The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #30

   There is one aspect to painting that I truly enjoy - capturing a seemingly ordinary moment and then painting the beauty of that moment. I know I've accomplished my goal when someone looks at a particular piece of work and says, "Wow - that's beautiful! Where did you paint that?" When I relay the short story of how the painting came to be, and in particular where I painted or photographed it, (especially if it's local), people are amazed that they have driven by or looked at that same location, and didn't notice what's been there all the time. 

   The two boats in today's painting I'm highlighting were located on the Saint George River in South Thomaston Maine. They were moored along the shore and I snapped a photo as my husband and I drove along a back road. Summer is so beautiful along the waters' edge. I will admit, that the clouds were of my own liberty. I created what I felt was right for this scene. Using my own intuition on what colors to use to fit the mood, I am trying to capture what comes into play.

   When I begin painting, it is never the "one thing" I imagined when the creation began. I guess that's one aspect that really keeps me coming back to paint - I never know what to expect when I start. I must keep all false expectations at the door.

   Sometimes in the middle of a painting, I may add the wrong color - then I have to go over the entire painting again readjusting all the other colors in order to harmonize with the mistaken one. While this process sounds like the opposite of what should be done, numerous times the "mistake" is the best part, and the painting turns out far better than it was originally.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

  

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #29

   Aside from sunflowers, roses are one of my favorite flowers for they represent not only beauty but love. My husband Dave has been the "one and only" love of my life since we first met over 30 years ago.

   One year, in 2003, to be exact, I challenged myself to paint roses. In all honesty, I challenged myself to paint BIG roses. I painted the work on a piece of Masonite board that measured 4x4 feet. Have you noticed as we traveled through this Gallery Wall Talk series that I challenge myself quite a bit? My husband says that "it's a good thing". Easy for him to say - he's not the one painting...

   One the work was finished, I gave the painting to Dave as a birthday gift that year. We still have it in our possession, however as I write this, it is at a good friends house as we currently do not have the physical space in our apartment to house it here.

   The painting has been photographed in its current state, and has been made into different color patterns for material on our computer. In my ever changing process and mind, I'm on the fence about a vision as well as an electric saw in regards to this work. I feel the work would look just as good cut into four smaller paintings. Only time will tell the fate of this particular work.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #28

I can remember about 15 years ago, Rockland as well as the surrounding areas, started implementing ideas in an attempt to support the arts more. While certain local museums are part of that equation, this area has done better than most with that game plan. As a result, other local organizations started using art as a tool to attract business as well as to raise money.

About 10 years ago, Kelmscott Farm began holding outdoor painting events mostly during the month of June. Artists would attend these events, create a painting, and sell the work there with 10% of the proceeds going to the farm. I took several photographs a beautiful June day back in 2007 and then went to work creating m
y contribution. The little (8x10) painting I did sold for $75 dollars. I also met and networked with many wonderful artists and had fun watching the proceedings.

Kelmscott Farm had rare livestock and needed help with funding in order to keep operating. Unfortunately, the farm only survived two more years before the 200 acre establishment went up for sale. It is no longer an operating farm.

The second painting I created of Kelmscott Farm was also inspired from the photos I took that day. It is the only painting I've ever done where there is a main subject in the middle of the canvas, but also four small squares, one in each corner, that highlight a certain aspect of the farm. That painting is still in my possession.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #27

As I write this, the first day of spring for 2015 is less than 24 hours away. After I chose a painting to talk about today, I entered a thought process of "what it was like then, verses what it's like now". Tomorrow is March 20th - compared to a month ago, the days are longer sunlight wise, quite a bit of the snow we have in our area is gone, and there are even large areas of grass that can be seen in numerous areas.

Likewise, when I lived in Thomaston, there was a large field across the street from my apartment. Almost 15 years ago, it was the site of a state prison - that was then. Today, although I no longer live in Thomaston, the field is 16 acres of grass and field with a walkway around the perimeter - that is now.

My husband Dave & I lived across from that field for seven years. After a while, we started calling that field "ours". We used to walk around it (and sometimes through after it was mowed) even before the state laid down the walkway.

I watched it change through the seasons. I watched many a stunning sunrise over the field in the winter. There was a sea of dandelions in the late spring and light green leaves on the two white birch trees near the road. I've seen double rainbows as thunderstorms rolled through from northwest to southeast - the wet grass in the field was gleaming in the sunshine after the storm as black clouds and the bright rainbow provided a breathtaking backdrop. The yellow, orange, and red leaves on the trees along with the browning grass in the fall signified the field was preparing for a long winters nap.

Mother Nature... and our field... in all its glory.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #26

As I was going through some digital photographs of my past works, I came across a piece that was a little different than what I usually do. Yes, it's a floral, and while the size is a "smallish for me" 8"x10" on Masonite board, the fact that an oil done vertically makes it a stand-out in my smaller works.

A day or two ago, I was remembering when I painted this lily - it was done quickly in early summer. Then I got to thinking about warm summer days and everything else that goes along with that time of year. Then I thought, "Typical human nature - the past few blogs I've been touting about how marvelous it is that Spring is finally arriving, and I get to thinking about Summer..."

That also got me to thinking when I held outdoor art shows at my former residence in Thomaston during the summer months, which got me to thinking about supporting the arts. Now, before you email me stating that I think too much, let me share a story.

At a particular art show, I had the purple lily painting for sale, unframed, for $100 dollars. I knew it was worth more, but I was trying to clear some space out of my studio at the time. A woman walked under one of my tents, stopped, and looked at this painting as well as several others.
"You're only asking $100 for these?" she questioned. "These are beautiful!"
"Yes", I replied. "And thank you. Just trying to move some of my smaller works. Is there something in particular you're looking for? Are you partial to florals?"
"In Virginia they'd sell for $800." she responded
This is good, I thought. Because of my pricing, she will purchase more than one. She obviously liked what she saw.

After some what I thought was engaging conversation about she liked about the work, she left a few minutes later, and purchased nothing. This leads me to the next part of this blog - what it truly means to support the arts -
1). Actually buy art! We all have an entertainment budget regardless of our social class. We can plan for this. But do yourself and your fellow artisan a favor - don't argue about the price and don't put their work down in some fashion. The only person you're hurting is yourself.

2). Buy art you actually love! Don't buy stuff simply to support the arts. The novelty of that work you purchased just to "people please" will wear off quickly. Support artisan's whose work you enjoy and collect more it over the years.

3). Support the Indie-artist. The selling of art is moving away from the traditional gallery. Step out of your comfort zone - buy an independent artists' work. There is a great deal of amazing, original, and quality work out there. Plus, indie work may fit your budget more, because you're not dealing with a "middle man".

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #25

As I write this, it is 10 days until the first day of Spring. The "stubborn Arctic weather pattern" (as described by meteorologists on television eloquently put it) has finally shifted after six weeks, the temperatures are warming up, the snow is starting to melt, and I'm actually hearing more birds on the wing.

The painting I'm highlighting today is my "sign of Spring" painting. The two calves were approximately one month old when I visited a local farm in late April. It was an unusual warm Spring day - the kind of day that invites you to drive the back roads with the windows down. There is just something about Spring and the renewing of ones' soul. Life reawakens within as well as out. The Earth in all her glory blooming with new life.

I learned to paint what I saw and modeled the shapes to get a pretty fair resemblance, as I did not have my camera with me that day, nor a sketch pad. I visualize the painting surface in my head, and then remember details such as trees, the fence, the cows, etc., in their placement in front of me. Sometimes it's just a matter of writing the details down. I must admit, this work is one of my favorite paintings, though ironically, I really don't have a soft spot for cows. It's the essence of Spring that I love.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #24

If you've been following along with my Wall Talk series, even if only parts of it, you know by now I have an affinity for beauty as well as flowers. Time to let you in on another secret - I love the beach and the ocean! Ever since I was a child, I have reveled in the sights, sounds, and smells of the ocean and the sand beneath my feet. I live near Birch Point State Park in Owls Head Maine. To this day, it is still one of my favorite places to visit and meditate in the early mornings during the summer. I walk down to the beach and venture to my favorite perch over a massive driftwood log. I imagine the log was washed up during a hurricane years ago, as it has been on the beach for years.

Ironically, the idea to paint the beach scene came to me while I was shopping in a local art supply store. It was there I found a huge 42" x 60" inch canvas buried and hidden in a corner of the store and it was on sale. I was like a kid in a candy store, full of glee in finding this treasure. My husband, at the time, was not so enthusiastic, as the canvas barely fit into my van.

I worked on this painting from a photo I had taken. The ocean water had to be put on in glazes, which is the process of multiple layers of paint over time. I had to allow the time between each layer for the proper amount of dryness to set in or else run the risk of the glazes blending incorrectly together and looking like mud. There was also the possibility of letting a layer dry too much, and not being able to blend the next one and/or not adhering properly. I have found over the years that it isn't easy painting in oils - it takes creating numerous messes to learn the techniques that work for you.

In the end, when the painting was finished several weeks later, it looked very lifelike. So much so, that my mother, who came to visit, went up and touched it.
"Mom, what are you doing?" I asked.
"It looks so real." she replied.
"What are you doing?!" I asked again.

She just stared at me blankly. "You're touching the painting! Mom - you work at an art gallery as a guard. What is one of your primary jobs there? To keep people from touching the paintings and other works of art!!"
While she agreed with me as to her job duties, she had no idea as to why a person should never touch an oil painting. In a nutshell, the dirt and oils in your hands (even though you may think they are clean) actually break down the oil pigments and characteristics in the paint and will eventually corrode the art work.

I love my Mom, but after that incident, I needed another trip to my secluded spot on the beach...

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #23

After I completed the Chinese Symbols painting, I started to dabble with different markings and how they could look on a painting. The work I'm highlighting in today's blog is called "Lily Pond". This turned into a rather unique painting for several reasons.

First off, the finished work was done on a rather large piece of masonite board, which measured about 30"x30", which was unusual for me. About 95% of the time, I paint on canvas, paper, or boards that are of a horizontal or vertical rectangle. This piece was completely square. It was also quite heavy. A neighbor of mine purchased the finished work - and even though she loved it - she did confide in me that it was fairly difficult to hang...

Another different aspect about the painting is the fact it has the perspective of looking straight down on the flower, plants, and water. Most realism paintings (landscapes, seascapes, floral, and still life's) have some sort of horizon line. This work does not. The marks on the painting, especially in the water, are also exaggerated, where the flower and plants are not.

All these qualities contained in this work are just some of the reasons why I love to paint. I don't always have to follow a hard-set list of rules. For a number of years, I passed this concept along to numerous students who attended my classes and workshops. Be true to yourself & follow your own creative process.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill