Cowboy in Paris

Cowboy in Paris

This is one of my new paintings from my waiter series for the New Lafayette Art Gallery exhibit "The Heart of the Art"!  I just loved how it looks like a still life with each person in their own little world.  And the reflections of the outside world on the glass were fun to paint!  Did you notice the diner's cowboy boots?  Hence the name.....Cowboy in Paris!

Every other year, two of my girlfriends and myself go to Paris for several weeks.  I am able to snap so many photos of Parisian Bistro's and Cafe's.  Especially because most of them are outside on the sidewalk and with my telephoto lens, I can do it without getting in anyone's face.

We missed our trip last year because of too many commitments all around but Jackie just emailed me that she is ready to go Spring of 2014!  I can't wait!!!

 The Lafayette Gallery has finally moved to it's new location at The Forge in Lafayette!

Please join us for our Opening Reception or just stop by and say "Hello"!

"The Heart of Art"

October 8th - December 28

Grand Opening Reception on November 9th from 5 - 8 PM

Lafayette Art Gallery                                                         

3420 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Suite A                                          

Lafayette, CA 94549                                                          
925-284-2788                                                                        
Open Tues. – Sat. 11 - 5                                                                                
www.lafayettegallery.net

A New Beginning

Does an artist need a website or will a blog be more up to date with current paintings and events?

This is an experiment of mine to see if I can eventually do away with my website and add new art to my blog!  Therefore allowing my sweet son, Jon, who has been my "webmaster" for all of these years to take a little break from mom's lack of understanding HTML!

Thursday I began a new painting that I am very excited about.  After painting several 8 x 8 painting's, I was ready to jump into something big!  Luckily on Thursday in class, a painting buddy of mine happened to have a fresh canvas in her car that she offered to me. I tossed out the 8 x 8 that I had brought and pulled out some reference for a larger painting.

I began by placing a grid on both my reference and my canvas.  From there I did a quick sketch from my reference.  A few angles were off on the sketch so I fixed them as I went along.

I then began adding my darks and my central figure.  The photo was take at the Cafe du Metro, Saint-Germain-Des-Prés, 6ème in Paris. It was pouring dogs and cats outside.

The windows were steaming up from the coffee machines & fresh baked goods. I loved the busy waiters and the hustle and bustle of people coming from the nearby Metro station but this older man had found his "zen moment" with a cup of coffee and the morning paper.

As I worked on the painting in my studio, I contemplated on whether to leave in the foreground craft of water.  I felt like it gave the painting a foreground, middle ground and background but I also felt like it was distracting.  We will see if it stays or goes as the painting progresses.

Thank you for viewing my art and if you have any questions, please contact me at jeanette@jeanettebaird.com