Creative Spirits Soar!

Tufted Titmouse

 

 

Winter Cardinal

 

 

Winter Chickadee II

Can't get enough Winter Chickadees!

 

 

Winter Chickadee

Recently I hosted a "Winter Birds" workshop where we painted a variety of what else? Winter birds!  To see a time lapsed video of the reference painting, click below.

 

 

"I have tasted the Stars"

Last night I had the pleasure to visit the home and studio of Mark and Lori Putnam in Charlotte, Tennessee. They were hosting an Open House and Paint-out.

I also registered for the Lori's painting demo, which was amazing!

Lori recently hosted a workshop in Limoux, France, and gave us the history of Champagne in Limoux. Her husband past out champagne classes so we could christen the studio and toast our health, happiness, and success as artists. It was a lovely evening.

Mark, admittedly the cook in the family, treated us to a delicious feast. He is also the creator of the app Value Viewer which is an essential tool to most plein air artists.

 

Mark and Lori's house is probably 80% studio. I love it!  Mark designed it based on the studio of Joaquin Sorolla, which they visited in Madrid, Spain, during the time they were living in Italy.

Here is Lori's palette. I love photographing painters palettes. They are the original "original" art!

 Lori starts with a limited palette and then adds convenient colors as needed. Using fewer tubes of paint lightens her backpack when working in the field, and provides dependable color mixtures. She uses these Gamblin Artists Colors:

• Cad Yellow Light
• Napthol Red
• Ultramarine Blue
• Titanium White

ADDED CONVENIENCE Palette
These additional colors can be added for convenience mixing. They come in handy in the studio where mixing large piles of paint rapidly is needed, and added weight for travel is not an issue. You do NOT need to buy all of these colors, but everyone always wants to know about other colors she enjoys using.

• Transparent Earth Yellow
• Cad Yellow Medium
• Cad Orange Deep
• Brown Pink
• Quinacridone Violet
• Permanent Green Lt
• Prussian Blue
• Chromatic Black
• Warm White
• Asphaltum
• Radiant Turquoise

In last night's demonstration she used two colors I had never heard of and can't wait to purchase: Brown Pink and Asphaltum. Asphaltum is a transparent burnt umber type paint.

Lori enjoys painting on Raymar panels, #15 double primed linen.

I've attended so many workshops that very little is really new to me now, but I always glean a pearl of wisdom or two from each event I attend. Last night I was intrigued with the lesson on gradation. I've always know what it was, but had never heard it put into words. Gradation is the use of subtly changing an aspect of your painting such as shapes, brushwork, color, value, line size, focal point or detail to add interest and finesse.

I left inspired!

Thank you to Mark and Lori Putnam for an amazing evening!!

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MacPherson

This week I had the pleasure to meet Kevin, Wanda, and MooShu MacPherson at his presentation at the Brentwood Library sponsored by the Chestnut Group.  I've been a huge fan of his work ever since I learned about plein air painting seven years ago.

And though I think of Kevin as one of the best plein air painters in the world today, his portraits blew me away.

From an article by Cindy Salaski on The Artists Network

Kevin Macpherson majored in illustration at Northern Arizona University and feels he was very fortunate to have Chris Magadini as his instructor. “Magadini was inspiring and encouraged the best from his students. He became my first mentor, and we’ve remained friends and painting peers to this day.”

After completing his formal art education, Kevin spent eight years as a freelance illustrator in the advertising field. To improve his illustration skills, he continued his studies by taking fine art workshops at the Scottsdale Artists’ School.

The path to improve his illustration skills changed Kevin’s life in a big way. He says, “It was during those workshops that my eyes were opened to the world of painting on location.”

Countless hours outside directly observing nature taught Kevin how to truly see as an artist. This immediately influenced his illustration work but, more importantly, it also set fire to his passion for painting from life, en plein air.

During his presentation he taught us to be authentic. We think of all the great Masters we'd love to emulate, but why be a second-rate someone else? Be an original YOU. 

Kevin encouraged us to invest in ourselves and our painting skills to create our own paths and speak our unique voice.

The only way to improve is to paint. Paint. Paint. Paint. Paint.

He told us the story of painting for his book "Reflections on a Pond." And said it was good he did not have commercial or gallery commitments so that he had the time to explore and go to the next level.

       

Kevin has painted all over the world.

He told us painting is simple, but not easy. The trick is to separate light from shadow.

       
Other words of wisdom included, "Paint small. 6 x 8. Then push to paint BIG."



He encouraged us to sketch thumbnail compositions before painting. And encouraged us to experiment, as he did when he moved to China for six months, not knowing anyone there or how to speak Chinese, and spent his time painting portraits.

             

And of course, he gives back. Kevin founded the non-profit  Art Ambassador For A Colorful World.

 

Their Mission

We believe art has the power to change the world. It inspires individuals and brings together entire communities. Art Ambassador helps children and adults express their vision of the world through art. When children draw and paint, a creative spark is ignited. They are able to develop life skills like cooperation, confidence and leadership. Art provides a colorful retreat from everyday life bringing joy and laughter to kids and the communities that delight in them.

In 2009, Kevin participated in a TV Show called Passport and Palette on PBS.

It was also a joy to speak with his lovely wife Wanda and spend a few moments petting their adorable pup MooShu.

 

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Cumberland Society of Painters

Sunday afternoon I found myself out of the studio and on the campus of my Alma Mater Lipscomb University to watch other people paint, other AMAZING artists who I admire.

Lipscomb University’s John C. Hutcheson Gallery presented “New Tradition: A Contemporary Look At Representational Art” an exhibition by the Cumberland Society of Painters reception and demos. The exhibit features works from eight artists presenting their individual views of the world through art, including Dawn Whitelaw, Roger Dale Brown, Michael Shane Neal, Pam Padgett, Paula Frizbe, Anne Blair Brown, Kevin Menck and Jason Saunders. 

Dawn Whitelaw is amazing.

As they all are...

I especially enjoyed the demo by Michael Shane Neal. He is a portrait artist and master of his craft. Portraiture is the hardest genre to learn to paint and he makes it look effortless.

Below are a few photos from his demo which consisted of two twenty-minute sessions with a model.

Shane isn't particular about his brand of brushes or paint. On Sunday he selected a variety of Rosemary and Company brushes and Grumbacher paints.

Shane does, however, use a particular set of paints on his palette, the same as his mentor's Everett Raymond Kinstler  and their inspiration and muse John Singer Sargent: White, Cad Yellow Light, Yellow Ochre, Cad Red Light, Alizerin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Cerulean Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Sap Green, and Black.

Shane prefers to paint portaits life-size and uses his palm to judge size.

He tones his canvas in a cool mixture of Burnt Umber and Ultramarine blue and blocks in the basic shapes with a warm mixture of Burnt Sienna and Alizerin Crimson.

    

Shane applies paint thinking to himself, "is the shape a ball or a cube."  Darker colors recede. Lighter colors come forward.

And in less than an hour, he already has a remarkable likeness. 

If you would like to see this exhibit, it will be available through the middle of October.

 

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Painting Demo - Cow

Driving home from the Jim Richards-Paula Deen painting day in Atlanta, Shannon and I took advantage of the late afternoon light to photograph cows for reference in upcoming paintings. Here is my first study.

And here is the demo video, if you would like to paint your own.

 

Painting Demo - Bird

It's a overcast and misty morning here in middle Tennessee and I'm tucked away in my studio with the smallest of my canine companions resting at my feet.

Earlier in the week my friend Radha and I took at walk at Radnor Lake in Nashville and snapped photos to be painted when it's too cold or messy to paint en plein air. This morning qualifies as too messy, though the most die hard plein air painters would disagree. Many subscribe to the theory there is no bad weather, only bad clothes.

Not me. I admit it. I'm a fair weather plein air painter, though lately I've been toughening up a bit. But I digress.

Today I recorded the painting session so if you like to watch painting demos, you can enjoy it here or on YouTube, and paint a bird for yourself. Enjoy!

 

Painting Demo - Junebug Pet Portrait

Junebug is my Russell Rescue foster pup available for adoption. She is a blue brindled and white, 8 month-old, female, Bull Terrior mix.  Junebug needs a family with older kids and a fenced backyard for her exuberant energy and puppy enthusiasm.

She should have been named Lovebug. She is so Affectionate.

If you'd like to watch me demo painting Junebug's pet portrait, just watch here: