Ha! Betcha you thought I was going to talk about art apprentices, but no, I'm not. I'm actually going to talk briefly about the REAL apprentice.
I love reality Tee Vee. And I've watched The Apprentice since it's inception. I have to say that Celebrity Apprentice for all it's whack celebs still holds some weird fascination for me.
But, the BEST THING I like about it is the fact that The Donald treats the celebs just like the regular apprentices. He doesn't pull his punches at all. If they're whack, he tells them so. And he tells them "get outa here, go!!" like they're little red headed step chillin' (like my son in law, who really is...) So there ya go.
Monday, March 16, 2009
2nd Saturday Art Walk-Sacramento
2nd Saturday Art Walk is a blast. It happens every single month, rain or shine. But shine is better because mo' peeps come out and do the art walk. My friends REALLY REPRESENTED!! AND THANKS!!! Thanks for all the good feedback and nice compliments. I really appreciate your willingness to make the journey to downtown Sac and take in some art and culture.
It was GREAT to see ALL of you!! I can't tell you how encouraging it was to have YOU ALL there. It gives me confidence to keep going. Stay tuned-more paintings in the offing....
It was GREAT to see ALL of you!! I can't tell you how encouraging it was to have YOU ALL there. It gives me confidence to keep going. Stay tuned-more paintings in the offing....
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Purist
I love painting from life. It has taught me so so much. But, once you've painted, O say, 9 still life's, you MUST do something else. So, in lieu of my friends coming and sitting for me (they will, cuz I'll make them...)I opted to do a painting from a photo I took in Mendacino some years back.
Now I know the purist really wants artists to exclusively paint from life AT ALL TIMES, but sometimes it's just not practical in this day and age. For one thing, I'm prolly not going up to Mendacino any time soon, so if I want a painting of Mendacino, pictures is all I have for the time being. Sometimes it's just to stinkin' windy and cold to paint at the coast. If I want to do a nice painting that I will like of Venice Italy, I will have to do it from a photo. A photo that I, myself took, or a friend that is not going to be published. That is only right. But there is no sin in doing a painting from a photo in this economically challenged day and age. In fact doing ALL THOSE STILL LIFE'S really paid off in the end when I was doing my beach scene. All the principals applied and my beach scene looked better than the photo. I knew what to do with my color mixtures. Plus it WAS SO MUCH FUN not doing a still life!!
I STILL have miles of canvas (or panels) to go before I even consider myself a "good" artist, but I couldn't have progressed this far without a workshop with David Leffel and his books being my constant companions on my couch along with a Gregg Kreutz video and book I frequently refer to. It is worth finding an contemporary artist you relate to and taking a workshop from him/her and buy their books, and go over and over them till you understand.
Always be "the observer" in any situation. You watch, whence you start yet another painting these things will be recalled and you will be the better painter for it.
Now I know the purist really wants artists to exclusively paint from life AT ALL TIMES, but sometimes it's just not practical in this day and age. For one thing, I'm prolly not going up to Mendacino any time soon, so if I want a painting of Mendacino, pictures is all I have for the time being. Sometimes it's just to stinkin' windy and cold to paint at the coast. If I want to do a nice painting that I will like of Venice Italy, I will have to do it from a photo. A photo that I, myself took, or a friend that is not going to be published. That is only right. But there is no sin in doing a painting from a photo in this economically challenged day and age. In fact doing ALL THOSE STILL LIFE'S really paid off in the end when I was doing my beach scene. All the principals applied and my beach scene looked better than the photo. I knew what to do with my color mixtures. Plus it WAS SO MUCH FUN not doing a still life!!
I STILL have miles of canvas (or panels) to go before I even consider myself a "good" artist, but I couldn't have progressed this far without a workshop with David Leffel and his books being my constant companions on my couch along with a Gregg Kreutz video and book I frequently refer to. It is worth finding an contemporary artist you relate to and taking a workshop from him/her and buy their books, and go over and over them till you understand.
Always be "the observer" in any situation. You watch, whence you start yet another painting these things will be recalled and you will be the better painter for it.
SMALL BEGINNINGS
Well, I'm doing a 2nd, 2nd Saturday ART WALK here in the SacredTomato. I will bring a new bigger, better painting with me, along with my still life paintings. I just couldn't do yet another still life, so I opted for a Mendacino beach scene. It's from a picture I took years ago of my friend, Coleen sitting on the beach while seagulls whom I had been feeding popcorn to wait patiently.
The 2ND SATURDAY ART WALK is MARCH 14TH 2009. 7PM TO 9PM. Behind Michelanglelos, in downtown Sacramento.
The 2ND SATURDAY ART WALK is MARCH 14TH 2009. 7PM TO 9PM. Behind Michelanglelos, in downtown Sacramento.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
What you may not know about Rembrandt:
He painted mostly on panels throughout his early career.
He prolly bought his panels and pre-made canvas at a local frame shop
or store, rather than make them himself.
His students were often more popular than he was during his lifetime.
His more "rough" paintings came later in his life.
Quote from German Impressionist Max Liebermann: Whenever I see a Frans Hals, I feel the desire to paint; but when I see a Rembrandt, I want to give it up."
This quote struck me because about a year before reading it, I was in a workshop with David Leffel and we all had the opportunity to visit his studio. My friend Ed and I got there early. As David greeted us, we proceeded down the entry way where there was 4 or 5 of his originals hung in little alcoves along the wall. Ed says to me "Don't they make you want to paint?" I turned and said "they make me want to cry". Nothing like seeing the real thing, no matter how good the reproductions in a book are, I always say...
He painted mostly on panels throughout his early career.
He prolly bought his panels and pre-made canvas at a local frame shop
or store, rather than make them himself.
His students were often more popular than he was during his lifetime.
His more "rough" paintings came later in his life.
Quote from German Impressionist Max Liebermann: Whenever I see a Frans Hals, I feel the desire to paint; but when I see a Rembrandt, I want to give it up."
This quote struck me because about a year before reading it, I was in a workshop with David Leffel and we all had the opportunity to visit his studio. My friend Ed and I got there early. As David greeted us, we proceeded down the entry way where there was 4 or 5 of his originals hung in little alcoves along the wall. Ed says to me "Don't they make you want to paint?" I turned and said "they make me want to cry". Nothing like seeing the real thing, no matter how good the reproductions in a book are, I always say...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Now is the Time??
Am I really going to embark on this improbable oil painting career?
Now? During the worst economic upheaval IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD??
Now? During the worst economic upheaval IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD??
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