Meeting Notes, August 29, 2019


It was challenging today! Yves was late (through no fault of his own) so we met outside (which wasn’t bad...except for some traffic noise). We managed! 

Today’s topic:  Paint Application…what do you consider “good” paint application (& how do you think you’re doing)?

Celeste: I recently took a workshop with Michael Lindstrom. (He is known for impasto painting). I find it difficult to put down a whole big glop of paint onto the canvas! (But there is value in giving it a shot)!  I found this quote that I like! (see below) I think the thicks and thins in this Mt. Hood painting is successful.  I am also showing recent paintings.

Renita: My thicks and and thins (if painting a water scene) can be pretty good. I’m hoping to learn more about this from all of you today. I recently painted two or three paintings that had absolutely no focal point! (Laughter)! I put my grandchild in this painting!

Chris: When I was in my 40s my sister had a friend who was a good artist.  He did giclees of his paintings and he hired me to paint directly on top of the giclees. He said people need to see brushstrokes !  I am showing some photographs of what those paintings look like. I was paid to do this! (Laughter)! I painted at Salish ponds with Tim and Tom. This is my painting from that day.

Lisa: I switched from panels to canvas because I do like the look of brushwork. It’s easier to get the brushwork to show than on a smooth panel! I love painting over an old painting. When you let the old  painting  show through it looks rich. I am showing a painting I did from of photo reference (in Arizona).

Loretta L: I’ve been working on training myself to see the entire scene and not just an object here…and an object there! I’m taking classes with Za. She has us using “subtraction” in her class. Up to now I’ve been painting everything positively, but when you use subtraction you have to see the negative shapes. It’s backwards to me, but I understood it to some degree when I painted these roses! I am also showing  a 2nd painting I did recently.

Joanne T: The last thing on my mind is paint application! (Laughter)! I’m learning composition. I love the palette knife, but I am trying to avoid the palette knife until I learn composition. I got some canvas from Scott G and it took me a while to realize that I would be better off to use bristle (only) on this surface. (The sables/soft brushes weren’t working on it). I won a scholarship to Scottsdale Art School and I’m going to be taking Matt Smith's (in-person) class! (Applause)! Here are two paintings I did at Villa Catalana.

Mark: The problem is for me is that paint is expensive! When I oil paint I have tried to  “conserve” it (Laughter)! Mostly, I’ve been doing pastels…and of course pastels are so different. Generally speaking you layer a lot in pastels. But recently I’ve been asking myself.. how much can I do and leave alone? I want to see what happens without a lot of layering. I am showing two versions today. With Canson paper you really have to plan ahead. (It is not “forgiving”).

Donna: I work in pastel also. I’ve been experimenting with a number of different techniques and papers. I have been exploring reductive pastel. I have also used a multimedia paper and managed a brush stroke “look “ with it. I am working on florals for a show. Both of these are painted on sanded paper.

Mike:  (Big Cheer for Mike..! Welcome back)! I have been doing art therapy! (Applause)! As you know my doctor Elo Wobig has “prescribed” painting to me every day and I have been following her orders! (Applause)! I use sketchbooks and do practice sessions inside. I have worked through this entire watercolor book.
How many people here do watercolor? With watercolor once you put it down it’s done! Zbrick says you have to commit. In this painting I used prussian blue for the sky. (I got this idea from a British watercolorist). I am showing my sketchbooks. I love hydrangeas.

Tracie: I do have a problem with being the skinflint! Laughter! I like to use medium with my paint ..I like how it glides across the surface.

Judith: I pass!

Eunice: I use the Masterson palette. (The one with the blue lid). I put out a lot of paint, but then after the session I put the palette into the freezer. This really saves on paint!

Joanne K: I am showing a painting that I did recently of Za’s niece: this is done on the Centurian canvas that has been glued to a panel. I painted it from life, but  I reworked it and when I did I thought about paint application. I have just come back from Zhoming Wu’s workshop. I am showing a painting from that and also a painting from an orchard. I learned in the Wu workshop to put in a dark background and lift out (wipe away paint) for the figure. Surprisingly, Wu uses thick paint for the background. Wiping away “integrates” the figure to the background.  

Naomi: (New! Welcome, Naomi!) I have just come back from the Zhoming workshop also! As some of you probably know, I’ve spent a lot of years working exclusively in charcoal. His method resonated with me because he starts with the dark and wipes away the area for the figure. I brought two paintings from the workshop. At workshops you should always use a lot of paint. (“Paint like a Millonaire”!)

Sharman: I have been working in pastel. I’m here to learn from all of you.

Tom: When I am out there on location painting if I am uncertain I just put down more paint to make corrections. Sometimes this uncertainty results in thicker paint. (Laughter)! I painted at the Salish Ponds with Chris and Tim. This is a painting from that outing. I also went by myself and painted in a field.

Raphael: I have been Gouache-ing a lot!  (Laughter)! With gouache you do not have to plan in a meticulous way. You can paint right over something (as long as it is dry). I went to visit family recently. We spent sometime at the coast. I painted this  (Queen Anne’s lace) in an effort to not be too far away from the car! (Laughter)! My wife said to me at one point “why don’t you do something with the car in it for interest”? (Laughter)! So, I painted this. I was much more aware of paint application with these paintings. In oil I have a tendency to paint chaotically.. but I do so admire deliberate painters like Amiee Erickson and Eric Bowman. I wonder what happens to me out there? Laughter!

Kathy: I started in oil and switched to watercolor and now I’m back to oil and pastel again. I am showing two abstracts that I’ve painted recently.

Ken: My method generally is to use layers. I don’t know if I’m conscious of what I’m doing when I paint! Laughter! This is a painting I did recently from a photo.

Tim: I like thick and thin. This painting was painted at Salish Pond with Chris and Tom. The second painting I painted in the studio…(based on the smaller plein air painting). This is the first time I've done that!

Geri: In acrylic painting my favorite thing to do is to wipe away! Acrylic is very flexible. I used some of Tim’s photos for this painting (the insects).  (Laughter) ! I call it Bambi. (Laughter) !

 Wendy: I PAINT IN WATERCOLOR! (Wendy is trying to be heard over the traffic noise) (Laughter)! I have been doing flower paintings lately. I watch YouTube videos and they paint with confidence! I want to do the same! That’s my goal.

Greg: I like texture in a painting. I sometimes scrape away to show the canvas. I like to find little areas in the painting that are beautiful on their own.  If there is variety in a painting all the “sections” of the painting will have differences. I even like cracks in a painting!

Announcements: 

Three upcoming paint outs:

Labor day  (Sauvie Island) with Michael Lindstrom Host Monday, September 2 (Starts at 9) Michael will give a demonstration for anyone interested at 9:30.  Some people use big canvases for this paint out…but any size is good! Don’t forget to get a parking pass at the Cracker Barrel store.  Location is across from the Dog Kennel. Check out all the details in this blogpost: https://allaprimaportland.blogspot.com/2019/08/labor-day-paint-out-with-host-michael.html

Carol Hansen Host Saturday Sept 14 Paint-out:   These options will be available: There will be a outdoor still life set up at 9 to 12 and also you are welcome to just paint the garden and nearby scenery. At 1-4 there will be a model in the landscape* 
The address is 17525 S. Ferguson Rd. Oregon City. 503-367-8568 Link to map below...please note! the driveway is on Ferguson, not Maple lane like the map shows. 
From town, take Redland road out about 3.5 miles, turn right on Ferguson and it is the second driveway on the right, no gate.  MAP:  https://goo.gl/maps/9hks7JYz5jMPdUkG8

·       *Please bring some cash for the model fee if you participate 


 Saturday September 21st, 2pm to 6pm.  Jerry Mishler Host (in Corbett) he’ll be in touch ahout directions and parking.

STRADA  easel daily challenge: sign up now (It starts 9/1/19): https://www.stradaeasel.com/blogs/strada-in-the-field/strada-easel-2019-september-30-day-challenge

Walk in PurpleStride Team Panky 9/28/19 with team captain Mike Porter! Let’s support Mike and end Pancreatic Cancer. https://secure.pancan.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=purplestride_event_details&fr_id=1831

Portraits in Oil classes with Joanne Radmilovich Kollman starting Sept 28 (every Saturday) Elizabeth Jones Gallery: https://www.elisabethjones.art/portraits-in-oil.html?fbclid=IwAR3gAzesEy6NW-YgYh2C6KlFS5jE2gt04-N6WMmUFgJ7kekfIErU1JL2edc

Joanne Kollman doesn't have figure class tomorrow, Friday figure sessions return Sept 6. She has a special model with special clothing in mind.  

https://public.osartists.org/public/adultclasses 

Kathy Johnson has a show at Coldwell Banker in Newberg First Friday.
http://www.newbergartwalk.com

Donna Sires upcoming events: http://www.donnasiresart.com/upcoming-events.html

Chris Rectenwald has been accepted as a Portrait Connection artist. You can look into it too!: https://www.portraitconnection.org

Save the trees Elisabeth Jones call to artists: https://www.elisabethjones.art/painting-to-save-the-trees.html
and other opportunities: https://www.elisabethjones.art/call-for-artists.html

Yong Hong Zhong workshops:  http://yonghongzhong.com/workshpsevents/


Tedd Chilless Stoller Vineyard (The show is up until Sept 9)

Check our Facebook page for other resources and opportunities:



Next Meeting: Thursday, Sept 5 Topic:  When people say.."Don’t paint "things"—Do you "get this"? Do you have some examples of painting shapes, ("not things")? Why is this important? Let's discuss!


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