SLEEPING SEAGULL

Morgue File Photo

   

watercolor-step 1

mixed media-step 2

Using watercolor paper I painted the sky, bird, roost and drip technique. (Step 1)
Next I added Japanese Rice Papers to accent the seagull white feathers and wooden roost.



To make sure the rice paper did not peel off I gazed it with Acrylic Glazing Liquid. Off to the porch to photograph my newest creation.

Think I will try it oils or acrylics just  for fun.
Please check out Daily Paint Works to see it listed for sale.

   

I am always on the search for photos that appeal to my sense of artistic style. Somehow while deep in the rabbit hole of the computer I discovered www.morquefile.com where anyone can use a photo as a basis to create their own art work without copy right infringements.

        "Looking for high resolution stock photos for your illustration, comp or design needs?   Search        morgueFile for free reference images. Yes, they're all completely free. whether you're an illustrator, art director, instructor or looking to add a defining visual to a presentation."

THE GALLERY AT WINDOR

Overlooking the beautiful golf course at Windsor.

The Gallery at Windor presented  Salon IV:Art in History featuring the Danish artist Per Kirke's "Echo of the Light".

     A small group of people were introduced to Per Kirke's works by Dr. Richard Shiff of the University of Texas. Dr. Shiff pointed out the symbolism of Kirke's art with his knowledge of geology formations. The power point presentation was invaluable for me to see the parallels.

     On my own I never would have seen the the rock planes and striations in the art work. I must admit it was an esoteric lecture and equally esoteric art work. 

Maybe an acquired taste.

     Admittedly I am not on the same intellectual level but I thought most of the works were...shall we say, interesting.

     I felt that if I had painted such art it never have been accepted into any gallery but fame has a special lens of criteria.  This is only my opinion and I readily acknowledge my lack of an art history education and lack of desire to be in an insular bubble of artistic intellect.

It was a lovely day spent at Windsor even if I had a slightly negative opinion of the subject matter. 

The grounds and building architecture were marvelous.

MARY GARRISH DAY THREE

Mary with students at lunch.

DAY 3: 

     Once again we met at the marina to paint during the best light of the day. Mary made sure to mentor each of the students with their paintings. 

      After lunch we went back to the classroom for a wrap up demonstration reviewing the concepts she taught.

Mary had a cool method to make sure we only use no more than five shapes in a painting. Take a photo of a scene you want to paint, outline 3-5 shapes with a Sharpie. Maybe even cut out the shapes to check on your design. 

Topping off the workshop Mary demonstrated painting ocean waves plus completed the following sky/ water scene. 

I never would have thought of yellow water but it reads well when all is said and done.

Beginning.

Middle.

Mary's luminous painting.
The End.

MARY GARRISH DAY TWO

Day 2:

     The weather man predicted some percent of rain each day for our plein air workshop but the
weather gods saw that we were good people so the rain held off long enough to give us good morning and early afternoon to paint.

     At 8:00am we met on site near a local marina which offered sky, water, boats and mangroves to visually dally with. I've painted there before but was always over whelmed by what to paint. To me it was green and grayish green water everywhere but not one inspiring scene to paint. After walking around with Mary I now see so much that would make a great painting. It truly is in the eye of the beholder.

   

Under the bridge near the marina.
                                           

 Here is a bullet summary of day two:

* Mary uses Arches Oil Paper to do design paintings. The next day I was on line ordering some from Cheap Joe.
*Sunrises are pink & yellow.
* Sunsets are orange.
* She uses windriverart.com for her brush source.
*Premix all the paints you will need on your palette before you begin to paint. Make a pile of dark and light of each color. Later in the painting you can warm it up or cool it off when needed.
* Dry brush paint reflections vertically.
*Ripples on water are horizontal.
*Baby Wipes are good to clean up brushes and palette.
*Prepare a "battle plan" before starting a painting.
    (do thumbnail sketches or notans)
*Reflections in water from an object are the opposite value and chroma as the object.

     The biggest tip for me is to add temperature changes of similar values in a space or object.(sky, clouds, trees, water, land, etc.) This simple trick makes that area vibrate.

I am still learning when to shift the chroma and value as I paint. Mary talked a lot about this but it has not sunk into my brain yet.

     Oh, another big tip was always look for the light source that will determine the shadows, reflections and high lights of any shape or object. I was a science teacher, you think I could handle that one. An example would be the top of an ocean wave crest is light in color as the sky light hits there more than other spots on the wave.

Someday I will be a great painter....I just know there is a pony in here somewhere!