tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64154167736451506272024-02-19T02:28:11.281-08:00Anita's Art Blog Welcome to my online artistic journey through illustration and fine art.
Here I will show some samples of my journey in learning the language of visual fine art.
Please visit my online gallery and store at anitahartcarroll.fineartamerica.com
Thanks for coming along for the ride!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-25683881499858179412019-04-19T09:38:00.000-07:002019-04-20T08:52:25.017-07:00Exciting Plans!I know I said I was closing this blog down, but recently I've scrolled through this blog and I gotta say, it is kind of valuable to look at my old work in a self-development way. It is like an old fashioned sketch journal or art diary. I can see that this blog might, just might have some usefulness to another struggling artist or student out there.<br />
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If nothing else, it keeps me humble! So, I've decided to revisit this blog and keep it updated.<br />
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Man, a lot of living has happened in the few years that I started this blog. From early childhood all I wanted to be when I grew up was an artist. It is crazy hard. It is sacred to me. Something of the divine resides in all of us, and when we create, we are following the ultimate creator of the universe in imitating his wondrous abilities. Even children express themselves in coloring and drawing and experience such self-fulfillment and pride. I think as we grow and life begins to take it's toll on us, we get discouraged and jaded and lose that childlike wonder of being able to create something. Anything. No matter what the world comments about it.<br />
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And that is not o.k. <br />
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The world has changed a lot in the last decade. Some of it for the better. Hopefully we are ALL a little (or a lot) more tolerant of other people, their individuality and the their struggles in life. I think the world needs more art. More striving for excellence in skill and in thought. It is just a crying shame that creating art and making a decent living to provide for yourself and your loved ones is not a reality for very many people. That should not stop artists from sharing what they make with the world. Sometimes it is just time to turn the digital world off. Create with your own two hands, not for acclaim, not for money, not for any other reason than to give voice to your own emotions, beliefs, experiences. Create to shout out joy and wonder. Create to bless someone else. Create to facilitate your own growth as a vibrant human being.<br />
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I've done a bunch of art since the last posting here, but I haven't even tried to monetize it. When galleries take 50% commission right off the top of the retail price, and the artist has to pay for shipping, framing, insurance, marketing promotion, supplies and fees, the actual profit from the sale of a $600 painting to the artist is around $75. THAT is crazy. The internet is a real game changer for artists now. It is offering artists the chance to connect with people all over the planet who may be interested in buying their art. It also makes art thieves and copyright breakers have a field day because if they can see it on screen, they'll steal it. It's a whole new wild west out there!!<br />
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The internet may change what I do eventually, but for now, all I want to do is share what I've done and what I'm doing.<br />
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I am venturing out into the digital world doing something that I love, and I'm very excited to share with you and explore what the future holds.<br />
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Stay tuned for some updates on what I have planned...I'm working on something really cool!<br />
Here's a hint of future awesomeness: <br />
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<a href="https://verycreate.com/">https://verycreate.com/</a><br />
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In the meantime, here are some quick pastel color studies currently fresh from my easel.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-46587720117646390282013-05-28T17:28:00.003-07:002013-05-28T17:28:55.924-07:00Closing this Blog down and movingThanks for following along so far on my artistic journey! I am closing this blog down and starting a new updated one. It is time to move on, artistically to a different vein. So, if you would like to see the current, new one, the address is:<br />
ahartcarroll.blogspot.com<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-57566620691781313882013-04-13T16:17:00.000-07:002013-04-13T16:20:33.662-07:00Jack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Portrait of Jack. Charcoal and white chalk on toned Strathmore paper. Total working time: 2 1/2 hours. I blocked in the planes of the head with powdered charcoal on a soft flat paint brush then began plotting features of the head. This method seems to work for me because it is a bridge between the intense and long term drafting/observation skills of traditional atelier work (which would drive me quickly insane) and the more gestural big picture work that is <i>too </i>loose for what I wanted here. <br />
I bought a sample of a dozen different charcoal pencils while I was at Dick Blick and Utrecht stores in Portland Oregon for Easter a couple of weekends ago, and I am trying them all out. Up until now, I have been disappointed with my results in using charcoal as a medium. I have been much encouraged to see that most of the problem has been<i> my cheap materials</i>! I used the new toned Strathmore sketching paper for the pretest of materials below. Its great paper...takes some abuse and holds several layers of charcoal without problems. It has some threads and subtle color variety in the paper, but feels smooth to the touch. I really like this paper. <br />
... I have found a big difference between Generals Charcoal and other brands. Generals brand is scratchy and squeeky when it goes on and has a very rough and grainy feel. Not my favorite, at all. Ritmo charcoal glides on like butter... so nice to use! The B size has a super satin feel , the 3B is very dark and also satiny. The HB has a semi-rough feel during application. Pitt/Faber Castel goes on pretty soft, but the medium and soft hardness is <i>really </i>soft. Good for blurry effects, but really beyond my patience level to get a sharp point. If I want something that dark, I will switch to the compressed charcoal sticks and make a more gestural mark. Conte Pierre Noire brand has a stiff and waxy feeling during application and can make a super fine line. The HB pencil is so very hard though, that it feels like you have to grind it into the paper to make a mark. It is very very stiff and makes a medium to light line mark, no matter how hard I pressed. For the impatient artist (moi, you see), it would take a lot of tickling motion and fussy build up to get value changes. It would be good for light value situations or with lots of detail situations, though. Wolff's Carbon Royal Sovereign 6B goes on with a drag feeling and has a waxy feel. I couldn't sense a difference between the 6B and the 4B. Vine charcoal and regular soft charcoal go on super satiny, but they are much lighter in value. I can see why Aristedes atelier and Susan Lyon use them so much. It will give very subtle and dreamy effects and blends easily with no hard edges. A good choice if you are looking for refined results without spending 25 hours doing delicate blending work.<br />
For the next go around, I will try the selection of Char-Kole fat sticks and Cretacolor charcoal lead sticks that Nathan Fowkes uses and some charcoal powders applied super soft like Susan Lyon. Then after that, I'll experiment with conte sanguine and charcoal and white chalk. Turns out how or IF you sharpen your sticks makes another huge difference. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-73749346090597277812013-03-21T19:19:00.000-07:002013-03-21T19:19:10.791-07:00There are so many great art books in my personal library that I use and refer to for instruction and inspiration! Here are a couple of my go-to favorites:<br />
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Every artist needs this book. His companion book on creating realism in imaginary scenes and characters is going to be another classic that every illustrator needs to own.<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cGHRQjifL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cGHRQjifL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Color-Light-Guide-Realist-Painter/dp/0740797719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363917224&sr=1-1&keywords=color+and+light+by+james+gurney">http://www.amazon.com/Color-Light-Guide-Realist-Painter/dp/0740797719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363917224&sr=1-1&keywords=color+and+light+by+james+gurney</a><br />
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Great book for painting loose and painterly with some demos and lots of inspirational brushwork.<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WkikUwE7L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WkikUwE7L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fill-Your-Paintings-Light-Color/dp/1581800533/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363917573&sr=1-2&keywords=kevin+mcpherson+artist">http://www.amazon.com/Fill-Your-Paintings-Light-Color/dp/1581800533/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363917573&sr=1-2&keywords=kevin+mcpherson+artist</a></div>
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This lady rocks watercolors. She does use some 'tricks' and watercolor techniques, but she is such a masterful painter that they just add to the painting, instead of being the subject of the painting.<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61rreY-Vo6L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61rreY-Vo6L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Watercolor-Paint-Itself/dp/0823099776/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363917703&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+make+a+watercolor+paint+itself+experimental+techniques+for+achieving+realistic+effects">http://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Watercolor-Paint-Itself/dp/0823099776/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363917703&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+make+a+watercolor+paint+itself+experimental+techniques+for+achieving+realistic+effects</a><br />
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This is more of an instructional book on composition mistakes that beginning artists typically struggle with. It does cover 'seeing' and drawing what you see, but it is not a book like Betty Edwards classic "Drawing on the Right Side of Your Brain". If you wonder why your paintings appear weak or not as vibrant eye catching-wise, then this book can help you go back to the thumbnail stage and correct your basic errors.<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G6UBsUqJL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G6UBsUqJL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Artists-Brain-right-brain/dp/1440308446/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363917851&sr=1-21&keywords=composition+in+art+north+light+books">http://www.amazon.com/Your-Artists-Brain-right-brain/dp/1440308446/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363917851&sr=1-21&keywords=composition+in+art+north+light+books</a><br />
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and last but definitely not least, is my latest find. I had looked at this book in the library years ago and thought "Eh, its ok.". I am learning soo much lately though, and now that I bought this book on recommendation of another art blog, I am so glad I did. I guess I didn't have enough background knowledge to process all the great stuff in this book, but I definitely 'get it' now! This book focuses on strictly watercolor landscapes as the topic, but if you look beyond the landscape subjects, the topics translate into virtually any visual genre. If you want to infuse emotional content into your work, get this book.<br />
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http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Content-Create-Paintings-Communicate/dp/192983425X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363918438&sr=8-1&keywords=emotional+content+brommerUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-64583970961796233912012-11-07T18:52:00.000-08:002012-11-07T18:53:30.189-08:00my student's work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFHvMt8xHTCh7Ykf6aQxHj_O4n9k_nqjJrKeULenLdaga4BYJEawyjI4ar2_uVA1X2hSRUoEc-G7IQkFObWDnGLM1m6dW0wd8lmT-hefwQPQT0ggjXVUeShE-BBT43OSk3Lvcwqf2TLA/s1600/teaching+E.N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFHvMt8xHTCh7Ykf6aQxHj_O4n9k_nqjJrKeULenLdaga4BYJEawyjI4ar2_uVA1X2hSRUoEc-G7IQkFObWDnGLM1m6dW0wd8lmT-hefwQPQT0ggjXVUeShE-BBT43OSk3Lvcwqf2TLA/s320/teaching+E.N.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This wonderful painting was done by my twelve year old art student. This is her very first oil painting EVER. Great job, Eliza.N.!! It was worth the struggle!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-64840696217815007072012-10-17T00:08:00.000-07:002012-10-17T00:08:25.886-07:00My student's work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am enjoying giving private painting and drawing lessons this fall and I am sooo proud of one of my art students Rachel N. and her very first oil painting! I love the glow of the grapes and how she utilized the concept of lost edges and focal point! Can't wait to see her next painting. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-60995079641564578082012-10-11T11:12:00.001-07:002012-10-11T11:12:36.898-07:00Great BookI have added a great new book to my bulging art book cases. This one is not for everyone. Its not a how to book, or a color mixing book, or a color theory book. It is a book that details different tubes of paint colors and how they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. As an artist of very limited means, I am constantly frustrated by the inconsistencies of pigment colors from one brand to the other. One brand of yellow ochre, for example, can range from chalky yellow brown to vibrant creamy yellow to orange brown to rust! This book shows color swatches by color families of several manufacturers side by side. It will help me in deciding which $30 tube of paint I want to invest in. Now, don't get me wrong. Give me a warm and cool blue, red and yellow and white and I can mix any color I need. (unless its neon or metallics). It's a skill that has taken me years to master, but I am at the stage with my painting where I want some time shortcuts, dang it! And spending hundreds of dollars to play with brands is not an option. <br />
<img alt="Artist's Color Manual: The Complete Guide to Working With Color" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510PA0EK3VL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">http://amzn.com/B000977UOI</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-7995255859916606932012-10-11T11:00:00.000-07:002012-10-11T11:00:52.412-07:00Online ArticleHere is a link to an online LDS newspaper that mentions my art. Click on the link and specify Oct 9, 2012 issue.<br />
www.latterdaysentinel.com<br />
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It turned out to be a huge art show. Perhaps over 75 pieces of art in a variety of mediums. It was so great to see both professional and new artists mingle together and be inspired from each other's work. I was especially gratified to talk with artists who were timid about showing their works, or who had never before displayed their art and got to see their pieces displayed in a professional manner. There is such evidence of our divine nature in any work of creation. I am increasingly aware of how much of ourselves we put into our art, and how each piece needs to be treated with care and value.<br />
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On another note, I guess in my advancing age, I am finally learning to value things that I don't personally agree with, or care for - as a valid artistic statement in itself. Diversity is a very, very good thing. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-13016420352564159632012-08-12T00:07:00.000-07:002012-08-12T00:10:33.552-07:00mont st michelle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a gift for a family member who requested a fantasy painting of the french island city of Mont St. Michelle. It is part accurate depiction of the medieval city, part fantasy creation with heavy influence from Disney's movie Tangled and Maxfield Parrish illustrations. I am especially grateful to James Gurney's wonderful artist book on Color and Light for teaching me about the correct colors and values of the Golden Hour right before sunset. 20 x 30 oil on hardboard. <br />
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What a lousy photo capture. Sheesh. I really, really need a SLR camera set up to take better photos of my works. It's crazy hard to take accurate photos that won't blur or be 'way off in color! <br />
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-82100807078496388542012-06-28T14:24:00.000-07:002012-06-28T14:24:00.261-07:00Laguna Beach Heisler Park Finished<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finally getting around to posting the finished piece Laguna Beach Heisler Park. I really enjoyed using the colors of the 'golden hour' - which is right before sunset. I used a combination of four photos of this particular vantage point and created my own colors for what I imagined the scene would look like at the golden hour.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-2394070931527725992012-06-28T14:20:00.001-07:002012-06-28T14:20:31.430-07:00Skyler's Art Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlQeFPZ43ou9OIkUm1uihHUXVhpYoHDV511d7DFq3PA32N3wUdJn3khZAy4e4UNGO2sd9le6Z1RZxPlW4LGsm2feaRx7jT_NozgS_saboxJIjIjMGmW7aNpfBHOeWGAsItqspjuVA_uc/s1600/unlock-movement.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlQeFPZ43ou9OIkUm1uihHUXVhpYoHDV511d7DFq3PA32N3wUdJn3khZAy4e4UNGO2sd9le6Z1RZxPlW4LGsm2feaRx7jT_NozgS_saboxJIjIjMGmW7aNpfBHOeWGAsItqspjuVA_uc/s320/unlock-movement.gif" width="228" /></a></div>
I'm so silly-proud to announce that my son-in-law won the Best of Show award this spring with his fabulous sculpture entitled Unlock Movement. It was a six foot tall clay, metal wire and wood sculpture that just blew the judges away. His sculpture teacher told me that the voting was unanimous and no-contest. Here are a couple of his other works that were in the show as well. The long woman is cast aluminum and the close up of one massive wall sculpture is from a piece entitled Female Collision, done in raku fired clay. It is so maddening that such a talented artist can not make a living with his art. The challenge is to keep finding a way to create while supporting his family and going to school full time. In a perfect world this man would be studying in Italy full time, but wouldn't we all??Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-69631280308809251472012-02-10T12:10:00.000-08:002012-02-10T12:13:17.518-08:00Laguna Beach Heisler Park<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu7NOlVJevMPblZCCMScFJj46XUqrUHKpE-QrQw7KeyonowOaYGuGGITmFYrzk-VMOBM83e1SQqkvl9NTzw9jF6VdYZwZQ3pBxUYXP2WIfKkpWPLe_TDZ6ArHGj_sVRkekwUjr_naJyw/s1600/heisler-park-first-session.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu7NOlVJevMPblZCCMScFJj46XUqrUHKpE-QrQw7KeyonowOaYGuGGITmFYrzk-VMOBM83e1SQqkvl9NTzw9jF6VdYZwZQ3pBxUYXP2WIfKkpWPLe_TDZ6ArHGj_sVRkekwUjr_naJyw/s320/heisler-park-first-session.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707602577995704354" /></a><br />Starting a beach scene from reference photos my son and daughter in law sent me. Using the ala prima method, but am going to spread it out over a couple of sessions because I still have to do my day job. This is session one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-20012516257333314702012-02-10T12:05:00.000-08:002012-02-10T12:10:41.296-08:00Sowa Studio<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK51FZBbIUCZvt8UiTbc3D64v8AXO2TLZhbmpU1SPCa-Bgrgq0dcoFSlokWpE200eVComYRaq19Iqn9Pka1Mo3z-SFfrjS8y26TyKLyC1Wvr3WUQH5jgv5hjCQM4EfROPVtaCJEeW9hNQ/s1600/sowa-studio.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK51FZBbIUCZvt8UiTbc3D64v8AXO2TLZhbmpU1SPCa-Bgrgq0dcoFSlokWpE200eVComYRaq19Iqn9Pka1Mo3z-SFfrjS8y26TyKLyC1Wvr3WUQH5jgv5hjCQM4EfROPVtaCJEeW9hNQ/s320/sowa-studio.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707601366906845458" /></a>I attended a great Ala Prima workshop in portland oregon in late January with Thomas Jefferson Kitts. The location was Kat Sowa's fantastic studio in north portland beneath the St. Johns Bridge. Good old Oregon, very "Twilight" like....Her studio is every artist's dream.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-83301184105422933332012-02-10T11:53:00.001-08:002012-02-10T12:04:02.546-08:00Notan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXfGh-sMfRMKN9l6Vlf-xi53dPjN-4CywNwgH3jY1vRl8sIZXF50NJPbA77on7ci1uATNrwr7yjdc5rzT30uRjeXlXxkonSwXrw87GyTULiw29ZR4Zt6aox4jVC8jc3LrHVwtM1JgsVQ/s1600/flowers-notan-kitts.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXfGh-sMfRMKN9l6Vlf-xi53dPjN-4CywNwgH3jY1vRl8sIZXF50NJPbA77on7ci1uATNrwr7yjdc5rzT30uRjeXlXxkonSwXrw87GyTULiw29ZR4Zt6aox4jVC8jc3LrHVwtM1JgsVQ/s320/flowers-notan-kitts.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707597556157020674" /></a>A notan is a black and white composition study using in this case, five values. The idea is to clump things into five value masses and compose those masses into interesting abstract shapes with lost edges, hard edges and descriptive brush work. Ala Prima means to do a complete painting in one session, with no sketching, or 'cat licking' of the canvas. You premix your five paint values on your palette and apply the paint with confident strokes. Thomas said " A confident stroke is more important than being right." The method of applying paint communicates to the viewer. Then, since it was not the end of the day and I had more time, I added more details and took it to a finished level. Thomas listened to my detailed plan of attack and said to me "stop overthinking everything!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-9219881337246257922012-02-10T11:50:00.000-08:002012-02-10T11:52:53.376-08:00My color Ala PrimaHere is my ala prima still life. About three and half hours total time. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3daEOE0ZjFwFjbRUAfHsAXus_o3E3olaEcAMfshg6kV8sqOLZNe6kLWnFtmfPR5QBonM9i0PwpFhJvA7XhufHgMjLRELpIAKFrvVd6OCbxP3X-Fi-UVrneE9onf_n0-T1MaBPIH6kmk/s1600/flowers-color-kitts.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3daEOE0ZjFwFjbRUAfHsAXus_o3E3olaEcAMfshg6kV8sqOLZNe6kLWnFtmfPR5QBonM9i0PwpFhJvA7XhufHgMjLRELpIAKFrvVd6OCbxP3X-Fi-UVrneE9onf_n0-T1MaBPIH6kmk/s320/flowers-color-kitts.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707596874332850834" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-23393773465411585702012-02-10T11:48:00.000-08:002012-02-10T11:49:41.094-08:00thomas' notan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNO0qYscsQnc_deEBKPS4hD4j5OV4rEK-ahiof4i-EMqBej70TaCjXUOyf_0eARWVv13SFuepv3YXDaqaKgEbrQRUpNOTkjp-K_d1z7DHoFHFuIY-bLiuFlrTuadVuG1BcZM4b3Q3O6UY/s1600/thomas-pose5.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNO0qYscsQnc_deEBKPS4hD4j5OV4rEK-ahiof4i-EMqBej70TaCjXUOyf_0eARWVv13SFuepv3YXDaqaKgEbrQRUpNOTkjp-K_d1z7DHoFHFuIY-bLiuFlrTuadVuG1BcZM4b3Q3O6UY/s320/thomas-pose5.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707596373470399442" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-80046413597856250592012-02-10T11:39:00.000-08:002012-02-10T11:47:51.095-08:00Thomas Jefferson Kitts workshop<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD3FZx_jbKdOkRX2r4b3flnHohb2f2jw3TEBB_xaCwbcjLcFbnazhJ1JiXAyXGri6EKCnVqJuScU_XadX2yy3VZCwUjONvcNXHi-JHnY6RdRe1QmMvSk_veSNf3lqRKl68-4CVQRYEuc/s1600/thomas-pose7.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD3FZx_jbKdOkRX2r4b3flnHohb2f2jw3TEBB_xaCwbcjLcFbnazhJ1JiXAyXGri6EKCnVqJuScU_XadX2yy3VZCwUjONvcNXHi-JHnY6RdRe1QmMvSk_veSNf3lqRKl68-4CVQRYEuc/s320/thomas-pose7.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707595961278337570" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ_tGmeHxBHlzrXRfeU6cYbxk50HHdfRw3qVY4l63JUkP-KMW5Bt4CB0F1tTXX9Oyz3QaUC_2lf3S4ihZ1fzIcEB3w_pUMW_lko9x-867oVdpWkluH0nn3fP197m_bY7b3AfuWYRC07k/s1600/thomas-pose2.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ_tGmeHxBHlzrXRfeU6cYbxk50HHdfRw3qVY4l63JUkP-KMW5Bt4CB0F1tTXX9Oyz3QaUC_2lf3S4ihZ1fzIcEB3w_pUMW_lko9x-867oVdpWkluH0nn3fP197m_bY7b3AfuWYRC07k/s320/thomas-pose2.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707595846061239522" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TKt1-1BQx8rKTFNKkC4AQj99rYpK1Cz7FWrwUXmsLS0LKhqTF7qNg0Gt0TTvrRAUj6_tIPxhOBe2EO17ztmE9QT7sX2s6HEeE3OqBdXXKlBHjNHmaYMdYdIQ6cr6PCCdw_2GaeeZCZU/s1600/thomas-pose3.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TKt1-1BQx8rKTFNKkC4AQj99rYpK1Cz7FWrwUXmsLS0LKhqTF7qNg0Gt0TTvrRAUj6_tIPxhOBe2EO17ztmE9QT7sX2s6HEeE3OqBdXXKlBHjNHmaYMdYdIQ6cr6PCCdw_2GaeeZCZU/s320/thomas-pose3.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707595721311503682" /></a><br />Notan demonstration. Link the five values into five masses. The abstract shapes of these masses have to be interesting....no cloning, lots and lots of composition issues to deal with as well as lost edges, hard edges, eye flow etc etc. etc. I am seeing 'notan' in everything now. Very interesting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-62105154401734040212012-02-10T11:35:00.000-08:002012-02-10T11:39:20.797-08:00Notan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBj-n96jg2-wIL3q_5gw3R9B5LROqROeDDtI5sWr1nEX_QQSd66mF_vouSRyZlFYpLl_LYqFlyaxUN9EgV6hF0ifzpQuRyVfiOgw3b33v1WQBKh6qjg55AJ3ev_Tq3ZTA6N-vUzMxkec/s1600/flowers-notan-kitts.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBj-n96jg2-wIL3q_5gw3R9B5LROqROeDDtI5sWr1nEX_QQSd66mF_vouSRyZlFYpLl_LYqFlyaxUN9EgV6hF0ifzpQuRyVfiOgw3b33v1WQBKh6qjg55AJ3ev_Tq3ZTA6N-vUzMxkec/s320/flowers-notan-kitts.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707593860433688114" /></a><br />We worked in a five value Notan using Raw Umber and white. The idea is to premix your five chosen values and not intermix any of them on the palette or on the canvas. Use expressive brushstrokes and above all, do not 'cat lick' the canvas. Put the stroke down and leave it alone. Thomas said "a confident stroke is more important than being right." Dab dab dabbing reads as tentative to the eye.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-76179488996095192382012-02-10T11:33:00.000-08:002012-02-10T11:35:52.172-08:00Ala Prima workshop<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicG59M_McraACUw1zyh7ogKPRYEB9FWHuoM9bKvoN3yxVqzbe2BRAWRKfSQE6OKVHPqnKlzI0CZOKP5MvfXbLaY9qfqhDTNtOPML3jkHVQRifKt4hyphenhyphen0_0lp7Hq6oEOdAvlgRkXzaGkjlg/s1600/flowers-color-kitts.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicG59M_McraACUw1zyh7ogKPRYEB9FWHuoM9bKvoN3yxVqzbe2BRAWRKfSQE6OKVHPqnKlzI0CZOKP5MvfXbLaY9qfqhDTNtOPML3jkHVQRifKt4hyphenhyphen0_0lp7Hq6oEOdAvlgRkXzaGkjlg/s320/flowers-color-kitts.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707592958933245362" /></a><br />Here is the color ala prima painting of the still lifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-20723198837273696382012-01-21T15:25:00.000-08:002012-01-21T15:32:23.346-08:00Great PhotographerI have found a wonderful professional photographer here in Spokane who does stunning commercial work and high resolution photos for giclee prints for artists on canvas. I can now offer very large prints of Modern Day Mother in Zion, as well as Receiving Divine Grace. His corporate client base locally and nationally is pretty impressive. I am so grateful to find him. <div>check out his work at deandavis.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-38842893876081083402012-01-21T15:20:00.000-08:002012-01-21T15:24:48.453-08:00Final Rounds of Judging<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlkodcR8xp_YUAROg_7ympteKZSCG4DK7AVcb6mmc7s1O8ucZbDJKeMEvDDjU_oqwAljN5GuUZBvcZM4D-OAAtdsSCcS26mrrRAVgEB8Lp3NHFDMHCo3q4zDcYELFZ9E4T_hbJsKe04s/s1600/karley-hand-model.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlkodcR8xp_YUAROg_7ympteKZSCG4DK7AVcb6mmc7s1O8ucZbDJKeMEvDDjU_oqwAljN5GuUZBvcZM4D-OAAtdsSCcS26mrrRAVgEB8Lp3NHFDMHCo3q4zDcYELFZ9E4T_hbJsKe04s/s320/karley-hand-model.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700229168124634178" /></a>My Receiving Divine Grace painting made it past the first round of judging (shown framed in the background) and I have shipped it off to the art museum for the last round of judging. Wish me luck! Here is my wonderful student, Karley. She was the model for one of the hands in the final painting. Thanks Karley for being a great model!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-5295781814646017512012-01-21T15:01:00.000-08:002012-01-21T15:36:31.121-08:00Oil Painting Commission<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRb0mWxp_RfBP4vjBvBjGjTOkcs1mlL__Wv-3HGhQrWVkPlyzhQjLnQyu6UJN3sAygsDrrd0926wBoYfVoeaBohwR9cETXJdUp20267xyVSD0w0G6gUbUaFNlNmRoFokJWP1U7zhfyvc/s1600/left-mts-photo.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRb0mWxp_RfBP4vjBvBjGjTOkcs1mlL__Wv-3HGhQrWVkPlyzhQjLnQyu6UJN3sAygsDrrd0926wBoYfVoeaBohwR9cETXJdUp20267xyVSD0w0G6gUbUaFNlNmRoFokJWP1U7zhfyvc/s320/left-mts-photo.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700224537848721746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUnD_LaRDyeMAbz-rNh5pCuv5O5B3yFYruNf59LCLVcu_m0JAfO7PgTOOlGuDKTeyV9pRvOIEcQ1rjGEjwQUhmPdQf2b3Duuuww0MwKkAOzSQpS45tsy81NV1EZls6NxmCy6iWgJPEag/s1600/far-right-mts-color-sketch.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUnD_LaRDyeMAbz-rNh5pCuv5O5B3yFYruNf59LCLVcu_m0JAfO7PgTOOlGuDKTeyV9pRvOIEcQ1rjGEjwQUhmPdQf2b3Duuuww0MwKkAOzSQpS45tsy81NV1EZls6NxmCy6iWgJPEag/s320/far-right-mts-color-sketch.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700224530224146674" /></a><span>I received an oil painting commission to paint a large landscape of the Wallowa Lake and Chief Joseph Mountains in eastern Oregon. The client requested I combine the view from the photo on the left with a macro view of the mountains (the small color sketch I did on the right). After a google earth search for reference photos of the combined mountain range, it became clear that the composition was going to be a challenge! First of all, combining the two views meant that the entire mountain range needed to be shown. This particular range is fronted by two equal sized range of foot hills. Soooo, the mountains and two foothills create a tootsie-roll effect of three long horizontal bands of equal size and length. Hmmmm... Not visually appealing for a painting at all. The client requested the lake be dominant as well, with lots of blue in the sky and water. Hmmm....ok, this presented some challenges. Since the mountains were in the far distance, and panoramic, and the lake is large and BLUE, I needed to create a visual eye-path so that the viewer can wander about the painting and be entertained in an orchestrated manner. Usually, artists like strong focal points and dramatic lighting to create their visual interest. In this case, it needed to be a portrait of the entire mountain range ( in the far distance, so colors and edges will need to be muted for aerial perspective) yet still give the lake its fair square footage...all the while not overpowering the viewer with blue blue blue. So, I created fog in the foothills to cut down their strong horizontal banding effects and wind and fog patterns on the lake to direct the eye and give some interest to the massive blue expanse. I also invented a small peninsula on the left side and a foreground of snow and shrubs to further direct the eye, and to unite the entire painting with the colors of the rocks and snow shadows on the mountains. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-39401235058529020282012-01-21T14:59:00.000-08:002012-01-21T15:01:55.651-08:00color sketch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwv86hbpdBSPklr1lcPsh2infWg_Nh9HkDu5k25AWjOwqsuZCVb-l9SL4WQadLCZkQrFImdszOaj-3Nyn3hTDwqflVidg6fev9NW4Gcnzwup-QZtJpKq3RBuupYm-5-vFTe-_94SbF5EM/s1600/color-sketch.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwv86hbpdBSPklr1lcPsh2infWg_Nh9HkDu5k25AWjOwqsuZCVb-l9SL4WQadLCZkQrFImdszOaj-3Nyn3hTDwqflVidg6fev9NW4Gcnzwup-QZtJpKq3RBuupYm-5-vFTe-_94SbF5EM/s320/color-sketch.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700223862232875394" /></a>water color and colored pencil sketch to show client the final composition and mood we agreed upon. 6 x 4 on paper.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-10984273884338955522012-01-21T14:56:00.000-08:002012-01-21T14:59:28.143-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKKkpv2JWdTs2wjBVG0UhS_ZhyphenhyphenjlUtNSUlSh4z3cAY9b5twQ89sazhPkTcc0XbIlE0j_sBmnNGkdMbUyhT_UbXb04czGqw_JlV7fKT9mruc3CmHRumbndmtO00ddvFIuHIgF6Z620ueQ/s1600/first-layin.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKKkpv2JWdTs2wjBVG0UhS_ZhyphenhyphenjlUtNSUlSh4z3cAY9b5twQ89sazhPkTcc0XbIlE0j_sBmnNGkdMbUyhT_UbXb04czGqw_JlV7fKT9mruc3CmHRumbndmtO00ddvFIuHIgF6Z620ueQ/s320/first-layin.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700223251898760290" /></a>Here is the first lay in of color in oils. The clouds and fog were darkened in value so that they would not compete with the snow on the mountains for attention. At this point, it feels more like watercolor painting than oil painting, but I need to save my most expressive brushstrokes and thickest paint applications for the foreground.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415416773645150627.post-34619626669810043222012-01-21T14:52:00.001-08:002012-01-21T14:56:11.106-08:00close up left side<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsz1nJsnB-FrCGm7MJ5vVvwU_rTZHOGAqoIPz1M1WCrkBTaj7XL9erimSh5b4c9xOqFSUI7CcNBK8g9dav-SSEi4JEp1Wf_yaRP8LuoYhMwSidRd5cpcP10pk3OfTqCV92XtoKAMeNZ4/s1600/left-side.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsz1nJsnB-FrCGm7MJ5vVvwU_rTZHOGAqoIPz1M1WCrkBTaj7XL9erimSh5b4c9xOqFSUI7CcNBK8g9dav-SSEi4JEp1Wf_yaRP8LuoYhMwSidRd5cpcP10pk3OfTqCV92XtoKAMeNZ4/s320/left-side.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700222109377948962" /></a>This was done ala prima with a burnt sienna layer showing through loose brush strokes. By far the most fun part of creating this painting! Lots of thick rich colors with dry brush edges. It feels more like sculpting than painting to create. I'm definitely going to head off in this direction of paint application for a while and see how much control and emotion I can generate with my brushstrokes....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0