Perpetual Student

Wow this design foundation class is coming to an end and I think I have learned just as much as I have taught.

First, it forced me to take a photoshop class...something I have wanted to do for years...

Secondly it got me to set up a (somewhat) decent photo shoot setup to record student work to use future students when I (hopefully) teach this again...

 one of the last photo shoots I will be doing of student work this year.  

But now (thirdly?)  it has made me want to become a student again so I just jumped the rubicon to enroll at the same school as a student to take a refresher oil painting class after seeing some amazing work on display there..

Finally it got me to find some (finally) really great resources on color...the Nita Leland series.  Cannot wait for the books to arrive and spend some time with my own easel!!!

Design Examples

Wow I have really enjoyed teaching design foundations but as any teacher will tell you, the first time keeps you very busy!!  It is like trying to move into a house as you are still building it!

Any of you art majors out there will remember these...color saturation squares and logo designs...

But I also got the chance to go to my first ever traveling workshop to Monterey California with Christopher Wynn last month...details to follow

Sonshine Work

? Title?

12”x12” 

Oil on Canvas

Proud Mama Alert...

I have been so busy with my design foundation class that I have not had time to develop my own work these past few weeks.  But I knew that would be the case when I took the job.  So instead of my artwork (which is just studies for my assigned projects these days), I thought I would post a fantastic painting my oldest did.  A self portrait in oils.  

He got great instruction from another strong artist, and school parent, Jennifer Parker.

Thanks so much Jennifer!

Yes He Said It...Should there Be Universal Quality Standards for Art?

Boom.

This guy really goes after the overall development of art in the last 150 years in a concise and rational way...

Why is Modern Art So Bad?  

from Robert Florzsak at Prader University.  

Wow this guy not only talks it, he walks it! Please hit on his name is see his amazing (obviously realistic) artwork.

Also want to learn more about this Art Renewal Center he mentions...

This really hits close to home though.  I have displayed abstract work but have always felt compelled to work more and more realistically as the years go by.  Maybe Robert is giving me a wake up call...

Can I Do That? Should I Do That? Skill vs. Voice...

, 

Hopper

Karin Jurick

PBS has a great trove of videos concerning the creative process, various art career and in their Digital Studio and Offbook Short Video Series.  I highly recommend checking them out on Youtube.  " I Could Do That" in one that covers alot of ground ... voice, intent, skill and criticism.

All excellently and concisely explained in 5 minutes.

Please give this a look the next time you feel saying..."my toddler could do this." or recommend it to the person you overheard say it.

Though I must admit, I do think technical skill is getting short shift in this...

I do firmly believe that if one wants to be an expressive artist, they need to take the time and training to develop a base skill set.  Then whether or not they decide to use it in their body of work is up to them. 

If one decides to act as an expert they should be able to run with the big dogs occasionally.  

Really if they promote themselves as an artist shouldn't they have the skills to back it up?

Throw Back Thursdays and Wonder Editing...

Just like on FB...Since I am so busy planning and teach design fundamentals at a local community college, I am putting up some of my waaay-back-when oldies I used in class the other night to help show the design element of "point", instead of current studio work.

The Dads

1984

Marker on Paper

6"x8"

Bob for Bob

1991

Maker on Paper

10"x7"

The most amazing thing about these pieces is not the art themselves but the fact that they had both yellowed and faded so much over the years. (Yup just because the materials say "archival" does not mean that they really are.)

But running these through the greyscale filter on my scanner and tonal filer on my editing software you would never know it! 

Pretty wild, huh?

En Plein James

So my youngest is taking a rowing camp.  And what I would have thought of as a huge inconveince of running back and forth from the James River is now a great excuse to stay and paint...and use my way cool new #8 Quill Mop Brush.

Really enjoying the process, I am working with two watercolor blocks at the same time using the view in opposite directions.  Switching back and forth like this gives me the opportunity to create both hard and soft edges, by working on one whole the other dries.

I am sure I looked a little nuts to all the joggers and dog walkers as a whipped from one angle and paper to another... 

Of course when painting during a downpour, like I did on Monday totally changes the process again.   You just got to go with the flow (literally). Was more trying to keep paint off of the paper with obviously limited success.

Really I plan to work on this a bit more in my dry dry studio.