Views: 3654....USA & Canada.

Hi...again the Intermediate Class has faced a photo challenge. Even though there aren't many paintings represented...the quality is superior. 

They had a choice of a Seascape Photo to work from or they could work from an actual Still Life that I set up. 

Thank you Painters.
 Enjoy.

Colette:

Watercolor

Watercolor

John:

Watercolor

Mary:

Watercolor...(rough texture)

Mary's paintings done during class:

Watercolor

Watercolor....Crater Lake area
(sorry for the glass glare)

Quote: Paintings are never finished, they are only abandoned. Leonardo da Vinci.


Folks meet "Abandoned"....."Abandoned" meet the Folks !!!
After a 2 week gap, I just couldn't return to the feeling...just couldn't get it done. I've moved on to another portrait...Will see if this new one will  be named "Abandoned II" !!!

"Abandoned"

 (See August 28th  posting to see the beginning of this story).

Blog Views: 2544...USA, Russia, Poland, China & France.

Tidbits: Yesterday a group of students and I met for lunch. It was a very nice time spent. Even though it hasn't been that long ago that most of us have seen each other, for me, it was like old home day. I was glad to see them, hear stories, see artwork, ask questions and learn news...with laughter. There is a lot to say about having a support group that not only is there for art feedback, but also for friendship. (I am sure there will be other luncheons). Thank you.

Take a Class...out of your comfort zone... 

I have signed up for an art class. I feel every artist needs to take classes, especially those that pushes us out of our comfort zone. I am not a portrait painter, but that is the class I am going to be taking....so I am definitely going out of my comfort zone...way out there. The class is by Ted Nuttall.  It will be for 5 days...9-4. 

I have been practicing painting portraits...and by the looks of things, I am not a portrait painter and probably will never be one !!!  Heaven help Ted Nuttall for having me as a student.

If by chance a magic wand gets passed over top of me and I can  paint a few decent portraits, I will with the many compositions and subjects in my head that sprang up from the few I have practiced painting.

The below one is not finished. I haven't painted on it for about 2 weeks and I'm not sure I can finish it after this amount of time without it looking  like 2 people have painted on it. Ted wants us to paint vertically with our watercolors, which isn't the way I paint with watercolors. Also,  I am using Ted's color palette and I'm not use to those colors as my portrait colors...so those two things different for me has been interesting.

Get out there and do something that challenges you. Have Fun.

Not Finished

(I'm still hoping for my Italy trip this year...so I'm sending out Italian Painting Terms for the Quiz questions !!!).

Quiz:  What is the term used to describe a figure in a painting in which the body and legs are twisted so that they're in different planes?

__Contrapposotional.

__Contrapposto.

__Contrapuntal.

__Contrarious.

Views: 2,125....from...USA, Mexico, Brazil, Serbia and Russia.

Art Work:

More art work to enjoy.....

Colette:

                                                           Watercolor and Pen

Kathy:

                                                               Watercolor

Diana:

                                                                      Watercolor
 Thanks for sharing.

Quote: "You can't use up Creativity. The more you use, the more you have". Maya Angelow


Quiz:
What is the technique called where painting is applied in a thick, textured way, with the marks made by the brush or palette knife remaining visible, such as in the work of Vincent van Gogh? (Yea...Karen, for the correct answer).
Answer: Impasto.  

Artwork: Some more beautiful artwork by my artist/students. Thank you.
Karen:
                  Look at that depth !!!!...(watercolor).

Bonnie:
             Great.     

Blog Views: US, Russia and Ukraine....#1654 views.

Palette Knife Painting Workshop:
I just taught a Palette Knife Painting Workshop with some very talented artist/students....producing great paintings....some are below.  It was a fun day. Thanks.

Karen:

Liz:

Deb:

Patt:

Margaret:

Quiz:
When does copyright of a painting you've created start?

Artist Block:
Artist block is a real thing....what to paint, how to paint it, what media to use and where to find the time....etc. I've been lucky, Artist Block hasn't happen to me in regards to what to create....ideas come to me fast and furious all day long (or all night long...I'm a nighttime creator). One thing leads to another idea and then another and then another.....! Executing it is a different matter.....I don't always have the ability to do what I want. My answer to that is...(not to take away from the famous label brand's saying)...just do it. Do it several times with those triggered ideas adding to the last idea. Now, you are asking, what if the first idea isn't there for you?...no photo, no actual life scenery, no triggered thought comes to you or starts the process?  Start simple...take 5 different colored papers...cut, tear, burn, crumple etc...glue in an artful composition. Move them around...make them 3D or glue flat down on the paper. Try again...this time use those triggered ideas the first composition formed in your head. Try again. Maybe next time...use 5 paints or take a photo and cut it up, rearrange, add paint or color paper. Let loose, have fun and don't worry to much about the ending results (I bet those results will surprise and please you). Now, you are asking...how to find the time or the motivation. It's hard...but what are you waiting for? Give yourself the gift of the time to sit down and create...push yourself to be motivated. Are you depressed because you are not motivated...well, you are depressed because you are not motivated. You will feel better if you just do it...get in there and do something....start small....work toward big.

I can only give you my thoughts and ramblings...it's different for each and every one of us.

DON'T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE...DO IT...MAKE TIME...GO FOR IT...LOVE YOURSELF....FORGET THE DISHES TODAY....DON'T FEEL GUILTY...DON'T EXPLAIN...YOU'LL FEEL BETTER AND REBORN IF YOU JUST GO IN AND DO SOMETHING... 

Good Luck....let me know how it is going for you.

Challenge: I gave each student/artist one sheet of gold & silver Josh paper and a Chinese New Year Money Envelop. I said go for it.

Colette: 

This is Colette's  art. 

Liz:
....and this is Liz's artwork.

Joni:
...and here is mine.

My Intermediate artist/students  are experimenting beyond the safe and comfortable painting stages...you know how hard that is to test oneself to think of going that path, let alone actually going beyond the thinking to doing?

Colette: Geraniums. How beautiful. She is an excellent painter and now she has pushed
                      her comfort zone...and still is an excellent painter.

Thank you, Colette, for sharing your great watercolor painting.      

Blog Views: USA, Russia & Sweden.    

Yes, I know it has been a week since I last posted. I would love to post everyday and I would if I had things to post. I just got the riot act from 2 of my students that they had looked several times this week and were disappointed to see no new postings. Sorry if you too were disappointed.  I don't want to post my work as I don't want this to be about me. If you have ideas, let me know.

Viewer Comment: I got this comment from a viewer and I hope her words touch  a lot of you...share your artwork. It doesn't matter what media...who you are...far or near...beginner or seasoned artists...just share.

Joni-- I wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying the artwork and backstories on your blog. Please tell the folks to keep sharing their paintings, and thanks!
Sarah G

Viewer Contribution:
Today, was the last day for my 2 day Tapestry class. The below tapestries were done by 2  very beginning students. Their samplers are little gems and they did excellent. 

Nancy:  This is her first tapestry. She said her mind was so full of the newness of
learning that we could have had a weenie roast in class and she wouldn't have noticed !!

Tessa: This tapestry is also Tessa's first tapestry. As you can see, the two had their own ways with the lessons and color choices....excellent for the rest of the class to see.

Thanks, Nancy and Tessa,  for sharing.

Oh My Goodness....already there has been 203 views hits of this Blog and they have come from the US, Russia, South Korea, Malaysia and New Zealand (New Zealand may be my cousin?...as she is visiting there now...Hi Miftah!!!).  

We rock!!! Such fun.

Hi...No more newsletters!!!...I think this blog will be so much fun...especially if there are a lot of contributions from everyone. Please do send in your ideas and photos of your art work. I'll try to post daily...catch the "try"? Let me know what you think of the blog, what you want it to include etc.

Quiz: How many paintings did Leonardo da Vinci create? Watch for the answer.
Readings: Big Art, Small Canvas...by Joyce Washor.
"Gives you guidance you need to succeed at creating small paintings. It features more than 12 step-by-step demos that show you how to paint a variety of still lifes and landscapes...all on canvas measuring 4" or less...." (oil painting).                             

I have heard from some artist students about the Art Challenge.
* Diana..........Chickens.....I love chickens.
* Stephanie....Self Portraits...(both her and her husband). Why not...she has been painting everyone else in her family.
* Karen..........Still life. I know she has painted and drawn it.
* Kathy...........Folds....as she stated as we passed in the Safeway store.
* Byrine..........Still life of her mannequin. She has set up a work station on her card table. Yea.
* Colette.........Flowers. What a great use of the season.
* Me..Joni.......Trees.
* Liz................If she  finds time from her sheep ranch. Did you see the Herald and News front page article about her sheep and the coyotes?

I have been painting trees. I started out thinking I was going to paint 3" x 4" studies...so I cut about 40 from my 9" x 12" watercolor paper. My beginning plan took a turn after about 10 studies and found I would probably pull out my hair. I needed more of a purpose. So the little studies sort of went by the wayside and I have been doing different sizes, lots of mix media, Plein Air and lots of experimenting (hence: "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"...I'll share). 

I just got back from a 10 day camping trip up by Bend. I have a few paintings to share when I get them photographed. I also have a use for those studies I'll share with you too.

Let me know how you are doing on the challenge and if you would like anything posted.