The part of the experience I wanted to share was being on location.  I have difficulty finding areas that I enjoy painting in Walnut Creek - or at least that's what I felt until I went for out painting for this plein air exhibit.  To begin, I'm usually trying to capture a vista, but if you know Walnut Creek, you know that it sits down in a tree covered valley.  I usually find myself looking at lots of trees, short vistas and distant mountains.  This time instead, I went for the less obvious locations - and that made all the difference in the world.

I started painting at Shadelands, you know, the big piece of land that is supposed to be a Safeway development by this time next year.  I drive by this big, beautiful open parkland every Monday morning on my way to teach class.  Last Monday I was searching for a spot to paint where I could still get to class on time, and there it was!!  I had been driving by for years and never stopped to paint.  I am so happy that I did.  This is a wonderful spot to paint and I would encourage anyone to get out in paint in this spot before it's gone...or a spot like it in your own town or city.  There is probably more to see than you're noticing and the time to do it is now, before it is changed forever.Shadelands SunriseThe second spot I chose to paint had me encountering that age old problem of painting in Walnut Creek.  All far off vistas and close mountains.  But I love to hike so I took on the sunny morning (okay, HOT morning), searching for a spot with shade.  I found it by the open space for Lime Ridge entrance near Boundary Oaks Golf Course.  As most everyone parking there is headed for golf, the foot traffic on the hillside was light, friendly and fun.  Again, I didn't have to travel far and enjoyed the morning, escaping the searing heat at noon. 

Ridge Rise

Ultimately, the last two days were the best!!  I was still looking for that "vista" that wasn't far off, but also not so close that there was nothing in the distance.  I started hiking Lime Ridge and found the quarry.  It was beautiful.  I began painting but had to return to finish it.  The second time to took my bicycle.

Plein Air Painting  

So, in truth, I've found a beautiful new place, not just to paint, but to hike and bike, filled with lots of vistas, quiet reflection, local wildlife (and ants - more "annoying" than "wild")... and it's all in my "backyard"!  This, seems to me, to be the best reason to get out and paint!!

Lime Ridge Quarry

The part I want to share, that enthralled me the most, was the variety of work... watercolor paintings, oil paintings, etchings, sketches, photographs and bronze statues.  That's a lot of proficiency in the field of art!

Some students were surprised that not every piece was finished to perfection or completely refined.  The truth is that all artists have many unfinished and unrefined pieces of work; we just don't share them with the rest of the world.  But it also reminds me, an artist of this modern, busy world, that I find it difficult to dedicate the amount of time he did to his artistic pursuits.  It makes me want to draw, to paint, to sketch, even to sculpt (although I am not a sculptor) all the more!

The answer: well, I don't actually have an answer.  But I do admire a student of mine, who despite his busy life with a young family, draws every opportunity he can.  You can see Doug's work at www.thehippingpost.com.  In the meantime I will be aspiring to that same level of focus and to a greater degree of efficiency in my life so I can put more of my time into painting and drawing.

I understand the Hockney exhibit at the DeYoung Museum is equally inspiring, even if you, like me, are not necessarily in love with his work.  That's why I'll be going there next week.  In the meantime I'll be carving out all the time I can in pursuit of my art.  I hope you find time to do the same. 

Une premiere, Anders Zorn, 1888 (a piece he cut up because he was unhappy with it)

Happy Dog Rufus!

It's Summertime!  

Everyone is busy in the summer and taking classes doesn't always fit into our plans.  So if you can't take a class, keep "in-shape" by sketching!

Sketching rules are as follow:

1.) Draw everyday for 30 minutes!  Yes, just like any exercise, aim for that amount of time and do your best.  And just like any exercise, if you miss today, don't quit, just pick up and go ahead tomorrow.

2.) Pencil in a sketchbook, any size or shape that you like is great!  You don't have to be painting.  Drawing is fine.  The most important step:  Just do it.

3.) Any subject is fine: the salt shaker, the dog, the person on the couch watching TV, the figures on the TV, the potted plant....anything.

4.) Sketch, date the sketch when you finish, include how long it took (if you would like), turn the page and Let It Go!  

5.) No judging!  No showing anyone who isn't an art instructor!!  This is a process of practice and lots of our practice is unfinished or incomplete.  Let it be unfinished.  The part that matters most is the that you're doing it.  So let yourself enjoy the process and don't tie yourself to an outcome.

6.) Have FUN!  Enjoy your summer!  See you in the Fall!

(Happy Dog Rufus! was a quick, fun painting that had no outcome attached to it.  The circles were just for fun; the lines were from a previously unfinished painting which I flipped upside down so I could use the board.)

Instead of new goals or giant leaps of change, take this time to blossom forth by making small changes or choices. 

When people paint, frequently we get caught trying to "do it all".  Instead, take this time to "refresh" - focus on one idea or one aspect in painting or drawing. 

Try focusing on learning a new technique, a new color scheme, strengthening values, or your composition?  Ask yourself "what is this painting/drawing about?"  Instead of trying to do it all, pick one.  And for your next painting or two, just for now, focus on learning/practicing that one area you feel you need to work on the most.

And of course, don't forget to Have Fun! 

Rufus, 6 X 6", oil on board

I painted "Rufus" on a day that I was enjoying working on the direction of my brush strokes.

As long as your mantra is practice, practice, practice; and you realize that all we ever do, and are doing, is practice, then I do believe you are headed in the right direction!

My focus on this painting was bringing up the saturation of color in the foreground and simplifying the background.  I am happy with the results.

Trail to Vogelsang 11 X 14" oil on linen board

"A man learns to skate by staggering around making a fool of himself; indeed he progresses in all things by making a fool of himself." - George Bernard Shaw

"In my previous lifeI used to consult with Fortune 500 companies on how to help employees learn faster. One of the most important lessons I learned was the importance of learning while doing. In fact the other interesting thing I learned was that by doing something and getting it wrong, you learn much faster than doing something and getting it right! The trick is to make as many possible mistakes as you can in the shortest possible time.  Strange but true!" - Barry John

I couldn't agree more.  What is confidence other than graceful falling?  Or even more so, not being afraid to fall.  When we acknowledge our process we learn to move forward and that the falling will not hinder us for long on the way to our goals.

Thank you Judy!

June Sunflower, 9" x 12", oil on canvas panelThis demonstration for a class became a painting.  Not all demonstrations become paintings, but standing in front of studens, sharing what you know, requires not being afraid to do it wrong.  I am, like my students, constantly learning as well.

Last weekend I had a great opportunity to go to the Sierras - and took it!  I had a great time as there is nothing I like better to do than to go camping.  AND... I spent the weekend painting.  What could be better?!! 

Usually, when I camp with friends, I hike because that's what my friends enjoy.  Only painters (and maybe fishermen!) would understand the desire to stand (or sit) in one spot for 3-4 hours while you are observing majestic splendor.  This time I chose to paint.  As a result, I walked for 15 minutes and spent my entire time with my foot propped against my tripod (due to the wind) observing and painting.  My friends, on the other hand, spent 4 hours slipping on melting snow and bushwhacking through the tough vegetation due to a missing trail.  The timing was perfect!  I completed my first piece just as they arrived with cuts and bruises.  We all had a great time!

 Packing for the trail.My pochade (small portable palette that sits on a tripod) is an Open M Box.  The day pack is from Mystery Ranch.  This view includes the contents of my pack and all my painting gear.  The goal is to travel light.

Everything, including the wet painting, on my back.I am wearing a light weight SPF jacket.  In my pack are the following items: Water, map, sunblock, snack, compass.  Painting gear: palette, tripod, paint, supports, turpenoid, paper towels, painting gloves, brushes, one palette knife, trash bag, wet canvas carrier.

Around my neck: camera.

Along the trail.

Only a 15 minute hike in, but still there were lovely views everywhere, like this deer who never saw me as she quietly walked down the stream.

Enough paint for the entire weekend... and beyond.

To the left is my palette: white, two of each of the primaries and an earthtone.  In this case: titanium white (permalba), cad yellow pale (Winsor Newton), yellow ochre (Daler Rowney), cad scarlet (WN), permanent alizarin crimson (WN), French ultramarine blue (WN), ceralean hue (DR), burnt umber (WN), and a touch of Indian yellow (WN).

I have a tendency to think the best view will be around the next bend, so on this occasion I made the point of stopping at the first sight that I was interested in painting.  The trail actually ended up going past those mountains in background.  Another 15 minutes and I would have been there.  Next time I'm traveling that far although I am not dissatisfied at all with my decision to stop.

Sketch - 15 minutes

Approximately an hour into painting.

I had not toned my canvas before arriving, so I used Indian yellow and turpenoid to rapidly color my canvas.  I drew with a brush and then painted directly onto my canvas.  

2 hours into the painting.

I am posting an excerpt from a conversation with a student of mine but this information is valuable to all artists:

Enjoy your high level of frustration.  Confidence in your self-perception covers a lot of distance but it can’t protect you completely from the struggle.  Growth occurs in the struggle and frustration.  When you stop being frustrated your art will become mundane.  Never become mundane!

Here’s a little list from me:

I had to drop perfectionism – it was killing my creativity.

I had to accept my short-comings and work hard to make up for my lack of drawing skill – knowing if I worked hard enough I could learn what I needed to know was difficult yet necessary and, in the end, fulfilling.

It takes time to develop – period.  Nothing can replace time.  The earlier you start, the more time you have.  That’s all there is.  Just wish I knew this part when I was 18.

Talent is wonderful to have – but there is no talent that can replace hard work.  Period.  The talented are often lazy or not driven.  Be driven.  There is always more to learn.

I used to be bothered by the fact that there was no “end point” to learning in art.  Now I embrace the journey.  My change in perception came with time and experience.  The more you do, the more you’ll love to do and the less afraid you’ll become of the work required to achieve your objectives.

Find an excuse to explore, practice, affirm, or challenge yourself everyday!

Happy Painting and Drawing!  Never stop!

Anna's Peeps, student painting in acrylic

There is lots of information on the interweb about cleaning your skin with baby oil.  In fact, even Dawn detergent has oil in it (that's their secret) because oil helps remove oils.  Therefore it makes perfect sense that baby oil will take paint off your skin.  After skimming through a blogged dialog, this is a comment that I encountered from 2001.

"A word of caution about baby oil:

Yes, baby oil will clean your hands and brushes, but before you use those brushes again, make sure that they are washed out really well with turp before beginning your next painting session.

If you do not wash the baby oil completely out of your brushes, the baby oil will cause "bloom" which causes your painting to develop blotches that can not be worked over.

I learned this the hard way. :( I was using baby oil and going right back into my painting which was a big mistake. I also was using the baby oil to clean my brush so I could use another color during the same painting session. Now I use safflower oil .... which works just a good...but maybe doesn't smell as good.... and safflower oil is okay with oils...as a matter of fact, some colors already have safflower oil in them. :)"

To the individual who wrote this comment: Thank You!  Personally, I think the safflower oil sounds great, but I have no interest in reconstructing this experiment to find out if it's true.  I'm taking her word! 

The variety of techniques are as variable as the artists that use them.  Testing different methods and techniques is the only way to discover what will work best for us individually.  We will all make changes over time as our needs vary with our growth and intentions.  Stay open to the possibilities.  But in the meantime:

Use the baby oil on your hands.... use the safflower oil on your brushes.