A tell-tale sign of a painting that is done using only a photograph is putting in too much detail and having darks without any information.  Don't go too dark in the shadows.  As long as the relationships between values are accurate you are going to do well.  The benefit of painting from life is that you have more of an idea of the true value range than you can get from a photo which is generally too dark in the darks and too light in the lights.

We should always "raise the bar" on our work. 

After Frank discussed the changes he would make on his first painting (note that he made the changes with the photograph and the painting upside down.), I thought he was finished and headed off to paint for an hour or so before lunch.  (As it was he discussed a second painting and I missed that demo.)   

I went off to paint cactus (nopales)... I had felt good about trying to capture what Frank had done the day before, so I thought I'd try it again by painting my own cactus painting.  I tried to remember what Frank had discussed as I painted my cactus, but in the end, having only an hour, I simply placed color on it to cover the canvas.   Surprisingly it turned out rather well, I think.

In the afternoon we all stayed relatively close although we all faced different directions and we painted alongside one another.   The painting on top was my final painting and I was rather happy with it.  I felt I had tried my best to apply the ideas and suggestions that Frank had been making during the week-long workshop.

I'm sad to say the class over.   Suzanne and I went out to celebrate a FANTASTIC WEEK...  I had some GREAT margaritas.... and yes, I tossed one back for my friends from previous painting adventures.  

Happy painting to all of you.

It is hard to believe that the workshop is coming to an end.  This morning the winds were light so Frank suggested that we all go out and paint and he would do his demo after lunch when the winds were due to rise. 





I decided to paint the same scene from the same spot that Frank had painted earlier.  Frank came by all of us to make suggestions and comments several times.   We had spread out all over the ranch so he really did have his work cut out for himself.   I had changed the format from vertical to horizontal because I didn't want to do something  that seemed like a copy.  (I needn't have worried...  It's nothing like Frank's... sigh.)   I really like the painting I did in the morning but when I compared it with Frank's after lunch I can see many many things that need to be done to it.





The lunch - as always - was delicious.  I've included two pictures so you can all see what a gourmet fair we are treated to daily.   It's nice to relax and be served and find out all about one another.






After lunch we walked out to an area with many nopales (cactus), where Frank did a demo for those of us who wanted to watch.  Frank took his time and mixed up several piles of colors that he saw in the cactus paddles and in the grasses.  He made "notes" or marks on the canvas to note the outside edges of the shape then roughly brushed in the basic overall color note.  As he began painting in the various paddles he grabbed colors and mixed between the piles of color on his palette.  he designed the painting as we went building up subtleties in colors to suggest what he saw and to make a pleasing design.  He reminded us not to become too specific too fast... he said he wanted to be able to make a nice orchestration on the canvas.   Frank decided to leave the background fairly loose.






We all left happy and satisfied today, but really tired.  Suzanne and I debated about whether to go out but when we heard the fireworks and drums and trumpets we had to go out to see what it was all about.  We never did find out why the people were having a parade, but it was interesting to watch.  It was a religious celebration of some sort... Most of the women were wearing pink and blue and they were carrying a statue of a saint.  However there were what appeared to be Aztec dancers as well along with a lively band group and mounted police to follow up.   After following the parade through town, we found a restaurant and had a great meal.

And now.... buenos noches!!

High up there among the many perks of Frank Gardner's workshops is the fantastic food we are served during our lunch break.  This year we are staying at Rancho Del Sol Dorado the whole week and they have created some absolutely wonderful menus.   I think the chile rellenos from yesterday's lunch were my favorite main course so far.   The chiles were stuffed with ground meat, raisins, corn and all sorts of good stuff and the sauce was out of this world.   Luckily we've been doing a lot of walking around town so we can sort of walk off the calories (at least I tell myself that.)

Today was clear and bright although still quite windy.   Frank suggested that we all head out and paint and that we would do a critique session and he'd talk about something he would paint that morning as well.  We met a lunch and after we were all filled up and happy he began discussing the good points and how we could make our paintings better.   Then he should us the "demo" painting that he had done and discussed what he felt he still needed to do on it.  (It was gorgeous.)

In the afternoon we spread out again and he came around and gave us pointers as we went.   I was happier with both paintings today.  Frank gave me some good suggestions that I may work on when I get home. 

Another walk through town with glorious sunlight and good company with Suzanne, my B&B buddy.  Now it's time to clean my brushes and catch up on the zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs!

Today the skies were clear and the weather was perfect -- although there was a pretty hefty wind which sapped the water from your body and gave all of us excuses for not being able to paint a straight line.

No excuses for Frank.   He started the day with a demonstration that was challenging to say the least.  He wanted to show us all another approach to painting and to emphasize the point that most paintings are all about values.  He chose a scene that was almost all in the shade and he developed it thoughtfully and carefully emphasizing subtle color shifts of slight variances in value.  He reminded us that no value in the dark family (in this case in the shady area) cold be lighter than any value in the light family (the sunlit areas).  This was especially challenging because the carriage he was painting was WHITE!...   He began by establishing the lightest light (the sunlit area in front of the stable) rather than the darkest dark this time. I think that alone impressed me...   Although the demonstration took most of the morning, it was well worth it to see how he carefully selected values and colors that were very close together and deliberately put down strokes of paint to eventually let the painting emerge.  

Frank was also very careful with his drawing.. often checking his initial measurements.  He did not DRAW out the whole scene with detail but rather made "notes" to himself using a cad/ultramarine mix which he continued to check.  From there as he layed in each paint stroke he reminded us to judge every value by comparing it with the lightest light and with the values closest to it.

He isolated color shapes and kept asking himself, "How dark is it compared to what is next to it?"  He said not to stare too long at something -- just get the impression of color and make value relationships using your last impression.  So much can be said with economy of stroke.  The look is more about feelings and colors... it is a study in greys.  -- It's like a poem.. Let the viewer imagine more....   Some paintings can be skillfully right but are just boring.  Push color variations, one stroke at a time.  Don't just paint in a section like a coloring book.

Thick texture comes toward you so be careful with your brushwork and use it to lead the eye.

After another delicious meal we all set out to paint on our own.   I did better than yesterday, but not as well as I would have liked.   None the less, it was another terrific day.   We all enjoyed hearing stories about all the painters who visited San Miguel earlier in the year.  Frank has several of their paintings up on his gallery walls alongside his own beautiful work.   It was interesting seeing how so many great artists can paint side by side and still create work which is unique and wonderfully different.        

Hasta manana!

I had such a wonderful time last year in Frank Gardner's plein air painting workshop that I decided to try it again, so here I am in Mexico.  When I got here, Frank offered to take me along with him to visit some of the beautiful churches I often see in his paintings.  Interestingly enough, many of these little gems are now being renovated for the upcoming independence celebration and Frank was a bit dismayed because parts of the aging sections that he likes so much were being "fixed".   Oh well --  It will be a new opportunity to paint what may seem like a new scene.

This year I'm staying in a different B & B because some of the artists from the workshop were staying here.  It is nice but not as beautiful as the B & B I stayed at last year.  It is, however, closer to the center of town.  I've enjoyed getting to know Suzanne -- it's always good to have a buddy to share your defeats and victories with..  (and to share a meal and a margarita with too!)   We walked all over town on Sunday.   There is a new beautiful scene around every corner.
Yesterday was the first day of the workshop.   Frank had said that he planned to do it a bit differently this year and do some practice block ins to work on value, and design.  I had reviewed all of his notes from the previous workshop the night before and was dismayed to realize how much of what he had said I had NOT been utilizing.  Makes me realize how much I should review the notes I take and try to take on one thing at a time until I've mastered it..  I have been working on color and value, but may never ever get to the point where I'd like to be.

As with last year, Frank talked about his limited palette of alizerin, cad red, cad yellow light, lemon yellow, french ultramarine blue and thalo with white.  He mixes piles of color with the palette knife to avoid dirtying the colors.  He tries to mix the colors that he sees in the scene he will be painting on the palette before he places them on the canvas or board.  I enjoy listening to Frank as he explains what he's doing.  If only I could internalize it better. 

If you get a chance when he offers his class next year, book it!  Between the great city of San Miguel, the fabulous gourmet meals on the painting site and the great instruction, this workshop is a real winner.  I've taken many workshops... enjoyed almost all of them and learned from all of them... but I came back for a second time to this one because I enjoyed it so much.     (Don't hold these paintings of mine against Frank!)

I painted three real dogs yesterday, but still had a good time.  After doing his demo, we began to paint and Frank talked to each of us several times as we worked, giving us pointers as we worked.  He wanted us to just to do block ins to get a feel for the values and the compositions as well as to do a bit of practice with the color mixing.  I was exhausted last night so didn't get much chance to blog and it's almost time to leave again this morning so I will finish up and post more later.  

In the meantime,   I wish you all happy painting.

This is the last week I have at home before I fly off to San Miguel de Allende to paint with Frank Gardner.   I'm looking forward to the coming week, but I seem to be moving through molasses while trying to get everything done before leaving. 

Additionally, the weatherman has predicted rainy weather off and on during the week (It's pouring right now.) so I decided to go to the Monday uninstructed figure painting group which was inside.   The model was a cowboy and struck a relaxed but rough and tumble pose.   It was a fun morning and -- as always -- the wide variety of WONDERFUL work that emerged from the various artists in the group was inspiring.

Today I picked up my paintings from the photographer and then tried to take advantage of the beautiful weather before buckling down to business again.  I was hoping to see wildflowers.  I didn't see too many, but wow... what a gorgeous, amazing day!  I drove and stopped and took pictures and then drove on.  The clouds were billowy and amazing... They were all fluffy and majestic against the blue sky -- sailing along and making a great foil for the lush greens of the Las Virgenes / Malibu Mountainscapes.  Wow... life is sooooo good!

The top photo is looking down on the Malibu State Park Creek Bridge and through the gorge and the photo just below that is the view from my back yard overlooking the San Fernando Valley.

All the rest of the week I've been trying to finish up a variety of seascapes for entry in a couple of shows.  (I'm not sure why I keep trying to enter shows...  I guess I just crave the opportunity to show my work.)  Got it done, photographed and submitted ...

Now it's time to get ready and pack for the big Mexican adventure!

Sand, Sun and Surf
(California Kids Triptych)
Three 16"x8" panels - will be framed together

If you are interested in purchasing this triptych, please click HERE to contact me.

Well, they are almost finished....   I've been working on a few paintings.   One is a large (for me) studio piece based on the plein air study I did while enjoying the beautiful view across the top of the coreopsis crowned Point Dume.    I'll show that one sometime soon... perhaps after I finally report on the Karl Dempwolf demo.

Based on the feedback several of you posted on one or another of my blogs, or emailed me, I went ahead with my plans for the triptych.    A special thanks goes to Michael Donegan for his thorough response to my question and to those others of you who encouraged me just to "do my thing".   As I was working I remembered that I had seen several wonderful triptychs done by Robin Cheers who also ended up displaying the beautiful frames that she had custom made..  It sure made a difference... although Robin's work is always outstanding, the frame made it special indeed.

The paintings were done from photos I have taken at various times...  in Laguna and other beach areas.  I always enjoy watching kids at play - especially at the beach.  I also am fascinated with the shadows we make as we pass through areas.  I've painted the little boy with the sand shovel in his mouth before on a square panel, but I like this format better.

I will probably continue tweaking these panels, but for the most part they are done.   Now I have to decide whether I can find a local framer to show them off or whether I should use Robin's.

Tuesday was the day scheduled for our San Fernando Valley Art Club paint out.  In past years the club's paint outs had been scheduled irregularly and always on weekends, so I never managed to go.  This year, with our new paint out chairperson, Trish Bennett, they have been scheduled well in advance each month and so far they've been planned for weekdays.  Unfortunately, on our inaugural 2010 paint out in January, it was pouring rain.  CANCELED!

The weather reports have been quite inaccurate in the last week or so, so I wasn't sure if it was a go or not, but luckily today there was no rain.   We went to a place I never knew existed, called "Gardens of the World" in Thousand Oaks.  This is a privately run beautiful area in the middle of Thousand Oaks near the Civic Center.  The public is welcome but must sign in and agree to obey by printed rules which we had to read and sign before entering. 

Additionally we were able to enjoy club member and friend, Janet Snodgrass's watercolor and photo show which is hanging in the main salon area of the grounds.   Her opening is Saturday, March 6th, from 2-4 p.m. if any of you want to go to enjoy her paintings.   I will be in Mexico so I'm glad I got to see it today.

The grounds include an old a "California Mission" area, Japanese gardens, and several other beautifully landscaped and arranged areas representing parts of the world.  It wasn't the wild abandon natural landscape that I love to paint, but it was beautiful and after wandering around and taking photos, I finally settled in to the Japanese garden area.  There were about ten other painters from the club and I think we all had a good time.   I got to chat with Carol Tator, Trish Bennett, Janet Snodgrass and Chuck Kovacic.   George Malone, whom I had invited, painted in the California Mission area with a few other people.  Unfortunately I had to leave after about 2 hours of painting in order to pick up Tyler, so I couldn't stay and chat during lunch, but I still enjoyed myself.

I apparently didn't follow the rules as right after I blocked in my painting, I was asked to move.   After getting over it and moving on, (grumble, grumble) I dug in and enjoyed painting.   I had decided to try one of my 8 x 16 panels, and thought the result was okay given the limited time we had.  Unfortunately I didn't put it in a good place in the car on the way home and it got a bit mushed, but I spent a few moments at home cleaning it up and am able to say to myself...  "That was a good day of painting!"

****

I have a technical question for those of you painters who wish to chime in.   I've been painting and painting and have decided to do a TRIPTYCH.   I'm using three of the 16x8 panels (vertically) and am hoping that what I am planning will work.   All of the panels include children at the beach or on their way TO the beach.  The sizes of the kids on the two outer panels will be larger than that of the kids in the inner panel.  
Here is my question:....  WHAT exactly are the rules for a triptych???  

• Does it have to be ONE painting on three panels, or can it be ONE theme on three panels?   
• Does it matter about the relative size of the figures on the panels???   What do you think???    
• After I'm finished I'll show you all three and then you can chime in with more opinions, but I wanted some opinions before I'm finished as well.   

THANKS...

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me HERE.

I love painting outdoors.  I love the sun and the beautiful sights. I love discovering new spaces and re-exploring familiar spaces.  I see things I would never have seen if I hadn't started painting outdoors.  I love everything about painting outdoors......  well, perhaps I could do without the bugs or the too hot/too cold/too windy/too wet aspects of it... but hey... the good really does outweigh the bad -- especially here in Southern California!

This painting is a familiar scene... one near my home again...   The sycamores in Caballero Canyon are actually pretty bare right now, but several trees do have some leaves hanging on and those just light up the area with color. 

I recently watched wonderful artist Karl Dempwolf do a demonstration for the California Art Club members and was reminded that when painting, the painter should not try to duplicate the scene exactly... that's what photographs are for.  One should create an interesting mosaic of shapes.  If a tree or a rock doesn't help the composition and lead the viewer to that "ahhhhh" feeling, then move it or leave it out.  (One of these days I WILL blog about Karl's demo as I promised...   really I will!..  I wish you all could have been there.)

So when I painted this painting, I did try to interpret the scene in a pleasing way.  I added colors and leaves that I thought looked nice.  It still has the spirit of Caballero Canyon sycamores, but it's my interpretation of the area... NOT an exact copy.   And I, for one, like it!!

(PS... I apologize for the huge photo file, but my favorite laptop died and I am unable to resize my images without my trusty software until and IF I find my original discs.)
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On another note:
I love to read.   Usually I read books with no value other than to enjoy for that moment.  My son-in-law, Greg, in an effort to improve my mind, I think, had recommended a book called "Googled" by Ken Auletta.  Since I'm generally a reader of fiction, it wasn't the fastest read, but it was so interesting!  It really did make me realized how we all have come to rely on the internet --- most especially those things involving Google.  I am in awe of their meteoric rise and the changes the company has caused in most of our everyday lives.  The book did give me pause, however, when it came to the issues involved in the somewhat causal demise of the traditional newspaper, media, book, and journalism itself.   Auletta, mentioned that so many of us feared the big brother changes brought about and predicted in Orwell's "1984" book, but then said that it looked like we were more likely to be brought down in a way that Huxley predicted in his book, "Brave New World".   As Auletta quoted from Neil Postman's book called "Amusing Ourselves to Death", "Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information.  Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism."        Hmmmmm....  

Here I am... amusing myself to death ON GOOGLE!!!!    But enjoying it all the way.

Who could have predicted how much the internet has changed everything about what we do and how we do it?   I wonder whether we as a collective world of people will be able to steer ourselves in a direction which will not result in the equivalent of flushing ourselves down the toilet!!!