Back in Nederland, Co

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.