Fresh Harvest

Well I just got this finished under the bell...I"d hate to miss a challenge, but getting to these challenges is sometimes becoming a challenge in itself. I have to apologize for the lackluster performance on commenting on some of the great submissions. This week's contributions to DSFDF were again, fabulous. 

oil on masonite 

6 1/2" x 8"

Pennsylvania Farm

This week's DSFDF challenge was a black and white photo of this tranquil rural scene which could be almost anywhere. I just got back at painting this morning and it felt great, as I really miss my time at the easel and of course on the computer doing a little blogging. 

oil on masonite 

8" x 6"

Madison Avenue, NYC

Madison Ave. was a great photo that really inspired me, so I decided to up the scale, and try it on a black background. Karin paints this way, and when Cheryl Anderson said that she had tried it, I decided to give it a go myself, and really liked the dark ground. I've been blocking in with thinner dark paint, and then using medium values, establishing forms and shapes. This way the blocking is done with the medium to dark tones...kind of saves a step. I have to say though, I like both methods. 

 oil on masonite 

12" x 16"

NFS

Melissa

This gorgeous young lady calls me Dad and occasionally Daddy, which usually means something is up...ha! This is my first ACEO and it was a lot of fun to do, especially since I had such an interesting subject. Now I just need to get a better photo of her sister to complete the set. I probably would never have done anything this small, if not for the grandmaster of ACEO, Akiko Watanabe. So thanks for the nudge Akiko, I've now tried something new yet again.

Stand By Me

This painting was inspired by a video link that Joanne Giesbrecht posted on her blog a few days ago. I found it so moving that I felt compelled to paint this amazing street artist, Roger Ridley from Santa Monica, Calif., who starts it all off. Thanks Joanne. There are several other fabulous performers that some of you may feel the urge to immortalize. I can see about 82 more potential paintings here. Crank it up and enjoy...and thanks for standing by me. http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741

oil on masonite 

8" x 6"

A Companion of Diana

This painting was intended as an exercise in drawing by Karin Jurick, and was again something not many of us would choose to do. I pretty much had it done a couple of weeks ago, but wasn't happy with the background and decided to look at it for awhile, and then settled on this. I kind of reverted back to my old thinner style of painting, but did all the drawing with paint as I have now started doing. 

 oil on canvas board 

 9" x 12"

Melosia

Melosia is an older girl (8 yrs.) who is very laid back, although she looks like she would like to lick you to death...ha! She loves to be petted and is anxiously waiting for a new home. She is currently at D'Arcy's A.R.C. animal rescue center in Winnipeg. If anyone would like to adopt Melosia or purchase this painting, please contact the shelter and they will name the price with all proceeds going to them.

Leaving The Scene

This is the second painting from the 16th floor (daughter's new condo...yea)! Got a great tip from Liz regarding shadows in that they should never be as dark as the solid object, so I had to try this immediately, and am way happier with the results. Edward Burton had also told me that the shadows should lighten as they recede. Thanks to both of these great artists.

oil on masonite 

8" x 9"

Under Surveilance

This is from a photo I took yesterday from the 16th floor of a condo my daughter is trying to buy. (hope she gets it, love the perspective) I guess artist types have a little voyeur in them...300mm lens...ha!

oil on masonite 

 5 3/4" x 7"

Sheenu

I've decided to branch out and try and help a couple of other shelters in Winnipeg that aren't as well funded. This is Sheenu, a lovely Newfoundland cross who is currently residing at D'Arcy A.R.C. (animal rescue center) and she is looking for a new home. Not much else on her except that she is about 2 years old and looks to have a great disposition. I painted this portrait while listening to Black Joe Lewis, a killer new band whose guitarist just happens to be Camille Larue Olsen's nephew. You can see his fabulous portrait on Camille's blog). Some great tracks on this...it must have spun through about 3 times on my itunes while I was painting, but it didn't matter, because it doesn't get old fast. Check it out if you like some good clean sounding blues/rock music. oil on masonite 5 3/4" x 7"

Nala

For my first cat portrait ...ever, I chose a photograph which I took of Nala when I visited the Humane Society on Tuesday. She is a young female domestic cat looking to be adopted. Without a Karin challenge this week, I may do a couple more shelter animal portraits or start a new larger piece. Haven't decided yet, but I'm feelin' itchy to paint something. We got snow again yesterday, ( happy April Fools Day, only problem is...I'm NOT kidding), so I've been putting off trying my first plein air painting. Apparently this is something one can do in the snow, but that seems a little hard core for me right now. Hope everyone is staying motivated and getting some great work done.
oil on masonite 5 3/4" x 7"

Bruno

Well, instead of watching a movie tonight, I spent a couple of hours getting to know Bruno here a little better. He is a handsome German Shepard mix and is looking for a forever home here in Winnipeg. This was from one of the shelters own photos, (they got someone over there who can shoot.) I hope to drop the first two off this week, as I think they will finally be dry enough.

oil on masonite 

 7" x 5 3/4"

Rua Augusto, Lisbon

The Rua Augusto is a very famous pedestrian only street in Lisbon, that is not only notable for it's beautiful 18th century architecture and sculpture, but it's everyday bustling activity. A visitor to this wonderful and historic city would be remiss if they didn't visit this Portuguese treasure. Definitely a highlight of our trip there six years ago, I am very pleased to have completed this painting as a permanent reminder of that fabulous moment in time. 

oil on canvas 

72" x 48"

At The Beach

What a great photo Karin supplied this week. I loved all of the main figures in the photo, so I decided not to crop, but to put 'em all in. I found a very sharp #6 flat brush and as soon as I tried it, I loved it, but knew that it would be extremely hard not to noodle. I guess I ended up somewhere in between. The blues did not come out in this photo, so I'm thinking it's time to visit R. Garriott's blog and get the skinny on a photoshop program. 

 12" x 6" 

 oil on masonite

NFS

Rocky

Here is another poor guy waiting to be adopted. His name is Rocky and he is a Husky mix. Handsome looking devil isn't he? 

 6" x 6" 

oil on masonite

Duke

This is my first painting for Art For Shelter Animals. Duke presently resides at the Winnipeg Humane Society and is looking for a new home. He is a Doberman / Bloodhound cross and definitely has those sad sad eyes. Let's hope he finds a good home. 

6" x 6" 

 oil on masonite

I decided to get involved and donate some paintings to the local animal shelter. I got this terrific idea from visiting Sheila Tajima and Carrie Jacobsen's blogs. These generous ladies have created the Art For Shelter Animals blog and I think it is fantastic. I am posting this painting of a little house horse that I encountered a few weeks ago. He was walking with his owner (I'm not sure if that is the right word here) and looked so magnificent in the morning sunlight, that I couldn't resist taking a photo. I know he isn't looking for a home, but I loved his strength and purpose and perhaps that may symbolize in some way what we are all trying to do here. 

 9" x 12" 

 oil on canvasboard

Made in the USA

Here's my submission for this week's DSFDF. I am really enjoying the diversity of subjects that Karin is giving us. I mean, who is going to go out of their way to paint sushi. There was some great creativity amongst the artists this week, not here though. I just wanted to do something representational in a loosely painted kind of way. 

 8" x 8" oil on masonite ( gesso and acrylic underpainting)

Bad Hair Day

This week's challenge was one of patience and perseverance, and Karin won out ( with her computer issues), and so did a whole bunch of us with our paintings. Computer problems can drive me to drink, say bad words or make me want to practice my axe throwing (at the bad computer). Definitely one of the more frustrating things in modern day life is a malfunctioning or non functioning electronic device. So with that out of the way, I am happy to report that this painting is done. Not one that inspired, but I am glad that I stretched a little here and in the end enjoyed creating something out of ... well, what I thought was nothing. It was one of those do what you think you cannot challenges. Thanks again Karin. 

10" x 8" 

oil on canvas panel

Construction Zone

This is my second painting after attending Liz's workshop, and I have to say that I love the new process. This was done alla prima and completed in approximately four hours. Using this new method, I was able to sketch, wipe and sketch about five times in a matter of minutes to arrive at a composition that I thought was pleasing. The freedom and "nimbleness" are exhilarating. Prior to this, I used to draw in paint and then kind of colour inside the lines. Well, I exaggerate a little here, but compared to the old style, I finally feel like a painter. I took this photo a few years ago in the Dominican and at the time was barely dabbling in art, but shadows and light were beginning to interest me as I'm sure they do most artists. Unfortunately, I've been away for a couple of weeks and will be leaving again shortly, so painting is on the back burner for a while longer. Can hardly wait to get back at it in earnest, and blogging, which I really enjoy, has to take a back seat for now. I really need to get a laptop!
oil on 9" x 12" canvas board

Queen of the Street

This challenge is my first painting after the workshop, and I tried to utilize all that I learned in Vancouver, but alas, mission unaccomplished, but not impossible. What I learned is making sense and I can hardly wait to paint, but I'll be away for awhile so regrettably, I'll have to put painting on hold for awhile. After being inspired by Adebanji, I have started drawing, and it's kind of fun. I'm just a little shy about the doing it in public part, but it's coming. So that's what I'll have to be satisfied with...drawing, and that's probably the best thing I could be doing. Drawing skills are so critical to creating a good painting that I have decided to push myself here. There I said it out loud, and it kind of sounds like a resolution or something...ha!...so I am officially committed.
oil on RayMar panel 9" x 11 1/2"

OUR WORKSHOP GROUP

Here's a picture of the graduating class of '09. Home coming queen Liz is the very shy one with the perfect teeth, (sort of sitting in the middle). Then we had Lynn, Lucy, Louise on the far right,(are you beginning to see a pattern here?), Ilona (Loney) and me Larry or Laverne and Last,( that would be Pat in the white...ha!) She was the last to arrive. What a great group we had, with everyone enjoying themselves and leaving all the richer and more inspired for having attended. And by the way, these girls can paint. We can never thank you enough Liz, and I hope we can all do it again some time.

Liz's Amazing 15 Minute Demo

This photo demo is worth more than a million or two of my words. I couldn't describe what we were trying to do nearly as well as what's shown in this sequence. ENJOY!!! Thanks Liz.

Liz's Excellent Workshop

Some examples of my ten to twenty minute paintings.

Painting Workshop

I've just returned from beautiful Vancouver, B.C. and Liz Wiltzen's three day workshop. The main focus was to learn to paint alla prima in a loose and painterly fashion, and to create interest and excitement in our work. This was my first ever workshop, and I must say, that it was all and more than I had hoped for. Liz instructed and inspired all six of us to reach out and stretch ourselves artistically. She is a very engaging, professional and giving person who can flat out paint. Upon seeing her work which is absolutely beautiful, one cannot help but want to emulate in some way what they are seeing. The woman is a star!

On day one, we started by reviewing several of Liz's paintings where she discussed composition, colour/values and process. What created interest and why. Then we watched her do a couple of demos where she demonstrated with a few deft strokes how she wanted us to proceed with thirty second paint sketches of a live model. After the buzzer went, we wiped the 9" x 12" raymar linen panels which she had given us, and got ready for the next attempt. This went on for the next two and a half days with time limits increasing to one, two, five, ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty and sixty minutes. Liz would do demos every so often, and walk around offering words of advice and encouragement.

The whole idea of these quick paintings was to learn how to get it down and not let the drawings within get too "precious". We basically drew figures with thin paint in the thirty second drills just trying to realize angles and proportions. As time limits increased, we blocked in the figures and started including background shapes. At this point we would have nothing but a large shape with no inside defining lines. Then we would start to add colours, using thicker paint as we layered, sculpting with our paints, rediscovering our edges. As the painting developed, we would add highlights to show direction of light and give it shape and life. We were encouraged to lose our edges and find them again three or four times to create depth and interest. Hard edges for the most part were a no no. All of these exercises were eventually tiring, but so much fun. Liz also impressed upon us how important it is to have lots of paint on our palettes. When you run low on paint, you tend to take shortcuts, and ultimately fall short of doing the best job possible.

By day three, I think we all had made some amazing progress thanks to our fearless leader, but as our confidence grew, our paintings again began to become more detailed, so Liz had us go back to the thirty second to five minute drills. My fifty minute painting is at the top of this post. I wasn't too happy with the colour and highlights, but the proportions and feel of the pose are not too bad.

I would also like to acknowledge our fabulous models Wanda and Helene for offering up so many amazing poses and outfits, and virtually turning into granite until the buzzer went.

Lisbon in progress

Before I leave for Liz's workshop, I thought I would post an update photo of the Lisbon painting (48" x 72") that, yes, I'm STILL working on. This has been a long process of painting, looking, tweaking, painting then looking, looking and more looking. I feel good about it so far, and don't think there are any major changes to be made, but a lot of tune-ups. All you great artists out there, any helpful comments to help make this piece as good as it can be, would be appreciated. Email me if you like. vschwarz18@gmail.com I'm still working on the foreground, couple on the left, guy on right, tables, chairs and shadows. Thanks everyone!

The Lovely Grace Eichi

I was paging through Dominique Eichi's very interesting blog and came across this wonderful photo of her friend Grace. I emailed Dominique to ask permission to reference her photo, but because her web site is under construction (still worth viewing), I'm not sure she got the message. Sorry Dominique, I was inspired, couldn't wait (always been my downfall), so I painted away yesterday, and now all I can say is, if you like it, I'll be very happy to mail it as my gift to you. I just listed my email on my profile page if you want to forward your address. What a beautiful girl Grace is, (I think she is a chocolate lab). It was a good bit of fun painting her.

oil on masonite 

 8" x 8"

Jefferson Memorial

Another new experience courtesy of DSFDF. Painting a night scene is something I have been thinking about for awhile, so it was neat to see this challenge come up. Karin's tips were very useful, as I started on a black surface for the first time and worked to light. I really liked it and found drawing with white paint an interesting alternative from the burnt umber which I usually use. With this change, I didn't have to cover dark, hard lines and found that this piece came together really quite quickly. All told, approximately 2 1 /2 hours...fast for me. Even with my new camera, photography is still an issue. It's all about the lighting!

oil on masonite 

 8" x 6 1/2"

When it comes to making blog entries, I am not much of a writer, but I felt it would be okay to mention that I am going to attend a three day workshop starting Jan.22 in Vancouver with Liz Wiltzen. I am very excited about this for several reasons. First and foremost, Liz is an absolutely amazing artist whose work speaks for itself. I've never attended a workshop, so this is like grade one or two of my art education. Having just started with oils, I don't have a lot of bad habits yet, so I look forward to learning a ton from her. She was influenced by Kim English among others, who is a wizard at handling light and painting with an economy of strokes and details. Liz incorporates a lot of this in her own work and teachings. We will be painting from live models alla prima, which I understand is starting and finishing a piece in one go. It's all about painting quickly, wiping it off and doing it again and again. She wants us to see less details. (without my glasses that's easy). Anyway, it should be a fabulous experience. There are spots available if anyone is interested...just check Liz's site. Cheers

Kay Lybrand Portrait Challenge

This was my favorite DSFDF challenge in that I love portraits and figurative paintings. It also became even more fun with some new artists participating, bringing the total to 130 face painters. ha. My subject was a lovely lady named Kay Lybrand and she is painting my portrait. Can hardly wait to see all the submissions this week, as the ones so far have been fantastic. Happy New Year to everyone. Thanks for all your interest and support this year. I wish you all the very best.

oil on masonite 

6 1/2" x 8"

Merry Christmas everyone. I'm finally posting an update on my Lisbon painting. My goal was to have it done for Christmas, but that little present to myself didn't happen. (I hung it in the the entrance anyway just to see how it works, and I'm somewhat pleased). The piece is getting closer with a lot of work on the foreground and various figures, tables, chairs, etc. yet to be done. The photo is really weak, but you can get the general idea. Well everyone is coming over for dinner tonight for our traditional Christmas eve get together with family and friends, so I better get that ostrich in the oven. Hope everyone has a warm and loving Christmas.

Karin's Boots

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Today I am taking off a little time from painting to present a major project that is near and dear to not only Winnipeg residents , but indeed residents of the world. Sixty-nine architectural firms from 21 different countries and 5 continents, competed for the honour and privilege of creating this dream of one Israel Asper, and in the end, the award winning design shown above, by Antoine Predock of the USA, won out. It will be a truly magnificent structure with the crystalline Tower Of Hope rising 100 meters (395 ft.)into the sky.
It is anticipated that 250,000 people will visit the museum every year and I quote from the architect's statement,
"Our proposal for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights reinforces an optimistic
recollection of the history of the struggle for human rights, with an intention to uplift,
made legible in an architecture of dualities: light and shadow, ephemera and stone,
gravity and weightlessness, reflection and opacity, earth and sky. The massing, the
spaces within, and its materiality reinforce the Museum as an embodiment of a
universal humanitarian consciousness, necessarily a vessel of knowledge and history
charged with hope. Rooted in humanity, the architecture renders palpable the
communal and universal struggle for human rights."
It will be the largest human rights center in the world, an international forum for learning, reflection, dialogue and debate. It will change our modest prairie city forever, and will undoubtedly impact, in a positive manner, many others in far away places. We as Winnipeggers are very excited and extremely proud of the contribution this museum will make to the world. To see more, please visit www.canadianmuseumforhumanrights.com. There is a great video that explains far better than I ever could, what and how this all will be presented. It is really quite extraordinary with construction to begin quite soon.

Well after giving this project a bit, okay a lot of bum time just looking at it, I finally made some decisions that for the most part I'm happy with, and painting has commenced. I will be going back into all areas, but this is what I've got so far.

Buddha

Every week there seems to be a new artistic challenge for most of us, in that we may not have previously tackled a particular subject or may have opted to try a different approach in how we interpret it. In the end, it can be a fabulous learning experience for some, a way to showcase art, or a great opportunity to make a few new friends. This week was a challenge for me as most weeks are, and I came away with a result that makes me want to try it again. Never having really paid attention to what a hydrangea looks like, I struggled with this. Karin says, "Don't do what you know you can, do what you think you can not. It motivates you." Sage words that work for me. The next attempts I am sure will show some improvement. This is the real beauty of the weekly challenges. They make you paint and hopefully stretch your abilities. Whoa, this is starting to sound like I've been locked in the basement for just a little too long. So I will finish off by saying... 

8"x8" 

oil on masonite.