2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 11 - Keepsake Japanese Vase - Unfinished

 Day 11 #stradaeasel

This was not an easy task and one that will require a do-over, but I learned something from the effort. 

Process on this one was rushed so I didn't make a grid before beginning - the vase is 2.5 in. in life, but in the painting it's 3.25 in. so keeping all the little facets in the vase in proportion was the challenge. If I'd done a drawing in conte' first to see what I could edit out and still do it justice might have made my life easier. The detail looks a little fussy and the flower is larger than I'd like, so it is another area that I'd like to take more time with now that I am familiar with the arrangement. I think it will go easier when I attempt it again.

Tomorrow will be a busy day, so I will choose something less detailed to paint.

Unfinished - NFS
Keepsake Japanese Vase
6x6 Oil on Canvas Sheet
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 9 - Tea Pot w/Bamboo Handle

 Day 9 #stradaeasel

Decided to work with this tea pot still life a little more today. Cleaned up the drawing a bit, but the tricky part was to get the design on without losing the volume. Still could use some work, but I think it's time to move on to the next object. 

I'm actually discovering more about process going through this #stradaeasel exercise. I'm more aware of choices I am making.

Unfinished - NFS
Tea Pot w/Bamboo Handle
Oil on Canvas Sheet
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 7 - Oval Vase with Orchid

 Day 7 #stradaeasel

Decided to try something a little different today, but will be going back to the tea pot later this month.

This had a similar concept to the previous oil sketches working with light and how the arrangements work with lighter-darker, warmer-cooler, and intensity-greyed color backgrounds and foregrounds.  

What I love about this painting challenge is that I'm getting back into a rhythm and feel productive again. 

I made it a whole week!!! 

Unfinished - NFS
Oval Pot with Orchid
Oil on Canvas Sheet
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 6 - Tea Pot with Rust Mum/Oil

 Day 6 #stradaeasel

Had to work on this tea pot again and change it up a bit. I am happier with the result as it has more visual interest. 

Remember when you were learning your alphabet, and had to repeat the letters over and over again? Well, that's what painting is like as you go through the learning process, and why I choose to repeat the same subjects with different arrangements, lighting, color, etc. It also allows me to get really familiar with an object that has difficult lines, angles and curves. 

So while still unfinished, here is today's result. 

Block in Unfinished - NFS
Tea Pot with Rust Mum
oil on canvas sheet
©2023

2023 - Strada Easel Challenge Day 5 - Beige Tea Pot with Mum/Oil

 Day 5 #stradaeasel

This is a continuation exploring light with the Beige Tea Pot. I changed the background in preference to a higher contrast to the foreground subjects giving deeper shadows. Will continue with this one and push some of the color notes in the subject. 

Unfinished Block in - NFS
Beige Pot with Mum in Oil
©2023

2023 - Strada Easel Challenge Day 4 - Beige Tea Pot with Mum/Charcoal

 Day 4 #stradaeasel

Finally working with this little tea pot. I had it for years thinking I'll put it in my paintings. I did these three little value drawing/sketches in soft charcoal to see it in different lighting sources - Top light, Room ambient light, Side light. Getting the value patterns was important, but a bit vague and very sketchy with the soft charcoal so I can easily brush it away before painting. I hope you can still get a sense of the light. 

I usually paint with more dramatic color, but in this one the tea pot is beige with some darker markings, the backdrop is a greenish gray, and the flower is an artificial beige mum - so quite neutral without strong contrast. 

Unfinished Sketches/Studies - NFS
Beige Tea Pot with Mum
©2023

2023 - Strada Easel Challenge Day 3 - Ruby Red Vase 2023

Day 3 #stradaeasel

I'm diligently working on ellipses - and related oval forms. It's getting a little better to see the actual shape of the oval - it's symmetrical of course, yet my eyes are not set perfectly so I'm learning to compensate; and my steadiness of hand will improve as I practice. Viewing things backwards in a mirror helps too - a lot!

Unfinished Block in - NFS
Ruby Red Vase 
©2023

2023 - Strada Easel Challenge Day 2 - Dried Hydrangea in Gold and Brown Vase

 #stradaeasel

Day 2 #stradaeasel  

I have to ponder a bit about how I've been trained to paint fast-Alla Prima, but actually prefer a slower more methodical approach as in a Direct Approach with a few layers, but not the Classical or Indirect painting that is highly technical. I love all three, but my temperament is somewhere in the middle. 

Unfinished Block in  - NFS
Dried Hydrangea in Gold and Brown Vase 
Oil on Canvas Sheet
©2023

2023 - Strada Easel Challenge Day 1 - Hot Chocolate

My painting discipline has been waning for awhile now so going to start the new year 2023 with the January strada.easel challenge to get back on track. Strada runs this challenge a couple times per year and gives away 5 easels of  choice via a random drawing from the qualifying participants. The ruless must be followed by registering, posting a painting each day of the month,  January 1-31.

These posts will be short and used as a means to share and record the activity. Paintings and drawings may or may not be finished. I will also be posting on instagram at #studio.campagna .   

If interested in their product, you can visit Strada Easel at this link.

Day 1 #stradeeasel - Hot Chocolate - block in:

Unfinished Block in - NFS
Hot Chocolate
6x8 Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel
©2023

T'was the Night Before Xmas... Christmas Card Opt #2

I finally completed the second study for a Christmas card.

The photo of my Granddaughter was actually taken a couple of Christmas eves ago - so I thought the title fitting. She's sitting in her Great Grandma's chair that now resides at her Auntie's house.

It is a little brighter than I originally thought I would do, but it will be darker by default after it is printed. It is getting a little late to be working on a Christmas card image, but at least it will be ready for next year if I don't make it happen this year. ;o)

T'was the Night Before Xmas
9 x 12 Oil on Stretched Canvas
© 2013
NFS

"Paint Two Images..." - Stage 2

It has been about 6 months since I posted anything about this project regarding the 'Paint Two Images Project'. It seems no matter how important a project is, it doesn't mean it is going to happen quickly, and this is definitely one of those projects.

I think about this project almost daily, and have mulled over old drawings, and new drawings, and lots of ideas about what these two images should be. All in all, I kept returning to a figurative theme, and here is the next stage of the project.

Title TBD - Originals Not for Sale
16 x 20 inches - Oil on Stretched Canvas
© 2013

While researching for this project, I came across one charcoal drawing and one ink drawing that were done in 1980's during figure drawing classes. When I drew them, I didn't know I would be using them in the future - the thought never occurred to me. The female model was done during a fashion illustration course, and the male model is actually a dancer who modeled for art students in Seattle. The originals were done about 4 years apart, and I was a little surprised to see how little the style of my drawings changed.

As I develop the idea for these paintings I became keen on using symbolism, and I am leaving it open for interpretation. Several thoughts have swept across my mind about what it might mean, but I tell you 'it changes' a bit even though some passages are constant. It is like different layers of understanding are represented.

The actual rendering of the image is not determined because of the difficulty of finding and affording models to work from, so in the interest of allowing these paintings to develop as I go along, they may likely be left to look very graphic rather than realistic. BTW, I am working on them simultaneously as though it is one large painting. This should keep them looking harmonious both in style and color.

I have some ideas for the background, and will be posting that result I hope in the near future. I have resolved that no matter what the result of these paintings, they will be framed and put on the wall.

Happy Thanksgiving to all...

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving no matter how you spend your day - of course it is best to do this with a grateful heart. ;o)

The following days many of you will then spend lots of time shopping and decorating for the next big day of the year!

My wish for you is that you carry that same grateful heart with you for a more sane and peaceful holiday season.

 Best Wishes

Still life painted circa 1980's

I Amazed Myself... and giggled!

I remember a workshop I attended several years ago after a dry spell from painting. The class was painting a still life. It was a fun class on many levels; 1) because I was thrilled to be painting again, and 2) because I saw many past artist friends also attending - so it was a great reunion time too.

I happily went about painting the setup arranged by the instructor on my "homemade" stretched linen 12x12 birch stretcher bars for the time remaining in the morning after the teacher demos in such a workshop, and then it was time for the lunch break. Upon going to the sink to clean my brushes before leaving the studio for lunch, I turned around to look at all the student's work and asked "who did that one?" No reply, so I turned back around finished cleaning my brushes, and went back to my spot. OMG!! I had to do a double take because it was my own painting; I had not recognized it! How can this be??

Frye Workshop Still Life-Block In

12 x 12 Stretched Linen

Circa 1980's

The experience left me with an odd yet pleasant feeling because when I first asked whose painting it was, I was thinking whomever did, looked like they had a pretty good start! Even a classmate standing next to me noticed the painting as notable-also not realizing that it was mine. I never finished it because the afternoon session was portrait painting.

Looking now of course I can see things I'd change in the arrangement. but thinking back on this experience, I still have to chuckle a little. The lesson back then - as most of us learn eventually - was it is sometimes helpful to work on a painting looking with fresh eyes from another angle (the mirror trick) or sometimes just setting it aside; it truly does give us a chance to see what the wonderful right brained genius living inside our heads can do when given the freedom to enjoy creating with complete delight - no pressure.

I know this may sound a little strange, but since this experience when I catch myself being too critical while painting, I tell left brain (LB is very dominant sometimes) to be patient for the painting that right brain is doing because RB needs to build confidence - and LB can write an interesting story about it later. It seems to be helping with much less frustration around my studio. ;o)