Oil Sketch......

Oil sketch on canvas board - 8"x 10"

Here's a break from my usual subject matter.  There's a "Life Drawing Group" that meets twice a month in Fairfield, IA.  There is one model for each session held.  The space is large enough that everyone attending has a unique perspective and lots of natural light to work from.

Pose sessions begin with quick sketch exercises.....starting from 30 seconds and going up to maybe 20 minutes.  Then a long pose for 45 mins. to 1 hour.

I used to attend these sessions years ago and I'm so happy they are still meeting now.  This was my first time back in say....5 years maybe?  Too long....I don't remember last :(

AND.....my first time using oils as my medium of choice for the long pose.  I used a flat brush for the entire work here.  Not sure the #, but I'd say approx. width as being around 3/8's? 

Proportions aren't exactly "correct" here....but this IS meant to be a study and I was pleased I captured how the light from the windows fell on this model.

John Preston Oil Demo

This past Sunday afternoon, the ICON Gallery in Fairfield, IA was the place to be.  30 to 40 artists and art patrons gathered to watch artist, John Preston, give a lively oil painting demonstration.  I state "lively" because he's a very good speaker (and is very humble about it).

Here are a few pictures I took of the event. Enjoy!

This is Cindy showing off her new line of hand made Soft Pastels she and John have been working on.  She's yet to give the assortment an "official" name for marketing but had them out for all of us to try.....and.....THEY ARE GREAT!  Just the right consistency and color saturation.  I'm anxious to collect every color they've made so far.

Whisper White

10"x 8" Oil on stretched canvas

I'm on a roll........loving the glass/flower compositions.  Now, to see how many I paint! This one was a challenge in keeping the petals pure "white".  Gotta have color there somewhere.  Gray just makes it look lifeless.  

I absolutely LOVE Roses......but......find them to be hard to paint!  So, that's the challenge!!! :D

Pretty in Pink!

Oil on stretched canvas - 10"x 8"

Yep.....most definitely thinking of warmer weather!  When I begin to paint flowers, my thought process is a given. I'M READY TO PLAY IN THE GARDEN!

I've been teaching (on going) an oil painting class at the Courtyard Gallery & Studio in Bloomfield, IA on Tuesdays.  One of my students asked specifically to learn to paint glass.  What I've shared with her is that I approach this material the same as painting anything else. ........don't let your mind trick you in just thinking "glass".  Look for the value ranges in colors and "record" what you actually "see" before you. 

Breaking any scene down in this manner gives you more of a likeness. ALWAYS a challenge for me is getting that curve of the bottle to look the same on both sides.

Thinking of Spring.....

Oil on panel in wood frame 22"x 18"

I like "spilling over", so to speak, on my wood frames sometimes.  I've created several oil paintings the past few years where I incorporate the frame into the finished image.

This arrangement of Tulips caught my eye several years ago in an antique store. I'm so thankful for cameras.  I'm inspired to paint so many different things.  I loved how the light came through the window here and made wonderful contrasts in values. (There was NO WAY I could set up an easel and paint in this busy location.)

My picture taking skills are still ...."a work in progress".   I've managed to catch the glare off the wet surface at the bottom of this work.  Still, I wanted to share how this painting turned out. 

Poppy Love

Here's the "set up"......  I've taken a canvas sheet and mounted it on archival foamboard.  I love Poppies.....wish I had them in our yard but there's truly no room for a nice patch of these beauties.  :(  (Oh, and Yes, that "ghostly figure in the background .........my husband is in the other room watching SouthPark)

Here's the initial sketch .....I really like how the undertone looks so I'm making it a part of the composition.

.....and the blocking in of color values begins.....

Here's the finished work!  (There's a little glare from the overhead light at the top of the picture)

"Poppy Love"  20"x 16"  Mixed Media (background is Acrylic - painted image Oil)

Love Glass Glass Glass.....

Here's the work set up......I LOVE MY NEW PAINT BOX & CANVAS HOLDER!!!

(for more information on this set up, please email me. ginlammert@yahoo.com)

Yes, I'm working from the computer monitor.  I need to invest in a tablet so I can truly be mobile.  The pics I print off just don't look the same.....not as vibrant as what I can view from the monitor.  Of course, the BEST solution would be to work from life.  That, unfortunately, can't always happen.  I'm thankful for a good camera. :D

Here shows where I've established the basic composition and started adding my value range.  The canvas board has a slight tone ( light value range).  I just find it hard to work on white. 

Okay.....lights and darks added....check!

....and the end result.  

 "Bottle Study #2"  10" x 8" Oil on canvas board