An Air of Inevitability

An Air of Inevitability / oil on canvas panel / 14 x 18

A Singers Life and a Pathetic Oil Attempt

Jakki Ford / Conte pastel on tan toned paper / 14x11

 Jakki is a local entertainer who has the voice of an angel and played some of her own CDs as background music while we drew her. She wore a large yellow feathered piece in her hair and was a very elegant and personable lady.

Amber / 18x14 / oil on gray toned linen panel

Last Sunday was Art Mash at the NV Museum of Art. Amber was the lovely model. She wore a navy blue gold spangled outfit and was seated on a lime green settee among a profusion of brilliant colored pillows and throws. I did my best but could not capture her beauty or the relaxation of her pose. I do feel I was successful with the foreshortening of the figure so all was not lost. She was a most lovely model but I am still finding life painting to be so nerve wracking. I look forward to the day when I succeed in conquering these jitters!

Van Gogh at Work and The Integrity of Conviction

The Integrity of Conviction / 14x18 / oil on linen panel

Lots of color and an attempt to convey motion and focus of intent.

One of my most valued Christmas gifts was the book Van Gogh at Work published by the Van Gogh Museum and written by Marije Vellekoop. This book is the result of years of scholarly study of Van Gogh's working methods and the materials he used. It clearly illuminates the ten year journey of his development from complete novice to unique artist and how he improved his skills with incredible discipline and focus. For myself, I have never had a more powerful artistic moment than when I attended the Van Gogh exhibit at the LA County Museum of Art a decade ago. His art speaks to me on a level deeper than I have ever experienced elsewhere and I have loved him since I first saw a photo of one of his paintings when I was about 7 years old. And so this book is a dream come true for me - it seems to reveal a lot of the man as it describes how he mastered his craft and has helped reveal to me why I find his work so fascinating. I recommend it to everyone who loves Van Gogh!

The book

 A fascinating look at his working pallet

Wednesday Morning Portrait Session

Chuck / graphite on tan toned paper / 14 x 11

Chuck / graphite on white paper / 24 x 18

There was a really large and boisterous crowd at the life drawing session this morning making it a lot of fun. Our model was Chuck Shapiro, owner of a fine restaurant on the Truckee River in downtown Reno called The Wild River Grill. He was a fine model although I kept having the feeling that he would rather be just about any pace else rather than sitting still for over 3 hours. He seemed to have a ton of bundled up and barely contained energy!

New Year, New Gallery Representation!

I have been invited by fellow artist and friend Susan Roux to participate in her brand new start up gallery in Portland, Maine! I am honored, excited and eager to get started. The gallery seems like a beautiful space with lots of light, gorgeous wood floors and a great corner location in the art district. What could be better than being represented by a fellow artist that I greatly admire!? The photo above shows the ballerina paintings I will be shipping off for a grand opening on Saturday, May 24th. It is an international gallery and will be representing many fine artists from round the world including Canada, Ireland, France and the UK.

This is the new gallery logo and the website is already up and running  and may be accessed at Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery

What a GREAT way to start the new year - and I send my heartfelt thanks to Susan for loving my ballerinas enough to invite me to participate! Thank you, Susan!

Art Mash at the NV Museum of Art

Tom from life session / oil on linen panel / 18 x 14

I really am surprised and just a little taken aback by my nervousness at the museum today. Having done weekly life drawing for the last several months, I realized its been a very long time since I painted the figure from life - in fact, I can't remember the last time. That is why I was so nervous. However, determined to make good on my New Year goal of painting from life as often as possible, I packed up my paints, a gray toned panel and my Jullian easel and set off for the museum. I had to wipe off my first attempt as I was trying to paint the full figure but could not fit it on the canvas. The second attempt was this 3/4 view. I was so nervous that my brush was shaking and I had to try and will my hand to be steadier. I finally settled down after the first hour or so. Tom was holding on to a thick wooden pole that I decided not to include, hence the position of his hands. Art Mash is an open studio 3 hour life session held on alternate Sundays at the museum school. The first Sunday of the month is a nude model and the third Sunday is a clothed or costumed model. I am determined to attend as often as possible. And hopefully my nervousness will abate over time!

The following 2 drawings were from the last session of the Reno Portrait Society in 2013. Elise had volumes and volumes of curly raven black hair. As you can see, I opted to just find the essence of her hair and not the color!

Elise / graphite on white paper / 24x18

Elise / graphite and white conte on toned tan paper / 11x9

2014 Begins with Ballerina #31

Ballerina #31 / oil on canvas panel

So happy to spend the day in my studio today with Ballerina #31 and Sir Colin Davis. I didn't get a chance to listen to the Messiah around the holidays last year so today I played the entire recording by the London Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Sir Colin Davis in 2006. I still think it is the best recording of Handel's Messiah that I have ever heard. I am mesmerized by it and entirely swept away. What a wonderful day it was!

A Moment of Perfect Equilibrium or Equine #13

2013 was a wonderful year for painting, creativity and inspiration and I hope that 2014 is even better. My artistic goals are moving forward with me into this new year - to paint more and to paint better, to work from life whenever possible, to paint without fear and with great boldness and confidence. Such lofty goals - but very worthwhile striving for.

Here is my last completed painting of 2013 - oil on linen in my favorite size 18 x 24.

A Moment of Perfect Equilibrium or Equine #13 / oil on linen panel / 18 x 24

I took several  progress photos as this painting came into being and thought I would post them as a small WIP:

The ideas emerges and a careful oil sketch is done as the anatomy is very important in this equine position

Beginning with the darks in a thin mixture of burnt umber and dioxazine purple.

Working with color and beginning the background.

Composition fully established and background progressing.

The final picture

I have so much to be grateful for as 2013 comes to an end and my heart is full. I hope that all my internet friends enjoy a year filled with art that makes the soul take notice and the heart sing, I wish for good health and joyful days filed with peace and inspiration. Happy New Year everyone and many, many thanks for keeping me company on my blog and for allowing me to visit yours this past year. You have all affected me and inspired my own work. Happy New Year and happy creating!

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright

Oil on linen panel 18x24

Merry Christmas, happy holidays and a wonderful, joyful and peaceful New Year to all!

The Black Beret

Lori / graphite on white laid paper /  24 x 18

 I seemed to be in such a hurry in this mornings portrait session and could not slow down. This larger sketch was done in the first hour and I was not happy with it until I smudged the black beret to give it a softer look. Large black hats always seem to throw me.

Lori / Sienna Cont on tan paper. 14 x 11

 Changing positions to the other side of the studio and picking up the Cont stick, I drew this one in about 40 minutes - picking up speed as the day went on.

Lori / black and white charcoal on tan paper / 14 x 11

Then a 20 minute quick charcoal sketch. I am not very familiar with charcoal and rarely use it but decided to use some time for experimentation. I was inspired to try darkening the background after leafing through Sargent's book of portrait drawings. A productive, even if not exactly relaxing, morning!

Dancing Horse Revisited

Equine #12 / oil on linen panel / 16 x 20

I have painted this particular equine dance step before but it intrigues me so I tried it again, a little larger this time.

Renoir / oil on linen panel / 14 x 11

And a quick oil portrait sketch of Renoir from a black and white photo, of course!

Enough is Enough

Frank / oil on linen panel / 12 x 12

I have had enough of this slump and all the negative effects it was having on me. Determined to rid myself of these evil demons, I have practically locked myself in my studio for the last three days and painted nonstop. As Frank was such a great model in our life sessions, I attempted a portrait of him - this is my third attempt and I am finally pleased. Its not about liking the outcome - its more about the feeling of the paintbrush on the canvas and the movement of the paint. It began to feel familiar again. I don't know if I am out of my slump or not - only time will tell but I am feeling better today than I have in weeks.

Being part of this online artist community is such a wonderful experience - I received so much support, understanding and sugggestions and all of it helped me get through this. A special thanks to Suzanne Berry for her very caring personal concern and to Sandra Busby for her suggestion to read  Art Bytes about the slumps other artists have had and their suggestions for getting through. I am so touched by all of your comments and the fact that so many wonderful artists have persisted in following my blog even though I have been lagging in postings lately. A warm heartfelt thanks to you all!

Back to the Drawing Board

Frank / Conte crayon / tan laid paper / 14 x 11

After long weeks, days, hours of struggling at my easel, I finally found inspiration this morning in the interesting and unique face of our wonderful model Frank. Frank is an investigative journalist, a professor of journalism, a historian and an author. He is funny and kind and he relaxed easily into his role of model and muse. For the first time in a long long time, I felt a connection to what was happening on the paper - the graphite and Conte marks emerging on the rough paper were Frank but they were me, too. This gives me hope that I will be able to break out of my current states of despair and exasperation at the easel. Is there such a thing as trying too hard? That is what is happening to me - but today, with Frank, I felt free of that - free of the need to succeed. After carefully considering the subject, choosing my spot wisely and freeing my mind, I let the pencil do the work.

Frank / Ebony graphite / 20 x 18

And a word of wonder and thanks to those of you who noticed my long absence and privately expressed concern. The very singular relations that have developed with fellow artists here in cyberspace are, without a doubt, strongly influential  and deeply meaningful to me. Thank you.

Equine #11

Equine #11 / 12x12 / oil on canvas panel

Trying desperately to break out of my painting slump, I decided to revert to the leaping equine series. I had stopped at #10 and so, today, #11 has appeared. I am hoping that getting back to a familiar subject will shake up my painter's brain a bit and allow me to feel some comfort with brush and canvas again.

Drawings, But, Sadly, No Paintings

"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do." Edgar Degas

Having recovered from my virus, I am now trying to recover from doldrums at the easel. It's not that I have not been painting - in fact, I paint almost every day. It's just that I am so unhappy with myself right now. These things that are emerging from my brush - the strokes, the lines, the color, even the subject matter - are not mine. I have wiped them all off for fear that someone might think I have painted them - that would be horrible!

And so I will show you my drawings from this morning. At least I know that I drew them!

Constance / Sienna Conte on white sketch paper /17x14

Constance / graphite and white charcoal on tan toned paper / 14x11 

My throat is dry, my nose is red, I have a cold inside my head......

A week of cold, congestion, coughing and sleepless nights. Ugh - something miserable I caught during my trip to Los Angeles and have had a hard time beating.

I did manage to drag myself to this mornings portrait session to draw the lovely, young Ashley.

And the portrait from last weeks short session - Willow.

Now off I go to wrap myself in a warm throw (its rainy and cold here today with new snow on the mountain tops), drink some hot tea and read the Degas biography that I started a while back.

A Real Live Cowboy and a Bashkir

Cowboy Brad / graphite and white charcoal on tan paper /14 x 11

Brad / graphite on cream paper / 24 x 18

Back home from my trip to Los Angeles just in time to attend Wednesday life session with a real live cowboy. Brad owns a ranch and breeds Curly Coated Bashkir horses and also breeds paint mustangs. He is deeply involved in  charity work and frequently auctions off a paint foal in order to give the proceeds to a children's cancer group that helps families pay for treatment. He surely will have a special place in heaven. He was a very rugged guy with a well tended mustache and a flat brimmed hat. The hat challenged me the most as it was deep black with very little nuance or color and seemed to absorb rather than reflect the light. The tassels hanging over his shoulder are called a Storm Chaser and apparently work to hold the hat in place in case of high wind! He was a great model. Never having heard of curly coasted bashkir horses, I did a Google search and this is what I found:

Drawing and Painting

What a joy this mornings portrait session was! Jeff was a perfectly composed model and somehow he neglected to bring  his parrot, his dog and his pony to the studio! He, did, however, insist on wearing his heavy tortoise shell glasses - but  no matter. Although I could not see his eyes and this session was so well attended that there was no hope of moving my easel, I feel that today was a success. I allowed my mind to fill with thoughts of Jeff and how they might translate into marks made upon the paper.

Jeff / graphite on cream paper / 24 x 18

Jeff / graphite and white charcoal on tan paper /  14 x 11

 In a week filled with family dramas, I found time to dash off a quick portrait study on cardboard and to begin Ballerina painting # 31. Its been a while since a ballerina called to me and I was most definitely caught by surprise!

James McNeill Whistler study / oil on cardboard / 12.5 x 12

 I love this concept of her and can't wait to work on it again - however, tomorrow I am flying to Los Angeles to attend to some family matters so she will have to stay in her unfinished state a while longer.

Ballerina 31 start / oil on linen / 24 x 18

To keep myself grounded and occupied in quiet moments, I purchased a used copy of Ray McMullens definitive biography (written in 1984) of Edgar Degas to read and absorb - Degas: His Life, Times and Work.

I would also like to take a moment to thank everyone that follows my blog, reads my thoughts and comments on my artistic endeavors. I value each person that takes a peak and each person that responds. You all leave deep impressions on my heart and I am so grateful to you all.

And then there was a Shepherd

Jim and Bella / graphite

Jim / graphite

"The heart is an instrument that rusts if it is not used. Without a heart, can one be an artist?" Edgar Degas

And Then There was a Parrot!

“She was not quite what you would call refined.
She was not quite what you would call unrefined.
She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot.” 
― Mark Twain

I was so excited to attend life drawing this morning! I got up with thoughts of truth and sincerity abounding in my mind and rushed off to the studio with lofty goals of rising above the mediocre, of guiding my pencil to hint at the complexities of emotion and substance of my model. How funny that I should be so taken aback by the presence of a parrot! She was a glorious green with a yellow head and one or two red wing feathers and was a paragon of mystery - warbling softly to herself, laughing heartily at her own jokes, crunching mightily on toasted oats, occasionally bobbing her head in wonder at the action around her. Oh, to draw the truth of a parrot! And so, confronted with the enigma that is her mind, I decided to focus on her owner instead!

Milo and Linda / pencil on cream laid paper / 24 x 18

Linda / pencil on cream laid paper / 24 x 18