Why It's Hard to be a Women & An Artist

Class Study from CAC

I love my life, I am not complaining! I am so blessed to have the gift of painting in my life. It has been a journey and a blessing.
So why is it hard to be a woman and an artist?
Well, it has to do with a lot of things, but the number one reason for me is because I don't have to make a living and support myself and my family. Um, okay, so maybe that 's not a drawback. I have the freedom to paint when I want and to take time off and it's okay. But what I'm dealing with is the balance of it all.
Don't get me wrong, the biggest problem is myself and my own lack of self discipline. Let me put it another way.
I don't have a "job" and I don't have to pay my household bills. My husband does that. Of course I'd love to get to a point where I am contributing, and I could be right now, if I wasn't busy buying art stuff and taking workshops. But that is another issue. My struggle is dealing with how to find a balance in my priorities, and still invest in my long term art career.
It would be so easy to slack off. And I do. But mostly I give my all, with limitations. I don't have a regular schedule, I don't have that many deadlines, I don't work as hard as I could and should. I do work hard and I love it. It is my passion and my desire to work hard. I want to study and learn and do what it takes. It takes a determination to succeed. Painting well does not come easy, and that is what I'm trying to say. Okay. So to be a good artist, to be a good art teacher, to learn, we have to work hard at it. That we all know. Or at least we find out. I don't have an issue with that. My struggle is in the area of balancing these goals and passions with the other obligations and priorities in my life.
To be a good mom and wife, to take good care of the household, to invest in the important relationships in my life and to be invested in my spiritual growth is all a real balancing act. It takes a commitment in each area of my life. But when I'm in the middle of one of these things, I'm still thinking of the others. I get overwhelmed thinking about it all at the same time. I feel like I'm pulled in so many different directions. So I need to change some things.
My goal for the rest of this year is to get better organized, physically and mentally. And to start separating and delegating and prioritizing my spiritual growth, my work, my relationships, my exercise activity and fun activities, my family, my household chores and getting that in place. I need accountability in order to stay on track. Fortunately I have people in my life for the personal stuff, but not the business stuff.

First, I need to start getting my paperwork organized. My filing and records are a mess! I will create a task list on line and check it frequently. I want to get on a schedule, and I want to start a new painting series. So those are my goals for starters, and now that you've read this I guess I'm really accountable to give you a report of my progress and time goes by. I'll keep you posted. Ouch!
I am excited about a couple of things in particular. I'll be adding a new evening class in January so my students who work during the day can learn to paint at night. And, I took some wonderful photos yesterday of my daughter Lindsay, and I'm going to start painting them. I want to paint a series of romantic female scenes. Thursday I have another photo shoot planned with a very good friend, and then I'm going to shoot my niece next weekend.
So please stay with me and please send me your comments, and also your tips and advice on how I can get my act together. Now you are also responsible to e-mail me if I don't report to you on my progress of course! So now you have to be accountable......

I want to share my feelings with you......

I just have to share with you a recent letter I received from a friend. She and I used to share in some things in life together, and we have somehow lost touch with each other over the years. Our kids are friends and we do see each other, but only occasionally. I had posted on my blog and shared the post on facebook. I was overwhelmed with gratitude when I read her words, so honest and heartfelt.....

Randy,

This is going to seem really strange to you to hear from me, but artists are people who "feel"in order to create and I want to share my feelings with you.

I was on Facebook, I saw your beautiful painting, and I wanted to look at it more, so I clicked on your blog. Suddenly, I was in another world. I started clicking the older posts link so I could read more about Paris and Provence. I found myself getting very emotional, and suddenly I started to cry. I didn't know why, but I imagine it has to do with several things. One, the beauty of the country held me. Then, reading about the joy that you were feeling while you were there moved me greatly. When I read about the man at the station trying to help you, I imagined you all alone, a bit fearful, and how brave you were to try to maneuver through this unfamiliar territory. I began to think of all the times that I have been in that position and thinking to myself "What's the worst thing that could happen? I could die, surely, but other than that, I'm ok." Unfortunately, it was never about a wonderful journey like yours, but nonetheless, it was the same feeling, I should think. I began to think about how I have always wanted to paint. I am a very good sketch artist, but painting has always intrigued me. I then began to think about my life and how it is solely made up of working and raising kids. I will never have an opportunity to go to France and study art. I will never be able to even stay anywhere in a first class hotel in America! I'm 57 years old, I have done most everything I ever wanted to do in my life, except have money enough to relax and enjoy it. Your blog touched me beyond words. In a way, I am sad for what I miss out on, but mostly, I am moved by the beauty of this world. Should I make a bucket list, or should I be content that God has given me a home and healthy children? Do I leave care to the wind and charge up a trip to a place that pulls at my heart, or spend all my money on this house and the repairs? In a few years, both my kids will be grown and I will be nearing retirement age. Will I have enough to survive, let alone enough to enjoy what remains of my life?

I am not asking for pity, at all. I am not even sure why I am telling you this, except the painting of a well dressed homeless French man brings me to tears and a picture of beautiful gardens where a famous artist once painted does the same. Is this the power of art? Does it move you so much that you begin exploring within yourself and go to places where you don't want to? I am not going to paint, as I imagine you will invite me, because I simply don't have any energy left. But, I thought to myself, "I wonder if Randy thinks about what people are feeling when they read her posts? Does she think that only artists and students of art are reading it? Does she think that her friends are reading it because they love her and want to see what she is up to? Or does some old friend from the past curiously explore her world and find emotions that haven't dredged up in a very long time?"

I think I should thank you, for the emotion that has come over me. I am not jealous, because I learned a long time ago that what I have is what God wants me to have. I just want you to have this gift, this knowledge that a simple post on Facebook has changed me today. Maybe just for today, I don't know. Or maybe it is the beginning of something that needs to stir inside of me.

I asked her if I could post her letter. She said I could, maybe an excerpt. But I had a hard time leaving anything out. Yes, she is an artist. But until I read this I thought she was an actress and I didn't know she was interested in painting. So, maybe some day she will decide to give it a go. I hope so. What I love most about being a teacher is seeing how much painting can bring joy, just pure joy, into one's life!
Why do I get to live my dream and not her? I think we shall find a way my friend. Blessings to you......

"That Time of Day" (rework)

That Time of Day by Randy Blasquez

Oil on Canvas  30x40"

It's time to get this one out of the studio. I've had it sitting around for months. Do you ever have paintings like that? I started this last year from a small study from a couple of years ago.  Anyway I had some difficulty getting the "time of day" light into the painting, so I put if away, frustrated and not knowing how to finish it. Sometimes this works just fine. I finally pulled it out and went back to work after some considerations but found some splashed paint on it, so I definitely had to rework it. I added more light to the sky and the distant water, working from warm to cool in temperature. Now it's going to the Capital Art Center in Sacramento with a price tag on it, finally!
This is my next dream destination so it's time to start saving!

CABIN WORKSHOP SUNFLOWERS

Sunflowers & Cup in Window

Oil on Linen 16x20"

by Randy Blasquez

Well, I learned something from this little demonstration. I liked my painting a lot more at the earlier stages. I would not have noticed had I not taken all of those demo photographs. I might still go back in and move some edges around. Too many edges!
Anyway, at the workshop a couple of weekends ago, Kenzi snapped the photograph for this painting. We all painted it in last weeks class. It's funny because the more I paint from life the more I realize that I don't like painting from photographs. Even after this many years I tend to "copy" the photo instead of relying on my memory and the feel of the subject. Good reasons to paint from life.

I began with a wash of odorless mineral spirits and two paint colors. I used alizarine crimson and hansa yellow orange. I wanted a very warm and transparent wash to begin my lay in. No drawing here, just noting location of the subject and looking for a pleasing composition.

Here I just added my darks, using transparent red oxide, alizarine crimson and some blue for a dark. Still transparent.....

Also, you may notice that I wiped out my lights with a paper towel dipped in mineral spirits. I almost always use this technique.

I started adding color and some opaque colors. I relied on my premixed grays that I always add to my palette these days. I also mentioned to the class to continue to use your piles of paint and the grays that come from them. Use them all the way through the painting. Mix the colors that you've already been using into each other. This will insure that your painting will be harmonious.

Now, some local color, keeping the paint thin and almost dry on the brush at this stage. No medium or mineral spirits. Continue to lay in the LARGE value shapes of color until you have covered the canvas. It is easy to get too involved in one area of the painting that you like, and forget to continue covering the canvas. It is way too early to get involved......

After you have finished covering the canvas, re-evaluate and use your mirror. Walk away and come back to take another look. Is it a good time to make any changes in your composition, and to look at the music of the piece. Think about what you are trying to say. Look for the darks and lights to lead you through the painting. Is anything too centered??

Use more paint now. Use the most paint in the area of interest, in this case, the large sunflower that faces the viewer. Now, I need to go back and handle those edges!

Back to Bistro Jeanty

Plein Air Dining, Bistro Jeanty

Oil on Linen Panel

10 x 10" by Randy Blasquez

I welcome your comments and suggestions for this piece. Was tougher than I thought. I do love the subject though. I'm finally getting back to painting today! I've been on the go and needed to catch up on life. Next I'm going to start a very large piece for my church gallery, Art and Soul Gallery. This will be a painting about the light of God through the birth of Jesus Christ.
I have been meeting by weekly with the Covenant Artists Group to pray and talk about what we will do for the show. If you'd like more info, shoot me an e-mail. You are welcome to participate.

Wow! What a weekend......

This past weekend I held my very first Painting Workshop/Retreat.
I am calling it a workshop/retreat because I wanted it to be both. It turned out to be the right thing I think. We had a wonderful time up at our family home in the Lake Tahoe area. It is located in beautiful Tahoe Donner outside of Lake Tahoe, very close to Donner Lake.
It houses 8 or 10 people very comfortably so I invited my students/friends to join me. We drove up Thursday afternoon, shared our first dinner together and settled in. After that we got our jammies on and watched "The Impressionists". Wonderful movie!
Next morning we took a drive a few miles along the Truckee River toward the big lake on hwy 89 and painted at the River Ranch Lodge and Restaurant. They were very nice to allow us to use their patio with an amazing view.

I did a very quick demonstration of a simple composition for the students. A couple of the ladies have painted in plein air before, but some had never painted outside. We had a blast. The weather was perfect!

Below are a couple of the student pieces

Amazing!

Saturday we stayed in and did a couple of exercises to help the painter succeed. The first one was a color mixing exercise. This was very eye opening for everybody, including myself.

After lunch we did another really fun exercise that was equally enlightening. I borrowed this exercise from Peggy Kroll Roberts. We counted our brushstrokes with a limit of 35 to 40. I was amazed at how the paintings came out, and of course, we all learned a lot - including the surprise element of how beautiful brushwork can be when you load up the brush and limit your strokes. No more "licking" the canvas or overworking the strokes.

Well, I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed being with these women. Yesterday morning we went for a wonderful hike and then packed it up. I can't wait to do it again!

Now it's time to get back to work. I have many unfinished projects and paintings to finish. Hopefully if I'm successful you will see some new work up on the blog soon.

Happy Painting!

 

Bistro Jeanty

I started a new painting this morning. Will finish later today I hope. If you have not eaten at this French Bistro in Yountville, you must. Authentic French food. Yum! It's the next best thing to being in Paris!

10 x 10" Oil on Linen

Three's A Crowd

Three's A Crowd

Oil on Linen Panel  8x16"

$300





I just finished this piece. It is one of those photos that I've had in my pile for years. Who knew I would ever want to paint chickens? I guess there is a reason I never threw it away. I love the format and not every subject will work on an 8 x 16 inch panel. It would be really fun to set on the kitchen counter inside an iron easel, or just as nice in a frame.

Path Around the Lily Pond, Monet's Garden

Path Around the Lily Pond, Monet's Garden

6 x 6" Oil on Linen Panel

$75.

Back to Monet's Garden

Back to Monet's Garden
Oil on Canvas  6 x  8"

Availabe $75

That Time Of Day

That Time of Day

Oil on Canvas  30x40

by Randy Blasaquez

 Available

I started this painting months ago. It is from a small study I painted a couple of years back. It is never as easy as I think to take an 8x10" piece and enlarge it to 30x40". I had to get away from it for a while, and then I lost interest until this week. I'm going to let it dry and do a tiny bit of glazing over the sky and land in the background. Do you have any suggestions? It has taken me some time to get the feel of the light coming through the canal at sunset. I am finally almost satisfied with my efforts.

More about the Napa Valley Art Festival

I mentioned in my last post about the generous words of wisdom shared by so many of the artists showing there. Well I've been thinking about one particular comment from  Brent Jensen. He first heard it from Kevin Macpherson. "Paint one small painting everyday for a year and see your abilities jump". He said to limit your time on these small pieces to maybe half an hour.

My plan is to challenge some of my students who might be ready to take this exercise and commit. I will share in a future blog about our specific plans. I want to start soon, but it may have to wait until January.

So, what do you think? Are you on board?

Napa Vallery Art Festival

Yesterday was the third annual Napa Valley Art Festival. It was a beautiful day, gorgeous actually. I went along with a couple of artist friends, Renee White and Barbie Smith.

There were over 300 original paintings by 31 of the West's premier representational artists.

The artwork was the best yet. The artists were so gracious and generous with sharing their suggestions and ideas about painting with us.

We left inspired and excited about painting.

Dinner Time for the Mr. & Mrs.

Dinnertime for the Mr. & Mrs.
Oil on Linen
24x24x1.5"

I'm reaady to sign this one. I added a bit more color and some light....

Mr. & Mrs. Final Touches....

I spent a little more time on the hen and rooster painting this morning. Not quite finished, all but the final touches.....

I'm still stuck in France. Oh well! I took some photographs of these hens in a pen at Monet's Gardens in Giverny last summer. I'm considering a series of the gardens as well. Maybe even some more of the water garden. I don't think I'm quite done with the water lilies yet. I can't help it!

Dinner Time for Mr. & Mrs.

Yesterdays Project

After todays progress.....

I liked it better after yesterday's start, but I'm not finished yet. Check back tomorrow!

In the Mood for Poppies.....

Coming Up Poppies       Oil on Linen   24x24x1.5"

I decided to post a new photo of this painting that I did on Tuesday. It was such a whirlwind experience that I quickly snapped the photo I had up there and went to bed. I was tired and had class yesterday so now that I took a second look, decided to post a better photo. Although it still isn't coming out that good.
You might know that I've been working on a new series of paintings from the streets of Paris, France. Still consumed by my experience last summer in France. Anyway, I was struggling with these street scenes, (all new to me), and needed to let loose! This painting is the result.

In other news....
Life is good, and busy. Classes are going great on Wednesdays at the Capital Art Center. I also just hung new paintings at the Smith Gallery in downtown Sacramento. Come by for second Saturday if you can! Click on the link for more info.

Also, I want to thank all of you who have been coming by the blog and leaving your comments! This is really fun, and I'm enjoying your blogs as well. Check out some of them on the right side of the blog, by scrolling down.

I am also really looking forward to my first workshop/retreat! I am bringing a few students up to my second home in the Lake Tahoe area in September. This will be a special time to share tips, do a couple of demos and perhaps some plein air painting in beautiful Lake Tahoe. Not only that, I want to take time to relax and just paint or play, watch some how to videos, cook for one another and hike.  Good times ahead.

Soon after that trip I will be traveling down to Los Angeles to take a workshop myself! More on that later.

Hawthorne on Painting - More Good Stuff

New Painting - "Plein Air Garden, Paris"
Oil on Linen, 20 x 16 "
Available

If you read my blog regularly you know I am re-reading my "Hawthorne on Painting" book again. It is hitting me as though I had never read it before. Maybe I'm just ready to hear it this time.
Anyway, it if filled with so many tips about color and light that I feel I have to share.....

It is divided into sections and right now I am reading from the INTRODUCTION & LANDSCAPE sections:
INTRODUCTION:
pg 18 - Everyone knows what a man looks like, or a tree or a house, but it is our job to tell the world something about these things that it has not known before, some impression that we alone have received.
pg 19 - If you are not going to get a thrill, how can you give someone else one? You must feel the beauty of the thing before you start. Good painting is an excitement, an aesthetic emotion--reasonable painting destroys emotion. Painters don't reason, they do. The moment they reason they are lost--subconscious thought counts.
The only way to learn to paint is by painting. To really study, you must start out with large tubes of paint and a large palette and not stinit in any way as far as materials go. If you look into the past of a successful painter you will find square miles of canvas behind him. It is work that counts, experience in seeing color.
Don't try to be an artist all at once, be very much of a student.
pg 20 - Do studies not pictures. Know when you are licked--start another. Be alive, stop when your interest is lost.
LANDSCAPE:
pg 54 - It's the artist's business, the painter's job to point out to the public the beauties of nature.
Try to see them before you paint. Don't try to see a picture--go around and look at the subject until you see something, say in trees or houses, coming together, that inspires you. We do well the things we see already painted in our mind's eye--don't do it until you see it or you are defeated before you begin.
**Look at the view with your head sideways to get better relations, so that you get a sensation of the color spots rather than a perception of objects as objects.
pg 70 - Realize the value of putting down your first impression quickly.

**It seems like this works like squinting. Also Don Hatfield says to look at the value/color of what is next to the area you are painting in order to find the correct color/value. Very valuable information!

This is the way I want to paint. Some of the teachers I've worked with who talk like Hawthorne are Anita Wolff, Jim Smyth, Brigitte Curt, Ovanes Berberian and Don Hatfield. Wonderful painters all.

The Art of Christmas Show

Art & Soul Gallery, housed in the lobby of Folsom’s Oak Hills Church, is calling local artists to submit work for the 4th annual “Art of Christmas Show”.


Community is a vital part of the arts at Oak Hills Church. This year our show will be hosted by the Covenant Artist Group. Any artists interested in participating will meet together biweekly for inspiration while considering our works for the show. Based in prayer and scripture, our hope is to create a show that will convey the Spirit of Christmas in a Sacred Space. We will talk about what this means as we encourage each other along the journey to create our own inspired pieces.

Our goal is to include many forms of expression; fiber arts, painting, sculpture, clay, photography sketching and others.

Join us 7 PM at Oak Hills Church Lobby for these special times of gathering to explore our role in God’s plan for our gift from Him, the Creative Spirit.

August 5th August 19th September 2nd September 16th September 30th October 14th & October 28st

If each of us committed to one piece of work for this project, we could fill the gallery & bless many people. It is my firm belief that this is what God would have us do & I'm praying that all who are called will respond obediently.

Even if you don't think you can participate or are not sure, you are always welcome at these creative sessions - we will all be looking for fresh insight, inspiration & new eyes to help us evaluate. (Plus you would get sneak peeks into this process & might be inspired yourself.)

While we want everyone to come as much as they are able, don't let having to miss a couple meetings keep you away from this endeavor - this will be a wonderful time of sharing the creative Spirit of God, no matter what the products may or may not be.

So let’s meet and see what God has in store for us this Christmas.