It's been a somewhat confusing day today. The morning was cold and gray, turning bright and sunny for the afternoon. Meanwhile, we're bracing for a cold week ahead.... with snow! Yes, they are even using the words "polar vortex" again.
And like the winds of November, there are all kinds of themes and ideas swirling through our classroom today—but these are all good. Nothing to dread here! In fact, there's so much going on, we're going to get right to it right now....
We begin with something a little different. Today, our circle was presided over by a stained glass portrait. Beautiful, isn't it? And it had a perfect reason for being there, too. It's based on a watercolor self-portrait of Mississippi artist Walter Anderson, masterfully executed by Alan, one of our own watercolor artists. Have you noticed how we attract all kinds of different artists through the years? We've featured artists who work in acrylics, pastels, oils, even textiles—and now, glass.
As for the rest of us, we continue our fascination with autumn. Vivian is experimenting with a new set of watercolor cakes. Apparently they work just perfectly to capture this adorable red squirrel perched on a lawn among colorful autumn leaves.
Leaves were popular with many of us today. Greeta contrasts colorful leaves with cool gray stone in a cemetery...
... while Madeleine tries her hand at new techniques. She sponges the leaves and features a bloom to highlight the rise of the foreground hill.
Alan (yes, the Alan of stained glass renown) paints trees and their reflections in a Michigan lake. Having seen his glass, it's no wonder he has such a sure hand with color.
Mark, too features the colors and leaves of fall in a seasonal mashup with gym shoes and architecture.
Hector switches to colored pencils for this study of a single fall leaf. This marks the beginning of his work with The Plan. We're always excited to see the results of The Plan; after a series of steps, the final paintings always mark a quantum leap for our artists. And Hector is already starting with a distinctive viewpoint—notice the energetic marks in all his work? So tune in to see how this comes out.
It's "study" day all around today. Having finished a major painting, Steve does thumbnail sketches of bromeliads and orchids preparatory to his next set of paintings. Way to use elements of The Plan!
And Bill continues with larger color studies of his pathway. Still using The Plan, he varies the saturation, values and hue, trying to perfectly define his intent in paint. Which is your favorite?
And here, he starts another study. This is a flooded corner in Chicago (Foster and Broadway, to be exact) during recent torrential rains. While we love the reflections and the feel of the storm, we can't wait to see where this goes after The Plan.
Our next two artists took their inspiration from Chinese brush painting. They both have elegant composition and painterly brushed leaves and branches. Abla uses complementary colors to add delicate blossoms...
... and Mohammed adds a bird with brightly contrasting plumage to his crisp branches.
Marva is also beginning a new painting today, full of color. Look at this sky! It moves like a Van Gogh, doesn't it? And we still have pounding surf to look forward to. Keep watching this space.
Speaking of pounding surf, Susan takes us below the ocean (okay, the surf probably wasn't pounding on the day she went snorkeling) to share all the lovely fish and coral she saw. Also beautiful, colorful and full of movement.
Using only the bright blue of the sky, the dusty beige of the mountains and building and the vibrant green foliage, Tony celebrates his vacation in Greece with this beautifully minimalistic cityscape. Look at the depth—incredible, isn't it?
Ken is on #14 of his building series, but he uses bright colors and a flat plane to describe his view. (By the way, neither the real buildings nor the painting have that strange curve. Must be the photographer!)
Elaine, like Tony, uses a minimal palette for her buildings. And, like many of us, she's working on quick studies. Here she finishes a study for her last large painting (strangely enough, since most of us do the study before the painting).
And she uses the same colors to describe the glaring morning sun under the train tracks in a Chicago alley.
What's with our new people lately? They are some of the quickest, most prolific artists we've seen. And they're good, too! You really need to watch them. Here's our latest, Victoria, beginning with a wonderful plaid. It actually looks like a woven plaid, doesn't it?
She moves on to a deeply saturated color wheel...
... and explores the relationships between colors, particularly complementary colors...
... culminating in the famed "paper towel" exercise. Now that she's successfully done this one, she's on the road to becoming an old master. Great job, Victoria.
See you all next week. We'll have more great paintings, along with news about concerts and other goings-on.
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