The Artist
Botanical
Birds
Mammals
Insects & Feathers
Tip of the Month
June 23rd.
I have been neglectful, and a little shocked to see how long it has been since I did a tip.
The opening of the Shirley Sherwood Gallery was a spectacular event. In no small part due to the fact that there is now a gallery dedicated to displaying both contemporary and historical botanical art side-by-side.
For me the opening reception and dinner that followed had special meaning as I had an opportunity to see so many of my artist friends from all over the world. Amazing to think that I have to travel so far to see American artists!
Treasures of Botanical Art: Icons from the Shirley Sherwood and Kew Collections, the catalogue of the current exhibit is not yet available in this country, but is worth the wait.
Since being home I taught a Mammal Drawing class, I still am the happiest working with a graphite pencil. My senses relax and work instinctively. Pure meditation.
Then I spent a week teaching in Minneapolis painting a variety of species of Crainsbill geraniums. We worked mostly on leaves, keeping the green pure, the surface contours clearly defined. Students came into class with their plant, their detailed draws ready to paint, as we only had three days (I had two three day classes back to back) it was important to lower expectations from a finished painting to a great learning experience or would that be raise the expectations? I had everyone choose the most challenging leaf and flower and transfer them three times. Ideally these would be painted in different methods, but if one was not working it could be abandoned, but thought of as a good learning experience. The results were wonderful. This kept the classroom in a positive mode. As always I came away from this week of intense teaching with much more information than when I began.
While there Marilyn Garber and I made a commitment to each other to work together to create an on-line distant learning school. There is a lot of research to do, but we know how we want to proceed. So stay tuned!
The manuscript for my book has been accepted, I do not have a definitive date yet but generally it takes 12 months from manuscript acceptance to product in the store. The next step for me will be when I get the proofs. My only hope is their vision for the presentation of the book is even somewhat close to mine.
Then of course there is my new obsession, my garden. Gary has decided I need to go on a 12 step program as I am powerless to driving by a garden center without stopping and filling my car with goodies. But then he is enjoying the results both visually and at dinner with the fresh produce from the veggie garden! Right now poppies of every size and color surround me these are my current favourite flower. Next month it will be something else.
Now some tips:
I have found another gesso board I really like. Made by an American company you know I like that. Art Boards Gesso Panel. Not so easy to find yet in stores but when I called the company directly they could not have been more helpful. 800 546 7985 they will send you a price/size list or you can place your order directly. Custom sizes are also available. Web site: www.art-boards.com (The information for these boards is not on the site yet however).
I found a new lifting brush for water color or gouache, as this is natural bristle rather that synthetic it appears to hold its shape little longer: Escoda 4625 #4 this is a small flat brush great for getting into tight areas. The #6 is very nice also, but I do not think it is necessary to have both.
I have been having trouble transferring my drawings onto a gesso panel. When using graphite transfer paper the lines were too dark, no matter how lightly I pressed and which pencil I used. I think I have resolved the problem for now anyway! I have gone back to the old way of retracing the lines on the back of the tracing paper, I used nothing softer that an HB, then I used a 9H to do the actual transferring. These lines lift or erase, if necessary, better.
How are the turkeys coming slowly but it seems I am back into the rhythm of painting everyday now. I have three works in progress, which always seems to work better for me.
I have been neglectful, and a little shocked to see how long it has been since I did a tip.
The opening of the Shirley Sherwood Gallery was a spectacular event. In no small part due to the fact that there is now a gallery dedicated to displaying both contemporary and historical botanical art side-by-side.
For me the opening reception and dinner that followed had special meaning as I had an opportunity to see so many of my artist friends from all over the world. Amazing to think that I have to travel so far to see American artists!
Treasures of Botanical Art: Icons from the Shirley Sherwood and Kew Collections, the catalogue of the current exhibit is not yet available in this country, but is worth the wait.
Since being home I taught a Mammal Drawing class, I still am the happiest working with a graphite pencil. My senses relax and work instinctively. Pure meditation.
Then I spent a week teaching in Minneapolis painting a variety of species of Crainsbill geraniums. We worked mostly on leaves, keeping the green pure, the surface contours clearly defined. Students came into class with their plant, their detailed draws ready to paint, as we only had three days (I had two three day classes back to back) it was important to lower expectations from a finished painting to a great learning experience or would that be raise the expectations? I had everyone choose the most challenging leaf and flower and transfer them three times. Ideally these would be painted in different methods, but if one was not working it could be abandoned, but thought of as a good learning experience. The results were wonderful. This kept the classroom in a positive mode. As always I came away from this week of intense teaching with much more information than when I began.
While there Marilyn Garber and I made a commitment to each other to work together to create an on-line distant learning school. There is a lot of research to do, but we know how we want to proceed. So stay tuned!
The manuscript for my book has been accepted, I do not have a definitive date yet but generally it takes 12 months from manuscript acceptance to product in the store. The next step for me will be when I get the proofs. My only hope is their vision for the presentation of the book is even somewhat close to mine.
Then of course there is my new obsession, my garden. Gary has decided I need to go on a 12 step program as I am powerless to driving by a garden center without stopping and filling my car with goodies. But then he is enjoying the results both visually and at dinner with the fresh produce from the veggie garden! Right now poppies of every size and color surround me these are my current favourite flower. Next month it will be something else.
Now some tips:
I have found another gesso board I really like. Made by an American company you know I like that. Art Boards Gesso Panel. Not so easy to find yet in stores but when I called the company directly they could not have been more helpful. 800 546 7985 they will send you a price/size list or you can place your order directly. Custom sizes are also available. Web site: www.art-boards.com (The information for these boards is not on the site yet however).
I found a new lifting brush for water color or gouache, as this is natural bristle rather that synthetic it appears to hold its shape little longer: Escoda 4625 #4 this is a small flat brush great for getting into tight areas. The #6 is very nice also, but I do not think it is necessary to have both.
I have been having trouble transferring my drawings onto a gesso panel. When using graphite transfer paper the lines were too dark, no matter how lightly I pressed and which pencil I used. I think I have resolved the problem for now anyway! I have gone back to the old way of retracing the lines on the back of the tracing paper, I used nothing softer that an HB, then I used a 9H to do the actual transferring. These lines lift or erase, if necessary, better.
How are the turkeys coming slowly but it seems I am back into the rhythm of painting everyday now. I have three works in progress, which always seems to work better for me.