Painting Miniatures

I found some time to do artwork today after church.  This is a miniature I am working on for the juried show next month in Chambersburg.  Artists are permitted to submit 4 works.  They are then "juried".  Artwork comes in from all over the USA but only a fraction gets into this prestigious show.  Deadline for submission to the 27th Annual Miniature Art Exhibition is Sept. 23.  If you are interested in entering the show, contact:  Council for the Arts, 159 South Main Street, Chambersburg, PA  717-264-6883 www.councilforthearts.net

Stone Ridge Farm Art Workshop

Today began with instructor, Susan Ogilvie, giving a demonstration.  Her painting is of horses beside the stable.  We watched as she described her thought process in beginning this painting.   It was tremendously helpful to follow her reasoning and choices as the painting developed.  Tomorrow we will see this painting develop further.  Every painting is a series of problems and the artist learns to solve these problems in better ways as they gain skill and experience.

This is the owner, Jackie Walker, and our chef, Micardo.  Jackie was choosing fresh flowers from the garden for the house.

 These are some lovely scenes from the garden today.  I was thinking about painting something in the garden, but instead chose an old gnarled tree in the back pasture.

 

Old Gnarled Tree

Susan Ogilvie Pastel Workshop at Stone Ridge Farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

I arrived at Stone Ridge Farm for a pastel workshop with artist, Susan Ogilvie, on Sunday afternoon.  After a delicious dinner, my classmates and I got settled into our rooms at this picturesque Bed and Breakfast. It is a working farm with a Bed and Breakfast in the converted barn.  The property was once owned by famed author, Pearl S. Buck. The studio space is fantastic as are the accommodations. 

Owner, Jackie Walker, does a great job making sure that we are all happy, comfortable, and well fed.  

 
These are some of the horses on the farm.  There is a large riding arena with a viewing area just outside the studio space. 

This is our instructor, Susan Ogilvie.  I wanted to come to this workshop because I really like Susan's use of bold, bright color and her unusual compositions. 

I have not been disappointed.  Susan has already given me lots of new ideas and things to consider in painting.  

 This is Susan's color study from today.  Notice her pastel box and the way she has it sorted by value and temperature.  Also notice the value study that she has clipped on the left.  

My plan is to get a nap and go back to the studio tonight.  Please pray for me that all of this new found knowledge starts to show in my work.  Love'n it here!!!! --- and very glad to have this opportunity!!!!  Thank you, God!!! Also--- A big thank you to my good friend Linda M. and her husband for coming to this workshop and helping me in so many ways in this adventure.

Another Corks and Canvas Success!

Last night 8 brave women painted a wetlands scene in 3 hours!!  What a great job they did.  I had a blast and I think they did too.  If you are interested in a corks and canvas night at the Arts Council in Chambersburg, just get a group of friends together and get in touch with me or with the Arts Council.  The cost is very reasonable and all materials are provided.  You will go home with a finished work of art that you produced.  Who knows--- maybe this class would awaken your inner artist!!

Arts Express Class at Grove Library

Last week, I taught 6 art classes for Arts Express in Chambersburg.  Each day was a different group of kids in a different location.  This picture was taken on the last day at The Grove Family Library.  Other days were BPOIC, Boys and Girls Club, Migrant Program, Coyle Free Library, YMCA Camp.

It was fun for me as well as the kids.

First Friday in Chambersburg AND a Customer Buys Art!!!

This was my set up in Chambersburg tonight for"First Friday".  A customer, Jen, bought two encaustics!!!!  Many people stopped to talk and took business cards and one gentleman purchased a notecard!!  I had a really fun time and I got a lot of knitting done also.

Fulton County Goes "En Plein Air"!!

En Plein Air means "in the open air".  It is an art term used to refer to painting outdoors.  This was a practice made popular by the Impressionists and it is enjoying a resurgence among painters today.  Many communities are sponsoring plein air competitions and workshops.  The Fulton County Art Club tried their hand at it today in the area behind the public library.  It was a peaceful and enjoyable morning of painting and sharing friendship.  The club hopes to include some kind of a plein air component to the activities during Fulton Fall Folk Fest in October. 

Winslow Homer:  Sketching in the White Mountains

Encaustic Painting is Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Several weeks ago a bunch of my buddies and I took a workshop on encaustic painting with Linda Benton McCloskey. Encaustic painting is a very ancient method of painting in which layers of beeswax and pigment are fused together with heat. Because the pigment is encapsulated in wax, these paintings can last for thousands of years.

Does it Get any Better than this?

As I look at this photograph of myself painting along the ocean, I can hardly believe it is true. I am really here and really doing this. I started a pastel along the point at Schoodic Penninsula. I met several very nice people who asked about my work.