Meeting Notes, April 9, 2015

At today's meeting Loretta, Tim, Charlie, Jim, John, Steve, Linda, Joanne, Dave, Marty, Karen, Kristina, Stephanie, Heather (new), Vicki, Annie, Eunice, Kay, and me Celeste. 

Today suggested table topic clouds and or airy type things. Do you have any tips or ideas about techniques to help imply clouds or air-yi things in paintings? 

Celeste:  In the movie "Local Color" the old Master curmudgeon painter got mad at the young painter for painting "rocks in the sky". In Carlson's book he reminds us that clouds are vapor...not solid like rocks and land. To me it seems it's important to paint fast when you're painting the clouds. That way they will look more transitory. 

Eunice: It so happens I do like painting clouds. The last two paintings I brought in here have been clouds. I painted a painting of clouds 40 x 60. 

Annie: I had an illustrator teacher who told us that you absolutely need a reference to paint clouds ....otherwise they will be lame. I just did these two paintings. I drew them first in pencil (en plein air) and then later I painted them from my pencil (and color notes) references. 

Vicki: Well I have to quote Joni Mitchell.... "I really don't know clouds..... at all". (Laughter)! I brought in a plein air painting where the clouds rolled by. 

Heather: I am new today. (Welcome)! I am a sketcher and printer. (Glad to see you Heather)!

Stephanie: I brought in three paintings of different types of clouds. I also brought in a book on clouds. Sometimes clouds are so weird that you should elect to not paint them...they will look too odd as a painting. 

Kristina: I know the clouds can almost be a signature type of thing for an artist. Clouds are all about the gesture. I brought in two paintings.

Karen:: I saw a cool website.... it's a cloud collector website. All the clouds are listed there. You know like stratus, cirrus etc. it's a very cool website. I brought in a painting I did that shows a fiery cloud sky. There is a lot of movement in clouds, of course. 

Marty: When we first moved from the east coast to Portland the first thing I noticed is how different the clouds are!  They are really exceptional. I brought in a painting that is third in my series of flamenco dancers. 

Dave: It seems to me that the faster I paint them the better they come out. 

Joanne: I brought in the figure painting that I did recently at studio 30. I agree that you have to paint things fast to imply movement. 

Kay: I brought in two paintings... one is based on a drawing that I did at Medley tea. The other is from a recent time at the waterfront.

Linda: I am a boater/sailor...I watch the sky a lot!  You can see a squall coming from miles away. When you're sailing you really pay attention to the clouds in the sky. I brought in a sketchbook that shows some of my ideas about skies and clouds.

John.:  I went through a period where I just painted clouds and nothing else. Not many people liked them (laughter)! Well there was not enough "going on" in the paintings perhaps for other people. It is a subtle approach! I also brought in another painting I did (a demonstration) from Milwaukee. 

Jim: I don't worry about clouds. They are just shape and masses like everything is. I don't have any issues or problems with them. I brought in a painting I did from studio 30 of a set up that was inspired by Klimt. I didn't know much about Klimt so I looked him up. I really enjoyed working on this and learning about Klimt. Studio 30 does a great job of setting up unique models.

Charlie: For many years I have photographed clouds. Clouds are a favorite of mine. I really enjoy how clouds look in an upright manner. You know... how they look when they are going over your heads. I brought in a painting that I did recently. 

Tim: I had to go back into my archives because I haven't been painting this week. Normally I know that the sky is lighter than the ground. There is an exception, however, when there is a storm brewing. This painting shows a storm coming. 

Steve: I like painting landscapes and I often leave the clouds out. I like vignettes. I like the smaller scenes instead of the big vistas. I especially like Scott Gellatly's cloud paintings. He has made clouds his signature. I brought in a Lino print block that I did based on memory. I draw and paint observationally. This is one piece that I did about "passion" .
I also brought in two watercolors --portrait watercolors. 

Loretta: In literature clouds can sometimes mean a bad omen. It can mean bad news. For that reason (perhaps) I have resisted painting clouds ... but now I enjoy adding clouds sometimes. 

Announcements: 

Steve Kleier is teaching classes at OSA and Buffalo Grass. http://stevekleier.com/classes/

Joanne Mehll is teaching a clothed figure workshop 19th and 20th of April at Studio 30
http://www.placestogoinportland.com/events/165435-Painting-the-Clothed-Figure-with-Joanne-Mehl/

On Saturday there's going to be a special event at the Portland art Museum where you can draw at the art museum 11 to 3. Kay is going. http://portlandartmuseum.org

( Jim King told us a story about how when he was in Spain he got to paint an El Greco in their museum. All he did was ask if he could do it and he was granted permission. Maybe someone can ask our Art Museum what their policy is about painting from the paintings there)!

Next Thursday after the regular meeting Dave McBride and Steve Kleier will be at Elk Rock Island for painting. Meet them there! http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=113

Kristina tells us he has sold some paintings on Artfinder.com.   Congratulations Kristina!
https://www.artfinder.com

Karen Lewis teaches basic landscape and also other subjects and she will be starting in the fall. 
http://karenlewisstudio.com/workshops

Studio 30 continues every other week all day. The next session (tomorrow) will be inspired by John Singer Sargent. 
https://www.facebook.com/Studio30atCathedralParkPlace

Thank you to everyone for coming today and sharing your ideas and your paintings. 

Next week: Thursday, April 16 suggested table topic: Artist's choice! This time you just talk about whatever you want to talk about....tell us about your summer plans and/or just tell us about your latest project!

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