Morning Light

Morning Light - 30x30

Several weeks ago I was on Instagram and I came across a photo of the most amazing peonies which were lit so dramatically that I instantly fell in love.  Wendy Straderick from Essex in the UK, politely gave me permission to paint from her glorious photo. You can follow Wendy at wendysgrandgardens on Instagram.

I just finished this beauty today and it's patiently drying on my studio counter.

Robin

Robin: A Spark in the Dark by Bay Area Studio Artists (BASA)

The collaborative painting Robin: A Spark in the Dark was created by the seven-member Bay Area Studio Artists as a signature piece for a show called Light <---> Dark. Our goal for the show was to present a meditation on the light and dark patterns and balances that make a painting intriguing, compelling and dramatic.

As we began to think about a group work to illustrate this idea, we realized there was another kind of light and dark in our emotional lives.  And as we discussed this we thought of Robin Williams, whose death had touched us all.  He seemed to embody the brightest of light moments as well as the darker side of reality.

The resulting portrait we created is painted on 24 - 10 x 10 inch canvases.  The seven artists were randomly assigned three or four pieces of the painting.  The canvases, painted in acrylic or oil, represent the BASA artists' eclectic mix of styles from realism to expressionism.  We like to think the resulting work reflects the mix of realities that were always part of Robin's personae.

(Above content written by participating artist Joanne Taeuffer)

Artists participating in BASA include - Suzun Almquist, Marcy Wheeler, Jeanette Baird, Joanne Taeuffer, Susan Bonebakker, Sharon Tama and Ellen Reintjes.

Yesterday, August 11th marked the one year anniversary of Robin Williams passing.

Robin: A Spark in the Dark will be in an exhibit  "Pairings" at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts
from August 19 - October 4, 2015.  And at the Marilyn Citron O'Rourke Art Gallery in Benicia from Oct. 12 - Nov. 20th. 


"Not just my world, but the entire world is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his (Robin's) absence.  We'll just have to work twice as hard to fill it back up again." --Zelda Williams

After Vermeer - Day 18

After Vermeer and the "after" should be explained.  When an artist does a study from an Old Master, you want to make sure there would never be any confusion that your painting could be confused with the original!  HA!  Makes me laugh because some of my paintings from this challenge have surprised me with their wonderful energy - but NO ONE is going to confuse any of my portraits for the original, especially this Vermeer!

But doing all of these wonderful old masters has been inspiring and I could not leave out one of the most famous - "Girl With a Pearl Earring".  I also thought of painting the Mona Lisa but decided against that one because of the magnitude of that project!

Anyway I thought I had my shadow darks in nice and dark.....

Against the white canvas they look good and dark!

Starting on her head wrap and realizing that her mouth needs some attention too!

On to painting the robe and so far I am liking her!

But then I put in the blue-black background and it totally washed out her face as well as the shadows in the face.

I have a group of women that I paint with and we also do critiques.  I think I will ask them what I could of done differently to improve the finished piece.

Also, maybe it's the camera.  HA - now you are probably thinking that the dog ate my homework too!  But if you compare the photo above (with the black background) and the photo above this (with the white canvas) you will see how much darker the shadows are on the white one.  I think my camera compensates for the white and for the black causing the shadows to lighten.

Sorolla's Light

On Friday I headed down to San Diego with my friend Sydney to see the Joaquin Sorolla exhibit at the The San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park before it closes on the 26th of August.

It is an amazing show to say the least!

I have always liked his work but to see his work up close and in person allows you to see each bold brush stroke, the vibrant colors he used and his beautiful use of light.

I was blown away!

Photo's in art books and on the Internet just do not do it justice.  There is so much light in these beauties!

 "I could not paint at all if I had to paint slowly. Every effect is so transient, it must be rapidly painted.” - Joaquin Sorolla