"It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly." Claude Monet

I am finding this truth these days, so it is a great comfort to find a quote like this one.

Today's effort...

I'm working on 5 paintings right now. It's tough because I don't get to spend the hours I need to in order to work on each one further to finish. The smallest piece I've got going is 24x24. So, they have to wait, which means they will be dry between sessions.
I'm teaching tomorrow and then preparing for a trip to Sacramento on Sunday. I'm hoping to finish this piece at least, in preparation for my class on Tuesday at Patris Studio and Gallery
In addition to this piece I have started another floral, along with the 4 big pieces I've got going. Below is my commission piece (almost there), and the 30x30 Squaw Valley piece. They will have to wait until I get back next week.
I enjoy working wet into wet, but with large pieces and life in the way, it doesn't happen much for me.

I'd like to know what you think about the Claude Monet quote. Let's get some feedback on this one. 

See you soon!

Studio Class Schedule Update and ... Venice?

 

WEDNESDAY CLASSES AT STUDIO BLASQUEZ

This class is ongoing throughout the year on most Wednesdays. It is designed for the beginner through intermediate painter. We will study the basic elements of painting and paint many studies. It is my belief that the student who practices these basic elements through regular exercises will soon become comfortable with them and begin to use the creative side of the brain. This is where real painting begins.

Please call and let's talk about how we can work together toward your goals as a painter. 

Here are the dates on the 2015 calendar...

March 11 and 18

April 8 - 22 - 29

May 6 - 20 - 27

I'd would like to incorporate some plain air painting on Wednesdays this Spring and Summer. It will be a great opportunity to learn about painting outdoors. I can help you with the set up so you can get comfortable with the Plein Air experience. 

Price: $50.00 per class or buy 4 for $185.00

Location: 10382 Donner Pass Road #2, Truckee CA 96161

*Class dates are subject to change. I will update the working schedule as time moves forward.

**Stay tuned because I can't wait to announce a painting workshop in VENICE, Italy next year. This is an amazing opportunity and not an easy venue to get into. I am working with a wonderful company to customize this workshop. Mark your calendars for the last week in September and the the first week in October 2016! 

CONTACT INFORMATION: 

Contact: Randy
Email: ranblaz@hotmil.com
Phone: 916-952-7914

California at it's Peak

"California at it's Peak"

Oil on Linen   30x30"  

Available Here

This painting was a total experiment. I didn't have a real reference photo, and had to settle for a very poor quality shot. For the most part, I made it up. Believe it or not I used a web cam shot from the internet. What else can I say accept that I was desperate for snow. Does it look anything like Yosemite? Yes, really!
I tried to leave some of the underpainting untouched, but didn't really succeed. I have to say I had fun with it and loaded on the paint.
I'm hoping to get to the other two snowy pieces that I washed in with the transparent sauce, but first I will need to finish the commission piece, so I'll post that next.
Until next time,
Randy

Squaw Valley Sunset - transparent block in
30x36"

California at it's Peak - transparent block in
36x36"

Squaw Mountain Late Day - Early Spring - transparent block in
36x36"

Horsetail Falls - transparent block in
24x36"

 These paintings are all blocked in using the transparent color-wash method. It is a great way to start a painting. Yes, I'm in the mood to paint BIG!

They will look quite different when they are finished, but I do love the illumination of the transparent colors. My hope (and goal), is to allow plenty of the color-wash to show through the finished piece.

Of course, I also love the impasto of oil paint so there will be that as well.

When creating a piece of art, it is a good idea to have a variety of texture. Usually a transparent dark will dominate, OR the lighter values of an Opaque color will dominate. It is always better that one takes up more space on the canvas than the other.

It is like the idea of keying the painting in a dominant value, either high key, middle key or low key. Variety is the spice of life? (painting)!

I'm talking about lot's of variety, as in variety of value, (above), variety of shape, edges, etc. The more variety, the more interesting right?

"Squaw Valley Sunset"  Oil on Canvas
8 x 8"
Available Here

Truckee Winter Wonderland (Woes?)

"Afternoon Light Show" 

Oil on Linen   36x24"

Available here

"Afternoon Light Show" is a new piece that I painted in the studio. It was painted using the color wash method. I took the photo at Christmas, when we got a few inches of snow, just about all there has been this season.

We've been busy in the studio though. We started out with  a few changes that seem to have been a good idea. First, by going to weekly classes, everybody is very much more focused. The class time is shorter and I am giving out homework. We are beginning with a very limited palette to see where it takes us.

First we began by painting complimentary color charts. Then we used what we learned there to paint some little studies. It is amazing how much you learn from painting with two compliments plus white.

At this time we have moved into the primaries plus black and white. The homework assignment this week is to paint one or two small studies using this palette, but also to chose a dominant, secondary and little value plan. That means that the real estate or square inches used on the canvas by the "largest value" will be the dominant value. In other words, if the dominant value is a "middle" value, the secondary value might be the "light" value and the "little" would be a "dark". This would be considered a "middle key" painting. A high key painting would have a large amount of the canvas painted with the "light' value. A low key painting would have the largest amount of canvas painted in a darker value.

In class, we name our values: L - "light", ML - "middle light", M - "middle", MD - "middle dark", or D - "dark". It really helps to start your paintings with 3 to 5 large value shapes at most. We sketch out a quick notan to nail down this design idea, making sure to try and identify the largest dominant value.

Maybe a few photos will help this make sense.

The above painting is a low key painting, with the middle-dark/dark dominant value plan, a secondary mid-light value and a small amount of light value.

 From our exercise this week, this painting is a high key painting with a dominant light value, a secondary mid-value and a small amount of dark value.

If you can, come on up to the studio next Monday Night, I'd love to show you around!