New Life for a Faded Print

My friend has this print which she really likes, but it has faded over time due to exposure to sunlight. So she asked me to re-color it, which I did. I used the new Golden 'Open' acrylic paints. They worked great. They are transparent, so I used several layers to build up the color but kept the image intact. They needed very little water so the paper never buckled or wrinkled. The colors are bright and I did a 'sort of'' impressionistic style to capture the feeling of the sunlight on the subject.

First photo I just started the rocks. Thought that would be a good place to practice a little and if more layers were needed, it would not show up as much as it would in other areas. Then I completed the rest of the background, saving the figure for last.

She is out of town but I will deliver it later and let you know how she likes it. I am very pleased with how it turned out. What do you think?

WACG Breakfast

The WACG's general meetings have stopped til August.  Our museum show runs til May 22 at the B&C Art Museum.  Open Tues-Sun 10 til 4, free admission - great show, come by and see it.  I have 2 paintings in the show.

The casual breakfast meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday the 12th at Woodhaven Pancake house on S Kings Hwy.  You can come, its open to all.  9 am.  I will probably come for a short while.  Should go to Kate's class.  Its the last one of the Spring and our 'secret' assignments are due.  We were to create a painting that incorporates a frog and autumn leaves.  Gotta finish mine, almost done.

I want to get back in the habit of updating Twitter and my blog and my website.  Still recovering from my fire.  I had gotten into a nice routine of getting up, getting breakfast, going to the office, signing on, checking email and updating the sites.  Without an office or an easy place to sign on, I got out of my pattern.  Being a creature of habit is good at times but it makes it hard to create a new habit when the old one was so comfortable.

Still not sure how long I will be staying with Mom.  Do I get a phone line installed in the room so I can still use my dial-up? (yeah still dial up, a budget issue).  Or get road runner? - not many choices in this area.  But if I won't be there for a year, I cannot commit to a contract.

Been sooooo busy with work, illustrations, work, taxes, work, house inventory, work, visiting family, work, WACG workshop and show...  Oh and did I mention work?  My brain is fried most of the time.  So I plod on the best I can.

Class Demo - Sand Crane Part 2

The next stage in creating the painting of the Sand Crane is to plan it out. The background is dry, so I transferred the outline of the crane and placed it where I wanted it in the landscape. I feel where I placed it, it echos the trees. I also placed it facing to the right. That way it is looking out of the canvas, rather than sticking its nose into the tree.

I used some titanium white and 'whited' it out. This way I have a clean slate to paint on and the colors I use for the bird will remain true and have less of a chance of appearing muddy.

I used white chalk to sketch out the branches, the Spanish moss and the shore line of the pond. Planning is just as important as putting paint on the canvas. It is easier to erase chalk than repaint an area.

Don't remember who said it first but "Failing to plan is planning to fail.' and that holds true when creating a painting as well as most other areas of life.

Class Demo - Sand Crane

Class got off to a great start. As part of the class, about half way through the 3 hour session, I do a 10-20 minute demo. This session I began a painting of a sand crane based on a photo I took while visiting down in Florida this past June. I like the position and image of the bird in my photo, but the background is just OK. So I found another photo that has a background that I like much better. I decided to combine the two, use the background from one and the focal image from the other.

This is not an unusual practice. In fact, it a great way to develop a better painting. Most times a photo will not be the perfect image for a painting. But by combining features from two or more photos, one can create a composition that is more than the sum of all of these parts.

My approach to creating almost every painting that I do is to build up the composition. Think of setting a table, you need to put down the table cloth first, then the dishes then the food. Do it out of order and you get a mess. Same thing with a painting - I build the background first, then add the featured items, then add the finishing touches.

For this painting, I first blocked in the distant trees in the upper right quarter of the canvas. I used Dioxazine purple for my darks. This adds color to my shadows and a richness and depth to the distant trees. You can also use a mix of ultramarine blue and alizarin to get a similiar color.

I also mixed in chromium oxide green, some raw sienna, burnt sienna and ultramarine blue as well as some titanium white. The photo I was working from did not show any sky color. However, I personally think that by adding some blue into the distant tree colors, it adds some atmospheric depth to the image. I softly blended the area, then did a few upward strokes from the darker bottom area up to the lighter area giving the form of trees.

The grassy area is large strokes of the same green, browns and golds, but finished with a horizontal stroke. The watery, swampy area has more blue, but also the ground colors in it. I used some raw umber to block in the tree trunks and add some shadows on the ground. I kept everything soft. This will help create the illussion of depth to the finished painting. Items up close are in sharper focus than items in the distance.

I will let this stage dry. With the background filled in, once I start adding the rest of the images, I will not have to worry about painting around things or filling in small spaces. The stage is set it will soon be time for the actors to enter.

Class is held on Thursdays from 9 am til noon at the Base Rec Center. For more info jackie@artistjackie.com

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to All!

For the past 15 years I have been designing and painting my own cards. Most have featured 'Little Crab'. He lives here at the beach near me and he loves to decorate his house as well. Enjoy your holiday.

Helicopter Ride

There is an advantage to working part time at one of the local resorts. Other tourist attractions occasionally give the workers free passes to see and experience their attractions so we can direct tourist to them. The theory being that it is easier to recommend something that you have already experienced and enjoyed.

Yesterday, Helicopter Adventures offered free rides to the industry workers. It was crisp and cold yet very clear. Since it was something I dreamed about just about every time I passed their copter, I took advantage of the opportunity. It was awesome! It was fabulous. It was wonderful. It was much quieter than I expected. The lift off was gently and smooth, the flight was a large circle around the southern end of Myrtle Beach. The tilting and turning reminded me of a smooth, quiet roller coaster ride. There was no real sensation of speed, just a slick ride. I took a few photos. I wanted to savour the experience more than focus on the photos.

Seeing your world from a different angle is a fun thing to do. I like to believe that as an artist, the more experience with different views of the world only enhance my creativity. If you ever get a chance to take a copter ride - go for it!

Illustrations

I have been creating some sample illustrations for a client. They are for a children's book who's story revolves around a young boy and girl who find a mole that had kicked by a bully. So I have been sketching scenes with kids with animals.

Those that know me well know that painting people is not my favorite subject matter, but I can do it. I think these turned out well. I wanted to place the kids in poses that are typical of kids but not just sitting or standing or looking straight ahead like a school photo.

I present them next week, I hope the client likes them as much as I do.

December 2008 Newsletter

I published my December newsletter yesterday. It is now available on my website as well, www.artistjackie.com I talk about the effect of light on your painting. We all have paintings we think look best in at night in a room without any lights. But hopefully there are some we want others to see and enjoy.

If you want to be on my email distribution list, just email me at newsletter@artistjackie.com with subscribe in the subject line. I will never sell or give out my mailing list and I use it only for the newsletters. Thanks in advance for your support.

Check it out. Past issues are there as well.

My 'Broken Heart'

How do you mend a broken heart.... Lyrics from the past. One of my assignments for an illustration is to create an image to illustrate making amends. One image I thought of, right off the bat, was a broken heart being repaired.

To approach this image, I sketched out a couple of ideas, one being a broken heart with a band-aide. One with rope or string wrapped around it too tight. Others I won't admit to :)

My next step was to do an image search on the Internet. I use Google, but others work as well. I wanted to get an idea of what sort of images are already out there. I want mine to be different. I want to present a unique take on the subject, my take. So I did a search on 'broken heart' and there are a lot of strong images out there. Some very predictable, some disturbing, some very interesting, some very well done.

So I went back to sketching and decided to take the approach of a heart that has started to be put back together. One that had been broken in many pieces. So I did the sketch, then enlarged it and even though I like the black and white image, I also painted it.

I like my image. It has a sad element to it, but with a glimmer of hope of perseverance.

Demo of an Autumn Landscape

Saturday at the November WACG meeting, I gave a demo on painting an autumn landscape in oils. The demo included tips and techniques that can translate for almost any medium when trying to capture the colors of the fall. It's 16"x20" on acid free canvas board. I did the painting in just over an hour. I had laid in the sky and grassy areas before hand, but did 95% of the painting during the demo.

Everyone appeared to enjoy the demo. There were lots of questions and good discussions as it progressed.

The December meeting will be 12/20 at 10:15 am at the B&C Art Museum in Myrtle Beach (near Springmaid Pier). We will have a Christmas party, plus Dixie Dugan as agreed to critique paintings for us, everyone can bring up to 3. Plus we collect new and gently used art supplies which we then donate to a local art program. Bring a goodie to share if you want, and come join the fun!

New Flowers

In class I have been working on more flowers. Here is a better photo of the Red Hibiscus.

I have also created this painting of a geranium just starting to bloom. I used the same combination for the back ground as the hibiscus. I like the way it sets off the red blossoms.

'First Blooms' is a happy painting. I like the way I captured the patina of the pot as well. Here are two examples of a single subject painting. One, the hibiscus, I floated by itself on the canvas. The other is the plant in the pot and that painting has more weight to it. Each is an example how one can paint a single subject matter. See my November newsletter for more keys to painting a single subject well.

Workshop Truck

Yesterday, the WACG sponsored an all day watercolor workshop with Mary Spelling to learn out textures in w/c. It was held at the Base Rec Center - a great facility for classes and workshops. There were 10 of us plus Mary. We created a painting of a old rusty truck. Mary demo-ed each step then let us play with it. It was fun to see all of the different versions of the same subject matter. The students were challenged, encouraged and everyone put out a great effort for wonderful results. The consensus opinion is that we want Mary to return next year for another workshop.

I work fast, so I was able to complete mine. Although watercolor is not my first choice of medium, I do like to dabble in it occasionally and I learned a lot. Just spending a day with fellow artists enjoying the time together and creating something fun is worth it. If you get opportunities to take workshops, I highly recommend it - always leave with more than you came with.

Red Hibiscus

This is a small (8x10) painting of a red hibiscus. The photo did not capture the colors too well. I guess sometimes a cell phone under florescent lights doesn't always get it right. It is still very wet and I was trying not to get the glare. I used loose brush strokes and intense colors. I really like it. Got in done in about an hour which is very quick even for me, but the magic was flowing, the brush had a mind of its own and I just followed along for the ride. When it dries I will take better photos with my good camera and share those as well.

Sailboat Is Complete!

During class today I had a chance to finish up my sailboat. I added the sailor, some gulls and touched up the mail sailboat a bit. I really like it. It has lots of energy thanks to the dramatic brush strokes I used. What do you think?

WACG Board Meeting

We held our October Board of Directors meeting today. We met at the Woodhaven Pancake House on S. Kings Hwy. Not only did we have a delicious breakfast we got a chance to socialize and get some work done too.

We went over the plans for our Fall Show at First Federal Bank. The artists will drop off their work on Monday. We will need volunteers to man the tables from 3 to 5 and then to help hang the show from 5 pm til its done. If you can help please come by.

There is one more Art in the Park in November. Spaces are available if anyone is interested in showing.

We are planning out our general meetings for the next year or so. November is still in the works but we are trying to get a stained glass artist to come and demonstrate her work. December will be our Christmas party plus Dixie Dugan will hold a critique for anyone who wants to bring in something for her to review. January Kate Lagely will discuss how to enter the 'big' shows plus have a slide show showing the entries received for the Kentucky Watercolor Society's national show. February we hope to have someone from the SC Watermedia Society to speak/demo. March will be a presentation by an Installation Artist - something new for our group. Make plans to come and attend any or all of our programs. They are open to the public and are free of charge. They are held on the 3rd Sat of the month at the B&C museum, in the 2nd floor studio.

Virginia was officially elected the board. She has been coming and participating. Since we had a quorum we made it official. Welcome!

Next board meeting will be after the November general meeting. Again at the pancake house, all are invited to attend.

The Tree Is Complete - With Friends

Here are some photos of the completed tree. It adds a casual charm to the living room. In additions to the requested amount of Spanish moss, I also added quick studies of the family's two cats. I like it and more important the clients love it.

Mural Around a Mural

This mural is complete. I painted the mural around the existing mural of the house. Everything OUTSIDE of the trellis is what I painted, the columns, the wisteria, and continued the lawn and gardens beyond. I am happy with it, but more important so are my clients.

Welcome Leah

My nephew Eric and his wife Kristi have welcomed a new addition to their family, their second daughter Leah Ann Stacharowski. Mother and daughter are doing fine. So I am a Great Aunt again, hey - I'm great at this Aunt stuff.

October Newsletter

I finally got my October e-newsletter published today. Now I just gotta get the last couple of issues on my web-site. Been very busy lately, got the 2 murals just about done. One is finished and the other just needs its protective coat put on if there are no more last minute changes.

That and all of my other odd jobs have taken all of my time and energy. Hope to catch up some in the next week or so, including posting the photos of the murals.

Sand Painting Part 2

Here is another paper I created using the sand method. Here you can see the stage with the sand and the image after the sand has been removed.

I highly recommend playing around with this. Sometimes we get too uptight when we create our art, its fun to really play with our paints.