Seagulls in progress...

I am painting, and not turning out anything I feel especially good about.  Switching from acrylics to oils is a big learning experience.  I enjoy the challenge, but I am frustrated with my lack of expertise.  I have started oil painting classes with Joyce Hall, nationally known artist specializing in equestrian art.  Her paintings are out of this world beautiful.  She is a warm, funny, unassuming teacher, who obviously loves painting and teaching.  Here is my most recent non-class effort:

still  a lot of work to do on it, obviously.

Have a great day,
Cindy

Drawing Practice....

Here is a neat little exercise that will improve your drawing skills in a very short time.  I've been doing this for four days, and can already see a difference in my draftsmanship.  Amazing what an hour a day can accomplish.  This exercise is simple to set up, and really challenging,... here goes:

Grab your sketchbook, and a ruler and grid 1" squares four or five across, and five or six down.  Try to get this grid as square as you can. For the first column, first square, place three small dots and connect them into a triangle.  Repeat this down the length of the grid, making each triangle different from all the ones above.  This becomes your control column.  The challenge is to then repeat the position and shape of each triangle across the row it is in.  Begin each new square by placing three dots in the same position within the square as the control.  Use the grid lines and other dots to estimate the position of each dot. To check your accuracy, use tracing paper or wax paper to trace the control column, including the grid lines, and lay it over your drawing.  How ya' doin?  I used a straight pin to poke holes in the corners of my control triangles, and put correction dots on each drawing.  Day one was pretty absurb, but here is day four:

Have a wonderful day.
Cindy

Knowledge...for free.

I like painting. It is a challenge intellectually, it is interesting, it provides another layer in my world. I look forward to the next one, even while working on this one. I like to see what other people are doing, I like to learn. I always want more and bigger tools in my toolbox - not physical tools, knowledge tools. So if you are like me, go read Stapleton Kearns' blog. Start at the beginning, and don't skip any posts. He has generously shared what it took him a lifetime to learn about painting, being a professional artist, art history, and life. His blog is joyous, funny, sarcastic, and most importantly, full of INFORMATION you will use to improve your paintings. Best of all, IT'S FREE! Here's his website: http://stapletonkearns.blogspot.com Have a great day, Cindy

Well For Goodness Sakes!

Wow, it's been a month since I last posted...I sure am slack! Not really though, I have been studying John F. Carlson's excellent book "Guide to Landscape Painting". He was one of the best landscape artists, and his book is full of knowledge. I found however, it's one thing to "get" what he's writing, it's another to put it into practice. I've finished this:

Well into the painting, I realized my horizontals weren't, and set about to straighten them out. That wasn't fun AT ALL, all that careful work. Anyway, I dug deep and did it. I don't know if anyone has ever stressed this, but really, it should be obvious to us that intended verticals and horizontals MUST be vertical and horizontal to the substrate, or all else fails. This becomes very noticeable when you stick a cattywompuss into a frame. Sounds simple enough but I've seen many paintings that were uncomfortably out of square. I hope you have a wonderful day, Cindy

The Slow Lane

I've discovered the slow lane! A place where there's time to google anything and everything, iron ALL my shirts, not just the one I need to wear, plan meals and grocery shopping to the nth degree, and reread that last novel. It's wonderful. Sometimes, I just sit. I spend quality time in the studio, quality time with husband, quality time with family. I know it's a luxury, and that most people have to go to work, keep kids moving, take care of the household, all that. I did it for years. Finally, I retired, and we started extensive traveling, still in fast lane mode. THEN, this summer happened and I was forced to slow down. Now I'm choosing to stay in the slow lane, I like it here. Here's an update on my latest effort:

. Have a great day, Cindy

Back at the easel......

Lots of wet paint being slung around here, I'm feeling really rusty, but here's a pic of what's on my easel, the paint is very wet, so the shot isn't too good, but I am enjoying myself and wanted to share.

This pretty coral cottage sits on Long Boat Key in Florida. Have a great day, Cindy

Refurbished Brain

The second aneurysm has been successfully repaired. The two that remain do not require surgery as they are very small and will be watched. I am living on bonus days now, or I'm a cat, and have used up three of my nine lives. Whichever it is, I am grateful, humbled, delighted, excited, and so very relieved. I have a week or so for full recovery, then it's back to my normal life, which looks so good to me - even the physical therapy. No more posts now about my health, I'm gonna be better than fine! Thank you everyone for your wonderful support and encouragement.