Meeting Notes, Thursday, May 12, 2016


At todays meeting Loretta, Susan, Stephanie, Tim, Laurel (new), Bill, Lisa, Diane, Mike, Jerry, Annie, Jeanie, Eunice, Kristina, Joanne T, Anna, John, and me Celeste.

Today’s suggested table topic: unusual vantage points high or low-- have you ever painted from an unusual vantage point? If not have you thought about it?  What can you say about it?

Celeste: I brought in a painting that I painted from the women's forum. I realize I have not really painted very often from high vantage points. I found an article in an old book about this. I also brought in some plein air studies and a still life painting. I recommend these Centurion canvas sheets. 

Eunice: I have never painted plein air from an elevated place or from down below ---only from photographs. I might do it if circumstances were favorable. I have brought in a painting of a young man.

Jeanie: I have brought in a painting done from the same place--painted from differing angles.

Annie: Years ago I illustrated a Children's book. This topic reminded me of it. I did these illustrations from a child's vantage point (from the height of a child). Also I painted above in the “rafters” of a church.  This was done just to create interest. A Russian artist who illustrated a book titled “Sam” inspired me. He painted partial “turning away” profiles in his book and that implied movement. I did the same. I also brought in a painting I did from a photograph (that I surreptitiously took at Starbucks). Laughter!

Jerry: I brought in a painting that I did when Mike and I painted the clover fields recently. I paint in both watercolor and oil. I am fascinated by how watercolor painting will “inform” your oil painting and visa versa. I had some trouble with this painting. I couldn’t quite deal with the clover. I lost the transparency of the red. I brought the painting anyway!

Mike: Unusual vantage points! I recently took the max-train and sketched a pitbull there. (Laughter)! I keep my sketchbook with me at all times. I painted with Jerry at the Cloverfield and this is my painting.

Kristina: This topic is timely for me. I just finished a painting that was done from an unusual vantage point. I have been admiring Carol Marine’s paintings. She often paints still life from up above. I think changing your usual vantage point is a good way to shake things up.

Ward: I am reminded of something in the movie “Into the Wild” In the movie there is a line: “Happiness is empty… unless it is shared”.  I think that relates to painting too. Isn’t that what we all do? Aren’t we trying to share our happiness with others? I think the camera also helps us notice things that we wouldn’t necessarily have noticed if we didn’t use the camera. I brought in a cat painting I call it Celestial kitten. I am not a cat person, but I painted this for Celeste (we agreed to a trade). I’m glad she gave me this subject because it pushed me into something I wouldn’t normally do. (It’s wonderful, I’ll treasure it, Ward! ---Celeste)

Joanne: I did this painting of a motel--  it is from an unusual vantage point. I have had two teachers recently and I have become a little bit confused about which medium to embrace! I seem to oscillate between watercolor and oil. Recently I’ve painted more in watercolor. I am showing two of my recent watercolors.

John: I don’t have any samples of unusual vantage points. I brought in a painting that I did in a class with Cliff Smith. He set this up so that you have to think about all of the directional lines in the fabric.

Stephanie: If you have to look way up or look way down while painting plein air –it can be really a tiring thing. I am showing a “close up” of some water and rocks. It has an abstract quality. I put my initials on it to tell myself which way it goes because this painting looks a lot the same from any direction (laughter)! This is what happens when you zoom in on a creek. I brought in two other plein air paintings. One of a canola field.

Diane: I really like the unusual. I like unusual vantage points that interest me. I brought in two figure paintings that are painted from the back. It is a little unusual for the figure to be presented this way. I also brought in four new daily paintings. These are all from photographs. The sheep is inspired by Wyeth.

Lisa: I painted this watercolor in Ireland (plein air) seven years ago and just the other day I painted from the watercolor in oil. It is an unusual vantage point! 

Bill: I brought in two paintings from trips...both from unusual vantage points. Painting plein air is the most fun, because you can visit with people who are interested in what you are painting.

Laurel: I am new! (Welcome, Laurel).  I was a graphic artist but I abandoned that career in favor of a different one. My father was an artist. I now want to return to  art and painting. I brought in a painting I did in a portrait class, a painting I did in Karen ilari’s class and also a painting of my two cats (that are “brother and sister”).

Tim: I  like to paint from above, but I have noticed when I have done that the painting seems to flatten out. I want to work on it. I often do paintings from weird angles. Remember me… I am the person who paints his own feet (laughter)! I did this recent painting at Bensen State Park.

Susan: Last week I won a “Jurors award” at the Northwest Pastel Society exhibit in Tacoma. (applause)! Richard McKinley was the juror and he gave talks about all of the winning paintings and why he made the decisions that he did. You can find these talks on the website (link below). The painting I won the award for is from an unusual vantage point. The fact it the face of the reader is not shown is an unusual perspective. Yesterday I painted at Schreiners Iris garden. You all should go there. It is great and you can buy big bouquets of Irises there too. I am showing the painting I did.

http://nwps.org/page/8858/2016-international-exhibit

Anna: This is a good topic for me.. I recently did a workshop with Jennifer Diehl (about design). Jennifer had us do a dozen different designs of just an apple and a knife. Jennifer doesn’t just settle on the very first idea! I am showing you my thumbnails. I also brought in a painting I did of the Willamette Falls. This is from up above. We were painting this from above because that is the best way to observe it. I am going to start doing thumbnails for sure so that I can consider all the different ways to that there is to see things!

Loretta: I have taken photos from way up and wave below….but I haven't painted that way. I did try to paint a valley once, but that painting tanked. I will think about this and about whether or not I might be able to incorporate some of these ideas  I’ve heard today into my paintings.


Announcements:

Studio One Eleven in the Troy has slots available for Sunday morning still life and Sunday afternoon life session. To be put on the mailing list or to RSVP contact: studio.oneeleven.at.the.troy@gmail.com


Lola Dennis has a paint out scheduled for tomorrow Friday, May 13th at Camp Singing Wind. This is in Toledo Washington. There is a $10 charge. You will have the whole day to paint --- it all starts at 9 AM.
loladennis@live.com

Anna Lancaster: I have work at Forever Art --Please come to my reception from 2 to 6 on Saturday May 14 at 1991 Upshur Portland.


The Doggie Dash is this weekend in case you feel like sketching doggies! http://www.oregonhumane.org/doggiedash/

Ward Stroud has another Brush-o workshop scheduled at the Dots and Doodles in Astoria on June 18.

Find out about upcoming workshops here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/408762309299376/

Lavender information!
 Please note that the early entry fee ends May 31 and on June 1st a $10 late fee is added and we are accepting 125 artists this year. Thank you


You’re invited to participate in the Oregon Lavender Paint Out, a plein air paint out taking place at beautiful lavender farms throughout Oregon that participate in the Oregon Lavender Festival. You’ll have two weeks to paint— from June 22 through July 6th.  The Paint Out culminates with a show at the Willamette Valley Lavender Plein Air Art Show. The former Yamhill Lavender Festival and Plein Air Art Show was held for 10 years in Yamhill, Oregon and moved to The Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg, Oregon, last year under the title of Willamette Valley Lavender Festival & Plein Air Art Show.

The Chehalem Cultural Center will host the Lavender Festival & Art Show. Paintings will be hung in the Center's beautiful ballroom during the festival July 9 and 10th. The show will be judged, cash and art material prizes will be awarded in both divisions.

Artists may choose to enter either the Open or the Professional Division. 
The show will be judged by Diana Shyne, an award winning artist and teacher from Camano Island, Washington.

Over $5000 in Cash and Materials Awards!

One Artists' Choice award

Cash Award Prizes: 

Professional Division
1st Place, $600; 2nd Place, $500; 3rd Place, $400
6 Honorable Mention Ribbons, People's Choice Ribbon

Open Division
1st Place, $300; 2nd Place, $200; 3rd Place, $100
6 Honorable Mention Ribbons, People's Choice Ribbon


New this Year:
Registration will be limited to 125 artists
Maximum size limit for any side of artwork is not to exceed 28-inches in any direction — including the frame.
Only 1 “extra” painting allowed this year (last year 2 “extra” paintings were allowed)
Volunteers will be needed on July 7, July 8, July 9 and July 10.

Please note that work must be completed at participating lavender farms. Registered artists will receive maps and information about which farms are participating in the Paint Out. There will be about 20 farms located throughout Oregon  from which to choose.
Please see the attached Prospectus & Call to Artists for additional information. We have the PDF files on our web site also.


Sincerely,
Kathy Johnson, chair


Thank you for coming today and sharing your ideas and paintings.

Next meeting Thursday, May 19 Suggested table topic. “Artist Secrets”! Do you know of another artists “secret” that they have shared with you (or do YOU have a secret that you can share with us)? Yes, we know that once you tell us it will no longer be a “secret”! (This would be something like a color that an artist swears by --and the reason why-- and/or any little thing that is not widely known. (ie: Jeremy Lipking uses radiant blue in his portraits, etc).  Any “favorite” thing  (yours or someone elses) is what we are looking for! Spill it! :)

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