Daisy, Studio Tip, Stroke Update

Daisy, Green Vase

6"x 6", Framed

oil on gessoboard

Studio Tip:

I like to paint on panels and boards, and my friend, Doug, built a storage system to hold them. 

Now.... I needed to come up with a way to hold/support them on my easel. 

There is a "lip" that covers up the upper and lower part of your panel.

I tried to sit the panel on the "lip"and it didn't work. It wasn't secure. (it fell down......scary!!!)

So, in my efforts to come up with a remedy, I have found some solutions:

David Darrow  -"My board is 2ft x 2ft x 1/2” birch plywood. I bought a flat, aluminum “bar” at a hardware store, cut too 12” pieces from it, and drilled holes through them both. I set a panel onto it, then somewhere along the top edge I stab a screw into the board very close to the painting. Sometimes the threads hold it in place, other times, the wide head of the screw. 
I have been using this board for 15 years, so far."

Scott Conary -"On my small easel, I've added some bits of wood so that 1/4" panel has something to brace against."

David and Scott made these supports/braces and are master woodworkers! 

Now, I could do Michael Orwick's approach:

He screwed 4 screws; .2 at the top and 2 at the bottom of his easel to support the panel.

Or..... I can just buy one...

Carol Marine - "designed by David Marine - holds the panel still and allows you to paint off every edge with nothing in the way." Carol Marine's Easel

Karin Jurick  the "Paint On" easel comes in two forms: one that fits on your stand-up easel and one that is a tabletop easel. 

Karin Jurick's Easel

 Any other suggestions???

Stroke Up-date:

This is kinda funny....

 This is where I lift almost every day...... pretty intense and intimidating, right?

But the one thing that I had to overcome this huge hill  because I have this thing called "foot drop".

"Foot drop is a gait abnormality in which the dropping of the forefoot happens due to weakness, irritation or damage...." Wikipedia

I couldn't climb up or down that thing without some help from a nearby weight machine....

Curbs were another problem. I had to use the car or a person, (all of which were happy to help!) to get up and down those.

But I conquered it!!!!

Listening to while I paint:
Audio Books:
"David and Goliath" by Malcolm Gladwell

Podcasts: 

The Nerdist, hosted by Chris Hardwick

Here's The Thing, hosted by Alec Baldwin
Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta
Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner
"Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!", hosted by Peter Sagal
Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper
American's Test Kitchen, hosted by Christopher Kimball

Truth For Life, hosted by Alistair Begg

Music: 
My iPod

Really helpful!:
I am continually checking a dictionary, thesaurus, spell check, but one thing that has been particularly helpful is the grammar check. Please excuse any errors that I make and tell me! :)

"Peach, Pink Rose", Carol Marine, and Alyson B. Stanfield

 Peach Pink Rose

8"x 8"

oil on gessoboard
$175

Click here to purchase

I have decided to try oil painting ever since my workshop with Carol Marine and actually, I like it! 
Carol's method is to paint "alla prima" or "wet onto wet"; the painting is completed while the paint is still wet. This requires you to work fast! Carol says it allows you to blend from your "islands" (main subject) into your "oceans" (background). And, when things don't work out as planned (which almost NEVER happens! ;) ), you can wipe it away! 

Carol's new book, Daily Painting, which I'm sure will be full of all of her tips and tricks, comes out November 4, 2014.

I ordered one!

Alyson B. Stanfield

Several weeks ago I met with local artist friends Brenda Boylan, Jo Reimer, and Celeste Bergin.  Joining us from Colorado, was dear friend, Art Biz Coach, Alyson B. Stanfield, for a wonderful breakfast at The Benson Hotel.
       " Alyson B. Stanfield is an art business consultant and author of I’d Rather Be in the Studio: The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion. She helps artists gain more recognition, organize their businesses, and sell more art at ArtBizCoach.com."
I have been following her since 2008, taken her online classes, I keep reading her book (over and over), and gain insight and understanding from her weekly blog posts. I highly recommend that you check out Art Biz Coach!

Listening to while I paint:
Audiobooks:

"The Hundred-Foot Journey", by Richard C. Morais, narrated by Neil Shah

Podcasts: 

The Lede, hosted by Jerod Morris

Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner

"Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!", hosted by Peter Sagal

Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper

Music: 

My iPod

Really helpful!: 

I am continually checking a dictionary, thesaurus, spell check, but one thing that has been particularly helpful is the grammar check! Please excuse any errors that I make and tell me! :)

Carol Marine's Workshop - Stroke Update

Click here to purchase

Here are some of the paintings I did at Carol Marine's workshop in Springfield, OR. (about 1 1/2 hours south of Portland) 

It was WONDERFUL!!!! 

We studied items in white, glass, reflections, flowers and metal. 

Carol went over a printed handout each morning going through 

the different processes/objectives for the day, and then she did a demo. 

One of the best things about it was watching her paint:   

the layout;

her palette; 

her strokes;

stepping back;

her highlights....what she calls "bling";

 

and then we painted the rest of the day. 

I think that all of us students agreed that having Carol around to 

give helpful critiques was a HUGE benefit!

 I got back to the hotel about 4:30 in the afternoon and immediately went to bed! 

(Not really, I stayed up until 6:30? I was sooooooo tired!)

Stroke update:

This workshop was a big success for me. My husband and my two youngest daughters drove me down to Springfield and stayed the first night with me....then I was on my own! There I was: 2 hrs. south of home, in a hotel, taking the shuttle to and from the workshop, by myself for the first time since my stroke! This week I learned not only about painting but I also gained new confidence in my independence!

About a year ago I announced on Facebook that I would be running by this July. 

Well, recovering from a stroke is taking a little longer than I had planned, so, I will strive for next July. If I end up running sooner, I will definitely let you know!!!!! :) 

Listening to while I paint:

Podcasts: The Alton Browncast, hosted by Alton Brown

                  The Lede, hosted by Jerod Morris

                   Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

                  Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner

                  "Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!", hosted by Peter Sagal

Music: my iPod

Really helpful!: 

I am continually checking a dictionary, thesaurus, spell check, but one thing that has been particularly helpful is the grammar check! Please excuse any errors that I make and tell me! :)

Looking For Guys

5"x 7"

acrylic on gessoboard

 sold

Here is my entry into the Daily Paintworks Challenge. This photo was taken by Carol Marine on her recent visit to Santa Cruz.

Last Saturday

I met with 5 art friends for brunch last Saturday. Carol Marine, Randall Tipton, Jo Reimer, Cathleen Rehfeld, and Celeste Bergin.  
We met at Randall and John's house, everyone brought food (which was awesome!), and we spent the time getting to know everyone and talking art. 

We got to see Randall's studio, several large paintings (acrylic and watercolor),  his drawers full of beautiful art, Jo brought her collage pieces and Cathleen brought two oil paintings to share, (they were all beautiful too!) and Celeste, Carol , and I ....well....forgot...or something..... :)

I learned so much from so many talented artists sharing.....I need to get out more!