Giving Back: one-day workshop

Relief Print: Red bud leaf and seeds

When you are given the gift of time to work, generally the organization running the Artist Residency program asks for you to share an educational program with the public. I offered to do a relief printing and book making workshop. One day, June 14, 9am - 4pm. I provide all the materials, and anyone wanting to take the workshop gets it for free.

I decided to test the products I'm using, and here are the prints I made today. One is also printed on the back. I focused on leaves from the trees on our property: redbud, oak, elm, locust, pawpaw, beech, maple, wild cherry - maybe. Some work better than others. All will be bound into a little book.

My old gal, the Yarka!

So much, most likely too much, to take to the Highlands Nature Sanctuary Artist Residency. Still, I need two easels for a one-day program I will be doing with a group of 15 youngsters.

The kids will be working on two 16x20" paintings. So, I need another easel besides my EasyL. Had to break out the Yarka. I bought her in the late 90's, and this one is very well traveled, going to India twice, England once, and many places around the USA.

She's an old workhorse that I put out to pasture and showing her age with missing parts, a dent in one of the metal legs, and  broken slat inside. Elmer's carpenter's wood glue and a bulldog clip helped fix her insides, and WD40 applied to her legs helped get them lubricated, but the dent in her leg means she gets off to a slower start. Just like me!

And just like me, I know she'll love the kids!

My Multimedia Print in Denison Magazine

Denison Magazine Spring 2015

I haven't really talked too much about the many months I spent in the Denison University Print Studio as a Licking County Community Scholar. But, my time there consumed me from January 19 until May 11, 2015.

I signed up for the Advanced Printmaking Class with Professor Ron Abram, who was my teacher the last time I'd set foot in class in 1995. It was an etching class then, and Ron was new to Denison U. After 20 years we had a long embrace of a reunion at the entrance to the studio door. Over the years, he'd been showing my old prints to his first year students! We were both very happy that I was in this class.

There were 9 of us: 7 Denison students, two of whom were doing independent studies, and two community scholars. Ron dubbed us the Denison Print Collective 2015. He set up a heavy load of work for us, and I embraced it with all my heart and soul, and it pulled things out of me that I had never explored. My entire time in this class was about experimentation.

I live in Licking County, and since 1991, a copy of the Denison Magazine has shown up in my mailbox each year. I never ever expected to be inside it's covers. Below is a link to the article focusing on the work my class as a multimedia experience with Denison's Tutti Music Festival this past March. My etching/workblock print has a full page image, with part of my artist's statement and comments from the composer whose work I chose to inspire me. On the facing page is the work on a first year print student, but graduating senior, Brittany. I was thrilled to be on facing pages with her, as I bought one of these drypoint prints from her edition of the image in print. We are on the last image page.
https://denisonmagazine.com/features/all-together-now/

Organizing and Packing

Packing for two residencies, and two workshops is so much fun. Plus all my stuff is getting sorted, cleaned and refilled, such as these brush washer cans.

The big one on the left was a recent gift from artist friend, Peg Vasil. The two in the middle are from Hobby Lobby ($13.99 last I purchased). The one on the far right is from Holbein years ago, available in 4 sizes from Blick ($69+ to $139+).

Last night, I saw the smaller cans in the center available on the Artwork Essentials website for around $19.99 + S&H.

Years ago, my artist friend Sarah LaDuca told me to use Murphy Oil Soap to clean oil paint from my brushes. It's a great product. Removes paint from clothes and much more.

My artist friend Margaret McWethy also recommended Lestoil to remove oil paint from clothes. It works great, too!

Still, not much that I know removes the stains of the Pthalo colors from a light grey carpet!

Sullivantia in bloom

Here's the rare Sullivantia in bloom. I didn't see this plant in bloom last Monday. I found these photos online here .

The plant is listed as growing in 10 states in the USA, four of which the Sullivantia is listed as threatened or endangered.

Residency #1 begins soon!

Sullivantia, one of the rare plants living in
the Highlands Nature Sanctuary,
in Bainbridge, OH.

In preparation for the Highlands Nature Sanctuary Arc of Appalachia Artist-in-Resident program which begins June 8 and culminates on June 28th with a show and sale of works from the five artists who will be spending part of their painting lives in an Ohio Eastern Temperate Forest, my Sherpa, Martin, and I drove to the site on Monday.

We were pleased to meet Charlotte and Dale on their lovely property. They purchased a piece of land with a small house on the edge of the forest, and let nature creep back in. It's taken 15 years for the forest to reclaim itself on their land! They have a small clearing around their house, live among singing birds, insects, a diversity of woodland plants, and are the perfect stewards of the Nature Sanctuary.

They handed us over to Betty, one of the board members, and we said goodbye to the laundry on the line, and the great balls of native grapevine that they made into natural ornaments for their piece of serenity.

I am looking forward to spending three weeks immersed in the natural world of the Eastern Temperate Forest! The trails are narrow, no fishing or hunting allowed, a lot more peaceful than the Hocking Hills Area of Ohio. Visitors are asked to keep their voices down, and who wouldn't if you're in the company of a few 400 year old hemlocks?

I look forward to sharing this experience with you, when I can get a connection.

Booked my flight to France

2014 at the top of the falaises in Etretàt, France.

Carrying all my painting gear and wearing several layers of clothing, I made the climb to the top of this side of the cliffs to see the backside of l'Aiguille, the Needle. On this side, the chalk is really white; on the opposite side, it's rather dirty looking. What a luxury it would be to spend a month here painting. My friend, Susie, climbed up with me and took my photo. She went on down again, and I stayed and painted. A part of me would like to have just walked. Indeed with my backpack on, and on open terrain, I felt a bit like I was back on the Camino.

July 2013, Spain, somewhere along The Way.

So many paintings left undone here.

We drove to the top of this side of the falaises. It was a fantastic day, but windy.
Just had to do some clowning around here. I was so very happy to be here.

This year, I am going to Brittany. I've only been to that region for about 2 days, in St. Malo. I think I made five or six small paintings in that time, the first one from my bedroom window with a sea view. The others were all made as I walked around the sea wall the next day.

So now, it's back to Brittany I go, in July - all alone! Just me and my paint brush. Long story, but if things had played out differently, I would have gone in September. Still, I am thankful to everyone that made it possible, and to Martin, for helping me decide which photos of my work to send. This opportunity comes on the heals of another residency in Southern Ohio, at the Highlands Nature Preserve. I serve there for three weeks in June, and have only a day in between to unpack and repack for my flight to France on June 30. I'm tired just thinking about it.

Disoriented!

Feeling a lack of focus over the last couple of weeks. This winter I did 2-1/2 months of concentrated work in the print studio at Denison University. Then an interactive exhibition; then spring break. The concentration level was broken.

We started back to school 2-3 weeks ago. But, I missed three classes because I took two painting workshops. And just this Wednesday evening, I started teaching again. Thursday evening, French class.

So, now I need to get into Camino mindset and find my way through some new prints.

I'm at Denison now, put out a bunch of things: specialty papers, prints, two plexiglass plates ready for monotypes.

A bit of placement planning, and adding an image ontop of a ghost image.

Shevlino Workshop: last day:( . . . Ready for action

David did a demo yesterday. Will post that later. We had three hours to paint our own. Been so busy in and out of class!

Now, I'm back in the studio this morning, for our last workshop day.

My Easy plein air easel with an 18x14" toned panel, and a third set of colors, fine tuned for this Alla Prima workshop. The tuna can contains clean solvent and in the small cups, linseed oil. And my brush cleaner with solvent hanging on the easel. Brushes mostly 1" and 3/4".

Shevlino Workshop: Demo #1

David Shevlino at the start of his demo. Placement of the figure.

Drawing the shape of the torso.

The figure, plus start of the shadow indications.

The first flesh tones.

 

Beautiful alla prima painting with a big brush!

 A solid understanding of the classical tradition of drawing and painting plus years and years of practice allows David to make it look so easy.

Shevlino Workshop 3: my little desk

In France last September our room in Etretât had a wonderful desk! I love having a desk to sit and write or draw and paint at.

Here's my little desk in the Brother Angelo room. You can see today's painting on top, and a small one by Mr. Shevlino.

Tomorrow's another day!

Today was a wonderful day. After breakfast, there was David's painting amazing demo, lunch, and then we painted until 4pm. After a little down time, Edie and I spent the evening with Jill from Chicago, and our teacher, David Shevlino. The four of us are the only folks staying in the Franciscan Life Processing Center, and so we spent the evening talking about art and life, English TV shows, and more.

There were heavy bouts of rain this evening or else we'd have gone out for dinner. A pond developed in the lawn outside, and a fog settled in over the newly formed pond.

I had hoped to post a photo of my desk with today's painting, plus the small painting that I purchased from David's small stash, but the best laid plans of mice and men . . . I have three Gmail accounts. My Gmail is not on the same email as my blog, so to access the photos that I emailed to myself from my phone, well, I would have to sign out, download the photos, and then sign back in. It seems all to hard right now. But I wanted to touch base with you anyway. I'll be stronger in the AM with a good night's sleep.

David Shevlino Workshop 2: Big Brushes

David's supply list said to bring big brushes. I've got tons of flats and filberts with me, lots in the 3/4" - 1" size. I try to get my students to work with big brushes, and of course, that takes lots of paint, too, something many students are afraid to put out.

 

But, this morning, I am ready for action! Demo starts at 9 AM. I've been up since 6 AM.

David Shevlino Workshop 1: 5-1/2 hours drive

Last week I took a 4-day plein air landscape workshop in Columbus, OH with Neil Riley. Neil was my teacher some 23 years ago when I was studying at CCAD. I have to say, the workshop was mind boggling for the breadth of knowledge that was passed on to the students, the quality of the material he shared through lecture, demos and projects he had us working on. I would say that anyone that decided not to take either of the workshops offered by Ohio Plein Air Society, in Columbus, has missed the boat on this one. A teacher with a superb eye and 30 years of teaching experience, and an insatiable desire to know about painting and help his students, makes this workshop a stand out. More on this workshop to come.

 

But tomorrow, I embark on a second 4-day workshop with David Shevlino. This one is a figure painting workshop, and I am really looking forward to seeing his demo in the morning before we start in on our own painting of the nude. I signed up for this workshop last year, and asked my friend Edie Dean if she'd be interested in taking it with me. So today, we drove to Lowell, Michigan.

To break the boredom of the drive, we decided to venture into
Lansing. I Googled "Antique stores near me"
and we were off on an adventure. We found these
monster brushes in a home interior store.
See my normal Size 8 watercolor brush for scale.

We are staying at the Franciscan Life Processing Center, just down the road from 14 Nuns who have their own accommodations. 250 acres of isolation and quiet here. We are each in a private room.

Me, I am Brother Angelo,
which just confirms my feeling that
at some point in time, I was a monk!
(Too many abbey ruins in my history.)
This is my key and my name is also above my door.
Edie is now Brother Leo. 



So, it's off to dream land for me now. My room is overly hot, but I am happy here with the Franciscans, my comfy bed, private bath, and little writing desk. Talk with you more tomorrow. Brother Angelo, over and out.

My print in Tutti Music Festival video

I've been trying to link this video to my website and blog, but it's difficult. Maybe this will work from my phone?

Two versions of my multi-media print, inspired by a musical composition by Scott Anthony Shell, are included in the video. It's around 3:35 on the time, at first out of focus. You see a person with headphones. He is listening to the music while looking at my prints. Just a flash in the pan, really, but a thrill and honor none the less.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152691386260592&pnref=story

Paul Reif, I miss him already!

Paul Reif, painting in an Ohio prairie on November 16, 2004.

I met Paul Reif in August 2002 at the first meeting of the Ohio Plein Air Society. Of all the photos that I had taken of Paul over the years, the one above is my favorite. He loved the prairie, and introduced it to all the members of our Society on this cold day, where we experienced every kind of weather from sun to sleet. But, as you can see, Paul was dressed for the occasion and painting happily away. I walked that property with him on this day to find a good painting spot. This was a privately owned prairie, around Urbana area of Ohio, and it was my first time in a tall grass prairie. The colors of the grasses in the fall were gorgeous. He knew it and wanted to share it. 

The photo below was taken in 2005, at an OPAS paintout at Franklin Park Conservatory, and the one of him standing and chatting with the husband of one of the members was from around the same time, near the abode of Tom Harbrecht. Thank you Nancy Reif, for sharing your husband with us!

 
His funeral took place a few days ago and was a fitting memorial to the man, the artist. He was father to seven children, one girl only, but she's a special one. It was interesting to see the boys, who he'd described as fun-loving and a bit wild at times at their get togethers. They were indeed chips off the 'old block'. Many of them had beards, his nose, but I didn't get to witness the frivolity that Paul had described at their family gatherings. It was a pleasure to meet his family all the way down to the great-great granddaugter.

There were more than a few tears shed.

It was fantastic to see Paul's paintings displayed around the room, paint brushes in his hand, a reproduction of one of his paintings in the lid of his casket. And, he was wearing a yellow shirt, even if it was a little more subdued that the yellows in the photos here.

It was difficult to say goodbye to this man. We had quietly communicated for 15 years through emails and sometimes phone calls. I will miss him sending me a photo of his latest painting, whether it be one of the prairie in pastel, or one of his large acrylic florals. I miss him already.

When we all arrived at the grave site, a cat appeared. His family agreed that Paul would have loved that.

He was a Navy Man and received the honor of a 21-gun salute, followed by a bugler playing taps. The morning's rain had slowed to a drizzle, the notes were muted and traveled through the air mournfully across the country cemetery and into the fields beyond.

Drats!!!

Been trying to send some photos this morning, but my resolution is too big. Will work on this.

Re: Tango

Bonjour de Giverny.

The internet has been atrocious, hence the lack of communication.

The weather, superb!

I did have a serious bout of diarrhea at 2:45am, night before last. Sylvie had medicine, but I was drained 3/4 of the day yesterday.

I can't say my paintings are any good, but getting better, I think.

Last night we painted in Monet's Garden, and will do the same tonight. We go this AM to paint an old half timbered gate house on and across the Seine from Vernon, just 4 km from Giverny. Then lunch and a tour around Monet's gardens and house.

That's all for now. We move to a different B&B today, for an additional 3 nights in Giverny.

Photo shows all of us in front of the Mairie, the town hall, in Auvers-sur-Oise, on September 15.

P.S. Dinner the last two nights has been ice cream and a glass of wine. C'est parfait!

Bold change

Blonde to red, at 14, she's not afraid of change. I should know that. Two years ago she had her long hair cut very short, a hairdo worn by Emma Watson.

Water soluble oils, hum???

Yep, here there are.

Cobra and Holbein's Duo Water Soluble Oils

Something I never wanted to do, but it's become a necessity.

In October, I am teaching a 2-day workshop for the LLL Center in Upper Arlington. The workshop was advertised as oils, water soluble oils and acrylics. I heard last week that all the people who have signed up so far use either acrylic or oils. So . . .  a bit of panic set in!

Lucky for me, I watch Project Runway,
and this is my "Make it Work" moment.

Thank you Tim Gunn!

Paint is paint, right. NOT SO. I use a 6-color limited palette, and most of what I do is based on the properties of those colors: pure pigment, high tinting power, 3 opaque and 3 transparent,  a warm and a cool of the primaries + white.

Let the learning curve begin.

I am thinking of one of my beginning oil students
after six hours of painting time.

"I don't think I'll ever get this."

she says sadly as she heads for the door at the end of the night.

"How many hours of your life have you been painting in oils?"

says I, just as she reaches the door.

"Six hours."

I asked her to consider this:

Monet, in his 80's, and

after a lifetime of painting said, 

"I'm only just beginning to see."