Planning a Mural

I talked to a lovely couple about creating a mural for their living room. I met with them and saw the space. They looked through my photos of other murals I have done. They want a Live Oak tree with lots of Spanish Moss. I took some measurements and told them I would give them some options.

This is how I went about planning it out. I did a quick sketch of a tree the approximate shape and size of the tree on a layout of the size of the wall. I then used some software to vary the options of how the tree could be place. This is a starting point for our conversations. They have a visual reference for the options they have for the tree. Although I have my favorite, it really doesn't count. They have to live with it - so I want to paint something they will be happy with.

When I go to paint the tree, it will be realistic using natural colors. The sketch is just a rough way to work out the spacing issues before I go any further. Will keep you posted.

'Reach In' - the illustration - part 2

OK, I have added the bars for the cell and decided to add the wording as well. I chose posterbondini font - I was looking for a strong font that echoed the bars of the cell. I framed out the hands and emphasized the hand reaching in. I like the results. I feel it is a strong image that really pops. It is simple and clean yet emotional. I hope they like it. Any suggestions or comments?

'Reach In' - the illustration

I have received a commission to create an image for 'Reach In'. The focal point of the image is the reach to a handshake. So I begin with that. I started with a few sketches and chose my favorite. I then used tracing paper to try the image a couple of ways. The image is to be a black and white silhouette, so I tried one that was very solid, one with a lot of heavy cross hatching and one less stark. The third was my favorite - however when I first scanned it in to my pc, it was not a good result. So I tried placing another sheet of tracing paper over it before scanning - to 'soften it a little' - that turned out just how I imaged it.

Next I will add the prison bars to show the hands reaching to each other through the cell walls. This has turned out to be a very strong image. I may recommend that my client consider using this one. It may convey what they want. Onto the next step.

The Business of Art

Sat, Aug 16th, WACG, for our August meeting, had a great workshop on the business of being an artist. Amy Funderburk was our guest speaker. She was great, she was able to squeeze a huge amount of great information into the four hours. She was entertaining as well as informative.

The highlights of her presentation were:
1-you need to respect your art and yourself as an artist.
2- if you do not value your art, no one else will.
3- create a consistent professional personae for yourself as an artist.
4- always present yourself in a professional way.
5- put yourself out there.
6- be persistent - it takes an consistent effort to find the right outlet for your work.
7- follows the rules - both the specific ones for entering your art and the legal ones for handling your business.
8- take small steps to reach a large goal.

The response from the 20-sum people who attended was thumbs up all around. Thank you Amy for a wealth of info! Thank you Kate for putting the workshop together for the guild. And thanks to me for getting all of the refreshments together. Good job all around!

The Fabric of Our Lives - Part 2

The next stage of the painting. I have started to add more colors and more texture. Hopefully as it get further along it will have the appearance of fabric - almost a quilt like effect. I like it so far and will keep plugging away.

Catchin the Wind - Part 3

I have played some more with my sailboat. I have cleaned up the smudges that occurred during transport home from the Open Studio. I have added texture to the water and increased the value contrast some. I still need to add my sailor. But it is coming along nicely.

August Newsletter on Web-site

I have published my August newsletter. If you want to read it and all past issues are available on my web-site www.artistjackie.com plus I have added some new art photos to the site. If you want to have future issues e-mailed directly to you, send me your address to newsletter@artistjackie.com - I never give out or sell these addresses. If you ask to unsubscribe, I do that immediately. Any questions or suggestions are gratefully accepted.

The Fabric of Our Lives - Part 1

I started another of my 'Body Language' series. I did a sketch, tried out a mirror image of part of it, but I did not like the hard, horizontal line. So when I transferred the image to the canvas, I made some changes. Since the faces are important to the image, I painted them first to get them down. Now I can make decisions around them. Such as which way is up? I am not sure yet.

The concept is that there are many people who make up the fabric of our lives. They are interwoven into our every days. So much so that we do not always see them, but they are there in many ways. The challenge will be to interpret that into the painting. Watch and see how it progresses!

Catching the Wind - Part 2

Here is the next update of my painting. I added more colors in the sky. I added more texture, values and colors in the water. I have the boats painted in. I still need to add my sailors, finish the detail on the large boat and touch up here and there. Perhaps sometime next week. If not sooner I will take it to the open studio.

Catching the Wind

This is one of the ideas I have in my 'paint someday' folder. I finally got it out and started it. I think I want to paint this one with lots of texture and thick paints. That is how I did the sky so far. I just painted the water smooth, but I wanted an under painting so when I go back over with thicker paints, what is already there can show through and give some contrasting colors.

I like having a 'to do list' of what I want to paint. I feel I can get right into painting without having to decide 'what will I do today?' I may choose among the 10-12 I have selected, but its better than starting without clue of what I want to get onto canvas. My 'to do' list is always growing, I don't think it ever gets done. But it is sort of my top 10 of good ideas - so I can add to it when my brain is working that way and pick from the list when I am ready to work.

Most artists have a huge stash of things that they want to paint. But try narrowing it down every once in a while to a manageable 5-10 and have those ideas at the top of the list. So the next time you go to start a project, you have a reasonable number of ideas to choose from.

Autumn Live Oak - Completed

At our open studio yesterday, I completed the Live Oak in Autumn painting. I darkened the value of the shadows. I increased the intensity of the color of the leaves. I added more warm colors in the leaves. I like the result. I used my artistic license to give the live oaks additional warm colors to give it the feel of autumn. I used intense autumn colors on the ground to really show the season. I let more sky show through the leaves to give some 'lightness' to the trees which so many trees have in autumn. Overall I think it works. Enjoy!

Live Oak in Autumn

I began a painting of a Live Oak and I wanted it in autumn colors. Those in the South familiar with live oaks know that they do not really change colors - they are green year round. However, they do always drop leaves and get new ones. The ones that fall are brown and amber. So I exaggerated those colors in the leaves. The tree canopies still need more intensity and deeper values. I was painting wet into wet and the blue sky was muting the leaf color too much. I like the intense colors on the ground. That is another way to get the autumn look with evergreens. I will let it dry a while before I go back and punch up the colors.

Autumn Landscape Workshop - Idea 1 Reworked

I reworked the 1st concept I had for the workshop. It is easier to design a composition when you are not working upside down and sideways while talking the whole time. I like this rendition much better. This will be available as a 2nd option. The students that want to work on a different painting, or get done sooner than others or have something to take home and do themselves. I am happy with this one.

Autumn Landscape Idea #2 - 2nd Try

At the open studio on Thursday, I created a second rendition of the second idea for the Sept 27 workshop. I really like this one and will use it as the star of the workshop.

Thanks to Foster Caddell for the inspiration of the composition. His book 'Keys to Successful Landscape Painting' has been my bible since I began painting. If you can find it I highly recommend it. It is one of the first art 'how to' books I ever bought on the recommendation of a wonderful art supply store owner and has been a very valuable tool ever since. He has also written articles for Artist Magazine and others on his approach to landscape painting. http://www.fostercaddell.com/

Autumn Landscape Idea #2

OK, I did not like the first idea for the Autumn Landscape workshop. This is all part of the process of creating a workshop. First one determines the concept to be covered, then one tries to decide what painting will be created that is a good example of the concept. Then you hope it is one that you like, that you feel all the students will be able to do and get a decent result. Its nice to have a backup too. Not all students paint at the same rate. Its nice to have something else for the quicker students.


So after more research and sketching, I found this one that I like better. It is easier to illustrate and make work the aerial perspective and realistic autumn colors. These are the two items I want to focus on, in the workshop. This is my first oil rendition of the idea. I like it! I may adjust a couple of things, but this will work. Now I need to finalize the supply list. Got the paints covered, those will be included in the workshop. Students will need to bring the rest of their supplies.

I may still work on the first concept painting. Use that for students who may finish the first one early or who want another to take home and play with.

Keep 9/27 open if you want to come join the fun!

Open Studio 08 Extended Through August

Due to popular demand, I am extending the Open Studio sessions at the Base Rec Center until August 28th. Thursday mornings 9 am til noon. All are welcomed. Come create in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Assistance is available if requested. Come have fun!

Class Schedule 2008-2009

I finally have my class schedule for the coming year decided. The classes are held in six week sessions. However, you can also come and pay per week if that works better for you. Classes are on Thursdays from 9 am til noon at the Base Rec Center (near the new Market Commons). My classes cover Oils or Acrylics, your choice. Each student works at their own project at their own pace. All skill levels are welcomed, even those that are true beginners. A supply list is available on my web site http://www.artistjackie.com/

2008

Session
I ---- Sept 18- Oct 23
II --- Oct 30 - Dec 11 (no class on 11/27 Thanksgiving)

2009

III -- Jan 8 - Feb 12
IV --- Feb 19 - March 26
V ---- April 2 - May 14 (no class on 4/9 Easter)

Open Studio will begin on May 21st

All dates subject to change. If a class is canceled, it is made up the next week and the next session is pushed backed accordingly.

Kate's Watercolor and Color Pencil classes are on Tuesday, starting on Sept 16 and running the same weeks as mine. Hers may change depending on her kids' schools schedules.

Autumn Landscape Workshop - The Beginning

I will be offering a one day workshop on Sept 27, Saturday, 9-4, at the Base Rec Center. Jointly sponsored by WACG and the Myrtle Beach Base Rec Center. It is an oil painting workshop on creating an Autumn landscape with emphasis on getting natural looking autumn colors and getting a sense of space in your painting (aerial perspective). The paints will be provided but the students will need to bring the rest of their supplies. I still need to create a supply list. The goal is that by the end of the workshop the student should have a mostly if not fully completed painting. We will be working wet on wet, since it is just a one day workshop. That much has been decided.

Now for me the real work begins. What painting will we do? I did a sketch while watching TV the other night and during the open studio yesterday did a 1 hour oil sketch as a demo to get a feel for it. It needs lots of work. I was painting flat and sideways and never stood back to review - it was mostly a demonstration of how I approach doing a landscape for a couple of students - so it is not a great painting. But it was what I needed, an idea of how it might look.

I will change the layout quite a bit. I want more of the horizon and sky to show. I want the trees to change position. I don't like the hanging branch. I don't like the shape of the trees' canopies. But yah gotta start somewheres and this is just that - a start. I do like most of the colors. So now I work on the composition to improve it.

Art in the Park - July 08

Its that time again! Art in the Park is being held this weekend Sat & Sun from 10 til 4. If the weatherman is right it should be a nice weekend to check out the art and crafts. Plenty of free parking across the street at the Kmart shopping center or lots of meters around the park.

The park is full of trees to provide plenty of shade and just a couple of blocks from the ocean so there is usually a nice sea breeze too.

I was busy yesterday laying out the park for the vendors so everything is good to go. Come out and see what's happening.

A Great Place to Live

Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day. Today I find myself thinking what a great place this country is to live in. Although I disagree with some of the policies, politics and actions of our government, it is still right up there. As an artist I especially appreciate the freedom of expression we have. So even though I complain - I do vote and participate in my local government. The way to make something better is to improve it one small step at a time, so do your part and help make this even a better place to live. God Bless America!