Today’s topic:
“Policies and philosophies” (as it pertains to painting). Tell us yours and how
it came to be.
Celeste: I decided in January to
draw every day. The idea was to put an
“x” on my calendar each day that I did a drawing and to “not break the chain".
I’ve only missed one day since the beginning! (Applause)! I am also showing two
specific drawings that show my improvement. I’ve learned that even after all
this practice; I am still capable of very questionable results. (Laughter)! A
lot depends on how I am feeling when I draw. I know I have definitely improved
overall. I am also showing a current study and a painting from my archives.
Joanne: When it comes to painting,
I have a practice of putting out my paint in a particular order (like piano
keys). As a teacher, I do not like paper palettes and I really don’t want my
students to use them. I often tone my canvas. I toned this one with lead
white and umber. This painting is from a recent workshop.
Susan: My painting policy is to
never use cheap colors! I brought in this painting that I did recently to lift
my own spirits. It worked! These are my toys. Some people have thought they
belong to my boys, but they are actually mine! (Laughter)! It did make me happy
to paint this. It was like painting a cartoon. I am going to title it: “Love is
all you need”. I guess my painting philosophy could be: “If depressed, paint
something goofy” (Laughter)!
Chris: I have decided that I
don’t want to do anything “precise”! I have too many years of using a technical
pen behind me. To make things very straight and engineered is just nothing I
want to revisit.
Tim: My philosophy is: “Paint
what you love”! As you know, I go on hikes and I do a lot of photography. I
have painted these birds (from my photos) on 2.5 x 3.5 supports (Artist trading
cards) in acrylic.
Jim: I do like buying good
supplies. Commissions are out. Forget about that! I am just trying to improve.
I love Tim’s photos and I’m happy that he makes them available for us to paint
from. So many of them are just perfect and they speak to me. This is a painting
I did from one of Tim’s photos.
Bonny: Buy the best supplies.
Make sure that everything is archival quality. You may think, oh, I am just
learning, but you never know when lightning is going to strike and you’ll have something
great. Make sure to use acid-free materials. That way when you give them to
family or sell anything it will last. Archival Materials are my thing! As we
are entering into grey weather, I say “Well we’ll be painting flowers now! (Laughter)!
I am always looking to improve my income, so when I’m working on flowers I’m
also thinking about wrapping paper and fabric. I am showing a recent painting.
Dana: I have done some
commissions. I’ve painted people who I
love. Probably my biggest philosophy is “No freebies”! Sell your work! I am
showing a “sort of” plein air and I did with Bonny.
Pam: Before a project I always
clean up any mess from whatever the old project was. If my area is clean then
I’ll feel inspired. I had a request to paint this painting of Eartha Kitt.
Steve: (New, Welcome)! I am new and this is my baby Amaya. (Applause)! I heard about this
meeting from the Art in the Village Art Gallery. I think my philosophy is “Paint
what you love and also paint what you feel”. I went to a play called “The book
of Mormon”. A line in the play really struck a chord for me. It was “You must
just like to see me cry”.
I did this painting with those words in
mind (a result of having seen that play).
Tracie: I thought at first this
topic was sort of “eh”! but after giving it some thought, I realize I have
policies. For example, I think that when you’re in a workshop you’re learning
from the teacher and it is really necessary to do things their way 100%! It’s like you’re in a church. When you go to
church you honor it. So if I take a workshop with Thomas, then I am in the
Church of Thomas (Laughter)! After church then you can enjoy your own freedom
and you can honor your own pursuit… but not until then. I am showing a painting
from my archives.
Diana: I have been teaching for two weeks in a row in
Canada. I realized that while I was teaching them I was actually talking to
myself. I was telling myself what I need to know! Currently, I am trying
to reach beyond my skill set. I believe in visualization. I spend time contemplating
the painting (before I paint it) and I decide what I want to say. I am showing
you a painting that is mostly from an impression/memory of a place I visited as
a child. I remember that when I visited there the birds sang all around me
and it was like music (music, like a “fugue”, though I didn’t know the word
“fugue” as a child). (Laughter)!
Loretta: My philosophy is I just
need to keep on learning. That is why I take classes and I paint people,
florals and landscapes. I want to be able to paint anything. I shun the idea of
a gallery, because they would likely ask me for specific things --“we need
more boats” or something like that. I’m certain that I wouldn’t like that. My
second philosophy is not to be too ego-y. That is a word that I just invented.
(Laughter)! I guard against looking for praise. If something sells, I’m
pleased, but that is not why I do this. I do not want to care about “likes”.
Recently I’ve been taking old paintings and trying to improve them. This painting is from George Rogers Park.
Dotty: My policy is that I take my
own photos and use them fairly close to when I took it. I also like to start
any painting from plein air and then I often finish it in the studio. I have to
say, it’s miserable here in winter! Laughter! I am showing a recent painting.
Wendy: My philosophy is “Keep
going”. I have been doing watercolors of flowers in my backyard. However,
recently I have tried oil painting. I painted this from a hike I took recently.
I am showing it to you from far away because it looks best at a distance
(Laughter)! I am also showing you another painting I did from a photo of a
place that I hiked many years ago.
Cynthia: (New, Welcome)! (Applause!) I agree with all of these policies! I agree that your
workspace should be clean. I guess one of my philosophies is I just love doing
this and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll move on.
Geri: My policy is repurpose,
reuse, recycle. I really like all that. This policy works well with my art. I
don’t do any commissions. However, I did do a painting for a family member with
seven people in it! (Laughter)! I am also doing a portrait of my next-door
neighbors dog. I obviously can’t keep my resolve! (Laughter)! The dog is a
rescue and he has a crooked mouth. I am showing this to you at this stage, but
it is not finished, (so no official photograph yet).
Jeanie: I think of it more as
goals than philosophies. I have a goal to have my artwork out in the world for
other people (besides me) to see. (I actively seek places to hang my
paintings). I want to do something every day (business-wise) to move forward. I
am showing a recent painting.
Ken: I want to enjoy myself. I
want to feel creative. It does feel like everything has already been done! But,
sometimes I paint from a dream and I like to think that’s a little different!. In
fact, I do follow a similar theme that has to do with light. I have my work in the
Franciscan Spiritual Center and it seems to be the right demographic (because I
have had sales). I don’t want to waste my time being miserable. Laughter!
Eunice: I yield my time to Thomas
or Yong.
Yong: Often we know what we
wanted to do when we started to paint but when we start it all goes out the
window! (Laughter)! I would say my philosophy is: Be Yourself. You are just
painting and not thinking, but your presence is making itself known anyway.
Your individuality shows without you even being aware of it. My advice is from
time to time step back and think “is this what I am looking for”?” do I like
it? Is this what I wanted to say”? I brought in two paintings that were done
about 3 or 4 years apart. One was done in Roseburg plein air and one was done
in Plein Air Texas. In many ways they are strikingly similar. “Your” way will
show up, whether or not you know it. Painting is very personal to you!
Thomas: Well, this guy wins!
(pointing to Steve who brought his baby, Amaya) (Applause)! Some of us just
bring our dog! (Laughter)! I am surprised no one has asked to pass her around!
(Laughter)!
My philosophy is: Don’t wait, Do it now.
I have had some scary moments and I walked away from a pretty good income…to do
this! (Paint). In my 20s I looked to my guru and did things his way. I belonged
to the “Church of Wilbur”. However, later I became less slavish and I went for
a more abstract quality. I started to really paint as opposed to copy. In the
old days, I wanted every blade of grass represented. That’s no longer my way.
If I feel no connection to a place I can paint it anyway. When I pick up a
brush I become engaged! I want to see the experience I had not provide a
reproduction. I have been working some in studio on this painting that I did
(from an experience). I was after the play of light. I brought this in mostly
to show Tim Young …. he knows where this place is.
Becky: I pass! I got here late,
so I’m joining the sketching.
Announcements:
Thomas Kitts
Will teach a workshop in France in 2021 (A chateau near Caan) details:
thomas@thomaskitts.com
Announcing 2020 Workshop Monhegan Island, Maine August / Silicy 2020 workshop May 16-23 Thomas Kitts
Joanne Radmilovich Kollman (OSA)
Friday life drawing (am) and figure painting (pm)
Saturday classes
And “Flowers” return in February
Classes at OSA (Susan Kuznitisky, Joanne Kollman, Michael
Orwick and others):
A Focus on the Figure at Art on the Boulevard runs through Dec 28 (Za Vue and others)
New Schnitzer Gallery (getting great reviews):
Yong Hong Zhong will be doing a Workshop at OSA in January. (It’s
filled, but get on the wait list) (Workshops at OSA: https://public.osartists.org/public/workshops) Yong is going to teach more locally during 2020.
Arts Council Lake Oswego Call to Artists for
Zines: deadline Jan 6, https://racc.org/resources/listings/call-for-zines/
Call to Artists: Art in the Park: Deadline Feb 23 https://www.lakewood-center.org/pages/Art-in-the-Park-2020-Call-for-Entry
Call to Artists: Walters Cultural show submissions: https://waltersgallery.submittable.com/submit
Dianna Shyne is offering a Monday class at her studio in January https://diannashyne.com/workshop
Hiatus Drawing Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/333152383542909/
(Please remember to support the French Quarter food carts)
Thank you Eunice for the handmade wrist warmers! Merry Christmas Happy Holidays everyone!
Next Art Discussion Meeting Dec 26, 9am. Looking back and Looking
forward. How was 2019 for you and what will you look for 2020? Let's discuss!
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