Kim English Workshop, "The Figure In The Landscape" Review Part 1

I kind of don't know where to begin in reviewing Kim's workshop. It was an amazing experience in so many ways. Being at Red Rock Ranch was for me, like stepping into a cowboy movie. The scenery in that area of Colorado exceeded my expectations by a long shot. Marty Brens (Art In The Aspens) did a fabulous job of planning and welcoming us. The food, prepared by two chefs, three meals a day was fabulous, and we all had a blast getting to know one another while we kicked back in the evenings. Kim's instruction was just what I needed. It was a "boot camp" as described by others. He worked us hard with short poses to wipe off and do again and again. We had two days of painting the model in the landscape, and two days of landscape. In this post I'll just cover the first two days. If you're thinking about taking a workshop with Kim, see my next post for my personal advice on how to prepare and materials. Kim's palette, many more colors than my limited palette, but he allowed us to use whatever colors we chose. I appreciated that. He pre-mixes the colors he sees in his subject; figure and landscape. This was a big revelation to me. So practical for plein air painting. Above,Kim's first few demos. Get the GESTURE of the figure in 5 minutes with some of the landscape. The last shot may have been a 10 minute pose. Above, my first few attempts. FIVE MINUTE poses. I was using it up just getting the gesture with light and shadow, trying to get proportions right, no time for landscape! Must...paint...faster! Kim wanted us to wipe off our quick sketches. I kept them so I could see progress and have something to post. In the afternoon my fatigue showed. The 8,000 foot elevation wasn't helping!!! So I did start wiping off, but kept these two panels above. Each pose was either 10 or 20 min. I don't remember. End of first day! Whew! 2nd day. Kim's demos above. Get the gesture. Mass in shapes, no "drawing". My attempts. 10 minute poses. I'm painting a bit larger, but struggling to have time to get any landscape in. I was excited, not frustrated. I knew this kind of thing was just what I needed. Afternoon 2nd day, we moved to a large porch. I did other quick studies in addition to this one. Kim did a great job of getting to each student and giving them instruction for their level of experience. At this point he really pushed me to paint simply and fast, challenging me to get the entire scene, 9x12 in 20 minutes. I let loose and painted like a crazy woman. End of 2nd day. And what's the point of all this fast painting? It forces simplicity, efficiency and economy of brush strokes. Quite practical in changing outdoor light, especially if your colors are pre-mixed! Next post will be days 3 and 4, with summary and advice. I apologize that the text and pictures are a bit jumbled. Not intentional! It's a problem I have with Blogger that I've not figured out yet.

Bill, an oil portrait

oil, 12x9 inches magnify As promised, here's the second portrait from the live model, drawn more carefully than the previous. Bill is a friend's brother who although he'd never modeled before, did a fine job. The hat was a lot of fun, and I especially liked the shadow it cast on his forehead and hair. I'm back from Colorado and excited to tell you about the Kim English workshop. I've got to organize my photos first. Meanwhile, Art In The Park is this Saturday the 11th in Newport Beach. If you're in So Cal, come on out and say hi!

Jamie -an oil portrait, and...about drawing

oil 12x9 magnify The last painting from my painting frenzy day. Painted from the live model. For most of my figure painting I have used the Zorn palette: white, black, yellow ochre and cad red. I didn't have those with me, so I used my usual primaries: ultramarine blue, cad red light, cad yellow light and white. I was happy with my skin tones, but not with my drawing. Her features are a bit askew. I don't really enjoy drawing. Does anyone else feel like that or is it just me? I draw just enough to be able to paint an accurate painting. This time, not accurate enough! Time to work on that, I decided. So I ordered the book below from Amazon. Here's just one page of my sketchbook showing some of the exercises from the book.

Scott's book is for beginners and the experienced as well. In it he teaches basic principles useful for drawing any subject. I recommend it. Now I know one book will not fix my drawing weaknesses, but practice will! My next portrait showed a lot of improvement. That's coming up in the next post. So how do YOU feel about drawing? IN OTHER NEWS: Southern Californians, mark your calendars! ART IN THE PARK NEWPORT BEACH is coming up on Saturday, October 11th. 10-4 on the Civic Green, 100 Civic Center Dr. Over 100 artists including ME! It will be my first year at this event, so I'm really excited! I hope to see you there. AND MORE NEWS! Tomorrow morning I'm headed off to a workshop in Colorado given by Kim English. Waaaahhh HOOOO! Visiting family too, so I won't be posting for a couple of weeks.

AMY'S HEIRLOOMS - a still life oil painting of tomatoes from Amy's Farm

oil 12x12 inches magnify/not for sale I guess I'd never really seen heirloom tomatoes. The colors were so amaaazing! To me they were as beautiful as flowers, but in a tomatoey way. I painted larger than usual (12x12) to have room for all those color shifts. A few days later their vine ripe juiciness became the most luscious tomato soup. They practically peeled themselves and when I cut into them the color on the outside was inside too. I used a bit of diced onion sauteed in butter. Cooked the 'maters with not too much water, and some fresh basil and oregano. Then a roux to thicken and sugar to taste. Who says you can't talk cooking on an art blog. Soup is an art! Right?

The Grain Bin, Amy's Farm (sold) - And A Painting Frenzy!

oil 9x12 inches magnify One day back in August I took advantage of an overcast morning and headed down the road to Amy's Farm, one of my favorite painting spots. I try to stick with how the scene looked when I started, but the sun came out and added interest to that grain bin. I know it's risky to "chase the light", but I couldn't resist. I'm pleased with the result. At Amy's farm they sell all kinds of organically grown veggies. They had just harvested the most gorgeous heirloom tomatoes. I bought a big bag full and was home by noon. They looked so beautiful on my kitchen counter, their rich color just sucked me in and pulled me into my studio to paint. Finished around dinner time, I ate something quick and headed off to my paint/talk/laugh group. We had a model that night. It was a crazy wonderful day of painting. Plein air, still life and portrait all in one day. Not planned at all! Here they are lined up against my backyard fence.

I'll post the tomatoes and portrait in the next two posts.

Show Weekend

Here are some pictures from the Associated Artists Show at Victoria Gardens last weekend. Thank you to Associated Artists for the oversized display area. Perfect!

My painting, Sunflowers and Eucalyptus won First Place in Oils. That was REALLY exciting!

I painted like a crazy woman and enjoyed talking with so many very interested on-lookers. One sweet lady, Mimi, came back on Saturday morning and stayed through to the completion of the painting; about 6 hours! Here are some progress shots.

And last, but not least, here are some of my biggest little fans. Four of my six grandchildren are pictured. Little Elijah is only 21 months. Doesn't he look happy?

I'll post the finished paintings for sale at a later date. What a great weekend it was! Thank you, Associated Artists for all your hard work. Thank you to my daughter, Shelly and friend Linda for the photos.

Along The Rogue

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase Last painting of the trip. The morning was overcast and cool, but the sun was trying to come out. I got so shivery I had to go get a sweatshirt. I can paint when I'm hot (barely) or cold, but if I get cold enough to shiver I can't control the paintbrush! As a native Southern Californian it felt kinda good to shiver in August. This is one of those paintings that looks so much better in person. Full of subtle color shifts.

Simple Fishing

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase The last few days of our trip we camped on the Rogue River at Grants Pass, Oregon. This couple went out each morning from the other side of the river to fish. They would float away downriver and then motor back up again within view. I tried to capture this simple, peaceful little excursion in their small shiny boat. What a nice morning for the blue-shirted lady. I think she was just along for the ride. Once I got the scene drawn in, the boat floated away of course. So I worked on the rest of the scene until they returned again and again never in the exact same position. I had to rely on my memory. It was a fun challenge and forced me to simplify the figures. Does the painting make you want to get in that little boat?

Chevy To Market -SOLD

oil 8x10 inches magnify/purchase Our first day in Cannon Beach I noticed this truck in front of Mariner Market. The next day it was in exactly the same place. I took my chances that it would stay there long enough to paint it, and it did! Most of the passers-by wanted to know what I was going to do if it moved. I had taken pictures, but I'm so glad it stayed put! I love old vehicles.

Beach Creek

oil 8x10 inches magnify/purchase Painted on location at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Where's the haystack? Waaaay off to my left. I chose this scene for the clouds. My linseed oil was missing from my pack when I started, so I painted this without any. Too far to walk back to camp. I discovered that while manganese blue works well for sky and water in Southern California, I needed ultramarine for these northern scenes. Lots of grayed blues. A HISTORY NOTE: This is Ecola Creek flowing into the ocean. Ecola is the Native American word for whale. The story goes that Lewis & Clark were nearby when they heard there was a beached whale at this location. They traveled to this spot to see it and named the creek. IN OTHER NEWS: I'm off to Victoria Gardens to paint. Last day of the show. I've talked to so many nice art lovers, and done two sunflower paintings so far. Once I have posted all the paintings from the trip, I'll share photos from the show.

Oregon Coast

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase Painted on location about twelve miles north of Gold Beach, Oregon. I liked the gray sand in this location. We stayed at a campground very near this spot, called Honey Bear. Privately owned by a friendly German couple. On Saturday night they served a nice dinner in their German style dining hall. Live entertainment before and after included the owner singing German songs. Fun stuff. IN OTHER NEWS: I'm happy to announce that I received First Place in Oil at the Art Show last night for my painting "Sunflowers and Eucalyptus." I was also awarded the Pomona Valley Art Association Award for "Hibiscus High." Thank you to Associated Artists of the Inland Empire for all their hard work putting on a great show and promoting arts in the area for fifty years! I'll share some pictures in the next post.

Camping Among Giants

oil 10x8 inches magnify/purchase Painted on location at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, CA. For more info, see my post on August 28.

Country Road -SOLD

oil 8x10 inches magnify/purchase Painted on location in Buelton, California, just three miles from the little Danish town of Solvang.

Heading Home

After my first painting of the trip, I casually suggested that maybe we could write off our trip as a business expense if I keep painting. My CPA husband became quite the slave driver after that. Once in a while he let me stop painting to fix him a meal. This one is from about twelve miles north of Gold Beach, Oregon. Tomorrow morning we'll head out early. Two days of driving and we'll be home. I have lots of paintings to share. IN OTHER NEWS: Next weekend, Sept. 5-7 I'll be painting at the Associated Artists of the Inland Empire's Art Show and Sale. Victoria Gardens' Celebration Hall at the Cultural Center in Rancho Cucamonga. If you're in the area, come enjoy the great variety of work. Hope to see you.

On The Road

These shots are from Humboldt Redwoods State Park where we camped several days ago. There's my hubby doing one of his favorite things, and you can see our little RV. This was a quiet and majestic setting where you carefully drive between these giant trees to your camp spot. I had a bit of painting time the morning we had to leave and I painted right in our site. The tent belonged to a motorcyclist who packed it up while I was painting. Luckily I had gotten the tent in first. I might make a few changes and will repost it later. We're having a great time, and I've had the chance to paint in several places. Tonight we're in Grant's Pass, Oregon along the Rogue River. More on our trip later, Wifi permitting.

Bike & Paint

oil 8x10 magnify/purchase Friday and Saturday we RV camped in Buelton, just three miles from Solvang. After our Saturday morning ride for danish, I tested out the idea of riding with my paint gear on my back. Without a towed vehicle we have to get around by bike. I lightened my pack as much as I could and rode around a bit. The pack felt very stable, so I figured I'd be safe enough, and I was. I painted on a familiar road just a mile away, and had a great time. Felt kinda funny to be painting in my cycling clothes! Happy with the result, and happy I didn't step in the poison oak just a few feet behind me. Didn't see that till I was packing up!!!

Last Light, Balboa Blvd. -sold

oil 9x12 magnify I haven't painted many nocturnes, so this was extra fun. For those of you who know the area, I took this shot while walking toward the pier parking lot, standing on the corner by the drugstore. See the tree "on fire" in the distance? It's planted in the meridian way, way up the street, so it's a big one. I think it's a Norfolk Island Pine. I always look for that grand old tree when I go to Balboa. I love that tree and felt happy to put it in my painting. OTHER NEWS: Associated Artists Of The Inland Empire's 50th Show is coming up September 5-7 at the Cultural Center, Victoria Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga. I'll be demonstrating all three days. Come on out if you can...beautiful venue, great variety of art, and over 350 works. Soon we leave on an RV trip from SoCal to northern Oregon. I have a small backlog of paintings to share if the wifi's good. We're due for some R&R, but I do hope to paint and post along the way.

A Little Dinghy 2 -SOLD

oil 12x9 inches magnify/purchase After painting A Little Dinghy I wanted to bring down the horizon line, tweak the color in the water and include three objects rather than just two. Might as well go a bit larger while I'm at it.

A Little Dinghy -SOLD

oil 8x6 inches magnify/purchase Sometimes I feel a little dinghy. How 'bout you? Painted from my photo reference taken on Balboa Island. The next day I painted another version of this scene which I will post next.

Ice Cream For Breakfast -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase Dad's on Balboa Island is home to the original frozen banana. I couldn't resist painting this young man having a morning cone.