On the Edge

On the Edge

6x8in  oil on canvas

We have all seen this...a thriving tree right on the edge of a cliff
growing out of what appears to be solid rock.
I can plant seeds with tender care into perfect soil...
only to see some survive better than others... and weeds leap out
of places where there has been no water.
Mother Nature continues to astound.

If this appears familiar - good eye and good for you!
It is a repeat of a painting I did back in April but I went back to
where it was and made some changes to fit how it looks now..

Apple Demo for Class

Apple demo for class

not for sale

Working with a different group I did another apple demo.
Maybe you remember that in the classes I teach, the focus this month
 is painting from the imagination so these are not copied from real apples.
It appears that the hard part of painting from the imagination
is understanding the light and how it falls on a surface.

Seeing how many in the class had painted light on the sides as well as the top,
I quickly drew in the box showing the apple with a top surface to
catch the light. They immediately "got it" and some pretty decent apples
were presented.

I am always using the phrase, "light follows form," but I found
that it is not always understood. Another way of saying it is...
The path of light can not go around corners.

Different methods of broken edge work and colors were also included in
this little demo so this may appear a little weird, but I thought it may be
of interest to those who do not have access to instruction.

Having a great time with my wonderful grandchildren but admit
to being tired after teaching all day and then building a fort
(from a precious sari) to play cowboys in. I got the midnight watch!

No painting today, just a...

No painting today but thought I would show how hot it still is here

Our dog on the air conditioning vent

and walking on the desert with us.

She is a Blue Heeler and the smartest dog ever!

My grandchildren are on the way here as I type this

and 

I am wondering how Kat, who is now 12 years old,

will be with a 4 and 7 year old.

Stay tuned.

Hydrangeas and Part Demo

Hydrangeas

8x6in  oil on canvas panel  $125.

Hydrangeas with sprigs of coffee bean plant.
These  hydrangeas have a lot of a creamy color in the center
with pale blue edges to the petals. I got them at Trader Joes
in Albuquerque at weekend. They are not perky!

Artist Note.

This was a demo done in class today.
I had a lovely set up using the the reds of the strawberries from
yesterday to move the eyes around from the coffee bean buds.
I blocked it in like this.

Then I realized I would not be able to fit it all in in time.
So  - off with the strawberries heads!

Using my wonderful, handy tool.  Love this part!
If interested in seeing tool and how it is used, go to
(May 2nd, thru 5 or 6.)
 http://juliefordoliver.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-05-12T19:58:00-07:00&max-results=10
You have to scroll down to get to the correct dates.

I then had to change the vase. Why? To link to the blues of the hydrangeas
I had used a dark green vase first to link with all the leaves,
and the design on the strawberry bowl
had blue in it to link with the flowers.
See how changing one thing can lead to rethinking the other areas.

All these decisions are made with the class watching and
I give the reasons why... and it can lead to some lively discussions.

Study of a Lavender Rose

Study of a Lavender Rose

6x6in oil on canvas Not for Sale

This is my first ever try at painting a rose this color.
I was trying to see the nuances of blues from the sky and warmer purples
here and there. I will do a few more studies and then do a painting,

My hubby and I drove to Albuquerque this past weekend to see a play
our Goddaughter directed in Community Theater.
 (Doesn't everyone drive 550 miles RT to see a play?)
The play was hilarious - received a standing ovation -  and we returned
the next day full of laughter and pride.
She is quite young, working on her masters and managed to do this too.
So what has that got to do with this rose?
Well, it was blooming in her parent's garden where we stayed the night.
When I left England, I gave my mother a gift of a lavender rose bush
and this brought back a lot of memories.


Another bounty from a friend's garden. Talk about a green thumb!

Strawberries and Roses

Strawberries and Roses

8x6in oil on canvas board   $125.

This clear blue, glass vase is one I have had for a long time.
It has a heavy base and is perfect to hold long stemmed
flowers.

Artist Note.

What is the difference between this type of rose and a peony?
The peony has more petals, but as I was painting these roses
they sure reminded me of peonies. Both have a full
bulb shape with many petals and both have pink centers although the
peony is more of a dash of red in separate areas.
I deliberately made these have more of center shape than what
they really had
As an impressionist painter I have to ask myself if it is all about
capturing the essence of the flower or a perfect rendition.
Easy answer - that is why it is called impressionism!!!
Give the impression of a flowers by colors and shapes

Peony Trio

Peony Trio

6x6in oil on canvas $100.  SOLD

This little painting combines three things I love...
my special shawl, a Murano glass vase and peonies.
After the storm of activity I have just been through
I was perfectly content painting objects of
such quiet beauty.

Sunrise and Apple

Sunrise, Las Cruces, N.M.

How about this for a view to wake up to?
( from our deck.)

Artist Note.

It was my first day of classes in the new studio.
The focus was on testing memory against reality.

Everyone had to draw an apple from memory.
With every one's eyes closed I first led them through imagery
with shape, volume, details like stem, base, surface, etc.
Next step was to draw the apple created in their imagination.
The results were excellent and surprised the ones who thought they
could not draw anything unless they had something to copy from.
I then gave everyone an apple to paint as realistically
as they could. As they had already learned to fully explore
the essence of an apple, the results were pretty dramatic.
I then did a small demo of an apple with the emphasis on edges.
If I had done the demo first they would have been trying to
duplicate what I had done instead of being truly original.
The final step was to freely paint an apple in any color and style
they chose. It was fine to use the inspiration of the demo brush
and knife work to add to their previous accomplishments.
 It was a great session and I get a genuine high
seeing how well all the artists do.

This little apple demo was on edges.
Notice on the photo of the apple
below how the wall background color
was pretty even.
In the painting I varied the colors
and values to give a more interesting
and painterly effect.

Roses in Terracotta.

Roses in Terracotta

8x6in  oil on canvas panel  $125. SOLD

Roses left from my gallery opening. Too beautiful not to paint.

Artist Note.

I have been busy setting up the studio/classroom for Tuesdays session.
I am cautiously excited about teaching in the new space.
It will take some time to feel the comfort level I have here, but
the opportunity to have the artists exhibit their work in the studio
on the monthly, First Friday Art Ramble is worth the change. I feel
Art has to be seen and there are not always opportunities available.
I hope to make it a fun  and relaxing situation in a true studio setting.
Will report back in September with details and photos.

Egg Tempera - My Daughter!

My Daughter

20x 16  egg tempera  NFS

It is an older painting but I am showing it because I have not done
a painting today - or yesterday.

I am still missing my daughter. She used to model for me all the time.

This painting is very special as my daughter is reading a love letter my father
sent to my mother when he was courting her.
She is wearing my mothers pear earrings. The shawl is the one I paint a lot -
my aunt gave it to me for my first child's christening.
The vase belonged to my grandmother and
the three calla lilies are symbolic of the three daughters
my parents had.
The background is an homage to Vermeer. I put his floor on the wall!

Egg tempera consists of many layers with little specks of color peeping through
here and there. I know it had a huge influence on helping me develop my
fracturing technique...even though the outward appearance is so different.


On First Friday's, Las Cruces enjoys an evening Art Walk and I opened a new
teaching space including a small gallery where I can show my daily paintings.
My regular gallery is one block south and we both hope it will work well for clients.


My new gallery pics.
ART STUDIO las cruces
                                 
The entrance leads in from
from another gallery - which is great - and it was the gallery
of a wonderful local artist for 10 years. It is on our Downtown Main Street.

The classroom is behind
this longer wall

This is a 20 foot wall and
I placed the unframed
paintings on easels.
My husband and I made the
wooden pedestals from
wood we had cut to sizes.
My favorite wall fountain
adds a little bit of interest.


Next month will be the Grand Opening and I will have the bugs worked out by then
but we had lots of well wishers and quite a few sales with fabulous comments.