Upcoming Shows & The Pressure to Finish Work

2 shows, much work to do

My Inspired By Day--look at all of the art being made! LOVE IT!

My art group has two upcoming shows and I definitely hear the lyrics "Under Pressure" as a weight upon us all. Our first show in August will consist of 3 completed framed works for each of us. Many are still working to finish these works, and most I would say have still to frame their works.

For the September show, there is even more pressure. We each have chosen an "Inspired By" pose and a model to be our "inspiration". We had to sign up for a date, show up early and set up the model and set the stage for our pose. I strongly feel that it is a good experience for the artist to have to work to set up the model, to choose the background colors, pose the model, select the clothing--it is much more difficult than you would imagine particularly with the addition of pattern and color. Once you set up your Inspired By, the other artists gather around and paint with you--each of us will have our own versions of each other's Inspired By! I've found these Inspired By poses to inspire all artists not just the artist setting up the pose.

This has been a motivating and rewarding experience. I find that artists are more likely to show up on Inspired By days and artists are working hard to finish their Inspired By works. Yes, there is stress to make a good painting and to finish a painting but there is also somehow a motivation to do so.

Many artists had successful lovely paintings of my Inspired By, and yet I struggled! Ack! I repainted my painting 4 times. The first three were terrible, the final fourth painting is good ---painting this over and over is not something I typically would do, but since it was my Inspired By I felt I had to get a good painting for the show.

I'd say that most artists are on board with the Inspired By show (there are some who are disliking the pressure to create). I would love to see this continue into an Inspired By 2, for us to continue to create Inspired By works from now through 2018. Here's what I am noticing--even artists who struggle to complete works have been pushed into blocking out more time to make art, into committing to have finished works done for the show. While not all artworks are coming out, we are dedicating and allotting more time to make art and I think that is a good thing. We artists should work more at our art, commit more to our art.  While some may not want to continue, I am preemptively voting for an Inspired By 2 and I am already thinking about my next model set up for Inspired By 2...


Here is a link to the Novi News Article about our Sept Show:
http://www.hometownlife.com/story/life/2017/07/19/group-art-exhibit-takes-shape-novi-painters-basement/469986001/

Oh Trees! A Quick Afternoon Tree Workshop

Green Trees & Grey Skies

Artists at work, painting trees! (Impressionistic image).

 I've been plein air painting once a week for most of the spring and summer. And, none of that plein air painting has been instructor led. While it is wonderful and meditative to get out and paint on my own, I do believe that artists should search for new ideas and seek instruction. This particular afternoon workshop was appealing because it was "how to paint trees"--ok I think I need to learn that!

When a friend mentioned that she thought she could get an artist to teach a plein air "how to paint trees" workshop, I said, "Sign me up." As an artist, you have to be open to new opportunities! For example today at the painting tree workshop there were several of us who consider ourselves newer to plein air, some total newbies and some experienced painters. It was an amalgam of painting knowledge and yet I believe that we all enjoyed the workshop. I loved the demo. The demo was painted with a size 12 brush which seemed so large to me, but which worked so well for the Instructor. I love seeing how others approach a painting, what colors they use and how they use their brushes. The Instructor made it look so very easy, I loved his trees but mine were not as successful as his.

The newer artists were really interested in color mixing. I was interested in sky-holes and edges. The more experienced artists were interested in color palette --especially the instructor's use of Portland grey which he used in his sky and to create his dark greens (Portland grey with Ultramarine Blue and Yellow Ocher).

My painting, it looks a little dark here, it was a grey day!

Tree Notes:

• Know the trees you are painting, it helps to know the features (I need to learn the trees here).
• No symmetry, nothing parallel to the frame
• Establish big shapes, then darks and shadows. 
• Think of a jigsaw puzzle, simplified.
• After block in, refine shapes saving details and keyholes for last. 
• Define a few strokes at a time, cutting into the sky . For sky-holes be selective, use a clean brush and paint should be toothpaste thick.
• Painting is a series of corrections.

First Paint Out - Lessons Learned

Paint Out Day Three

On small glimpse of the show, my work in top right gold

On the third morning we had to take in our wet paintings (framed and ready for show). As I drove into downtown Milford I saw plein air painters everywhere! They were all painting for the Quick Paint (3 hours), it was awesome! I turned in my 2 wet paintings, viewed the amazing work on the gallery walls and then walked through town looking at all the painters. I am guessing the secret to a Quick Paint is to paint super close to the venue. I loved seeing all of the Quick Paint Artists painting their works, a town filled with artists!

In the afternoon there was an art sale and artist reception at the SHAC. WOW!
I have to say I was so impressed with the quality of work produced at this event. There is so much talent on the wall, you must go see the show and ask yourself how did one artist accomplish this work in 3 hours, or even how did this artist complete this work in a day? To me there were several gallery worthy artists and paintings at the final art show, I was in awe!

SHAC (Suzanne Haskew Art Center) is located at 125 S. Main Street in Milford. The show runs now through August 22, I encourage all to go view the show!


Lastly, as my first paint out weekend came to an end, I wanted to share my lessons learned...

Lessons learned:

1. Scouting locations before the paint out is a must. You don't want to spend time looking for a place to paint, you want to get to a location and set up and paint away.
2. Painting one hour small paintings helped my confidence & decision making (I try to do this twice a week)
3. Plein air painting once a week before the paint out ensured that I knew my equipment and could set up quickly
4. Paint with a friend or friends! Not only do you have someone to watch your equipment when you have to use the restroom, you also can solicit a quick critique.
5. Review the schedule, allot time to get your canvases stamped and note the wet paint turn in deadlines
6. Watch the weather and plan accordingly --rain coat, trash bag for tarp (rain)
7. Don't get too ambitious - Keep it simple (this should really be #1)
8. Don't forget your lunch and your waters - stay hydrated

One last note about a Paint out, and that is Go with Confidence! I have heard several artists state that they do not have the confidence to participate in a Paint Out! That surprises me! Sign up and go for it, make it a goal, find a local event and do it! You can paint alone or with a friend, and since there are two days (or more) there are opportunities to create several paintings. And you should put at least one in the show! You never know until you try! Go for it! PS- My friend who also was a first time paint out person, reluctantly put one of her works into the show. Her jaw hit the floor when she won an award! That is why you have to try and to go with confidence.