studio 30

Last week at Studio 30, I was the model!  The inspiration was the paintings of Mary Cassatt, so I wore my hair up and dressed in a long sleeved blouse, long skirt and shawl.  Diane Marks-Bestor did a great job as usual with the setting and pose, and kindly sent me a photo afterwards so I could do my own portrait.  It was an interesting experience to watch other artists for a change, and to see myself expressed in their different versions.  It was also a challenge to paint myself as if it were the 19th century.  It's sort of me, sort of Mary Cassatt as I imagine she would have painted me.

Studio 30

Studio 30, Friday February 13, was an extra long model session day with one pose for about 6 hours, except for short breaks and a potluck lunch.  Fabulous!  Thanks to Kat Sowa for her generous use of the studio at Cathedral Park Place, to all who made this happen and to the other artists who are so inspiring!  I did 3 paintings mostly alla prima.

Ru, our Asian blend young model, wore a Chinese embroidered dress.  In this first painting, 12" x 16", I included twisted twigs, and at first, a large paper lantern.  But later I found the placement and shape of the lantern distracting, and painted it out when I got back to my studio, leaving the paper texture.

The second painting was a portrait of Ru with a simple background, 9" x 12".

Third painting with a green background, 11" x 14", another large lantern was edited out back in the studio. The green adds a meditative quality, to me, as if she is waiting for something.  Spring?

Two Twin Rocks

The 30 paintings in 30 days challenge is over and I did manage to paint every day, but not to post a daily painting.  Computer glitches kept me away, also I wanted to spend some time working on larger formats, work that takes more than a few hours on one day.  One of the scenes I love and wanted to explore on a larger format is Rockaway Beach with the twin rocks offshore that my husband and I call "elephant rock". Sometimes it's an elephant, or a sea monster, or a castle and tunnel.  Previously I painted it on a 6" x 12" canvas, this one is 16" x 20", with more space for the waves and sky, a grayer palette.  I'll continue to paint small and large, and sketch from photos and real life.  You may see me in a cafe with my sketchbook!

Rockaway Twin Rocks, 16" x 20" 

Rockaway Twin Rocks 6" x 12"