Study of Francoise de Felice Girl & Dog 1-Masters Class-Week 8

Studying Francoise de Felice under Kate Thompson in the Studying With the Masters class. Francoise is the only living master that we studied in this course, and her work is amazing. Above is one of her paintings that I chose to study. She uses a lot of glazing and veiling in her paintings, and some collage also. I couldn't match her colors, but I learned from her process, which is what counts.

I forgot to make a photo of just the sketch before I started, but I used gel medium to glue some napkin pieces with flowers on them to the background, then I used chinese  Sumi watercolors to add color. The girl was also basically nude, so I gave her a little covering.

Now using acrylics in thin layers over the watercolors...

Cringing as I look at this, but I added white mixed with gel medium, trying to give it a veiled mysterious look. I failed! Yuck! I briefly considered changing paintings, but decided it wasn't going to get the best of me...

More yuckiness and I glued another piece of napkin over her top. Hate the bathing suit...

which I turned in to a dress. Still hate it and want to throw it away, but can't let myself for some reason...

Basically re-painted the whole thing with acrylics to bring the color back. Added some stamping and some marks to the background...

Added some dribbles and some other marks...

and stopped on her! I apparently don't do light and delicate! Not an exact copy of Francoise's, but I love her process, once I kind of got the hang of it! I have to say, this was the hardest, most complicated artist that we studied for me to learn from, but she's an amazing artist. I'm glad I was introduced to her and have become a fan.

This is another of her paintings that I love, and am thinking of using it as inspiration to paint one of me and my two best friends in the prompt to paint an original painting using these techniques.

All of my paintings, so far, from this course are in my mixed medial art journal along with notes taken from the videos and teachers, but my originals will be on canvas or panels.

You can check out the Studying with the Masters class by following the link on my sidebar, and there's going to be a part two this fall, which will be portraits and self portraits!

Study of Botticelli Young Girl 1-Masters Class-Week 4

Studying with the Masters class-Botticelli with Jenny Wentworth---Botticelli's version of a head taken from a group painting, a study that I have been working on, or not, for several weeks. Every photo of it was different color wise, so I didn't try to match. I just studied his process and did what I could. Below are some of the ugly steps she went through before I found a stopping place.

Journal page painted with black gesso, sketch with a white marks all Stabilo pencil...

Under painting, and I put a layer of burnt umber paint over the black gesso to warm it up some...

First layers of paint over the under painting...

More layers...

And a few more before...

I found a stopping place. I considered using a crackle effect on the black background, but decided against it. Botticelli's paintings were very smooth, and he often used brushes with very few bristles in them. I didn't have the patience to do that, but I did use a very small liner brush. The tiny strokes don't show up great in the photo, but they're there! Not as delicate and pretty as Botticelli's, but I like her!

I know there are a lot of things I could still do to make it better, but I enjoyed the process, learned from him, and moved on to Francoise de Felice. Two more artists to go! 

On My Work Table Right Now...

It's been a few days since I've posted anything, because I've been sick and I've also been really busy with life. However, I'm still working on creative things and taking classes when I can. Here are a few things I have in progress on my work table right now. Some of them you may have seen before, however, I'm still working on them. :)

The corner of the canvas at the left edge is another memory portrait I started after taking Heather Murray's class over on the Trodden Path website. It's the 3rd canvas I've done that was inspired by her class, using black and white photos. I didn't show the whole thing, because it's a surprise. :)

The dress canvas is the third canvas inspired by an online class I took from Sue Pelletier on painting loose and raw. It's pretty much done, except for the decision on what word to put in the blocks.

The middle two, the girl and dog (Francoise de Felice) and the portrait (Henry Clive), are inspired by the Studying With The Masters Classes over on Jeanne Oliver's website. There is actually another one in the sketchbook in progress that was inspired by Botticelli, which is not showing. When I finish these three paintings I will have done at least one painting study from each of the nine masters and teachers, more than one on some, which I have shared in previous posts.

The rabbit is one of my quirky doodle drawings, which I often use to wake up my muse. He is on mixed media paper, and I have a post started on him when he's finished.

The book is one of my moleskine journals, which I've been gluing odd papers from my workspace  and doing ink blots in at odd times.

The piece of canvas in front of the rabbit is where I'm using up leftover paint off my brushes. It's getting quite messy. I love it! It will probably become a journal cover at some point!

The small butterfly canvas at the top is where I made a background with leftover paint, then stamped into it, picking up the paint off the canvas. It's waiting on some words, or maybe a memory portrait, when the time is right. There are also several small canvases in progress in a basket behind the dress canvas waiting for final touches.

A basket full of journals and sketchbooks sits at the top, some full, some not. I was in the process of organizing my tiny workspace last summer, or maybe it was summer before last, when life interrupted and I haven't gotten back around to it. Soon though, I hope!

In addition to what's in the picture, The large painting of the angel (inspired from classes in Connie Hozvicka's 21 Secrets) still lacks a few touch ups, a large doll is waiting to have her limbs sewn on and her face painted (inspired by a class from Gritty Jane over at the Trodden path), and both my large looms currently have rug and loom projects on them.

Jeanne Oliver just had a half price sale on classes on her site for Mother's Day, and I registered for three of those.

I just finished the class on making Vintage Trinket Jewelry with Andrea Singerella yesterday, and it's a really good class. Now I'm on fire to make some jewelry! There are at least six videos in which she takes the time to show the techniques and process really well. She demonstrates how to make necklaces, bracelets, bookmark jewelry, earrings from old/new jewelry, as well as, your own charms and other components. I learned so much from her. Well worth the ten dollars (I paid five) it costs if you're interested in learning the basics. Just go to http://jeanneoliver.ning.com and register for free, and click on Vintage Trinket Jewelry to see what I'm talking about, plus there are free videos and other classes to check out.

I'm also registered for two classes from Jeanne Oliver, The Journey of Letting Go and Creatively Made, which I haven't started yet, but they look amazing!

And, yip-pers, I still have a ways to go in the Studying with the Masters Class, and there will be a new set of classes up in the Fall!

Currently reading "Haunted on Bourbon Street" by Deanna Chase.

I'm going to have to get busy and finish some of these projects! I have a tendency to work on one until I learn the process, then move on to something else. Not a good habit to have, but, at least, I never get bored! :)

This didn't start out to be this long a post, but I got a little carried away, I guess! There are links on my sidebar to these sites if you want to check them out.

Well, I'll stop with this post now. Mama just came in, and my bestie is on her way to visit too! I'll try to get something finished to share a little sooner next time!

Hope you enjoyed your visit, and come back soon! :)

Study of Edward Hopper Room 1-Masters Class-Week 9

This week we studied Edward Hopper under Stephanie Lee, only this isn't the painting she worked on in her video. I, once again, chose one that spoke to me, and tried some of Hopper's techniques. We're not trying to copy the work exactly of any of the artists/teachers, but studying their techniques to make us better artists with our own unique style and voice, and it's awesome! :)

On some of these paintings I'm using clear gesso over the drawings on the smooth mixed media paper in my journal to give it some tooth. The acrylics on the bare paper seem more slippery than I like. Hopper did his in oil on canvas, so mine is not going to be an exact copy from the start.

Besides, I can't copy anything exactly, even if I wanted to. :) Above is my sketch from the original, which I got more horizontal than his was. I didn't notice that until after I started painting, but that's perfectly ok. Part of the process! ...

First layer of paint. Yuck!...

Another layer. Still yucky!...

White wall too yellow! Paintings, or anything else I do, for that matter, go through a lot of layers of ugliness before they get to the point I can tolerate them...

Added another layer of white over the whole wall. Too much! ...

Added some blue to the white and went back over the wall shadow. Some better...

After a little more re-adjusting all over, I decided to leave well enough alone and quit on it. It looks a bit like sun coming in and who knew I could paint little ocean waves? :) I have a couple more of Hopper's paintings that I'm going to study later too.

Still have works in progress for Botticelli (who I haven't worked on in a few weeks at all), Francoise de Felice (who I have been working on a lot and it's about to kick my behind-very difficult for me for some reason!), and Henry Clive (who I haven't been to class on yet, but did pick out and sketch a painting off to study already).

I purchased the book "How To Steal Like An Artist" by Austin Kleon for my Kindle off Amazon when I first started the class in January, because it was highly recommended by Jeanne Oliver for the class. It was very good and simple enough to understand! Today I purchased his book "Show Your Work" for my Kindle and am looking forward to reading it. It looks very helpful also!

Staying busy with everything but housework. I do it in my "spare" time! :D

You can find links for the Studying With the Masters class and for Creative Every Day, Paint Party Friday, and my FB page (where I will also be sharing this post) on my sidebar.

Happy creating and thanks for your visit!

Study of Chagall Blue Donkey 1-Masters Class-Week 6

I forgot to take some of the progress pictures, including the sketch, on my study of Chagall's "The Blue Donkey". I also forgot and deleted Chagall's version that I studied, but you can see it on Pinterest if you want. It's MUCH better than my version! Also, his was oil on canvas, I think, and mine is acrylics in my mixed medial journal.

I studied Marc Chagall under Katie Kendrick.

I chose this painting to study, because we actually have a donkey. His name is Doris, and he's very entertaining and cute! This painting reminds me of him, plus, I love blue animals!

I sketched it on the paper first, painted it all indigo blue, and layed in some under painting colors...

More layers of color and texture...

I finally quit on it. This is the journal page with notes...

A little closer up. The sky and water actually has a pinker tone, which doesn't show up in the photo. Anyway, it was a fun challenge, and it WAS a challenge. His story is also very interesting, as are all the other Masters' stories.

I have a couple of other Chagall's sketched off to study, but, for now, I'm moving on to Francoise de Felice, who is also very challenging, but her paintings are beautiful.

The paintings from this class that I have shared here have actually been finished for a few weeks, as the classes ran from mid-Jan through mid-March, one a week. The Chagall is the last one that I have finished, but I still have the Botticelli and de Felice in progress, and I haven't started the last two artists yet, so from here on they will probably be out of order, as far as the class order, and there may be some other stuff mixed in between, as I continue to work on unrelated projects also.

Here are the Botticelli and de Felice that I have in progress:

After Botticelli WIP

                             

After Francoise de Felice WIP

Hope you enjoyed your visit! Please come again soon, and Have a happy creative day! :)

Also sharing on Paint Party Friday and Creative Every Day, links on sidebar.

Study of Georgia O'Keefe Lily 2-Masters Class-Week 5

A sketch in my mixed media journal for a study of Georgia O'Keefe's white Calla Lily painting. I brushed a layer of clear gesso, for texture, over the drawing. Hers was oil on canvas, I think (sorry I had already deleted her version). Mine is in acrylics on paper...

A wash of indigo blue acrylic...

adding under painting, letting dry between layers...

more layers of  acrylic paint and glazes...

Final version, notes and all! I love calla lillies, and I love how the swirl around the flower mimiced the lily itself. You can find her version of this painting on Pinterest. Just go there and type in Georgia O'Keefe calla lily paintings. She is an amazing woman and an amazing painter!

I have two more of her paintings sketched off to study, but for now, I'm moving on to the next artist we're studying. I will come back to these studies later!

None of these studies are as easy as the original paintings look. In reality, they're all very complicated and took a long time to complete. I am discovering so much more than just what I see when I look at the painting. There is a whole new world in the studying of the process of each one that teaches me so much about so many things. Studying with an apprentice is awesome!

This class will be up for two years and is still open for registration. Any one of the classes is worth the $62.00 charge for all nine of them. If you're interested, go to www.jeanneoliver.ning.com and click on "Studying With The Masters; Becoming an Apprentice" in the courses list. You can find out the details and the list of teachers and masters there. You can't help but learn a lot of good stuff from both! :)

I discovered and joined a wonderful group on Facebook, called Art Abandonment, this week. It's awesome! The members create art and abandon it in places where it can be found by some unsuspecting person, whose day will hopefully be brightened by it. The art, which can be any art or craft, is left with a tag, specifying that it is free to whoever finds it, and they can take it or leave it for someone else. There's also an email addy where they can let you know it has been found. Members post pictures of the art and where they left it. I haven't abandoned anything yet, but I'm looking forward to it! It's an amazing group of people!

I'm also reading my third book by Danielle Girard, Ruthless Games, which is very good. She writes about female protagonists, who are cops, and very strong women, caught up in murder mysteries and drama with a lot of twists and turns. I think she's a very good writer, and so far, I have been hooked from the very first page and have found it hard to put the books down. I got the first one for my Kindle free on Amazon, then the others have been about $3.00.

Plus, I hadn't downloaded any new music in a while, so the other day I was feeling a little blah, and I downloaded cds by Michael Grimm, "Moment in Time", John Mayer, "Paradise Valley", and Cher, "Closer to the Truth". All good! I meant to download Dana Fuchs, "Bliss Avenue", but forgot to at the time. I'll get her next time! Amazing rock artist!

A little bit of what I've been doing, besides working on the Masters painting studies of Botticelli and Francoise de Felice, and I haven't watched the videos of the last two classes on Edward Hopper and Henry Clive yet! Can't wait to watch them, but I want to wait until I get at least one painting each from the other two done. I find each artist I study influencing my work on the next one. Fun, and some amazing work being done by the other students! Can you tell I'm excited about this class? :D

Also sharing this post at Paint Party Friday, Creative Every Day, and Moxie Rabbit Hop Blues (FB page). See links on sidebar! Happy creating!

Study of Cezanne Landscape 3-Masters Class-Week 3

The third, and last, of my Cezanne studies, for now. It's a landscape, and I've forgotten the name of it, but I think it's oil on canvas.

Cezanne's original painting above...

I forgot to take pictures of some of the progress, but above is the under painting, I think, in my mixed media journal, using acrylics...

More layers of color...

And the version where I called it done! I lost count of the layers and the time I spent on it, it was starting to wear on my nerves, so I decided to leave well enough alone and move on! I do have a new found respect for Cezanne and his work though, and I learned a lot from him and Teresa Sheeley!

I am actually way behind in my posting. These are from week 3, and we have just finished the tenth, and final, week, using week seven as a break week to play catch up. I haven't had time to paint or attend the last two online classes for the last two weeks, and I have portraits by Botticelli and De Felice in progress. Hoping to finish them this week! Again, thankful that Jeanne is leaving the whole class up for two years, so we can re-visit all the artists!

Also sharing on Creative Every Day and Paint Party Friday (links on sidebar)!