Meeting Notes, August 3, 2017

At todays meeting:  Tim, Jim, Eunice, Geri, Kathy Johnson, Becky, Ward, Kathy Pugh and Diane

Medley Tea is closed today

Diane: I took painting the figure/portraits from Joanne Radmilovich and Joanne Mehl. Both used toning to begin their work. Joanne R. used a gray wash, then sienna or umber paint to begin to define the features in an underpainting. When that was established, then the highlights, medium and darker tones were painted on with more pigment to bring up the underpainting to the skin tones. In Joanne M.’s class, we began the drawing with an umber tone, then began to add tones to establish the highlights, midtones and deep tones. And recently, I have been directly painting onto old paintings for the new painting. It helps me to learn to paint directly rather than draw and grid my work. 

Eunice: In landscape painting, I use burnt sienna or a light red to tone the canvas. Richard Schmid wrote in his second book about using viridian and red mixed with turpentine to wash on the canvas. then wipe out shapes to create areas to paint.

Ward: It’s not a watercolor practice. Infact, watercolorists work hard to preserve the white. However, I am starting with colorful washes plus three primary colors on my work now.

Kathy P: I sometimes tone my canvas and block in the values. It helps me to see the composition.

Becky: Sometimes I tone. In Aimee Erickson’s workshop, we toned our canvas. It helps with establishing values and when we used wiping out, it gave a more natural and organic appearance. Toning also keeps the paint from sinking. I tried several mediums; Rublev medium, oleogel and Gamblin solvent free gel. My favorite medium is the oleogel. It gives a smooth feel to the paint.

Kathy J: I use ultramarine blue plus sienna to do the underpainting. It creates a variety of tones. In pastels, I do the underpainting in pigment or watercolor. It helps me to start the painting.

Tim: I don’t tone canvases. Even when I bought pre-toned canvases, it didn’t matter. I cover the entire canvas with my paint. I also found that toning the canvas darkens the painting, even in watercolors. With age all paints become colors with various degrees of transparency.

The Lavender Festival was a hit. This year, 40 paintings sold. It is growing every year.

Jim: I use burnt sienna and wipe out light areas and leave the other values mid to dark for painting on. I also paint red, black or orange shapes and leave them showing as edges on the things I paint, like an outline.

I found a great place to paint. Grand Island south of Dayton. Hildebrandt Orchard is there, and that is where I got permission to paint the cherry orchard. There are several beautiful places to paint on the island.

Geri: I use sketch books with toned paper and enjoy pulling out the lights and putting in the darks. I brought in pastels that I did on black paper. I wanted to mimic the old labels used for fruit and vegetables. 

Announcements:

Many of our painters are currently participating in Pacific Northwest Plein Air 2017 (Reception, Friday, August 4, 5-7pm Maryhill Museum, 35 Maryhill Museum Drive, Goldendale, WA 509 773 3733 

http://www.maryhillmuseum.org

https://pacificnwpa.com
https://pleinairhoodriver.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/pnwpleinair/

 Villa Catalana Cellars  Art in The Garden Party, Saturday, August 12, Ward Stroud and others, 5:30-9pm

https://villacatalanacellars.com

Kathy P: We have an apple orchard near Hagg Lake in Gaston. In mid September through October, we will open it up to painting as individuals or groups. 

Joanne Radmilovich Kollman Life Session OSA Friday, will RESUME August 11 1-4pm
http://www.oregonsocietyofartists.com/classes-and-workshops/classes

Joanne Radmilovich Kollman: Fresh Flower Saturday at OSA 9-12 will RESUME August 19
http://www.oregonsocietyofartists.com/classes-and-workshops/classes

Michael Lindstrom workshop (August 26 and 27):
http://michaellindstromartist.com/workshops
https://www.facebook.com/paintingpdx/

Thomas Kitts Drawing for Plein Air Workshop (August 11-13):
http://www.thomaskitts.com/2017/06/announcing-3-day-workshop-august-11-13.html 

Additional workshops with Thomas:
http://www.thomaskitts.com/p/blog-page_22.html

Umpqua plein air

http://uvarts.com/umpqua-plein-air/

Northwest Pastel show reception August 6, Oregon Society of Artists
http://www.oregonsocietyofartists.com

Plein Air Painters of Lane County: http://mailchi.mp/87b74a615671/z8795vygp8-1253885

BIG THANKS to Diane Marks Bestor for moderating the meeting and providing the notes and to Tim Young for the photography for todays meeting

Next meeting: Thursday August 10. Suggested table topic: What is the single most significant painting/drawing thing that you have learned (and that stuck with you) over the past year?   Let's discuss!