Belated post - elaine t. - Mar 31

Thank you Ken, for the nudge to get my pics and post done. I find the stay-at-home atmosphere tempts me into inertia, and I need to change that.

I finished the final two wave studies. I used titanium white for the wave foam in both. I think it really captures the feeling of breaking foam in the wind. In number 7, I used fewer layers but darker colors. In number 8, I did some color lifting to try to get a little glow into the waves. While all of the studies have their merits, none of them are able to capture the same luminosity of the Aivazovsky oil paintings. I talked about it with my son Daniel, and he suggested that the pigments in oil painting are floated on a thin layer of oil, and watercolor just can't duplicate that. It's been an interesting exercise!

I am really struggling with inertia in my daily life. I saw a suggestion that people should keep some kind of daily journal--written, drawings, video, whatever is convenient-- during the pandemic. Years ahead, it will be fascinating to revisit, like when my mom would reminisce about life during the Depression. Perhaps that will help--nothing fancy, just record a few impressions each day.

Hope you all are well! It will be lovely when we can resume class in person!

the forebears

The one on the left is the newsprint charcoal and watercolor crayon, I did the one on the right with the proper material.  I kind of like the one on the left.  I made up the background, kind of dreamy huh, like Rousseau huh?  Made up those trees on the right too, in the photo it is just rocks all the way to the top.

March 28, 2020

Elaine O. here. I've been working on hands, not entirely successfully. This is a mudra associated with protection, teaching and generosity. Seems appropriate right about now. I began with sketches and am satisfied with the color palette, but not so much with the focus.

I decided to switch gears and sketch another mudra (compassion and loving kindness), using a felt-tip calligraphy marker and brushing out the ink to work on value.

And now, Sara's inspired me to set regular "studio hours," so I'm hoping for more progress next week. Stay safe and healthy!

Sara’s work

Ok, I’ve been busy this week. I’ve been working on learning the Loomis method for drawing heads. I’ve been watching utube videos by Proko and Kelly Eddington. Plus I found Andrew Loomis’ book online in PDF form. I like the volume that this sketch method creates but it’s really hard to develop an eye for the forms that make up the face. Here are some of my sketches. I have a hard time drawing generic faces from my head; it’s better when I use a photo.

 

 

 

Then I also did some sketches that I developed in to paintings.

This one below I painted as an homage to Wolf Kahn who died a few days ago & whose paintings I admire.  I tried to use his color palette, which relies on a lot of complementary colors. No, he didn’t die of the virus; it was congestive heart failure. He was 92. He painted until the very end. I really like how this turned out.

 Then today I worked on the background for this double portrait. Not sure about it. It looked better an hour ago, now the shapes look too round. Or maybe it just looks better in real life.

And then I painted this in response to the painting pat posted, which look like a Joaquin Sorolla. I did this because I the plate design reminds me of water. But I did the painting on something called canvas paper, which repels water. It’s for acrylics and oils. I ended using colored pencils dipped in water. It was fun to paint.

That’s it folks. I usually start at 9am and work until noon. Sometimes I do sketches in the afternoon. It’s more fun than spring cleaning....

Big Cat One

I did this guy 30 years ago back when I used charcoal and watercolor crayons on newsprint.  I did him agai 10 years later and put him in our 1999 show.  20 years later I am doing him again.  Not uncommonly I am more interested in the background than the foreground.

Pictures from Mar 21 email

I’m still working on studies from Aivazovsky’s wave paintings, trying to capture the luminosity and fluidity of stormy oceans. The first 4 are from different paintings, using different brushes: 1 = soft flat brushes; 2 = round brushes; 3 = hard angle brushes; 4 = round brushes on very wet paper. I like the round brushes, so that’s what I’m using in studies 5 and 6. 5 and 6 are studies of the same section of waves, just varying the technique. I’m experimenting with the order I lay down the colors, and gradually using fewer layers. 

In the final two, I am using titanium white for the foam of the waves. I thought about using masking fluid, but felt that it’s easier to keep the spontaneous look of the waves by adding an almost opaque layer of white. I plan on two more studies, using fewer and fewer layers.

--elaine t.

Sara’s work

 

Here are the three paintings I worked on this week. The lilies I painted from real life on Saturday during class time In response to a painting Pat posted. The double portrait is painted on Ken size paper (18x22). I like how I painted the baby; the mom not so much. Too much background; not quite sure what to do with all that space. Bottom is a Nora painting still in progress. I’ve been at home about 10 days since all my classes and grand parenting duties have been canceled. I tend to spend mornings painting or sketching. I’m working in several sketchbooks I have started over the years.

Where are the other paintings that have been floating around on emails?

This is another Ophelia

March 18, 2020

LATEST CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FROM PAT!

Our watercolor class for Spring has been cancelled along with all other cont. ed. courses. 

We'll see about Summer class when the time gets closer.  For now everybody stay at home!

Pat

Also, I recently received a notice from Brooklyn Art Library about a free (or pay what you wish) art project that lasts for 28 days.  Perfect timing as that's about when class was going to start up.

"Join our NEW 28 day challenge and get an automatic email EVERY day for 28 days with a creative prompt. In order to make this accessible to everyone, we are making this a 'Pay What You Wish' model! You can sign up for free, or help to support Brooklyn Art Library during these tough times and make a donation! Anything is appreciated. Please allow 24 hours for the first email to be sent."

March 17, 2020

Corona virus update!

As you know, we were planning to return next Saturday, March 21. City Colleges of Chicago have suspended classes for that week and are investigating other learning scenarios.

Right now, it appears the plan is to return after the Spring break which would be Sat. April 18 thru May 30. We'll let you know if things change or if there are alternative activities to share in the meantime.

Stay healthy!