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I am using the “cell painting” idea – painting each little area by itself. I love doing this although it takes a while!
Showing posts with label Nick Simmons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nick Simmons. Show all posts
HYDRANGEA - 1
This is an attempt to utilize some of the info I learned at the Nick Simmons w/s this spring.
I am using the “cell painting” idea – painting each little area by itself. I love doing this although it takes a while!
I am using the “cell painting” idea – painting each little area by itself. I love doing this although it takes a while!
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES
After a lovely dinner with Rhonda and Nick Simmons last Monday night, I was in a great mood, until I was faced with a disastrous Tuesday.
It began with vandalism to our mailbox. We have had several instances in the past that are more “prank” than vandalism (allegedly) done by a young neighbor, but this definitely crossed the line. Both another neighbor, who was also targeted, and I called in the local sheriff. There is no way I can show the photos of the lovely “artwork” the little demon left on my mailbox and on two places on the county road. Enamel spray paint will take some time to wear off the road, and never will wear off our mailbox.
Then, to add insult to injury, later in the day while putting out more paint, the end of the tube split and created a little tiny hole that I didn’t notice until the cobalt blue casein had squirted onto the front of my shirt. Even though I sprayed it with everything in my laundry arsenal and washed it immediately, it still retains the blue dots.
Some days you just look forward to bedtime!
It began with vandalism to our mailbox. We have had several instances in the past that are more “prank” than vandalism (allegedly) done by a young neighbor, but this definitely crossed the line. Both another neighbor, who was also targeted, and I called in the local sheriff. There is no way I can show the photos of the lovely “artwork” the little demon left on my mailbox and on two places on the county road. Enamel spray paint will take some time to wear off the road, and never will wear off our mailbox.
Some days you just look forward to bedtime!
AMERICAN WATERCOLOR SOCIETY SHOW AT MIDDLETOWN ARTS CENTER
Last Thursday was an absolutely sweltering hot day – how better to spend it than viewing art, eating lunch and laughing with friends!
Some of you have probably already read Rhonda’s blog post about our trip to Middletown Arts Center to view the American Watercolor Society show. We are so fortunate to have the MAC close by – it’s a little over an hour drive for me, but well worth it. It’s always so wonderful to see the paintings you have seen in magazines in a little bitty 2x4 format in front of you – in person, full size and in living color!
The following are my comments about the paintings (if I was able to locate a website I attached the link) and some photos. (The photos are not great – got lots of reflections no matter how I stood and pointed the camera – but I’m OK with that. You will be able to see the painting I’m taking about, and I’m not overly concerned with any copyright issues, since I can’t believe anyone would try to pull these off my blog and copy them! If you want to see these works in a “better light” – go to either the organization’s or the artist’s website).
We decided there were still quite a lot of “gray” paintings. While I love John Salminen’s work, his signature style is shades of gray with some small “pops” of color. Although, in looking at his painting which won the top TWSA award – it looks like that one is showing some change of style (it made me think of Jean Grastorf). It has much more sparkle and lightness to it. I guess we all tend to change our styles somewhat over time.
Anyway – there were still lots of “gray” paintings. I guess I’m just more into color because, while some of those were lovely – especially Dean Mitchell’s (he is an amazing painter, telling a story with a simple composition and limited palette) – it’s the vibrantly colored paintings that pull me in.
So here we go with my critique!
First is the John Salminen “gray” painting! It does have sparks of light with the lanterns and definitely gives the feel of “Morning Fog”.
This one is by George Harkin who I am not familiar with. It looks like the Nick Simmons “cell” paintings and is unbelievably involved – how I wish I could do that!
This is the one that Rhonda had mentioned in her blog. It is done by Susan Montague, who won the bronze award here and who also won an award at TWSA with another figure painting. Her style looks like it is definitely influenced by Ted Nuttall. The painting is created from dots and swirls and blobs of color – and comes together as a portrait!
This is Mark Mehaffey’s entry. He is creating these abstractions as well as figurative work in watercolor and is also painting in acrylics. He’s certainly a versatile painter and some of my friends who have taken his workshop speak very highly of him.
Jean Grastorf’s entry. I took a workshop from Jean a long time ago and she has developed her unique pouring style into a true art form! This is amazing up close, the way the colors blend into each other and the incredible light pouring onto the figure.
This is by Preecha Promprabtuk (sorry, am not familiar with his work until now – but I’ll be watching for more!)
This was hung at the back of the exhibition hall and was the first thing you saw as you walked in – how could you not see it – the colors are soooooo vibrant. It’s a circuit board and most of those little bitty images at the top have little tiny numbers and letters on them – some had been miskited (maybe he uses a toothpick like I do???) This was my second favorite!
This is by Steve Rogers – who still has his sparkly white technique. I always enjoy his paintings – they look “dotty” up close but come together at a distance – I think that’s called “optical or visual blending” (correct me if I’m wrong!). His wife, Janet Rogers (same link as above), also had a painting in the show – a figure, her specialty. I have also taken a workshop from Janet, and she is a lovely woman, both inside and out! (But I still can’t paint people!!!)
And last but not least, here’s my favorite by Judy Morris. It’s done in shades of red. It has a border with words. Then there are patterns inside that on the curtains. Then her standard salt technique – which, with her, never appears “technique – y”! I love that the center of interest is – in the center! - the person in the blue shirt. You get such an impression of warmth and sunlight and glow through the curtains – especially due to that RED SKY – who would ever think to do that! The intricacy of the patterns – my kinda painting – double WOW!
If this show comes anywhere close to you, go see it (that’s an order!) Otherwise, go to the website and take a look at the paintings in a much better light! The website will have a list of the rest of the places to which the show will travel, so check that out, too.
Anyway - following the viewing, we had lunch at Olive Garden and then home – where I actually had time to paint a little that evening!
All in all, a pretty nice day!
Some of you have probably already read Rhonda’s blog post about our trip to Middletown Arts Center to view the American Watercolor Society show. We are so fortunate to have the MAC close by – it’s a little over an hour drive for me, but well worth it. It’s always so wonderful to see the paintings you have seen in magazines in a little bitty 2x4 format in front of you – in person, full size and in living color!
The following are my comments about the paintings (if I was able to locate a website I attached the link) and some photos. (The photos are not great – got lots of reflections no matter how I stood and pointed the camera – but I’m OK with that. You will be able to see the painting I’m taking about, and I’m not overly concerned with any copyright issues, since I can’t believe anyone would try to pull these off my blog and copy them! If you want to see these works in a “better light” – go to either the organization’s or the artist’s website).
We decided there were still quite a lot of “gray” paintings. While I love John Salminen’s work, his signature style is shades of gray with some small “pops” of color. Although, in looking at his painting which won the top TWSA award – it looks like that one is showing some change of style (it made me think of Jean Grastorf). It has much more sparkle and lightness to it. I guess we all tend to change our styles somewhat over time.
Anyway – there were still lots of “gray” paintings. I guess I’m just more into color because, while some of those were lovely – especially Dean Mitchell’s (he is an amazing painter, telling a story with a simple composition and limited palette) – it’s the vibrantly colored paintings that pull me in.
So here we go with my critique!
First is the John Salminen “gray” painting! It does have sparks of light with the lanterns and definitely gives the feel of “Morning Fog”.
This one is by George Harkin who I am not familiar with. It looks like the Nick Simmons “cell” paintings and is unbelievably involved – how I wish I could do that!
This is the one that Rhonda had mentioned in her blog. It is done by Susan Montague, who won the bronze award here and who also won an award at TWSA with another figure painting. Her style looks like it is definitely influenced by Ted Nuttall. The painting is created from dots and swirls and blobs of color – and comes together as a portrait!
This is Mark Mehaffey’s entry. He is creating these abstractions as well as figurative work in watercolor and is also painting in acrylics. He’s certainly a versatile painter and some of my friends who have taken his workshop speak very highly of him.
Jean Grastorf’s entry. I took a workshop from Jean a long time ago and she has developed her unique pouring style into a true art form! This is amazing up close, the way the colors blend into each other and the incredible light pouring onto the figure.
This is by Preecha Promprabtuk (sorry, am not familiar with his work until now – but I’ll be watching for more!)
This was hung at the back of the exhibition hall and was the first thing you saw as you walked in – how could you not see it – the colors are soooooo vibrant. It’s a circuit board and most of those little bitty images at the top have little tiny numbers and letters on them – some had been miskited (maybe he uses a toothpick like I do???) This was my second favorite!
This is by Steve Rogers – who still has his sparkly white technique. I always enjoy his paintings – they look “dotty” up close but come together at a distance – I think that’s called “optical or visual blending” (correct me if I’m wrong!). His wife, Janet Rogers (same link as above), also had a painting in the show – a figure, her specialty. I have also taken a workshop from Janet, and she is a lovely woman, both inside and out! (But I still can’t paint people!!!)
And last but not least, here’s my favorite by Judy Morris. It’s done in shades of red. It has a border with words. Then there are patterns inside that on the curtains. Then her standard salt technique – which, with her, never appears “technique – y”! I love that the center of interest is – in the center! - the person in the blue shirt. You get such an impression of warmth and sunlight and glow through the curtains – especially due to that RED SKY – who would ever think to do that! The intricacy of the patterns – my kinda painting – double WOW!
If this show comes anywhere close to you, go see it (that’s an order!) Otherwise, go to the website and take a look at the paintings in a much better light! The website will have a list of the rest of the places to which the show will travel, so check that out, too.
Anyway - following the viewing, we had lunch at Olive Garden and then home – where I actually had time to paint a little that evening!
All in all, a pretty nice day!
NICK SIMMONS WORKSHOP
That’s where the Nick Simmons workshop was held – a great facility at Town and Country Mall – large, airy and well lit room with much natural light coming in through the plate glass windows fronting on the mall corridor.
Many thanks to Leonard Williams for his hard work, as well as to Rosie Huart and Karen Benedetti – not only good artists but good bakers as well! Met several very nice ladies at the workshop, too, and reconnected with some others.
And it was so great to finally meet Nick Simmons in person! I’ve heard so much about him over the past few years. (I have read articles about him and purchased his DVD – and he will have another one coming out soon!) He is a very giving teacher – no “secrets” held back. But just to make sure that I do not overstep my bounds - all I’m going to say is that I learned A LOT from this workshop (although you won’t be able to tell that from the paintings I made while there)!
My drawing taped and miskited
Working at it!
Also - seems that I left my SD card at home in my printer so I took an empty camera with me. (Not the brightest bulb!). These photos of my pathetic painting were sent to me by Rhonda so I could have something to show here! We used Nick's reference and followed along - but, of course, they are all such different paintings!
You will have to click over to Rhonda’s blog to learn more of the specifics – she brought her camera and took lots of photos and you know what a great blogger she is!!!
We had a great time - learning, laughing, talking and eating! My recommendations for any workshop (other than those that Rhonda spells out!) are to go ready to make a fool of yourself and laugh at yourself! Sure, be ready to absorb what the instructor is teaching, but give yourself permission to have fun and not take yourself so seriously. Absorb that special technique, the reason you came, and then figure out how to assimilate that technique into your own paintings.
My head is filled with ideas - we shall see how they actually come out on paper!
Friday I spent the entire day on the computer catching up with emails and other work related items, then off to a meeting in the evening. In other words, back to the grind!