Meeting Notes, Jan 22, 2015

At today's meeting Loretta, Thomas, Tim, Bill, Jeanne, Annie, Diane, Barbara, Stephanie, Joanne, Peggi, Marty D, Kristina, Jeanie, Susan, Mike, Dave, Eunice, Bob, Scott and me Celeste. 

Today's suggested table topic: If you were asked what is your art style, what would you say? 

Celeste: I believe that I would probably call myself an Impressionist. I will never be one of those people who has to wonder where to stop because I almost always stop early. I don’t like to paint a lot of detail. So, I could be described as a brief Impressionist or a to-the-point impressionist. I brought in practice paintings from an exercise in Carol Marine’s book “Daily Painting”.

Loretta: I think I would also be classified as an Impressionist. I would also further add that my paintings are mystical and or dreamy. At least that is how other people have described my work… and it is indeed what I am aiming for.

Thomas: First of all I have to say that I am not fond of the word “style". It a word that trivializes. It implies mannerism. Style isn't something that you can chase. Having said all that, if you look at my blog it do say Impressionism + realism. It’s true, it is good to know how to describe ourselves. I am a person who doesn't like to work from photos, I prefer direct observation. I brought in a book called American painters on Technique. I recommend it, especially if you are interested in materials and history. I brought in my painting of the mountain that I did recently (at Mt Hood). I did some videoing that day. 

Tim:  I looked up what painterly means. I feel I might be described as painterly. At least I know that I don't try to hide the brushstrokes, in fact, I enjoy them. I brought in two paintings; one with Paynes gray and one with black. 

Bill: I guess I could call myself a primitive or unschooled realist (laughter)! I did this painting at hipbone and also here's a portrait of my wife that I did from a black-and-white photograph. 

Jeanne: I, personally, am a work in progress. When I was young I studied as a part of the San Francisco Bay area figurative movement. I still have preferences based on that training. I aspire to be painterly. I brought in a painting that I did at Sauvie Island. 

Annie: I have been an illustrator…so now that I am painting fine art paintings I am working with slabs of colors and getting rid of lines. It has been a process of unlearning some things and replacing certain habits with new methods. I have been told to get rid of white because it will cause problems. I brought in this portrait that I worked later after adding a different background.  I saw deer in my yard and painted a gestural study. 

Scott: This is my first time here (Welcome Scott!) I would classify myself as a fast painter! I think painting fast translates to good energy. I brought in a pastel painting that I did from James Samsel's photograph. 

Diane: I know I am not an Impressionist. I thought I was perhaps a colorist but maybe the term tonalist would be better for me. I know I am in the tonalist camp. I don't want any pictures of my paintings that I brought today photographed...they are not finished. I was once told “You are too French!" (Laughter!) It is funny ...perhaps I do lean solidly toward pretty colors. I have decided that it is okay to be "too French”. 

Barbara:  I do try for a painterly look. I guess I would say I'm an impressionist and realist and I seek honesty. I am serious about my art but I am not a serious person. I paint a lot of children. I sometimes go for whimsy. When I saw Mary Cassatt’s work I was very struck by how honest it is. I try to paint with honesty and a great deal of respect for my subjects. I brought in two drawings today.

Stephanie: I am with Thomas, I don't like the word “style".  I do like to paint my own impression of what I see. I like landscape more than cities. I like people and landscapes. I have been doing the 30 days challenge...it has been a great discipline. I have learned what you subtract is as important as what you put in. I like to express feelings. I brought in two paintings that I did recently. 

Joanne: I appreciate all the movements, the '- isms', Intuition for me is an accumulation of all that you've learned in life. I guess I would be "abstract realism". I care about expressing the quality of the paint itself! I "walk all over" my paintings. What I mean is that I push and pull things, I lose things and find things. I like Joan Mitchell, an abstract impressionist. I identify with her. She says that she has "gestural violent brushwork". Mitchell says: A painting is an organism that "turns in space". 

Peggi: I brought in the Presidential pumpkin book that I mentioned last time I was here. (Editors note I am sorry I did not get a picture of the book). I took Jennifer Diehl's workshop. I would call myself a color and light impressionist. Reallly…Paintings don't have to have words. 

Marty: this is my third time here. I've been taking classes. I like landscape painting. I have copied a painting by a California painter named Kenneth Callahan. I've been trying to find my voice, you can't chase it. It has to unfold. 

Kristina: Well, actually Celeste told me once “You are a slice-of-life painter". I like that description and I think that it fits.I like to convey a story. I brought in a painting today that is from a photograph from my trip to Italy. It is of a cat that has been locked out of a store where he obviously belongs. This cat touched my heart because it made me think of my own cat and dog back back home while I was there in Italy. 

Jeanie: I have tried painting super-real and I do not like it. I apparently do like a great deal of control in my paintings…but not to a point of photo real. I have been doing small paintings and daily paintings and I may go back to large paintings but in the meantime, I have learned a lot from doing smaller daily paintings. I brought in two examples. 

Susan: This subject makes me think of artist statements. It makes me think of writing an artist statement and I don't like that. Once I got a rejection letter (after I had been accepted several times into the same event) and they said that my work was too pretty. (Laughter)! IAt first I felt sort of bad about this, but then I realized ...wait a minute I DO like things that are beautiful. I won’t apologize for that and I won't stop.  Hopper said if you could say it in words there would be no reason to paint. My son is going to move away. I asked him to sit for a portrait. It was emotional for me. The Thursday meetings keep me motivated. 

Mike: You know, golfers throw their clubs into a creek when they are frustrated. And that is what it is like to be a painter. You have to go back and get your golf clubs out of the creek. (Laughter)! I am a watercolorist I like English Impressionists. I like all things that are outdoorsy. Some of my favorite artists are Edward Seago, Robert Chamberlain and Ron Ranson to mention a few and I'll be taking a workshop with David Taylor soon. 

David: It has been six months since I have been here. I have been on a hiatus. I am so happy to be back. I guess I would just call myself "representational with an interest incolor harmony”. I like value and contrast. I brought in a painting that was sold at the Richard Schmid auction but it was also printed onto a canvas. This is not called giclee, it is called a color matched print. 

Eunice: I don't have much to say on this particular subject, but I do want to tell you about something that happened recently. I was in a doctors office waiting room and I saw a woman who was dressed head to foot in lavender and pink. Another person next to me acknowledged this lady and between that woman and I we found out how she managed to be so beautifully lavender and pink (including her hair). 
I just may do it! (Laughter)!

Bob:  I guess perhaps I'm an emulation artist because I will see somebody's work that I like and paint like them for a while. I am striving for the time when I will be my own artist and someone else will want to be like me! (Laughter)!


Announcements:

 Susan: The Cinema 21 field trip has been moved. Is either going to be 3rd of February or the 10th of February at 3:45 PM. However we have to check on what date Turner will be leaving. A lot rests on that. Just watch the blog and Facebook for updates about this ...you will be notified. 

Probably February 13th at Studio 30 there will have an all day session with a model (five or six hours) with possibly a potluck lunch. There will be more information coming about this too. Just write it tentatively on your calendar. It will be especially fun for people who like the longer pose. 

Barbara: Sequoia Gallery is working on re-establishing the plein air event in Hillsboro. More information on this as it comes up. 

Dave: I am blown away by the level of work that shown up at today's meeting I just wanted to compliment you all!

Jeanne: There is a El Greco painting at the Portland Art Museum (it is on loan from the Cleveland museum). It is worth your while to go downtown and see that painting. 

Eunice tells us Art on Broadway has a new call to artists out: http://www.artonbroadway.net

We're probably going to start a "exclusively workshop" page on Facebook. Teachers will be able to post their workshops directly. It is an experiment....but it will likely be nice to go to one place and see workshops and dates all in one fell swoop. Stay tuned. (We have three other pages on Facebook: Alla Prima Portland and The Thursday Drawing Club and the Sell or Swap page.)

Hood River Plein Air this year will be in August instead of September and that will make it so that you can also participate in the Paint the Peninsula event. (No conflict).

Joanne tells us that there is a call for work at the Gallery in Midtown Cannon Beach. Here are the details.
http://cannonbeacharts.org/cannon-beach-gallery/juried-show-program

The Thursday Drawing Club met today at Village Coffee. Luckily some of the customers that were inside left so that we all have some place to sit. We had a great time sketching -- it was comfortable there. There are photographs of this in the slideshow on the front page. Next week we will be going to Medley Tea -- 7881 SW Capitol Hwy 

If you need my phone number please write to celesteobergin(at)gmail(dot)com 

Next meeting January 29 suggested table topic: ...Fill in the blank!" I can't ever go painting without my trusty (fill in the blank)" (a very favorite item)

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