Black and White to Color

Light effects are central in my work.  I want the painting to stand out from across the room and dramatic lighting does that.

My goal with this sketch was to show the coolness and darkness of this specific light and its effect on his face.

Fall 2013 Newsletter

Hello friends and art lovers!

It has been quite a busy year, both personally and professionally. Despite dealing with death and illness in the family, I have tried to keep creating art  and staying in the flow of life, moving forward - searching and enjoying. I am still teaching; it brings me great joy to be around so many creative people who are on the same journey.

In August I went on a painting trip to Ohio. We took our easels and went out on the water, enjoying the breeze and the trees, and painted away. I also went on a photo trip to Florida last month, taking in some beautiful scenery, water and sunsets.

This fall has brought many opportunities to display my artwork, between putting new work in galleries and participating in 4 art exhibits. All of the pieces entered into these shows were honored with some type of award! Here are the details and pictures from each show:

*Enchanted and Festival of Sunflowers took 1st and 2nd place, respectively, at Hobart Arts League 8th Annual Juried Art Competition.

                                                                                                                                   

*Many Faces of a Woman received 1st place honors at Heartland Artists' 25th Annual Juried Regional Art Show.

                                                                                                                                   

*Out of 401 entries, submitted by 231 talented artists, 215 total pieces were accepted into the Midwest Museum of American Art's 35th Elkhart Juried Regional Show. Secrets on the Wind received the Steve and Jane Poe purchase award.  We Rise to the Occasion received the Craig and Connie Fulmer purchase award.

          Secrets on the Wind                                            We Rise to the Occasion

 

                                                                               

Midwest Museum of American Art
429 S Main St
Elkhart IN, 46516

(574) 293-6660

www.midwestmuseum.us

This show is on display from October 11th - December 8th.

Gallery Hours
Tues - Fri: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sat and Sun 1:00 - 4:00 pm

                                                                                                                                   

*Round and Round We Go was honored with the Dana Getman purchase award in the South Haven Center for the Arts 4th Annual Regional Juried Exhibit.

South Haven Center for the Arts

600 Phoenix Rd
South Haven, MI 49090

This show is on display from September 27th - November 10th.

Gallery Hours
Mon - Fri: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sat & Sun 1:00 - 4:00 pm
(269) 637-1041
www.southhavenarts.org

Thank you for your continued support!

Gerrie

Letter From a Student: How Do You Feel About Art Class?

It can be elusive, the creativity, the emotion, release of something inside oneself, the sense of projecting yourself through art.  To some it can be threatening and something to avoid at all costs, to others it is a portal that is worthy of pursuit.  Self-expression through art may sometimes be achieved as you strive with attempts to create a reasonable facsimile, or better yet, your own interpretation of an image, someplace that speaks to you, something or someone that holds special meaning to you.  Capturing and holding onto the creative spark can be difficult and it is helpful to find a group of like- minded people who share the rush when the creative juices are flowing and to help prime the pump when they are not.

 

We listen, learn, and may be challenged with the many layers of complexity concerning color, values, soft and hard edges, composition and brush strokes as well thumb nails sketches. It's a continuous struggle to find that place where your creative drive finds synchronization with artistic technique.  Success occurs in varying degrees, but one hopes for gradual and steady progress and the occasional personal gratification of a piece just finished that just seemed to work.  Or, it may occur on a piece that slowly crept out as you were incrementally rewarded for the right combination of discipline and experimentation and the application of successful techniques to canvas.  Searching for and finding that sweet spot where you apply the disciplines learned while at the same time getting loose and just letting it flow is the goal.  The reward might be that of a piece of work that could convey a peaceful serenity, a swirling wind, the chill of a winter night or heat of a summer day, the glow of sunlight, distant mountains, a rushing stream, reflections off the water or the feeling of actually being there for the viewer.  This doesn't happen by accident.

 

A competent teacher with not only knowledge but ability in multiple mediums is essential.  Also required is the ability to provide constructive critical feedback and be willing to repeat it as many times as required until we finally demonstrate that we get it on the work we perform.  Learning something from each piece is important and is the foundation from which our progress is dependent.  It requires a special gift to achieve all of this while providing the students with a continuous flow of shared art learning experiences from years of study and work as well as fun and laughter.

 

It may have been serendipitous to end up in such a class, but once found, the level of enrichment to your artistic endeavors will be richly rewarded. 

Different Strokes, Part 2

Here is the almost finished version of last week's piece.  Inspired by Strahl waterfall in Brown County State Park - Nashville, Indiana.

Different Strokes

Here is the first in a series of shots of one of my paintings.  My vision for the charcoal strokes was quite clear, but what do you see in these dark lines?  We will post a more finished version in the coming week.

Inspiration

 










Find a scene that touches your soul.  A feeling, an idea - embrace it and study it.  What makes it so special and why does it connect with your imagination?

















The location in this piece, Luddington State Park, offers complex landscapes, warm and cool colors, strong contrast of values, and an endless array of textures.  My mind interprets these as a puzzle that I get to put together in my artwork.

What locations speak to you? Find them and enjoy.

Is it Done Yet?

I anticipated, planned and sketched.  As with any painting, I develop new technical skill through understanding the concept and purpose of each unique piece of art.  This one was no different.

  

 









The glass transparency, morning light, and intricate shapes are motivating factors, layer upon layer.  It appears as though they are all fused together because you can see through them.

 

 

“Is it done yet?”  is a question I ask myself.  I take a step back so that I may see the whole piece of art instead of the individual section that I have recently been working on.  This provides clarity.

Finishing is reevaluation of all the previous thoughts and ideas.  If everything is working well together, then it is done.

Leave Your Mark

Line by line...

 Stroke by stroke...

 Color by color...

Leave your mark.

Who Are You?

The search for your individual artistic fingerprint, your unique personality as an artist is an ongoing endeavor.

If you are on a search for what defines your creative self, you cannot start every painting the same way and expect different results. 




You need a fresh exhilarating, exciting experience; living on the edge will take you to different places.  Try the exact opposite of  your usual approach. 

 

In this demonstration I started with a loose rough drawing indicating the shapes and forms of the flowers which tell the main body of the story.  Then I applied local color to the background which was complimentary to the center of interest.   





The strokes that I used were inspired by the shapes and forms of the live plants and the rhythms they produce as they cross each other and intermingle like friends greeting each other at a party.   
The flowers are bowing as though they have met royalty in an unexpected place, moving and swaying as if the energy from the crowd of friends were praising their beauty. 

 

"I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart."  ~Vincent van Gogh