Workshop with Zhaoming Wu

There are no words to describe how honored I feel to have been able to study with modern master, Zhaoming Wu. Many thanks to Qiang Huang for coordinating this workshop and to his wife, Song, for helping everything run so smoothly. There are so many things I would like to share but simply cannot find the words. It was a week in artist Heaven, to say the least.

In the next few days I will share some of my paintings from the workshop. Meanwhile, please enjoy this one by the Master, Zhaoming Wu!

Pastel Portrait

Pastels have long been luring me. I have had all the supplies needed to delve into them for years and, for as many years, they have seemingly been mocking me from their boxes. Well, I feel I have silenced their mocking once and for all. Not that I don't have much more to learn about this medium but, I am no longer intimidated by them! (A personal triumph-woo hoo!)

This is a portrait of my husband, wearing the cap he wore when we lived in Poland. I love the way he looks in it and the memories it evokes-the memories of being "home". But that's a tale for another time and place.

6"x 8", pastel

Two from Life Drawing Class

I feel I am finally starting to get it and it's only taken 42 class hours! Not that I am really a slow learner. It's just that I can try so hard that it creates a mental block sometimes. The good thing is, once I break through, I usually start making great strides so, I am encouraged.

Here are two, the last two , from last week's class.

Mountain Memories

Mountain Memories is my response to the second of Carol Marine's German Landscape Challenge. I am very fond of this one and would like to visit there one day.
7" x 5", oil on linen

Country Spring

Country Spring was done in response to Carol Marine's DPW Challenge.
5"x 7", oil on linen

Yella Umbrella

The Texas Paint Slingers were invited to paint at Cactus Jack's during Gruene Market Days in March. There were many wonderful vignettes to paint but the yellow umbrella won out. Here is my painting from the day Table for Two. 6"x8", oil on linen SOLD

Chapel Dulcinea

Spring has sprung for those of us in Central and South Texas! Our group, the Texas Paint Slingers, were itching to get outdoors and decided to meet at the beautiful Chapel Dulcinea. It was chilly and foggy early in the morning but soon gave way to a gorgeous day.
Here is the view I chose, along with my painting. I worked a little longer on it after the photo and then, with my signature, declared it complete. I am very pleased with how it came out.
This painting will soon be available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene.
9" x 12", oil on linen SOLD

Zippo

The subject for the challenge this week fell to Michael Naples. I liked him a lot more BEFORE he chose a cigarette lighter, of all things, but I got over it! What excited me was his challenge of painting it with only burnt sienna, ultramarine blue and white. I absolutely love using a limited palette so, cigarette lighter or not, I went for it! I like how it turned out.
6"x6", oil on polyflax linen

The Valentine Rose

This week, Carol Marine had her friend, Qiang Huang, select the painting challenge. Since it was the week of Valentine's Day, he chose a red rose. Here is my interpretation.
5"x 7", oil on linen SOLD

Imperial

I was considering starting a monthly painting challenge when I saw that Carol Marine had just started one. Since there is no sense in reinventing the wheel, I jumped right in! Her group is called "The DPW Challenge" and is open to anyone interested in participating.
Here is the first challenge, an old car that Carol saw in Florida. Check out the challenge link above. It is so much fun to see all the different artist's interpretations! THANKS CAROL!!!

6"x6", oil on linen

Drawing Study

I am getting used to the feel of charcoal and conte but remain convinced that I will never like the feel of a pencil. That may sound odd but, but a brush has a smooth and flowing feel to it and a pencil is hard and static...polar opposites to me. Charcoal and conte seem to bridge the gap a bit. It is all a great learning experience and one day I may even come to like pencils!
5" x 5 1/4", conte on newsprint

Emmie

My portrait studies continue and I am encouraged to be seeing progress! This portrait is of Emmie, a very strikingly beautiful woman that I have been wanting to paint for a long time. When the scheduled model didn't arrive, Emmie agree to sit for us. I was elated!
I feel so fortunate to have so many good artists as friends, teachers and mentors. It is so important to keep one another encouraged, motivated and challenged. I treasure each and every one of them and each and every one of YOU who share this journey with me!
9" x 12", oil on linen

Plein Air at Crane's Mill Marina

Our plein air group, the Texas Paint Slingers , went to Crane's Mill Marina for our first paint out of 2011. It was a beautiful day! The weather was supposed to be overcast and drizzling until noon but it was a picture perfect day. It is such a quiet and peaceful place. The only company we had were a few bass splashing and a family of ducks swimming in the lake. We didn't even mind the cedar! Sometimes you've just got to paint!
8"x 10", oil on linen SOLD

Plein Air in Austin

Another plein air painting done at the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. I think a person could paint there every day of the year and never have to paint the same thing twice. The gardens are so beautiful, peaceful and serene.There is definitely something there for everyone!
8" x 10", oil on linen

San Antonio Botanical Gardens

This is a plein air painting done at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens last fall. It was such a lovely day that we ended up staying until it was almost dark. I did a second painting from the opposite side of the lake that turned out rather disappointing. Oh, well. You can't win 'em all!
8" x 10", oil on board

Out with the Old and In with the New!

It's that time when we bid farewell to the past year and look forward to the future. Looking back on 2010, I must say it was my best year yet! All goals that were set at this time last year have all been met and it is time to turn my thoughts to what I hope to accomplish in 2011.

I would like to share something I heard Leslie Saeta say on Blog Talk Radio yesterday. For those who may not know, she and Dreama Tolle Perry are the authors of the blog, Artists Helping Artists, http://artistshelpingartistsblog.blogspot.com. It's a great blog designed to do just that help their fellow artists! These are two gals with the true Art Spirit!   Do check it out.

The program was on setting goals. Leslie suggested keeping the acronym S.M.A.R.T. in mind and make sure that your goals are:

S-specific
M-measurable
A-attainable
R-realistic
T-timely

It is a wonderful and wise way to set and accomplish your goals. Write them out and review them periodically throughout the year to keep yourself on track. Being able to check them off your list will create even more momentum. 

May 2011 be YOUR best year so far!

Gaye

What Color to Paint A Studio?

A conversation that comes up quite often between artists is what color to paint our studio. We love light and we love color and so are tempted to express our artistic sides on our studio walls as well. NOT A GOOD IDEA! Ok, so then what IS a good idea? I think my new friend, Judy Crowe, just may have an answer complete with visual aids! Please check out her post dated December 22, where you will see her newly painted studio. In her December 26 post, she shows four paintings; two of which were done when her studio was yellow and two in her newly painted grey-green studio. While all four paintings are very beautiful, you can clearly see the influence of both the mood and the color of the studio in each painting. I leave it to you to decide which you prefer. After all, it is YOUR studio but I'm leaning strongly towards the grey green for my own. 

How about you? What color is your studio? How do you feel it has effected your paintings? Whatever color, I am convinced it affected your mood even before you set your canvas on the easel  as well as the color choices that went into your painting. I'd love to hear your opinion.

Thanks, Judy! Lesson learned!

Gaye 

A Visit to the McNay Art Museum

This is my favorite painting from the current exhibit "Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism", being held at the McNay Art Museum. The artist is Charles Courtney Curran. It is simply lovely!

A Visit to the Blanton

This was my favorite painting in the Turner to Monet: Masterpieces from The Walters Art Museum Exhibit, which is being held in Austin, Texas, at the Blanton Museum of Art. It is a small painting, only about 6"x 8", painted by Mariano Jose Maria Bernardo Fortuny and is entitled An Ecclesiastic. It is a much more vivid and detailed painting than is depicted here. The exhibit runs until January 2, 2011.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Drawing Class Sketch #6

How I wish we had been given more than twenty minutes to sketch this one! I also regret not taking better notes of the different artists we are studying so I could look them up at home. Well, live and learn!

This one was so much fun. I absolutely love portraits of children who look as if they have been taken straight from a Dickens novel.

All of these sketches have been on newsprint, which is not at all archival, and won't last very long. But, the point is to learn and I am having a ball!

8" x 10", charcoal sketch

Entering A Deeper Phase

I have found myself entering into a phase of painting less but studying more. I am increasingly interested in studying the figure and in honing my drawing skills. These studies will intensify with the start of the new year. My concentration will be fully devoted to these studies so I don't anticipate being able to do a lot of painting. I have been wanting to do this for a very long time, the opportunity presently itself and the timing is finally right.

I do plan to continue to share my journey with you and, as a result, the posts may be coming a little more often once the classes start. If you are interested in keeping tabs but, not in the day to day of things of my blog, I invite you to sign up for my newsletter via my website, http://gayesekula.com.  My website newsletter goes out far less frequently so have no fear of being bombarded. 

Happy Holidays to All!

Gaye  

Drawing Class Sketch #5

I am very encouraged to be seeing improvement and am having such a great time that I hate to see this class come to an end. I think we have only two sessions remaining. Each session, after a short discussion and demo, we do at least two twenty minute sketches.  

This and the drawing from the previous post were done during the same session. I wasn't feeling very well but really didn't want to miss the class. I did not much feel like drawing but was determined to participate, even if nothing good came from it. And I learned a very valuable lesson that day! I learned first hand that it is not necessary to wait for inspiration to hit before I could produce something worthwhile. While these are not perfect sketches, I am greatly encouraged! Especially when I compare them to drawings done just a few short months ago!

I have been doing my best to do something art related every single day. If not painting or drawing, I am reading an art book or watching an art DVD. It is an easy discipline when you are doing what you love.

The journey continues. Thanks for coming along with me!

9"x12", charcoal sketch

Drawing Class Sketch #4

This sketch is from our third session in Charcoal Drawing Class. Again, we were allowed only 20 minutes.  A benefit of being timed is that it helps train the eye to see what is essential in conveying the essence of a subject. With practice, good instruction and really learning to see, we will be able to render a subject more and more accurately. So, speed is really not the objective but rather one of the means to a desired end. For example, an area that speed would be very beneficial is in plein air painting. Since the sun does not stand still, it is essential to work quickly to capture a fleeting moment in time. All exercises in art help in every medium. None of it is wasted time because it all works together.

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I have never liked to draw. I can no longer make that claim. I am beginning to enjoy charcoal very much and intend to keep at it once this class has ended. I have never been particularly fond of strong color and these subtle tones really appeal to me.

I have a couple more drawings to share from this particular session. Since I also have more to say, I should save it for posting in the next day or two.
This landscape is about 6"x8".

Spotlight

I would like to introduce my very good friend and sgraffito artist, Crystal Nolfo Brown. Crystal is very passionate about her home state of Louisiana, which shows in her sgraffito work. She is a perfect example of what happens when a person is able to translate their passion into art.  

http://crystal-nolfo-brown.blogspot.com