Today suggested table topic: "salvaging" a painting--(bringing a painting back from disaster) have you done this? what has been your experience? do you have any examples (or just tell us about it)
Celeste: One time Karen Lewis had a get together where she asked us to bring four or five paintings that we thought had failed.. we spent the day at her house going back in our paintings with a "damn the torpedoes" attitude. We all were surprised to find that we improved almost all of them. I recently changed this painting by taking the chairs away and adding a cat!
Loretta U: If it is tanking I might throw more paint at it...but in reality I'm almost always rather start a new one.
Tedd: You have to have the right attitude to make changes to a "completed" painting. You have to have solid reasons to do it. I brought in a painting that I did 12 years ago. The model was a BYU student. It turned out later --- she became an artist also! She was positively influenced by modeling and being in the studio. I'd love to think I had something to do with her decision. I painted recently at the coast. I set out to paint in a higher key than what I am used to. From where I was painting I saw these people on the beach in the distance. It was clear that they were at a memorial service. Later some of them made their way over expressly to where I was...as they approached they said excitedly "Oh my gosh! You ARE painting! This is so wonderful --Our Mother was a painter too!" It was such a special and touching moment! (Applause)!
Tim: When I am plein air painting I step back and I look at the painting as a painting instead of a replica of what is in front of me. I make choices about how to change things out in the field. I went to the beach recently. These are the paintings I did. I painted this watercolor of a seagull on linen. I did that because you're not supposed to do that! (Laughter)! I want to show this new product that I have discovered it is something by Gayle Weisfield called the Boga board. It is a watercolor paper stretcher. http://gayleweisfield.com/new/paper-stretcher/
Dave: I don't want to be finished and realize that I am not happy with it....(So I try to make every stroke count). I do have to always look at them later...but I give it some time before I do an evaluation. I am showing a painting I did from a recent trip.
Loretta L: I work on things over and over and over. I like to get feedback from other people. I did a recent camping trip. I am trying watercolor. I know that there are problems with this...but I really enjoyed doing it!
Joanne T: As a general rule, if I am plein air painting, I like to go back the second day. I like that thicker paint in the 2nd layer. I am watching a video with Daniel Keyes. He is teaching us about painting roses. He said that for every layer you add over another layer you're reducing your chroma! I thought, oh no! Another thing to think about! (Laughter)! One of the best things was one time I asked Thomas Kitts: "Should I take this hotel out"? And he replied: "Start a new one". I think about that even now ---"start a new one" is great advice. I have discovered it is hard to paint over very thick paint. I need to learn how to sand things down. I am showing two paintings I did over existing paintings.
Tracie: What I realize is that most of my successful paintings have been born from a painting that I desperately hated! (Laughter)! Why can't I just skip right through the process and go right to the success part? (laughter)! (Editors note: there is "pain" in the very word "painting").
Nancy: Just to be clear, we're talking about "salvaging" not "savaging" right!? (Laughter Laughter)!!! I I have learned to use retouch varnish for the painted -over-paintings. It is better than putting paint on a dry painting. I have so many to touch up. But! when you touch them up you can realize it looked better before you changed it! (Laughter)! I am showing some recent daily paintings that I'm doing for the Strada challenge. It is all just practice. I have noticed that painting over an old painting, though interesting, often seems to make the whole painting darker. For a couple of the daily paintings I painted dolls.
Becky: I brought in a work in progress. I change the ratio of this. It's not complete yet. I have been working on putting together a show that is going to be at the Clackamas Community College (Wilsonville) I will be glad when the project is complete so I can go back to the way I normally work.
Ward: Well, as watercolorist this subject is a lot more delicate for us. The more labored (of course) the worse it is! You all know the creative process ---the six steps right? (see image scroll below) I know someone who painted over his watercolor in oil and it turned out so wonderful. I have a drawer full of terrible paintingss that no one is allowed to look into! (Laughter)! But you know last week we talked about how you shouldn't polish a turd right? In fact dinosaur poop is very wonderful when it's polished! (Laughter)! The thing about struggle is that there can be a very good surprise energy that comes through you. I'm showing a recent painting that I am really pleased with.
Tom: I have saved a lot of paintings that I felt were completely hopeless. I sometimes think about something George W. Bush said. He said "This shall not stand"! (Laughter)! Well it's true sometimes anger is a good energizer. I think I made this painting better by giving it abstract shapes. I really do think anger is sometimes helpful!
Bonnie: I have invested in a SAW! (Laughter)! I painted this on a panel, but I "cropped" it with the saw to make it better.
Jim: I have just returned from Italy! I would show you some paintings from my Italy trip except they lost my luggage! (Collective groan)! I am very hopeful that I'll get them back. I went to Italy with Thomas Kitts. You have to go if you ever get the chance. The people! The food! The wine! And best of all, I got to share it all with my wife. We are celebrating our 49th anniversary. I was pleased with several paintings that I did. One in particular ...Thomas recommended that I just put it in a couple of lights as thevneyard went around this bend. I did exactly as he said. It's funny how just three strokes of light green improved it so much! We loved the museums too--I'm so glad we went! (Applause)!
Eunice: All you people just work too hard! (Laughter)! I agree about the retouch varnish. It is just not right unless you use retouch varnish down first or something like a lindseed oil or something. You can cover a painting with saran wrap and try out your change on the saran wrap. You can make a good decision that way.
Judith: I am going through a phase. Do you notice that you go through phases!? I have been painting over old paintings. This painting has an "impression" from the previous painting that I'm not happy about. The impression of a line is going straight through this angel's face! (Laughter)!
Geri: I can relate to the saw. I really love what this group comes up with. Every week, I like hearing what you all have to say! I work on paper--so easy to crop. I once did a "meaningful" painting, but I wound up disliking almost all of it--but one section was good (a tarot card)...I cut it out and kept that! (Laughter)! Sometimes I really reassemble something completely. I am showing an example of that.
Joanne K: Last night, because of this subject...I went into this painting to change it and heighten the contrast. It still has some issues, but I know it is improved. I can often resurrect these things, but also sometimes not improve it at all. I do like going through my stacks of paintings, thinking about what changes could make them better. Sometimes, in a landscape, I can put in a "s" curve or something and it makes it better. I like to think about thicks and thins and creating variety in the brushwork.
Announcements:
Tracie Broughton: Portland Open Studios two weekends in October
http://portlandopenstudios.com
Tracie's opener party: 3135 NW Wilson Oct 20 5-9pm
Ward, Joanne K and other OSA artists: Portland Open Studios
http://portlandopenstudios.com
Joanne Kollman: Fine Art Friday with model Tim Young, Friday, Sept 21, 1-4pm OSA
https://joannepaintsfromlife.blogspot.com
Joanne Kollman: Fresh Flower Saturday with painting demo, Saturday , Sept 22, Extended hours 9-2pm OSA Drop ins welcome
https://joannepaintsfromlife.blogspot.com
Ward Stroud Friday class
Ward Stroud - Painting, Pixels, People! - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm $25/class ward@artofward.com Upstairs
Contact Bonnie Burlew if you would like a painting/selling opportunity at R. Blooms in Lake Oswego. bonnie@bonnieburlew.com
Upcoming Field Trip Portland Art Museum NC Wyeth and visit to Tedd Chilless' studio (date to be announced) (exhibit begins Oct 7)
https://portlandartmuseum.org/exhibitions/wyeths-three-generations/
Tedd Chilless at US Bank in the Pearl until the end of the month 1040 NW Lovejoy
Do you know an artist who was adversely affected by the fires in the Gorge? Contact Ward Stroud
ward@wardstroudhair.com
Judith reports that painting at Mt. Rainier seems like it could be marketable. She had many interested potential buyers when she painted there recently.
Michael Lindstrom is repeating his popular "Painting in the Moment" one-day workshop. A great opportunity to take the class if you missed it the first time:
The 1-day workshop on Saturday, October 14th. Heavy focus on painting in the moment, but this time with fall color. Sauvie Island, 9am-4pm. $100.
We are going to paint expressive with lots of paint and allow Mother Nature to be a part of the process. To register:
http://michaellindstromartist.com/aboutAudubon Society 6x6: http://wildartsfestival.org/6x6-wild-art-project
OSA 200 show: https://www.oregonsocietyofartists.com/images/docs/200-for-under-200-Revised-4-2017-2.pdf
Becky Land: The Commons Gallery 29353 SW Town Center Loop East, Wilsonville, OR 97070 8am-5pm weekdays Sept 25-Dec 8
Sign up for Beaverton Art Mix Quick Draw: http://www.beavertonoregon.gov/1269/Beaverton-Arts-Mix
Washington County Plein air beginning Sept 27: http://sequoiagallerystudios.org/plein-air/
Nancy Zhang at Wine Thirty in October: http://www.wine30bar.com/home.html
Congratulations Za Vue Grand prize winner at Umpqua Plein Air (juror Kathryn Stats)
https://www.facebook.com/umpquapleinair
Medley Tea has closed and will have a sale next weekend.
The Hiatus Drawing Club met at Prosperity Pie today--wonderful spot! We will meet there for the sketch group from now on. (Very close to O'Connors). Thanks for the music, Ward
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333152383542909/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/222304114527014/
Next Meeting: Thursday Sept 28 9am, Suggested table topic: Planning for autumn and winter. Will you make structured plans? What specifically do you hope to accomplish in the upcoming (cooler and possibly cold) months (as it pertains to painting)?
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I always enjoy reading these notes but a couple of comments ready caught my fancy this week - Tedd's story about painting on the beach; editor's note about "pain" and "painting;" a new use for a saw; and Ward's six steps in the creative process! Thank you all for sharing your stories and experiences each week!
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