Earlier this month, I finished a ten week painting class with Michelle McCunney. I took some chances and learned some new things. If something worked, I went with it.
Painting statues seems to work for me. This resting Buddha statue lives on Spaulding near Channing and is one of my favorite statues. The statue itself is maybe twelve inches tall. What drew me to this one was the composition and the dappled light. The strong vertical of the right leg and the opposing diagonals of his head, arms, and folded leg was a drawing challenge. This had to be right before I could continue. The dappled light is all paint handling.
This Buddha statue also lives on Spaulding. The assignment from Michelle was a still life with at least three objects. And yes, this neighbor really does have a surfboard and window in their front yard. The composition I aimed for in this piece is called a cruciform. It's when two objects overlap making a + sign. The surfboard and the slate behind the Buddha create that composition. The strong diagonal of the plant off to the right adds into without distracting.
The light, shadow, color attracted me to this image of the Quan Yin. The intricacy of folds and textures need the best drawing I could do. I treated the paints gently as I laid each one down. There's very little layering. I wanted the color to be transparent and pure.
Michelle introduced us to new painters and invited us to use new techniques. One painter was Frederick Wong. His technique was to scrunch up thin paper and then saturate it with water. The paints went on fluid and blended of their own. The lines from the scrunching added texture and interest. I had to try this.
I used hosho paper that I buy in a roll from The Ink Stone on Telegraph. It's not an expensive paper and doesn't enjoy being wet. Painting on it was fun. I used secondary colors and let them blend. I then used the corner of a kitchen sponge to provide additional texture for the tree and and the grass. It looked kind of empty so I added some characters.
Another assignment was to integrate figures into a landscape. I was taking pictures at Strawberry Creek Park and inadvertently these two landed in my photo. The child was repeatedly throwing something into the creek and mom was repeatedly retrieving it.
I'm not so fond of this painting. The composition is off. Mom should be further to the right. The right side of the painting looks finished, but the left side doesn't. The sponge work was lots of fun. I'm also not sure that I enjoy drawing people so much. Statues, sure! Animals, right on! People, meh.
I spent the first weekend of September at Green Gulch Farm and Zen Center. I was at a writer's retreat organized by SCBWI. It was a work event - no speakers, no classes, no workshops. Just a chance to get some work done in a peaceful setting. I worked on a picture book manuscript that I'm writing on juvenile rattlesnakes. It was also a vacation for me as I don't get over that way much. I walked all the way to Muir Beach and took pictures of every Buddha, every Quan Yin, and any spot of inspiring landscape. Some of these images will turn into paintings. On the last day, it was wet and drizzly. I sat and drew this.
Jackson's Art Supplies had a recent article on art and mental health. The images and words we feed ourselves has a direct effect on our well-being. Using kind words and taking time to see is one of the best things we can do to have compassion for ourselves and for each other. I would hazard a guess that most people don't care for themselves enough. Art has changed the way I think about myself and the way I look at the world. I invite you to find that thing that helps you take better care.
Oh wait, one last image. I chose the turquoise.
There is still room in my bookbinding class at Kala Art Institute on November 9th. Follow the links for registration via Kala's website. The October 19th class was cancelled.
Take care until next time!
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