Class 12

Final class:

I worked from a set-up, but interpreted it in my own way.  Limited palette, again: venetian red, yellow ochre, titanium, ultramarine.

Classes 10 and 11: Italy

When I signed up for my class at MassArt, I had already been scheduled to take some of my students on an expedition to bella Italia.  Unfortunately, I was forced to miss two painting classes.  I was able to draw a little, but not very much.  What was beneficial in terms of my current creative endeavor was that, as anyone who has traveled to Italy knows, upon entering the country a person's left brain functions succumb to the the right hemisphere.  Emotions and imagination dominate.  Whether one is observing the art, architecture, landscape, or the citizens of Italy, one is enveloped in beauty.  I photographed many scenes, but I still haven't had too much time figuring out how a digital camera works.  I read the beginning of a book recommended to me by my cousin to help me figure out some of the functions of my camera, but I didn't study it much or practice at all.  I cropped a few images, made a few black and white, and played with some photoshop actions, but I despise working on the computer.  I would rather be covered in paint.  I did have a little help with a few images in photoshop: the blue nuns, SPQR, the man playing the violin.  I did not need to alter the image for the few better photographs: mystical Venice. the oculus at the Pantheon, and the pink house in Torcello.

I wish I had taken my fathers 38 year old film camera instead.  I like the quality of film better than digital.

Click HERE for my photographs from Italy

I apologize for my obsession with cane and religious icons.

Mexican Doorway

          At Edwina's studio, I worked on Mexican Doorway (above).  I am pleased with the result.  There is mystery conveyed in the subject.  Even though no physical activity is represented in the painting, the open door with light gleaming through gives the impression of activity beyond what is depicted on the canvas.  I stylized the doorway to provide more life and I like the overall effect.
          When I first began painting this piece, I attacked it alla prima.  Edwina admonished me that this method might make my painting muddy, and she recommended that I work in layers.  Although all the previous paintings I had accomplished up to this point with a palette knife were completed alla prima, I decided to heed her suggestion.  Since I am please with the outcome, I am glad I did!  What I thought would take only a class or two to accomplish was actually not completed for a couple of months due to the various layers I had to build up.  The drawing was simple, but each layer proved time consuming.  I learned patience through this technique.

For this painting I worked from a photograph, which I found in a stock photo book Edwina has in her studio:

Photograph

In a previous post I explained issues I have with working from a photograph.  (See Kaela's Commission)