Back to art school (at home)

Left:  "Inner Harbor" by Paul Starrett Sample 34 x 36 (1896-1974)
Right:  a section of this painting copied by me (9x12)

Every artist reaches a comfort zone at some point, where we are happy with what we are doing and how our art is coming out.  But, now and then, we feel a desire to learn something new, or maybe even - something old.  Something to challenge ourselves.

I've always wanted to do a series of studies or copies of paintings I admire by masters or contemporary artists whose art I love.  Copying art of others has been done for centuries.  It is how people learned before books with color photographs and DVDs and YouTube videos.  As long as one does not sell or profit financially from the copying of a work, and credit is given to the artist, one will not infringe on the copyrights of other artists.  Usually, permission is asked of the artist whose work is represented, but since I am showing both my rendition and a scanned image from a book - together - and recognition is made to the artist - I hope this will suffice.

To ensure that my copy work never leaves my studio, I have painted on a textured oil painting paper, and I will not be displaying this work on my website.  This blog, however, I feel is a way to share my journey as an artist which includes the learning process.

This challenge I gave myself was a more interesting way to practice mixing oil paints to match something in particular - in this case, the color of the area of the other artist's work.  Also, it challenged me to see if I could paint very similar shapes and sizes and get to a point where my study resembles the other artist's work.

Above:  copy by me - oil on paper 9x12
Below:  "Pinnacle Rock, Utah" by Franz Bischoff 24 x 30 (1928)

Franz Bischoff started out as an accomplished ceramic painter - especially roses in watercolor.  Once he came to California with his family, he also painted in oil - landscapes and still lifes.  I love all his work.  I thought this painting would be easy for me since it had large shapes, but it was still hard to get the subtle changes in colors he created.

Above:  copy by me - oil on paper 9x12
Below: a section of "Begonias" by Richard Schmid 8 x 16, 2003

I have two of Richard Schmid's books:  Alla Prima II and the Companion Book.  I love his work and wish I could take a workshop from him.

Above:  copy by me - oil on paper 9x12
Below:  "Zorro" by Richard Schmid 20 x 30 , 2008

I have never owned a cat, nor do I have access to one to paint.  So, therefore, I don't have any experience painting or drawing cats!  But, I loved Richard Schmid's painting so much I wanted to try it.  I love his loose alla prima application and his books.  I plan to get a DVD of his in the future.

It has been a long time!

It has been so long since I posted to this blog.  Sometimes life throws stuff at you and you have to stop what you are doing and slog your way through the quagmire of what it is you are dealing with that is out of your control.

"Destination - Mountain Pond"  oil 14 x 11

And then sometimes life changes drastically in ways you never dreamed it would.

"Beach Day at Bliss"  oil 12 x 16

I am now in that change mode which has gifted me some time to paint again.

"A Still Morning"  oil 12 x 16

I am going crazy painting...

"A Peaceful Cove"  oil 11 x 14

These were all "almost done but needed finishing touches or moderate changes."

"Tahoe Keys Spring" oil 12 x 16

My heart is where it belongs now - painting...

"Trail to Tallac" oil 12 x 16

 I hope this time to paint lasts and lasts and lasts.....

Perazzo Meadows

"Perazzo Meadows" pastel 16 x 24

I am so excited to be back to painting again!  This is my latest off the easel.  This was a place called Perazzo Meadows in the mountains northeast of Truckee, CA.  It was recently added to the Truckee Land Trust to be preserved as a riparian ecosystem.  They added a trail, which didn't go very far, but there were many wonderful views and we explored off trail as well.

"Old Lava Exposed"

"Old Lava Exposed" 11 x 14 pastel on board

This is a painting I did recently at Silver Lake, California.  The lake was very low due to the drought.  One cove of this lake has an old lava flow that is now exposed.  I took many photographs at the many rocky islands emerging out of the cove.  Elsewhere around the lake there are massive granite boulders.  It was my first time visiting this lake and I was enchanted!

This painting was essentially done on location, but I added a little more richer color and definition in areas at home in the studio.

Today we hung our group art exhibit!

Today my group of painters, Reno Tahoe Plein Air Painters, hung our first exhibition "In the Open" at South Valleys Library, Wedge Parkway, Reno, NV.

There are 10 participating artists, and we all are showing paintings we did on location in the beautiful area we live - Reno, Carson, Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley, Hope Valley, and other wonderful locations.

To see a preview of our show, here is a YouTube video I prepared:

We have an artists reception this Saturday, October 17, 2015 from 3:00 to 4:00.  The show runs until November 21, 2015.

With a little help from my friends...

"Frog Pond"  9 x 12 oil

I recently came home from a family trip and had to unpack the truck that was filled with food, ice chests, inflatable boat, beach chairs and what-not....and then I had to pack for the next morning paint-out with Reno Tahoe Plein Air Painters.  I stayed up late, recharging my camera and picking out a panel size and panel carrier for it....and loaded the car trunk with the tripod, pochade, umbrella, and packed a lunch to take.....

The next morning when I got there, I opened the trunk....and OMG....I forgot my totebag with oil paints, brushes, turp, paper towels and all the stuff I need to do a painting!

I was totally discombobulated and thought the day was a total bust...and here it was a gorgeous day and I was so looking forward to painting there...

Three other painters arrived and one offered me paint and one of his brushes (he recently pared down his load to only 5 brushes!).  So, I set up next to him so I could rinse out my one brush in his turpentine....and I loaned him my umbrella to shade his work.

Well, I was delighted with how my little painting came out in this circumstance!  Hurray for friends!

"Floating in Bliss"

"Floating in Bliss" 12 x 16 oil painting

This painting was done on location at Bliss State Park.  The boat was anchored offshore and the people were lounging on the boat, enjoying the summer sun and the gorgeous day.  Occasionally a few people would row a little raft to shore at the beach and then wandered up the trail where they saw Emma and I painting their boat.  I wasn't done with the boat, but they contacted Emma later and she sold her painting to them!  I only just finished this painting today.  The jewel-like aquamarine and turquoise colored water that I had laid down on the painting beckoned me to come back to do the finishing touches.

One of my most wonderful memories was floating on a boat on Lake Tahoe years ago.  I call that bliss.