Busy April - Show Season

There seems to be a season for art shows in the Spring, mostly in April.  I was involved with three this year.  That was keeping me busy and I did not post as often as I should have :(  but I will try to be better now.

First was the SAG Photography show at the Seacoast Artists Gallery.  I do not focus on photography, but I actually took photography classes before I began painting.  I do have an eye and I take most of my photos when I am on vacation.  Since I wanted to support the show - first time SAG has held a photography only show, I entered the max of three photos.  I dug through my photos from my last couple of vacations and found a few favorites that I thought would show well.

'Grumpy' is a hummingbird in Costa Rica who sat with an attitude while most of the hummingbirds were flittering around.

'Pulling It In'  was taken on a catamaran tour in the Dominican Republic.  The crew was taking down the main sail when the wind picked up.  It was a quick snap, but I like the design elements in the photo.

'Rooted In The Sand' was also taken in the DR near the coast.  I love the gnarly roots and the echo of the peachy color in the bark, roots, leaves and building in the background.

Immediately after that show was the SAG Spring Show where I entered the max of 3 paintings, all from my Body Language series.

'Looking Up'  is from the viewpoint of someone on their back.  Whether a child, someone bedridden or just someone laying on the floor...  I wanted to capture the dizzying view while looking up.

'Joy Celebrates' illustrates the wave of exhilaration that accompanies the joy that is shared by a group.  It could be a family, a group of friends, a team...  Our joy is enhanced when it is shared and celebrated.

'Joy Creates' illustrates the feeling of creation that accompanies joy.  It can be a shared joy between a couple, a group or a whole family.  Joy allows us to forge new bonds, expand our horizons, bring newness into our universe...

After that show I had a display of my work at 'Art Burgers & Sushi' on the boardwalk here in Myrtle Beach.  Local artists are given an opportunity to display their work for 4 weeks.  Patrons have the opportunity to purchase.  I sold three in April.  

The end of April also saw the beginning the WACG Spring Juried Show held at The Art Museum of Myrtle Beach.  I had two paintings accepted into the show.  Its quite the honor.

'Spinning In The Wind'  reflects the feelings when life is spinning out of control.  But the figure is in a dancer's pose, it is possible to have some control even when spinning.  The whirly-gig emphasizes the fact that outside forces are usually what causes us to feel out of control.

'Prisoner Of Past Mistakes'  illustrates the feeling we have when we are held captive by the guilt we have from mistakes we have made.  The 'bars' are made of ribbon - not steel, so we have the ability to break free from them if we so choose.

While still holding class, working on illustrations, writing my newsletter and life in general.  I can let out a sigh of relief while life gets back to just normal busy.  Until the autumn show season that is :)

Next New Paintings

I started working on the design for the next two paintings in my Body Language series.  I start sometimes with just a thumbnail sketch, sometimes larger.  I then get them to the same proportions that will match the canvases that I will use.  I used my new ink pencils from Derwent to play with the colors and come up with a beginning color scheme.  Next step will be to transfer the images to the canvases and start blocking in.

Palm Tree in Pastels

Class demo this week was working in pastels.  I use the same palm tree composition for many demos so students can focus on the application of the medium and not necessarily the subject of the painting.  Plus I have painting so many palm trees over the years that I do not have to think too hard to  create one and can focus on the explanation of the technique.

Pastels are not my favorite but I do know that basics.  What I did:

•   work on paper designed for pastels
•   attach the paper to a firm background so it cannot bend easily
•   use low tack tape to attach it so you will not damage the paper.
•   working on a color paper will speed up the process.  Here I used blue.
•   This paper was 9 x 6" and I decided my finished painting will be 5x7" so I gave myself guidelines
•   Start distant to near.  I first worked the sky lightly with a couple shades of blue plus white.  I blended them and brushed off the excess.
•   I used a ruler to give me guide for the horizon and worked the water.  Blending a little then leaving the waves more pronounced,
•   Work the sand with a base of yellow ochre and an assortment of other colors.
•   Placed the tree trunk with a dark brown and made the highlights a pale gray.
•   The fronds have darker value in the shadow areas and lighter values on the top.  I used several shades of green plus yellow and peach highlights on the fronds and on the trunk.
•   After each application I brushed off or shook off the excess pastels so the painting would not be muddied.  
•   very thin gulls in the sky finished off the painting.  I rolled the edge of the dark blue pastel to achieve the fine line.
• pastels must be matted to the gap between the image and the glass or acrylic is far enough that it does not mess up the image.  Mats may be stacked if needed to create a deep enough gap.

Looking Up - Almost done

Looking Up  - Oils

Almost completed.  It will need a little touch up and I still need to paint the sides of the canvas, but yes, this one is just about done.  I like the color combinations that I wound up with.  There is a good energy, plenty of visual interest, good balance of values and colors and it works for my initial focus of the content of the painting.  If one is laying on the ground, looking up, disorientated, head spinning...  this is what the world looks like when you first open your eyes.

It will be part of the SAG Spring Show at the gallery at Market Common from 4/15-4/25/16.

If it doesn't sell during the show, I will probably use it in my gallery display beginning in May.

Looking Up 3

Looking Up 3

Worked hard on the background for the figures.  Even though the sketch showed bands of color, I always had in the back of my mind to make the background more of a smooth area of blended color.  These areas turned into circles or orbs of color.  I have a yellowish one at the top, a greenish one on the bottom and a bluish one on the middle left.  I changed the color of the bluish one from the purple.  I felt I needed more visual weight on the bottom so I made the greens the deeper values.  Once I get the figures in the colors will change again.  I like the way the figure on the middle right seems to be created from the overlapping circles.  As well as the upper red figure from the blue and yellow.

What looks good on a 3"x4" rough sketch does not always translate well onto a 30"x40" canvas.  The sketch is a guide - not a contract.  I almost always modify, adjust and downright change things as I go.

Looking Up - blocked in

  

Looking Up - Blocked In

Earlier in this blog I posted a sketch of my idea for this painting.  It is on a 40" H by 30" W canvas.  I used a block by block transfer of the image onto the canvas.  Next I block in the painting with thin acrylic paints.  I have added, removed and changed some things already.

I do this to audition the colors, values and placement of the design.  I mostly like it.  It will change.  I already decided to bring the blue figure in the lower left corner into the green more.  I think it will balance the upper right area better.

I will do more blending, different colors when I switch to oils.  The acrylics dry faster and are easier to quickly slap onto the canvas.  At this stage I do not want to spend too much time on applying the layer of color.  I think of this as just another step of transferring the idea from paper to canvas.  Only with the next step do I consider myself creating the painting.  However, if for some reason a small portion of this layer does show through, it will just blend in to the finish product.  

Now for the fun part!

Prisoner Of Past Mistakes - Completed

"Prisoner Of Past Mistakes"  Oils  2016

I have completed this painting.  Mostly happy with it.  I have increased the texture and colors of the ribbons holding them prisoner.  I wanted more focus on the figure so by toning down the ribbons, it brought it more to the center of interest.

The mistakes we make in the past can hold us back and/or keep us trapped.  But the bonds are made of ribbon, easily broken if an effort is made.  Some break with time, some break with effort.  The limitations they cause are ones that can be overcome, but we do not always recognize that.  

Spinning In The Wind - Completed

Not the very best photo, but I have completed my latest painting in my Body Language series.  "Spinning In The Wind" is done in oils.  Although the figure is spinning, it is a sort-of a controlled spin in the way that dancers do.  I want to represent that: yes, even when we feel out of control, there may be some aspects of our lives that we can hang on to.  Is the figure freeing themselves from the pole or hanging on?  Are the threads that are unraveling around their head creating a halo or a cage?  I wanted movement, but still a feel of quiet.  The contrasts represent the pull of many things in our lives, sometimes in different directions.  Are we stopping the spin?  Or making things spin faster?

Umbrella On The Beach - Class Project

Umbrella On The Beach – Acrylics

Project by Artist Jackie Stacharowski  ©2016

Supply List:  8x10” canvas, acrylic paints:  permanent yellow, permanent red, permanent blue, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, white.  Flat brushes ½”, ¼” and a small round brush.  Water container, paper towels, ruler, chalk, blue painter’s tape, paper plate for palette.

This composition is done in a vertical or portrait orientation.  Measure 4” up from the bottom and use the blue tape under the mark to preserve the horizon line.

                       

Using permanent blue and white, paint in the sky area having it darker at the top and gradually get lighter towards the horizon.

Remove the tape.  Mix permanent blue and yellow to make a greenish blue for the ocean.  Paint in a triangular area being careful to not get water color into the sky area.  If you do, it can be touched up but do your best.  The water is lighter towards the horizon and gets a deeper color towards the beach.  The line right where the water touches the sky is darker. 

Mix burnt sienna and white to get a sandy color and paint in the beach area.  Paint the edges of the canvas with the appropriate color all around the sides.  This will give a nice finished looked to the painting.  Touch up the horizon area if it needs it.

Take a break!  Let the canvas dry for about 10-15 minutes.

Mix some white with some clean water and scrub in some clouds along the horizon.  

Scrub in some waves in the water parallel to the beach.  Use a ruler and paint in the pole for the umbrella.

Add interest to the sand by mixing a watery yellow and burnt sienna and glaze them over the sand area.  Use the yellow in the sunny area and the burnt sienna in the area that is shaded by the umbrella.

Use the chalk to sketch in the shape of the umbrella.  I used 4 sections, you can put more or less in if you’d like.  You can paint each section whatever colors you’d like.  It will take several coats to cover the sky area and get good coverage.  Mix white into the colors for the first few coats.  Then if you want a deeper color use the paint out of the tube.  Once the solid color is in, paint a lighter side to each section to the left and the right edge paint it a slightly darker shade of that color.

Add a few birds in the sky.  Sign it.  You’re done!

                         

Small Paintings

The Seacoast Artists Gallery, which is where I have my paintings displayed, raises money for art scholarships for local students by selling small 5x7" paintings.  I donate on a regular basis.  The past couple that I have done are:  "Crab", "Are You Okay?" and "You're Sweet".  Crab was done in acrylics, the other 2 in oils.  The pears and apples I gave them a dialogue with their stems.

These small paintings not only go to a very good cause, they give me a chance to practice my casual realism style.

Crab - acrylics

Are You Okay?  -  oils

You're Sweet  - oils

Progress On Paintings

I have been working diligently on my two latest paintings.  Still not completed but much further along.

Prisoner of Past Mistakes

Spinning In the Wind

2016 Paintings - In Progress

OK, I am the first to admit I am not good at keeping up with my blogs.  But its a new year and my resolution is back into the spotlight so I am getting off to a good start for this year.

I have 3 paintings in progress right now.  Hope to get 2 of them completed in time to enter them into the WACG Juried Show.  Entries are due early to mid February.  So I have some time.  I know what I want to do, now it just getting the paint on the canvas.  All of them are in my Body Language series.

Prisoner of Past Mistakes

Sketch 

Current State of Almost Done-ness

As you can see I still need to paint the ribbons that hold my person captive.  I added one across the face, I feels that adds to the prison feel.  The ribbons on the left are there to show the viewer that the ribbons are just that and not iron bars, ribbons that may easily be broken or removed.  There is glare on the right side of the photo, the background is essentially dark blue with a few lighter streaks, but the same across the canvas.  The person and background I believe are done.  I will vary the colors of the ribbons but keep them in the yellow family - I think.

Spinning in the Wind

Sketch

In Progress

How do you feel when your life seems to be spinning out of control?  In reality you're in the same spot, but that is not how you feel.  I made the painting smaller than I had originally planned, its now large enough but not too large.  I made it feel as if it is outside in a simple landscape to enhance the concept of wind.  I added a couple panels to the whirly-wig.  I laid it out in acrylics but am finishing up with oils.  Only the two panels near the figure are done and the background.  I will adjust the coloration of some of the other panels as I go over them.  The figure will be more realistic in shape but I need the front panels to dry before I can work on them.  Much work to do.

Looking Up

Sketch

I have the canvas with the drawing sketched onto it, but that is the extent of the physical painting.  The work I have done in addition to the concept and the sketch, has been to decide on the color scheme and to get the feeling that you get if you are laying flat on the floor (or where ever) and am looking up at people looking down at you.  This is the view point of an infant, an invalid, or anyone that feels helpless and off-balanced.  Just getting started.  I need to finish the other two first.

That is my to-do list as far as my paintings go.  Class demo's, newsletters, illustrations, goofing off... they are on the list too.  Keeping up with my blog is way down the list, but I will try to do better this year - really!

2016 Winter/Spring Class Schedule

The Open Studio at the Base Rec Center here in Myrtle Beach will resume this Thursday January 7th.  It will run - probably until the end of June on Thursdays from 9 am until noon.

We will miss a few weeks.  I will be traveling in February to Costa Rica so there will be no class on the 11th and 18th of February.  There will probably not be a class on the Thursday before Easter - March 24th, I will probably have company in town.  Not sure of the last week of May but its too soon to say for sure.

Come join us!  Every works on their own project at their own pace.  Beginners thru experienced artists are welcome.  Oils, acrylics, w/c, color pencils, pastels are all welcomed. I do a small demo about half way through the session.

Family Secrets -finished painting

I completed the painting in oils.  I am very happy with the result.

New Body Language Painting - Family Secrets

The sketch

First layout

I just started a new canvas.  It is part of my body language series that explores interpersonal relationships.  This image explores the secrets that every family has.  Some large, some small, but all ignored if possible.  The secrets try to get notice.

As always with me, the layout on the canvas does not exactly match the sketch.  I wanted to use a canvas that was twice as wide as it is tall.  This one is 24 x 48".  

I block it in using acrylics.  They dry quickly and let me make modifications easily.  I think I like how it is laid out.  So I will switch to oils when I continue.

Abstract To Expressionism - SAG presentation

I was the guest presenter at the May meeting of the Seacoast Artist Guild.

My talk explored my creative process for my Body Language series and the path that took me to that series of painting.  It was an interesting, and mostly difficult, process of trying to articulate the way my brain works when creating these paintings.

This is a link to the pdf version of the slides I had in my Power Point presentation.

SAG May 3, 2015

Seacoast Artist Gallery Hanging on May 1, 2015

The Gallery changes the displays twice a year on May 1st and November 1st.  We had a re-opening and 2nd Anniversary this week.  Here is a quick photo of my display.  The front display has a theme every month.  For May the theme is 'Food & Drink' and I did a tasty lobster as my contribution.

I am displaying a selection of my Body Language series.

'Get Cracking'  16 x 20"  Acrylics

Get Cracking

"Get Cracking"  Acrylics

My latest painting.  The Seacoast Artists Gallery at Market Common in Myrtle Beach changes out its window display each month.  Each month there is a theme and the theme for May is 'Food & Drink'.  My tasty lobster here will be part of that display.

It is 16" x 20"  done in acrylics.

I have had the reference photo for this for a number of years.  I kept toying around with it in my head and with this theme, it was the perfect time to finally put brush to canvas.  I am very please with how it turned out.  Makes we want to head out to a seafood restaurant :)

Painting - February 2015

Here are my latest paintings.  I completed them (just) in time to enter them in the local spring shows.

For the Waccamaw Arts & Crafts Guild Juried show I entered:

Looking Back - 40"h x 30"w  Oils

Wave Of Celebration  -  22"h x 28"w Oils

For the Seacoast Artists Guild Spring Show I entered:

All My Eggs  8"h x 10"w  Oils

Embracing The Warmth  18"h x 24"w  Oils

All of these are part of my "Body Language" series.  The sizes of the canvases are important too, the basket is small and intimate and the mountain is tall.

The SAG show is at the Seacoast Artists Gallery at Market Common in Myrtle Beach from April 3 - April 16 2015

The WACG show is at the Art Museum of Myrtle Beach on Ocean Blvd from April 30th to May 31st 2015  I must be juried into the show and judging has not been done yet.  

I am very happy with how these all turned out.

Class Demo from 9/25/14

This is a demo of a landscape painted from the inspiration of a photo of a marshy area here in South Carolina,  Kurt was nice enough to snap the photo since my i-phone was stuck at the time.

The steps so far:

1 - I began with the sky, making it more intense than the photo.  I like to use more intense colors in my paintings to add pizzazz to them.  The sky is a darker value at the top and becomes a lighter value at the horizon to add visual depth to the painting.

2 - I added the tree line.  Distant trees are less detailed than those 'closer' to the viewer.  A gradual V-shape pulls the viewer's eyes to the focal point where the water leaves the marsh area to the left.

3 -  The sandy soil under the grasses was blocked in.

4 - The water was painted in, lighter in value near the horizon, becoming a deeper value towards the bottom of the canvas.  The variations in the water add interest.  The water is smoothed out to remove brush strokes to give the mirrored appearance of still water.

to be continued at class on Thursday.  9-noon  Base Rec Center