Plein Air Day?

Yesterday was the plein air group painting day.  It was "cold" for here, about 50 degrees F.  I know, I know, but one reason we live here is for the mild winters.  The group decided to paint indoors at the Lost Pines Art Center

www.lostpinesartcenter.org/

  and paint a still life.  They put chairs and tables out for us and were pleased for us to be there.


Painting a still life in person and not from a photo gives your eye the same type training as plein air:  working with big shapes, shadow color and perspective.  I much prefer working from life as opposed to photos.

I felt the easiest equipment to take was watercolors.  Less weight and not as cumbersome.  We put some of the items together and had a go at it.

This is pretty much a sketch so am using it for Scavenger Hunt 572, number 6, textures.  Quite a few textures.  8 x 10 inches in the watercolor sketchbook.

I forgot to leave white for the most part.  I remembered for the large reflection on the bottle and the flowers.  I used gouache for the white on the label and the glass.  I am always lazy/stingy to put out enough paint (another reason to like pastels) and make enough color puddles for large areas to be consistent.  A learning exercise.

When finished they were going to toss the wine.  I volunteered to drink it.  I love drinking/eating my models.

I mentioned this in the Southwest forum on wetcanvas and received the following remarks.  Made me smile and chuckle.
       Richard:  Do you call that " plein air wine-ing?"
       Hud:  Jo: I have always found that wine "mixes" well with paint ... adds a nice warm glow to the painting.

I have been remiss in pointing to some of my other favorite artists on-line.  Rose Welty is one of my Fine Art Friends.  We formed a group to support each other and to give advice and critique our work.  We haven't been an active group but know we are there if needed.  It was a good way to kick our professional side into gear.  You will find links to Rose, Valerie, Belinda and Kasie on the side bar under Fine Art Friends.

Rose is in North Carolina.  She is one of the most dedicated artists I know.  She reads and studies and practices and inspires.    Check out her colorful work and information on her website.  Subscribe to her newsletter.  You will like it!
https://rosewelty.com/

Watercolor Broom

After watching Rae Andrews do watercolor on YouTube, I figured it has to be easy, she just whisks the paintings right out.  She does the same in pastels and acrylics and probably oil.  Of course she has been doing it for many years and is a great instructor.  You should try a class.  She is a lot of fun and knows her stuff.  http://raeandrewsgallery.blogspot.com/
She has instruction on her blog and a YouTube channel.

I tried blowing the paint with a straw.  It worked  but was in a thin straight line.  I must need more water ...or wetter paper ...or something.  It will take some practice but it was fun to try.

For Scavenger Hunt Number 472  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1459815

 Number 5, broom - about a 30 minute sketch

I subscribe to EmptyEasel and have for a few years.  There is always instruction and much information about techniques, media, business, etc.  They are adding some new stuff and I found this 'how to' column interesting.  This is oil, but they have all media so you will find something of interest to you.
https://emptyeasel.com/2019/01/14/tentacle-difficulties-how-to-paint-an-octopus-in-oil-on-canvas/

Hunt 572 Sketches

Today the big coffee table sketchbook called to me.  I sketched with a Micron 01 for Scavenger Hunt 572.  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?p=21521255

Number 3, ellipse
Number 4, furniture

We had a lazy day today.  It was nice, about 62 degrees F with a breeze.  We walked around the lake. 

No news is good news.

Pretty Sketchy

Pretty sketchy is right.  I thought I posted my one sketch I did for Scavenger Hunt 571 and when I came to do this post I was surprised to find that I hadn't posted it.  I was proud to be getting a sketch done on the first day of Hunt 572  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?p=21521255
which I am hosting.   Burst that bubble.

This was my one and only sketch for Scavenger Hunt 571.  I sketched on the porch in the big book with a Micron 01.  It was about 50 degrees but I toughed it out.  For my readers that are in the minus degrees of winter, I apologize, but for us that is a pretty cold mid-day.

Number 1, front entrance - our porch, my studio is behind that window on the left.

For Hunt 572, I made an alphabetical list.  I put apple for "A" because that is what I paint when I can't think of anything to paint.  The apple called for pastels so....

Number 1, apple
Number 2, palm (I'm hoping someone will do a palm tree.  None in my world.)

The sketch is pretty sketchy.  It is pastel on recycled paper -- the piece where I had the lemon and lime.  About 30 - 35 minutes.

A few days ago we did have a bit of winter.  It was frosty two mornings in a row.

I liked the light on the little oak tree and the steam on the ponds.  Beautiful start to a cold day.  Today it is already 62 and it isn't even noon.  Looking good out there.  Gene is on his trike as we speak.  I'm still being lazy.  Little cough still.... cough, cough....

Procrastinating ... Again! (paintings)

I have not been productive with my art in quite a while ... as you know.  My previous post was "Back to Normal" and that is an understatement.  Nothing clicking..

A very appropriate post came up on the RedDotBog about how productivity helps your work.

https://reddotblog.com/artistic-productivity-cornerstone-of-a-successful-art-career-19/

I was thinking about my most productive years and they seem to be about 2008-2011.  I had my own gallery/studio downtown and a regular schedule for painting, even at home.  I would abandon the computer and telephone and just work.

Here are a few paintings from that time.  These are also some of my favorites.  Just think what might happen if I became busy again. 

 La Paz Bolivia Market, 16 x 20 inches, pastel

 Evett's in the Evening, 10 x 8 inches, pastel

 Blue Window, 11 x 14 inches, pastel

 Cool Water, 10 x 8  inches, pastel

Water Canyon, 14 x 11 inches, pastel

Along the Rio Grande, 10 x 8 inches, oil on canvas