Hawthorne on Painting

I got out this book again. It is one of those that will never leave you without some new insight....
I have been teaching the Still Life in my weekly classes. I have some very new students and this is very new for them. We set up a simple still life, get out our view finders, and start painting. This is how you learn to SEE!
Excerpts from the book:
The painting of still life gives one the widest range for study--
a bottle is as serious a subject for the portraiture as a person. In arranging, place things so they have color and so that you can see it well. If you cannot decide on color and values in the beginning, move your still life around until you get things simple so that you can see big relations.
Select one light thing against a dark thing--a kitchen utensil and a lemon cut in half--try for spots coming together.
You don't hear me say much about drawing. It is because I think drawing the form, and painting, are better separated. The first thing is to learn to see color. You will draw better a year from now if you disregard for the time being the thing you call drawing. Realize that you haven't yet the painting point of view--after you have got the spots of true color in their proper relations, you have something to draw with and you can then consider it. Don't consciously try not to  draw but do the other thing so well that it will draw itself.
Don't look up at the nature and consider an inch at a time. See what one big spot is in relation to the other big spots.
Search always for more beautiful notes of color, don't search to put more things in.
Study larger spots of color coming together--don't break objects up into too many colors.
Establish big general things. You can't make all the differences you see.
Insist all the time on one spot being right relatively to another. I'm trying to say that when you think straight that thought alone is worth while and when you put down one or two notes that are right that's all that is necessary. You'd be surprised at how little work it takes to make a picture.

This is about a page. There is so much in this book - tons of information. Every time I read it I understand it on  a new level.
I find the above information very exciting. This is what we are striving to do in class, to SEE COLOR.. I learned a lot of this from Don Hatfield who is also teaching at the Capital Art Center in Sacramento.

Green Vase and Oranges

Today I went down to the studio at the Capital Art Center in Sacramento. It was open session and I wanted to paint this new vase I found. I will be demonstrating for my class tomorrow so I wanted to get some practice in as well.

We just got back from Hawaii and I got some great shots there. I might have to paint the ocean soon......

New Demonstration, Class Study, "Ready to Eat"

"Ready to Eat"

Oil on Linen, 9x12"

I painted a demonstration for my oil painting class yesterday at the Capital Art Center. I decided to post the progression of the work, since I had to finish it up from a photo at home today.....

I blocked in the shapes and values FIRST. This has proved to be the best way to achieve success for me. Keep it simple, 3 to 4 values and shapes, a happy composition.

I added more saturated color. I was able to compare the value of the under painting to the colors that i could "see". I went for the rich shadow colors of the grapes first.

At this point you can see that I continued to add more color to the grapes and worked some on the plate. I adjusted the perspective of the plate also.

I'm using more paint! I added the grape in the shadow. I worked in the "light" areas of the painting and tried not to get to much into the idea of painting little grapes. I redefined the shadow areas and put more color in to light of the table.

The plate is looking better. I adjust the shadows on the grapes themselves. I added more light.....

I 'dusted' the painting - "used my paper towel to swipe at it very softly". I like the way it makes the edges softer and makes the light bounce around.....

Here you see I added the stems and just a few more highlights, and a touch of blue in the shadows on the grapes.

New Painting in "Paris" Series....

"The Well Dressed Street Man", Paris Series

I sneaked a photo of a man on the streets of Paris last summer. He just looked so different than the people you might see on the streets of San Francisco or New York. My thought was "wow, even street people in Paris dress well!" If I didn't see his belongings sitting there in a basket I wouldn't have believed that he lived on the street.....

I was so embarrassed to take the photo that it is a "moving photo" which was good for the painting because it left me with very little detail. I might make a few adjustments now after seeing the photo. What do you think?

This is a picture of my son Joseph Tate who is also an artist, and a very good one. Above is some of his artwork.

I'm just sharing a few photos from last weeks Art and Wine Festival for Women Realtors in Old Sacramento. It was a fun event.

contact Joe at : josephtateart.com

916-601-9612

Paint Mobile

Today I went to Livermore to pick up a car load of oil paint. It was better than paying $225. for shipping about a 100 miles. I bought a lot of paint. I've decided I want to have it available to my students for their convenience. Classic Artist Oils is very good paint for the price, although the prices have gone up considerably. I ordered enough to get a discount that I can pass on to the class.
I've been painting a little and socializing a lot, but that is what I have felt lead to do lately. God calls me. I respond. At least I am trying to do His will. He is in charge of EVERYTHING!
Here is a quick bad photo of the replica I'm demonstrating for the class. I'll try to finish it tomorrow and take photos of the class paintings tomorrow and post them for you.
God Bless!

Birth of the Impressionism Tour

Last week my class and I traveled to San Francisco to the de Young Museum to view the "Birth of Impressionism" Tour. It was the first time for everybody, except myself, to see these works from the Musee' D'Orsay in Paris. I visited the exhibit last July while in France and wanted to share the experience.
Everybody loved it. On our way home we decided to paint from some of the prints of Monet, Degas, Renoir, and others.
It became an opportunity today to teach the value of learning to see "values". We did a small value study in only 3 to 5 values, then after our lunch break, began the larger works. Everybody did great and I'm looking forward to getting some photos up soon.
If you haven't visited the exhibit, it is very worthwhile! We plan to go in September for the Post Impressionists Show at the same museum.

ART ON THE BOULEVARD

Friday night turned out to be a lot of fun at Hang It Up Gallery in the Town Center, El Dorado Hills. I was having so much fun I forgot to take pictures!

I ended up finishing the demonstration before I went home. Here is a quick shot.

"Must Be Love" 16x20" Oil on Linen

"Cherry Me" 10x20 Oil on Linen

Another Class Study I'm Working On....

"Juicy Fruit" by Randy Blasquez - STILL LIFE DEMO

After the initial lay in you can see in the previous post that I wiped out the lights, being sure to keep the shapes very simple while looking for the lights and darks, and very importantly the movement of the darks through the painting.

At this point I checked to be sure I was happy with the lyrical feel of the piece. This is very important, and this is the time to get it right. The basic structure has to be pleasing to the eye or you will be building a painting "on the sand".

I began to lay in the color, shadows first, then the lights (opaque colors).  At this point I mixed some "general" color piles on my palette, using plenty of paint. I was keeping in mind that I need not go too light until much later in the process. I am always keeping in mind that when I'm working in the light I am staying the the light values- and when I'm working in the darks I am staying in the darker piles.

I am using a more transparent approach in the darks and more opaque paint in the light and middle values. Although the middle value at this point is still a lot of the under painting.

Here I have continued to work in color while adjusting shadows and lights, comparing one to the next, adjusting again.

More paint, more juicy cantaloupe color. I used as much "rich" color as I could, staying away from adding white. I used hansa yellow/orange, mixed with cad red, rose, and naples light.

 

I added the reflected lights on the table, being careful to keep the edges soft and the color muted.

A few more lights.....

and adjustments....

 and final touches....

I really laid on the paint at this point, scooping up the paint from my mixed piles. I added some lines and edges, and softened some areas.

"JUICY FRUIT"

Oil on Linen  16x20"

by Randy Blasquez

Wednesday's Oil Painting Class Demo

Wednesday's Oil Painting Class Demo

We had a full class Wednesday and I set up a still life that was inspiring, (to me anyway!)

I loved the beautiful colors and shapes within this set up - also the dramatic light situation.

I wanted to paint bold, expressive shapes and explained to the class how important it is to begin a painting with the abstract in mind. I instructed them to use three values and three shapes only - for starters. This will help you see the beauty in the dark shapes against the beauty of the light shapes........

After you get that far, look at your abstract composition before going further. 

Use a mirror. Walk away and look. Squint at your setup! Look for beautiful flowing darks that move your eye. See the lighted shapes and how they are leading you on a journey. Look for movement in your painting. If your eyes are pleased by what you see, move on to more paint.....

I will post the next stage later today and then the finished piece so stay tuned.

Don Hatfield Still Life Class at Capital Art Center

Don's Demo

I started this 4 week class last week. When I heard about it I jumped. Don is an amazing teacher and painter, so I made time for this. I am teaching still life to my students on Wednesday, so I knew I could learn something (a lot!) from Don that would enable me to be a better teacher myself. As a teacher I want to give my students what they need to succeed.
We were very blessed today to witness this beautiful demonstration. Don paints in a manner that resembles Sergei Bongart, whom he studied with 8 hours a week for two solid years. It was exciting to see this painting come together from start to finish. Even though Don complained about how things were not working out, it is obvious that things worked out very nicely!
He talks a lot about large color/value shapes. I cannot stress this enough. I still want to paint smaller value shapes way too early in my paintings. But Don says just wait, and it will pay off. He starts with a lot of grayed down color where as I usually start with more color. I find it interesting the way he "finds" the value/color, by studying his subject and "comparing one value next to another". I saw it work right before my eyes. It was wonderful to see his subject come alive when he found the correct value! I want to paint this way and I feel very fortunate to be able to work with Don here in Sacramento.
Don just put out a new video, so go to his blog and find out more.....
http://hatfieldfineart.blogspot.com/

Sunrise on the Vines

Commission Piece
Sunrise on the Vines    30x48     oil on canvas

I think it's finished. I wanted to moody early morning feel for this piece. In order to capture the colors that the couple wanted for their family room, I decided that a sunrise scene would work the best. I might make a couple more slight adjustments, but it is finished for the most part. I took this photo in very bad light, so it is not quite this dark, but you get the idea.........

Commission Work

Vineyard Commission Piece - unfinished - 30 x 48"

I'm working on a commission piece today. I am using a select color scheme for the clients and that makes it more challenging. I have a fabric and wall color swatch at my fingertips.....

I did a couple of studies for their approval and that helps a lot!

I made up a lot of this composition to meet their needs and wants also.

When you take on the challenge of a commission piece a whole new attitude is needed. It comes down to making it work for the client, but also for yourself. I cannot paint something I don't like, so I paint something that is pleasing to me, and at the same time meets the hopes of the folks who will be looking at it, and hopefully enjoying it for a long, long time.

This still has a ways to go, but it is coming along just how I wanted it to. It will have more color in the end, but I''m trying to keep it neutral along the way so I can make the colors pop where I want them to. The under painting is rather bright, in front, where I will be putting in the ground under the vines.This will be nice when I dry brush that area, and let some of the under painting show through.  I will add a lot more detail later as well. I'm looking forward to the finished piece, but will have to take it in sections when I can get to it because I have a lot going on this week to get ready for a retreat next weekend. I will get it to the "almost finished" stage in the next day or two, then break until next week to finish if up.

The nice couple who purchased this piece have never had a commission done before. I can tell they really enjoy artwork - paintings - because they have showed me a few of the pieces they have already collected. They are remodeling their home and are having fun with the whole experience.

I'll post the finished piece for you to review.

Now go and enjoy the outdoors.....Randy

Horton Iris Farm II

Wanted to post these photos earlier with the first post today, but ran into some trouble with the photo card - so here you go........

 

Horton Iris Garden   9x12" oil on panel by RB

Horton Iris Garden II   9z12" oil on panel by RB

Hor

Study from last weekend in Palo Alto Baylands

detail

8x16" oil on linen panel by RB

Here is the full painting, but I have some fixing to do to bring the forground into the background.... or maybe I'll use it to go into a large format painting.

The wild mustard was growing like crazy and it was hard to resist.....

Horton Iris Farm

This past weekend I took some of my class to the Horton Iris Garden in Loomis to paint. Every year they have this wonderful Plein Air event in the Spring, while all the lovely irises are blooming. The weather was amazing.....