One of the recent deliveries to Russell Collection and framed in a nice contemporary gold frame. Its a nice transition between gold impressionist style and sleek and modern.

Its pretty cool to have my art represented at Russell Collection where they have a broad range of styles of art available, but also some of the old master's works. Its like a museum and next month they have a show featuring Pissarro and 5 of his descendants' work. Pretty cool. If you are in Austin you should definitely visit the gallery. What a legacy.

Maybe some of that magic will rub off on me.

What's a Mudhead?
Over one hundred years ago, Charles W. Hawthorne devised a unique way to teach his own method of painting. Instead of focusing on line and form when composing a painting, Hawthorne stressed the importance of carefully observing "color spots" and the representation of light and shadow. To help his students understand this concept, Hawthorne posed models with their backs to the bright sun, often wearing hats or beneath umbrellas. As their faces fell into deep shadow, students were unable to see the model's features clearly, and were forced to focus on broad areas of color rather than details. The featureless faces became known as "mudheads". Of this approach Hawthorne said, "My artist friends are surprised at my having students paint a model out-of-doors, something which they consider extremely difficult. But I consider it the quickest way to get under your skin the idea of the way to paint everything." 
-- Provincetown Art Association and Museum

The quote from Hawthorne I shared yesterday got me thinking more about his teaching and what I do with my own work (and plan to share at our workshop.)

The idea is to focus on the big shapes of color/value and paint those. Rather than going into the landscape or a city scene and trying to depict every tree, shrub, bench, lamppost, etc. we learn to focus on big blocks of color and not end up with a patchwork of complicated material to force into one cohesive design. Get the big masses right and then you can begin to further divide, as Henry Hensche taught, expanding on Hawthorne's instruction.

Use the big shapes to create an interesting pattern of light and dark. Compose and plan the balance of your painting with the big masses and then go into details. Or not.

My daughter working the sidewalk chalk a year or so ago. Love the long shadows. Morning and evening are such great times of day. But the light moves quickly and you have to work fast.

Don't miss the opportunity to learn some techniques about painting fast and loose (that sounds kinda bad) with V....Vaughan and me in June. We'll work from life and photos and paint the landscape and figurative works. We will focus on "starts" - that time of so much promise and inspiration! I love starts!

Here's a great quote from Charles Hawthorn - 
"Do studies, not pictures. Know when you are licked — start another. Be alive, stop when your interest is lost. Put off finish — make a lot of starts. It is so hard and so long before a student comes to a realization that these few large simple spots in right relations are the most important things in the study of painting. They are the fundamentals of all painting."

Light Meets Light Workshop | June 18-21 | $400 | V...Vaughan and Robin Cheers

As you know,  V....Vaughan is a wonderful artist and a very dear friend and mentor. We've had a joint show, we travel together, we get together weekly for chocolates and chat, to paint, sketch, critique, and talk about the business of art.

Now we've decided to teach together. Using similar approaches to capturing life, we will share with you our techniques for capturing light and life from an early morning sunrise to live model arrangements.

The goal is to teach you to capture light and gesture focusing on the "start" of your painting. Wednesday evening we begin with a demo and talk at our satellite studio, Joel's Coffee House. More details.

Date: June 18-21
Cost: $400 (including lunches and model fees)
Location: Joel's Coffee House and outdoor spaces tba

Email me to register.

Yesterday I had a friend come in and pose for me in various situations in my house. I took a lot of photos and did a quick study while she was kind enough to address my daughter's thank you cards. It was a beautiful morning to have the door open and listen to the birds as a little rain fell.  We are now in year 7 of drought. I had 4 inches fall overnight Monday here and more rain all night last night. Its marvelous!

I'm excited about the poses we did and can't wait to get to work. And using this nice bright color study will be a great guide. I wanted to include more of the tabletop, still life type stuff too. Didn't quite compose as well as I could have.

Castle Gallery has its "Fresh Air" spring show opening Friday March 9 from 5-10 pm. 

I sent this painting up there today... nothing like the last minute! Contact the gallery for more information.

May is just crazy....

We're running towards 5th grade graduation and cramming as much in as possible it seems. Yesterday the kids went to the middle school for a tour. Today was a field trip. They have the talent show and career day and early release all happening this week too. Another field trip later in the month. My daughter has her Girl Scout Bronze Award to finish up and then there is the ceremony and bridging to cadets... and countless more things to remember. And this doesn't even touch on my own work and any other family obligations.

Is it any wonder my brain is on the beach?

Continuing my beach theme here. Wishful thinking. And time to work on large scenes that I can hopefully send to my gallery in Florida. Seems apropos.

I am loving the beach theme. I really can't wait to go back. We haven't been in a couple of years now, except for a quick trip to the Texas coast to show my parents around sometime last fall. This weekend I will be in the Hill Country with a large group of Girl Scouts camping. That might provide good fodder for sketching!

The 24 Hours of Art online show is over. Many thanks to Jane Haynie for arranging that and for all those who looked and contributed and went to my ETSY site and hopefully my website.

This little gem is available in my ETSY shop - click the image to get there to purchase.