Saturday Plein Air - Molly's Sunflowers

Today we had a lovely setting to paint - we were invited to visit the home of one of our member's son and daughter-in-law. The 23 acres were beautiful, but I decided to stay close to Molly's studio and paint the vase of sunflowers.

Process shots below:

New Exhibit Opening this Week!

I just delivered these two pieces of art today to the High Road Gallery:

"Check Mate", 12"x 16", oil on canvas wrapped board

"Buckeye Repose", 4"x 10", photography

The exhibit opens this Wednesday, Aug. 27th - Please visit!

"Not Just Apples on a Table - Still Life Alive" Exhibit

Free exhibit and reception at the High Road Gallery, Worthington, Ohio! 

The show runs from Aug 27th - Sept 27th. The gallery is open W-Sat, 12-4pm.

Artists' Reception and Award Ceremony: Sunday Sept 7, 2-4pm.

Info on the website:
http://www.highroadgallery.com/visit/index.htm

Studio Work - Garden House

I am getting ready for a small solo show in December at one of the metro parks. I did a quick pastel in the studio of their meeting house today.

I used UArt 400 grit and added some white and black gesso thinned down to establish some light and darks and let it dry before I started with the pastel sticks. I had a printed photograph but it was not quite the composition I wanted, so I had the edited photo up on the laptop and mostly used this as reference.

Process shots below:

Chess Board Pochade

I like to visit thrift stores to find interesting stuff to use for my art - either as a reference subject, a tool for the studio, or to build things for painting outdoors.

A few months ago, I found a nice wooden folding chess board with the chess pieces inside for $2.79. My first inclination was to use it to store art supplies. A woman saw me carrying it around the store and remarked that some of the chess pieces were missing. I remarked that I didn't care because I wasn't going to play! She probably wondered why I wanted it - too hard to explain to non-artists why we do the things we do..... hahaha.  The board actually prompted me to use it in a still life setup for an oil painting for an upcoming show! I will be unveiling that painting in a couple weeks.

This week, I got back to building something with the board. I am a fan of James Gurney and he recently created a new video Watercolor in the Wild. In this video, he shares his pared down art kit for painting outdoors. I have painted in watercolor in the past and thought that using some of his ideas would be a great way of capturing some scenes on some of my upcoming trips. I am hoping to go overseas and although I paint in oils or pastels now, it can be difficult to travel with those. I also want to spend more time enjoying the scenery without painting. Doing quick sketches in watercolor will accomplish both and be easy to travel with.

SO! With some ideas from James, I created a new Chess Board Pochade kit! I wonder if I am the first artist to have such an elegant painting box? I mounted a "tee nut" in one side of the box which attaches to a tripod quick release adapter. I have a nice small Manfrotto tripod which travels well - it is a full size tripod but folds down to about 18".

For the inside, I added a lightweight piece of chain (adjustable) to hold the bottom half at whatever angle I require. (By the way, since I am left handed, I put the chain on the right and I work on the 'backside' of the paper in the booklet.)

I used some items I already had - an older watercolor box already filled with my preferred pigments, a sketchbook with watercolor paper, and a tin with brushes, water brushes, watercolor pencils, pencil sharpener, and paper towel.

 The only things that would not fit inside when closed, were the tiny plastic water jar, and a collapsible water bottle.

I recently ordered one of the watercolor sketchbooks which James recommended (shown below) which is a bit larger. I have also ordered one of the mini folding metal watercolor palettes he recommended and it should be here soon. It will give me more mixing area.

I'm tickled that this worked out. I can see using this locally for oils or pastel also. It makes a simple organized painting box!

UPDATE - I have created a new painting box from scratch! Please check out my new post here:
http://nartizt.blogspot.com/2014/11/busy-busy.html

Upcoming Events!!

Please visit my upcoming events in the Columbus Ohio area:

“yART at the MAC”

Art market! Please come and see/buy some of my newest artwork. I will be located within the Worthington Area Art League's tent.

The annual yART - Art on the yard of the MAC - McConnell  Arts Center, Evening St., Worthington, Ohio. Saturday, Aug 16th, 9-2.

http://www.mcconnellarts.org/wp/archives/9330

“Ohio Pastel Artists League (OPAL) Fall Exhibit”

Free exhibit and reception! Come see the artwork of the OPAL group. I will be showing 4 pastel paintings and offer them for sale at the Arts Castle, Delaware, Ohio. 

Reception on Sat. Aug 16th 4-6pm

The show runs from Aug 18th - Oct 17th. 

Contact the Arts Castle for open hours:
http://artscastle.org/exhibits.html

"Not Just Apples on a Table - Still Life Alive" Exhibit

Free exhibit and reception at the High Road Gallery, Worthington, Ohio! Come see a whimsical oil painting and a cool photograph which I have created for this show! Both will be for sale. 

The show runs from Aug 27th - Sept 27th. The gallery is open W-Sat, 12-4pm.

Artists' Reception and Award Ceremony: Sunday Sept 7, 2-4pm.

Info on the website:
http://www.highroadgallery.com/visit/index.htm


"OPAL Exhibit at SUNBEAR  STUDIOS & GALLERY"
ALEXANDRIA, OHIO

Opening:  August 29, 2014 from   7 pm  to  9 pm
The exhibit runs through September 26

http://www.sunbearstudio.com/

Saturday Plein Air - Alum Creek Galena Boat Ramp

We had to work quickly today to beat the storms. We wrapped up about 10:45. I had started an 8x10 of the view across the inlet, but my surface was giving me fits and not holding the paint. So I wiped it off. Sometimes that is a good way of loosening up for a better painting. 

I got out another canvas wrapped 6x6 panel which was already toned from a previous failed start. This time I tried to simplify and work quickly. I liked the view across from the boat ramp of the stand of interesting trees:

I worked fast and used the palette knife and was very happy how this turned out after 35-45 minutes - success!!

"Three Tree View", 6x6, oil on canvas wrapped board