Hot Town, Summer in the City

Ah the city! Summer in the city is so hard to resist. The people, the water, the flowers and the food. Last week Norma and I went it to see the Jeff Koons exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art. I have not been there in years- because the last time that I went, there was one giant area that was just filled with garbage.

OK, ok ok... I know, it is art. At least the owner of a MFA can probably find a way to explain why, I am sure. But to me, that whole room full of actual garbage was nothing but a room full of garbage. The emperors new clothes. A huge scam. Masturbation. And worse- using valuable space that could have been given to an artist.

Like the crowds in the story about the emperor- everyone can see that it is just a room full of garbage, (or an empty canvas or a piece of found junk) But the art speak is tossed around just so that folks are afraid to question. Everyone says that they see the beautiful kingly robes- out of fear of looking stupid. I will allow that it is quite possible that I will one day "get it" and read these words and feel shame. I will let you know if that happens. ( I change my mind all the time about everything :-)

This time I didn't see any garbage at the MCA. In fact, I saw much to like. I really enjoyed the Koons show- despite the fact that it was a VERY inappropriate place to take my teen aged daughter! I am much more liberal about such things than most folks are, but giant pictures of penetration closeups (the artist and his former porn star wife) are a little more than I want to show her, (thankfully it was behind a wall- though still visible from the main gallery). I loved Koon's sculptures and I loved his humor. His colors are amazing and he has balls. ( I saw them :-)

Koons, Hirst, Freud, Richter and Close, are Rock Stars. They are all artists of their own time- I like that.

Meanwhile, as the Art Institute expands into their new modern wing- the last few weeks have been exciting. I have been to AI twice so far this month, and both times found old friends, back from long years in storage. The best part of the new modern wing will be the space that they free up in the old side. Because just like punk rock had to back to Rock's beginnings- to not be influenced by the 70s- I prefer to skip the teachings of Joan Mitchel, (not to be confused with Joni) and go back to our beginnings.

Representing Reality has a few more weeks to hang- so come on in if you have not seen it yet. Call me and I would love to join you.

Lori

Working Out

These days you will fine me riding my bike to the studio- and working out a bit when I get there. Have a little 3 times a week class where we are learning kung-fu- mixing it up with some other fighting arts in my studio.

Sketching cows and sipping ice coffee are sure signs that summer is really finally here.

Lazy "Daze" of Summer.

The show is hanging nicely and my very wonderful house guests have gone home. School is out for the summer, Hillary has conceded and I have a nice little painting of pinwheels on the easel. Life is good.

It really is important to look for the good in life. I ran into some people in the world yesterday- really selfish and rude. The kind of insensitive people who make life unpleasant. Knowing that there are people like that in the world makes it easy to look forward to death.

So today, optimistic about the long warm days ahead, I plopped some shiny pinwheels in a vase- because pinwheels, like flowers and balloons, can be temporary and a little bit fragile. Like joy- like life.

Love, Lori

Representing Reality 08

Here is a little video of the Sage Gallery, where I have my work in the show- Representing Reality 08.

The four artists from around the country are Jeff Gola, Lori Kiergaard, Leslie Sealey and Beverly Ferguson.

Olberman- right again.

I do not know what is going on with Hillary. I am embarrassed that I once admired her and stood up for her. What a nut job she turns out to be. Yesterday's comments by her were really outrageous.... Good old Keith called her out, too. (if you have not seen this, it is more then worth your ten minutes):

New Hall- or Sage Hall Redux 2

This is the third Sage hall painting. I may have more- as this exploration has been fun.

another Tuesday

Oh these Tuesdays keep coming. Let's just hope that this day ends the bickering.

Step 2

I am on day 3 of step two of the nicotine patch- and feeling quite proud of myself!

Many of you know that I have been sucking on the nicotine lozenges since the day that they came out- a switch from the gum that I used for years before that. I quit smoking in the spring of 2000, and have been supplementing my nicotine ever since. I have only been half joking when I would consider starting to smoke to get off of the lozenges- I mean, they were way more addictive than smoking. A person can not smoke anywhere anymore- but a nicotine lozenge? You can have that anywhere you want. Anyway- stepping down- hoping that by July, I will have this monkey off of my back. Yippee for me!

Been working on a great big canvas, and enjoying the crab apple blossoms, bleeding hearts and lilacs.

a comfort

I read today, words from an Austrian Lawyer, Christoph Herbst, about the family of Elisabeth Fritzl. Herbst said he had the impression that the victimised family had a loving relationship when he met them.

"My experience of the family was a very positive one. Looking at the way they treat each other, it is really very loving, they are open towards each other and they play together," he said. "If you see the family with your own eyes, it makes you feel much better than looking at the whole case in theory and from afar," he said.

This is such a relief! While I sit here far away and certainly theorizing- it was looking really bad. Thank you for better information. Now I plan to picture them in a beautiful bubble of love.

a little corner of the world

My new studio is feeling more and more like home. In fact, it is so comfortable, it is hard to believe that I have only been in here for 4 months. There is exactly the right amount of room to do everything that you could want to do in a studio. I have my printing area, and my kitchen area and slop sink. There is an office area and a meeting area. I have a place for drawing, for framing and a spot for mulling and tubing paint. Lots of storage, of course- and a nice place for reading and taking a nap, (and there is nothing like a good studio nap!) This space is just right to have a few extra easels for people who want to come and paint with me.

You can see the area that I have gravitated to for painting when I want to sit and paint. Nice because of the proximity of the window and color charts.

Come visit- I will make you coffee!

Love of Light.

As I am sitting here, finishing up my painting of light flooding my dining room table- the same table where We have eaten many happy family meals, played games, paid bills and decorated for holidays- The whole time, all of these long years, she was in the cellar. I am filled with sadness over the story about Elisabeth Fritzl, the Austrian teenager thrown into a dungeon under her house, raped by her father and having 7 of his children. Oh my God!

I complained all winter about the lack of light. I complained about the cold and will be heard complaining when I don't get out enough. I really think that I have never had cause to complain about anything.

Three of Elisabeth's children had never seen sunlight or the sky or anything outside of their prison- not ever. But Elisabeth had. She knew her father was her monster- she knew what she was missing all of her 24 years in hell- and when I think of all the things that I have done since 1984, and all the ways that I have changed, my heart is aching for her. When I try to imagine how good she must feel now that she is free, it is easy to understand that she may never have a good day. How could a person just get over that and move on? Is it even possible to heal?

Here, across the ocean there is little that we can do about it other then to read what has been reported and hope that the photographers leave them alone. All we can really do is care.

Sending out love, caring and prayers to you Elisabeth Fritzl and to your family. May God's perfect comfort be your blessing. May angels surround you and protect you for the rest of your life.

WIP Dining Room start

Chugging along..... 24x24 oil on panel.

and now for something completely different.

Not sure what I was thinking. 24x24

Eggs and Tea

Here is what I am working on- an obviously not finished work in progress.

I will say here, in case any super delegate is surfing the blogs... Hillary Clinton, who I once supported has crossed so many ethical lines that she makes me sick to look at.

I will never vote for her.

New Orphan Works Act Due Out This Week

by by The Board of the Illustrators' Partnership

April 22, 2008

Today the House and Senate sent us draft copies of the new Orphan Works Act of 2008. They haven’t officially released it yet, but we’ve been told the Senate will do so this week. A quick analysis confirms our worst fears and our early warnings. If these proposals are enacted into law, all the work you have ever done or will do could be orphaned and exposed to commercial infringement from the moment you create it.


There is more here.

Also from the site:

This exchange suggests that if Copyright Office proposals become law:

- Unregistered work will be considered a potential orphan from the moment you create it.
- In the U.S., copyright will no longer be the exclusive right of the copyright holder.

Apparently you have to pay a private company to register your work- but even if you do:

-It would allow anyone who can’t find you (or who removes your name from your work and says he can’t) to infringe your work. Since infringements can occur anytime, anywhere in the world, they could be countless but you might never find them.

Representing Reality 2008

Click the image to enlarge.

Happy Spring :-)

Spring is finally here! This painting was created in celebration of that. Cabbage and pussy willows always make me think of spring. And sheer curtains always let in good smells when you can finally open the windows.

I am not sure if this is finished yet- I thought that it was, but as usual, seeing it on a jpeg makes me cringe.

unstuck and back to work :-)

Unstuck and working- I should have new painting number one finished tomorrow.

After the outrageous bad behavior of the so called moderators of last night's democratic debate- I feel the need to post this:

Spring Cleaning.

It is finally almost warm here- and time to clean out the studio and start fresh.

So we had a big fire- built for losing all of the failed paintings.


Much better now!

:-)


In Political news....sort of. My favorite radio host, Randi Rhodes, was suspended from Air America for swearing and calling Hillary Clinton a "whore" at a private comedy event. So, now Air America is acting like Fox news and I will stick with NPR until I find a true liberal radio station. Darn!

Home again

I have returned from our 3000 mile driving adventure. Norma and I went south to visit family. (and it felt real good to see the sun!)

I did take paints- but only painted one little study and never took a picture of it before giving it to my dad.

Am looking forward to getting back to my studio and back to work.

Homer and Hopper

I went to the Art Institute the other day to see the Hopper show. I love Hopper, and have seen several. I did not plan to spend much time outside of Hopper- but amazed to discover how much I enjoyed the 130 watercolors by Winslow Homer. I have always known that watercolors do not get the respect that they deserve. People think that it is more difficult to be an oil painter, but oils are easy. With watercolor, your mistakes will show up. Still, I have always enjoyed looking at oil paintings more than watercolors- and was not really all that interested in seeing the Homer watercolors, until I saw them.

WOW, his work was amazing! The Hopper show was good too. Here is a link to the show- it runs through the middle of May.

Also, this is a good place to mention that I can hardly wait for the new wing to open. Once the modern art is moved out of the old part of the museum, all the stored away old paintings that there is not enough room to show will finally come out and see the light. That will be a good day!

for sale

You can buy yesterday's study here

Full Box of New Crayons

Goofing around in the studio today. Rick was in working on his own project while I was playing with bright colors like a child.

Only have about an hour and a half in this study- 8x10 painted from life.

Re: Hillary Clinton's negative campaigning. She recently suggested that McCain would be a better choice then Obama! Is she trying to be his vice president? Her 3 am telephone call ad was just too much for me- and then I remembered when I loved Bill for saying this: (you tube has everything :-)

To Winter

by William Blake

O Winter! bar thine adamantine doors:
The north is thine; there hast thou built thy dark
Deep-founded habitation. Shake not thy roofs,
Nor bend thy pillars with thine iron car.'
He hears me not, but o'er the yawning deep
Rides heavy; his storms are unchain'd, sheathиd
In ribbиd steel; I dare not lift mine eyes,
For he hath rear'd his sceptre o'er the world.

Lo! now the direful monster, whose 1000 skin clings
To his strong bones, strides o'er the groaning rocks:
He withers all in silence, and in his hand
Unclothes the earth, and freezes up frail life.

He takes his seat upon the cliffs,--the mariner
Cries in vain. Poor little wretch, that deal'st
With storms!--till heaven smiles, and the monster
Is driv'n yelling to his caves beneath mount Hecla.

It is March- this snow is melting :-)

Creation

Every day someone will stop by my studio and say something like "I really wish that I could paint, I can barely make stick figures." It seems that many people think that either you can or you can not create. But anyone can learn to paint, there is no magic in it.

No one would ever sit their child down at a new piano and expect him to play beautiful music without having many lessons and a lot of practicing. It is the same with painting. There are lessons to organize the practicing. There are rules to learn and learn how to break. Drawing, composition, value and color. Techniques and Methods, materials. It can all be learned, but must be practiced. And like the piano, if you take the lessons and follow through with practice, you can learn to play.

Then somewhere along the line you get to the hard part. Deciding what to paint. And that is something that you need to dig inside for.

Kindness

“Spread love everywhere you go: First of all in your own house... let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness.”

~Mother Teresa of Calcutta

The Economics of a Studio

It is snowing again tonight. We are supposed to get another 7 inches or so. The snow cover has stayed around all winter, something that does not happen every year, and it is so dark..... we are quite tired of it here.

So maybe it is just part of my winter funkiness- but I am thinking that even though it is a great time for painters educationally, it is a crappy time for painters economically. People are not buying paintings when they are having a hard time paying to heat their homes, put gasoline in their cars and keeping groceries around. The uncertain economic future makes the purchase of art seem frivolous.

Everyone tells me the same thing, that sales are down. I know that I sure would like to sell a few more paintings then I do. With studio rent and the cost of materials, it is getting harder and harder to make ends meet.

No answers on the horizon- I suspect that the economy will get worse before it gets better. But March is around the corner- that always cheers me up.

Love, Lori

2 Million Minutes

2 Million Minutes, a documentary that my husband worked on last year is suddenly riding a wave of media attention. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 20, on Good Morning America, they will be discussing the film. Rick did the opening titles.

learn more about the film here.

Monday Evening Post (actually Tuesday Morning :-)

I finally got back to the studio tonight. Some family obligations have kept me away for close to a week, until yesterday when I went in and prepared a stack of panels. Today was presidents day, a day off of school, so I hung out at home.

Tonight I got to play in the paint with a student, trying out different glazing techniques. Fun fun fun. And it went well, student left excited to do more experimenting. I have not been using a grisaille for several years now, though I used to. Getting out the books and reading the many ways to do one thing. Showing how I did it, and how others do it- squeezing out paint and trying things out- that is the fun part of learning with others. While we are learning, it feels just like goofing around.

The rest of the week will be all studio all the time.

Hope all is well with you, and have a great week!
Lori

DeKalb

Sending up prayers for my friends in DeKalb.

DeKalb is my hometown- I was born there and my family (some of the first settlers) was there for 6 generations before me. I moved away when I was 30. It is weird to think that something so horrible could happen in a place that for most of my life was the center of the universe. Actually, it is unthinkable that it happens any place at any time.

So sad.

New City Walk

I stayed late at the studio tonight and finished this one up. I think that it is done.

24x24- Oil on Canvas on Panel. I love the way that it looks like paint. :-)

Like hope but different

This one follows "Yes we Can", posted below.

Learn with me.

If you are interested in hanging out in my studio, painting and learning together- send me an email and I will give you the details.

I have a great space- good coffee and plenty of easels. I love to learn about painting, and love to share what I am learning.

Join me on the journey to master oil painting.

Chicago Series

Chicago keeps calling me back- there is more to explore here.

This is a detail of my new work in progress- part of my ongoing cityscape series. It is one corner of the whole- which will be 24x24 oil on canvas on panel.


Of course I will post the whole thing when it is finished.

12 to 14 inches of snow!

If you live where it snows- you know that when you look out at the driveway that needs shoveling of the foot and a half of snow- the weather man will come on and say that you got 3 inches. The way that they measure snowfall is different than the way that you measure it (with snow shovel and back muscles). The schools here are closed for 12 to 14 inches of snow expected. That might look like 3 feet of snow on the driveway.



So I am staying home from the studio today- not because I can not get there now, but more worried about getting home later. The way that the parking is at the studio, I can imagine myself getting plowed in and stuck there.

I do have a few panels here to sketch out- so work to keep me busy. My computer is still sort of hanging on. But the Apple Store Genius Bar guys don't hold out much hope for it lasting very long.

Yesterday I did a nice painting of a teapot from life. Good exercise- but forgot to get a picture. I am still working on my 2008 self portrait and another Norma painting. Neither are finished- but here they are so far, (t does not look like it, but they are both the same size, 24" square).

Stay warm, friends.

Oh what the heck- one more

Soon- Super Tuesday!

This is the first time in my adult voting life that Illinois voters have any voice at all in the primary election. I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Ego

I sit here in the middle of a computer meltdown. As a mac user, I am not very used to this problem, (in 10 years of mac usage- this has never happened to me) but I downloaded a corrupt printer driver today and my computer is now deleting itself (!). I am typing this post as I back up what is left in preparation for a disk repair. Dang, I needed my computer tonight too!

It really is funny how we get when we have computer problems. It can get as ugly as road rage, though I have mostly learned to go to "that Zen place" when confronted with both traffic and computer slowdowns.

So while I wait for the back up, I thought that I would chatter away here about how ego can get in the way of everything.

I was thinking today about Rob's garbage cans. There are two of them, sitting at the door of his studio. One marked "ego" and the other marked "performance anxiety". Both are supposed to be deposited before approaching the easel. Rob Howard is a great teacher and a great painter too. His instruction to remove ego and performance anxiety from the studio is great advice*.

Easier said than done.

If we let it, our ego can really get in the way. How can we grow if we are busy protecting ourself from failure. How can we grow if we fool ourselves that we know it all? And if we are not growing, are we really artists? I'm just asking.

I am not suggesting that I am able to deposit my ego every time, but it helps a lot when I can do it. And the paintings that are created with an ego on the brush are always ugly.

* Actually, all of Rob's art advice is good advice.

Lori on Mylar

Today in the studio I worked on some prints and I painted an egg with the fake chicken feet. It is part of "50 from life" that I agreed to do this year. I have done 4 so far with paint, several with pencil. (but I am only counting the painted ones). These life exercises, like my color work are separate from my vision. They are exercises to help me reach my vision. This learning will never stop- the carrot is on a stick.

It is biter dangerous cold- but the studio is warm and the coffee is hot. Yesterday at the studio I had people stopping by all day long. It is nice to have folks stop in- painting is a lonely adventure. The successes and the failures are each often so subtle that sharing the excitement or disappointment is not easy. We work alone.

The internet, with all of its flaws- and despite all the flaming- has united painters from all over the world in a way that has never been seen before in the whole history of art. With the sharing of ideas ranging from the technical to the deeper questions, we are being propelled toward greatness. I may never get there, but it sure is an exciting time for painting.

Painting through a midwest winter.

I already feel settled into my new space. It feels comfortable like a second skin. Just right! It still needs a bit of painting, mostly to lose the high chroma blue shelves and doors- but I like the way it is feeling.

I have done three little paintings from life in the room, several pencil sketches, played around with some walnut ink, and my 2008 self portrait is almost done. Not bad for January- normally my lowest production month, (due to all of the short grey days).

I have been closing my eyes and seeing beautiful paint. New ideas, combined with new learnings I think. Not looking back.

Love, Lori

An "Art Background"

I have explained many times why I do not publish my resume. Maybe it is because of my familiarity with commercial art, ( my husband's webpage) where demo reels are the only part of a resume that matter. But I do not think that a resume, listing shows and press would make my work any better or worse. I think that my work should speak for itself. Words are not part of my process. And while intent is part of the process. I figure that if I need words to explain my intent for a picture, then I have failed.

If you did see my resume, you would find that it does include press- in New York City even.

Anyway- I found these pictures recently, and thought that they were fun. These are me at my first gallery show. It was a solo show at the Mode Zero Gallery, 1985. Looking at these paintings, it is easy to see why learning is so important. They also prove the value of my summer bonfires.

Scary latenight posting.

I hesitate to post this work in progress. I have shown it to some of my online artist friends- where it received an icy response. No response at all, really. Other than the pose being a surprise. When ever I show my friends and they say nothing at all, that tells me a lot. I have a lot of work to do.

This is my 2008 self portrait, a work in progress, (WIP).

I have not yet achieved what I am reaching for here- but feel that I am on my way. It will have the whole week on the easel, so expect changes.

Also, don't be surprised if this post disappears here, and on the forum where it is posted too- am feeling a little naked with this one :-)

Another move...good-bye, great space!

Another year, another move. This is my fourth, and last studio in the building. Not only am I tired of moving, but the building is filling up. I heard that there are only 11 more spaces available, and all of them are way too small for me. Here is a recap of the time since moving into the Arts Park in June of 2005:

My first studio was up on the very lonely third floor. When I moved in, there was hardly anyone in the whole building. No one on the second floor, just one guy in the basement and one woman in the tower. I would often go a week or two with out seeing a person anywhere. The huge old building was empty and creepy. I stayed in the first studio for 6 months.


Then the tower was offered to me. It was actually smaller than my studio, but felt bigger, with more windows and a private bathroom. I loved it in the tower, but at 13x13, it was too small. Being up on the third floor was lonely and it was hard for some to visit my studio. I stayed in the tower for a year, and when a space was made available to me in the garden level, I was delighted to move downstairs.


I have been very happy for another whole year in my large garden level studio. I did some really great paintings here. The light is perfect. Everything about it is perfect. But, it is so large and so well placed on the front of the building, I just kept thinking that it needed to be used for classes, that it was too large for just one painter. It is the biggest rentable space in the building, and having so much space was messing with my head. This wonderful studio will now house the Foreign Language Network.

I am moving in across the hall- the room is smaller, (about half the size of my last studio) and the light will need a lot of work, but the space is just exactly the right size. I have a lot to do, yet- moving in. But I have painted one little study here already.

Stop by and say hello when you are in the building- I will be happy to show you around. I will post some more pictures when I get moved in.

Who is an Artist? What does it mean? Does it mean anything at all anymore?

This post has been heavily edited from it's original. The first one was a bit cryptic, and when I re-read it,(a week later) I realized that it did not say what I was trying to say.

This post was started when I over heard someone explaining to another person that someone was not an artist because they have no "Art Background". That was the only reason given- no Art background.

That is exactly why I like to call myself a painter. The word artist is so over used that anyone can use it, and then again- no one can.

There are so many people with all the words on paper needed to call themselves "fine Arteest", thinking that the paper is the only thing that is required. They might even be done learning!

Then there are those who rely only on their personality and have never looked at a study of any kind. I think that personality has little, if anything, to do with the visual language of painting.

Painter suits me fine- it fits.

Lakeside Legacy Arts Park

This movie was created for the Donor Appreciation dinner at the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park, where my studio is housed. Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Time to get back to work now.

It is cold and white here. A good time to put the nose to the grindstone. I have color to learn. Not color formulas but color understanding.

One of the reasons that I am a good cook is that I understand the ingredients and know how to break the rules. I am doing color exercises and reading color rules to understand color as ingredients. Working to paint the way that I cook- with real understanding.

I have been studying color for years, and expect to be studying color for the rest of my life. Learning never stops, and especially with a complicated subject like color. Otherwise you are left growing older- still painting garish bright colored paintings with hard edges and no composition.

Good turpentine is good.

Everyone remembers vics vapo rub, but do you know that one of it's main ingredients is turpentine? (it is a part of that good smell). Turpentine can also be found in lipstick and many other everyday products that no one is afraid of.

I use turpentine. Not the crappy kind that comes out of China though. Instead of tapping living trees to make the good stuff- China has been grinding up the whole tree- stumps and all. Then they boil it and do who knows what to it.

"Just imagine what sort of maple syrup you would get if you boiled up roots, branches and leaves."
~ Rob Howard

If you have smelled any of this, it would be understandable to think that turpentine stinks. This bad stuff is really bad for you- and unfortunately it has the same name as the good kind. People read the health warnings about the bad stuff and think that it applies to all of it- it does not.

You are welcome to stop by my studio and smell my good turpentine. Compare it to the the crap that you buy at the hardware store, and too often lately, even at the art supply store. Mine smells so good that I defy anyone to complain- unless they just like complaining.

You can buy some of Studio Products great smelling turpentine here.

Still Percolating......

Well, and it is the holiday season. I do go to the studio and work. I did a few color studies this week and a nice little painting. I am not showing my crap anymore though. I believe what is said about us being judged by our last painting. My last few have been pretty bad by the standards that I am working toward. BUT- there are big ideas percolating.

I have also committed to doing a new self portrait this month. The last one that I painted was still a WIP when 9-11 happened. After sitting on the couch watching the news for a few weeks, when I finally went to the studio to finish it, I was too changed to complete it. There were a few mirror head from life paintings since then- but they were not so much self portraits as head practice. I have a few ideas about how I want to go about this new SP, which I hope to start this week. (if my family would get out from under my feet:-)

Art for Sale

It is still Christmas shopping season- which means that you find me hiding out- disgusted with what has become of this beautiful season. I am in the studio today- working on drawing and also working on something new...

A Store! (I know, building a store is an unusual way to protest shopping :-) I have been thinking about a store for me for a long time- but have been so busy building sites and stores for other people, (it is what I do when I am away from the studio) that I never got around to it. So far, no decision has been made exactly what will be sold at the store- I am open to ideas. Probably it will be used to sell my own original work as well as prints. There is also the possibility that it will represent artists- but this idea is not quite worked out yet.

Anyway- not open for business yet, am still hacking the software to get it to do what I want. But watch for updates.

Merry Christmas!

I have been working, but not very hard.... actually, mostly percolating, an important part of my job, I think.
I did finish a nice little portrait today, and will try to get a picture of it tomorrow (if I still like it when I get to the studio:-) The best part of the little portrait was that I limited the palette to Yellow ochre, Pyrol Ruby and black- with just those colors, along with some studioproducts optical white, I was able to nail my fleshtones very easily.
It is snowy and cold here, which is working wonders toward putting me in the mood for Christmas. I would really love it if it were not for all of the gift BS. I am looking forward to the Christmas, (and it is coming) when I say NO to all of the shopping and buying a bunch of crap for people that I love but who need nothing. Since I am still kind of stuck with shopping, I am very grateful for the internet again- this time for keeping me out of the mall.


I hope you have a great week, full of the love and peace of the season, and not too much shopping...(unless you are one of those people who like shopping.)

Grey Dots- they match the sky

The sun came out for a few minutes today. We have had nothing but dark days for a while now, and a few days of ice storm. I was so excited to see the sun that I ran out and snapped a picture.

The weather has me getting to the studio later, and cuddling up with a book and a warm drink when I get there. I have a few things on the easel, for future unveiling, but for now, I can share this little exercise. I know it looks simple, but mixing the grays to the right value was the exercise, and I am pleased with how it turned out. In this picture, it is hard to see the difference in the higher values. I will try to get a better picture- because the steps are there, perfectly munsell too.

I saw a picture of something like this somewhere on the web, a Reilly demo or page about Munsell, I don't remember where I saw it, but it looked like a valuable lesson. And I am not one to pass up a painting lesson. If you know where I got this idea from, let me know so that I can give someone the credit.

BANG BANG! bangbangbang BANG bang bang BANG!!

Ah, Christmas at the Dole. Carriage rides and pictures with Santa. The various Orchestras played all day. There were dancers and little kid choirs. The chef mad some wonderful dainty foods.

This week in studio I worked on a few drawings, did a pastel portrait and did three hours of life painting from a model. I also cleaned and prepared for the Christmas at the Dole. Friday was the first day, and an opportunity to show my work to the people who like to wander the building.

I offered my studio for space for a Saturday activity and was given Home Depot. The folks from home Depot were great, and the kids were fun too. The Bang bang bang of the hammers from 9:30 to 3 was an interesting experience, (there was never a moment when they were not hammering). The different surfaces to hammer on, hollow plastic table, wood table and cement floor, and the difference in hammering technique gave me the chance to really practice going to that "Zen Place".

It was fun- glad it is over.

Thanksgiving

I went to the studio today. first time after the holiday. It felt good to sit and play with some water colors, drink my good studio coffee and get away from the family. Don't get me wrong, I love to be with my family, but I also love to go to a quiet place and work. Last night I finally got around to preparing some panels. They already had linen glued on, so I gave them a good coat of oil/lead primer. Now while I wait for those to dry- I have one ready with linen and glue alone. I think that I will give it a good coat of shellac and start it on Monday.

The turkey was good this year. The gravy might have been the best that I have ever made, and I have been making thanksgiving dinner since I was 14 years old. This year we had 17 around the table.

I always give my best for the Thanksgiving meal. I do not skimp on anything, and there are nods to all my long dead relatives in the foods that I choose. The chocolate covered peanuts in a dish by the door, a nod to my mother's mother. She gets a second nod with the "green stuff" a jello creation that she always made. I like to think that if she had made it through the 1970's, she would have given it up for something else- but she died in 1973, so much as I laugh at jello, grandma's green stuff is on the table, (though I did change the recipe, replacing the horrible coolwhip with real whipped cream that I whip myself). My other grandma, Dad's Mom, used to bring an oyster casserole of some kind. It was covered with browned cracker crumbs. I do not feel bad that I do not make that- no one ate it when she was alive. Her oyster casserole dish is always on the table, with the stuffing in it. We also use her silver, her linens and her glass candle sticks.

Uncle Jan used to come to my house every year. One year I spent a few days creating the most amazing cranberry sauce, only to have my very smart and food savvy uncle complain through the whole meal because there were no can lines. Apparently the can lines were a nod to his grandma, my great grandmother. Even though Uncle Jan died suddenly a few years ago- canned cranberry sauce will always be a part of my thanksgiving. Only now they are a nod to him, (all dressed up looking silly in their parsley garnish on a china plate).

The bird is stuffed and roasted in the old Nesco Roaster. The wine is always Red.

Excuse my little diversion from the subject of painting... I just love Thanksgiving. Now looking forward to getting back to work.:-)

And on the seventh day we get to rest...

Sunday after noon in the fall. Rick is out raking up the last of the leaves, I have a delicious pot roast cooking on top of the stove. I have evolved to adding a bottle of red wine to my old pot roast recipe, so it really smells good here today.

I am about to hit the garage and prime up some panels with the Studio Products Lead primer. It really is my favorite surface to paint on - a nice panel with linen fixed with rabbit-skin glue and then the lead primer. I love the way that the brush glides on that surface. It is not the only surface that I use. Sometimes I use gesso, not acrylic gesso, but rabbit-skin glue and marble dust gesso. And sometimes I paint on linen that has been fixed with rabbit-skin glue and then shellac , which leaves the warm fabric color showing through. The rabbits always suffer (actually it is a byproduct from other industries, so please do not think that the rabbits are dying for art).

Not sure if I ever mentioned that I am listed on Saatchi. You can see that here. Take a look, it was fun to do. I love looking around at Saatchi at all the artists around the world who show there. There are so many artists every where that you look - Isnt't that wonderful!

Lemon Yellow Day

I love
my
Munsell book!

Today was a color study day for me, this is what I was working on. Pretty self explanatory, so I wont expand.

It looks so easy, painting a lemon, but do notice that I am not showing the painting that I made. :-)

New England Adventure

Am back from Boston- got back Tuesday. Wow, what a long drive- 17 hours just a little too long to make in one day alone.

The show was nice, New England was gorgeous and the Barn was quaint. Only sold 3 pieces, but my work was very well received- I was honored to be invited. It was slow for all of the artists there this year. I suspect that it is the housing market and the price of gasoline. Not to mention that in that part of the country, most homes are heated with fuel oil, which is more expensive than it has ever been.

I stayed with friends while I was there, which was great. Really getting some time to sit down and talk- and hug in the real world. :-)

I even met someone on the way home, and he gave me a little something to remind me of the trip- a souvenir . I am adding his picture too.

So much to do, so little time.

Dear friends, I am busy busy busy these days, preparing for my 2 November shows. If you know me, you know that busy and I do not get along very well. It is pretty bad when I am finding myself looking forward to December to relax... I mean, who relaxes in December?

Today I am painting a little piece to be used on the LLAP Christmas cards. I thought that I would do it small to make it easier- not sure what I was thinking as this small size is needing me to be very fussy with detail. Not ready to show yet.

The other day we had an exciting day at the studio. We had a world class violinist, ballerinas and opera singers at the Arts Park. They are making a documentary film about the place. This bit of video was made by the news crew who came to document the film crew. Click for video clip

I will be in the movie too, when it is released, mixing purple paint.

View From the Door

This is my second post today. I posted about my upcoming show earlier, but this is also on my mind.
My studio holds a whole bunch of easels and a 10 foot mirror, all waiting to host a workshop. Many of you know that there was a workshop scheduled for June, but it was postponed. I am looking for painters to come and hold a workshops in my studio. The positives are that it is a great space with easy access to O'hare international airport- an airport that is easy to get to from just about everywhere. There is also a train nearby that will take you to the city, if a field trip to the Art Institute is in order. We have 24 hour access to the facility- And the coffee is great too:-)

Please send an email if you think that you might like to come to the mid-west and hold a workshop.

Driving to Boston!

I will be heading to the Boston area in a few weeks to try and sell some paintings, and make some contacts in the community. You can read about the show on the Got-Art website.

The curator for the event came all the way to my studio this summer, to scout my work and invite me to show my work. I love the mission statement of Got-Art, and I have plenty of work to bring. Look for me on November 9th at the Holliston Historical Society. I have already been the artist of the week on their webpage, but sign up for updates. Let them know if you are in the area and thinking of showing up for the show.

Here is what is on my easel today. At the moment, i think it is finished, but it has only been ten minutes, so I may go back into it. It is a crappy glare filed picture, (with the color all off too) but I felt like sharing anyway.
24x24 oil on linen on panel

Thanks for looking in on my blog :-)
Lori

Painting Poodles

I have been painting. Today I almost finished the new poodle still life that I have been working on.

Nothing much to say.... today I am thinking that painting is a solitary journey.

Which is really good if you like the company :-)

Orange

Today was one of those glorious slow studio days. No painting on the easel, but a beautiful day with good music on the ipod and good coffee in the pot. I re-read the whole color chapter in Grado's Mastering the Craft of Painting and took the poodles around the mansion taking reference pictures. And I got out my big glossy munsell book and mixed paints.

Three new colors on my color wheel, and since I painted all of my high chroma cubes using only the swatches in the student book, I have been re-painting those. Today I got the 5yr, 5BG, and 5G . I also completed tubing my greys. You can see here that the orginal 5YR was not matching the chip. The new one matches so well that I could not see it when painted on the chip, (thanks to Rob's amazing optical white). Looking at this photo, it looks like they do not match, but it is only because of the light from the window reflecting on the paint.

I guess for a slow day, I did get a lot done.

I am excited about all that I am learning about color- not sure where it is taking me, but will chug along until I get there. So far, the biggest value in these studies is how sensitive my eye is for color, and especially chroma. So that makes it worth the effort right there:-) I am working on a thread to talk about this at Rob's place. Just have not had a chance. But soon.