June 13, 2015

Week two and there's so much going on! We have themes of the week, clothing of the week (and it's not Pat this time!) and events of the week. So let's start looking and don't forget to keep scrolling all the way through. The clothing of the week is worth the trip—although if you want to see what Pat was wearing, feel free to visit Project Minima (link on the right).

Ken's back but he's been busy since last term. Just look at his breakout work on his new Ten Cat series. Here's the tree in the backyard. It builds on themes from past works (the patterning, the colors, the complements), but it's gone so much farther. The tree is beautifully textured and the fence positively glows.

Inside the bar, there is more color and pattern. Let your eyes wander around the stained glass, the bar surfaces and even the bottles and coolers. There's a lot going on, but none of it is random or purposeless.

And to think that those explosions of color and pattern start here... with a simple drawing and a grid. This is the back door from outside. We are looking inside, through the length of the bar to the street outside. Trust us! And come back next week. You'll see all that and more.

You may have guessed that buildings were one of our themes. In fact, all the "building" people sat together during Showtime! ... the better to see them, my dears. Even John's Incan temple and palace qualified. It may no longer be around, but it feels quite real here, doesn't it?

Abla combines two of our themes... water and buildings (okay, here it's a fountain and stone surround, but it's definitely a structure). She may not have started on either of those things yet, but the drawing is beautifully composed and the trees are exquisite.

More buildings and water! Madeleine's view of Bruges is taken from a boat on a canal in the foreground. We know she can paint water and we love her fine touch with the architectural details. Can't wait to see how this one progresses.

Yes, Bill is also painting buildings on water. (There's a lot of that in the Netherlands and Belgium.) The depth of the shadows under the bridge are wonderful and the stepped gables define the locale.

And here the theme segues from water in liquid state to clouds. Bill starts us off with an energetic cloudscape framed by skyscrapers.

Simultaneously, Hector began painting cloudscapes. Like Bill, his previous series had involved buildings with deep perspective. Unlike Bill's, Hector's clouds are subtle, soft and gentle. It prompted several of us to quote the song, "I've looked at clouds from both sides now...." We got through most of it, too, before Pat moved us along.

Hector also managed this colorful still life, too. He craved a burst of color after all the softly colored clouds.

And though these aren't clouds, they are just as soft and beautifully modeled. Glen's cherry blossoms are crisp and detailed in the foreground and become softer and mistier as they recede into deep space. This is lovely.... much softer and richer than the image on your screen.

We were blown away by Glen's flowers... all the more because he's relatively new. Isaac, from the same class, also did flowers. His are bold and animated, though. The colors are perfectly chosen and the background is reminiscent of a Van Gogh sky. It's alive and the flowers glow against that background!

But that's not all! Isaac was intrigued by a painting of water and attempted his own. Wow! Look at the reflections in the water! And the rich sunny colors of the boat against the deep background.

Susan's into flowers, too. She continues her series of flowers and showers. She's lost the towel and added spots to the cluster of cyclamen. The composition on this one is worth noting, too as the flowers and leaves create a flow to the painting.

Sara's self-portrait series  is also progressing nicely. She's added definition to her first study by adding value, both with paint and watercolor pencil. The complementary colors give focus and interest. She does a lot with very few colors.

Here's another one! Drawn from the same sketch, Sara gets a different feel as she uses warm colors. Her face is slowly emerging from the golden haze. Isn't it incredible how much you can see with such soft colors and shapes?

 

Mark is continuing his self-portrait series. As we mentioned, though, he is painting himself symbolically through objects used in his many interests. This still life includes a softball (16-inch) and a softball glove, surrounding a harmonica. And yes, he did serenade us before beginning to paint.

Elaine's doing people (another one of our themes of the day), but not a self-portrait. Well, maybe it is a sort of self-portrait after all. This is from an old grainy snapshot of her parents. She's trying for a softly nostalgic feel to this. We'll see if she pulls it off.... of if there are other attempts in this series.

As we mentioned last week, we have two new students... and they are incredible! Two weeks, two exercises completed. And two distinctive styles. Another promising crop of newbies. Here, Lydia does her plaid, taking all her brushes and colors for a try out. Look how the colors blend as she crosses still wet colors with perpendicular brushstrokes.

Here's Lydia's first color wheel. This all comes from only three colors... and look at the rich colors she's achieved by mixing!

Spring uses a #6 round and a 1" flat for her plaid. Look to the right side for a beautiful example of dry brush.

Spring's first color wheel is also great. She manages some lovely mixes and, interestingly enough, also mixes optically on the paper. Look at the triangle, oval and rectangle on the right side. Very Seurat!

We started with cats (well, the Ten Cat series) and had to finish up with the Mohammed's cat series. The drawings are wonderful, the sponge technique adds texture and life. In short, we are as enamored of his cat as he obviously is. We love this series.

 

 

We can't resist. There is one more cat item among our promised announcements.

 

Clothing of the week. It's Ken's t-shirt. Sure, there are 11 cats, not ten, but it's funny and whimsical and unique. It's a gift from his niece (that family gives great gifts. His sister gave him shirts with his own artwork) and has two of this favorite things—cats and hot dogs. It's cats on hot dogs... how can you beat that? This is a close up so you can see the cats (and count them), but rest assured, it's really a t-shirt!

 

 

Cats on hot dogs... gotta love it!

 

You're invited. Our friend Delores, also a former student, has a show coming up. Mark your calendars—she'll be exhibiting in the Gallery at Unity Church through the month of July. The addrss is 1925 W. Thome (off Ridge Avenue and a block south of Devon). Delores will be there on Sunday 7/14 and 7/21 from 10am–1pm. The show is open during church hours. If you want to go at any other time, make an appt. with Jay at 773-973-0007. Call Delores, too (773-338-3070) and she'll try to be there.

Click here for more info

One day only!!!

 

Concert of the week. Here's a chance to hear Steve and the DePaul Community Chorus in Opera Favorites from France and Spain. It's a free concert on Sunday, June 14 at 3pm at the DePaul Concert Hall at 800 W. Belden in Chicago. Find out more by clicking on the poster to the right. Take it from us—this is a wonderful experience. The chorus is some 150 voices strong and they are incredible.