Don't Miss the GIFT OF ART Show in LaVeta

Time for a shameless commercial break - But there is a party involved........
PARTY and highlight of the holiday season for the Spanish Peaks Arts Council. The GIFT OF ART Show at SPACe Gallery in LaVeta will include work of local writers and musicians as well as the best ART of the Spanish Peaks region. Reception for the artists is Sunday, November 16th from 4 - 6 pm and the show will hang through January 3rd, '09. These 3 pieces from my fall plein air outings will be in the show and Judith Greenwood will also have work featured.
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Week 2 in Abstract-Land

In this second week of our abstract journey we are using a vertical -SHAPE compositional idea. My final painting is at the top but the first strokes that established the vertical theme are shown directly below it, to the right. Violet is my dominant color and lime green the subordinate color.
It occurs to me that -although we began the exercise with SHAPE as the major element -
COLOR is also in there grappling for elemental dominance.


Down the line is some of the student work; each started with the same vertical compositional shape and either purple or lime green as a dominant color.
Kayleith Pellandini,
Judith Greenwood #1 and
Judith Greenwood #2,
Gina Quintana, and
Josie Perea.
It is amazing how one idea can take so many different directions. For some of us loosening up is difficult; sometimes the tools we use can be the vehicle to take us to new places in our work.
Judith Greenwood does beautiful and sophisticated work using sticks (from Cottonwood trees)- makes me wonder why I spend money on brushes. . .

Developing the Sublime

While I am burying my head and brushes in the abstract barrel, check out an awesome painting as it developes; start to finish on Eldon Warrens blog at http://eldonwarren.wordpress.com
When you get to the blog click on Eldon's UTube Link and then enjoy the painting come together in video form. Thanks Eldon for letting us in on the process and Thanks Debra for making it happen in video form.

Something Different- Take 2

This piece in red and the one below in blue are both based on the CROSS compositional idea. This small photo to the right shows the first strokes of what, in the end became the big painting. I got a little carried away in the fun of, well - everything - but the compositional foundation of the piece, and the dominant color theme - are the rails that keep it all on track.
And one more note I want to make at this point - I have been influenced, hugely, for abstract and acrylic painting by various artists: Janis Loverin, in particular. Janis is a wonderfully versatile artist and fellow member of the High Desert Painter Group. To see some of her work, click on the J. Loverin Studio link down on the right under LINKS.

And Now For Something Completely Different

A new class session starts this week and it is time to try something new. Can you say ACRYLIC?
Maybe it's the weather, time of year or just burn out. My students know to look out, when I need to change my painting address - I take it out on them. The upside is that we all learn (and have fun) together.
This class session is about color, composition, abstraction and, well, having fun. After months of painting fruit, analyzing reflections in glass, plotting cast shadows, it's time for a break in the action and to try a little paint flinging in a non-representational way; and we are going to do it with acrylic and a whole new color wheel.

My general guidelines for nonrepresentational work:
1. Start with a dynamic compositional theme and a color that you want to dominate the piece.
2. Under paint with an intense color (possibly the complement of your dominant color choice), and allow some of that color to show through at the finish. - Contrasting or complementary hues create excitement.
3. Stay out of the WHITE.
4. Use the greatest color contrasts where you want to establish your center of interest. - Remember, cool colors recede, while warm colors come forward.
5. Use colors as shapes. Place then to interact with each other, varying the size and shape of the masses.
6. Don't over work the paint or you will lose the visual strength and energy of the piece.

So much for my first attempt. Stay tuned.