Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Birthday Roses and a New Technique



Birthday Roses

8x6in  oil on canvas panel  $125.  SOLD

I first want to thank everyone who sent those 
absolutely fabulous birthday wishes. I was touched.
You all made me very, very happy. 

My son and his lady gave me these lovely roses
on my birthday.
The Daily Paintworks Challenge is Something Blue,
so I popped the roses into a vase made by my mother
and a little one into a blue vase given to me by my
daughter and thought what could be better than
a "family" contribution.

Artist Note.

When I started to paint (instead of illustrating...such a difference)
there was an artist whose work I adored, and I wanted to use
her technique. I did not plan on using her subject matter,
but I really studied how she painted.
Her name?  Susan Hertel. She recorded her life in paint.
She died at 63 from Cancer and true to form, she painted herself
wearing her scarf after she lost her hair,
I have one of the paintings. 48x 60" BIG!

Technique.

This one is for artists who love to draw.

Her drawings were outstanding and the basis of everything
she did.
She drew with charcoal, fixed it and scrubbed
a color I called paper bag brown over the canvas.
She was very influenced by the simplicity of
oriental design and it shines thorough in her
amazing compositions.
She reduced things down to simple shapes
and would do three value changes at the most.




















This is a crude example. I lined up the tangent of the apple
and red hills deliberately because she would do things like that.
She rarely put shadows in so I did this before I realized.

But, you ask, why am I not doing this technique if I liked
it so much? Ah...good question. I was really into it and
someone said my work looked like Susan Hertels
and overnight I found I lost my joy for it.
I did learn so much though
and her painting in my home still gives me the most pleasure.








Notice the color of the pomegranates linking to the red
New Mexico hills. She played around the meeting of
tangents in a painting and I learned when I could and
couldn't use them because she threw away the rules.













See how the horses backs repeat the shapes of the hills.
I hope you click on these two painting to see her work
more closely.

Susan was an animal lover. She had goats, horses, cats
and dogs and painted  them all.
She was also an amazing poet. Her three daughters published
them  and I have the little book. - All this Change. Amazon
Robert Redford wrote a wonderful comment on it.
Here is a poem which touches me.

I am a dog person, a hawk person, a hill person
but I am not a person of the people tribe.

I am an immigrant among the animals
We communicate imperfectly.
Still I am welcome.

I know the language of the people tribe.
It hurts.
I know the customs and ways
but I have become an exile.

I live as a foreigner
among the animals.
Maybe God will find me there.

Posted by Picasa

54 comments:

  1. What a thoughtful and lovely posting. Thank you. Computer going down tomorrow but I will be back mid week!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it, Helen. I will look forward to seeing you back on your blog.

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  2. oh my goodness, that poem... and your painting...



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    1. Happy belated birthday wish Julie! Your painting is wonderful.

      Thanks so much for introducing us to Susan. That poem is fantastic!

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    2. Thanks Lynne. I enjoyed your post today filled with wonderful art, thoughts and lovely poem.

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    3. Thank you, too, Karla. I love the poster idea you did. Must look into that.

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  3. Lovely post Julie, I was really touched by the poem... and she did gorgeous paintings indeed. But the one you made is gorgeous , too ... as always a wonderful set up. I love the fact you stopped painting her way when somebody told you it looked like her. xx

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    1. You are always a good viewer and comment-er, Jane. YOu get it!

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  4. What a wonderful post, Julie! I really enjoyed Susans paintings and her poem is wonderful!

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    1. Thank you, Judy. A visit from Holland? I loved your watercolors.

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  5. I really like the piece in which the person is lying down. The cover is scrumptious and I love that it repeats the red. Is that her work or your own, Julie? I wouldn't be able to tell as I haven't seen this lady's work. I intend to go check it out in a moment though.

    The roses are just beautiful!

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    1. I like that you loved the cover. Me too! She places a bit of pattern in most of her pieces and I am really drawn to those areas balanced by the sparse areas.
      Your portrait seems off and running and will look forward to seeing it finished.

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  6. "Something blue" is breathtaking,dear Julie!!
    And I like everything in it, connected to your family, your memories, but also to the universal symbols, such as roses and cherries, blue, and silver-golden atmosphere.

    In this lovely post, you focuses another artist of your heart, whose art is very impressive, in all respects.Thanks for share
    a painter that with awesome paintings expressed herself so deeply, as then I find in the words of poetry.
    As a young girl, I wanted paint like Gauguin... from youthful passion remains for me a great love for what color again gives me.

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    1. I always enjoy your thoughtful comments, Rita. I am pleased you like my roses but even more pleased you like and understand how Susan painted her life.
      Gauguin...me too. I love his color.

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  7. A lovely tribute to an obviously talented woman, Julie. The simplicity of her painting is very powerful.

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  8. Those paintings really appeal to me. I especially like the one that you own with those linked red spots of color. You can really see the Asian influence with the flat forms. Very nice and the poem is lovely.

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    1. Glad you liked her work. The painting I own is too big to photograph as I cannot stand back far enough. These ones I took from the book of poetry. Mine shows Susan stood in the front of a NM blue door with her head turned to look towards the back hills. She is wearing her scarf and has one of her dogs standing by her - also looking in the same direction.
      I have owned this painting since the late 80"s and it still thrills me.
      Which reminds me of the pleasure I have seeing the experimenting with technique and imagery on your blog. Some or all of it will be incorporated maybe in your future work. I have a favorite.

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    2. Oh shoot! Should have read more carefully! I do like her style and both of those paintings are wonderful. I did a cursory search and turned up her name in connection with Millard Sheets whose work I also love. The photos showed murals located in So. Cal. that were really lovely. Another artist to add to my arsenal:)

      A favorite of one of the techniques that I tried recently?

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  9. Lovely painting for the blue challenge. Very touching and intresting about Susan Hertel, thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks Bruce - glad you found the post interesting. I left a comment on your blog but didn't see it. Maybe the time difference in Malta and you are sleeping? I will check back.

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  10. Such a beautiful post, Julie...and a very nice tribute to an incredible artist. Your painting is gorgeous, as always. Painting the two vases together is SO special.

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    1. Ah - you are a romantic like me, Hilda. Family things mean so much and I find I reach for them first when setting up a still life.
      Your new painting is wonderful.

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  11. Thank you for sharing. Beautiful roses and love the poem. Have a wonderful day....

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    1. Thanks for the visit, Angela. Glad you enjoyed it.
      I enjoyed visiting your blog and seeing the series of barns being painted. You pack a lot of punch into a 4x4in.

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  12. Love your challenge painting, Julie! The whole thing sings and your blues are spectacular.
    Gonna see if I can whomp up something for this challenge.

    Susan Hertel's compositions are certainly interesting! Her symbolic leanings are intriguing. Couldn't find the right site to see a lot of her paintings.

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    1. You will not find a lot. Most of her work is in private collections. Her murals in California are interesting and I think that is where her drawing skills were honed.
      Glad you found them interesting.
      Looking forward to seeing what you "whomp-up" for the challenge.
      Love your birds - great job.

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  13. What a great post - your painting is wonderful as always and a lovely way of keeping your birthday roses living on! I always love to hear which artists have inspired - the poem is fabulous, I think many of us feel that way at times - the people tribe are funny lot arent they!

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    1. So pleased you enjoyed the post. Thanks Sharon. It was great seeing the owl after you finished it and thanks for passing on the bit about blogger charging for storage after a point.

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  14. Hello Julie:) Hmmm what a lovely poem! I recognize myself in it:) Your painting has all kind of memories in it. So beautiful and again beautiful painted! Don't sell!!

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    1. I laughed at your "don't sell' because I did one for myself too! We think alike.

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  15. Thank you for sharing this artist's work. It is quite beautiful...
    Your use of family gifts is very sweet and the painting is lovely also. BTW, happy belated birthday!

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    1. Thanks and thanks again. That is a beautiful thanksgiving paint you posted with season good wishes.

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  16. Your painting is a treat! Lush whites in the roses and the touches of blue not only meet the challenge, but offer a personal connection to the painting. Beautiful!
    A remarkable post, Julie, which pushed me into some research of Susan Hertel's life. What a capable and gifted woman she was in many areas. I very much like her style and am especially drawn to the subtle color and the patterns in much of her work. Thank you for introducing her to me!

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    1. I feel good about your response to Susan and her work. Thank you.
      Thanks for liking my painting too. You are like me. We can both appreciate different artists styles for different reasons

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  17. It's post's like this that bring me back to your blog everyday. Thank you for this entry.

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  18. And may I thank you for the wonderful compliment. It is worth the effort when I know someone has really enjoyed it.

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  19. Boa noite Julie!
    Gostei muito das suas pinturas.
    São de uma verdadeira artista. Parabéns pelo aniversário e pela união com toda a família.Um abraço.
    Maria Emília

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    1. Thank you. I had a friend try and read this for me so I know a bit of the complement you wrote.

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  20. Mi piace il tuo quadro e mi affascina la tecnica di Susan Hertel.
    Vorrei farti conoscere un grande pittore sardo del '900:
    http://www.sardegnacultura.it/documenti/7_39_20060406175805.pdf

    Grazie di aver apprezzato il mio disegno! Un affettuoso saluto
    Giuseppina

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    1. Thank you so much for taking the time to introduce me to the amazing work of Giuseppe Biasi. The detail of the larger piece quite took my breath away.
      Anyone interested in this can click on the link in red above.

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  21. Une sensibilité à fleur de peau, très touchant. Merci pour cette découverte artistique. Et... bon anniversaire, avec un peu de retard. Bisous.

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    1. Thank you Lydie. I used Google translator for yours too. I appreciate the good birthday wishes

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  22. Dear Julie - read this lovely post - I am so interested in this Susan - I will have to do some reading on her. As for your style being different than hers and losing your joy - I think it is so wonderful that you loved her work but found your own gorgeous path. Your art is so beautiful and I sincerely mean that with all my heart. I do not paint with oils but if I did I would hope I could paint flowers with such heart as you do. Have a blessed day - thanks for sharing.

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    1. What a lovely comment. Thanks so much Debbie - it means a lot.

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  23. your painting is beautiful! also I LOVE that apple!

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  24. I'm surprised I'd never heard of this woman. What a talent!

    Will you address how you determine the borders of your composition? I've been tackling still life so I can paint from life and I'm finding it very difficult to keep the perimeters in mind as I paint. Do you paint with a viewfinder?

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    1. Great question because I do different ways. I do use a viewfinder sometimes, but sometimes they can be confining.
      I ALWAYS do small black and white placement drawings (notans)
      because the 'outside edge variations' are important too. I will do a post on what I mean and let you know when I post it.

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  25. Wonderful post Julie, your blog is always interesting, I love reading it....and of course I LOVE your paintings:))

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    1. Nice - thanks for the visit. I loved your pear using the palette knife.

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  26. I love your birthday roses painting and what a great use of the two vases in it. Your painting by Susan Hertel is truly an awesome work and what a wonderful thing to own. The bedspread in the painting reminds me a little bit of Seraphine Louis' work...only Susan's floral is not as tightly clustered as Seraphine's work. Have you ever seen the movie "Seraphine". I think you would love it.

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  27. The love from your family is glowing in this lovely painting, belated birthday wishes!
    Thanks for talking about Susan, a lot to enjoy in her style!

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  28. Happy belated birthday Julie! Beautiful roses! Your story about this artist that inspired you is interesting and also inspiring! What a beautiful poem; just like her paintings:)

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie