Persevere

I have been reading a lot about picking a word for the year, that will help you through the year on any journey life seems to take you. However, picking this word has much to do with my art practice, not my art but the practice. There is a big difference.

How did I get to my word? It was pretty difficult at first, my mind seemed to be blank. I am never really clever with words. The first word that came to mind was PUSH. I really think I have to push myself more. Not curl up in a cacoon, play solitaire, or feel sorry for myself. After listening to a TED talk about struggle more words seemed to pop into my consciousness.

STRUGGLE
PERSEVERANCE
THRIVE
PROCESS
PERSEVERE

I decided on PERSEVERE. It sort of combines perseverance and struggle, and the outcome will be that in that process I will thrive! All comes together in that one word.

You all may know, or not, that I am sort of obsessed with tutorials and online classes. This past year I took part in PHYSAS 2019. What I found was that this is not really for me. There were some really great classes and great teachers and lots of new techniques but I felt sort of overwhelmed and that many times it was too much and instead of moving forward I was sometimes at a standstill. I have to decide where I want to move forward.

So I decided to make a big jump. Since I realize that in the perceivable future I can't take any  1 to1 workshops the next best thing is an online workshop, not a class, but a real workshop. I decided to take Joan Fullerton's online workshop. I have always admired her work and process. She combines abstract, landscapes, some realism, and design. She calls it a class but for ME it will be a year-long workshop. As I said a BIG JUMP! 

Also, since I work in oils and cold wax I signed up for Jeanne Oliver's new course called Underneath
I just couldn't resist! Now the blinders are on! These will keep me very busy!

I have been busy with some pieces but feel they are still in WIP form. Each seems to need something. I have been experimenting in using Topaz Studio 2 and photoshop to tweak and find some solutions. Really great fun.

WIP I

19.5 x 19.5 "

Oil Cold wax  Oils sticks

cut canvas

WIP II

19.5 x 19.5 "

Oil Cold wax  Oils sticks

cut canvas

Tweaked in photoshop  

WIP I

19.5 x 19.5 "

Oil Cold wax  Oils sticks

cut canvas

WIP II

19.5 x 19.5 "

Oil Cold wax  Oils sticks

cut canvas

Tweaked in photoshop 

Haven't done the actual tweaks, appreciate any suggestions and feedback!

Portrait of Amir

Last November.2018, we celebrated my grandson Noam's Bar-Mitzva. As usual, took lots of photos, wish I had taken more. One imparticular of my grandson Amir just kept saying "paint me" He was sitting with his mobile phone and looked up as I shot the image.

I have no idea why this post was left.... time to post.
I enjoyed doing this painting but looking back I find things that could be fixed. He looks like he,s seated in the air! My constant critic!
Every painting a learning experience. Although no features are painted it is definitely Amir

Now for a painting of him drumming

Amir

Oils on gessoed cardboard

50 x 70 cm

You Are In for a Big Surprise

Giving lots of thoughts to Jen's post on extra-ordinary! We all get into the day to day living pattern without much thought, just ordinary stuff. Feed the cats, and Bella the chicken. Make porridge, do the laundry... all done without much thought. Mundane, boring... but the ordinary can be extra.

Friday

An early trip to the bakery for Shabbat Chala, pitots and borakas!
No traffic, lots of parking space, and the smell of fresh baked goods  EXTRA!

Feeding the cats and Bella... Lady begging for some hugs and petting... EXTRA!
The cool air  EXTRA! Even the smell of freshly laundered clothes  EXTRA!

Coming home from Natanya after a condolence visit,(shiva) Waze took us home on a road near the sea.  Glimpses of the sea between the buildings EXTRA.

I am certainly going to try to look for the EXTRA more!

Tuesday  workshop always EXTRA

This painting was done over another rather unsuccessful painting below.  I had added another blue layer which made it worse. At first, I just wanted to sort veil it with light gray tones but it sort of had a will of its own and all sort figures began appearing.

When You Go Into the Forest

Oils and Cold Wax

Cut Canvas

24" x 19"

The Strange Sub-conscious

I signed up for a beta 10-day challenge, I know I should be more in focus, but what the heck. Actually, I was invited by the host Rich Amstrong the creator of randomworddoodles, those funny doodles that I have been doing on Instagram! Well, to make the story short it coincided on the day that Lily had the operation to have her eye removed.

Lily

Last photo before the operation

I left her at the clinic, came home, put on some classical music and decided to do day one of the challenge. Intuitive 10-minute drawing/painting on a large sheet of paper using the non-dominant hand. 

Watercolor crayons water spray

the texture from the wooden board

6 min

4-minute scribble

Start of day 4 Lily is doing fine.... and her mom better!

Taking the Days One by One

Life sometimes gives us a jolt unexpectedly! Sometimes? Questionable.... there is always something, but some rattle more than others.

Lily, my dog has been diagnosed with Glaucoma! Out of the blue, she is just 7. Dr says one eye is already blind. So far the drops, 3 types, 3 times a day have been able to get eye pressure to normal. When first diagnosed she had to have an infusion to lower the pressure. Some days I cope better than others. Luckily one of the best eye-vet clinics EyeCare is in my community... 2 minutes.  Tomorrow another check-up.  She is quieter than usual, sometimes wants to take walks and sometimes not. Taking each day as it comes.

That and the long month of holidays have taken their toll on my creativity. This week we started the workshop but sadly that may not continue a long story.

Finished my abstract landscape. The first layers can be found here. Added pieces of Gelli printed scraps. Really trying not to overwork. A lesson learned from Jen.

Getting Lost in an Imaginary World

Oils Cold Wax Collage

27.5 x 20 "

Cut Canvas

After a Long Summer

Can't believe that so many months have gone by without blogging. It's been a long and very HOT summer. Workshop vacation for 4 months and creativity has been low except for my daily doodles that I have posted on Instagram. I did do some PYHAS work and a few mono-prints which are also on my Instagram feed.

September and workshop has started on a low key. Not a full class because of the holidays and travel plans of some artists, but it was so good to get back. We will only have about 5 sessions in the first 2 months, the rest hopefully will be joining in November.

Reuven gave those that wanted a Cezanne project. To paint as "if" we were Cezanne. I love Cezanne so jumped in and chose one of his paintings of bathers,

Cezanne The Bathers

Cezanne The Bathers Cropped

 Decided to a monochromatic version.

First Layer

Cezanne Bathers Inspired

13.75 x 19.5"

Oils and Cold Wax

Cut Canvas

Started an abstract landscape. 

WIP First layer of thinned oils

28 x 20"

Cut Canvas

WIP Second layer of oils and cold wax

28 x 20"

Cut Canvas

Another Great PYHAS Lesson

I am beginning to pick and choose the lessons on PYHAS otherwise I am totally becoming overwhelmed. One of my painting goals is portraiture. Really loved this lesson and the process so much different from the way I use my oils. What I really loved with this demo was the calm soothing voice of Dominique Medici .  It really helped to keep my stress away.  This exercise was done with the Zorn palette. Black, my chromatic black of raw umber and ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, white, and cadmium red,  I dove straight in so my mixes aren't what I would like so I will go back to do a color study of the paints for my next portrait. Dominique builds the portrait in 4 majors stages each timed to about 20minutes. All done alla prima, wet on wet!  First, the proportions of the shapes and angles with thin black paint, next blocking in the darks. third blocking in the colors, and last, what she calls the edges, which include highlights and darks, soft and hard edges, textures and additional drawing with paint. When the buzzer buzzes... done! Now, how cool is that. You now know when you are finished. Dominique says that 1.5 to 2.5 hours is great for this practice. The demo was filled with lots of encouraging words. The key is to build your skills slowly. 

I think I got some of his essence. This is one process that I will practice again for sure.

Thinking of Times Gone By

Oils on Gessoed Cardboard

14 x 14.5 "

stage 3 & 4

Stage 1

Stage 2

Not complete I see

Reference

Now I see that I got his tilt wrong. Can't seem to shut up that inner critique!

Visiting Artist at Workshop

What a treat we had today at our weekly workshop. Because Reuven was traveling abroad he brought as a substitute teacher Marik Lechner an important young Israeli artist. We had a short lecture about his thoughts on art and slideshow of some of his works. After he made the rounds and gave his thoughts on our work. A real treat!

Some of his thoughts:
 Don't wait for the muse, it may not come
Take risks, don't fall in love with parts
Have fun!

Happy Summer in Buttonwoods

WIP

60 x 120 cm

Oils and Oils Sticks

Am trying to revise and painting from 2012. Did some sanding, see horizontal marks. Reuven says, happy accidents! 

Checking off the List

I seem to be always making lists. To do stuff, what I want to do today, mostly dealing with my creative practice, which seems to be so overwhelming that I am exhausted before I even start.
This post was at the head of my list, maybe almost a week ago. I am now going to date them as if that will help in some ways. Two were left undone. When I finish this post one left which I  put on today's new list. The old one in the wastebasket.

Amir, 17, where have all those years gone! May you reach all your goals!

Reaching for the Stars

Wrapped canvas 

47.5 x 23.5"

Oils and Oil Sticks

Practice Practice and More Practice

Doing portraits are difficult mainly because of the likeness factor. Practice is the key! This is the second portrait for Week 12 of PYHAS 2019 taught by  Marina Teding van Berkhout. Its a portrait of my Mom I think from the early 1940s.
It's the second try on this pose, the first was in oil pastels which I didn't like. This was done with oils and cold wax in many layers and textures. There is some likeness.

Longing 

11.5 x 16.5 "

Oils and Cold Wax

Cut Canvas

 The Process

Layer 1

Prussian Blue + Permanent Mauve

Layer 2

Primary Blue + Yellow Green(mix)

Layer 3

Venetian Red + Cadmium Yellow Deep + Raw Sienna

Transferred drawing

(was altered during the painting process)

Painting was done using the colors of layer 3 varying the mixes with white, buff titanium, and raw umber. Lots of painting and scraping in the process!

That's My Last Duchess

I can't remember my English teacher's name. Hoping that it would somehow find its way through all the wiring in my brain. She was very influential and it was through her that I really started reading. Sadly up till then, it was mainly just fairytales!

I was exposed to the classics and poetry. Robert Browning one of my favorites and of course Elizabeth Barrett.

That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, 

Looking as if she were alive. I call 

That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf’s hands 

Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Robert Browning

Week 12 Figures with Oils and Cold Wax with Marina Teding van Berkhout! What a marvelous lesson. 

Four layers of oils and cold wax.  Use of various scratch tools and stencils! Took her a while to emerge, scraped her face twice. This medium is very forgiving. 

My Last Duchess

12 x 17 "

Cut Canvas

Oils Cold Wax Palette Knife Catalyst Knife

click to enlarge

It's time for play

We all love to play. We are all told that it's OK to play at art. Have fun, play! It's like a mantra. But sometimes I find art hard and sometimes there are difficult choices. At times these choices are so difficult that we don't make them and leave the piece unfinished. This year taking PYHAS 2019 has somehow released the stresses and frustrations, I am not making masterpieces but learning new things, just exercises! It's all in the mind! So now a few play pieces that are on my table.

I have lots of odd pieces of cut canvas, thanks to my artist friend Traudi. She works HUGE and sometimes cuts off side pieces from canvas roll which she gifts me. She doesn't share her work on social media or on a blog or website but this morning she sent me her wolf. It is from Norse Mythology.

The sound of a cat's footfall that binds the wolf Fenrir.

59 x 43.5

© Traudi Bernstein

Maybe I can convince her to post on Instagram!

Most start their lives with leftover paint.

WIP

12 x 8.5 "

Oils and Cold Wax 

Cut Canvas

This started as a mess of paint from cleaning brushes knives and palette

A Journey with Nasa's Galaxies and Stars

8 x 9.5 "

Oils Cold Wax Stencils Oil Sticks

Hoot Hoot Hoot

Look who peeked out on one of my small-works using acrylics and neocolor I crayons. My soul mate hooty the Owl! Love using up small pieces of cut canvas, and leftover paints!

I've Come a Calling

8.5 x 9 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Just a Touch of This or That

8.75 x 9.25 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Available Here

The sound of Falling Water

8.75 x 8.75 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Available Here

A Rush of Red Cascade

8.75 x 9 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Available Here

Small and Bright

Week 8 on PYHAS was all about landscapes. A lesson with Sherry Woodward.  A lesson in acrylics, layering, color-mixing, and abstraction. PHYAS2019 has my mind in a whirl! Sometimes I don't remember what I posted and where I learned what. It's a rollercoaster ride! But FUN! So here are a few that were put aside. One I did post you can find here.

I did deviate from the lesson and tweaked with my favorite neocolor I wax crayons!

All Paths Lead to the Monastery

8.5 x 9 " 

Acrylics on cut canvas with Caran d'Ache wax crayons

Available At Artfinder

In the Dark the City Lights Glow

8.5 x 9 " 

Acrylics on cut canvas with Caran d'Ache wax crayons

Available at Artfinder

Let's Go Downtown

8.5 x 9 " 

Acrylics on cut canvas with Caran d'Ache wax crayons

Available at Artfinder

Finished my Man

Have finally finished my "man" portrait. Week nine with Muriel Stegers at PYHAS 2019. It sat at my table for a while waiting for the final part, facing the fear and going a bit abstract. I had some leftover acrylic paint from the portrait study I had started and took a wide 3" brush and just did whish wash over sections. Hey had to start somewhere! Then I added more scribbles and marks with my  Neocolor I crayons. Now that wasn't so hard!

This is one lesson I will do again! Maybe try with a reference!

Let's Go Out for a Beer!

11.6 x 16.5

Acrylic Paper 300 gm

Acrylics

WIP Here

Going Crazy with Color Mixing

I sometimes get obsessive with color mixing. The main reason being that I am not a good colorist so I have always loved learning about how to make good color palettes and choices. So I really had a ball with this weeks lesson on PYHAS by Sabra Awlad Issa. Wow, what packed lesson, color mixing, foreshortened portrait, values. This was a real challenge! She is an excellent and modest teacher. A real treat! 

The lesson was in acrylics but I was too stressed with the color mixing and worrying about them drying so tried doing some crayon work which also had its problems so I dived into my oils. What a difference that made. The portrait is not done but I am happy with the progress.

WIP

13.75 x 19.5 "

Oils on gessoed paper

WIP

13.75 x 19.5 "

Oils on gessoed paper

Values

First layer in acrylics ugh

Second Layer with oil/wax crayons

Now, how many colors can you mix with just the primaries? We all have heard that we can mix an infinite amount, but we all tend to buy lots of colors. My usual palette starts off with two of each of the primaries plus chromatic black, a mix from ultramarine blue and raw umber, and white. But in Sabra's lesson, she used cadmium red, ultramarine blue, and cadmium yellow to mix a whole range of what she calls "dirty colors". I just love muted/muddy colors and I almost always add a speck of medium gray to my colors. Her basic color is a mix of all three to get a dirty brown. Then she mixes each primary with a bit of that brown and continues to mix these "mixes" together etc. With the addition of white and the range gets more infinite. Of course, the ratios matter as well. So when you feel in need of some occupational therapy any red/blue/yellow and go to town.... what fun. I did mention that I am an obsessive color mixer!

Three different browns depending on the ratios

Oils

I suggest less blue!

The basic Mixes

This Brown seems to make greenish hue with the yellow

Bottom right mixed red +yellow + brown to get a dirty orange.+ added more yellow

to get a lighter orange and to each added white

Yummy

My acrylic Mixes

Yellow Mixes

Middle row mixed yellow with medium gray

bottom  medium gray with yellow

Made a value chart with my chromatic black

red red+brown added white Blue blue+brown added white

Bottom red + gray + white Blue + gray + white

Mixing the mixes 

Bottom right used Indian Yellow with the Brown + White

Red Mix + Indian Yellow mix + white

Have Fun!