Reflections on the Workshop

One of my fellow students, Shirley Fachilla, at the Carolyn Anderson workshop wrote a blog that really captures the experience. I recommend her comments to you at her blog http://sometimesapainting.blogspot.com. In the attached image from a demo you can see how Carolyn uses just enough information for you to see the image. I was very impressed with the gesture of her brush strokes. She was masterful in her use of the brush to attain real variety in her paint application. Wonderful!

Desert Painting Morning

Here is the result of desert painting this morning. It was one of the prettiest days yet. We had a nice shady area to work in and the birds were all busy. A baby cactus wren was chasing its mom all over making her feed it. It was nagging her like crazy..."Mom, Mom, Mom..." The palo verde trees were starting to bloom and some of the cactus were showing blossoms as well. I was happy that I pushed the mountains back into the distance pretty well.

Painting Workshop

Well it has been a great week at the painting workshop with Carolyn Anderson. She is an awesome teacher who has really helped all of us amp up our paintings. We have lots to digest and somehow incorporate into our work. The class includes artists from all over including some from Canada, Michigan, California, Maine...even a couple of us from here in Arizona! Most of our work has been from live models with the exception of half of today working from photos. Looking at Zorn, Sargeant and Fechin I think I am leaning to be aware of edges more than ever.

Cholla Cactus

This Monday it was a bit of a disappointment. There were a few blooming cacti but for the most part less flowers than the week before. I had been anticipating a real color display, but the blooms were about done on the brittle brush and not much took its place. I ended up painting a view with lots of cholla cactus. It was a bit of a challenge to paint them. Parts of this painting were ok, but overall it seemed like I was fighting those stickery characters!I am attaching a photo that shows them as well as my painting.

Back to School

I am excited to have been able to sign up for a class with Carolyn Anderson that had been full. There was a new vacant spot that I snagged. I have admired her loose and exciting paintings and seen her recommended as a teacher by many artists I respect. This will require the commitment of getting up and out of the house for a whole week, but I am sure it will be worth it!
I just found an interesting blog about increasing your abilities in whatever field you are in. It is written by Daniel Coyle and is called The Talent Code. He has written a book of the same name and has researched the conditions that help us improve. One of the ways was to look for good models which leads back to my upcoming class!
http://thetalentcode.com

Spring Is Here!

Today was a gorgeous cloudless day out in the desert preserve. I had fun with the yellow blossoms on the brittlebrush. This was the second week with them blooming. I am posting a painting from last week when it was a cloudy morning. You can see the difference in the colors which were not as vibrant last week. I admit I got a little carried away with the colors this week on the two I did this morning. I couldn't help myself!

Thinking about Monday

I am thinking about going out to paint on Monday morning. It is becoming sort of an obsession, this appointment with the desert. It is so special to be in the midst of the natural setting and be working to respond with paint to what I see. I feel connected to the artists who came earlier and first began to work out in nature. It took the invention of portable paints to make it possible for artists to work so directly. The light, the forms, the colors are so different when you are working from life as opposed to from a photo or memory.