Golden Sunset is not only called that because of its color but because I created it during a Golden Paints seminar in which we were given samples of a bunch of different paints and textures and encouraged to play with them in a guided creation that showed different ways to use most of the products.
Inevitably I worked on it further once I got home!
#1439 Golden Sunset. Mixed media on canvas panel. 20×16″ $200.
Mary started out as a friend of a friend on facebook and then took my Painting for Absolute Beginner’s class, then became a very close friend. Shortly after that class, a couple years ago, I helped her create a painting for a friend. I hadn’t realized that she had not had time since then to pick up the brushes. A lot of life had happened. A few weeks ago I went over to help guide her through another painting. This time she has a new home with a wonderful front porch. We have to paint out on the front porch because she has cats and I have allergies.
A little cramped on that table but we make it work.
Mary lives quite a way from me so we get our painting stints in sporadically and yesterday morning I was able to swing by for a couple hours before her grandson’s party and my reception for her to make progress on this sunset.
We weren’t able to finish yesterday but hope that we will do in the next session. She made good progress. Part of the challenge has been vision issues. Mary recently had major eye surgery. She can see colors better now, but the amount of light is difficult for her and towards the end as the sun came over, she had to resort to the shades.
Still needs a little work in the middle, and all the clouds at the bottom need to go in.
Here’s the monthly what’s-happening-in-the-skyscape-world newsletter. Powerful storms! We certainly live in a wacky climate.
Yesterday at Vanguard Gallery in Moreno Valley, I hung the (mostly) plein-air art of four ladies who love to paint scenes around Catalina Island. Terry d.Chacon, Joan Coffey, Patricia Rose Ford and Nita Harper. There was quite a lot of artwork and it was a feat of engineering and organization to get as much of their wonderful work in as possible. Their reception is on November 10th, 3-6pm.
Pat and Terry.
A very full wall! Lot’s to choose from.
Last night I guided a small group through a paint and wine class at Vanguard Gallery in Moreno Valley. One of my students had already taken classes with me, including the Absolute Beginners class and was happy to work through this painting of winter solstice sunrise across the Salton Sea to hone some of the skills.
We’re doing an underpainting to get rid of the white so in the final painting we’re not strugging with that aspect
We’re painting the sky part of the top coat
It’s easier to paint the bottom of the panel when it’s upside down.
Adding the sun.
All done!
I only had two students in my Paint the Night class last night at the Vanguard Gallery in Moreno Valley, but they both had fun. One of the questions were, what kinds of birds are they? Jenibirds? Blue fronted swifts? This is a very popular image, and sometimes students use their own imaginations and create red-fronted Jenibirds, or once, blackbirds.
Underpainting going down
On Friday I ran the Paint-the-night event at the Vanguard Gallery in Moreno Valley – and had 11 students, many of whom knew each other, so they were enjoying the evening together. We painted a scene from an open road through fields in the Ojai area – a painting I’d completed in watercolor many years ago and thought would work well as a paint night subject.
Filling in the grassland.
One of the thing that I tell students at these evenings, is that their painting is not going to look exactly like mine – which is why art forgers are paid so much.
Fences going in.
However this group all got really close to the painting we were working from! The main difference was that I had yellow ochre deep – vs yellow ochre which I usually work with, and as I hadn’t used this before, I hadn’t realized how dull this color is compared to regular ochre. I figure I learn something in every class too, so this was it for this one!
Most of the graduates. One had to go home because her baby was crying.
Three concentrating on making round blue blobs into birds.
Last night there were three students at the Paint-the-night evening at the Vanguard Gallery in Moreno Valley. I’ve guided a different group through this painting before, in case it seems familiar, but they were all first time bird-watchers. They all had a lot of fun, and are looking forward to a different painting next month. If you’re in the area, and you’re interested, it’s on June 23rd. A great way to celebrate a TGIF.
Variations on a theme.
I did two classes in the last couple days, the first one was a watercolor collage workshop in La Quinta, the second one was a Paint and Wine evening in Moreno Valley. Seven people had a lot of fun and created some happy stuff.
Four Having Fun
Some of the results
Underpaintings being finished
Students going off in their own directions
Student going off in her own direction
The students wanted me and my variation in the pic too.
#1255 City Lights II. $150. Available only through Etsy (or direct from me….)
So the one painting completed that evening that you can’t see in the photo on the prior blog post is my rendition of the original – this got photoed today and is now available on etsy.
Skyscapes for the Soul - Jeni Bate 