Painting Pat

Back in Nederland 2010 Again

2010-07-11T01:57:00.001-04:00

Looks like I have not been too active on this blog, but perhaps will try to be more faithful this year. Have been painting a lot and hopefully just finished a painting that I have been working on for a year. It is large 36x42 and I have really enjoyed working on it. Will post a picture shortly.

Entry in All About Art Spring Art Show

2010-04-25T20:50:00.003-04:00

Marsh Glow at Riverbend, South Carolina

This is an acrylic painting 24 x 30, which I entered in a local art show. I was fortunate enough to be judged First Place in Mixed Media. The glow of the marsh was created by using pastel and acrylic glazing, while the trees were done in water soluble oil.

Because the painting was so big, and included a lot of things that were painted in the same manner, I did develop "Painter's Elbow" or repetitive motion syndrome. Who knew!!! All this time I thought that when I got old my legs or body would give out, but never thought about my arms. Will have to figure out another way to paint.

Attitudes

2010-04-25T01:49:00.003-04:00

Attitudes

A Bird Painting

This is my entry for the upcoming Boulder County Senior Aging show. Yes, as you all know I am a senior. We had to submit a short writing about what the subject meant to us. So it is off to Boulder County Colorado where the birds originally live and probably still do Up in Nederland, Colorado.

Joyce and Don Nagel Class

2010-03-05T18:55:00.002-05:00

Took a wonderful pastel class today given at All About Art Club at Sun City Hilton Head. Joyce and Don Nagel are well known professional pastel artist who give workshops in Hilton Head and other areas. They have a very interesting technique that I was eager to learn. No paintings from the workshop today as we concentrated on thumbnails and value studies. Nice to know that I am not the only teacher would uses these excellent aids for beginning a painting and enhancing the painting experience. Learned a few new things and had a great revisit of things I thought I was doing but found out I was taking a few too many short cuts.

Getting started again

2010-03-03T20:31:00.003-05:00

I am finally back in South Carolina, in the Low Country. I just love the marshes and the wildlife here around Sun City Hilton Head. We are close to the May River. This is a painting that I started at a Demonstration that I gave in January for the All About Art Club at Sun City. I had a very appreciative audience of about 70 people. It was a lot of fun for me to share how to start a painting with so many people.
I then taught a small class in February and will be teaching another class in acrylic landscape painting in March. For those of you in Sun City please check the board in the art room to sign up. What a wonder bunch of people here in Sun City. I love almost every minute.

Back in Nederland, Co

2009-05-29T23:47:00.006-04:00

No picture today, but thought that I would start the blog up again after a long hiatus. Many things have happened in my life since I last posted some good and some bad. But more on that later. For those that are following me, I hope to be able to post more painting and share in some of the good news that has happened over the last months.

I went to a cute little Gallery opening this evening here in Nederland. It is called the Palette Gallery and is a group of women who enjoy painting and also selling art. They decided to go together and founded The Palette Gallery two years ago. They have represented me in the past, and under their guidance I had a one man show at the local church. I was very fortunate to have sold a painting at that time. These gals are real go getters. They have just started a new website thepalettegallery.com , so they are really trying during this very hard time.

As you can tell, I am up in Nederland, Co for the summer and hope to start painting again soon.

I did plant a garden today, very small, but hope for some fresh veggies later this year.

Will post some time in the next week.

New Technique in Oil

2008-06-12T08:57:00.001-04:00

I had an opportunity to attend a class of a local artist Julie Hanson, who had attended the Cape Cod School of Art under Lois Griffel. (Her book is "Painting the Impressionist Landscape). Julie teaches this impressionistic style of plein air painting. The style can really only be done in oil. Basically, the technique is with palette knives only, and involves an under painting of the local color and values. First the lightest light is chosen and then the next 3 lightest values. These are called first notes, and are put on a white canvas or primed Masonite board. Next the darkest dark is established scaled down 2 more values. The under painting then consists of 7 values.

Concentration is also placed on the temperature of the color, warm or cool, and this is the basis of the under painting, rather than the local color. The local color is then applied wet into wet. It is a very intense process and ideally should be done in one sitting.

Julie uses Graham oil paints, which are in walnut oil. I used Lukas 1862 oils, as they are very reasonable on ASW or Jerry's Artarama.

One of the greatest advantages of this style in Plein air is the limited palette and the use of the palette knives. You do not have to take any solvents with you, just paper towels and a disposable palette.

The paintings here I did in the studio after the class to enforce what I learned.

Also see, posting on The Strange Tree.

Venice Art Center Floral Show

2008-05-23T19:34:00.002-04:00

Just returned from the opening reception at the Venice Art Center in Venice, Florida. It was the opening of the Floral Show. The last juried show of the season. I entered the three paintings shown above and am happy to report that they were all accepted. All in all it was a very nice show. A lot of oils, some photographs and a cross section of watercolors.

They had it hung by predominate flower color and it really worked well. A calliope of color. I will probably go back several times to absorb it all. They also have a great little tea room with the best homemade soups and salads.

The Strange Tree Revisited

2008-05-23T19:22:00.000-04:00

I decided to revisit this picture and try to clean it up a it. The first tree looked like a wild golfer to me and a strange animal to others. I needed to define the darks more and ground the trunck. Also the pilings needed some work. This painting is in oil and done solely with palette knives. I have not done a painting like this ever, so it was a new challenge in this painting journey. As I explained before it is done in a different painting style than I ever used, with an underpainting of red values reflecting both temperature and value.

See a previous post to compare the before and after

Interior of the Gallery at the Gilpin County Arts Association

2008-05-22T19:57:00.000-04:00

These are pictures from last years member's show that I took while Robbin and I were there. The gallery is in an old Jail in Central City, Colorado across the street from the Gilpin Opera House. The gallery is only open during the Opera Season and then until the first snow. Which could be as early as September.

I am very proud that my painting Mountain Poppy was accepted into their annual juried show. They had approximately 4500 entries in about 4 categories. Including sculpture and fiber art.

This is a fabulous fountain made from a water pump in the courtyard.

This view is inside the gallery and lite from above. Must have been one of the cells.

New Method and Medium

2008-05-18T11:39:00.003-04:00

One of my fellow artists from the pastel group invited me to a plein air class conducted by Julie Hansen from Sarasota. She teaches in the Cape Cod School of color method. This was a completely new experience for me. I had studied the book by Lois Griffel many years ago and wanted to attend her school but it fell along the wayside with other good intentions.

So this was one of those opportunities I could not say no too. I am so glad that I went. Julie is dynamic and explained the method to me very clearly. Although there is so much more to learn, one lesson is just the tip of the iceberg.

Well here is the result it is in oil and done with a palette knife only, so is much different than the work that I have been doing lately. I really enjoyed the day.

Gilpin County Art Association Juried Show

2008-05-06T21:27:00.006-04:00

I am so happy to tell everyone that Mountain Poppy has been accepted into the Juried show at the Gilpin Art Association annual show for the western states. I mailed the painting today and my daughter Robbin will deliver it the middle of the month. The show is in Central City, Colorado during the Opera season and will open May 31st.

This gallery is in an historic Jail building that has been converted to a gallery with tons of character. It is only open during the summer months and when the Central City Opera Company is open. This promises to be an exciting season with the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Co.

Their mission statement is to expand the appreciation and understanding of art, to provide Rocky Mountain artists with the opportunity to present and sell their work, and to provide financial assistance to the RE-1 Gilpin County School art program. We certainly support them in their goals and hope that you will visit when you are in the area.

And while you are on the net they can be found at www.gilpinarts.org.

Inside the Heart of a Geranium

2008-05-05T22:59:00.003-04:00

This is one of a series of flower paintings I have been working on. It is smaller than I normally paint 12x16, but goes into the depth of the flower. I love geraniums, but find them diffiult to paint. This year I had some wonderful colored ones on my terrace outside my studio, so decided to

focus on the closeup. You want to get into them, to see what they are made of, not just the full heads, which are so beautiful.

Please see the post on Georgia O'keeffe's view of painting flower, May 2.

Here I have tried to do what she suggested, paint it big and look deep inside.

Another Beach Scene, Venice, Florida

2008-05-04T20:22:00.004-04:00

Last Tuesday our Plein Air Group went to Service Beach Park, Venice, Florida. We have been there several times, but each time is a new adventure. This time we went into the dunes to paint looking out through the grasses. The day was not sunny, but the colors were very interesting. One of the women said that she saw more colors that day than she ever had before at that location. So no matter what the weather, it pays to go out to paint, in this case pastel.

Hollyhocks from Disney

2008-05-02T20:02:00.002-04:00

On my birthday trip to Disney this year, I took some great pictures of flowers. This is from one of hollyhocks at the Irish Pavilion at Epcot.

It is fairly large 18 X 24 and has a three dimensional quality. I used Golden's light bodied Molding paste to create the petals and the stamens.

Georgia O'Keeffe said "A flower is relatively small. Everyone has many associations with a flower-the idea of flowers. You put out your hand to touch the flower-lean forward to smell it-maybe touch it with your lips almost without thinking -or give it to someone to please them. Still-in a way-nobody sees a flower-really-it is so small-we haven't time -and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time. If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it no one would see what I see because I would paint it small like the flower is small. So I said to myself-I'll paint what I see-what the flower is to me but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it-I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers. -Georgia O'Keeffe, 1976

Since taking Georgia O'Keeffe as my muse, I have changed the style and thought process behind my painting. I have allowed myself to use my digital photos and to enhance them using Picasa software program that I love. Reading about other artists they also use their own photos in various ways. It is really liberating coming from the old school of no, no photos. But in studying Georgia O'Keeffe it becomes quite apparent that she was very influenced by photography, especially since her husband was a renowned photographer. It is said that she destroyed the photos that she used for her painting.

Well, it is 2008 and digital is an everyday occurrence, most have a digital camera, and now it is up to the artist to create a new dimension in art. Not the easiest thing to do.

A Tribute to Krissie

2008-04-29T20:17:00.002-04:00

Krissie was my friend. She was first and foremost John's little friend and companion for all her years. She was a devoted dog, but with a princess attitude. When the Wilson's were home and she was out of her crate, she was first at the door when I came to visit and Ruth her mistress was kind enough to let me come to visit when I needed a doggy fix. Krissie was a loyal friend who jumped up and down when we met and expressed her joy in seeing me. I took that as a personal compliment. I was Aunt Pat.

I will miss Krissie as I miss the other dogs I have owned and loved. She will be with me always when I think of dogs who were part of my life.

I was privileged to be able to paint this portrait of her as I saw her in the last several years of her life. I only knew her as a older dog and for the last eight years, but that was a nice part of her life, at least for most of it.

Krissie will be missed, as we miss all people who have been part of our lives and are no longer there. She is in doggy heaven and out of her pain. John and Ruth loved her enough to let her go and for that she will always love them.

Bay Preserve in Osprey, Sarasota, Florida

2008-04-17T19:59:00.003-04:00

This week the class went to a new park that has been purchased by the Sarasota Conservancy. The park at the present time is open to the public by appointment, but they are allowing artists to work there on an appointment basis. Our pastel plein air class was fortunate enough to be allowed for several hours on Tuesday morning. What a treat.

Presently they have moved the Sarasota Scullers to a location there, which is beautiful. They are hoping to have one of the building converted to an artist gallery with a retreat above. Wonderful plans for the community, and we were so fortunate to be able to go there before it has been revitalized. The main house is beautiful and next week I hope to be able to paint it if the light is right.

This is the old boat house on the bay and is so cute and relaxed. I loved every minute of painting this picture.

Paintings from Sleeping Turtle Preserve

2008-04-16T16:38:00.003-04:00

Our pastel plein air class recently went to Sleeping Turtle Preserve in Venice, Florida for two sessions. These were the pastels that I did on those days. The preserve is along the Myakka River and has nice hiking trails and many live oaks and palm trees as well as luscious greenery in the trees. The last picture is of these gorgeous bromilides in the trees. At least that is what I was told they were, anyway, that morning the sun just shown through them like gold. It is a very overwhelming place to paint, and this is the third time I have tried to paint there. The first was a total disappointment, but these are not too bad. I have not used pastels for 40 years so this is a new learning experience. Hope you enjoy them.

Remember the Palm Trees

2008-04-04T20:05:00.002-04:00

I decided to try Chroma Atelier Interactive Acrylics on paper to see the effect. This is done on 9X12 Canson cold press watercolor paper. I was extreme pleased with the results and the ease of using them on the paper. I did not try for a watercolor look, but more a gouache. I do like to paint more heavily then watercolor.

This is for my neighbors, who fortunately after waiting almost 2 years, have sold their home and are moving to Texas to be closer to their family. I will give them this small token of their life here in Pelican Pointe, Venice, Florida.

Oscar Scherer State Park, Florida

2008-04-02T20:55:00.004-04:00

Second pastel in 40 years and I really like it. My plein air class went to Oscar Scherer State Park in Nokomis, Florida. This is a tidal portion of the Myakka River. The river is very dark and mysterious, as well it should be with alligators, snakes, turtles and other such things. I like the feel that I was able to get with dark green paper as a starting point. Spring in Florida has very different colors than in the north. Some of the colors are more indicative of fall up north. As a gardener, this is the end of the growing season for annuals. The night ground temperature rises to temperature that affects the roots of most annuals .

More next week from Sleeping Turtle Park in Venice, Florida

Cathy's Coneflowers, Barker Reservoir Nederland, Co

2008-03-28T04:40:00.004-04:00

This painting has just come back from the framers and I am so pleased with the results. I have an excellent framer here in Venice, Fl, The Collectors Gallery,

One of my special loves are cone flowers and last fall I saw this marvelous garden by the side of a dirt road in Nederland, Co down by Barker Reservoir. I took many pictures and got to know the owner as she will be one of my new neighbors when my summer studio is built. (More on that later)

This is another in a series of the textured paintings that I have been experimenting with over the last 10 months or so. The centers of the flowers are made to look like the texture of the cone flowers. I really enjoy this process and will be doing more. This painting is 18X24 so it is very effective. The Georgia O'Keeffe influence still prevails for me.

Vence Art Center Spring Member Show, Venice, Florida

2008-03-25T18:27:00.005-04:00

I named this one "ATTITUDE". I just got a real kick out of the look on each of the birds. I spotted them across the street from my lot in Nederland, Colorado, when I was there last fall. They are swallows and each seemed to have such a personality. I painted it with the new Atelier Acrylics on a cradled gessoboard. The overall effect is very good and you get the feeling of the birds in the air. So if you have every wondered what was happening up on that wire, this is a small insight. Hope you enjoy it. It was accepted in the juried Venice Art Center Spring Member show, so I am very delighted.

Exciting News

2008-03-24T20:29:00.004-04:00

This watercolor that I painted in 2006, will now be going to the Venice Area Historical Society for display that the Red Caboose at the Historic Train Depot. The VAHS will be accepting the painting at their annual meeting on Thursday March 27th at the Pelican Pointe Country Club in Venice, Fl.

I also have made greeting cards of the painting for them to sell at the Caboose. I am very pleased that it has found a wonderful home and will be appreciated. It was interesting painting it, and I put the Depot in the back to remind people of where the caboose has come to rest and will be kept for history.

If anyone is interested in purchasing cards please email me at pat@paintingpat.com and I will notify the VAHS. They are using it as a fund raiser for the caboose.

Banyon Tree Venice, Fl

2008-02-10T18:54:00.001-05:00

Pencil Drawing 9 x 12 on paper The Banyon Trees in Venice are in a beautiful park in the downtown area near the beach. They were a gift of Edison when he visited the city in the early 1920's. Venice has only been here from the early 1900's, so we are not very old. The banyon's are quite unique. I was drawn to them after reading that Georgia O'Keeffe drew banyon's while she was in Bermuda, and since she is my new muse, I decided to see what I could do with the subject. I have not seen her's yet, but will look for them in a book at the library.

Snyder's Garage Nederland, Co

2008-02-10T18:51:00.000-05:00

Pencil drawing on paper 9x12 This is a small drawing of Snyder's Garage, an historic landmark in Nederland, Co. I am doing a series of postcards and notecards that my daughter is selling in her hair salon, Mountain Rose Hair Care. I have a selection there already and need new scenes to add to the line. Hope they enjoy this one.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, a Rose Painting

2008-01-25T21:57:00.000-05:00

This is a painting that I decided to enter in a contest for Women's Resource Center. The theme of the contest is "Celebration of Love". There will be a party and sale on February 14th. My thought for the painting is friendship and love for yesterday, today and tomorrow. This is symbolized by the size and stage of the rose. The bud for tomorrow, the full size rose for today and the smaller rose for yesterday. I have enjoyed painting this and recorded the process on my other blog picturepat.blogspot.com. Please visit to see a slide show of the various stages and an explanation of each phase in the painting.

I also have started another painting of petunias and show the various stages and thoughts for how I develop a painting.

Corner Venice Ave and Nokomis Ave in Venice , Fl

2008-01-24T21:14:00.000-05:00

Venice, Fl. Acrylic on canvas 11x14

This is the painting that I started at the demonstration at the Collector's Gallery in Venice, Fl. on Friday. I finished it during the week and am very pleased with the outcome.

I used the new Chroma Atelier Interactive acrylic paints. They are wonderful. I have never really fallen in love with a paint before, but I think I have now.

I will be posting the finished painting of the roses on picturepat.blogspot.com tomorrow. This is the first painting that I used this new paint. What is absolutely amazing is the paint's ability to be blended even after it has been on the canvas for a while. I use a water spray bottle from my watercolor days and it is amazing. So much fun.

Changed background for Abalone Shell

2008-01-16T21:50:00.001-05:00

This is the background that I finished today. I believe that it is has more atmosphere than the original and sets a more subdued tone for the shell. I wanted to give the impression that the shell was still on the beach and somewhere near the waters edge. Not sure that is exactly what happened, but it does soften the overall impression of the shell. Also gives the painting a much more finished look. I had decided not to frame this as the canvas does project about 1 1/2" from the wall. My understanding that this gallery wrapped painting is what is being done today and does not need a frame. Therefore, the background for this becomes more important as it is what separates the image from the wall.
Does anyone have any comments on this change?

Original Background for abalone shell

2008-01-16T21:46:00.001-05:00

This is the original background. It is mostly white, although the photo indicates a lot of blue overtones, it was not in the original. I felt the background was too stark for the painting. Although it did set off the iridescent in the shell. I decided to change the background and will post that next.

The Weaver's of Charleston

2008-01-14T22:51:00.000-05:00

Just a footnote to a previous posting on the fate of the three paintings that were submitted to the juried show at the Venice Art Center. All three were accepted and were hung together in a good spot. So I am very happy.

Laurel at Collector's Gallery

2008-01-14T22:47:00.001-05:00

Meet Laurel at the Collector's Gallery in Venice, Fl. She is the brains behind my framing and enhancing all my paintings, as well as being a great supporter of my painting.

If you need great framing contact Laural or Von at Collector's Gallery, in Venice, Fl. 1-941-488-3029 or email at artgallery@comcast.net

Collector's Gallery

2008-01-14T22:37:00.000-05:00

These are a few of the paintings that have just been hung at the Collector's Gallery on Nokomis Ave in Venice, Florida. I will giving a painting demonstration there on Friday evening., from 5-8:00. So hopefully if you are in the area, you will drop by.

I am very thrilled that Von owner of the Gallery has agreed to represent me. So if you see anything on this blog or my website, www.paintingpat.com, that you like, please contact Von or Laurel at The Collector's Gallery 1-941-488-3029 or email artgallery@comcast.net.

Demonstration set for Jan. 18

2008-01-07T21:33:00.000-05:00

I will be at the Collector's Gallery in Venice, Florida, for a plein air demonstration on Jan 18th, 2008. The downtown merchants are sponsoring a Welcome Snowbirds night and the Collector's Gallery asked me to participate at their location. There will be a band and snacks.

Please join us. The weather is great.

New Year Plans

2008-01-05T23:46:00.001-05:00

I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions, but I do like to set goals for myself. Most of the time these goals are just in my head and I strive to achieve something close to them, but if not that is ok too. This year do to the fact that it is one of those big O's years and I have been looking at various blogs, I have decided to express some of my goals for the new year.

In retrospect I have to say that 2007 was a very productive year for me and I believe I made great strides in the creative life and my painting technics.

I attribute this to the fact that I taught two classes in Sun City Hilton Head and from this experience I had to look closely at what I was doing and I had to express that in words and in doing so that I could teach others and by doing that I learned many things.

The other experience of the year was a wonderful trip that my daughter and I took to Taos, NM and Santa Fe. I decided to investigate the works of Georgia O'Keeffee mostly because my daughter liked her flowers and I did not know much about her or her work. The experience of Taos and the whole area of New Mexico was far different than I thought it would be and I became a Georgia O'keeffe follower and have adapted her as my muse.

What most intrigues me about her is that so much of her and her life and thoughts are recorded. That she was highly promoted by her husband and his gallery and from that she was able to have the "right" friends in New York the heart of art in America. In studying her and her work I have tried to find out what it was that motivated her the paint what she did. She has written much about this and her love affair with New Mexico. From this study I have changed a few things about my work and have settled down on just doing acrylics.

This year I feel that it is time for me to promote my paintings and art life and have set up this blog as a start. I forced myself to paint an almost abstract painting in November. I joined the Venice Art Center and the Women Contempory Artists in Sarasota. Going to some of the activities should give me a broader knowledge of the art scene here and in general.

My next blog I will set forth my goals for this year 2008. Many of the things from 2007 are carrying forward. I sold a painter from the Weaver series and am giving a demonstration at The Collector's Gallery in Venice, Florida on Jan. 18th. But more later.

Paintings of People Show Venice Art Center, Venice, Fl

2007-12-26T13:54:00.000-05:00

This is a series of paintings that I did from a trip to the Market in Charleston, SC. I went with the ladies from All About Art in Sun City Hilton Head, SC. When I returned, I used the photos that I had taken in the market to compose these paintings. They are composites of the women who were weaving.

One of the sad things that I learned was that the art of weaving these sweet grass baskets is dying with the generations, as the young women do not want to learn the craft. Another sign of changes in our plant.

These baskets are made from the grasses that grow in the low country of South Carolina and are part of the heritage of this great nation.

Hopefully these paintings will get into the show next week. But I certainly did enjoy painting them and recording the feelings and attitudes of these wonderful Gullah Women.

We also went to a Gullah Festival in Beaufort, SC to enjoy more of the traditions of the people of this area. There was great gospel music, local food and crafts. It was one of the highlights of the summer.

2007-12-07T22:21:00.000-05:00

Holiday Party with the Women Contempary Artists, WCA. I am the one in the middle in the red. We each brought art projects for children in the Sarasota County, Florida, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center SPARCC. WE got them wrapped in clear plastic bags to be delivered this week for their Christmas. Glad we were able to do this with all the things from China being recalled this will give some children a small surprise for Christmas

Painting from Last week's class

2007-12-05T22:10:00.001-05:00

Did this little painting in the sweetest garden, the community gardens for Nokomis and Venice, Fl. The weather was wonderful and the flowers and vegetables were great. It is amazing what blooms down here on the Sun Coast during the winter. While others are under snow it is our spring and summer. Wonderful pentas, butterfly plants and numerous others. What a treat.

New Painting from Plein Air Class

2007-12-05T22:01:00.000-05:00

Went to Carlton Preserve , a Sarasota County Park, near Venice, Fl. yesterday and did this little painting of the open space. It was a beautiful day, a little chilly for Florida, but great in the sun. The birds and insects were out and it was a wonderful experience.,

2007-11-29T22:51:00.000-05:00

Finished this small acrylic painting yesterday at a Paint out for Alzheimer's. It was at a local retirement assisted living facility in Venice Florida. The turn out was about 30 local Plein Air Artists from the area. They provided us with an extremely delicious lunch and after there was an cocktail wet paint sale with invited guests. Four paintings sold and I was honored to be one of them. So it was a very productive day. Has any one else done one of these paint outs?

2007-11-29T22:46:00.000-05:00

I entered this painting at the Venice Art Center Abstract show. It is an acrylic "Cannas No 1". opening is tomorrow. Hoping for the best.

First Blog

2007-11-29T22:30:00.000-05:00

This is my first blog, but I hope that this will be a journal of my art life.
Complete with paintings , feelings, questions and hopes and dreams that I will be able to share with other artists. I have looked at many blogs out there and they all give something that is good and should be shared. As artists, we are often separate and alone in our life and studios. Here we are able to share our hopes and dreams, as well as our fears and questions.

I hope to make some friends and share ideas.