Remember Sara's spring tree from last week? We're including it again for comparison purposes. She started with a fleeting impression from a train, using dots for the buds silhouetted against the morning sun.
Dissatisfied, she returned to the tree to look at it again. She scrubbed out her first attempt and produced the lovely painting below. This tree just glows with early spring warmth. Notice the skillful use of the dots to describe the buds. Tune in against next week to see the progress.
Vivian is not exactly using pointillist "dots" on this sketch of a Japanese maple, but the effect is the same. Again, this spring tree is obviously sketched from life (sorry for the blurry photo—it's the photographer, not the artist) and features colorful buds against stark branches.
Contrast the delicate texture on the sketch above with the smooth flat planes of Vivian's dual portrait. Both of the sitters are painted from life and both bear a strong resemblance to the subjects. We love this—the composition, the relationship and the promise of a backstory.
Another dual portrait, this one is a sketch with color added. The resemblance is already there. And now, Bill is experimenting with layering and subtle color modeling. We can't wait to see what happens when he switches to a stronger paper that can stand up to the multiple layers and scrubbing.
While he didn't exactly use pointillism to finish his spring painting below, Bill did rely heavily on texturing techniques like strong, active lines—as well as the dots, of course.
Ken is also into landscapes, finishing the one he began last week. We love the progression from moody softly striped sky through the more defined stripes, all the way to the pointillist foreground.
In his current series, wherein he revisits old series, Ken has returned to his first love and chosen the train painting below. In an interesting twist, he plans to use the original not just as inspiration, but as the base of his new painting. Using a technique Seurat did (again with the dots!), Ken plans to overlay the smooth washes below with more active dots. Come back and see how this progresses.
Ellen is also painting landscapes. Here a deer stops for a drink near a lake in Wisconsin. We love the contrast between the smooth water and the active dry-brushed trees.
More dots! In this brilliantly conceptual piece, Ellen describes a trip to China. There is a snowglobe with a temple juxtaposed against the famed terra cotta warriors—all contained within yet another snowglobe.
Zoom in to see the finely textured stone walls on Tony's castle. More dots! The limited color scheme makes these very subtle, but no less effective for all of that.
Elaine is also using a limited palette to describe stonework. But she's using complementary colors instead of an almost monochromatic scheme. Her brushwork is also more exuberant; while there are distinct brushstrokes, none of them are as small as a dot.
Perhaps you've noticed that we love to paint water and sky. Also that we don't have to go far from home to find a subject. Below, Madeleine paints both Foster and Montrose Beaches—for those who can't choose a favorite. Look at the beautiful sky, the colorful clouds and the weeds in the foreground walk. We love it!
Even though it isn't finished, we know we're going to be just as fond of Madeleine's painting below. The towers are beautifully modeled with a striking graphic quality, especially contrasted with the stonework on the wall.
You may not recognize the Tibetan scene below as Marva's. There is none of the lush foliage she's known for, but look again—this painting is definitely hers. The textured elements and the composition are exquisite. The yellow in the sky is masking fluid. Watch for it to come off next week to reveal wispy clouds.
Rosemary's back from a cycling trip, in which she actually saw a painted bunting—just like the one she started from a photo before she left. What are the odds? Anyway, look at the brilliant colors. Is it any wonder this bird is called a painted bunting?
And now for some announcements!
That's right, our very own Ellen won a keg party in an athletic contest (okay, bags)... and we're all invited. Here are the details. Be sure to mark your calendars:
Friday, May 6, 2016, 7pm
Will's Northwoods Inn
3030 N. Racine, Chicago
It's the Friday before Mother's Day. What better way to celebrate than
to take Mom to a Wisconsin-style bar with friends?
See Susan's artwork... in several venues
That's right, Susan's work can be seen in several places. If you happen to be downtown at Blick's on State Street, look for Susan's art (arrow below). She's one of 35 exhibitors for the Blick Spring show. It will be up through May 9, so stop by soon.
Or, if you are near the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago and happen to venture to the third floor, you'll see Susan as one of the exhibitors in the Asian Pacific Heritage Art Exhibit. She has eight watercolors on display throughout May and June.
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