Celeste: I loved being the Alla Prima Portland moderator in 2019. It's like throwing a weekly dinner party or being a Cruise Director! Laughter! As somewhat of a "CEO" for APP, I have some statistics to share today, at years end. We had 52 Thursday meetings here at French Quarter! (Applause)! (Yves deserves all the credit for making all this possible). Also, here is the list of people who hosted organized paint outs: Vicki Zimmerman, Elo Wobig & Thomas Kitts, Don Bishop (with Demo), Mike Porter, Celeste Bergin, Regina Atwood, Joanne Radmilovich Kollman (with Demo), Carol Hansen, Michael Lindstrom (with Demo), Tim Young, Bonny Wagoner. We had10 organized paint outs. Please host a paint out next year. It is 100% easy and so much fun. You pick where we go and we all show up! For the upcoming year I want to paint more narrative style paintings (paintings that tell a story) and also, I want to paint even more outdoors! I am showing some of my favorite 2019 paintings.
Joanne K: I took two workshops with Max Ginsberg during 2019. Because of that... I have become more conscious about proportions. This has become my mantra: "Check your proportions"! I'll do more teaching in 2020. As a teacher, I am always looking for ways to share key information. I recommend Craig Nelson's book: 60 Minutes to Better Painting. I did this painting in the most recent Ginsberg workshop.
Loretta U: In 2019 I could have done more painting. In 2020 I will do more painting!
Geri: In 2019 I did 30 consecutive paintings. They all have the same look. It feels good to take on a project like that and complete it. In 2020 I want to take things a step at a time. I want to stay present and try new things. I am showing two recent abstracts.
Michael L: (First time at French Quarter = Applause!) What a great topic! During 2019 I've had to "reign in the chaos". I've made an effort to pay attention to composition and also I've sought to make my paintings more complex. In these areas I'd probably give myself a B. I painted at the Carol Hansen paint out and she had chickens there on her property. I had been wanting to paint chickens and here they were! It definitely adds interest to have an animal or a person in a scene. I have a solo show coming up in February. For 2020 I want to keep pushing myself and to bring my complexity and composition "grades" up to an A. I am showing 2019 paintings.
Ken: I was using water based oil. During 2019 I went back to regular oil paint. I feel much more at home with it. I have been messing around with oil pastel. I want to remain open to new ways.
Susan: Many of you know my husband died (and it devastated me). So, I stand before you today, a changed person, but after a year I can even say changed in some positive ways. It is really a miracle of sorts. This group has been key in the process. Having something to go to each week and getting a rhythm mattered a great deal! I'm going to continue teaching and painting in 2020. I'll take more commissions if there are opportunities. Last Friday I went to the afternoon figure session at OSA. The model was gorgeous. I did this pastel of her.
Annie: (Returning after a 6 month hiatus = Applause)! I have been working on home improvements. I thought I'd put aside two years to do everything that needs to be done..but, no way I can stay away from being here for that long. I am returning after 6 months. I am just eager to be back! Recently I ran into Ken at a store. You know how when you see someone out of context somehow...it throws you a little bit. He and I looked at each other and we both said "Celeste"! (Laughter)! (editor's note: haha! That's funny)!
Mike S: I am a part time attendee. I live part time in Nashville. It was a busy 2019 for me. I took a Robert Liberace workshop. In Nashville I have provided courtroom sketches to media in a few trials, most notably a long trial that involved all manner of drama and became a big project. In 2020 I will be going to the PACE convention. I am also teaching in Nashville. I like to use Procreate (an app for the ipad). It is especially useful, especially for critique. I also will want to take the Terry Muira workshop when it comes up here. I did this painting in Nashville and this one here at OSA. I understand that Tim (Young) will be the model this Friday afternoon (in the "clothed" session, I hope)! (Laughter)!
Loretta L: I travel a lot and truthfully, I sometimes wish I was back here, coming to these Thursdays instead! (Laughter)! These meetings are inspiring to me. In 2019 I got into Za's class --that was an accomplishment in itself, she has a lot of students and a waiting list. I also did the Umqua plein air, which was more involved than other events I've been in. I'm proud of myself for doing it, for seeing it through. I also did the Strada 30 day challenge. For 2020 I will do more outdoor painting and I will work in gouache too. Gouache will be "camper friendly" (because it cleans up so easily with water). I am showing the underpainting of a painting I am doing using the Zorn palette.
Steve: (Returning after first visit= Applause)! Michael's message about chaos resonated with me. I too am finding that I need to harness chaos. I have had a lot of life changes. Last year was tumultuous! I have a firm resolve to commit to something. After a few false starts I am putting real intention into having and maintaining a studio practice. I am working on something every day. I hope you will follow me on instagram!
Bonny: Years ago I made myself a business plan. I look at it to determine how I am doing. I have a big board on a wall at home. My current projects and projects I want to do are on the board. Recently I heard opportunity actually knocking for me. I have illustrated some books for Timberline lodge. I visited Glacier National Park and a dialog was started with them about my completed work at Timberline. (Here's the opportunity knocking part): they asked ...."Can you do what you did at Timberline here"? (Applause)!
Dana: I am a slow artist! I started this painting a couple of years ago and I've just now finished it. This has been my way. For 2020 I just want to keep painting, get into some shows and sell, if possible.
Stephanie: I did a paint out on Jan 1 2019 with the "Emergency Tree Response Team". I liked painting with a solid reason, like trying to save a tree from removal. Painting with purpose! I like that. When I paint plein air I always enjoy it, even if the painting is not successful. During 2019 I also did a painting a day for 30 days also. But, I already do paint fast, so that project is not such a good fit for me. I mean what good is it if all you wind up with is 30 crummy paintings? (Laughter)! I am interested in focusing more on intention and being more deliberate. I packed away a lot of paintings quite a long while back and someone contacted me recently wanting an old painting I had on "Artfinder". I went through all my boxes and simply could not find the one she wanted. She wanted a painting of a dog in the water...so, my workaround is that I added this dog to this (pre-existing) painting. I think it is true that an animal absolutely does add "life" to a scene.
Becky: In 2019 I've been very involved in home improvement. I have a big project coming up. Architects and their own architecture will be involved, large paintings of buildings in oil..so oh, no pressure! (Laughter)! I'm actually confident that I will get it done. My thoughts are that we all need to be very selfish with our time. In 2020 I will get a lot more done. I am a different kind of artist. I do have a business plan too. I like spreadsheets and I use them. (I feel sure that I am the only artist you know who does)! (Laughter)!
Donna: In Jan 2019 I did a drawing every day and then every other day thereafter. I sketched during a trip and when I got home I realized I had to tackle my studio space. I spent two solid weeks doing nothing but re-doing my space. Now it is done and it is functional. (Well worth the time I devoted to it). In all I did 170 sketches and 8 finished (signed) paintings in 2019.
Tim: Last year my goal was to "slap more paint"! In 2019 I've painted well over 100 paintings. In 2020 I want to paint more urban scenes (that may include cars and people). I went out plein air painting in the gray...and right after I finished and I packed up everything ..the scene all went into to a beautiful orange! (It did only last a very brief time, but still!) (Laughter)! My other painting was painted because Hey, it's Christmas! (Laughter)!
Jeanie: I am pretty sure that without this group I'd be painting in a vacuum. My goal for 2020 remains to "get my work out onto walls (other than mine)". I am doing well with this goal. I have commitments for 2020.
Chris: I learned during 2019 that "total" landscape may not be my thing...(but still, I do find plein air to be so much fun)! I am really interested in doing more urban scenes in 2020. I took on a project (with multiple portraits) that I must complete in 2020. It is sooo complex and I think about how when you admonish a dog, you come into the kitchen and see a mess and you say: "What did you do!? What did you do!?" That is precisely what I am saying to myself "What did you do!? What did you do!?"(Laughter)!
Eunice: In 2019 I devoted some time to other projects, not painting. I am getting back into painting this year. I will paint smaller paintings from photos and then I'll make bigger paintings (using the smaller paintings for reference).
Greg: My son has left the house for college. It is a transition for all of us. I am transitioning out of advertising and illustration into oil painting. Next year will be more about that!
Announcements:
Joanne Radmilovich Kollman, Friday am session drawing at OSA (nude model)
9:30-12:30
Friday pm session, clothed painting or drawing session at OSA (Tim Young is the model)
Drink and Draw in Jan at OSA
Portrait session 6 weeks at OSA
Expressive painting session 6 weeks at OSA
https://public.osartists.org/public/adultclasses
Susan Kuznitsky March 15 Intro to pastels (one day)
Ongoing Saturday class at OSA
https://susankuznitsky.com/workshop/20674/one-day-intro-to-pastels
https://public.osartists.org/public/adultclasses
Michael Lindstrom Solo show Art on the Boulevard Feb 7, 2020
(Michael gives a workshop in August 2020)
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
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)
Huge thanks to everyone for my Birthday celebration today! So kind and thoughtful of you all! (Celeste)
Next Art Discussion Meeting Jan 2, 9am. Why does this painting work? Bring a painting (preferably one of your own) and explain why it "works" Let's discuss!
No comments:
Post a Comment