Thanks Tony!

Tony Lavoie, the Stages Element Manager, of NASA's Space Launch System recently retired.  As someone who has enjoyed working with him and who wanted to honor his contribution to the Program and NASA, I created this painting for him.  The painting includes the Chandra X-ray Observatory which he worked on.  As well as the Critical Design Review certificate for the Core Stage and an image of the Space Launch System.   He also happens to be a Boston Red Sox so I added the baseball and hat.

Here is the initial set-up.  Not quite right...

Try number 20-something...

Much better!

The brown behind the rocket is just a prop to keep the rocket paper model standing up.

End of first session.

Starting to get there.  But how did I let the edge of the certificate be in-line with the edge of the rocket- got to fix that.

 Well other than a crooked core stage it's getting closer.

A good friend of mine and fellow artist, S. Renee Prasil, came over and we only came up with 13 things to take it to the next level.  Thanks Renee!

Special thanks to Chad Bryant who put together the paper model of the Space launch System.

The Butler Institute of American Art

One of my favorite current day artists, Sherrie McGraw, is having a show at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.  Since I was going to Ohio and Kentucky anyway, I just traveled a little further north.

The Butler is a wonderful art museum with many works in the permanent collections and exhibitions that I throughly enjoyed.

A few of the highlights of the permanent collection include:

"By the Drovers Inn" by George Glenn Newell

A painting of a "Lady with a Parasol"  attributed to James McNeil Whislter

"Georgia" by Chuck CloseThis large work (56"x 45") of the artist's daughter is made from paper pulp- think flatten out spit balls.

"In Flanders Field-where soldiers sleep and poppies grow"
by Robert William Vonnoh (1858-1933)

"Three White Houses" by David Armstrong (1947-1998)

The insitute also has several Elbridg Ayer Burbank Native American Portraits done in sienna colored pencil that where done in the early 1900's.

"Feeding Caitlin" by Janet Fish (1938-)

See my early blog post on Janet Fish

There have several Andrew Wyeth paintings.  My favorite in their collection is "Cowbirds" but I haven't been able to find an image of it.

I'll save the three exhibits that were on display  for another post.

Charles Courtney Curran at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens

Milking Time

The Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, Tennessee is one of my favorite small museums to visit.  I swung by over Labor Day weekend to see the Curran exhibit "Seeking the Ideal".  The exhibit runs through October 5, 2014.

I wasn't sure who Charles Courtney Curran was but I liked the cover painting- The Golden Profile

The Golden Profile

Curran is known for his portraits and paintings of women and children.  The women are dressed in flowing white or pastel dresses against gardens or seascapes.

Curran was born in Hartford, Kentucky in 1861 and spent his growing up years in Sandusky Ohio.  He studied at the Fine Arts Academy of Cincinnati, the National Academy of Design, and Art Students League before moving to Paris for 2 1/2 years. He was a contemporary of the American Impressionists Mary Cassatt, and Frank Benson.

The exhibit had Curran's 1920 palette- artists' palettes are fascinating- at least to this artist.

Peonies

He had a summerhome in Cragmoor, NY, in the Hudson Valley,  which was a growing art Center.    Located about 100 miles northwest of New York City. He painted and taught there.

Paris la nuit (1889)
Paris at Night

While not a typical painting in the exhibit, Paris at Night, is my favorite painting in the exhibit.   The lights and reflections are really interesting.


It is estimated he painted 1500 paintings during his career including both watercolors and oils as well illustrations for magazines.   He died in 1942 in New York.


While you are visiting check-out the "Connecting the World- the Panama Canal at 100" exhibit.  I enjoyed Alson Skinner Clark's work.

Marisol Exhibit at the Brooks Museum of Art

Last time I was in Memphis I swung by Brooks Museum of Art.  I had gone to see "The Eclectic Sixties" exhibit.

David Parrish, "The Eagle Has Landed", 1969 oil on canvas

David Parrish is from Birmingham.  He first gained recognition for photorealist oil paintings of motorcycles.  Keeping with the photorealism, he has kept with the bright colors but moved on to the broader subject of Americana.


There was another exhibit at the same time that I found more interesting- "Marisol: Sculptures and Works on Paper"  (through September 7).   This is a major retrospective of her work. Maria Sol Esobar, known as Marisol, was born in 1930 and is still alive.


Although most of us haven't heard of her, she was close friends and as well known as Andy Warhol at the time. She was known for her chic Audrey Heburn-like style.  Her early life was very troubling which is reflected in her art (particularly her pieces relating to the family)

 She is best known for her large figural sculptures frequently made of wood, terra cotta, found items or some combination thereof.

One piece in particular caught my attention, "The Funeral"

I don't remember the President's funeral but I associate it with the pictures of his son saluting the procession.    I don't know if this is a universal truth for my generation and the generations after my time.

This link goes to her sculpture of Andy Warhol.

Al Hirschfeld: A Celebration of Hollywood and Broadway

"Al Hirschfeld:  A Celebration of Hollywood and Broadway" is on exhibit at the Huntsville Museum of Art through Sept 14, 2014.




Who was Al Hirschfeld?  David Leopold, archivist for the Al Hirschfeld Foundation said "Hirschfeld was the court artist for all the performing arts but he drew more of Broadway and Hollywood than anything else or anyone else..."

The exhibit includes 45 drawings and prints covering 71 years of actors, actresses, and other figures.

"Tallulah!"

The exhibit even includes a game for the younger visitors- who may not recognize  some of the actors.    Hidden in most of Hirschfeld's paintings is the name of his daughter, "Nina".  The number of Ninas hidden in a painting is shown by the Arabic numeral to the right of his signature.  If there is no number than there is only one Nina or it was done before her birth.

"Happy Birthday, Mr. President!"

He was  awarded the National Metal for the Arts in 2002.  Hirschfeld died in  January 2003 at the age of 99.  His desk, lamp, and chair were donated to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and are on display in the lobby.

"Anne Hall"

I throughly enjoyed this exhibit- it was fun to guess the actors, films, or shows and yes I did a little Nina hunting myself!

Lisa Roger's blog has more information about Al Hirschfeld

Exhibit to see- Janet Fish Master of Light & Shadow

Watercolor paintings by Janet Fish

When I think of watercolor paintings I think of Janet Fish's watercolors.  Wonderful paintings full of translucent light and color.  I think of them as happy paintings.

I was very pleased to see that the Huntsville Museum of Art was organizing an exhibit of her work-  Janet Fish- Master of Light & Shadow.  The exhibit runs through July 27, 2014.

The exhibit is not of her watercolors but instead it is her oil paintings.  There are 43 paintings from 1969-2008 in the exhibit.  The paintings are large.

Anderson’s Fairy Tales, 1999 oil on canvas, Courtesy of DC Moore Gallery, New York

The same love of light and color is apparent in her oil paintings.  Janet Fish attributes her fascination with color and light to early years growing up in Bermuda.

Her paintings are filled with common subjects- still lifes with bottles, glasses, flowers; picnic tables with people playing in the background.  In general the people in her paintings are not the focal point but provide layers, context, and action.  

She has the ability to take ordinary household objects- like salad dressing in bottles or apples wrapped in cellophane and create an unique interesting painting of light and color.

I would be hard pressed to pick out a favorite painting in the show- however, the use of  color and light to represent the delicate etching or pressed-design in Ivan's Glasses; her rendering of the cellophane, ribbon, and glass plates, in Ice Cream Sundae; and juxtaposition of punch, cake, ballons, and children in Ballons, would make those paintings my three favorites in the exhibit.

She comes from an artist family with a art history professor for a father and a mother who was a sculptor and potter.   Her grandfather was American Impressionist painter Clark Voorhees- one of the founders of the Old Lyme Art Colony.

Clark Greenwood Voorhees (1871-1993) Arrive at Sunny Ridge

More of Voorhees' art

One of my favorite books on her work

However it is out-of-print and very expensive.

For more information on Janet Fish- Master of Light & Shadow and to purchase a catalog

Behind door number 2?

"A Delicate Balance" 

by Scott Powers 

Copyright 2013 Scott Powers

While I was in Idaho last month at Scott Christensen's Workshop, as we came back from painting cottonwood trees, we stopped in this little tiny town to visit another artist's studio.  As we approached the door of this old worn building, Scott said something about "Scotty's Studio".  The  old wooden and stone weathered building was taller in front and sloped down to one story.  There was only small narrow horizontal windows in the front at street level- just the kind you expected to see lots of cobwebs in.  It would be perfect as a building that no one had lived in for a very long time.

The door was opened by "Scotty" and once I saw the art work I knew I was meeting another Rock Star of the art work- Scott Powers.  As 17 of us descended on his studio he was very welcoming.   He was working on "A Delicate Balance" while we were there.  He told us that he had recently decided to rework it.  After some cajoling he showed an iphone picture of it before he started to rework it.  With the exception of Scott Christensen probably, I think every other artist in the room would  have been jumping up and down with joy if they had painted something like that.  However when we looked at it versus the reworked version, you could see just how much better the reworked version was.  Part of being a rock star is not settling for good or wonderful but realizing there is a great and working toward it. 

Coming from Scott Christensen's very neat, spare and well lit studio to Scott Power's cluttered with interesting things everywhere and dark studio with just the painting area well lit was a contrast in the different environments artists' chose to work in.  I'm always fascinated to see pictures of famous artists' studios and palettes.  They both had full bookshelves or piles of books on the floor.  I could have spend days (weeks) just looking through them.

View of Scott's palette.  

We asked him about the big piles of old paint on his palettee- he said they were memories.  He could look at the pile and remember that color on that part of a particular painting.  Just how cool is that!

This is the link to Scott's website.  Hopefully it will inspire you to stretch even further to great!
Scott Power's website

And to all the artists who open their studios and let other people ask questions- Thanks for sharing a little of your art, process, and space!

How Artists are like Golfers... or Golfers are like Artists

Quiet Winter Night 

by Scott Christensen

copyright Scott Christensen

 There are a lot of amateur golfers who play every weekend and who golf plays an important role in their lives.  About the time they are ready to throw in the "club", they will hit a great shot.  That great shot keeps them going for quite awhile.

According to one site there is 61.1 million golfers in the world (and that was of 2003!)  Number of golfers in the world

There are a great many professional golfers that you and I never hear about it.  300,000 Professional Golfers

Then there are the handful of professional golfers who we all know their names- Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Nancy Lopez, ...   So how many of them are there?  less than 25, less than 10?

The degree of excellence in the game increases with each classification.  Their compensation and mystic increases from the amateur, to  professional, to the top of the game.

Artists in the world

Artists are in a similar situation.  There are 4.4 Million artists in the world.  Those artists can struggle and just when they are ready to turn in their paint brushes, they will paint a beautiful passage or a painting will come together almost effortlessly.

There are 600,000 professional artist in the world.  If you are someone who is interested in today's artists you would know some of their names.  But if art is not one of your main interests you probably do not know their names.

There is a much smaller group of artists that are household names.  And if you only consider live  2-D artists the group will be very, very small.)  The mystic of that much smaller group is similar between the golf and art communities.

At the being of June I took a class from of one of the "Tiger Woods" of landscaping painting- Scott Christensen.  It was incredibly intimating to even think about taking a class from someone with his expertise.  The class consisted of a broad range of experience from some who had never painted to people who were mature in their art careers.  Scott was very approachable- willing to answer any questions we had, talk philosophy, talk technique, do demonstration paintings, and critique our work.  Painting outside for 7 days in a row was something I had never done before and would love to figure out how to do on a regular basis.  The last day of the workshop Scott told each of us in the class what he thought we, individually, needed to work on to take our art to the next level.    It was a wonderful experience.

So if you have a chance to play with the "Tiger Woods" in your field - go for it.  It could be an opportunity like no other.

If you want to learn more about Scott Christensen, Brian Nehr did a great article on Scoot, his background, and techniques.

Brian Neher's blog post on Scott Christensen

HIgh Key, Low Key, Soprano, Bass

There are many similarities between various art forms.  Music and painting/drawing have similarities in a couple of ways.

Each singer has a vocal range that is the lowest note the singer can sing to the highest note.  In a choir singers are divided up based mainly on this range.  So for women the categories are soprano, and alto  with soprano being higher range and alto being lower.  For male voices the categories are tenor and bass with tenor being a higher range than bass.  In opera or professional choirs the female and male voices may be divided into more categories.

Anyone who has every played in a band also knows about ranges - soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones

I am a lousy singer which is why I was in the band in junior high and high school- and yes I played sax.  So I'm on dangerous ground talking about voice ranges.

Understanding Vocal Range  has lots of great information on voice ranges and classifications if you are interested in learning more.

So let's make the connection with painting and drawing- we are going to go back to values.

Painter's sometimes refer to a painting based in higher values as high key and one's based in lower values as low key.  So just as voices or instruments have ranges with associated names, so do paintings or drawings- both of which are based being predominately higher or lower.

"Dancer" by Edgar Degas
Pastel on paper

This painting by Degas is an example of a high key painting.  There are no really dark darks.

This painting by Edward Gorey  is an example of a low key painting.  Although there are a few  highlights that are light, the painting is predominately in the darker values.

"Mile Becat at the Cafe des Ambassadeurs, Paris" by  Edgar Degas

However if we go to this painting, again by Degas, you can see that it covers the range of values of lights to darks  with fairly similar amounts of darks and lights.  This painting wouldn't be described as either a high key or low key.

There are other similarities between music and painting that I'll cover in the future.

In the meantime look at the paintings in your house or your favorite paintings - do you gravitate to high key or low key paintings?  Post an example of one of them.

Dana Brown- Artist of the Month

All art in this blog post is by Dana Brown 

(copyright by Dana Brown)

I'm pleased to introduce you to my artist of the month- Dana Brown.  I first heard of Dana as some one who started out taking classes from one of my instructors and gone on to be in major art magazines and shows.   I've  since gotten to meet her - she is a great artist, neat person, and wonderful friend to furry creatures.  

Twice a year Huntsville has a gallery tour when local artists open their studios for people to come visit.  When I went by Dana's studio during Gallery Tour, I was greeted by a room full of people walking around with cats/kittens looking at great art.  As people came in they were offered a cat/kitten to pet.  I'm pretty sure she was hoping for people to adopt the cats and kittens and buy art- a cool combination.  Fortunately I made it out without a new pet but did end up about 9 months later with a painting I first saw in her studio that night.

Today is also Dana's birthday.  So help me wish her a Happy Birthday!

 How did you get started painting?

I’ve always drawn and painted, as long as I can remember.  I always planned to be an artist and it was the only thing I was interested in.  I attended college, taking night classes, and art classes weren’t offered in the evenings.  So, I drifted toward doing things on my own that were affordable – always creating something whether it was sewing clothes, quilting, drawing.  When my children were in elementary school, I became a daily painter again

 What inspires you?

I’m inspired by the need to use my hands.  And color.  It’s very simple.  I look at the world in search of subjects and I’m inspired by great work by other artists.  But truly, the driving force is my need to make something.

Describe your techniques, favorite paint color,  and/or favorite thing in your studio?

I’m currently working in encaustic, painting with layers of encaustic medium (beeswax and damar resin).  My work is always layered with emphasis on warm and cool colors, and the interplay between them. 

Copyright Dana Brown

What’s the one thing you wished you know starting out or had learned sooner?

That’s a hard question.  I try to not hold myself responsible for decisions that were made with the limited knowledge I had at that time.  I wish I had persevered and gotten a formal art education but truly, I would have landed in a teaching job and might have made totally different decisions later about being a free lance artist.  I encourage young people to get a formal art education but I caution them to hang on to their love of art and their vision of themselves as an artist.

 If you could spend the day with any artist living or dead, who would it be and why?

I’d love to spend the day with Jasper Johns – but I know I’d lack the courage to ask him the questions I want to know.  And I would never take a day from a working artist.  Time is so precious and their gift of time to me wouldn’t be a good investment for them.  In fantasy, watching him work would be a gift, no doubt.

Copyright Dana Brown

The question that is usually expensive for me- What is your favorite art book or DVD and why?

Art and Fear always pops to mind when I think about art books.  I read it at the right moment and it influenced me greatly.  When I reread it now, I find I’ve totally internalized so many of the concepts in the book – to the point that I think they are my own ideas.

I enjoy  books that help me overcome my own insecurities and lack of confidence.  Ideas that get to the root of why we make art and simplify it -- those are the books that serve me best .

Copyright Dana Brown

Where can we see your art- galleries, website, etc.?

Currently:

www.danabrown.net

River Gallery

Blue Spiral Gallery

Huntsville Museum of Art

The artist featured this month is Pamela Blaies. All of the art work feature in this post is hers. This year I had the pleasure of purchasing one of her following works:

"Three-for-Tea" by Pamela Blaies

copyright of the artist

How did you get started painting?

I discovered my passion for painting soon after starting a family. My small children were sad about their recent move, so to lift their spirits I began to create murals on their bedroom walls. I found myself anticipating each morning filled with painting. Compelled to explore this newly discovered part of her, I began to experiment with painting on canvas. These first steps were just the beginning of my lifelong commitment to the pursuit of painting.

What inspires you?

I love to paint from life. Being right there in the moment and seeing what you might not think you would see. I am inspired by the effects of light and shadow in the world around me. Light flowing through colored glass, Reflections on metal and ceramic objects – those types of light effects are intriguing to me. Backlighting is especially fun for me when doing oranges and grapes, because I love the colors light produces through the fruit.

Describe your techniques, favorite paint color, and/or favorite thing in your studio.

I use the alla prima technique. With alla prima painting, a work is completed while the paint is still wet. Using this wet-on-wet technique, I often employ thin, transparent washes along with impasto texture which add depth and interest to my paintings. The time limitation of this technique motivates an energetic pace to my work and helps to keep my inspiration fresh.

Black paint is not part of my palette. I use color mixes and complements for shadows and lowering color intensity. My limited color palette offers a virtually infinite color range and helps me to organically achieve color harmony. Right now, my palette includes: titanium white, Cad Yellow Medium (sometimes Cad Yellow Light) either Quinacronone Red or Alizarin Crimson (depending on the subject,) Cad Red Light, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Sap Green, Cobalt Blue and French ultramarine Blue.

My studio was just constructed in September of 2012, so it still feels new to me . I love my studio! It feels like a refuge – no computer, almost like the outside doesn’t exist. It is a very comforting and inspiring place for me to work. My favorite thing in my studio would probably be my sound system. I can create whatever mood I want for the day.

"Time for Tea"by Pamela Blaies

copyright of the artist

What’s the one thing you wished you know starting out or had learned sooner?

Since I started painting a little later in life, regret is something I try not to think about. I see artists that started out young and I sometimes think about how much farther along I could be if I had started painting ten or twenty years earlier. But, I realize that is not productive thinking. If I had gone on another path in life than the one I’ve taken, I wouldn’t be who I am today. So, I focus on enjoying today and making the most of the gifts and blessings I have been given.


If you could spend the day with any artist living or dead, who would it be and why?
Wow, that’s a tough one. But if I had to choose one, I would definitely say John Singer Sargent. I’ve heard others say his brushwork wasn’t pretty, but that is exactly what draws me to him. I would LOVE to have sat and watched him paint! If you had asked for the second artist it would be Richard Schmid. I don’t know – maybe it’s a tie???

The question that is usually expensive for me- What is your favorite art book or DVD and why?

The number one book would be Alla Prima by Richard Schmid. Thinking about it right now, I should probably read it again. I am reading a book right now by John Carlson: Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting. It is about landscapes, but is chock full of great information and instruction! He makes me want to paint the landscape! I also have several of Daniel Keys videos – he is also amazing and I have picked up so much from his videos! He also gives a lot of practical ideas for canvas choices and brush care.

Where can we see your art- galleries, website, etc.?

My website: http://pamelablaies.com/works

Physical Galleries: Dallas, Texas at the Dutch Art Gallery and in Georgetown, Texas at Stinger Studio

Online at www.ugallery.com, www.dailypaintworks.com

I also have about 6-10 exhibits throughout the year in and around Texas. I post my upcoming events on my website http://pamelablaies.com/events

"Early Spring Bouquet"by Pamela Blaies

copyright of the artist

You can also check out her latest you tube video at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWh-_ov_PzU

Anything else you want to share?

Thank you for taking the time to interview me! What a treat to be included as one of your artists of the month!

Watercolor Society of Alabama hosts the 72nd National Watercolor Exhibition

The exhibition contains 110 paintings from artists from 20 states.  The juror for the exhibition was Richard Stephens of Hot Springs, Arkansas.  I don't relish his job.  I didn't come up with a single painting that was in my mind the best in show.  Instead I  found several that were incredible, with a wide variety of subject matter and technique. (So please don't ask me to pick!)

Gwendolyn Bragg- Autumn Dogwood II

(copyright of the artist)

Johanna Littleton- Esfahan Remembered

(copyright of the artist)

Dean Mitchell- Reservation Wall

(copyright of the artist)

In this exhibit, there were several powerful portraits.  Again in very different styles and highlighting different emotions.

Dashuai Sun- My Friend

(copyright of the artist)

This painting is much more powerful in real life.

Kathleen Durdin- Nefertiti Shopping

(copyright of the artist)

Terri Shows- Injured

(copyright of the artist)

Jean Seymour- Pontificator

(copyright of the artist)

Link to the Exhibition website

The Exhibit is at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center  and runs from April 7th through May 26.  Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday 9 am- 5pm, Saturday 10am-2pm and Sunday 1-4 pm.     (Hartselle is just south of Decatur)

If you can make time to see this show, its worth the effort!