At today’s meeting Loretta, Thomas, Jeanie, Annie,
Kristina, Nancy, Jerry, Stephanie, Christopher Mooney (new), El (Genie), Susan, Mike, Eunice,
Joanne K, Joanne T, Elo, Judith, Yong Hong Zhong (new) Jim Syfert New), and me Celeste.
Today’s suggested table topic active and passive passages
within the same painting (areas of activity versus areas of quiet or
non-activity) --what does this mean to you? Do you think about it?
Celeste: I took a one day workshop with Terry Miura. For his
demo he placed a truck in the upper left. He left the lower right quite plain.
The lower right was a grassy area but he didn’t describe it too much. He
explained that he does intend for the quiet parts to contribute to the overall
painting. I am showing recent paintings.
Susan: I have just returned from a trip to Hawaii. I was
invited to lead a workshop there. I painted in Chinatown and it was so unique
it seemed like a Hawiiain version of Portlandia! Laughter! When I was plein air
painting with everyone I had to tell myself “slow down, you’re not in a competition
here” laughter! I am showing some paintings that I did in Hawaii. I don’t
consciously think about active versus passive. I think about the area of
interest and I believe that the quiet areas come as a byproduct.
Mike: I've read about active and quiet. In watercolor the
quiet has to do a lot with grays and neutrals.. I have been doing the Painting
November challenge. When you paint every day--- it's a commitment to yourself.
I find myself saying “wait a minute, I can't do-- that I’ve got to paint for the
challenge”! laughter! I am showing two recent paintings.
Eunice: I don’t have anything to say on the subject. I do
work from photographs, mostly because I can’t get around to the places that I’d
like to paint. In particular, I want to paint Terrebone. I will need to do it
from photographs.
Loretta: I do think about it. I like when there is space in
the painting. I have been working from the Tedd Goerschner book. He has you mix
up some specific grays. I am showing a painting that I did where I used some of
those grays and also a viridian green.
Jim (Syfert) New! welcome Jim! I have spent some time
recently renovating some property. It is a lot of work! I am a member of the
Southern California Plein air Group. I like Arcadia National Park. I read an
article by Michael Chesney Johnson where he suggested that you paint with violet
and yellows. I am showing one painting that I did with my regular pallette and
then a 2nd one done of the same scene with two violets two
yellows and some viridian.
El (Genie): I knew nothing about this subject at all before
I read that it as today's topic. I looked it up. That is what I like about this
group and the suggested topics. You learn new things. I am going to think about
active and quiet more in the future. I have been painting for the big 500. I am
showing a recent painting.
Annie: I have been doing small paintings of my garbage!
(Laughter)! These are just little paintings of things like carrots and potatoes
and things I am going to throw out. I have been thinking about dominant and
subordinate color. I’m also showing a painting from my archives that shows a
lot of dominant color (blue) that implies quiet -- these stars, this motion and
the diagonal imply activity.
Jerry: Whenever you put a band across the bottom that will
make the painting feel restricted. You need to find a way into the painting and
into that band so that you are lead into the painting. I am showing a recent
watercolor.
Stephanie: I don't think that I have thought a lot about
this, but I do realize the things do need breathing room. I have been watching
the Quang Ho DVD. I recommend it. He doesn't think about the background very
much ---to him it is all about shapes.
Sometimes it’s good to just leave things without “completing” them in
the picture. That will imply some air or space. I am showing a recent figure
painting and a recent landscape.
Yong Hong Zhong; I just wanted to drop by and say
hello---this is my first time here. (Welcome Yong)! Thank you for the welcome.
Nancy: I will pass on the question. I am showing two recent
paintings for the big 500 show.
Joanne T: I am so glad to see Christopher Mooney here! I am
a big fan of his. I am also very happy to see Yong Hong Zhong here too… ! I
think that there is a balance that is required in every painting. I painted this from a photograph because the
owner of the store would not allow me to paint on his property. There is all
this activity over here on the left…all the signs and everything and then on
the far right I elected to make that quiet. It is necessary for the balance.
Elo: Because I lead such a busy life I am restricted mostly
to working from photographs. I do think I'm kind of bad at this thing about
considering activity and passivity. I find when I work from a photo I go deeper
and deeper into the details! I'm showing you two recent paintings. This one---
my boy said to me: “Mom you overworked the eye”! Laughter!
Christopher (Mooney) new welcome, Christopher! I studied at
the Parsons school of Design. I learned design there, but I think many times we
look at things and we sort of decide on a composition in a very natural way. We
know what looks good. I love perspective, and I emphasize that. I have learned
that all 4 sides and corners of a painting are important. All four corners and
all the four sides should not be the same. To have a well conceived painting
you must consider it all. I am showing recent paintings.
Jeanie: I absolutely get into too many details. I have been
working on a painting 24 x 36. I have painted on it is so much—trying to
decide what to do! (Laughter)! Hopefully I will decide and it will be in the
December OSA show.
Kristina: I didn’t think I had much to say about this topic,
but as I sit here listening to everyone else I realize a good painting is like
a pinball machine ---with a clear path. The clear path, so that the ball can
travel around and come back. I am so glad that I took classes with Jennifer
Diehl. She stresses good design a good composition. I am showing a recent
painting that I did from Italy.
Judith: I have been taking a color theory class. I am
showing recent watercolor paintings.
Thomas: When you ask yourself questions about active and
passive (and/or design) it forces you to look at a painting as an abstract. The
decisions we make are deeper than just rendering. There simply are no hard and
fast rules that we can look to. You can always ask yourself does this decision
(whatever it may be) make the painting stronger? Sometimes it is good to turn a
painting to the wall and leave it there for a while. Look at it later! Possible
beneficial improvements could be playing down chroma and looking at dominant
and subordinate colors. Best advice, think about your painting in the abstract. I am showing a painting that I’m working on that has some “echoing” shapes. I
still have more work to do on this, but I am satisfied with the
design/composition.
Joanne K: I have been painting in the Painting November
challenge. It has been a good opportunity for me to just paint on gessoed
cardboard and things like that. A great way for me to experiment. My issue is
that I can be too active with my paint strokes….not leaving enough room in my
painting for some quiet.
Announcements:
Scott Gellatly Reception at the Brian Marki Gallery tomorrow
Friday, November 18, 5-8
Bridges of
Portland: Paintings by Christopher B. Mooney
Architectural Heritage Center
701 SE
Grand Avenue
Portland,
OR 97214
First Friday reception Dec 2, 4-8pm
“Fine Art Fridays” clothed models sessions with Joanne
Kollman (no instruction) OSA contact Joanne for your spot: joradarts@gmail.com
Long pose at OSA on
Sunday
Max Ginsberg workshop
in alla prima portraiture
Falcon Open Studios date is set for Dec 15. RSVP 5414
N Albina (Jerry Dickason) See invitation at the bottom of this page
Kristina Sellers has
new paintings at the Acena restaurant (recent paintings of Italy)
Thomas Kitts is
nearly finished with his studio renovation.
He will be able to teach students at his studio. He also offers online
mentoring
Art on the Boulevard:
Next Thursday there is no meeting because of Thanksgiving!
Have a wonderful holiday. See you the
following Thursday, Dec 1. (topic to be
announced).
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