I survived Painting 1 Critique!!!

I was so nervous that I couldn't sleep the night before.  I made it through and actually felt "okay" afterwards.

Painting 1 Class: Quick A La Prima still life paintings

We had to paint a still life that was provided...spheres, egg shaped spheres and brown bags!  We also had to paint this in a 3 hour class period, wet-on-wet oil on primed paper.  We were to also cover the entire paper before beginning any refinements to the painting.   I was only able to get to the second step toward the very end of the class, but was able to cover the entire paper.  Not an exciting composition, but a challenge to paint.

The studio where I work - my painting on the easel. 

Watercolor: Starting on Apples - a work in progress.

Rules: Red and its analogous colors.  Green and its analogous colors.

I promise there is apples in there... the next image will show.

Green apples one step further...

Red apples in progress...

Learning to work with different types of watercolor papers as well... Red apples on hot press and green apples on cold press.  I find I like the cold press better... I like the flow of the water and paint on the surface as it bleeds here and there.  The hot press has been an extreme challenge.  

Still Life in Water Color Class

This is a still life using only the primary colors and mixing by layers on the paper to create our green, orange and violet.  We had to paint six objects: one red, blue, yellow, green, orange and violet.  I struggled with trying not to paint like a drawing.  I had to get looser with it at each stage. Our next project: apples.

Abstract Painting - Painting 1

Our assignment was to paint an abstract composition using only 2 complementary colors and white.  We had to have extremely clean lines, mix as many colors as we can from the two colors and make it as smooth as humanly possible (no brush strokes).  My colors were permanent light green and light cadmium red.
This is my first geometric abstract painting.

Face to Face Artists Talk - Schoebel and Doogan

I was exhausted and almost didn't go, but I am so glad I changed my mind.  I gathered up the strength to go to this Artist Talk at the Tempe Center for the Arts.  I was impressed with the conversation but even more so with the art.  It is so important to hear what artists are trying to say in their work.  I was really impressed with Bailey Doogan's work.  If I had not gone to the talk, I would have said to myself, another angry woman-feminist!  But it was not that at all.  She was making a statement about her body, the natural beauty of aging and the hurt that was experienced when she was dismissed as an artist - as being too old and non relevant to today's art.  If you do not experience her work, you have missed out!!!  They are massive works of art and massive in impact as well.  Her website is www.baileydoogan.com .  Check out her work and her resume.

Wanxin Zhang - A Ten Year Survey at the ASU Museum

I went to the visiting artist lecture today at 11:00 a.m. at the ASU Art Museum.  It gave a whole new perspective on Zhang's work.  He talked about his youth growing up in China and his journey here to America. He talked about being a student of art in China and then again a student of art in America.  He talked of the propaganda and control in his home country and how he desired to be free to create the kind of art he desired to.  He only had references from magazines as to art outside of China as a child and young artist.  Check his work www.wanxinzhang.com .  It's worth it!!! AND I would advise strongly going to the opening night, February 19th, 7:00 to 9:00.

Very Tired!

It is interesting trying to shuffle my art supplies and artwork back-and-forth on the Orbit bus.  To most it would seem an easy task, but I have to overcome huge physical obstacles to make the simplest tasks possible.  I grow weary of being overlooked, dismissed and set aside just because I'm a little older than the average student.  I'm not on my retirement plan, playing Sunday afternoon grandma artist, filling my boring days with "little" art classes.  I am in the trenches with the rest!  But I do grow very tired.