Back to the Quick Studies

Heritage Barn, 5x7  Nov 2017

A Year AGO almost to THE Day, we began Art Quick Studies



I find great value in painting small Quick Studies which is something that I started doing almost exactly a year ago. In 2016 we started with 5 Quick Study Members, today we have 10 Members! I am so proud of the Quick Study painters, artists who post and comment on our Quick Studies each week. I have learned that the term "small works" has a different meaning for each artist. I love a nice little 5x7 canvas panel (Centurion) whereas my friend Janet can whip out a 'small' 8x10 in no time!

Bright Fall 7x5 Nov 2017

I feel that I have become a more decisive plein air painter --in part due to the practice of Quick Studies. Unfortunately, I got so busy in August and September that I went way off track and lost my Quick Study mojo! I did not get any Quick Studies done for several months! Oh no!

I have to get back to the twice a week, one hour each, small quick study. I REALLY do believe there is value in this biweekly painting practice.

What I have learned from painting Quick Studies:

• FAST DECISIONS: They help me to make fast decisions when plein air painting. I did many Quick Studies before my first Paint Out this year, I think they helped me out in the field.
• It is EASY TO START a Quick study, most I complete at home with a one hour timer. Although I did complete a Quick Study during the plein air paint out--I had just enough time to do one! Also, it is a great way to start or finish a plein air day, this is a good painting warm-up exercise.
• COMPOSITIONS seem to come more easily to me when I plein air paint.
• LESS PRESSURE: There is less pressure to make a 'perfect' painting when it is a Quick Study
• SCHEDULE: One hour of painting works into my schedule (most of the time). I NEED to make time for these!
• SMALL WORKS ARE SHOW WORTHY: Many area galleries have annual Small Works shows, I have a Quick Study in a show right now!
• FUN: The Quick Paintings are fun to do! 

Here's to one more successful year of Quick Studies - paint on!

PAINT MORE!

From An Artist and Information Gatherer!

Every year around this time I start working on my art goals. I review what I have accomplished for the year and what I want to accomplish for the next year. Yes, sometimes goals do not get met but it is good to have goals to review and work on. I am always amazed that I am a rare artist, not many artists actually have goals--wait what? It's true!

My number ONE new goal for 2018 is to "PAINT MORE." Now, how will I accomplish this?

First, I think I need to start tracking my art time --a goal that I failed last year. But I know it is important to know how I spent my art time.

Last week I tracked my art time in hours. I met my art hours goa1 (30 hours), but it was 50% Admin and 50% Painting. I need to spend less time on Admin and MORE time painting, I know this in my heart!

My next step was to ask all my friends and artists how they motivate to paint more! I need to think on how to incorporate this into my life... Mantra: Paint More! Paint More!

Artists Answers for how to paint more include:

Set a Schedule (paint at same time each day)-- I do not do this. Sounds good but not sure if exact schedule fits into my current life.

Put on Painting Apron. Once its on, it is painting time. This is mental and I think something like this could work for me. I need something that signals to my brain that it is time to make art/paint!

X Marks Creative Day. One artist puts an X on each day that she does something creative in a pocket Calendar-- most days in the month have an X in them! This is good, I can envision how this becomes a visual need and leads to satisfaction and perhaps more paint time.

Please share your thoughts on how to motivate one to Paint More, comments are welcome!

Neo Impressionists: A Must-See Show

Maximilien Luce- a new favorite

Columbus Museum of Art 
Beyond Impressionism Exhibit 
which features Neo-Impressionists, Nabis and Symbolism
Now through January 21

 If you can, I encourage you to go see this amazing show! I loved it!

We went to Columbus last weekend for a short adventure/getaway. Online I had found that the Columbus Museum of Art was having a special 'Beyond Impressionism' show and I was excited to go to see it. I convinced my husband that it could be a Foodie & Art Weekend.

Us in a Bonnard lithograph

 I did not recognize all of the Neo-Impressionists nor did I remember the term 'Neo Impressionist.' These artists came after The Impressionists and many knew Monet. Most Neo-Impressionists were pointillists painting street scenes and landscapes using brilliant color ala Seurat. I loved all of the bright colorful pointillist paintings and found a new artist whose work I love. Maximilien Luce is featured prominently in this show and I had never heard of him before. Luce's work is luminous and lovely, I left wanting to find out more about him.

Monet's Weeping Willow

I also loved seeing a large Monet when first entering the show --a  large lovely Monet-style water lily painting. In the next room was a large dark and moody Monet that was fascinating and wonderful. When I show my art friends the 'moody Monet' photo they all say that it looks like my painting style--I wish! I loved reading about the Weeping Willow Monet painting (large and dark), which without seeing the signature I would not have known as a Monet.  The Weeping Willow was painted more than 30 years later than the water lily painting. Painted during a war (1918), it says much about the mind and time of Monet.

Lautrec color lithograph

I was thrilled to go around the corner to find what must have been 20 lithographs by Pierre Bonnard. I love his paintings but it was good to see his lithographs taking up an entire wall. Also unexpected was the Toulouse Lautrec Ambassadeurs color lithograph - prominently displayed and such a nice surprise.

There are so many more works in the Beyond collection, but you need to go and explore on your own. Also, after leaving the Beyond Impressionism show, you should tour the museum and their collection. I loved the George Bellows room and seeing portraits by Robert Henri (a personal favorite), Sargent, Matisse and more.

Pointillist Style: Signac

Art friends, I encourage you to take an art weekend and head down to Columbus to the Columbus Museum of Art--you won't regret it! Contact me and I will also give you a few restaurant recommendations!

A Touch of Success - A Sale!

SOLD! The Color of The Wind, 9x12

One of the most wonderful art moments is when you get a sale. Sold is so special because it means that someone values and appreciates your original artwork. I was very pleased when someone wanted to go through my inventory of landscapes--yes please do! The review resulted in the sale of 2 paintings--a terrific success for me.

SOLD! Fall's Last Stand 8x10

I have come so far with regards to landscape and there is still so much that I want to do. I am proud of each of these landscapes. Making art is so much more than finding a spot to paint and painting (and it is never that easy). First you have to pack an art bag (a chore in and of itself), then you have to find a location to paint. Once a painting is complete it has to be signed, photographed, and varnished. Then the photos have to be taken and uploaded to the website. It is so much work but it also is incredibly fulfilling as each painting is a part of me and my emotions.

 My art friends call my paintings 'happy paintings' and they are a reflection of how I feel when I paint! I think it is my love of color and my expressive brushwork, but I do get 'Happy Paintings' comments often. It is more about color and brush stroke for me, perhaps a better adjectives include Expressive & Playful (or Sunny or Cheerful)?

Cheers to the sales and cheers to future success and artistic growth. Painting gives me great joy and I love the artist life. Two of my landscapes have sold but I have many more works available on my website.

https://greenhandleart.com/works

Rejection, it will make me stronger

5x7 inches - Lost Along The Way

SMALL WORKS SALE! 

There is a local show that I love entering in Fall, it is a nice show and works tend to sell (yes please). This year they had over 300 entries and yet I still had hopes that a few of my works would be exhibited. I have had several works in the show previously which sold and that is why I had great expectations. I have anxiously been awaiting word on this show and this morning, I got the results--not one work accepted! I will admit, that email was a little bit heartbreaking, I was very much looking forward to the show. So now I have to transition my thoughts and focus on moving forward with my art.

the 7" length is only as long as a hand

Yes, this is a small works show, and one issue that I think hindered my work is that the judges were unable to see (in a large image file)--how small the works really are. A close up picture (no hand) was used in the submission and I also included the frame size. With small works, the frame is large; framed these little 5x7 inch works would be 10 by 12 inches (that's a lot of frame). I feel strongly that the frame size hurt me in my entries. So, here I wanted to give a visual on the smallness of a 5x7 work -- the length of my hand, that is it! Tiny right?



What is next? Well, I have to work through my disappointment and move forward. I will offer my 6 small works at a discount (unframed) on my website. Please review my works below, one could be yours for a discounted price of $75 (unframed).

DISCOUNTED SMALL WORKS $75 each (unframed):

Lost Along The Way, 5x7  $75

Ellicott City Shop, 5x7 $75

Mexican Bakery, 5x7 $75

Gate on Main, 5x7 $75

Sunflower Crop, 7x5 $75

Touch of Pink, 7x5  $75

Here is the link to purchase my small works--I love them and hope that you do too!

https://greenhandleart.com/collections/97815

Art, I need thee!

Missing Art Sessions Hurts Just a Little

Seuss's Yellow Tree 7x5 a Quick Study

Last week I had to miss all of my art sessions as I had a house guest & it would have been hard to leave the house and my guest alone for long periods of time.

I did manage to paint a one hour quick painting (post picnic at the park). The Quick Study painting felt great, but I really missed my longer art sessions. This week I am ready now to get back to my art schedule, I really really missed my art.

It may be hard to understand why I missed my art sessions so much.

I actually enjoy having the art schedule (two days a week). It is MY time, time that I dedicate to art, and yes I do put my phone on vibrate because I consider the art sessions my (very important) time. The Art Session time is sacred to me, and I schedule appointments and phone calls and meetings around the art schedule.

Yes, sometimes, I just have to get out of the house! However, I find that no matter my mood (if sad or tired), once I get to the art studio, my spirits lift and I feel better! Also, I love the social interaction with my fellow artists. The artists are my friends and mentors and they let me ask questions, ask for recommendations on books and workshops and materials, and we talk about art events and workshops. Art is also (as I have written before) a meditative time for the artist---often once I pick up a brush, I focus in on my painting and lose myself in the moment.

All of these reasons are why I need to get back to art, why I am so ready to go back to art tomorrow! Art, I need thee!

Meditation and Harmony with Nature

fulfillment & joy in plein air painting

Recently I found a new and wonderful place to plein air paint. I have painted there twice and plan to paint there again a few more times this fall. When I am set up and painting at this new place I feel a calm peace take over my head and heart. I hear birds singing and often take a few minutes just to look at the beauty in nature that surrounds me in this peaceful setting---inhale exhale. Just stopping for a moment and taking in the visual scenery is comforting and relaxing, very much how I envision meditation.

I am happy with this little 8 x 10 from my meditative spot!

What I know about art is that making art is fulfilling and rewarding. It is also very challenging, I often feel that I am in or need to enroll in a college class to learn color mixing, analogous color, value scale, and anatomy (there are some wonderful community art centers which have helped me greatly). Only in this last year (after 7 years) I finally feel that I understand color to include color mixing, color harmony and value. My next focus will be learning more about landscape. I have been painting one landscape each week this spring and summer and I do quick study (1 hour small) landscapes. I recognize that I want to improve my control and brushwork with the landscapes-- toward this goal I did participate in a Paint Out this past June. The Paint Out forced me to know my plein air painting equipment and to determine painting locations -- focusing in on scenes I want to paint. I also have been reading about landscape painting--even with all of this focus and hard work, I have major landscape improvements that I want to make!

My friend Lynn took this pic of me--way over there under the umbrella!

And so, on Monday, I will return to my wonderful place once again to paint with nature. I have checked the weather, it should be partly sunny and 77 degrees, sounds perfect. I cannot wait to see what new colors are out there and I am looking forward to this harmonious art meditation.