Personal Art Blog

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

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Demo Vases - day 6


Vases

8x6 work in progress

Artist Note.
It was back to teaching all day today 
and this was 
 a very quick demo this morning.
Was the demo anything to do with 
something you would find interesting...
probably not. 

The painting below could be though.
It is a rainbow painted looking down from
 a plane. 
I always get a window seat  
and take my little painting kit.
I looked down after the drinks were 
served and there is was. 
I am embarrassed to tell you I called the flight
attendant to made sure of what I was seeing
She actually gave me an Eye Roll and a sigh...
(you pay to get abused like that.)
and in a condescending way I was told
Yes...it was a rainbow.
and YES...rainbows are ROUND 
DUH!
...never felt so dumb. 
Of course I was used to seeing half the circle
because the ground blocks the rest of it. 
Did we have this in school?
Or is it so elementary everyone knows but me.
See the center - that is the shadow of the plane
Honest to god...painted on the spot
as I actually saw it.
Rainbow, dessert ground with small bushes,




46 comments:

  1. Thank you Julie, never seen a round rainbow before!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so pleased you had not either.
      You are on a roll with the Challenge. The bathtub
      paintings are especially wonderful, but I also like your selfie!

      Delete
  2. Love the vases ! The rainbow almost makes me want to take plane ride to see such a phenomenon!

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    Replies
    1. Glad you like the vases, Sue. The blue glass one is new and the first time I have painted it.
      I have flown many, many times and that circular rainbow was my first and probably last time EVAH!

      Delete
  3. Bonjour chère amie,

    Vos vases en évolution sont déjà splendides !... J'aime le contraste de ces bleus avec les jaunes ainsi que la lumière qui arrive discrètement sur la scène...

    Votre arc en ciel est wouhaou !...
    Lorsque j'étais petite, je me souviens que je colorais l'arc en ciel en demi cercle comme tous les enfants et comme j'avais l'habitude de le faire alors dans tous mes dessins, je tirais un trait horizontal au milieu de ma feuille.
    Tout ce que je dessinais au-dessus était en couleur avec le soleil ou la pluie, si je considérais que c'était le jour.
    Puis sous le trait, je reproduisais ce même paysage comme si celui-ci se reflétait dans l'eau (enfin presque le même !).
    Il était alors crayonné en gris avec la lune. Je me souviens alors que lorsque je dessinais un arc en ciel l'autre partie de celui-ci était croqué avec des nuances de gris clairs et foncés ! Il formait alors un cercle...

    Votre oeuvre me ramène à mon enfance !...

    Gros bisous ♡

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How marvelous to have been so intuitive about night and day when such a small child. You are a born artist.
      I loved your last post with all the gorgeous photos. The painting is what is very special though. I love it.

      Delete
  4. wow, it never occurred to me that rainbows are round...

    xoxo (of course i love this paintings and ALL of your paintings, julie : )

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    Replies
    1. Thanks and I love yours too. I mean it.
      So happy your failed the rainbow IQ test along with me.

      Delete
  5. Julie! Your demo was so helpful! I learned that the value of a light object has to be dark enough to allow for highlights. That is a great lesson! I will try to remember...! I did not realize that rainbows are round. What a magical thing to see! (Lindy)

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    Replies
    1. Ah - a participant. Thanks for the values critique of my demo.
      wish there was a link so everyone could see your work.

      Delete
  6. It seems none of us knew about the roundness. So there flight attendant. I had no clue. Very happy you are getting to post something each day and it always has a wonderful "grain of truth" in it. It is all good.

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  7. Yes - true - thanks Helen, I am feeling much better about it...
    Working and blogging makes me wonder if I need my head examined.
    But it does brush up my decision making. Red and blue ? large small?- go for it!

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  8. J'aime beaucoup ces deux vases, une vision presque impressionniste...

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  9. That is such a funny story Julie, I actually never thought about rainbow shapes from above, so this is wonderful info! I love your painting of it and flight attendants are most likely use to seeing them all of the time, but still no need to be rude! Your demo painting is gorgeous, beautiful mix of golds and blues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you like them. Thanks.
      Air travel is not like it used to be..
      Your clementine is extra beautiful.Love the composition.

      Delete
  10. A capitalized Eye Roll! Goodness. Here is a link to the phenomena that you saw:
    http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/09/17/circular_rainbow_rare_optic_effect_seen_from_the_air.html

    Good for you for capturing something special and beautiful in mid-air!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the research, Libby. I found it wonderful to know it was rare and I had seen it. I think looking down and seeing the shadow if the plane plunk in the middle made it even more extraordinary. The toffee nosed flight attendant could not have seen it that many times either!
      Seeing your very structured pattern making has me totally intrigued at how you are going to shake it all up with the palette knife

      Delete
  11. You are the round rainbow on my sky :) have a nice day Julie !

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    Replies
    1. What a sweet thing to say. Thank you, Cecile.
      My day was improved by visiting your blog. Love the fruit -
      they appeared to be moving.

      Delete
  12. I once saw a rainbow from a plane....but I did not see the round effect that your saw. Mine looked exactly the way you would expect a rainbow to look from the top of the arch. Maybe the difference was I was in a very small plane and not flying nearly as high as you?

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    Replies
    1. I think it was the position of the sun more of less directly overhead - going by the shadow of the plane. If it had been angled then it would have been more vertical.

      Neat idea to do your barn in a O'Keeffe influence.

      Delete
  13. I enjoy your work so much, Julie....and this piece is lovely!! the vibrant colors in these vases are beautiful and I love how the light hits them! As far as the rainbow..
    I have never seen a round one and glad you captured the moment! The flight attendant obviously never met an Artist !! lol

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    Replies
    1. Good to have you back Hilda. Missed you and hope the 105 birthday went well. Did you take Cali with you?

      Delete
  14. I love it when you paint vases and vessels. They are always so elegant and delicate. Such a touch of class!

    I JUST recently learned that about rainbows. Why would anyone know any different than what they see from the ground? Only a scientist would care to probe for the truth. An artist is happy to paint what the eye sees. And you did just that. You painted it as a full circle once your eye saw it was a full circle. It was good that you asked the flight attendant because being that high in the sky, one never knows if the lack of oxygen is getting to one's head and making the eyesight go wonky.

    Big huge hugs from Kansas!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa - I will take the hug... also the nice comment.
      Libby above posted and link proving my vision was spot on. How about that!

      Delete
  15. So that's where the pot of gold is! I didn't know rainbows were round, duh. --You do have quite a collection of lovely pottery. I like this blurry one too and would be interested in the point of your demonstration.

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    1. Hi Linda - You really want to know?
      Well, I know you already do but here goes...the point of the demo was showing if you paint a WHITE object you cannot paint it white enough so the highlight will NOT show.I save the whitest light for that.
      Unlike the blue which is an easy contrast. Then I could not have them both equal in contrast so the eye goes to the one on the blue first.

      Your drawings are really, really great, but would love you to sit there under the glow of your lamp with some colored pencils... maybe?
      The woman in the ocean is fab.

      Delete
  16. I have never heard of that before. I love learning new things. I also love your vases and the colors you chose.

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  17. You learn something every day! The round rainbow was new news to me, also.
    Your vessel painting is exquisite, Julie. As Lisa says you manage to make them look so elegant like Faberge or Cloisonne. That royal blue looks fabulous!

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    1. Hi Carol - thanks for the visit. Looking forward to seeing your next- already know it will be - wonderful painting.

      Delete
  18. NEVER in a million years would I have guessed that rainbows are round (and the NERVE she had to roll her eyes at you! ugh!! ). That is amazing. I usually take the aisle seat, but now I think I'm going to go for the windows!! Funny, I thought the vases were a lovely demo of technique......but the little rainbow w/c was truly insightful!!! You rock!!

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    1. You warm my heart. thanks for the "luverly" comment.
      Your colors certain are fabulous with the ACE cards. I tried that small and nearly lost my wits. Good for you, o clever one!

      Delete
  19. Wow, wow, and WOW! I used to fly a lot and I've never seen that, neither did I know. I'm absolutely gob smacked! Missing you at my blog ART PARTY www.paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com :( I'm snow bound and I've got itchy feet, so perhaps this is the year we may meet.

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    Replies
    1. Come visit... seriously! I would love it.

      I would participate on your great blog competition if I could.

      Delete
  20. Not to worry Julie, Flight Attendants learn to perfect the eye roll and sigh in school, smiles. Regardless, she could never make a painting like you which of course is beautiful. Blue is my favorite color and your rainbow is great.

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    1. LOL! - thanks for the laugh. and the sweet complement.
      Your tree has such a beautiful color where the light is hitting it.

      Delete
  21. I love your work so much, Julie and this is very wonderful with so amazing light and colours on your rare and old vases... I love them !!!
    I have never seen a round rainbow... thanks that you captured that for us !!!

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    1. What a lovely complement - thank you.
      Your written words on your blog today were as powerful as your painting.

      Delete
  22. I never gave it a thought they were round. How cool. This is so fun. Hey friend, email me your address so I can send you the painting you won. slgraves6@gmail.com.

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  23. Julie, I love you day 6 still life, your colors are brilliant. All I can say is wow to the rainbow. Must tell my grand children, that was very interesting. Thank you for sharing and all the best to you.

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  24. You have a knack of colour selection, Julie and the shape of the vases makes the sum total very attractive to the eye.

    Well I flew for a living and have the best part of 10,000 flying hours.Dduring that time I've experienced many lightening strikes, all sorts of weather conditions, and in that time I never saw or heard of a circular rainbow :0) However, here, on the West Coast of Wales, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, it is not unusual to see 10 rainbows in a single day ... none of 'em round though

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  25. The vases are amazingly atmospheric. I guess you got so good by even carrying your kit on planes! Instead of eye rolling, you'd think she'd have participated in experiencing the awesomeness...I have never seen a fully round rainbow...It's called a bow, not a raincircle! But any rainbow is a cause to pause...and for some of us, amazingly, paint!

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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