3 years ...my time flies!

It's been 3 years now that I've  been giving oil painting classes in Bloomfield  Iowa.  The image here shows one of my favorite still life set ups.  Thank you Facebook for reminding me of this.  I had to share here!

Oil classes are held Tuesdays  3:30-5:30pm & 6-8pm at the Courtyard Gallery & Studio in Bloomfield.

"My Friends Tulips"

14"x 7" - Oil on Stretched Canvas

I was in need of having tulips for a specific project and a friend of mine just happened to have silk tulips that looked so real, I couldn't pass up painting them more then once.  This is the version I liked the best.  I wanted something different......so placed them laying sideways on a box so they would hang over the edge.

Bentonsport - Opening Day!

April 16th was 2016 Opening Day for the retail businesses in Bentonsport, IA. 

 (B & B's stay open year around.)  I plan to have the "Parlor Room Studio" open on as many Saturday's as possible this year.  The only reason for it not being open to the public 10-4pm would be do to workshops, other art related commitments, or a family emergency.

The Herman Greef House is located on Sanford St. in Bentonsport.  The street is the first road East of the downtown retail businesses. (a few feet from the last business along the strip in front of the Des Moines River....walking distance from all feature locations in Bentonsport) The brick home faces the Mason House Inn, Bed & Breakfast.  

Here's a shot of the main room.  I'm standing at the front door so this is the first thing you see when walking into the Herman Greef House.  The artwork and display panels here will always be changing.  So, we're hoping people will come back often to see updates.

 Here's artist MaryBeth Heikes working in the studio on a new Poppies collage. She plans to work at the studio at least 2 Saturdays a month so she may share her inspirations and techniques with others.  She has original artwork, prints, and some notecards available for purchase in the main room.  MaryBeth is also a member of the Co-op Gallery in Bentonsport.  

......and here I am posing in front of some of the originals I have in the main room at the moment.  These are a mix of "Plein Air" oil paintings of Bentonsport and a couple of Soft Pastel works .

The next date the Parlor Room Studio is open to the public is May 7th, 10-4pm.  

Bosom Buddies

5"x 7"  Oil on board

Here's a photo of the still life set up.  The highlights on the velvet fabric was amazing.

Now seeing the two snap shots together, I see subtle changes I'd make in certain areas of the painting.  Ah.....there's always room for improvement.

"Kitchen Friends "

Oil on 8"x 10" panel

Here's more photos of what I've been working on with my students at the Courtyard Gallery & Studio, Bloomfield Iowa 

We go back & forth from working from photos as reference material to challenging students to set up still life arrangements.  

I'm hoping to get more Plein Air painting in this year with the oil painting class.

Lammert paint box test

I'm so excited to announce my Lammert Paint box can handle wind gusts up to 30-40mph.  I had not tested it before & decided to go out in our backyard this afternoon to see what would happen.

Weather app on my phone said we were experiencing wind at 23 mph with gusts being 44mph.  Hanging my carrying bag from the back leg of the tripod helped with keeping the set up stable.  Nothing moved!

The Sun disappeared for awhile, making the temp drop significantly.  I'm going to finish the painting from inside the house now.  I wasn't dressed to stay outdoors for very long.

We're back in production with making the paint box & easel.  If anyone is interested in purchasing our paint box set, please send a comment on this post.  I'll answer as soon as I can.

Mother/Daughter Show

Here's Mika Sorak , my daughter, and I at the opening of our show titled 

"Earth and Sky"  now showing at 

Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, IA 

The show is from Feb 1st to March 10th and is open to the public 

Monday-Thursday 7:15am to 8:30pm

Friday - Saturday  10am to 5pm

Sunday 3:30-10pm

These are the same hours as the IHCC's library.

Below are pictures I took before the reception began on Feb.1st.   Enjoy!

My Grandson Nevan had to pose! He's in the painting to the left.  He hung out all evening with Mom and Grandma.

I didn't post all the photos I took thinking you get the jest of the show.  

I especially like this last one.  I'm so thankful that Mika and I are close.  I used to drag her to the outdoor art shows I participated in. (This began when she was 10 yrs old)   As she puts it, she was cheap labor.  At the end of shows, she would barter my work with other artists for unique items. 

Now her son Nevan does the same thing with her.  She has taken up the outdoor show circuit through out the state of Iowa.  Her studio is known as "Thymelyglass Studio".. Mika started out in the Stained Glass industry.  She has been honored with  restoration of Tiffany windows and has worked with glass artists in Denver, CO and Phoenix, AZ.

This show was a GREAT way to start 2016.  Some of these paintings will be traveling to Clinton, IA for the one person show I have at their Art Center April 7th - May22nd.