Elizabeth Pollie. Amazing person. Stunning artist. Just look at this image of Charlie, our Jack Russell… in his favorite position looking out the sunroom windows… watching for those “kitty cats” that make him run from room to room having a big time!… Elizabeth had seen this photo and asked if I could send it to her, if it would be OK to paint a study of him. Absolutely! She called them studies. I called them masterpieces! Each one was so spectacular it truly boggled the mind. Clearly Charlie and Elizabeth have a connection!
Study 17 (Charlie) by Elizabeth Pollie
Meet “Study 17” by Elizabeth! Whoa, right! I’ll never forget when she posted it on Facebook. We were speechless. At first I thought it was the photo, and then I noticed the background which I love so very much! This is SO CHARLIE, isn’t it? She captured his very essence without ever meeting him! Look at the hair! How? Isn’t there a magical quality to this painting? Charlie looks like he could turn his head and look at you, doesn’t he? The background is so stunning. I love how Elizabeth eliminated the clutter and left the heart and soul… We will love this painting forever and ever!
Elizabeth is an amazing person, if you ever get a chance to meet her I highly suggest it. She is full of life. If you’re in the Harbor Springs, Michigan area, she has a gorgeous gallery there ELIZABETH POLLIE FINE ART. Please do stop by and say hello!
Recently she was on blog talk radio for ARTISTS HELPING ARTISTS with host Leslie Saeta… I listened to the interview. It was fabulous! For those of you who love art, I highly suggest listening to the weekly ARTISTS HELPING ARTISTS show, and if you can’t listen to it live, they archive the programs, so you can listen later! Artists Helping Artists is the #1 Art Show on Blog Talk Radio! It’s easy to see (or hear) why!
A short post today… taking my birthday off, woohoo!
It’s funny, the older you get, the older “OLD” is! Hey, it’s true!
When I was young I thought “old” was around 30, and then 40, then 50, now it’s 99+++! I imagine that number will keep going up as long as I’m alive. I still don’t feel my age, and for that I am thankful!
Celebrate the good times! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Jacalyn Beam. I really like her paintings. This painting, Dusk, has that wonderful moody sky. The stark tree against the stunning sky with the cool building makes for a great painting! I love how dramatic the sky is!
One more, because this is one I just fell in love with… image from Chadd’s Ford Gallery in PA – just look at that tree… I LOVE THIS!
Nap Time by Jacalyn Beam Image: Chadd’s Ford Gallery
Jacalyn seems like a cool lady. I haven’t met her but we have emailed back and forth. She’s got great stories about painting plein air, like the time she was all set up and painting in DC and a road crew showed up and started jack hammering. Yow! They gave her ear plugs but that just wasn’t enough, she then moved on to a Georgetown Canal and painted a stunning painting!
Jacalyn painting at Biddeford Pool, Maine – stunning, eh?
Jacalyn Beam was born in Chester County, PA. Her early training in art was rooted in the history and beauty of the Brandywine Valley. She holds a B.S. in Music, M.Ed. and Ed.D. and has always held a passion for painting. The Wyeths, Sorolla, Sargent, Sotter, Schofield, and Thayer are a few of her favorite artists.” I paint outdoors because the world is rich with beauty and it’s the optimal way to see three dimensional objects, the subtleties of light and shadows, atmospheric perspective, and ?real’ colors. Plein air painting is also a lot fun! You meet new friends – animal and human, have fleeting conversations with bicyclists and joggers, and experience the sounds and smells of the outdoors.”Jacalyn is a member of the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Society. She also serves on the Board of Directors at the Chaddsford Historical Society and chairs the annual Winter Plein Air Event. Recently, Jacalyn was selected by state officials to draft and edit National Core Performing Arts Standards that will reach performing arts teachers and students K-12 across the country.Jacalyn is included in the book “100 Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters” published by Schiffer and scheduled for release in 2014. You can find her art at the Chaddsford Gallery in Chaddsford – PA, Peninsula Gallery, Lewes – DE, Strode’s Mill Gallery in West Chester – PA, the Station Gallery in Greenville – DE, and in 2014 a New England Gallery.
Hee hee… I love weather. I love a good storm or at least cloudy skies during the hot summer months. While I know that cloudy skies make some people sad they put a smile on my face!
Everything in moderation… sun included ;)
Have a great Sunday and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!
As I sit at my desk writing this blog day after day, I have someone who cracks the whip… someone who makes sure I finish what I start… that would be Charlie! Look at how he sits. I look at him and laugh. This dog cracks me up!
Enjoy your weekend and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!
Tubing Duo 2 by Sally Shisler – 4 x 4″ Oil on Board
I love Sally Shisler’s work. It’s so different. So loose and free, so happy!! Most paintings are fairly small, all are fabulous! I have an affinity for all the tubing paintings… reminds me of my childhood, the days when we would get up and jump in the river and spend the entire day there. Sometimes we had tubes and would walk down the street, jump in the river and float home with the current, and repeat, many times! Nothing better! You know a painting is good when it can remind you of something or just bring happiness. Sally’s paintings do just that! Sally also has a wonderful blog, so check it out!
Here is what Sally wrote about Tubing Duo 2 (above):
Here is one of my favorites images from an exhibit earlier this year. The image had been with me for a few years and I’ve been waiting for the right time to paint it. The photo was taken at my son’s baseball team’s end of season party at Wekiva Springs in Florida. Lots of sun and fun; lots of color; lots of great photo ops. I always love the opportunity to paint “black”. Though I don’t use tube black. Most artists are taught to mix it so that there’s depth. I use alizarin crimson, sap green, and ultramarine blue. I mix it to lean towards one of the 3, so that it retains some color. It’s the value of it that makes it read as black.
But wait! That’s not all! Sally has another side… she paints more serious work, dramatic, love these knife strokes!
Bio: In 2006, as one of the original members of the Daily Painters* Online Art Gallery, I committed to the discipline of painting 1 painting every day and posting it on my blog for all the world to see. Crazy endeavor and totally exposing, as any other artist who undertakes the mission will tell you. This provided lots of insight into how life as a full time painter might be, and after deciding that I wanted to be a real painter, I began working and practicing hard. I soon settled into a routine where my creative endeavors grew to match the dedication I have given to a 22 year career in medical illustration, (a field that demands both content and technique precision). With new outlets that offered truer creativity (included plein air painting events) I moved from watercolors to oils, and brushes to palette knives. One day during a plein air painting event, I picked up a knife, threw caution to the wind and let things rip! Since that day, I have welcomed a remarkable transition from realism to impressionism. Happily, touches of abstract expressionism are also beginning to emerge. Palette knife painting holds the promise of lively and fresh work. It’s my best opportunity for both technical and spiritual growth. Sally has a lot going on, if you’re in the Winter Garden, FL area you may be in luck! Check this out…
Opened new studio in Winter Garden Florida in June where I paint and teach private palette knife lessons.
Active gallery member of SoBo Gallery in Winter Garden Florida where I teach a variety of workshops and exhibit regularly.
Three day palette knife workshops at Sobo Gallery this September 24-26 and November 19-21, 2014. (Contact me at scshisler@gmail.com)
Workshop scheduled at The Sandy Springs Art School in Atlanta Georgia for early June of 2015. (Contact Donna Thomas).
All images courtesy of Sally Shisler, used with permission…
Another great cottage house plan by Moser Design Group out of Beaufort, SC. Amazingly talented, brilliant design in every single plan. This plan is the TNH-B-06A (Oh, I do wish they had names, I think that would be easier…) it is 1,471 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. This home has 9′ ceilings so it’s not squatty, it’s classy in every sense of the word. Who says small can’t be anything short of spectacular? Great porch on the front, and a nice covered stoop so if you’re going in the side entrance in pouring rain you won’t be soaking wet! Nice feature! Note they have two different elevations (check out their website via the link above to see the other elevation), which is the one I would choose…
I would tend to make the guest bedroom as you come in the door, that way guests have their own peace and quiet. There is a Jack & Jill bathroom between Bedroom #2 and the front bedroom. Which is plenty. I would make bedroom #2 a study. I like the Living, Dining, Kitchen areas. I see one thing that Fred wouldn’t care for, the island on a diagonal, but that could easily be put straight (listen to me, I sound like I know what I’m talking about!)… I like it either way. Do I spy a pantry?! Woohoo! A great use of space for sure!
Check out the Moser Design Group website they have guest cottages, petite cottages, small cottages (which this is) right on up to homes over 2,800 square feet, so their website is definitely worth your time. Quality homes, I’ve seen them in person. Gorgeous!
***Some of you may have seen this post before… in your IN BOX. Anyone who signed up to receive an email version of this post would have received this on 8/12/14 (when I actually wrote it), because I didn’t enter the scheduled date, sigh… Also, if you want to get to the easier to read version from your email, just CLICK ON THE TITLE of the post via your email and **POOF** it’ll take you right there!
Vanessa has wonderful paintings from all over the world. She is also participating in this years out of this world workshop being held in September “The Fine Art Collaborative 2014” (there is still time to sign up!)! Wonderful paintings by an artist who really knows art… read on! Here is a bit that Tom Balderas wrote about Vanessa on The Fine Art Collaborative 2014 site: Vanessa, a founder of the ‘Realism Without Borders’ group is the California Editor of the Nationally acclaimed art collector magazine ‘Fine Art Connoisseur’ as well as a long time contributing writer for ‘Plein Aire’ magazine. A highly collected painter, she brings to the table the highest professional standards that are certain to make this September’s event another huge success.
Vanessa Rothe – “Travel Sketching, Studies in Watercolor” – 1 Day Workshop – September 26, 2014
Bonjour welcome to my travel sketching class! Weather you are a world traveler or a simply a wanderer in your own town, an artist always stops to admire their surroundings and often takes notes. Some use photography to capture the moment or scenes they see, others sketch or make watercolor studies. A fine artist often uses both. Photography can help to capture the moment, and the line based aspects of the scene but color and perspective can often be a bit off. For capturing the light, shadow and important color, a nice watercolor sketch is great to have… and often very charming!
Learn to create beautiful “color studies” that can be helpful later to make a larger watercolor or oil paintings. These color studies can actually be in and of themselves a little “chef d’oeuvre”, a charming addition to your portfolio, or a sketchbook of memories from a trip you never want to forget.
We will start with sketching basics to learn some fundamentals that will give your drawings a little structure for about an hour. We will have a short coffee break, oui? Then I will explain the “How to” of watercolors and a little basic color understanding, mixing and technique. I will show you how to use and to “not use” white. After a short lunch, we will be working from print outs of colorful fruits, charming scenes of Europe, boats with water, and some simple gestural figure in the landscape.
I will be doing demonstrations for you to watch all along the way. You will be given helpful hand outs, learn how to pack and set up to paint, I will suggest some great inspiring books, give you photos to work from and of course lots of instruction and inspiration!
Prior basic drawing skills and beginning watercolor are recommended but not required. Please note: this is not an extensive classic beginning watercolor class that would include full basic how to instruction and full color explanation of each of the watercolors. It is focused on fun travel sketching and making great color studies. Private lessons can be offered separately for this.
10 student maximum
$100
http://www.vanessarothe.com/ Read a bit about Vanessa from her website: Once a successful Graphic Designer/Art Director working with Disney Press, Walter Foster and Sony, Vanessa has taken to a more traditional color palette as she paints in oils.Vanessa Françoise Rothe grew up in the artists colony of Laguna Beach, CA, the daughter to a hand painted silk and well known German clothing designer to the Stars, Detlev Rothe, and her French mother Jacqueline Ricaud. She received top art scholarships to study at the University of San Diego, University of CA, Irvine, and at the Laguna College of Art and Design as well as Ateliers in France and Italy and has learned directly from professional painters. Vanessa has been fortunate and honored to exhibit alongside some of the Nations most well known painters. She has had many successful solo exhibitions at Wendt Gallery in Laguna Beach, along with an impressive list of group shows including Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction, the Annual American Impressionist Society Exhibition, Artists for a New Century at The Bennington Center for the Arts, and California Art Club exhibitions. After exhibting at WENDT GALLERY in Laguna Beach for 4 years, and now at her own Studio Gallery at 418 Ocean Ave, Vanessa is also proud to exhibit at Gallery McCollum in Laguna Beach. She also can be found participating in various group exhibitions such as The Bennington Art Center Vermont, Gallerie DDG Paris, Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction, J. Willott Gallery, and the Annual American Impressionist Exhibitions of which she has been named a signature member. She is honored to be a Signature member of the American Impressionist society, a member of the California art Club, Oil Painters of America, and LagunaPlein Air Painters Association. Vanessa is also proud to be the California Editor of the Nationally acclaimed art collector magazine FINE ART CONNOISSEUR as well as a long time contributing writer for PLEIN AIR magazine. She has had both classical training in the US at University of San Diego, University of CA Irvine, Laguna College of Art and Design as well as abroad at Ateliers in France and Italy. She continues to study the figure at Laguna College of Art and Design. She has been a graphic designer and Art Director for such companies as Walter Foster Publishing, Disney Press, and has owned her own successful graphic design and fine art studio for over 20 years. In addition to showing at fine art galleries worldwide, she now teaches atelier style private art lessons and workshops, is the Author/Artist to a new series of art instructional books by the leader in art instructional books, Walter Foster Publishing entitled “An Art School Approach to Oils”. Influenced by a blend of classical traditional representational art, Impressionist works, artists such as Sargent, Sorolla, and Chase, as well as modern master friends such as Scott Burdick, Susan Lyon, Ray Roberts and Peggi Kroll-Roberts, she takes the essence of a subject and captures its charm with the use of color, shadows, and light. The natural simplicity of her work, her visable brush strokes and pleasing color combinations form a realist yet slightly impressionistic style which her collectors admire. Her subjects include the beautiful pastoral landscapes of France, Switzerland and Italy, the allure of historic cities such as Paris and Venice, classic California seascapes and landscapes, vibrant still life as well as some new figure work.
You’ve done it, you know you have… pulled into the gas station and can’t remember which side the gas tank is on… I know I’m not the only one! What I didn’t realize is that there is an indicator by your gas gauge. Did you know that? In the example above it shows a little gas tank on the right, which means that your gas tank is on the right hand side! I just thought they placed that symbol there for whatever reason! I had no idea there was a reason behind it, ha ha…
I’m sure cars do it all different ways, this one shows a gas tank and an arrow indicating the tank is on the right.
Setting Sun From Bear Island, Maine by Sarah Faragher- oil/canvas – 20″ x 26″
Dramatic. Gorgeous. So different! Sarah definitely has her own style, her paintings are unique which is so nice. I love the colors and the feel of this one!
Sarah is represented by Landing Gallery in Rockland, Maine, if you’re in the area, stop by and check out her work!
My paintings are memoirs of my experiences with nature. Through painting I participate in the landscape, recognize transcendent moments in nature, honor the integrity of natural forms, and describe where my heart lives. I often feel as if the places I paint have commissioned me to tell their autobiographies, at the same time that I tell my own.
I was born in Bar Harbor, Maine, grew up even farther downeast in Addison, a small town in Washington County, and now live and work in the beautiful midcoast region. I make my living as a painter and as a seller of used and rare books.
I paint directly from nature and in my home studio. Much of my recent work is part of an ongoing series entitled Home Truth, about the meaning of home, memory and its depths, and the passage of time. I paint the places I love, and the shapes, moments, and situations within those places I find beautiful and haunting. I deeply love to paint, and I hope it shows!
I love to work in places of integrity, with minimal human-made stuff in evidence, places that haven’t changed much since some of my heroes painted there too. The natural energy and sublime beauty that motivated them is still present, and motivates me in turn. It’s all around and I find it intensely satisfying.
I guess you could call this “taking a personal day” – there is a lot happening today!
This photo was taken back in 2008. My parents had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and they joined us in Maine. We had the best time… rented the coolest cottage on the ocean in Port Clyde, then headed to Monhegan. In this photo I zoomed in and cropped out the surrounding area… they were standing on the rocks looking out towards the ocean at sunset. Gorgeous isn’t it? I know they would like to be back there right now… as would we!
Maine is such a special place. I told Fred the first time we went… that I didn’t feel like I was supposed to leave, ha ha… What a place!
Hey, happy anniversary mom and dad! So this is your 56th Anniversary?!!!! Wow! Congratulations!!
Love you more than anything! xoxo, me
Oh! And a happy birthday to my sister Bridget who was born X-0 years ago this year! Woohoo! It only gets better from here, trust me ;) !!!!!
Have you heard of The Fine Art Collaborative (FAC)? Well, if you can be in the Costa Mesa, CA area September 26, 27 & 28, 2014 you are in for one a real treat! The end of September there is going to be an amazing, unforgettable weekend of workshops, lectures and demos – you choose the workshop/lectures/demos you wish to attend. The workshops tend to fill up quickly so don’t ponder too long… Check out these amazing opportunities – Oh, how I wish I could be on the West coast during this time! Not this year, but hopefully in the next year or two?
Tom Balderas is a favorite of mine, and he’s the one behind this great venture… this year with the assistance of Vanessa Rothe!
Still Life With Whiskey Jug by Tom Balderas
NINE AMAZING ARTISTS... don’t delay, sign up today! Here’s the LINK! They’ve made it so simple. Just select the workshop, demo or lecture(s) you wish to attend, then click the BUY NOW button.
Here is the SCHEDULE listed in one concise table, so you can choose which ones you want to sign up for!
This will be held at the Randy Higbee Gallery in Costa Mesa, CA – (yes, the King of Frames guy, ha ha – gorgeous frames by the way!)…
Are you wondering where you can stay while you’re there? Wonder no more, they did the work for you… Here is the list of ACCOMMODATIONS!
Do you still have a question? Here is the CONTACT info!
Hey, to those of you who go, be sure to post pics on FB when it’s over! Would love to be there!
Let me end with a little blip ABOUT the Fine Art Collaborative, from their website TheFAC2014.com:
The Fine Art Collaborative, founded in 2012 by Tom Balderas, a painter, writer, musician and teacher brings together some of the finest painting instructors in the country for an annual workshop weekend. It is an honor to welcome Vanessa Rothe to the 2014 FAC. Vanessa, a founder of the ‘Realism Without Borders’ group is the California Editor of the Nationally acclaimed art collector magazine ‘Fine Art Connoisseur’ as well as a long time contributing writer for ‘Plein Aire’ magazine. A highly collected painter, she brings to the table the highest professional standards that are certain to make this September’s event another huge success. Once again the Fine Art Collaborative has succeeded in being able to offer classes to painters at all levels of ability. All of our instructors are internationally recognized artists and beloved teachers who bring unparalleled skills to the workshops they teach. Every student can rest assured they will be given patient and highly skilled personal attention while working in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. The Fine Art Collaborative welcomes you to register for a weekend not to be missed or forgotten. We look forward to working with You! Tom Balderas
Moser Design Group… FABULOUS house plans. If you haven’t checked them out yet, you may want to check them out! Gorgeous, timeless design. Fred and I saw this plan being built in Palmetto Bluff, SC – gorgeous! Matter of fact, you could rent it! Just noticed that you can no longer rent this house… darn, it would have been a good way to see how the plan works for you!
I love, love, love how the master bedroom/bathroom is separated by the rest of the house by a screened in porch and hallway… how wonderful, it’s like a separate little house. I love that! Unique!
Moser offered a few variations on the upstairs, I like option B which includes two bedrooms, a bathroom and STORAGE! I. LOVE. STORAGE! Be sure to check out the other MOSER house plans… lovely!
Seven Nineteen Fourteen by Charlie Hunter – Oil on Theatrical Muslin – 12 x 24″ – SOLD
Charlie Hunter won the first place award in the Plein Air Easton Quick Draw competition with this painting “Seven Nineteen Fourteen“! Do you know what that means? It means it was completed in less than two hours… WHAAAAT?! I know! Jaw dropping… Just look at the level of detail that was accomplished in that short time… using basically these colors: Van Dyke Brown, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Green Deep (Cobra water-mixable oils).
I have to include a photo where you can see this painting in full context…
Quick Draw Judge Peter Trippi (L) and Charlie Hunter (R) at Plein Air Easton, MD 2014 Photo via Charlie Hunter Facebook Page
Charlie’s one of those cool artists with a sense of humor. You just have to love that! If you would like to keep in touch with what’s happening in Charlie’s art world, with a little dose of humor added… Subscribe to his mailing list! While you’re there check out his paintings… quite amazing, aren’t they? I see Charlie has a few workshops coming up, in case anyone is interested!
“I do not know if I have ever said no one is born with a natural sense of design, but if it is within the realm of human evolution, or the whim of the Divine, to allow one individual to possess such a gift, then Charlie Hunter is certainly the lucky winner… No Oriental or Occidental master of the pure line can surpass what Charlie, almost matter-of-factly, does when he takes pencil in hand.” – Richard Schmid, ALLA PRIMA II, 2013
I was born in a small town in New Hampshire where we used to swim in the abandoned granite quarries. We had pigs and chickens and rambling barns. I’d walk home from school along the branch line rails of the Boston & Maine, and read the names and slogans on the box cars that’d roll by, things like “The Nickel Plate Road” and “Santa Fe All The Way”…..
When they put a highway bypass through our barns, my family returned to the house built by my great, great, great grandfather in Vermont, where my Great Aunts lived. We made (and still make) maple syrup there and had (and still have) a hand-cranked cider press which makes amazing cider but can remove a finger if you’re not careful (just ask Uncle Andrew).
My Dad was an occasional minister who ran a small print shop. There was always a lot of paper and drawing stuff around. I drew a lot. Though I did not appreciate it at the time, in college I was lucky enough to be forced to draw the figure every morning from 8:00 am till noon. Afterwards, I got a job designing tour posters for acts like The Clash and REM and The Jerry Garcia Band. I got to design a lot of album covers.
Now I live back in Vermont on the banks of the Connecticut River in an old mill town. There, I like to paint what nature does to what man creates. I tend to use a monochromatic blend of ultramarine blue, viridian, yellow ochre (sometimes) and burnt sienna. Sometimes I do an underpainting from life, then, in the studio, apply transparent glazes (of pretty much the same colors) on top. Sometimes this works and sometimes it makes a big mess. But I always learn something.
A few years ago I was invited to join the Putney Painters, run by Richard Schmid and his wife Nancy Guzik. A bunch of us get together just down the road on most Saturdays and we paint up a storm. It’s amazing fun.
My goal is to paint beautifully that which is not traditionally considered beautiful. Sorta like a less-grotesque Anselm Keifer in a considerably better mood. It’s my hope that these paintings maybe move you even a little bit as much as the way the real thing moves me. Thanks for looking.
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