Monthly newsletter

Here’s April’s monthly newsletter.  Despite the fact that all shows and classes are cancelled there’s always something to do around the studio!  More spider tomorrow!!!

Spider day 6.

I wasn’t happy with the shadows, still.  Thought they were too dark.  I experimented with going over some with a thinned down layer of Kilz2.

It’s subtle but the shadows on the lower part and the left are ligher, and I’m happier with them.

Lightened all the existing shadows and finished the rest.  Then my sweetheart tempted me with an offroading bicycle ride, so I decided the Spider itself can wait.

 

Spider day 4

Didn’t get a lot of chance to work on it today – other errands had to take precedence.  I started work on the shadows.  Spent a lot of time color mixing.

Really not happy with this, too dark.

So, back to the mixing pots in the studio.  I’m doing the mural using some craft paint that I was given – I’m going to paint something new in a year or two so not worried about longevity.  Amazing how difficult getting a lighter shade was.

Kilzed over the too-dark shadows.  Still think it’s a little dark.  We will see how it looks in sunlight in the morning.

La Mirada talk and demo

Last week I went to the monthly meeting of the La Mirada Art Club to talk about my work and demonstrate part of my process for them.  I was fortunate that one of the members agreed to take some pics of me working while I was assembling the refractured watercolor.

Here’s the empty room, just when I’d set up.

After having watched me brutally hack up my painting, I start by assembling the horizon. 

I usually am looking at the sky the ‘right way up’…..

…and I usually start with the top of the sky….

Now it’ starting to come together.

Sliding some deeper blue under other pieces.

Well folks, that’s all we have time for tonight.

This is the layout that I created at the demo, but I just picked up the pieces without marking their places.

This is the final product

The poem in it reads:

Dawn leaves me speechless

These gold and turquoise jewels

precious beyond words.

 

Variable student levels.

This month I had a full class scheduled for my Painting for Absolute Beginners class at Borrego Art Institute.  I only accept six students due in part to space, but also because the small class allows me to give more individual attention.

On Monday I emailed my students to check they were still on boards, but one of a group of three had pulled her back and was not sure she was able to come.

So, probably five.

Then the day before the class the coordinator for the group also said that she wasn’t able to attend, and because she was the driver, the third member of the group was also grounded.

So, down to three.

As I left the house on the Friday morning, prepared for three students, something told me to go back and get some extra water pots, just in case.  As I was setting up, my phone rang.  A lady asked if there was any room in the class, she was on her way into town.  The reason she hadn’t called earlier was that she and her husband were rving in Ocotillo Wells, and they have no cell service there for their provider.

Well, as it happens not only is there space, but I have enough equipment with me!  So we had a nice group of four students who all learned a lot and had a great day.

Working on the color-distance landscape exercise.

Falling into Place show

Women Painter’s West‘s current show is called ‘Falling into Place’ which is being displayed at the San Fernando Valley Art and Cultural Center Gallery.  I had one painting juried into the show and helped my friend Jan Wright by taking all our work in (she has two paintings in the show) and she will pick up the unsold paintings at the end of the month.  We also were able to attend the reception together.

I just thought the juxtaposition of the most and least expensive (mine) paintings in the show was neat.

 

Glass Outhouse Gallery – ‘Fleeting Passions’

A few years ago I was introduced to the Glass Outhouse Gallery in Wonder Valley – just east of 29 Palms.  It is in the middle of nowhere, even more than I am, and has a small gallery where Laurel and Howard hold month-long 2-artist shows, and a sculpture garden made of recycled material art, created by Howard.

Four skies in the Glass Outhouse Gallery

I had a show there a few years ago with my Mixed Media work and am scheduled to have another show there with that medium in January 2021.  Yes, artists do plan ahead.

The cart shows that this is a hanging day.

As I have another body of work and enough Mixed Media to run two shows concurrently, I’m on their ‘waitlist’.  A list of artists who, in an emergency can put together a show in a couple days.  Last week I got the call.

The outgoing artist hadn’t picked up her work yet.

I had planned to take my oils and acrylics to the show in Monrovia this weekend, but with a quick call I managed to get that changed and this body of work was available for the month.

Nice little row, the last 4 ‘diamonds’

My fellow artist is Tami Wood.  We both joked that our names are two four-letter words.  Her work is made exclusively of recycled materials.  We’ve called our show ‘Fleeting Passions’ because we both explore ephemeral aspects of our environment.

And room for the bin, that holds paintings I did in or for paint and wine evenings that I’ve taught.

After the show in Newport I brought everything up and hung the show.  Howard will pin up the prices later.

I’m surprised the one on the left hadn’t sold at Newport, it had a lot of interest.

Because of existing commitments (Monrovia), I can’t be at the reception but Tami will handle that and I’ll do my share of gallery sitting during the month.

The painting on the right is one from my house – I’m down to the last few oils and acrylics and am selling at discount prices!

What I didn’t realize until I told another friend in 29 Palms about the late arrangement, I’d scored a show during the Highway 62 Art Tour – three of the four weekends in October, and the Glass Outhouse Gallery is one of the stops.  Wow, I’m sure glad I decided to go for it!

Almost exactly the right amount of space, there was only one suitable painting I didn’t put up!

I feel bless that because of various issues outside of my scope, I now have a show with both bodies of work on the Highway 62 tour – I have Mixed Media work at the High Desert Medical Center!

 

Geometry 101 Show

Terry Hastings juried and curated a wonderful show at the art gallery in University of California Riverside’s Palm Desert campus.

Entry point!

It’s always nice when you walk in and know a lot of the artists already. This is my good friend Michael Angelo (Hernandez). Yes, I hang with Michael Angelo….

Captures of the structures in downtown LA

More color.

I wonder if they hung those from the top….

There’s always more walls….

No photoshopping involved here except to adjust the lighting and crop. These ladies heads really did align completely with the top of the row of paintings. I didn’t realize it until I was cropping the photo!

Love the middle piece.

More big paintings.

Even the cheese was more geometric than at some openings.

Fabric inspiration.

Oh, do we see something familiar to the left there? The th ing that is unfamiliar are the 6 paintings to the right. They are by Diane Morgan (dianemorganpaints.com). Definitely something for this show and not*** her usual style. When she arrived I said she needed to readjust her medication!

I like this one too.

Lot of detail work….

From the right, Diane Morgan, Terry Hastings, Jeni Bate.

We had a little sculpture too. Actually not so little.

These are littler sculptures.

That’s about it! I didn’t realize how much art there really was until I processed the images. It was a HUGE show. Kudos Terry!

Monthly Newsletter

Here’s the monthly what’s-happening-in-the-skyscape-world newsletter.  Powerful storms!  We certainly live in a wacky climate.

Painting the morning in the night

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!