Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Painting the Light

Sunny Little Corner of Sawyer Park, oil, 18x24

I was about to write up my next blog post on something else, but then had a request on Facebook to post my reference photos with my paintings. That gets to be a bit much to post many of them on Facebook, but my blog makes a good place to do that on occasion, and talk about the challenges of working from photos.

This was my reference photo for the above painting, “Sunny Little Corner of Sawyer Park” (oil, 18x24) and the studies below…




Not really a great photo. Pretty dull, actually. But it had enough of a light and shadow pattern for me to work with, and enough elements to create a composition with a good variety of large and small shapes.

I was recently teaching a workshop during which the students painted at this same location one morning. I didn’t paint there on that particular day, although I wish I did because as I was working with students, I noticed that the light was spectacular. I’ve painted there a couple of times previously over the past year and had several photos of the location. This photo was actually taken last year at about the same time of year, and when I looked back at it, I became aware that the camera missed capturing the amazing light that I knew would have been about the same on the day I took this photo as the recent workshop day.

I happened to use this photo to demonstrate a quick block in for a pastel painting (below) before we headed out to our first painting location. Since we would be painting there the following day, I thought it would make a good subject for a quick studio demo. Later in the workshop, after the students painted at this location, I quickly finished it up.

Sunny Little Corner of the Deschutes, pastel, 9x12

Soon after the workshop, remembering the light I saw that day, I noticed that I could push the warms of the sunlit area a bit more, and painted a small oil study while it was still fresh in my mind.

Sunny Little Corner of Sawyer Park (study), oil, 8x10

The photo reference I used was purely for the basic shapes of the rocks and foliage, textures, and an approximation of the light and shadow patterns. However, I wanted to paint the LIGHT, not merely the “things” in the reference photo. The rocks, trees, bushes, grass and water were simply the vehicles for showcasing this light. Color--and more specifically color temperature--couldn’t be referenced from the photo. It’s the temperature of the light and shadows that I did my best to pull from my memory of my time there at that location.



Upcoming Workshops:

Florham Park, NJ - 3-day PASTEL workshop (FULL with wait list)
July 22, 23 & 24, 2016
Debarry Studio Ten
Contact Christina at 973-525-2544 or Debarrystudio@gmail.com
$405

Cape Cod, MA - 3-day PASTEL/OIL workshop
Aug. 9, 10 & 11, 2016
Falmouth Artists Guild
Falmouth, MA
www.falmouthart.org
508-540-3304
$425/member; $475/non-member

Dahlonega, GA - 3-day PASTEL/OIL workshop
Sept., 22, 23 & 24, 2016 (Thurs/Fri/Sat)
The Art Loft
Dahlonega, GA
www.artloft.net
$465


For full workshop schedule, visit www.barbarajaenicke.com.


Online Critiques
Would you like me to personally critique your oil or pastel painting? Visit www.ProArtCritique.com and click on my name for quick, affordable feedback on your work.

NEW! Critique Group in Bend, OR
In the Bend area? See the workshop page on my website for information on a new monthly critique group that I'll be leading!

Friday, June 10, 2016

That's a Wrap! Instructional Painting Videos Coming Soon!


I’m a little late posting my monthly blog, but with good reason! I’m excited to announce that I’ve just completed filming a series of instructional painting lessons … 4 in oil and 4 in pastel. They'll be available as digital downloads, with the option of also being purchased as a DVD.





As we were wrapping up the filming, we also shot this brief video so I could describe this series in person:




Production should be completed later this summer.  If you’d like to receive notification of when they’re available, click here to go to a page that will prompt you to enter your email address. (Don’t worry, you’re not signing up for junk mail, just this notification.) 



The completed painting demos from the videos are shown below. You’ll notice I’ve painted the same image in oil and in pastel, which I thought would be helpful for those who work in both media and would be interested in viewing both courses. Each medium covers 4 topics: Color Temperature, Composition, Edges & Editing, and Color Harmony. (The demos below are shown in this order.)


 


I'm asked frequently if I have any videos available, so I'm excited to soon finally be able to say that I do! A special thank you to Adam Houston, owner of Bridge Creative (http://bridgecreative.com) in Atlanta, GA, for putting this all together, and Eric Parnell (http://www.thenwcollective.com) of Bend, OR, our videographer.


Winter's Warms and Cools, pastel, 9x12

Winter's Warms and Cools (oil), 9x12

Everything Has Its Place (pastel), 9x12

Everything Has Its Place (oil), 9x12

A Brief Impression (pastel), 9x12

A Brief Impression (oil), 9x12

Winter's Harmony (pastel), 9x12

Winter's Harmony (oil), 9x12


Upcoming Workshops:

Lac du Flambeau, WI (northern Wisconsin) - 4-day PASTEL/OIL workshop
(studio & some plein air)
June 27, 28, 29 & 30, 2016 (Mon-Thurs)
Dillman's Creative Arts Foundation
3305 Sand Lake Lodge Lane
Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538
This will mainly be a studio workshop, but will also include some plein air time. Dillman's is a resort facility where you can enjoy gorgeous (paintable!) scenery right outside your door, boat rides on the lake and other outdoor recreation right there where the workshop takes place. The studios stay open after workshop hours for artists wanting additional painting time. Workshop fee also includes a welcome dinner the evening of your arrival. Affordable accommodations in the resort are available through Dillman's. This is a great option if you're looking to completely immerse yourself in a painting workshop!
$550
Call 715-588-3143 for more information or register online at www.dillmans.com.

Florham Park, NJ - 3-day PASTEL workshop
July 22, 23 & 24, 2016
Debarry Studio Ten
Contact Christina at 973-525-2544 or Debarrystudio@gmail.com
$405

Cape Cod, MA - 3-day PASTEL/OIL workshop
Aug. 9, 10 & 11, 2016
Falmouth Artists Guild
Falmouth, MA
www.falmouthart.org
508-540-3304
$425/member; $475/non-member

Dahlonega, GA - 3-day PASTEL/OIL workshop
Sept., 22, 23 & 24, 2016 (Thurs/Fri/Sat)
The Art Loft
Dahlonega, GA
www.artloft.net
$465


For full workshop schedule, visit www.barbarajaenicke.com.

Online Critiques
Would you like me to personally critique your oil or pastel painting? Visit www.ProArtCritique.com and click on my name for quick, affordable feedback on your work.

NEW! Critique Group in Bend, OR
In the Bend area? See the workshop page on my website for information on a new monthly critique group that I'll be leading!