Car Sketching - 17 of 30 - Swedish Car Show

Swedish Car Show

(by Tydingesjon's Camping)

Oil on linen on panel

10x10

DPW

One of those great days this summer where the kids had fun playing in the shallow waters of this lake  and "me oh my" there where cars lining up for that evening's classic car show for my Dad and I to check out.

Car Sketching - 14 of 30 - Shiny for Sale

10x10"

Oil on Linen on Panel

DPW

I'm sure nobody's noticing that I have a few days missing on the road to 30...:-)  Sometimes, even when I paint a lot...it takes a while until I'm ready to say done.   This is one of 3 classic beauties found on the way to Chatham this summer - shiny and for sale.

Car Sketching - 6 of 30 - Harbor Hangout

8x10
Oil on LinenPanel
Sold

Day 6 of 30 - Here's another Car Sketch..."Harbor Hangout" I think I will call it....I enjoyed simplifying this one...painting it almost in a watercolor fashion with different color pools/washes to make up the shadow area and really bright highlights...

Car Sketching - 3 of 30 - Red Snapper

"Red Snapper"

8x10"

Oil on Linen Panel

To Purchase

I loved all the red I saw when I took the photo reference of this one.   Big VW Car Meet and I got the just as the sun was going down...although I'm not a 100% certain if this is a VW...I'm sure someone would be able to tell me:-)...

By the way I'm putting all my car sketches up for the DPW Auction, starting really low...;)

6 of 30 - Dogs and Cars - Desserts to Die For

Desserts to Die For

11x14

Oil on Linen Panel

DPW

So painting this one made me really happy!  You know when you find a subject that combines several of the things you get excited about painting!

I got a photo of this scene at an art event.   I love cars with personality and the light just happened to be fabulous at the moment I saw this.   I've been painting a lot of paintings with a dramatic sun recently it seems.   I've also been thinking a lot about the work of Bernie Fuchs lately, and I'm really inspired by his compositions, so I felt that in this piece I got to play with some of what's influenced me in his work....I could still get looser though!!...lol:-)

Here are a few examples of Bernie Fuchs work from my pinterest page:

5 of 30 - Dogs and Cars - Mike's Museum

(Feeling right at home) in Mike's Museum

6x6"

Oil

DPW

In December I had the great opportunity to be invited to a tour of a local Car Museum.  I was also allowed to take a lot of photos of this amazing collection of classic cars.  Happy me!!!    

I decided to make a Volvo my first attempt to paint one from my reference photos.  Being Swedish and all.   The fun thing about Cars is to get to add those great high-lights at the end to make everything sparkle:-)  That's a lot easier to paint when a car is parked outside with the sun hitting it....;)

Inside in a Museum, there are a lot more light sources....This tends to create an enormous amount of reflections and high-lights, so I'm still trying to figure out how to tackle that challenge.

Happy Painting!

4 of 30 - Dogs and Cars - Proud Pit

Proud Pit

8x8"

Oil on Linen on Panel
 DPW

Here's my second version of the Pit bull.   I worked on keeping my light and shadow areas separate and I like how that worked out with the yellow line:-)

3 of 30 - Cars and Dogs - A Close Bond

A Close Bond

8x8"

Oil on Linen on Panel
DPW

A few months ago I was up in Carpinteria to take some photos for a commission and met this dog and his owner at the mechanic's shop across the street from my subject.  In talking to this hardworking gentleman he found out I was an artist and wanted to see if I could paint his dog.  I took a few shots focusing on getting some interesting back-lighting and and shadows and I ended up painting two pictures of him. 
My focus in this one was to establishing some clear values, and to describe the strong afternoon-light.   I didn't quite stick to having dark be dominant, then less medium and a sliver of light as I decided to add some cooler color in the ground area to add some variety to all that orange and that made there be more than a sliver of the lightest value...It's interesting to see how little changes make a big difference.   It's ultimately all a matter of personal artistic preference and I might still want to change it back to what I had (see below) before I bring it back to Carp to try to find this sweet pitt's owner:-) That is if I want the highlights on the dog's head to be the central focus...

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea

11x14"

Oil on Linen Panel

Received an Honorable Mention at

Plein Air Ventura Invitational 2015
DPW

This painting was actually really enjoyable!  First off, I felt lucky to stumble onto a scene that had both atmosphere and a back lit classical car, and the opportunity to paint the view with a high horizon line!!!  Some of my favorite things!  I was a happy camper!!!   I also simplified more than usual - The fast changing light helped me with that:))
The car is owned by a really nice couple who is selling their house and they were both so sweet to offer me a cup of tea!  Did I mention he was British?...
The honorable mention was nice and you could say it sort of makes up for the fact that this piece didn't even get juried in to  the Ventura County Fair's Art Show....

This all confirms for me that it's more important to focus on how I feel about a piece and enjoy the ones where I attempt something new, than pay a lot of attention to the subjective likes and dislikes of jurors - either good or bad!

Which pieces do you feel good about when it comes to your own work?

The Farm Cart

12x16"

Oil on linen on panel

DPW

can be purchased through this gallery

http://www.pleinaircarpinteria.com/

For this painting I left the background really simple to be able to push the atmospheric effect and to concentrate on what was in light versus shadow.

Here's a great post I found on John Pototchnik's blog:

John's Blog, 
Saturday, September 3, 2011

Is OPA Judging Rigged?

 An Inside Look at the Oil Painters of America Selection Process

where John describes what the Judges for OPA (OilPaintersofAmerica) look for in judging artwork.

I found it really interesting in looking at my own work and as a check-list of sorts:

OPA – Scoring system according to John Pototchnik…

"5 judges started with 924 entries that were graded using the scoring system. grading the top 190 the same way to arrive at those with the highest accumulative score that were selected for the show.

Paintings were graded on a scale from one to seven.
Paintings were evaluated based on design and execution.

The best works had:

· One dominant value,

· A dominant color harmony,

· A clear center of interest,

· Balance,

· Accurate drawing,

· Convincing value relationships,

· Consistent and believable color temperature relationships,

· Appropriate variety of hard and soft edges, and

· Varied and interesting paint application.


Get all those elements right and you ended up with a seven...in the top 1-3 percent of entries."

A window to the Soul

10 x10"

Oil on Linen on Panel

Another opportunity to have fun with a light building.  This is a restaurant behind the Portola Hotel and I took the photo last year,  early one morning as I was scouting locations to paint at the Plein Ar Convention in Monterey.

Reflecting on Dreams

8x8"

Oil on Linen on Panel

DPW

The Railroad Play House

The Railroad Play House

6x8"

Oil on linen panel

2nd painting of the day Saturday.  Painting up in Naples with my friend Carolyn Counnas and members of the organization SCAPE (whose goals are to have exhibitions to help raise money to protect open spaces, to increase public awareness of environmental and conservation issues, to promote camaraderie and provide education for artists).   

 

Sometimes getting the first painting done opens me up to be more free with the second...especially if I have a limited time:-)

This building, I learned, used to be a playhouse belonging to the girls who lived on this property in Naples on the Gaviota Coast before it burned down.   I don't know if it was right by the railroad back when it was built...would have made me a little nervous Nelly as a mom for sure...

Memory Line - in Coronado

Memory Line

10x20"

Oil on Linen on Panel

Artists know that some times we are just stopped in our tracks by the beauty around us.   Came across this lovely party by the Hotel Del Coronado this summer - as I was trying to find a public restroom for my son?!  

It was after a nice dinner that we went for a stroll with my sister's family.  And then we stumbled upon this beautiful sunset at the beach.  Perfect timing. The twilight was mesmerizing.  A favorite memory of Coronado Island for all of us.  Luckily I had my camera, so I could capture the scene for one of my paintings!

Also luckily, my son was a good sport about mom's obsessions, after the bathroom visit:-)

Plein Air Convention 2014 - Another Demo

FogLights

8x10"

Oil on Linen on Panel
DPW

Notes on the

DEMOS GALORE

and all the great words of wisdom...starting with:

 Joseph McGurl

"Nature is a mix of order and chaos"

Order to make it real and chaos to make it natural.

 

 Joseph started his demo with a warm undertone on the canvas.  

He explained that part of creating that wonderful effect of sun light for this painting is making the white warmer and slightly darker as you go back in space and cooler as it comes forward.

(Great tips, because I wouldn't have instinctively thought that the light would get warmer moving back in space.)

 The effect is also enhanced by showing the light reflecting on the cliffs around the lightest areas, lighter at the lower end of the cliffs.

A tree is either in light or in shadow, very little in the middle.

Change your methods - you'll get different results
You can't solve every problem the same way.

When it comes to making the color work, ask yourself:

Is it too light or too dark?

Does it need to be cooler or warmer? 

Tools to try:

A Wallpaper plastic painting scraper - for making straight horizon lines

 Liquin - impasto

longer flexible palette knives - good for introducing that chaos.

Gamblin Flake White Replacement - Stiff Paint good to use on top

Fan brushes

Hansen Yellow - holds the yellow punch

I learned a lot and it is always fascinating to hear other artists' view on their individual approach, as I'm in the quest of finding my own way - or perhaps accepting my own way:-)
Joseph considers himself a Contemporary Luminist and I appreciate what he said about his technique in regards to the surface.   He doesn't want people to know about how he did something so he obscures the brush marks.  That way he continued: "It's not about me and my marks, more about the meaning of life - existence - nature and physics."

As he said that I realized that I do like to see the brush marks, showing the confident commitment to the process, a sense of the fresh impression of something...haha... I don't always achieve it....but I want to!

Off to the Plein Air Convention 2014

Early Risers

12x12"

Oil on linen on Panel

DPW

Tomorrow I'm off to the 3rd Annual Plein Air Convention up in Monterey.   It's my first time and I'm feeling a little trepidacious...excited and everything in between.     I'm heading up on my own.   It was an investment for sure, and the reason I finally decided to take the plunge this year is because this time around there will be more painting time during the convention, on top off the great lectures and demos of course.   Another plus is that there's an opportunity to display your work, which I think is a great addition to the event.  Let's see what happens!!   It's always hard to leave my boys, but I'm looking forward to some painting time, starting fresh after struggling this past week.

Here are some of my goals for the week:

• Learn a few new things in the marketing boot camp I can take action on after.
• See at least Charlie Hunter, Randall Sexton, Lori Putnam and Marcia Burtt demo and then some!!
• Pay attention to what I can learn watching other painters regarding confident brush strokes...especially for fields and grasses...
• Meet new friends
• Run into old friends
• Exchange business cards - to stay connected after.
• Learn more about Galleries
• And most of all - Have Fun Painting - with no pressure :-)

I hope to post about my experience during the week, especially if I can upload some photos...but if I'm not able I will after I get back!

Hope to see you there!

Happy Painting where ever you are!

Hot and Sticky

12x12"

oil on linen on panel

Available unframed $425

DPW

This is part of a series I'm doing of treasured items from the past, (that will hopefully be accepted in an up-coming exhibit, and if not:) I just love finding objects that have some history and painting them.  The old iron I found while up in Oregon in a fantastic little antique store in Springfield during Carol's workshop.  Nothing like adding a little extra weight when your flying...?!  What I did learn is that it's cheaper to check in two smaller suitcases than paying the overweight charge on one large one, just something I'd like to pass on!

On another note, being on the artist's journey there seems to be a constant series of ups and downs. One piece gets rejected, another one wins an award.  There's excitement and set-backs.  Lately I've felt like I'm not always sure what should be a priority to enter and not?...It's easy to question my choices...but, I was awoken by a nice little surprise this weekend after making a late entry.  I found out that I had won a third price in the Daily Paintworks Monthly Contest.   You never know what's around the corner, it keeps me on my toes.

Time to Focus

Time to Focus

6x6

Oil on linen on panel

Study for larger painting

Loved the composition of this scene when I saw it and this was a quick study to prepare me for doing a larger piece...so much fun.   Going larger means I will have to focus more on how to apply the paint and create interesting areas with more texture, since I won't be describing them with a single brush stroke like here.

Exciting and a little intimidating.

Day 13 - Cows in Color

8x10

Oil on Linen on Panel

Cows are interesting animals.  I had my own close encounter drawing some back in Sweden years ago.  I was sitting on a rock as they closely moved in to take a closer look at me.  They are curious and followers, which I experienced when I got a little nervous, turned and started running...only to have the whole flock start running after me...:-)  I try not to do that anymore...

With this painting I wanted to keep the brush strokes simple and get those beautiful warm and cool "whites".  I had a good time with it and only did some of the grass, may just leave it that way.

Day 11 - Foxy Friends

8x8

Oil on Linen on Panel

DPW

It has been a while since I did this - Set up a still-life.    I got this cute fox and his little friend from my husband and the kids for Christmas.  We all seem to like collecting things.  I used to collect owls, but maybe this will be my new thing!  It was interesting to try to capture the reds and pinks together. I put this black high light on the black, not because I necessarily saw it, but because I've seen it work well in other paintings!  I'll have to think about whether it works here?
I also found myself paying attention to what Vadim Zanginian mentioned in his demo the other night - working from cool to warm (and back) - within the same color fields.
Now I have a little catching up to do for the 30 in 30, as my husband and I got to celebrate a belated anniversary in Santa Barbara this weekend.   For those of you with kids, you might be familiar with how rare an occurrence this can be:-)  We consider ourselves really fortunate to have some great friends who made it all possible.   The kids had a blast as we recuperated, relaxed and walked on the beach.

Happy Painting!