Archive for the ‘Art Talk’ Category
Monday, September 6th, 2010
 "Three Pear" Watercolor Sketch I wanted to take a little break from my “Adirondack Sketchbook” for a moment to share a bit about what I’ve been doing since I returned from my trip. It seems that my creative spirit has been unleashed and I am painting things… anything… and everything! It’s exciting and while I’m still not attached to creating a masterpiece at the moment I am getting ready, making plans and practicing.
Since I’m not in a position to take an art class - much as I would like to - I’ve got loads of books on all kinds of painting just waiting to teach me. So I pulled “Color Mixing The Van Wyk Way: A Manual For Oil Painters” off the shelf and have begun from page one.
Now you might wonder why I’m using a “Manual for Oil Painters” while I’m painting in watercolor and the answer is simply because color theory is color theory no matter what medium you choose to use. Couple that with the fact that I would like to become a proficient oil painter and hence… Color Mixing The Van Wyk Way.
So far I’m still having fun and am painting in a fearless way. My goal is to learn and having removed the pressure of self-judgment from the equation…well suffice it to say, “I’ve got this book and a little courage. This is my recipe for masterpiece potential!”
 "A Whole Bunch" Watercolor Sketch
Tags: Grapes, Painting Fruit, Peaches, Pear, Still Life, watercolor painting
Posted in Art Talk, Watercolor | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
 "Sunrise on the Lake" (top) and "Sunrise Water Study" (bottom) Despite it being a gray and misty day the heavy rain had graciously stopped making a perfect welcome for the few days my friend Anne and I would be spending in the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York.
After making more than a half dozen trips to my car unloading food stuffs, clothing for all weather conditions, reading material and my most important cargo - painting and drawing supplies - I started a pot of coffee brewing while Anne and I each prepared our respective lunches to be enjoyed beach side (rain or shine)!
I don’t live near a significant body of water. With the exception of accumulated rain in ditches and deep puddles I rarely get the chance to spend time near water though I have been known to bathe from time-to-time. So with a mug of hot coffee in-hand I wandered onto the deck to take in the view of Fourth Lake. There are two small islands just off shore and thousands of evergreens covering the “young mountains” that surround the Lake. An indigo sky and rainy mist provided a soothing monochromatic backdrop for eating my lunch lakeside.
After lunch Anne and I decided we’d head out to Inlet - the closest town - and check out the local shops. We were far from alone in this remote Adirondack wilderness as other vacationers with the same agenda had converged there. We strolled and browsed in the local bookstore and what-not shops filled with everything bear-related.
Black bear are known to frequent these parts. The Adirondack Mountain Club website clearly states, “When you camp in the Adirondacks, you’re in black bear country.” Posters warning visitors to refrain from feeding the bears can be seen in nearly every shop. I personally had no intention of sharing my porridge or my PB&J with a hungry bear. Though I secretly would not have minded seeing a bear I would prefer to be safely inside while doing so.
After looking at more than my fair share of “Made in China” mementos trying to be passed off as authentic Adirondack keepsakes we checked into the local pizzeria ordering their vegetarian delight covered in mozzarella and some cold beverages - delicious! Having eaten our fill we headed back to our temporary lakefront home to paint the evening away.
It was nice to be disconnected from television and Internet temporarily. I’d decided before leaving that I would use this trip as a time to focus on sketching. Sketching and flexing my artistic muscles without the pressure of producing a finished piece. Ultimately that decision has set me free in a way. Free to try anything…and why not… nothing ventured, nothing gained. And after all that’s what sketching is for - to practice seeing and translating what is seen onto paper.
We painted into the night in silence much of the time. It was easy there to let go of your worries and breathe in then breathe out releasing pent up tension and just being in harmony with you’re your creativity.
Tags: Adirondack Sketch Book, landscapes, watercolor painting
Posted in Adirondack Sketch Book, Art Talk, Day-to-Day, Watercolor | 1 Comment »
Saturday, July 10th, 2010
 Heading Home, Watercolor Sketch/Color Study Last weekend in the midst of the hellish heat wave we have been experiencing (with temps near the 100 degree mark) I spent a fair amount of time in my air conditioned car traveling to Saratoga (Sunday) and Cooperstown (Monday). All along the way I was snapping pics with my digital camera - a device I’ve yet to master - hoping that a couple would be good enough to use as reference for future paintings or drawings.
The countryside with old farms sprinkled here and there is always an inspiration to me. I’ve always possessed a deep and abiding love of the land and admire those who are committed to the farming life. The closest I can come to living that type of life is by painting moments I observe in passing at 55 mph. Occasionally I’ll slow down and then pull over to take a series of photographs for use later.
This landscape is in the Town of Florida near my home in Montgomery County, New York. I’ve painted this place before coming from the other direction and in winter, but I never tire of this picturesque spot with picket fences and tall shade trees all around.
I imagine a time when the spread was home to a herd of Holsteins or Angus with hay being harvested in the cleared fields that surround the place. These days no livestock can be found in the barns or the adjoining fields, but the old farmhouse captures my imagination nonetheless. As I paint and draw this beautiful place I’ll be there enjoying the open spaces and will smell the fresh cut hay as it’s baled for some neighboring farmer.
Stop by later to see the watercolor painting and pencil drawing of this place that I observe as I am “Heading Home.”
Posted in Art Talk, Watercolor | 1 Comment »
Friday, July 9th, 2010
John Singer Sargent that is. Last weekend I headed to the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York, which is a relatively short drive (around 40 miles west) from my home. The show in residence until December 31, 2010 is the work of “John Singer Sargent: In Praise of Women.”
One word . . . Spectacular! Being in the presence of these 25 original works by a true master was at once awe-inspiring and overwhelming. Taking my time as I browsed slowly through the display, getting as close as is allowed to inspect his technique and absorbing the information about each sitter in these portraits consumed much of the afternoon. What a treat and an education.
I gained so much and felt surprisingly close to Sargent in spite of the fact that he died in 1925. He taught me volumes with this small glimpse at a mere sampling of the work he produced. Sargent’s talent seems to have been limitless producing nearly 900 oils and more than 2000 watercolors in his lifetime.
There’s much to be learned from those who have gone before us, much to be gained from finding the right teacher and volumes to learn. My mind is open, my spirit receptive and I don’t know what greatness I possess.
What I do know is that in order to reach your potential Thomas Alva Edison said it best. “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration!”
Tags: John Singer Sargent
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Sunday, June 6th, 2010
 Dancing Daisies No. 2 (Watercolor Sketch - Split Compliment)
Oh… the things I love about art. I love that in art everything is right and good. Unlike mathematics where two plus two is always four, art isn’t held to such a rigid and defined standard and in science you need to prove things before it becomes valid.
Not so with art. Our creative nature is emotional and intuitive. By using these intangibles we celebrate beauty in an effort to share our vision of the world we live in. The only limit is our imagination.
There are a multitude of ways to express ourselves creatively. I find great joy in painting and drawing but discovered today that I gain equal joy in making mosaic stepping stones from broken dishes and glass. And yesterday in the garden weeding and planting was pure creativity with the bonus of a meditative peace.
Once our creativity is unleashed the direction it takes can be planned or left to random discovery. Your choice. Like water winding its way through a riverbed our creativity can flow so long as the ego steps aside. I find when my ego shows up criticism tends to be right on its heels. With ego and criticism come fear and then all creativity is derailed.
There is helpful information all around us in books, teachers and fellow artists all of which are extremely useful and I encourage learning everything you can from various sources. The thing is nothing can replace hands-on experience, paint to paper, digging and planting, singing your song or playing your tune with great abandon while leaving your pridefulness out of the equation.
Become an intuitive explorer and remember that creativity has but one rule and that rule is … there are no rules. Like Nike you gotta just do it!
Posted in Art Auction Saturday, Art Talk, Watercolor | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
 Top Left Corner - Not done, but I like it so far! I’ve been painting quite a bit over the past few days, but don’t have much to show for all my effort. I’ve got several oil paintings in various stages of completion on my easel and I’m determined that the oil paints I’ve squeezed onto my palette won’t be left to dry there. Instead I’m making a real effort to paint a little each evening after work.
That’s one of the difficult things about being a part-time artist. Time is always in short supply and in order to improve your skill and understand your chosen medium it’s imperative that you practice. With my sons grown and on their own I have more time that most and am grateful to have a passion for the arts to turn to now that my parenting role is - for the most part - done. Without my art I would be lost - like a captain with no ship.
Lately I’ve taken command of my artistic direction and am steering my vessel toward pencil drawing (which I feel somewhat comfortable with) and oil painting (which I feel out of my comfort zone with).
I’m realizing now that having a epiphany and deciding on a direction is only the beginning. Now comes the hard work, stepping out of our respective comfort zones and persisting in the face of frustration. I can tell you that tonight I ended up with far more paint on my rag, face, forehead and hair (not kidding) than ended up on my canvas.
Surprisingly, I did end up with one small corner of my painting that I felt satisfied with. What’s more I learned a little something and tomorrow I will build on that “corner” and eventually I will have a finished painting. Some parts may be successful and some parts may be lacking, but I will have given myself an education. A hands on education.
There’s really no substitute for hands on!
Tags: landscapes, Oil Painting
Posted in Art Talk, Oil Painting | 1 Comment »
Sunday, April 25th, 2010
 “No Chance of Rain,” Original Watercolor, Matted, Unframed, Image Size 5″ x 3.5″
[Click here for my Ebay listing]
There’s just so darned much to learn! Please excuse my profanity, but there really is a world of things I just plain don’t know.
And when it comes to painting the only way to really learn is to practice - practice and explore new subjects. I tend to stick with things I consider safe; things I’ve painted many times before with relative success. My nasty little “safety net approach” to painting has held me back and I believe kept me from finding my niche artistically.
And after all these years of painting I’ve still many new frontiers to explore and since I’m not a full-time artist (yet) - I earn my “survival cash” as a secretary - it may take me a little longer to find my place in the art world.
One of many great lessons I’ve learned is that no matter how overwhelmed I may become about how much there is to learn there is no chance of Rainey giving up. I’ll paint and draw and read and learn from other artists with joy and anticipation.
The truth is I may never find my niche, but I’ll never give up the search. My intention is to enjoy my creativity and share what I can so long as I’m here on this earthly plane.
Creativity feeds my soul and brings peace when there seems to be none. Turning my back on this gift from God is not an option. I am grateful.
Tags: Art Auction Saturday, landscapes, watercolor painting
Posted in Art Auction Saturday, Art Talk, Watercolor | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
 Corned Beef & Cabbage by prepared Chef Mulligan Every March 17th Tom prepares the most delicious corned beef and cabbage complete with potatoes, onions and carrots. With a name like “Mulligan” I shouldn’t have been surprised by Tom’s yearly tradition. This year the carrots got nixed, but I don’t really like cooked carrots anyway. Aside from adding a nice color to the meal I’d just as soon forget them every year. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the exception of a personal visit to Ireland and stop in one of their local pubs.
The USA Upstate New York Mulligan contingent has “All the Best Irish Drinking Songs” playing in stereo, Guinness Stout chilling in the frig and corned beef with cabbage simmering away on the stove top. Smells delicious in here and is sure not to disappoint. Cheers from me to you on St. Paddy’s Day!
P.S. Don’t hold it against me, but I’m going to to drink a Budweiser with dinner - don’t tell anyone.
Posted in Art Talk | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Note: Double Click the above images for a closer look.
Once you have your preliminary steps complete - value sketch, color study and your drawing has been transferred onto your watercolor paper - you’re ready to start painting.
This painting is about the size of a business card (small). I find it great fun painting in a small format and it is amazing just how much information you can include in such a small space. I’ve learned a great deal from painting in a small format as I’m more willing to try new things. The worst case scenario is tossing out a small bit of paper and the best case scenario is a fine miniature painting. Painting small suits my style and helps to release my creative energy while having fun.
I started the painting process here by applying masking fluid to the picket fence and lilac blossoms. Masking fluid is a liquid that, once applied and dry, can be painted over and then easily removed later and is used to save areas you want left white - or as in this case left light so I can apply other crisp and vibrant colors later.
Once the masking fluid was completely dry I applied my washes over the top, as you can see in the above photo on the right. Using masking fluid to “save your whites” allows smooth and flowing washes to be applied instead of attempting to paint around the fence and lilac blossoms, in which case you’d lose that spontaneous watercolor washing effect.
I then continued the actual painting process by laying in a “sky” wash while referring to my color study for the combination of colors that I determined would work best. A second wash to the foreground using permanent lemon yellow finished my first coat in the glazing process.
[Note: Watercolor glazing is a technique where you apply one layer of color over the next - letting each layer dry completely before applying the next.]
Posted in Art Talk, Artwork Project 4 | 2 Comments »
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
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Warning! Don't shortcut the process! Always do a value sketch and color study.
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Reference Photo & Sketch
Note: Double Click the above images for a closer look.
Tom and I went for a “road trip” yesterday and I could feel spring is just around the corner. While it was cold and there was still snow on the ground I could smell spring and, of course, my other gauge of spring - the roadkill count - seems to indicate the same thing. Yesterday’s roadkill count - one skunk, one tan unidentifiable furry thing and one squirrel - we’re close!
Though we haven’t had our usual snow fall amounts it has been a very cold winter season and I’m ready for warmer temperatures. With all that spring thinking in mind I’ve decided to paint a miniature watercolor painting (about 2.5 inches x 3 inches) - Lilacs in Bloom - and share my painting process with you. So get your paper, pencil and brushes to follow along!
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The very first step in any creative process is to find something that inspires you. I’ve painted this house before in all its “lilac glory.” It’s a place I drive past from time-to-time on my commute to work. Since that photograph was taken - years and years ago - I’ve never seen those lilacs in such full bloom and vibrant bloom. What a treat and I’m glad I had my camera. As you can see in the above photograph (right) I took several shots and have them taped together, providing a panoramic view of the old house, picket fences, laundry on the line and, of course, the lilacs. Beautiful. I’m inspired. Time to get going.
Thankfully I stopped myself before plunging right into the painting process thereby skipping two essential steps, i.e., a value sketch and color study. Your value sketch and color study will provide a “road map” to be used along with your reference photo, still life or a scene you are painting en plein air. These preliminary steps will help you find design problems before you begin the final painting and help give you confidence in mixing just the right color.
I always keep my value sketch and color study small (no matter what size my painting will be) in order to avoid getting fussy during these first steps of the painting process. Additionally, I’ll draw a “frame” for both the value sketch and color study to define the edges of my painting (See Right Photo). These edges can also provide checkpoints as you draw, i.e., positioning the horizon line, checking architectural angles, etc.
After you’re completely satisfied with your value sketch and color study you’ll need to transfer your drawing (contour lines only) onto the watercolor paper. I use a kneaded eraser to correct mistakes as it doesn’t seem to deface the surface of my watercolor paper. Finally, when you have a drawing you are satisfied with it’s time to PAINT! (Stop back on Wednesday to see how the painting progresses.)
Tags: landscapes, watercolor painting
Posted in Art Talk, Artwork Project 4, Day-to-Day | No Comments »
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