Mary B Spires Watercolor & Art Stuff

10 x 8 Oil on Board I love painting the complementary palette......the orange just pops in this one. This is one of the times when you need to paint from life as the elispe is very important to get correct.  Of course I got to eat the orange after I finished, but it was a little dried out!

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas This was a challenge to get the whites without being chalky.....I need to let it rest for a few days .....I have been using Jerry's painting book to study his palette, plus his value range using the high key side of the value scale.

12" x 12" on Oil on Canvas This is a painting I started last year.  I didn't like the first run at it so I decided to work on it again......I have been known to do this to watercolors, but oil can be re-worked too! As you know from my previous post Dick & I are planning a trip to Europe for our 25th Anniversary.  We booked the rsvp last night! Yea! Yea!  We will be going in late September, first to the workshop on Lake Como with Jerry Fresia, an American impressionist who studied with William Schultz, who studied with Robert Brackman who, in turn, studied with Robert Henri, an American who studied in Paris during the 1880's.  He was also a distant cousin of Mary Cassatt, and as you know worked closely with Edgar Degas.  Robert Henri also studied with Ivan Olinsky, who studied with John Singer  Sargent.  Sargent was very close to Claude Monet and James McNeil Whistler.  I plan on studying several artist who stu...

Oranges & Grapes This is my first project in the still life workshop of Daniel Edmondson....I sent it off for critique this morning.....I'm not real happy with the leaves, but we will see! 

Still Life Set Up When setting up a still life I usually take a picture, this give me a different view.  If I'm not sure if the design looks good, I look at it upside down on my camera or look at it with a mirror.  I've heard many teachers say it really is about design and/or composition. The Sketch with Brush I usually sketch the design with a #4 filbert brush and a little burnt sienna diluted with turp.   If you sketch with this method it is very easy to correct mistakes.  I also use a view finder.  Scumbling the darks and mid tones. Three Apples 8" x 10" oil on canvas board.  

Apple Still Life Set Up  While surfing You Tube a few months ago I found a video by Impressionist Jerry Fresia.  Of couse I had to purchase his book from Blurb.  It's a great book and I have read it cover to cover several times.  He really breaks it down how to paint like the impressionist.  Today was my day to try it.  Above is the set up.  He has 5 stages and 10 steps.  "Scumbling" Once you decide on composition and do the sketch you "scumble" your darks and mid tones.  In this stage you leave the white of the canvas open. Apples 8" x 10" Final

Click here to bid 6" x 6" Oil on Panel It's so good to be home! Nothing like painting in your own space......Of course no fresh fruit in the house, but you can always paint a vegetable. I'm still trying to find the right spot to shoot the photograph......I think I'm going to have to try to make a light box.......

11"x 14" Oil on Canvas Board I started Oil Painting Classes a few years ago. It has truly been a learning experience. I enjoy the challenage of mixing the colors, plus the application onto the canvas. I have painted in Watercolors for the past 17 years. This was an early morning project a few weeks ago. It's now on it's way to a show in Ohio.