Reworking Taos pieces

Sometimes when I go back to rework on a painting, it is obvious to me what needs to be done and with experience I'm learning how. The first two paintings are improved over the original start. I'm still struggling with the third -- time away should give me a fresh perspective.

Farwell -- Figure Exercise

Wednesday afternoon Ken showed the class a process for incorporating figures into the landscape. My first attempt was a total disaster -- but Thursday evening I went back to the studio and tried again. His process begins using black paint to place vertical lines on the canvas -- this is done in a fairly random way. Next, splashes of skin tone are added to the tops of the black lines. Followed by splashes of colors being added on top of the lines. Then Ken images people in the paint and begins to uses a background color to sculpt and define the figures. He adds the ground and then highlights. So basically, you don't know what the end product will be when you begin. This was uncomfortable for me. Richard Schimd says, "Begin with the end in mind." Certainly not the Auster approach to figures! Ken encouraged us to go home and repeat this exercise 5 or 6 times. I'm going to do just that! (58/83)

View from Dunn Bridge

This morning we were scheduled to paint at the Dunn Bridge. I painted here last week during Kim English's workshop. So I wanted to take the opportunity to paint the same scene as last week -- hopefully to use my knife, incorporate more color and paint on a larger canvas. I'm not finished -- but I have the masses blocked in. I'll finish it when I get home. Overall, I'm much more please with it. The photo isn't great -- too much light.

This is such a beautiful scene. I hope I can finish this painting to really do it
justice. (57/82)

Fields of Arroyo Hondo

Today is Wednesday and we returned to Arroyo Hondo to paint. Ken Auster had us focus on changing the color and tone as objects move in the distance. I had too many objects -- making my scene way to complicated. When I returned to the studio I simplified the composition -- I like it much better this way. I picked a tough focal point -- the fence post in the foreground -- it's tough making a simply fence post the focus in front of such glorious mountains. The colors don't seem to be true in this photo. I'll rephotograph it when I get home. (56/81)

Gorge at Arroyo Hondo

Tuesday morning we headed out to paint in Arroyo Hondo -- this scene is another attempt at painting the gorge. I'm having a really tough time trying to balance the variables in painting surface (linen or latex housepaint on wood) tools (brush or palette knife). I worked on it more when I returned to the studio -- but it's been a struggle. Ken Auster has a very different approach to painting then I'm accustom -- but I'm learning and will adopt what works for me.(55/80)

Path to the House

Monday was the first day of Ken Auster's workshop. We had a lecture in the morning and were going to paint in the afternoon to practice what he'd taught us. We all got set up and began painting -- and here came the monsoon rains! The first really hard rains we've had. So we all ran for cover. I wanted to paint -- so I opened both doors to the studio and painted a view up the hill to the house where I'm staying. The scene looks more sunny -- and I want to correct the path when I get home.(54/79)

Setting Sun on the Donner Ranch House

I've wanted to paint the house I've been staying in -- but cars have blocked the view all week. With the workshop over today was my chance. I used a 9X12 canvas and decide to block in the masses and colors – as Kim had encouraged us this week. Within 30 minutes I had finished the scene. This was icing on my cake today. It’s been a very long hard week – a little success feels really good. Once I'm back in Austin, I hope to finish it. (52/77)

Adobe House, Morning Sky

This adobe house is on the Donner Ranch – the sky was done with a palette knife and the mountains and adobe house with a brush. They two parts really don’t look like they belong in the same painting, but I liked the mountain and didn’t want to change it. Soon I’ll paint this house again. (51/76)

Morning Light

Kim English’s workshop ended yesterday. I’m staying at the ranch for the weekend and will be staring Ken Auster’s workshop on Monday. Today, Saturday, is my chance to paint and get some good vibes going. I struggled today, but felt in control. It turned out to be a great painting day. I painted this still life of a window scene – I wanted to try to capture a bit of the light that Kim English is known for. The scene outside the window proved to be a real challenge because it didn't provide me with enough contrast between the vase on the window sill and the greenery outside. I finally lifted off the color of the outside greenery -- I'll finish this when I figure out how best to fix it. I finished the painting I started on Sunday when I arrived. (#50/75)

Progress

Last day of the workshop and I finally had some success. My success doesn’t really show in this sketch. But I think I’m getting the hang of what Kim wants us to do. I’ve been struggling with so many variables – going back to the brush instead of the knife I’ve been using for a couple of months. He also wanted us to try some different ways to lay out our palettes. I think for me it was just too many changes – it immobilized me. But today I finally managed to get my act together and get some paint on canvas. (49/74)

Pushing Through

In the afternoon we were back at the Ranch; I decided to not wipe off one of the poses – just so I had some record of my progress – or lack thereof. (48/73)

Path up the Gorge

Also from the bridge but the face of the gorge was quite close. This attempt at capturing colors and shapes wasn't successful -- but I sure loved playing with the colors and the challenge of the knife. (47/72)

Dunn Bridge

Today Kim took the class Dunn Bridge or the Gorge Bridge. We had the option of painting the landscape or painting the model. I just needed to feel some success so I thought I’d try painting the gorge. I used my knives. I’ve mainly just been using the brush this week. I did two paintings. This is a view of from the bridge. I loved playing with the colors and this has me wanting to painting granite in the Texas Hill Country. (46/71)

bummed....

The workshop is really challenging and I’m struggling – so is everyone else. Kim English wants us out of our comfort zones and he has succeeded. This workshop is about painting the figure in the landscape. We are fortunate to have a great model with us all week. She poses and Kim gives us 5 or 10 minutes to paint the model – he is trying to get us to capture big masses – shapes and colors. Quick! Every time the timer goes off we wipe our canvases and begin again. It is completely draining – I’ve not been able to do every pose – it’s just too overwhelming. I think maybe I’m doing ½ of the poses. I’m spending lots of time after the workshop taking photographs to use in future paintings and working on compositions for studio works once I’m home. Today is Wednesday and I have not kept a single painting. I’m a little bummed out.

Road to Donner Ranch

I arrived at Donner Ranch on Sunday afternoon. Quickly got settled in and wanted to paint. Other workshop participants were arriving and although I found a good scene to paint and set up my easel, I didn’t complete the piece. I allowed myself to be intimated by the presence of the other artists. By the end of the week, I finally put the piece back on my easel and finished it. Originally I used the palette knife, but finished it on Saturday with a brush. (45/70)

Taos Workshops

The rest of July is going to be a very exciting time for me as I will be attending two workshops in Taos, New Mexico. Both will be taught by well known American artists. Kim English is teaching the first workshop, Ken Auster the second. As a new artist, I consider this a great opportunity to learn from some of the very best contemporary artists while having the chance to paint out-of-state.

Unfortunately, the lodge where I'm staying doesn't have internet access so I'll not be able to blog my daily experience. I am hopeful I'll be able to catch a link and post a couple of updates before August 1st.

What is your reaction to their work? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

Celebrity

Just as the salmonella scare hit, the tomatoes in my garden were beginning to ripen. Celebrity variety has been the clear winner this year, beautiful AND tasty. Laying on the color with the palette knife provides an experience I just don't get with the brush. I think I need to harden some of the edges on the right side.

Welcome!

Moving into Wetpaintjournal.blogspot.com and creating Hot Off the Easel has been like moving to a new home. At first there is creative work to be done as selections are made -- Blogspot url, actual blog name and colors. Then the grunge work begins as the old files are transferred.

It's taken four days but I've finally: moved posts from my old blog; photographed the paintings I've completed since January 2008; and posted those images with journal comments.

Rebecca