Call to Paint -- Thursday, 15 May 2014 -- 9 AM

Greetings to All,

We have a pretty good forecast, although no sun, for Thursday morning. So let's do it. I'm sure those of you who painted with Jay's group today will not mind returning to the Branford Green to get  another piece of the action to paint the pear blossoms. Or something else.

I expect I will be setting up out behind the old meetinghouse -- behind the Episcopal Church. Not absolutely sure, but I've been wanting to do something with that view. On the other hand, I may just start by shooting some photos there and then come onto the east end of the green. If you're planning to paint at some distance from there, maybe you could just stop by before you settle in, just to let me know you will be painting. Then I'll try to find everyone later. Let's plan to rendezvous somewhere near the east end of the green around 11:45.

My cell number is 203-641-7427. You might want to enter that into your contacts. It could prove useful through the painting season, in case you don't find the group where you expected it to be.

I hope to see you there.

/j

Workshop Images

Here are the two images from the Rhode Island workshop introduced by Suzanne. Perhaps you knew that Suzanne is working with cold wax media and other pigments. It sounds fascinating -- exciting -- challenging.

I asked Suzanne if she is teaching. At first she said not, but then I received this follow up from her --

"I have been thinking seriously about doing group critiques/mentoring in the fall, starting in September. Probably a month per group is good. ... I have one group forming already and could probably do 2-3 more, with 6-8 per group or less. I'm thinking 3 hours, and they would have to be held in participants' homes or studios."

If you need Suzanne's e-address, let me know, and I can put you in touch with her.

Last Minute Invitations

Greetings to All,

Jay has invited me to extend an invitation to CTSA members to paint with his MAS group in Branford tomorrow, Tuesday.  I was looking at that as a possibility for Thursday, but it looks like Thursday will be cloudy. Assuming Thursday still is not rainy, we will plan to be in Branford again. There are plenty of subjects there, so that if you go Tuesday, you'll still have plenty to choose from on Thursday. Alas, I'll not be able to make it Tuesday, as I have a studio session in Guilford. But go and catch those trees if you can.

See Jay's note, below:

/j

The Bradford Pears are in full bloom and won't last on Branford Green.

I am painting there tomorrow AM on if anyone wants to venture out.

Partly sunny/ clouds and best forecast of the week.

The art rule book states that you can change the color of tree blossoms to pink if thats what you want to do.

I'll be toward Montowese street side. Nice blossoming trees everywhere and more.

This is a pre-season dress rehearsal for me and I'm ready.

Jay

Rhode Island Workshop

Greetings to All,

I received this notice of a multi-media workshop from Suzanne Siegal, who is a good friend of the artist. It looks interesting if you're of a mind to broaden your artistic vision and to work in other media. If you're interested, let me know, and I can send you the PDF which contains the registration form and some images.

Layers Oil + Cold Wax Abstract Painting workshop
3 Day Introduction to Oil+Cold Wax Medium Techniques
with James Edward Scherbarth
jamesedwardscherbarth.com

October 10,11,12,, 2014 - 9 AM to 4 PM - $400.
At Beach Studios
146 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, RI
https://www.facebook.com/BeachStudiosRI
For info or help registering – Judy Chaves (401) 447-5960

In this 3 day workshop artists explore abstract painting using layering, cold wax medium, tube
oils, pigment sticks, powdered pigments and a variety of implements. We will explore new ways
to create textures, color fields and mark making. Utilizing various tools and techniques we will
“push the limits” of our mediums and welcome the surprises along the way deciding what works
and what does not. This workshop is well suited for those who have had some prior painting
experience and who enjoy the sharing, flexibility & happenstance of a group environment! The
workshop focuses on the process itself – on the possibilities of that process and how it can be
incorporated in your individual artistic practice. Once comfortable with the basic techniques we
begin discussing form and content, deliberate and accidental mark making and starting points.
There are technique demonstrations combined with student experimentation, group discussions
and printed resources.

Connecticut Watercolor Society 74th Annual Exhibition

Greetings to All,

In case you have not heard, CWS has just posted notice of their 74th Annual Exhibition, to be held at Silpe Gallery in West Hartford, from July 5 through 15, 2014. The prospectus may be found on their website. Receiving is scheduled for June 28 and 29.

Every other year, the CWS early summer show is held at John Slade Ely House in New Haven, but they only exhibit in West Hartford in 2014. Since they do not do online jurying, you have to carry in your submissions and then pick up any non-accepted work on specified dates and times -- a fair bit of effort if you're driving from the shoreline to West Hartford -- all for the chance to have your artwork chosen to be exhibited for eleven days...

On the other hand, if your artwork is likely to be contending for top honors, they award two hefty prizes.

/j

Checking In

Greetings to All,

At the very well-attended opening of the MAS 49th Annual Exhibition last night, spring was in the air. I enjoyed visiting with artists with whom I have been painting regularly, meeting artists who have only recently heard about CTSA and want to paint out with us, and catching up with artists who have been absent for a while. It was especially nice to see Hans and Dorothea, who have been spending a lot of time in New York, where Hans has been taking a watercolor course three afternoons a week. Here is his synopsis of what he has been doing...  Please feel free to leave comments below. And - not just now, but anytime - if you also have an art adventure that is exciting you or growing your skills, send me your own story!

From Hans:       Joan, as you know, I've been taking this "conceptual" watercolor workshop at the Academy School of Art in New York for a few weeks, and I really think this old dog picked up a few new tricks.

We  have been doing still lives, we had life models in pairs, nude and costumed, and in good weather, we went landscape painting in Central Park, or found subjects in the street. Our wonderful instructor,

Kamilla Talbott, is an accomplished artist and great critique. She has lived and painted in the US and Europe, and is presently having a show in Brooklyn. See her website, she often woks semi-abstract. 

Anyway, here are some watercolors I have done in the last three days, and I'm happy the way things are going!

 

 I'm so happy, I just want to share some of this week's paintings with you. Our Dogwood-tree in our New York backyard-garden was beautifully abloom. The entire view was so exciting, that I skipped school, and stayed to paint at home.

This is the first one, I worked on for many hours. It got a little too dark, as I wanted to pop out the white blossoms. I also wanted to capture the entire setting with the buildings in the city.

The next morning, before school, yesterday, I gave it another shot, and did this one, larger than the first, and looser and brighter. Having to rush, I finished it in about two hours. I'm very happy with this one. What do you think?

(This view of the Guggenheim came to me from Hans last week... I took the liberty of adding it in here...          /j)

 

In the afternoon, during school time, I tried another view on 5th Avenue with the Guggenheim Museum. It's a little rough, but I got a lot compliments in school for this quicky.

On Monday, I did a few tree studies in Central Park, and I'm pretty happy with those as well.  Glad to be loosening up, leaving more white paper and using stronger colors. No longer copying nature. May be, I learned something in school, after all. 

I managed nicely without using the pencil first, just tried to trust the brush from the start.  I've been struggling so hard, freeing myself, to not having my work too much dominated by nature.

Looking for a more personal, bod and spontaneous expression. What do you think, am I on the right track? I don't want to do just pretty, or boring, watercolors. Searching for surprises.....

Hans

 

Hammonasset East Beach Pavilion -- 8 May 2014

Greetings to All,

Just two. Betsey and me. It rained the whole time, but hardly any breeze, and not cold. Cool though. The fingers could have used gloves.

It was soup. My painting still feels a bit cool to the touch!  Betsey actually had been out painting earlier, at home, before the rain started. An hour and a half was enough for me. This is not watercolor weather. But we went out and painted and felt good about that. Maybe NEXT Thursday, this string of rainy Thursdays will break.

/j

Hammonasset