Instructional tidbits from other artists

Kathy Weber is an artist I reference on this blog a lot. Someday hopefully I'll bite the bullet and buy one of her pieces---they are beautiful! And if not a painting, then at least her excellent book.

Recently she offered a workshop in the Providence, RI area on consecutive Saturdays and I would have taken it except that Elizabeth was less than two-months-old. Ah well.

These two pieces appear on her blog yesterday and today.

Autumn Reflections by Kathy Weber

What I like about her postings, too, is her tidbits of instruction. Today's I thought was uber-helpful (and Cindy, if you're reading this, it's something we've been discussing in your work lately about the foreground).

Autumn Morning by Kathy Weber

"This was painted on the same day last week as yesterday's post. I did some more work on it the next day, when the paint had dried enough to allow putting in the grasses in front."

I know sometimes I lack the patience to wait the appropriate time before putting those kinds of finishing details in a painting. Generally it is nearly impossible to make it look right without waiting because the piece is all mushy with oil paint.

Consistent perspective

I tend to take a lot of photos with compositions heavy on the bottom like this:This photo is of the side of our garage at that excellent time of day---twilight.
My goodness things are beautiful then. And now that the clocks have been turned back an hour, the light is markedly different from what we're used to and when. Generally things are pink and rosy.

I've mentioned before about my desktop file "artist references." Here is an assortment from the photography file.And two more from last night.
I have a small painting of one of these which I'll photograph today and post tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Some of my class in the local paper

Some of my students were in the Walpole Times yesterday showcasing donations to the Walpole Library Art Auction on November 14th.
Here is the article:

WALPOLE - Original art work to be auctioned off at the Friends of the Walpole Library Art Auction to be held on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 7-10 p.m. in the Allen Room of the Walpole Country Club. Shown here are five members of the Foxboro Art Association: Nancy Bacevich, Haydi Hurley, Tony Donovan, and Ann Gorbett all Walpole residents, and Kimberly Weineck formerly of Walpole currently living in North Attleboro. Raffle items and a silent auction of donations from local businesses and area attractions further help to raise funds for the new library. Music provided by the Wildewood Jazz Band. For more information go to walpolelibraryfriends.org.

Hurray for all the donations!

Like candy

Sennelier pastels are gorgeous. Their color is lush and sophisticated. I just LOVE them. When Tim and I were in Paris five years ago we went to the Sennelier store and I purchased a few sacred items. What fun!

Today I learned from a savvy marketing email from a company I love, Dakota Art Pastels, that Sennelier has released a new set of half pastels. It's called, perfectly enough, the Paris set. Ah!
Here they are.
The inside makes me want to buy buy buy and paint paint paint!

(Hint hint hint, Tim, although I don't think I can wait until Christmas.)

Off to the gallery!

Julie, the fabulous owner of Gallery9, just stopped by and picked up my painting of a salt marsh. It was finished two days ago and had been drying in the basement, warmed by the inefficiency of our sixty-year-old boiler. The piece looked like one of these, and I did it on Julie's request; she likes the subject matter. I'm thinking one of these days I should do it really BIG!I'm delighted that she took the time out of her frantic day to come by to pick up my painting. Apart from the vote of confidence, my two little ones are sick and there's not a lot of adult contact going on here lately.

Silly me didn't take a photo of the painting before she picked it up. Duh! I'll take a photo at the gallery when I work Friday. That is...unless it sells before than. Ha!

Library art auction

Last October I was involved in an art auction to help raise money for Mount St Mary's Abbey in Wrentham, MA. It was a cause close to my heart, and my entire class jumped in and helped from start to finish. My art class is such a wonderful group. In the end we raised money, met new people, and had fun.

This November 14th is another art auction but this time put on by the Friends of the Walpole Library. I have donated a pastel and much of my class has donated their artwork as well.

If you're local and looking to expand your own home gallery, try to come to the auction. It's being held at the Walpole Country Club and tickets are $20 per person. (I'm looking forward to going to the Country Club because the event is in the room where Tim and I had our wedding reception.)

I'm sure it will be a lot of fun!

Inspiring paintings

::Before you start reading, the two paintings in this post are not my paintings::

I have a landscape painting begun on easel and a finished one drying and ready to go.

The big news is that apart from the wee business-card-sized painting I did two days back, this one is actually 20 inches square. Hurray!

Photos to come. Right now I'm trying to accomplish things so I can get painting ASAP.

In the interim, though, here are some inspiring still lifes, perfect for the season: I believe they are by Carol Marine, an artist I love and am lucky enough to own one of her pieces! (Again, hurray!)