Bye Bye Workshop

 I really don't know how long I have been going to this workshop, I think for at least 10-12 years. A long time! Now it seems that it just fell apart. My first instructor was Heleni. She had to leave for personal reasons and then came Reuven T. First year went fine, although there were a few drop outs. Second season not so well, third with the pandemic was a disaster. Last part of the year when we did resume, Ariel saved us because Reuven T didn't find it feasible for so few students. Ariel couldn't continue this year, so our "director" found us a new instructor, Eitan Fried  Long story short, did not work out for me, told me outright that he wouldn't be able to help me with critique or direction. Others also felt the same. Group sort of dispersed till we can re-organize hopefully.

Had a few hard days digesting it all but I am sure we will find someone, or I may look for a private mentor.

I commissioned myself to do 2 paintings for my kitchen. I want to some combine still life and abstract. I listened to a zoom presentation by Edmond Praybe on Still Life: More than Nature Morte, at Winslow Art Center, which was the inspiration.

Kitchen WIP

28" x 14"

Oils and CWM

on organic paper

Kitchen WIP

28" x 14"

Oils and CWM

on organic paper

WIP

14" x 14"

Oils and CWM

on organic paper

Teasing out a Figure

 

Fall in love with the art of living.

Fall in love with letting things be.

Fall in love with listening.

Be still in the sun,

where the winds ever-gently blow,

knowing it is here,

in moments like this,

you are living,

and you will grow.

Morgan Harper Nichols, from All Along You Were Blooming

First, I have changed my subscription manager to Feedio. See side panel. I hope FeedBurner will continue to send out to my subscribers until Feedio imports them. Who needs all this tech stuff!

I am continuing my series using a collaged substrate I love this process and in in this next one even teased out a figure. Hope to do at least 12-15 pieces! 

Orignal Collaged Substrate

Sunbathing on a Bright Afternoon WIP

14"x20"

Organic paper 350 gm

Oils and Cold Wax

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! 

It's So Sad to be Alone

Decided to post first thing and not to procrastinate. So far the sun is shining but it's cold and forecasts are for a stormy one day storm. That's all they talk about in the news, so today I will not be making my weekly visit to Neve Shalom. The grandkids will be staying with friends in Jerusalem in hopes that there will be snow.

These are the last of the group of figure studies. I will be continuing this series, prepared two formats.
Am busy with PYHAS with a new lesson every week, a few paintings for my family that I am struggling with, and other projects.

Sometimes a reference really catches you. You feel drawn into the story. That is what the reference did for me. I made 3 different versions. An elderly woman sitting alone in what seems a bare and cold room. A table and a radiator and not much more.

Feeling Lonely and Cold Like a Penny Waiting for Change

19.5 x 13.5 "

Gessoed paper with Acrylic Background

Charcoal and Wax Crayons

You come into the world alone and you go out of the world alone, yet it seems to me you are more alone while living than even going and coming. (Emily Carr)

13,5 x 19.5 "

Gessoed paper with Acrylic Background

Charcoal and Wax Crayons

Having a Hard Time

Portrait of a Lonely Woman

13,5 x 19.5 "

Gessoed paper with Acrylic Background

Charcoal and Wax Crayons

Drama Pose on Dark Background

Pose taken from the site Line of Action site. Another great resource for figures nude and dressed along with images for hands and feet, animals, and facial expressions. I actually love the clothed figures. 

Stopped at first critique. Caught the pose and gesture, no need to overwork.

Catch Me if You Can

13.5 x 19.5"

Oils on Gessoed paper

Background Acrylic

Studies on Dark Background

Studies on Dark Background

Started a series on formats that I painted with burnt sienna on gessoed paper.  Most of these papers I retrieved when a neighbor emptied out a studio from the house he bought. The house was the home of an artist, painter and sculptor Archie TalronThe paper was already pretty old before it was chucked out on the street. Retrieved as much as I could, sketch pads, heavy paper, charcoal paper etc. Repaired several edges with masking tape.

Brought this to my workshop to add more color with oils. Reuven stated the painting has already made its statement and any more work was not necessary.

Sometimes We Have to Liston 

13.5 x 19.5"

Charcoal Pencil Neocolor I Crayons Medium

Seated Figure Tweaked

From the e-course

Feel the Pose

The last project for Feel The Pose course was a seated figure. Decided it needed a little tweaking, was too much a student painting. Still, more work to be done on the head and hair Actually I liked the first sketch better, more abstract!

WIP  Tweaked

Seated Figure Layer 3

Oil on Gessoed Paper

Seated Figure

9 x 11 " Sketchpad

Charcoal and Wax Crayons on Acrylic Background