Painting Equipment: Folding Russian Chair-Easel

While researching Painting equipment, I came across this YouTube video of an old Russian Chair Easel. Kinda nifty, no?

Watts Atelier - Instructors' Painting at Yearly Holiday Party!!

Watts Atelier - Instructors' Painting at Yearly Holiday Party - 2013!!

 WATT's Online Atelier
Program Portrait Lesson

I think this is a really fun video (below) to watch and see how a group of artists/instructors can produce a very nice piece sharing the brushwork. Confidence of brushwork is very obvious, and it looks like they were using the Zorn Palette.

This would be fun to do as long as one's ego doesn't get in the way! ;o)

The image to the right is from an on-line lesson in the portrait program series. (BTW, a different model)
 

FREE Online ART ebooks and Other Resources

T'was the Night Before Xmas

Here's a little gift for you! The following short list of free online ART ebooks on drawing and painting are posted on a couple of websites, but wanted to have them for my own quick reference, so I thought I'd list them here as well... and save my readers some time by sharing them.

The American Drawing Book

The Practice of Painting

Landscape Painting - Birge Harrison

The Art of Landscape Painting in Oil Colour - Alfred East

The Practice of Oil Painting and of Drawing as Associated with it

The art of landscape painting in oil colours - W. Williams

Light and Water - Montagu Montagu-Pollock

Here are a couple more good resources you might enjoy...

Pictorial Composition and the Critical Judgment of Pictures by Henry Rankin Poore

Duval's Artistic Anatomy (human)

The Artistic Anatomy of the Horse

The most comprehensive list of free ebooks can be found at Gold Coast Art Classes

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

Christmas Card Landscape Sketch

I very much want to paint something for printing my own Christmas cards this year. The thought is for it to maybe be something that could be hung anytime of year. The following is the first quick sketch done for this goal.

You might be thinking that a yellow sky is unlikely for an evening/dusk scene, but that the imagination of it, and I kinda like the harmony. This is not the completed image, only a start... it is a composite of photo resources and imagination. I want to add something, but haven't quite settled on what(?).

Should it be something figurative, or something holiday related even though it would be counter to 'hung anytime of year'?

Will sketch out a couple more ideas before I make a final decision. Better get out to the easel!

Thanks for looking!

Prelim Sketch - Winter Landscape
9 x 12 Oil on Canvas Sheet
© 2013

Ginger Jar with Tangerines and Blue Flowers - Update

So back to my more frequently used palette. I must say the understanding of color is more solid now that I've used the Zorn Palette the past few paintings. By this I mean how color affects the viewer.

This is a simple grouping of objects that have a full value range and intensity of color. My spirit is feeling a little brighter and more at home. The actual jar has a printed design of square calligraphy blocks that I left off because it seemed too busy, but actually thinking this is too plain.

BTW, the blue flowers are a variation of Scilla siberica and perennial Geranium.

Start -  Ginger Jar with Tangerines and Blue Flowers
8 x 10 Oil on Canvas Panel
© 2013

Decided to try it with the design afterall... left a lot of the design off, but it is pretty true to the actual idea. Now if I can just learn how to suggest depth more convincingly.

Update - Ginger Jar with Tangerines and Blue Flowers
8 x 10 Oil on Canvas Panel
© 2013

Turban Squash - Still Life

This was getting back to my usual palette - and all I can say is what a difference. It shouts in comparison. Lots of fun to paint. Could end up in the oven...

Turban Squash - SOLD
6 x 6 Oil on Canvas Panel
© 2013