BABY'S GOT A NEW PAIR OF SHOES!

Baby's new shoes!

Yesterday I took my car in for a new set of tires. None too soon, what with winter approaching.

She had become somewhat ditzy on wet roadways, preferring to hydroplane through the puddles rather than even attempt to grip the road. That necessitated some thoughtful surface road travel plans during thunderstorms when I left the expressway to the thundering semis spraying water and idiots who don’t know how to slow down when it’s impossible to even see the road, let alone the lane markers.

Do you have any idea how difficult it has become to figure out how to get from Point A to Point B without an expressway intervening! Just try to find a route on your GPS – it will take you on an expressway every time – and then leave you hanging with “exit right, then turn . . . . . . “. Oh yes, just when you needed it most (but that’s a whole other story!)

Anyway . . . . every time She went in for a service call in the past year or so, the service technicians all suggested that it was time for her to get some new rubber.

Well, yesterday was the day.

They are Michelin Defenders, nice tread, sturdy looking. I like their name - anything that wants to Defend me kinda makes me happy. Especially if they are going to keep me safe on the road.

So, She and I drove home in style, cornering nicely and making a few “road maneuvers” I wouldn’t have made just that morning. (By “road maneuvers” I mean the kind that, when I’m not the one behind the wheel, I’m the one in the passenger seat, all puckered up, hanging onto the overhead strap, praying, eyes squished shut while I hold my breath and anticipate impact).

In other words, I drove for a few minutes the way my husband does all the time*, just to see how the tires performed on their maiden voyage. Admirably.

So, until it’s time for the snow tires – studded – the driving performance of which always makes me think of a woman running in high heels, the sound of which startles everyone, but the ability of which keeps me well grounded on ice – quite a boon 2 years ago during a sudden ice storm, whereupon I was passing everyone wondering what the problem was, until I saw SUV’s and pick up trucks in odd positions scattered along the interstate and it finally dawned on me “oh, there’s ice out there!” – I’ll be enjoying my Defenders!**

* I’m pretty sure I’ll be hearing about this from my hubby!
**My apologies to my high school English teacher, Irene Walters, for the above sentence, may she rest in peace.

NOTE: Art related posts are coming, soon, I promise!

PASTEL WORKSHOP

Pastels have always intrigued me. A good friend of mine switched over to pastels several years ago, so I have been able to see what is possible with them. But, I always think they are too messy for me – and they probably are!

However, I attended a pastel workshop last weekend with Cindy Haase a WONDERFUL instructor. I was the only person in class who had never done pastels, and to say I was intimidated is putting it mildly! And then, when Cindy said she doesn’t paint florals, or fabric, or a lot of details (G U L P) I thought about packing up and leaving! But I hung in there and, boy, am I glad I did.

Cindy gave us specific photos to paint from and on day one we painted up to a point, then Cindy would tell us when we were ready for the next step. We painted pears in a chiaroscuro manner, and at the end of the day we put them all up along the wall and Cindy gave us each a critique. Her critiques were to the point, but all began with what she liked about our paintings. I was happy that mine held its place with the others!

Here are some photos of the workshop - Day 1 - The Pear:


Look - a pear!

Cindy's demo.

The pear critique.

At the beginning of day two Cindy went around the group and asked what we had learned on the first day. I could honestly say – Everything! Having never done pastels before it was all new to me, but with her instruction and direction I had been able to produce a good painting. One thing that did amaze me was how easy the pastels were to blend.

Also on day two we began a similar style painting of a tomato – but then Cindy said we were “on our own” after watching her demo.

Yikes!

I began the same way she did, and then began layering my pastels. The only thing that kind of throws me off is the idea of dark to light, just the opposite of our watercolors. I ended the day very happy with my two paintings!

Day 2 - the tomato!  Here are several of the paintings during critique.

While I have no plans to suddenly make pastel my medium of choice, I would certainly feel competent to take them outside and attempt some landscapes!


The beginning of my very first pastel!  I quickly learned not to leave so much white showing.

The completed pear.

The beginning of the tomato!

The completed tomato.

Sometimes during the workshop it sounded like I was listening to myself! Cindy told us to:
-  only compare our work to our own work and never compare ourselves to others;
-  incorporate what we learn in a workshop into our own style of painting, not to copy the style of the instructor;
-  keep on working on the painting when we think we have failed – after all, what have we got to lose! – and we will learn from that experience;
-  paint what we love!

For you pastelists out there, I would definitely recommend Cindy’s workshop.

She also works in oils and colored pencil and is the current President of the Colored Pencil Society of America!

A very talented (and kind and good natured) artist!

CHRIS LEEPER WORKSHOP

20 member of Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society at the Chris Leeper workshop October 26,27, 28, 2012.

When I came on as President of Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society, I was adamant that we begin having workshops for our members. Rhonda Carpenter, our program chairperson, just jumped in and began searching for a workshop presenter (I don’t even remember asking her to do this!).

Chris Leeper, current president of Ohio Watercolor Society and well known artist, was our first workshop instructor for the Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society.

When we were able to fill the workshop in one meeting, with a waiting list, it told me that we had really hit the nail on the head – our members really want this wonderful educational opportunity. (Due to popular demand – Chris will return on April 5, 6 and 7, 2013 for a spring workshop).

Chris painting a demo with several of his paintings on the wall behind him.

We had a wonderful weekend of painting, laughter and food! Not only was this a learning opportunity – it was also an opportunity for us to get to know some of our members better. We usually only have time to chat for a little while prior to our meetings. The workshop provided opportunity for us to mill around, see what the others were doing, and gave us time to spend chatting and getting to know one another better.

Chris explaining his process.

Hopefully this experience will help us come together as artists and enjoy our open painting sessions after our programs in the future months.

I couldn't resist a couple photos of his palette - works of art in themselves! 
Just look at thise beautiful clean colors!

To see more photos of the workshop go to the GCWS blog or to Rhonda’s blog. Chris is a “painting machine”! He’s also a great teacher – educational and entertaining at the same time – and a heck of a nice guy. I’d recommend him as a workshop instructor, and we look forward to having him back in the spring.

RED PAISLEY SCARF - FINAL

Then the shadow was added . . .

 but I decided, not dark enough, so another layer was added to the shadow.

I think this one is finished.  It is probably not a show winner, but it was great fun to do - very Zen-like.

In case you are interested, I kept track of time - give or take an hour or so - this one took 32 hours to complete.

RED PAISLEY SCARF - 4

Then I painted the vase . . .

 Then added a bit more color on the vase and in the shadow areas.

RED PAISLEY SCARF - 3

Then the greens . . .

 Then the purples.

RED PAISLEY SCARF - 2

Then I began adding color to the small shapes, beginning with the yellow . . .

 and then the blue.  I also added the detail in the roses.

RED PAISLEY SCARF - 1

It's been forever (or so it seems) since I've posted a work in progress. 

This is another full size sheet in watercolor, which I'm calling "Red Paisley Scarf" since that's what this is based on.

After drawing it out, I misketed the edges of the main shapes and all of the small shapes at the top.

 Then red was added.  And, of course, I didn't just add one red, but several different reds in several layers.

PAUL SAWYIER SHOW AT NKU

Yesterday I went to Northern Kentucky University (NKU) with my friends, Rhonda and Sharon, to see the exhibit of work by Paul Sawyier - primarily his watercolors.  I had never heard of him, but Rhonda had already gone to see the paintings and thought we might also enjoy the exhibit. 

After lunch at Smash Burger, Rhonda drove us onto the NKU campus which, although not large, would have been very confusing to me had she not been the "tour guide".  Even so, finding the exhibit was a bit tricky, since it is split into two areas in the Steely Library building*.

Paul Sawyier was born in Ohio, then moved to Frankfort, KY at age 5.  Sawyier went on to study at the Cincinnati Art Academy, the Art Student's League in New York, then with Frank Duveneck for a year.  He returned to Frankfort and primarily made his living by painting portraits for the wealthy families there.  Following the death of his parents, Sawyier spent 5 years living on a houseboat on the Kentucky River, painting many watercolor landscapes of the area.  He then moved to New York, living first in NYC and then in the Catskill Mountains.  It is estimated that, between 1887 to 1917 Sawyier may have painted over 3,000 paintings, mainly watercolors.  He also painted in oil and pastel.

Here are some of the beautiful watercolor paintings in the exhibit.  They vary in size but the skill shown in all of them, no matter the medium, is amazing.  He used a lot of varied color in the objects he painted, and even though some of the figures in the scenes are small, he was still able to add detail and dimension.  I focused on the watercolors that I enjoyed the most, but all of the paintings are beautiful.

A Rainy Day in Lexington (19.25 x 13.25)

Wilson Store at Keene (19.5 x 23.5)

Lover's Leap (19 x 23)

Midway Road (15.5 x 11)

 

Midway Road (5.5 x 8.5)

Canoing (13 x 20)



Church's Grove (18 x 11.5)

If you live in the Greater Cincinnati area, you should definitely try to get over to NKU and view this show. It will hang until December 7.


*  Schlacher University Archives - First Floor
9-4 Monday-Friday, 1-5 Saturday and Sunday
* Eva G. Farris Reading Room - Second Floor
7:30 - midnight M-Thur
7:30 - 5:30 Friday
11 - 5 Saturday
12:30 - midnight Sunday

RISING SUN ART SHOW

If you are in the Greater Cinicnnati area, hope you can visit the Rising Sun Art Show in beautiful Rising Sun, Indiana on the banks of the Ohio.

It makes for a beautiful fall drive along the river.

The opening was Friday night.