End of Summer Paintings

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End of Summer along the San Juan Shoreline, Sculpted Alive on Westcott Bay

Beautiful September Workshop, Day Two

Our second day we painted along the shore of Pear Point facing east on San Juan Island. I demonstrated one of my favorite plein air techniques of using black gesso and a colored transparent glaze as an under-painting, a great way to build up layered information quickly. Some people experimented with color palettes, others took the plunge and tried oil paints for the first time. Experienced painters took time to develop their compositions and try new ideas, tools or techniques.

Beautiful September Workshop, Day One

WE started this workshop on the Westside of San Juan Island, the setting was magnificent. We had a variety of supplies to experiment with: collage materials, sumi ink, acrylics, watercolors, pencils and paint. This day started in the spirit of PLAY. Each artist took their own approach to finding their voice. Some artists completely abstracted form, building up an idea with the use of collage. Most artists worked expressively with color and simplified shapes. Everyone tried something new. This kind of playful approach paid off when people started to develope their small canvases in the afternoon.

Summer Afternoon San Juan Island

Watching the tide at Cattle Pass through a stand of young alder trees.

Plein air, Lopez Island in the background and the incoming strong tide at Cattle Pass, San Juan Island.

Final Workshop of the Summer

September 9,10,and 11 will be the dates of our final workshop on San Juan Island. The focus of this weekend workshop will be abstracting the landscape. We will use views of San Juan Island to develop sketches and work to simplify forms. We will look at several artist, how they approach abstracting the landscape and discuss possibilities. We will review ideas how to create space and think about ways to break up those conventions.

In order to free up, we will look at creating an interesting surface by adding collage to our surfaces. We will also sketch in sumi ink, simplifying form.

Call 360 378 2638 for questions or sign up. Cost for the weekend, $225.

August's Painting Workshop, Fantastic Color!

The main aspect if this workshop was understanding color. Friday night we talked about the color wheel, we all made one using oil paints. We looked at work by Henri Matisse and saw how he used the color wheel beautifully in his paintings. We spent our morning just looking at color in the landscape. Our painting site was a riot of color at the gardens of Island Gardens on Guard Street.

Everyone made wonderful color comparisons and observations, matching color of the natural palette. By the afternoon everyone had found a painting spot that they liked and started in, for many it was their first painting experience.

Sunday we headed over to Jensen's Shipyard and started by looking at the new environment. Everyone felt more relaxed with the painting process. Congratulations to both of our mother daughter artist-teams, and to the newly converted oil painters.

Summer Morning on San Juan Island

Looking across Beaverton Valley on San Juan Island, plein air.