Meeting Notes, Feb 6, 2020

Today's topic: Supports (surfaces) as it pertains to art..which are your favorites and why?

Celeste: I am showing these economical 6x8 Frederix panels that I gessoed and toned for my recent series of cat paintings. The extra gessoing was necessary. Here, also, is a sample of the muslin panels I like that I learned to make from Aimee Erickson. Sometimes I paint over old paintings with white oil paint. It's a great way to repurpose panels and then I use them for studies. Finally, I like this product by Canson. It is economical and accepts oil paint well. I'd use Claessen's if I had a super special project.

Loretta: I prefer stretched canvas...but panels are easier to store.

Geri: I usually used stretched...but other times I do use board. I am showing a recent painting. I call it "Lars and his Big Bowl" (Laughter)! I am also showing an abstract. I channeled by inner Kandinsky (Laughter)!

Ken: I use stretched canvas. I don't gesso it, I use the canvas as it comes. My way of painting is to  build up layers of oil paint until I have the effect I am after. I am working on 5 different paintings! I find that having several projects going really works for me! I am showing my most recent painting.

Bob: I am a chauffeur today (for Ken)..I always enjoy coming here and listening to all of you.

Susan: I use many surfaces. I work a lot in pastel, so I am a fan of a sanded paper, UArt. I brought in a treasure today..because it was painted on triple primed Belgium linen. I modeled for this when I was young for a young Rose Frantzen. We went to the American Academy of Art in Chicago at the same time. Back then, we used to stretch our own canvases....but no more. I was one of the participants in the Monotype Party at OSA. I had no idea what to do and I felt nervous, but once I got underway I just had a blast! 

Mike: There are many choices for watercolorists...many different papers. Lately, I have been doing studies in my sketchbook before I go to color. Often the black and white is better! I am showing some recent watercolors. My wife likes this one so well she insists on getting it framed and putting it up. Painting in my sketchbook is liberating. I am also showing this painting (that I painted expressly for an important friend who is in hospice). 

Donna Stevens: I paint in pastels. I don't really have a favorite surface yet. When you first go into pastels you use Canson, because that is what everyone uses to start...but then you take a workshop and you find out about the great sanded papers. I like 400 grit UArt and Art Spectrum. I like lightweight Multi Media panels. I did this drawing on Fabriano paper.

Steven: I have some super thick drawing paper from a long time ago. Lately it has become my favorite. It holds up to anything. However! my attitude has to do with connection and how "art is everything"...so I actually do employ everything, anything ..whatever! If I work on a surface that "doesn't matter" I'm all together less precious about it. I was an Artist-in-Residency in Lincoln City, this is a piece that I created from found objects there.

Joanne: When I first started painting I used Blick panels. Here is a painting I did back then (don't photograph it!) The "economical" Blick board just sucks your oil paint up! I'm not a fan of the "premier" Blick panels either, really. I moved onto Centurion linen panels and they were better. Because I've become more sophisticated in my approached I currently use only Source Tek and Ray Mar panels. You can see by comparing these paintings how the paint looks much richer on the more expensive panels. I watch for sales...(they do have sales).

Serena: I am glad to be here and learn from everyone else. I brought this Arches paper in to share. It is a favorite. I am also showing a painting/drawing. I can not paint without drawing! Drawing is my first love. I once saw a Degas painting that included bold charcoal marks. I figure if Degas could do it, so can I.

Greg: One of my favorite surfaces for drawing is BFK Rives. I like it because it is ideal for drawing and erasing. You can draw an entire drawing onto this paper and then erase it all and start over again. (It happens in life drawing, you may have started with the figure here..but then you want to move it over to there).  A good surface stands up to anything. I like how an artist like Mark English uses wet media and permits drips, how he "carves" shapes in and out. (A surface like BFK lets you do that).

Tom Kane: I'll paint on anything. I was thinking about adding more color to this. (Laughter)! (Tom's tool for this painting in photo below)

Becky: I am showing a couple of my Strada Daily Paintings. I painted these on very cheap panels. I really didn't mind painting on inferior panels (for this project). I like oil ground...I'll try Gamblin.  I am not a fan of acrylic gesso. It seems too absorbent. I like Ray Mar panels. When I do some color charts I'll use some canva board

Raphael: Back in art school we all did the complicated rabbit skin glue thing. Gesso is so much more convenient, but I've been using gesso for a project (for my mural) and it has been difficult! It is just such a slippery surface. I was vexed until I finally built up enough oil paint (for some tooth). I like this birch panel (with gesso). The birch panel itself seems to have some tooth for some grip! I like the Aimee Erickson panels too (muslin) because it does have tooth. I liked heavy bond paper for drawing. (I draw with compressed charcoal). 

Kathy: When I started painting I painted exclusively on Ray Mar panels. They were expensive and I was just a student! I  became educated and realized that I could reserve Ray Mar for future paintings and use less expensive materials for practice. Currently I am using Centurion and the Canson Plein Air paper for studies. I am showing a sample of the Canson paper. I did this study in Bhavani's color workshop.

Tom D: I generally paint on stretched canvas. I like to use canvas that is not extremely cheap, but not expensive. A cut above what is sold at Michaels. I drew this scene (plein air) and then took my drawing and painted it (in my studio). 

Jim: I use Centurion and Source Tek, but I prefer Ray Mar. I like Ray Mar in particular, because it is a woman-owned business. Just so you know, pictureframes.com is a woman-based business too. Recently I have been using cheap panels. I have a new still life station set up. These are value-study paintings I've done with minimal brush strokes. In this painting I channeled my inner "Tom Kane" (I used Tom Kane type color in the background).

Tim: My favorite surface is any surface that should not be painted (Laughter)! Things like suit jackets and violins (Laughter)! I have an cautionary tale about stretched canvas. I painted over an old painting (like many of us do).  Later I discovered that the newer painting easily cracked. I determined that if you paint over a "glossy" painting you are asking for this type of trouble! I also discovered Ampersand panels. They are super slicker-y. I found that I actually enjoyed the slicker-y! I am showing two paintings from my hikes. Yes, this is actually from my hike. (Go to my facebook page to see the photo). 

Annie: My sister in law lives in a remote place and she had some serious health concerns lately. We visited her to see how we could help. While there I had my sketchbook...and I am glad that I did. I had plenty of time to think and consider. I tend to like very cheap paper...so I won't be intimidated. I like stretched canvas...it's like snowshoeing instead of skating (but I like skating too)! I learned from Rene Eisenbart that you can put absorbent ground onto any surface and you can watercolor onto it. My sister in law had a photo of in a show at the library. Upon learning that the cropped image was actually a mud puddle a visitor was heard to say: "I must go look at Mud Puddles now"

Lisa: I discovered a panel at Muse Art Supply (now out of business). I liked it because it was cheap and already toned with a color. I like panels. I am showing a painting I did plein air. It is only 6x6 but I spent forever on it! I have "riffed" off of this painting, painting the same scene (but not exactly the same, I might put in clouds, for example). I won't sell this one, because I really like it...but I have sold my "riffs"! I sold a total of 3 paintings recently at my show at the NE Community Center (Applause)! 

Chris: My Mother and Father were both artists. My Mother would paint on anything! As a child I was very worried that she would get arrested for having painted our telephones! (Laughter)! My Father was a meticulous woodworker. He was all about accuracy. I will paint on things front and back. I don't want to care deeply about painting on an ideal surface. I can embrace the idea that I can paint on anything (like my Mother did). If I paint on something and it's not "archival" what do I care? In years to come it will flake off, I will die, I'm dead, what will it matter? (Laughter)! 

Eunice: Up to 16x20 I like Ray Mar. I also like Centurion pads. It is great because you tape down the sheet, paint the painting and then when it is dry you put it in a stack and it takes up very little room.

Donna Sanson: I use Arches watercolor paper (it comes in a block). They have been making this paper since Columbus discovered America, so it is a good product! When I work in acrylic I like boards that are made for acrylic. I am showing three paintings. 

Judith: I pass!

Announcements:

A Big Welcome Back to Ken Mazzochi who returned today (after having had his surgery; Ken reports that he is doing very well... our continued well wishes for a speedy and full recovery!

Congratulations, Anna Landcaster, WINNER of one of the Strada Easels in the Strada Challenge!

Elo Wobig will paint a Demo Thursday, Feb 6 6:30-8 OSA https://www.osartists.org/classes-and-workshops/demonstrations   https://elowobig.com

OSA Monotype Exhibit is up until Feb 8
https://www.osartists.org/gallery/current-upcoming-exhibits

Michael Lindstrom, Reception Solo Show, Art on the Boulevard Friday, Feb 7,  5-9pm 9pm http://www.artontheboulevard.org/

Pittock Mansion Mt. Hood Exhibit begins Feb 1 and runs through July http://pittockmansion.org/events/

Za Vue Fundamentals of Portrait class at PNCA Feb 23- March 1 (sign up asap if you are interested)
https://cereg.pnca.edu/p/adult/s/1963

Pacific NW Plein Air (at Maryhill Museum) submit via online juried shows (Deadline March 15)
https://www.onlinejuriedshows.com/Default.aspx?OJSID=43182&fbclid=IwAR3xZeT75GZNU3IR-dAVT31zlNGfBunEQZPKPSGwSTuIl0vV7GPUDr92Jrk
https://pacificnwpa.com/

Oregon Society of Artists Joanne Kollman, classes Friday am and pm
+ Saturday ongoing portrait class
https://public.osartists.org/public/adultclasses

Oregon Society of Artists Susan Kuznitsky classes Satudays and Thursdays
https://public.osartists.org/public/adultclasses

Thomas Kitts authored an article about Sargent in current issue of Fine Art Connoisseur
https://fineartconnoisseur.com

Thomas Kitts Techniques of Sargent DVD is available beginning Jan 31.
https://streamlineartvideo.com/products/thomas-jefferson-kitts-sargent-techniques-of-a-master?_pos=1&_sid=28248fa33&_ss=r

Thomas Kitts workshops (Sicily, Maine France and others): https://thokitts.wixsite.com/pleinaireverywhere
http://www.thomaskitts.com/

Dianna Shyne has filmed instructional videos for Acrylic University
https://www.acrylicuniversity.com/  Dianna is also the 2020 organizer for the Lavender Festival (and she will need some volunteers: dianna@diannashyne.com)

The Hiatus Drawing Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/333152383542909/?multi_permalinks=1347675355423935&notif_id=1579815702328596&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic

Our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/222304114527014/ (put news about you and or announcements of your own directly on our page)

Plein air event website:  https://www.paintouts.com

Next art discussion meeting: Thursday Feb 15, 9am*, Table topic: Capturing the light! ..what tips/suggestions do you have for painting the effect of light?

(*Try your best to be early or on time and thank you for supporting the food cart).

(Tom Kane's painting tool)



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