Meeting Notes, July 26, 2018

At todays meeting: Loretta, Eunice, Raphael, Geri, Stephanie, Jim, Tim, Eugenia, Thomas, Tim,  Jeanie, Joanne K, Jerry, Ken, Leslie, Tom D, Paula, Tedd, Donna, Dotty, Judith and me, Celeste

Today's table topic: What was your last painting; specifically what did you learn from it?

Celeste: The last painting I did was of my neighbor's house and yard. There was a chain link fence between me and the neighbor's yard, but I "ignored" it, inspired by a Tim Young painting that I remembered. (He painted an airplane from behind a fence...leaving out the fence). Thanks for the inspiration, Tim! I knew when I was painting this painting that it wound up with some compositional errors, but I enjoyed doing it, so I am not going to correct it. It will let it stand as is. (I used the Alla Prima Box "Winston" see explanation below). I'm also showing other recent paintings.

Loretta: I have learned...when it goes South, let it go! Let it go North! (Laughter)!

Eunice: I painted 3 tomatoes and I learned that without light and shadow tomatoes can come out looking like something else! (Laughter)! I do have a plan to paint breakfast. I am deciding whether to painting before or after it is cooked. 

Raphael: I painted this painting of a tree recently. I learned that without strong light and shadow it is a challenge to describe the tree! When there is distinct light and shadow is much easier. In the end, I was satisfied with my effort. 

Geri: My goal to paint in a more loosely. I re-read Carol Marine's book. I painted these three small paintings, but the canvases I used are so small.. I think a bigger surface might inspire me to paint more loosely. 

Jim: I really enjoyed our paint out at Charlton Farms...and thanks, Thomas Kitts for introducing me to location and to the owner. We had a really nice turn out. What I learned on that day is that it is (for me) impossible to "punch up" a gray day! (Laughter)! Also, the block in is so important. It was overcast, but I did enjoy the views and in fact, it was pleasant to paint the quiet light. Recently I painted with Mike Porter at a farm near Cooper Mountain. We want to plan a paint out for that location too. The owner there has a lot of machinery and there are endless subjects. These paintings are plein air, except for one studio painting (from a photo reference)

Eugenia: My most recent paintings have been palette knife paintings and I didn't bring them because they are so wet. I finished a book that I authored with friends about living with Parkinsons ...I brought it in to show you. (Congratulations, Genie)!

Thomas: I recently stayed for a few days at the Metolius River. I took just my watercolors. I painted three paintings. I am pretty new to watercolor and those of you who do it know that when you paint it it looks one color, but when it dries it looks another!  I painted this one first ...this 2nd and finally this one. I learned something from each one. I'm more concerned with value than color. Watercolor is not easy! (When I returned home my watercolor brushes and paints were stolen out of my car!  I wrote on Facebook:  "I hope the thief uses the supplies to take up watercolor" ---and I should have added: "as punishment"! (Laughter)!'

Stephanie: Sometimes I take off for awhile and when I return to painting I find myself making the same mistakes I made before! One of the mistakes I can make is painting from the wrong spot. It is important to really like your scene and also to stay cool. I found some oil pastels that I had..I had put them away, because I never liked these, but I tried them for this sketch in the field and I was surprised --now I seem to like them! I am showing plein air paintings.

Jeanie: This is the last painting that I did.  I have a goal to use more paint...(I wound up painting how I usually do).  I have an idea to put a big glob of paint directly on the canvas one day...(just to get me try more paint)!

Jerry: For the past two weeks I have been at the Erik Sandgren coastal paint out. I also took Erik's workshop. I did go back into this large watercolor painting with some white (and the watercolor purists will tell you that is not preferred--you are supposed to leave the paper as the white). In the end I was happy with my effort, though. In the past I had also taken a watercolor workshop with Ron Ranson. He taught to use a big Hake brush two inches wide. I used a Hake brush for this. I am showing this 2nd painting from the paint out..I was painting next to a woman who seemed to have a shapeless painting going and then all of a sudden she produced a PEN--! She used the pen to define things and the painting came together. So, I called over to her "Can I borrow your pen?" (Laughter)! Again, a purist would not approve...but I put in these trees with her pen (and I liked the outcome).

Ken: When I start painting...whatever I am painting turns into something else. That's just how I do it. As an example...when I change the furniture around I move things and rearrange until I like the entire room. That is a lot how the painting process is for me. One thing leads to another and I don't know where it is going beforehand. This is my most recent painting. It is from a dream! I saw this in my dream and I painted it. When I paint something like this it is "just for me". 

Leslie: I have been painting portraits lately. It is my focus right now. Three of us hire a model every week and we paint at my house (Mondays 9:30-12:30). We have room for one more painter should any Alla Prima Portland people be interested. Contact me if you are. This is my most recent painting. I learned that it is important to get in your strong value pattern at the start.

Paula: I visited Joseph recently and while there I realized why it is so popular with artists..it is beautiful, quiet and inspiring. I took my watercolors, but I don't know what I am doing and I have a lot to learn! Still, I really enjoyed painting this into my watercolor sketchbook. I do like that you can't predict what is going to happen. 

Judith: I went to the (overcast day) Sauvie Island paint out and it seemed to me like everything was one value! (Laughter)! This is my most recent painting. It is inspired by a book cover of "American Impressionists". The painting is by William Merritt Chase. What I did was paint Sauvie Island and added his characters and characters from another painting. What I learned was that the figures are crying out for a dark behind them (that was in the original painting). Also, let me add one thing...there is a book out that sounds really funny and good. I have it on order from the library. Nell Painter: "Old in Art School" (Laughter)!

Dotty: These are my two most recent paintings from the beach. What I learned is that I have a little cart with little wheels! (laughter)! It doesn't work on the beach! (Laughter)!

Donna: This is my most recent painting. I used a special tool to scribe into the paint. The tool was perfect for what I was describing in this corner...grass! Everyone who saw it later, however, kept saying to me, get rid of that grass--! I took it out and sure enough, it was much better without it. My big takeaway is that sometimes you have to be willing to part with some aspect that you really like, in order to make the painting stronger. 

Tom: To stay out of the heat I painted these two fruit baskets. I guess the subject matter makes them sort of "gift shoppy" (Laughter)!* --but I did them expressly to try to use black! I found out black helps a lot, if you do not go overboard. A judicious bit of black is good! *(editor's note: Ixnay, no way "gift shoppy", Tom, but thanks for making us all laugh, as usual!)

Tedd:  Recently I went to the Wednesday market in the park blocks. I bought some Iris there and then painted them with palette knife. I also painted this beach scene on site with palette knife (well, a trowel might be a better term). (Laughter)! This is a recent painting I did from a life model.

Joanne: I painted this recent painting this morning! I painted it on aluminum (it is a product from Jerry's Artorama). I wanted to experience it. I guess it might not be archival, but I don't care! (Laughter)! I am showing a painting I painted from life at the OSA fundraiser (it's not finished yet) and I am also showing this sketch of a commission I am doing (of one of my art students at an easel).  

Announcements:

Contact Leslie Elder about Monday life model sessions: leslie.elder@gmail.com

Thomas Kitts two spots open in his 5 day workshop August 6-10 http://www.thomaskitts.com/p/2012-summer-workshop-plein-air.html

Tim says our young female server would like to be an art model for life sessions. Please talk with her at Prosperity Pie.

Randall Sexton Workshop August 3 https://pacificnwpa.com/randall-sexton/

Pacific NW Plein Air begins on Monday July 30
https://pacificnwpa.com
https://pleinairhoodriver.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/pnwpleinair/

OSA Plein Air  (message from Brooks Hickerson)

Please pass along to all the Alla Prima Portland painters to enter the Plein Air Portland Show at OSA. I am the chair and Sarkis is the juror. It is an open show so anyone can enter and there are lots of prizes. All the art supply stores and frame shops came through for us. It should be a  good show. Take in is August 1, 10am to 3pm, and August 2, 1-4pm. Our only requirement is that it be painted this year, 2018...and meet OSA's framing and size limits. I look forward to seeing you all in the show.
Brooks 


Jim Syfert is next in line to paint with "Winston, the Alla Prima Portland Paint Box)
https://www.facebook.com/events/516472572141491/

JULY 28-29, 2018 Portland OR 
Za Vue is teaching with Sergio Lopez for this Figure in the Outdoors Workshop, from Za Vue: "I have a very special and exciting guest artist who will be teaching along side me in my upcoming Figure in the Outdoors Workshop. Sergio Lopez is a very accomplished painter in a multitude of subjects including the figure. Please visit www.themainloop.com/About.htm to view samples of his work". Check details on Za's website: https://www.yerzavue.com/events Email Za to register studioza@me.com

NEXT WEEK AUGUST 2 NO MEETING AT PROSPERITY PIE: Paint out instead with Host Tim Young. Meet at Whitaker Pond at 9am https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=856



No comments:

Post a Comment