Figuary 2020 - LIFE drawing

February is FIGUARY!  I have joined in on the FIGUARY 2020 challenge at Vimeo Croquis Cafe, doing life drawing from models on Vimeo.  It is an excellent way to improve on your overall drawing skills and it is FREE!

Often I can not make it to the life drawing sessions available in Edmonton (see Harcourt house courses ).   This is a great alternative way to get some instruction through the lovelifedrawing  instructors on YouTube, then you go over to Vimeo Croquis Cafe for the actual model session.  Unfortunately YouTube does not allow life drawing videos because of the nude models.  Vimeo however does and has some excellent life drawing sessions to practise with.  Posting your life drawing sketches also can cause some issues on Instagram and Facebook because of the nude poses.   (sigh - I would like to go into a long rant here about art / nudes post vs violence / hateful posts but I will withhold my views).

If you have any 'nude' issues than the tamer SketchDaily website has excellent animal and clothed people photos to practise on.  HOWEVER, I find it interesting that a number of the clothed photos on this site are of women in 'sexy' costumes and seem more degrading to women, than any nude models on Vimeo.  In one of my figure drawing classes at university, one of the female models refused to wear 'sexy' lingerie items, as she felt they were offensive to women and I had to agree - the lingerie seemed to create a more 'porn' feel to the pose. Rant over.

The time commitment is minimal as the videos are about 15 minutes long.  It can start with 30 second to 1 minute poses, 2 minute poses and finally one 5 minute pose.  The 2 minute poses are my favourites - not enough time to get into detail, but just getting important lines and movement sketched in.  FUN!

Day 3-  2 min poses

I am noticing an improvement in my sketching in these first 7 days - the tips and instruction on lovelifedrawing  are helpful.  

 Happy Sketching.

Day 7 - 2 min poses

Day 7 - 5 min pose

Another Process Post

the grid and drawing

One of the BEST places to visit on this planet is Haida Gwaii, on Canada's west coast.  It is spectacularly beautiful.  I travelled there with my family a few years ago and we had a wonderful time.  We learned a lot about the Haida people's culture and history, we ate great food, we met friendly people and we took an epic trip on a zodiac boat to one of the culturally significant sites.  I have painted a couple pictures from photos, but I took soooo many photos that I could probably keep painting.  I hope to get back there again some day to do some Plein air painting.

starting in with the oil paints

Nearing completion - picky details will take another couple of days

Winter Update

Winter has arrived and so I attempted some paintings of winter streams recently, as well as tackling some Christmas needle felting.  Also, work is always a bit busier in November / December so I haven't had as many opportunities to paint.  With Christmas around the corner, there will be lots of visiting, merry making and outdoor activity, so I don't foresee too many paintings flying off the easel for a little while.  Hope the Holidays are peaceful and joy-filled for all.  More posts next year!

16x16 Oil on Board

Wool Needle Felted Ornaments - my talented son did the penguin

More wool felting

The start of another creek painting - some more work is required on the shrubbery

NOTE:
About 2 days after my last post, I received an email that the Federation of Canadian Artists would be opening a Chapter in Edmonton, early in the new year, so YEAH my wish for some artist contact has come true.

Memberships to Artist Groups

Being an artist can be a little lonely as you tend to work by yourself most of the time.  Joining an artist group is an option for some.  The different memberships for art groups I belong to are mostly arms length, where I get info and can enter artists calls, but I don't actually get to see other artists unless I attend occasional workshops.  Sometimes I reeeeaaally would like another artists feedback on some problem I am encountering, when a painting is going sideways.

I have been a member of the  Federation of Canadian Artists for a few years now.

"The Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) is a registered charity founded in 1941 by professional Canadian working artists including Group of Seven luminaries... It has members throughout Canada and Chapters in Alberta and B.C.. The FCA is dedicated to raising artistic standards by stimulating participants to greater heights of knowledge and achievement by offering what is believed to be the first completely artists' sponsored gallery in Canada. Currently the Federation is the only national-level visual arts organization that manages their own full-time art gallery."

A group of us met in the past year to try to get a Chapter started in Edmonton, but do not currently have enough Active members to form one.   So for now I submit my art to the Federation of Canadian Artists main gallery shows in hopes of being juried into one of the shows or competitions.  Finally I managed to get the following painting, The Usual Suspects, accepted into the Active Members Exhibition starting January 7th, 2020 until January 19th, at the Granville Island Gallery in Vancouver, BC.  Hurray!  I can work my way toward being a Signature Member, I just need to get 5 more paintings successfully juried into other shows over the next 4 years.

The other painting I submitted, The Royal, was accepted but just into the on-line show - it will not be on display at the Federation Gallery on Granville Island.  It still counts toward my Signature status though, which is nice.  

In the past the Federation had on-line critiques, done by signature members, but that did not happen this year for some reason.  So I go back to relying on my family for feedback.  They are great, but often too generous or sometimes too vague - they aren't really sure what is wrong, know something is bugging them.

Values vs Colour

Value in a painting, refers to the lights and darks that are used.  Currently, I am working on a piece that I did some plein air painting on this summer, and took several photos of (it is not yet done, as I am just getting to the foreground reeds now).   As you are working away sometimes you know that things aren't 'reading' exactly right, so it is always helpful to get rid of one thing to simplify the process.  So... getting rid of colour by putting your photo in black and white and then taking a photo of your painting in black and white is very useful.  

 NOW... it is easier to see that the background mountains are a little too mid-value when they should be a bit lighter value and probably a bit softer and fuzzier.  The closer trees on the edge of the lake could go a bit darker too.  You can almost paint this in any colours you choose and as long as the values 'read' correctly it can be a very interesting painting.  I think that is what I would like to experiment with next... some crazy hues of colour, within the correct shade of light and dark.  For now I am just attempting to finish this one first!

The Wonderful Encounters When Plein Air Painting

Today being another beautiful day I decided I would race out before noon and find something to paint.  I casually meandered onto the U of A farm and set up to paint this cool red & white barn.  On my way out I stopped to check out another barn, hidden behind the Saville Sports Centre.  I stopped to ask a man who was at the barn if he minded if I took some photos for later painting inspiration.  He was SUPER nice (Mr. Norby?) and proceeded to tell me all kinds of wonderful history of the U of A farm and these two barns.

This horse barn was originally built around 1915 and was located a few kilometres away right in the same spot the Stollery Children's Hospital is now.  It was chopped into 3 parts and moved south onto what now is the location of the Saville Sports Centre.  It was moved again (by the same company that originally moved it) to its current spot in the field near the pig barns.

Inside the white, former dairy barn is the A.L.E.S. museum, the U of A's Agriculture, etc historical museum.  It is FULL OF COOL old farm equipment, sleighs, etc.  ALES museum can be accessed by calling or emailing and making an appointment or if you happen to be nearby and someone is inside they will gladly let you have a look around.  I only saw a small portion of it but will be heading back with some family to check it out ASAP.

Art Fair - To Do or Not to Do...

Last night was my first 'Art Walk / Fair' of the year.  This one was Art Walk St Albert and it is held on the first Thursday of the month from May until September.  I was actually supposed to have also been in the May Art Walk, however it was snowing and cold that day before and morning of, so I pulled out of that one, fearing for my art and my toes. Here is some info for VENDOR artists considering a booth at any art fair.

- The  Cost. St. Albert Art Walk is free for outdoor vendors to set up, who have applied.  This is great if you are just starting out and want to test the water's. ( It's great for anyone really).  check out prices of applying when you want to do an art fair.

- The location. This one was great, as it is in front of St. Albert Place which holds a library, studios, City Hall, the Arden Theatre.  Quite busy with people coming and going for the first while.
You get plenty of exposure, even if you aren't making sales.

- The Duration of the Art Walk.  Lots of work to prepare for a short duration Art Walk - from 6 until 8:30 pm.  I spent most of the day before-hand setting up my tent to make sure I had all the bits, laying out my paintings, making portfolio, labels, price lists, etc.  With time I will get faster at doing this.

- Weather - it is uncontrollable - I came prepared with gloves, toque, layers - but we were all a little chilly.

-Your set up.
Costly Version.  We lucked out, the rain held off and the wind was moderate.  Saw 2 easels go down and I was eyeballing my neighbours tent as it was not pegged or sandbagged.
Your options are - going big and getting the tent and its accoutrements - which DEFINITELY REQUIRES 2 PEOPLE for set up and takes MUCHO time.  I purchased my tent on-line from Impact Displays for about $380 and search their website well, as I found a package that includes all 4 walls and a small awning for just about the same price as just the tent.  It comes in a handy wheeled bag that almost fits everything back in again, but not really.  My display racks were 8' lengths of wire shelves from Canadian Tire or Walmart, that are zip tied together.
- Staying small and portable, which my neighbour on the other side had, with a nice professional display rack and table that looked like if it started raining she would be warm and dry in her car before I could hardly get started!  She had an additional box of prints and other items to show people who were interested in her art stored neatly under her table.

- The People.  This was a very friendly location.  Most people had positive comments and didn't mind chatting.  I gleaned information on which paintings they reacted most positively too and kept track in my guest book.  (COWS!) Most were just browsing but I enjoyed chatting.

- The other artists - all super friendly and very willing to share their tips and tricks.  THANK YOU for sharing info on who your printer is, where to get the best prints, etc.  It was recommended that I get some prints made of my work to sell at a lower price point for those who could not afford the original oil paintings.  Guess what I am doing today!

Finished!

I had entered this into the Federation of Canadian Artists Postcard Competition a couple of weeks ago.  Was pleased to know that it was juried into the final judging - final winners are going to be chosen May 1st. Crossing fingers.

36x18" oil on canvas
Spring Thaw

Finally, I have completed my painting of Fernie, BC main street.  This has taken a lot of time and effort, but I am fairly pleased with the result.  It will be one of the pieces in my solo show at the Fernie Arts Station in July 2019.  Check it out in person then.

The Upside of Painting

My most recent effort is a largish painting of my favourite town, Fernie BC.  After some repeated attempts to paint in a more loose, impressionist fashion and having little success, I decided to try something challenging on the opposite end of the scale.  I have been plugging away at this for over a week now.  I was finding it difficult to paint the detail in the close up store windows, so I used the old trick of turning my picture and painting upside down so that I would just see shapes and paint what I saw not what I thought I was seeing. The upside of upside down painting is that it really helps!

Hangin' Around the Rosies

I really ended up liking this painting when all was said and done.  Initially I had painted in the purplish, dark bushes behind the roses but took them out and liked that better.  I am now questioning the purple hill in the background, but will let it sit for a week or so before I make any drastic changes.  Nothing I like better than fresh laundry off the line.  This particular clothes line was in White Rock BC, taken when out for a stroll.

11x14 oil on canvas

Chugging Away

I am trying to paint almost daily right now, as my part-time teaching job is quiet until November.  Then it is almost back to full-time teaching and less time for painting.  I have put the finishing touches on the two paintings below.  The top, Bagel Shop, is part of my show in Fernie next year.  The bottom is one for my niece of her beloved cat.  Fun to mix it up a bit.

Bagel Shop - Oil on Canvas 12x12

Oil on Board - Myles

Loosey Goosey or is Tighty Righty??

Just when I feel like I am getting closer to a preferred 'style' of painting, I do something different and start to wonder.  For example, I am in the midst of painting the two pictures below.  The landscape was fairly loose and fast with colours that were not quite what I saw so I ramped them up a little.  The building is very tight and controlled and the colour is pretty true to the photo I was painting from.  I enjoyed doing both.  Hmmm.... I think in about a year's time after I get another 100 paintings under my belt I might be closer to the answer.

Art Fair but the Weather isn't

September is a busy time here for outdoor Art Fairs.  Unfortunately the weather has not been as FAIR. Typically fall is gorgeous in Edmonton, with nice crisp blue sky days and gorgeous leaves changing colour.   Today it is trying really hard to snow. 

Last weekend was the Strathearn Art Walk which was huge, the second largest one in Edmonton.  My hubby and I enjoyed strolling around, checked out the Alair Homes tent, as a couple of my pieces were in there. We also purchased some awesome charcuterie boards made from old wine casks from For Wood Sake. 

Alair Homes tent

  I am participating in another art fair this weekend, the Art in Our Park event.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate! I have been helping get some Interactive Puzzle Boards prepped for group activities.  I am also putting my 'woodworking' skills to the test.  I had to make a stretcher board for an odd sized piece of canvas. YouTube kind of helped and I was fairly pleased with my finished product - usually mitred corners are my downfall.  Not Today!!

Exciting News!

I am really busy lately, it is 1:00 am and I am currently prepping for an outdoor art fair that happens tomorrow.  September has to be my most hectic time, but also very enjoyable.

Summer was really great, spent a LOT of time outdoors, hiking, biking, etc with family and friends.  Some close friends of mine reminded me of a painting I gave them a few years back that I had not signed.  As this painting was done while I was in a workshop with Brian Atyeo around 2011, I can't really say it was my work. Brian helped make it more interesting, slapped some bits of colour and shapes in there for me, so it is more collaboration than anything.

 Onto the exciting news.  I got a pleasant surprise last week when I found out I received the Harry Wohlfarth Award and had been nominated by one of my art instructors, Izabella Orzelski, for academic excellence.  Yeeha!  Then today I found out that my application to The Arts Station Gallery in Fernie had been accepted and I will have a solo show in July 2019! Better get painting!

HOT painting

I tried another day outdoors, painting the same bridge again.  I found a painting buddy, Alina, to come with me and it was nice to have company.  The mosquitoes were particularly fiesty but as it got hotter out they were smart and found the shade.  We did not and sweated away - not used to the heat.  BUT i am not complaining, our summers are short.    I cranked out one little study and then started doing some rock portraits - close ups of what was right in front of me.  I even tried the beer can left in the river.  I did pick it up when I left to throw out and wondered what someone coming down the trail might think of me with my backpack and beer can...but luckily passed no one on my way out.

What to take with you...

As it was another beautiful day, I headed outdoors for my first real 'plein aire' session this year.  Below is kind of my current set up with one or two extras that may not be needed. 

1.  A Pack:  We won this back pack somewhere and it has a fold out seat attached.  It was big enough to accommodate my Gorilla Painting box.  I rarely sit down when painting, but thought it might be useful should I become exhausted from the painting frenzy.  My tripod fits nicely on the side too.

2.  What is inside the pack:
-Roll of paper shop towels  -  a garbage bag  - pre-stained wood panels 9x12
- 5 to 8 brushes  - paints: cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, cad yellow light, yellow ochre light, sap green, viridian and white
- a view finder
- brush cleaner (walnut oil)
- bug spray
- water to drink
- a hat (need a bigger hat next time)
- the Gorilla box which holds all the painting stuff
- palette paper
- tape for the paper
- bear spray  
- in the picture is a great little stool that I got as a gift.  It is from Lee Valley, garden tools.  I don't take it often but if I go on a workshop or will be out all day it comes along.

This was the scene I chose to paint.  Down in the ravine near home. Below is my tripod and box set up and paint laid out.

It is nice to have a companion along if you aren't painting with friends.  We don't bring the dog with us to bear country, but this is in the city so she enjoyed a couple swims while waiting for me.

The painting in progress.  

It's always good to do a couple brief close to home trips before you head off on a serious painting journey.  I discovered I should have had a bigger hat as it was seriously hot out.  It was too windy for the painting umbrella and you can't wear your sunglasses while painting unless you can compensate for the colour differences. So it is better to find some shade that will be around for awhile.  This is just an oil study should I decide I like it I would paint a more precise version back in the studio.

Painting is....SQUIRREL!!!

I believe most artists will struggle at times to stay motivated or focus on their painting every day - so many distractions. Currently my struggle is the beautiful weather, after a LOOOONG harsh winter, pulling me outdoors.  I am enjoying biking, hiking and gardening these last weeks and being inside the studio / office / work is difficult.

That is why today I decided I shall try to do some daily painting 'en plein aire' or paint outside for awhile.  As you can see below my current attempt to get some paint down has been a struggle.

the UNDERPAINTING of the Burmis Tree large 36 x 48 canvas

OOOO the Pretty Fern Leaf peony in my garden just outside my window, has finally bloomed for the first time ever!!

Oh I just need to make some baskets for the front porch

What was I doing... oh yeah, OOOps, I think I need to repaint the sky and maybe that grass too.  Maybe I will just go outside for awhile for inspiration instead.

Full Marks

My graduation show for the 12 of us who completed our Fine Arts Certificate from the University is now showing until June 15th.  It is up in the back hallways of the U of A Faculty of Extension (the old Hudson's Bay Building downtown) near Room 2-640.  Check it out if you have some spare time.

I find that every year in spring, my painting output seriously slows down.  Work has been fairly busy, but I also have a ton of yard work and gardening to accomplish.  Most of my garden is now planted and the yard is almost complete so I hope to get more paintings started ASAP.  I need at least 25 good ones by August.  I will be taking part in 2, St. Albert Art Walks and the Art in Our Park Event in August and September.  I am also back to planning our community's Annual BBQ and Movie Night, which also occurs in September.  NO time to waste!!

The 4 paintings I chose to hang

Rick Bremness

Susan Diebel