying to drive hours to hit every popular coastal area.  I figured I would get more out of my time, parking it in one spot and just doing as many paintings as possible.  I hope to go back one day and visit some of the other beautiful coastal areas that I have heard so much about. 

I stopped at the grocery store to get some PB & J sandwiches, water and fruit.  The only thing I wished I would have remembered was wet wipes.

Needless to say after a long winter painting in the studio, it was a rejuvenating few days of  painting by the ocean.  I was very happy with the studies that I ended up with.  I really did not care how they turned out, I was just so happy to be there doing it.  I always wind up so attached to my travel paintings (probably because I have not had many of these opportunities yet) that I never want to sell them.   I will say that I did give 2 away to friends that I met at the workshop.  When I feel that happy, alive and at peace....I just start giving stuff away!!!  Not a good way to make a living I suppose.  

All in all the experience was sublime and I kept thinking, how fortunate am I to be able to enjoy life this much!

I hope you enjoy these paintings  and better yet I wish you all as much happiness in your travels and painting experiences.

 

The above 3 are from the first 2 days of painting. I met a fellow professional artist on the very first one- ha!  The first painting I gave away, and my friend sent me a photo of the painting (it's quite a bit warmer I think from the lighting). The second one is my favorite.

 

These are from the second day.  One painting is missing as I gave it away, and sadly did not get a photo of it. I can't even remember now what it looked like. Another painting was a bust so not pictured. It was a bit cold and overcast this day. I did take some time just to meander, sit and relax, and enjoy those ocean waves without painting too.

 

This was my last day of paintings before the workshop.  All of these were done in the afternoon to early evening.  I had gone to the Getty Center that morning to see the Turner exhibit- which was fantastic by the way.  The Rembrandt's blew my mind and I loved the Titian's and Van Dyck's as well. The result was a heart full of inspiration and I could not wait to get back down to the coast to paint.  I was very glad that I was by myself for this trip.  For me, it is good to be alone in these cases and just soak it all in.  

 

Below are some actual photos of some of the scenes that I painted, along with a video of one of the spots.   I hope you enjoy! Happy Painting.

Always Be..... Learning

Some of you may know that I went to an art college for 4 years, graduating in 2011.  Since then I have been lucky enough to be a full-time artist - part of my income coming from selling paintings and partly from teaching. I was offered to start teaching small classes right away at local art associations, etc.  At first, I saw it as one link in the chain between me and working a "real" job.  I was incredibly nervous about doing it and had these fantastical nightmarish thoughts of people walking out of the classroom (which has happened on occasion-ouch).  Anyways,  I soon realized that teaching.....was, well, teaching me.  I learned so much immediately and it improved my own paintings.  I value teaching immensely.  It is a way to keep me growing and a way to keep art alive and help others grow artistically.

Besides watching art DVDs and reading art books religiously, for  the last 3 years, I've been the teacher and not the student.  Finally, this year  I have been able to once again be a student in the classroom! 

I tell you, when you wait 3 years to have that opportunity- you soak up every bit you can get....and oddly enough it was more freeing and less pressure than being the teacher. Of course, there was a time where this was not the case. I've had many a burial ceremony for terrible paintings, broken brushes and canvases and drawing boards have doubled as Frisbees accompanied by obscenities.

I see time and time again, artists who are considered professional artists- meaning they are showing and selling their work,  teaching and even winning awards -  settle in.  They could still use some stretching, some learning and would benefit greatly from investing in their continued education....but they stop taking classes or workshops.  I mean, how can you be the teacher if you are the student?  The identities don't seem to mesh.

Personally, I find there is a freedom to leaving your "identity" at home when you go to take a class. 

 I recently was able to take a workshop with an artist, David Leffel, whose work I have admired for the last 7 years.  I realized I was going to be learning from someone who has been teaching and painting for probably 50 years!  Wow, that is impressive.  I have the greatest respect for his life, his artistic ideals and the intensity of which he teaches at an age of 80!  I was astounded by his respect for each and every student, his joy in painting and love of sharing with others.  He exuded generosity.

I learned so much at this workshop.  It really blew my mind actually, how I could have heard all of the words before and thought that I understood them, but didn't.  Somehow, just watching him mix paint, load his brush and paint the painting - up close and personal - things clicked in beyond my understanding.  When I went to paint, the simplicity which is revealed by understanding was there.  Bizarre.  This is the magic of learning! 

Honestly,  I really was not expecting much from the workshop.  Not that I was being pessimistic, but I thought to myself : "you know, he's really old now....he may not have much energy to teach.....I may not get very much help....who knows how many people will be in the class....who knows how many groupies will be clamoring for his attention", etc.  Mostly, I just wanted to have had the experience of studying with him at least one time. 

I think this is also a key to learning- NO EXPECTATIONS- which allows you just to be open, to experience in the moment without the need for control.  This is prime psychological ground for development.  Who knew!  Also, this is a state of mind I think that David tries to encourage his students to be in.  You have a plan, but you let go. You forget about your past successes and failures and just "be" with each brushstroke at a time.

Some David Leffel Mantra's that he told me while at the workshop (which I love):

• Paint like you're standing on the edge of a cliff.
• Change one word in your vocabulary, scary....to.....exciting, and you change your whole personality.
• Work forwards, don't work sideways.
• Don't be aggressive.  You have to allow good things to just come TO you.

No matter which artists you like, I hope you will continue to find joy in learning.  If you feel stuck, one sure way to get unstuck is to go take a class....get someone elses point of view on the world.

Consider a different way of looking at things.  Just question, just explore, just enjoy the whole process.

Here are some photos from the workshop:

Happy Artist.
Day 1 of 2 days of Still life painting.

 

I just loved watching this come to life!  Out of nothingness into somethingness.
 His mantra: Start the Finish, very apparent here.

 

I loved the tension between the large dark jar and the little blue and white vase. It was like the north pole and south pole, like an invisible force between them. Interesting.

 

The end shot of David's still life demonstration.  2.5 hours.  Just gorgeous.

 

David critiquing a student. Skeletons are photo bombing again....come on you guys!

 

Day 1 of portrait painting.  There is a little short demo he did on next to the modelling stand to help us get started.  This is a students painting he is working on here.....although she was not even in the room. I was wondering if she would notice when she came back. 

 

Towards the end of the evening demonstration.  This was after his 3rd day in a row teaching.
He pulled a 12 hour day and without dinner. I don't know how he was standing at the end. 

 

Not the best photo, but this one had some of the little pearls he did at the end and his signature.

 

Talking about "air".  Some people had to take a break after that conversation! Ha Ha.

 

Yet another demo, one last one, on Sunday morning. Probably 1 hour total.
He generously gave this to the student whose panel he used.

 

David's Palette: Naples Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Venetian Red, Cad Yellow Deep, Cad Yellow Light, Cad Red Light, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue, Burnt Umber, Raw Umber, Ivory Black, Alizarin Crimson, Flake White; Maroger.

Do What Makes You Happy!

I am learning over time to harness the power of that voice inside that tells me, you know you should do that it would make you feel happier, better.  We have an inner wisdom, sometimes called intuition. 

Intuition- a thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning.

I am really learning to love this fluid way of life.  Of course, I set goals like a mad woman and I spend a lot of time questioning, writing and working like mad to achieve my goals! In the past, when this little voice said- "hey, you need a day off, or you need to take a walk or you need to plant some flowers"... Often, I would not allow myself to do these things and think, no ,no gotta keep working!  However, sometimes your mind needs a little downtime and there are so many things that will recharge that battery and help you to approach the next day with more Energy and Enthusiasm than what you would have had if you pushed through.  

Enthusiasm! Passion! Aliveness!
Whatever the word is, this feeling is one of the keys to doing all things exceptionally.  I don't know about you, but when I am feeling drained or sad I sure as heck don't feel like creating art. And have you ever noticed that the more you are fascinated by a landscape scene, still life, a model- the more you are able to let go and just enjoy the creative process? 

The fabulous thing is, the more I have opened up to this experience the more they start to come to me and the more inspired I feel. Sometimes I can just see the colors on a pear and I just can't wait to try and capture that beauty after trying so hard to set up some magnificent still life and failing miserably. 
 
Here's the other thing: the more frustrated you feel the more you need to do something that makes you happy to break the loop of negative feelings. You can't get inspired from frustration, so you have to change your emotional state first!  Go take a walk. Smell the Roses. Dance naked in your living room with a glass of wine to disco...okay, okay you get the point. Find what works for you.  Much Love.

After a couple of months of trying to push myself artistically resulting in the below gallery pieces, I needed the pendulum to swing the other way. So I decided to take a couple of days to just do some 1 hour mini sketches just for the heck of it, and it was fun and a good break!

Larger Pieces completed in January & February:

A Few of the Fun Mini (4"x4") 60 minute sketches: