“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” – Isaac Newton If we have had some success in any area, including art, we can be sure that we have benefitted from one or more mentors. Mentors come in a variety of circumstance. Some, like parents, may pourContinue reading “Honoring Mentors”
Category Archives: Painting
Axiom #3 Paint What You See
My painting teacher, Jim Faber, used to say: “paint what you see, not what you THINK you see! It’s a call to observation. Instead of assuming that the sky is blue and the leaves are green, take a look. How does the light affect the colors? What are we taking for granted? What have weContinue reading “Axiom #3 Paint What You See”
Learning From Nature
“Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries.” – Jimmy Carter This Art Instruction Video called “Learning from Nature” is meant to encourage artists and aspiring artists in their creative development through studying the visual world. Although this is the primary intended audience, there mightContinue reading “Learning From Nature”
Mural for an Elementary School
I had the great opportunity to meet with the first graders at South School and ask them what they thought was important for their fellow students to remember. Their answers all revolved around the theme “Be Kind.” Each of the children placed their hand print on the lower section which became a field ofContinue reading “Mural for an Elementary School”
Paint Nite in Fortuna
A Paint Nite evening brings together friends old and new to experience the process of making a painting in a fun social atmosphere. On this evening we painted a still life with pears and a lot of laughter in between. Set in Nehemiah’s Art Studio and Gallery in Fortuna, California, Art Nite is a time toContinue reading “Paint Nite in Fortuna”
The Big Picture, The Details
The direct method of enlarging a picture by observing its major geometric shapes, the relation of those shapes to each other, the negative spaces they create and paying attention to the way the light illuminates the shapes to create forms is said by another way in a simple but overused sentence: Look at the bigContinue reading “The Big Picture, The Details”
Autumn Colors Inspire Art
Well Fall is in the air! As much as we long for summers here on the North Coast because we have such an abundance of rain, still, we tend to greet Autumn with great anticipation as well. There is something about new beginnings, a change in the weather and students going back to school. InContinue reading “Autumn Colors Inspire Art”
Natural and Spiritual Gifts.
The Times-Standard, a Eureka, California newspaper included a very kind article about painting and teaching here on the North Coast. Here is the link: http://www.times-standard.com/art/ci_23980365/natural-and-spiritual-gifts?source=rss. I am eagerly anticipating new students for the upcoming Fall classes!
Writing & Painting in Times of Adversity and of Peace
Here is what Winston Churchill said of painting: “I am never going to have anything more to do with politics or politicians. When this war is over I shall confine myself entirely to writing and painting.” I find it both fascinating and encouraging, as an artist, that when Churchill moved off of the world stageContinue reading “Writing & Painting in Times of Adversity and of Peace”
5 “P”s – The Fourth “P” is for Passion
When we work with passion there is a quality that draws people. We may or may not equate with the subject of the passion, but people tend to appreciate someone who is enthusiastically working with their heart and soul. It is evident, it shows. May years ago I submitted a painting (there is a detail ofContinue reading “5 “P”s – The Fourth “P” is for Passion”
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