New Figures

I've been experimenting lately with various watercolor hues in my figure drawing sessions. I'm struggling with how to create shadow and light in the skin tones, and most of the time I'm rushed to complete the watercolor sketch in the time allotted. I've been using light pencil sketch to capture the pose, and then filling in with the watercolor washes. Here are a few of the recent attempts. I'm using mostly quinaquidone gold, cerulean blue and cadmium red, and occasionally ultramarine blue and alizarine crimson. I'm hoping to eventually get more comfortable with color, but I think these experiments are at least making me paint a little looser, and hopefully I will soon learn better how to use color for flesh tones and shadow.

I like the stronger colors in these first two, but maybe it's just that they relate better to the background colors.

These next two seem to have grasped the light and shadow contrasts, but the colors are too washed out.

These last two seem to be my "blue nudes". I think if I had more time I would have tried a golden wash over all to see if it would have moderated the blue hues somewhat.

Figures in February at Wellborn Ideas, Etc.

February has been a big month for art this year. On February 8th I delivered my charcoal drawing ("Life Drawing Class") to Wellborn Ideas (downtown on Dauphin Street) for a Figure Show they are holding this month. My friends Jami Buck and Conroy Hudlow also had figure paintings that were accepted into this show. I went downtown for the opening reception during the LODA artwalk on Feb 12th - but crowds were sparse that night due to snow (!) here in Mobile and a couple of competing Mardi Gras parades through downtown. I went back last week with my camera and was able to get a few photos. This show will hang until March 8th, and they are open during weekday working hours if you want to check it out. Others in our figure drawing group (past and present) that also have pieces in this show include Devlin Wilson, Kimberly Krause-Jones and Sharon Jones (no relation).



Here is a view of several of the art pieces as you enter Welborn Ideas. My drawing is the first on the right. I almost forgot to mention - I entered this figure drawing into the Eastern Shore Art Center along with my "Blossom" cow painting, and both of those hung there for the month of December. The "Best of Show" was the large colorful abstract figure in the center of the photo.



Conroy's painting is above on the right.



Jami's painting is above on the right ("Hot Flash").

Kimberly's triptych figure in primary colors is above; and Sharon's figure sketch of the young couple from a recent figure drawing session is below. My photo of Devlin's piece did not turn out, but I think I recognized the model as "Dawn" from our earlier sessions.

I forgot to mention on my blog earlier, but I entered this same charcoal figure drawing ("Life Drawing Class") and my "Blossom" cow painting in the recent Eastern Shore Art Center Members Show and both hung for the month of December.

And the other BIG news is that I sold my "Yard Sale Tractor" painting earlier this month to a nice lady in New Orleans. She had seen it at the Cathedral Square Gallery, but I was out of town that day, and she wanted a quote for shipping it to New Orleans. I mailed it to her on Feb 2nd. I had lots of comments from fellow artists and tractor lovers on that painting, which she said will grace her son's bedroom. I hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed painting it.

Art with a Heart for Austin Elementary Art Program

Last month I was asked by Jan Horton, who teaches art classes at Austin Elementary, if I would be willing to donate a painting for a fundraiser they had on Feb 11th. The purpose was to raise funds to support the art program at the elementary school, and donated pieces would be sold at a silent auction at the Mobile Botanical Gardens. Here is a fun painting I did to donate to the silent auction. I wasn't able to attend (this was the night of winter storm warnings and miserable weather here in the "sunny south"), so I hope it sold. This is called "Big Catch" (acrylic on canvas, 12" x 24"), and is based on a snapsnot I took of the egret at Scott's Landing one day when we were plein air painting. The bird is a successful fisher, but I think this fish was taken from the bait bucket and given to the bird by the marina manager.

Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show Opening Reception

Hello again! It's been awhile so I have some catching up to do. The Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show was a success! We had 78 pieces of art, a majority from expert miniature artists from all over the United States, and some very beautiful and amazing artwork. There was a wonderful article in the arts section of the Mobile Press newspaper, as well. I learned that I am definitely not a miniature artist - true miniature art is intricately detailed and minute, smooth surface, etc. But I may be inspired to one day become a miniature artist after seeing some of the beautiful work in this show!

Here are some photos taken during the judging and during the reception, which was held on February 5th. The show will hang until Feb 28th, so there is still time to check it out!

Here is Ben Shamback of Univ of South Alabama judging the artwork.

Mary Rodning with two of her sumi-e inks in the black frames.

Kathy Friedline and me in front of display that includes our artwork. Hers is in upper left, my three are on left and right (llamas, cow and goat).

Frances Ashcraft (show chairperson) and the staff of Southern Art and Framing who hosted the show at their gallery.

Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show

Yesterday I helped our newly formed Alabama Miniature Art Society take in artwork for the Second Annual Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show, which will hang Feb 5-28 at the Southern Art and Framing Gallery here in Mobile. The reception and awards presentation will be this Friday, February 5th, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Come on out and check out the miniature art!

I don't think of myself as a painter of miniature art, but I had entered a small pen and ink in the previous Spanish Moss show which was accepted, and therefore became eligible to participate as a member of AMAS. There really are specific criteria for judging miniature art. The AMAS group will be educating local artists (including myself) and the public on criteria and procedures for miniature art production and shows. The first Spanish Moss show allowed any art of size 8x10 or smaller. This year the show limits artwork to 25 square inches (e.g., 5 in. x 5 in.), so we are gradually bringing our rules to conform with other miniature art societies. I entered three pieces, all 5 in. x 5 in. acrylic on panel. They include my "Mini Cow", "Petting Zoo Goat", and the recently completed "Petting Zoo Llamas" shown below. These probably are not true miniature art, but they were fun and relatively quick to paint.

Infinite Possibilities. . . . Memorium

This was a bitter-sweet week for me. I received very sad and tragic news regarding the loss of two young friends: a former co-worker who died suddenly and unexpectably from an infection, and a young promising artist and new friend who showed promise. Both were shining stars with bright futures. Joseph Mwanzia had entered his artwork in our Art of Reading Show (the first art show he'd ever entered) and won one of the library purchase awards. He was born in Kenya and had come to the U.S. only a few years ago to further his education. Kathy Friedline and I got to meet Joseph during the reading show, and encouraged him to join the Mobile Art Association, where he met many new friends. Here is a photo of Joseph and his girlfriend in front of his winning artwork, titled "Infinite Possibilities". It makes me sad to think of Joseph and Maria, their lives cut so short when they both had infinite possibilities before them. We will miss them both.

Duo Show at Michael's Downtown Cafe

My friend Mary Elizabeth Kimbrough asked Jami Buck and me if we would be willing to place some of our art at Michael's Downtown Cafe, and we of course jumped at the chance. This is a small restaurant, but Michael has a great reputation with foodies in the Mobile area. Mary Elizabeth and Lydia Host had a duo show here several months ago. I hung three of my cow paintings, and Jami included several colorful abstract paintings. Several of us are planning to have lunch there this week for a viewing party. You should check it out if you get a chance, and enjoy a wonderful lunch at Michael's. I think our colorful artwork really brightens up the small space inside. Here I am hanging the artwork last Wednesday. And here is Jami with her large abstract with the fiery colors.