Todays topic: "Visualizing your painting"...some artists "see" their painting in their mind's eye before they paint it. Have you done that? Tell us what you know about it.
Celeste: I saw Aimee Erickson once just break out in a run to get her gear...she threw it together and painted the light streaming through some trees. When I was looking at it, it didn't look that way. I asked her, how did you do that? and she answered "Oh, I remembered it". I think I initially "see" my painting kind of loosely in my mind, of course. We do have to plan to a certain extent, but things can sure get over-planned. I did this recent life painting and the first thing I noticed was how lit up her hair was with backlighting. I started there, because that was the most interesting thing to me.
Loretta: I do hold a vision in my mind before I get started...it's like I have a picture in my mind, but once I am underway the painting will seemingly take its own direction.
Diane: I didn't bring it, and I have shown it before...I did a painting of a restaurant scene in a vertical format. I planned it out and "saw" it before I began. That was the one time my vision and the outcome were a lot the same. I took a workshop with Robin Damore. We painted from life and we actually used binoculars to see and understand the temperature changes in the face! It is difficult to see when you are seated so far away. This painting is from the workshop...and this other portrait of the boy..I did this one from a photo and it was not the best reference. I had to create the flesh colors by referring to an altogether different photo.
Tim: Hi everyone, I am Tim and I'm addicted to art! (Laughter)! I do envision my image. I am showing this small painting..the scene was behind me. And this painting is called "Scry" (verb (used without object), scried, scrying. 1. to use divination to discover hidden knowledge or future events, especially by means of a crystal ball.)
Jim: I do plan what I am going to do...but some paintings seem to paint themselves. I took the Michael Lindstrom workshop last weekend and painted this. I also painted this from a photo reference (from our trip to Italy). I intentionally put down a lot of paint!
Chris: I always envision the painting. I could count on my older sister to be excited about the same things I was. She has passed away...but she was the one who would "see" the same things I saw. "look! look! we'd both say--look at that light"! Last weekend I stayed at a beach house and I forced myself out there. I was frightened! I sat in the sand and I met people. I did definitely have a vision ahead of time for this one. I am also showing a painting I did for Quin Sweetmans Beautiful lives lost project (portraits of the victims of the Las Vegas shooting). This is Sonny Melton...(Applause)!
Jeanne: I always have a sketchbook in with my gear. I have pencils and a ruler. I figure out ratios ahead of time--and that has been very useful for me. I will continue to do it--because it absolutely helps me plan. I recently took a workshop with Jef Gunn. He had us all use pieces of cardboard as our paintbrush! That was different--but it taught me something right away. I couldn't really use medium with the cardboard pieces and I realized I had been thinning my paint too much. I painted during the workshop without medium and I saw a (positive) difference. After awhile we were "allowed" to use actual paintbrushes (laughter)! I am showing two paintings from the workshop. (And I highly recommend Jef Gunn as a workshop teacher).
Dotty: I always have a general idea....but! I also like the idea of jumping off of a pier (metaphorically speaking). I am showing a painting where I used artistic license...I added the red to this predominately green scene.
Tom: I think we go through stages. I am different than I was when I first started. In the beginning I got confused by all the changes in light while plein air painting. I am better now, and able to stick with my initial idea. I put the painting that I am going to show you on Facebook (it is of my wife at a table). Celeste wrote on Facebook that it reminded her of Vuillard. I looked him up and I did see the similarities to my painting. I don't know how he copied me! (Laughter)!
Elo: I like the question. It causes you to examine how you do things. When you work in watercolor you have to plan...you have to visualize or you'll lose the light. I do sometimes sketch ahead of time...but I like accidents too. I am doing some art for the big 500...in both of these cases I had to plan a few steps ahead...in order to get the results I wanted. I am also showing a painting I did for the OSA show. What I've learned is that you have to remind yourself sometimes to stick with your first vision.
Dave: This is a great topic. I don't want to be a slave to what it out there...for example, this was a cool scene, but I decided that it would be better if I changed a lot of the coolness to warm. Here is a painting I did in Colorado--I was struck by the light coming through the trees. And finally, I am also showing an abstract! I sometimes just paint intuitively.
Eunice: I definitely plan and envision! When I painted in the desert I would just sit there for awhile taking it all in (first). I am taking an online class with Dennis Perrin--he is always saying "what is your intention?...I want to know exactly your intention!" I am showing two coastal scenes. I painted them from reference. This one is on the way to Bandon.
Becky: I think I am sort of a literal person--at least my first inclination is to paint the colors that I see--but I realize that that will often result in a very bland outcome! I am showing a painting I did in a workshop. I did warm it up from the actual scene. It seems to me that there are as many ways to approach things as there are people. My Mother and her sister were both quilters. My Aunt would calculate everything....and did everything with precision. My Mother handled it organically, she was more intuitive. Both of them were outstanding at making wonderful quilts. I want to move into more of my Mother's way of doing things.
Annie: I pass on this subject. :)
Joanne: I wrote a paper once on intuition. Intuition is really the sum of your experiences. I painted in a life session recently. The model wore this old-timey outfit and was on a contemporary looking bench. I hadn't set out to do this...but I began creating a room around her. I relied on my memory of my own front room from when I was little. I used to get on the floor with the dog and with nothing else to do I pretty much committed the room to memory. (Laughter)! When I think back, I think my idea to make up this scene came from the Vuillard book that Kay brought in last week. I also had seen Tom's interior on Facebook. I think both those things played into my decision to create the interior.
Announcements:
Joanne Kollman: Fine Art Friday with model Rachel, Friday, Oct 20, 1-4pm Oregon Society of Artists $20
RSVP is nice...but drop-ins are permitted joradarts@gmail.com
Tracie Broughton: Portland Open Studios Sat and Sun October 14 and 15 and October 21 and 22 10am-5pm
http://portlandopenstudios.com
Tracie's opener party: 3135 NW Wilson Oct 20 5-9pm
Dotty Hawthorne: 2055 SE Claybourne Street, Portland Open Studios Sat and Sun October 21 and 22 10am-5pm
http://portlandopenstudios.com
Ward, Joanne K and other OSA artists: Portland Open Studios Sat and Sun October 21 and 22 10am-5pm Oregon Society of Artists
http://portlandopenstudios.com
Field Trip Portland Art Museum: Tuesday Oct 24 We will meet at the Cafe behind the museum at 10 am then tour Tedd Chilless' Studio and then go to Portland Art Museum for "Wyeth, three generations"
https://portlandartmuseum.org/exhibitions/wyeths-three-generations/
Becky Land: CCC Wilsonville Campus*, The Commons Gallery 29353 SW Town Center Loop East, Wilsonville, OR 97070 8am-5pm weekdays Sept 25-Dec 8 (We are going to plan a field trip to see Becky's show also --stay tuned for details)
*Contact the college if you have student/teacher work that could be displayed. Contact: Joyce Gabriel joyceceg@clackamas.edu
The Hiatus Drawing Club meets at Prosperity Pie after the regular O'Connors meeting
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333152383542909/
The Free Portland Open Studios Map app for your phone: http://portlandopenstudios.com/pdxos-apps/
Jeanne Chamberlain: Sitka Invitational Nov 4 and 5: http://www.sitkacenter.com/4-1-12.html
Yer Za Vue and Yong Hong Zhong at Art on the Boulevard First Friday Reception Nov 3
Congratulations, Tim Young on the sale of your painting today!
Next Meeting, Thursday October 26, suggested table topic: Painting with only 3 or 4 colors--(Zorn palette and/or any other kind of limited palette). Why do artists do this, have you done it and--what has been your experience?
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