Archive for the ‘Landscape Art’ Category
Suzanne’s Show
My friends and I were not Art majors in college. We have all taken up art after school and, in some cases, several years afterward.
So Suzanne was thrilled when a local gallery owner asked her to join the paint-out at a nearby winery and donate the painting to a charity that the gallery supported. This meant that she would be painting with formally trained artists who were now locally recognized.
Suzanne did several oil paintings, selected the one she wanted to donate, and had it framed.She then made the donation and was excited to learn that it sold! She was truly delighted to learn that the frame shop wanted her to exhibit several of her own paintings in the shop – a one woman show!
Art after the Impressionists
The Post-Impressionists were very influential to the first art of the 20th century – Fauvism and Expressionism. Three of the most influential of the Post-Impressionists were Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cezanne.
Gauguin’s clashing color patches and flattening of space, van Gogh’s expressive use of color and line and Cezanne’s method of reducing nature into its geometrical components (cylinder, cone and cube) appealed to both groups. All three artists expressed their own feelings on canvas instead of painting traditional historical and religious art for public spaces.
In many ways, the Fauves and Expressionists picked up where the Post Impressionists left off. They believed that they should express their personal visions in art rather than cater to public taste – and in the process, with their abstract expressionism, they set the tone for modern art.
Yard Work
My daughter is coming to visit tomorrow! She lives in CA and I’m so glad she will be able to stay almost a week. We’ll have a nice visit and she will help me do a few things that I tend to put off.
I was working in the yard today – no time for oil painting today! I used the weed whacker until the battery ran down, but never fear, it will be charged up again by tomorrow so I can finish the job! Then I trimmed some roses and looked around. A large branch had fallen from the pine tree in the strong thunderstorm we had had Sunday night and I failed to notice it for 2 days! Out came the loppers and I cut off many of the small branches, but I may have to bring in extra help for this challenge!
Fostering the Creative Process
Many writers need a quiet, secluded area to let their ideas meld into a cohesive narrative, and they certainly aren’t alone. Artists of all stripes-from painters and sketch artists to musicians-often retreat to an isolated quarters to develop their ideas. Of course, this area not only needs to be private, but it also requires items that are conducive to the creative process.
Plants, artwork, photographs and music all serve as viable sources of artistic inspiration. Having an adequate place to create your work is obviously a top priority as well. But don’t think you have to confine yourself to a drab workshop; plein air art is a great way to connect with nature on a personal level and infuse that relationship into your work.
Finding Your Voice
A reader asked Canadian painter Robert Genn, “How do we translate our life experiences into our paintings and express who we really are?” Or, how do I find my voice?
His answer is: Voice in style is different from voice in cause. Hopefully, style develops over time. Cause is based on attitude and issue and changes with growth and development.
To find your very own voice, you need to put in regular working hours. Work generates clarity and direction. You need hunger – for knowledge or to find an antidote for some injustice. You need curiosity – wondering how things will turn out or wondering if you can do it. You need joy – in your work and in the need to feel you are giving it to others.
Hopefully, over time and with persistence, we can all find our voices.
The Quick Draw
The part of Plein Air-Easton! that is the most fun for the locals is the Quick Draw. Everyone who wishes can participate. There is a Quick Draw for children 5-12 and one for adults.
The Quick Draw for adults is along a 2 block section of Harrison St. in Easton, MD. Participants must have chosen their view, set up and be ready to paint at 10 AM. At the stroke of noon, all must put down their brushes, frame their work and display it on an easel for public viewing and purchase. Many paintings will be sold but not removed before the judging at 1:30. All will leave at 2 PM.
As I walked down the street about 1 PM, I saw many red tags, signifying that the painting was sold. This was truly a mark of courage, persistence and stamina because the temperature today was 103 with a heat index of 110!!!
“Local Color”
“Local Color” is part of the Plein Air – Easton! festivities and features artists from the Delmarva Peninsula, in MD, DE, VA, and Working Artists Forum, sponsors of “Local Color”. These artists are also juried into the competition. Persons who have been juried into the Plein Air – Easton! Competition are not eligible to apply.
The “Local Color” show features studio-finished paintings. Original paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor or pastel are acceptable and must have been done in the last 3 years. Each artist is given a 6′ x 6′ space on which to hang their works for the judging and sale and when one painting is sold, another may replace it.
Their reception and awards will be Friday, noon – 1 PM. Awards will be given for Best in Show and 1st, 2nd and 3rd and range in value from $500 to $100. I’m happy to say, one of my friends was accepted into “Local Color”.
Plein Air – Easton!
Plein Air – Easton! Is a BIG EVENT for artists and it is happening in Easton, MD, only about an hour away. “Plein air” means “open air” or outdoors and is a favorite way of painting for many artists today. This year 58 artists from all over America have come to Easton July 20-23, having previously been juried into the competition, and can paint anywhere in Talbot County during those 4 days.
The Collectors’ Preview Party is on Friday, July 23. The cost is $150, but that total amount is applied toward the purchase price of a painting. Each artist may submit 2 paintings, but when one is sold, another may replace it.
The Grand Prize Award is $5000, 2nd Place is $2000 and 3rd Place is $1000. There are 12 other awards, several in the $1-2000 range. For more information, visit http://www.pleinaireaston.com .
My Studio
My finished garage is my studio. In addition to my car, it contains a table and 4 chairs, several closets, 2 easels and a work table. About half the closets are filled with items for oil painting, and the other half with items for the house, yard and car.
My friends and I have an understanding that Monday mornings are for art. We sometimes agree to meet somewhere to paint, but sometimes meet in my studio, sit around the table and talk about art topics or critique each other’s paintings or open up our paint boxes and work on a painting. It is wonderful to have a space that has easy access for painting, but even more wonderful to have friends with whom to share.
Creativity – Part 2
Is the process of creating important to our existence? Why? What do you think? Perhaps because we, like every one else in the world, were born to create – to express ourselves in our own unique way.
We tend to see an artist as “talented” and set them apart from our own selves. This makes our own creating less important, because we don’t feel “talented”. This becomes a belief and becomes real to us, and creativity becomes something we don’t personally have.
If you are to become creative you must learn to nurture yourself with encouragement while weeding out self criticism – much like you would nurture a young plant. You need to ask yourself: 1)What do you dream of doing? 2) What is your secret desire? 3) What creative thing did you enjoy as a young child? 4) Were you ever interested in painting?
Creativity is letting go of certainties, being open to new possibilities. Take a class – a challenge that will forever benefit you. “Creativity gives the soul life, its vibrancy. Creativity is where your soul wants to sing”….Gwen Fox