Will This Ever End?

This is one of those painting that started out rough and and there were many tries to improve it but the composition is lacking so it's never going to sing. But I stuck with it for learning purposes; glazing and scumbling and dealing with clouds etc. All I can say is it's much better than it was a week ago but it's not for sale!

Back In The Saddle Again

Hello Caroline and Ulrike and everyone!

Finally am "back in the saddle again" and have some paintings to post.

The top painting was started three weeks ago and finished today. I have been working on simplifying my composition and colors using glazes and scumbles which gives it the tonal effect. Painting in the indirect style takes a lot of planning and time, allowing each passage to dry before putting on another glaze or scumble.

The second one is from Buyou Drive; one of the most beautiful areas I've seen in Florida. I really like the composition of this painting and plan to use it again for a sunset or a cloudy day.

I am finishing up the paintings I started in Clarksville TX with Deborah Paris' workshop. It's so tempting to set them aside and start over since I've learned so much since starting on them (which was before the workshop started). I would do so many things differently now. But, no doubt, there is great learning in finishing them so I'm plugging away at them.

Meanwhile, this week I plan on ordering new materials that Deborah recommends for making your own linen panels. If any of you are interested in how to make them you can go to Lisa McShane's blog "1,000 Paintings". She has an excellent section explaining Deborah's process. She was one of the students at the Workshop in Clarksville TX. It will be such a change painting on alkyd primed linen instead of oil primed linen panels. The oil primed ones I've been using are slick which is difficult to overcome.

My future paintings are going to be done on larger panels. You put the same amount of effort in a small painting as a large painting so why not have something significant to show for your time? Also, I have a real interest in trying a nocturne painting. When we went to the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, there were several Remington nocturne paintings that took my breath away.

It's such a joy to be painting again and am looking forward to seeing others works also. I'll be much better at corresponding now that I am more focused on painting.

painting and thumb nail

Hi Phoebe and the girls, here is the watercolour painting I completed using the thumbnail as my inspiration. I did a few thumbnails but felt this one was the one I wanted to use. It is a snowy river scene and maybe quite nice to see now that our warm summer days are with us again. I found some more thumbs I did last year in my art drawer and hope to share those with you soon. I hope you are all enjoying your summer painting time.

Thumbs from Bayou Drive Salt Marshes

Hello everyone!

It's been too long since posting but I've been working on NINE paintings from the April Art Workshop with Deborah Paris. Since indirect painting is so new to me, these paintings are Research and Development so if I have the guts to post them at some point I will. Right now they aren't even half way done and there are many more layers of glazes to go.

But today I was bound and determined to do a couple of thumbs before the sun went down. So here they are. They are from one of the most beautiful places I've seen in Florida, Bayou Drive in Hernando Co. There are salt marshes on each side of the road. On the north side you can see a thin strip of the Gulf of Mexico in the horizon. To me they are so inspiring to make endless designs from these marshes. IF I were a fabric designer or jewelry maker I think I would move there just for the inspiration. Can you only imagine?? I wanted you to see the photos of the marshes so you have some idea of where these thumbs came from.

Happy Thumbing to you!

Back from Clarksville Texas

It's hard to believe the April Workshop at Deborah Paris' studio is already over and I'm back in Florida. The eight days were extraordinary to say the least. I'll post some pictures for those that are interested.

One of the many great things about being in Deborah's studio was access to her library of art books. She encouraged us to study the tonalist artists landscape compositions and glean from them. The top page of thumbs were studies from one of George Inness's books. His compositions draw the viewer in and there are many things to look at before you leave the painting. Whereas the Hudson River painters have the viewer come up to the edge of the painting, stop and observe what is there. You don't feel a part of it as you do with an Inness painting.

The second picture has gesture drawings of cows that were in the pastures bordering Deborah and Steve's property. They were beautiful; a variety of colors. No two looked alike. But they were very hard to draw! Much like clouds, they move all the time. The thumb on that page was used to make a dry point. Our last day in the studio one of the students asked Deborah if she would show us how to do a dry point. She showed us the entire process THEN we could do one ourselves. I LOVED IT!! My dry point is en route via FedEx along with all my supplies so that will be another post when I get it.

The third photo are of thumbs for two posters to be used this weekend at an event. The fourth photo are pastels which will be the background for the posters. There will be text that will go in the center of both. The one on the right represents sunset colors as the one on the left is sunrise. They aren't very accurate and I had to get them to the printers early this afternoon so time was short but they will work fine. They will be on the wall in the back of the podium on stage.

That's it for now. If there is any way any of you can get to the workshop Deborah is having in Florida March 2012 it would be the highlight of the year for you. She is a Master Artist and a Master Teacher. No one else is teaching tonalist landscape painting. She has a vast knowledge of the subject and is able to communicate it in a way that you will be challenged to evaluate why you paint, what you paint and how you paint. She talks of poetry; it can either be so boring as words on a grocery list or it can be words arranged so well it is a beautiful thought provoking poem. Same with a painting. It can be a painting of just what you see or it can be arranged in a beautiful thought provoking emotional way as you put your heart and life into it. I can say from spending the eight days under her teaching I know myself so much more as an artist, I'm clear on the direction I want to go as an artist and I've never been so excited about painting in my life. The other four students had amazing experiences as well. Thank you Deborah!

two studies of a conifer tree

Hi Phoebe sorry to be away so long, I have had to settle into coastal oil painting for now so the trees are quietly taking a break! However Ulrike who has been visiting our area came out with me to a lovely beach with a wood by it. Ulrike settled into painting the beach while I took the opportunity to sketch a conifer, it was such an untidy wild looking tree that I had to really edit what I was seeing or not seeing as the case was! It was wonderful to be back drawing my dear friends the trees though I must say I am finding my coastal painting very peaceful and enjoying using the colours and skills learned with Deborah on her courses.

The sketches here are not really on a blue back ground the light outside is incredibly bright, yes the sun is shining in Scotland! so I took the photos inside but it is not a great success but you get the general idea!

Ready for Texas

the top four thumbs are of the same scene on Honeymoon Island. I edited them in different formats and chose one for an underpainting below.

The second underpainting is an idea from the JG Ranch when the blueberries were growing. The sky will be the main point of view.

It's time to start thinking about shipping my Underpaintings and art supplies to Texas for Deborah's eight day art workshop at her studio. This will be an opportunity of a life time for me. You can be sure I will bring a stash of Bon Bon's for the future Bon Bon breaks that will be needed during the steep learning curves coming up! I think it will be like the "Indy 500" in the artists world. Life in the fast lane. I will put on my helmet (straw hat), fasten my seatbelt and enjoy the ride! ;>)

Thumb and Result

Yes, Phoebe, you're quite right. I've just done some pastels and more or less by chance there was a thumbnail for that I did during the course.

And here's the pastel result.

18 x 13cm

Thumbs, Thumbs in Use, and a Neat Quote

First the quote by Edgar Payne. I started reading his book "Composition of Outdoor Painting". The context is "art talent":

"To say that the artist is born and not made, is only partly true. Actually, while it (talent) is an important qualification, there is no proof of real worth in talent until it has been developed and expanded by a tremendous amount of serious study and plain hard work".

SO TRUE!

Yesterday I returned to Eagle Lake anxiously wanting to see if it was spared the tornado and severe thunderstorms that swept through this area late last week. Largo, where Eagle Lake is located, reported damage from the tornado so I was concerned about the Canadian Geese nesting on the little island that I've done in thumbnails several times. Also I sketched two Moorhens "on their honeymoon" last month in the same area. I was thrilled to see the Canadian Geese guarding their nest AND the two Moorhens taking their four babies for a swim. The Moorhens are known for walking on the vegetation in the water - and, sure enough, the four babies were learning how to walk on the water lily leaves. It was a real sight to see. Eagle Lake was spared any damages which was a great relief.

So here is the latest work and I feel it is paying off to consistently be thumbing it. While observing nature I'm much more aware of what would make a good thumb. I'm getting more comfortable with editing, and seeing more of "the essence" of an object rather than every minute detail. Although there is beauty in the details, I just don't have to relate each one!

To all you thumbies, don't just sit on your thumbs! Start thumbing it on the highways and byways. People with give you a lift! Or we can give each other a lift when we see those thumbs. Before you know it, you will have a "two thumbs up" from the rest of us.

I'm just saying... ;>)

Thumbing It Inside While Under Tornado Warnings Outside

There is a great deal of weather activity outside today. Channel 9 advised us to stay indoors and find a safe place away from windows as there is a tornado watch in Clearwater until 8PM tonite. Well, what better way to stay peaceful than doing thumbs of beautiful (and peaceful!) Eagle Lake. The top three were done this afternoon. The one below was done last night and is ready for an underpainting which I'll do over the weekend. There you have it! :>)

Using The Thumbs

Here are two thumbs I picked from my "Many More Thumbs Club" Sketch book to use for paintings. I continue to learn how valuable Thumbs are in the process of painting a picture. I am often reminded of our motto: "Think and then Paint, rather than Paint and then Think". From the thumbnails I spent time thinking through the composition, values, color hues, warms and cools, transparent areas and opaque areas. It took quite awhile figuring all that out. By the time I could close my eyes and visualize what the painting will look like (to some degree anyway) I felt ready to do the underpainting. What a difference when approaching the canvas!! At least I had clear direction of where I was going. Now I have two underpaintings done and four more to go for my April workshop with Deborah in Texas.

Hope all of you thumbies are doing well. This has been a great time reflecting on some of the knowledge I've obtained in the last couple of months.

Happy painting to you all. I think of you often and trust you are doing well! :>)

Wuemme Thumbnail

The river Wuemme is near Bremen and a good subject for thumbies. Here it is still a bit icy, but now the ice is away and everybody is happy about it.

pencil on paper

There's More To The Story

TOP PICTURE

There is someone breathing down my neck.

NEXT PICTURE

Question: OKAY! What did the farmer tell us to do if this happened??!!

Answer: DON'T PANIC! DON'T RUN! Act like nothing is wrong. If they get close, talk to them.

NEXT PICTURE

I'm acting like nothing is out of the ordinary.

NEXT PICTURE

She is Up Close and Personnel. So I talked to her. She got her first lesson on how to draw a thumbnail sketch. Then she whispered in my ear: "Eat More Chicken".

Farfalle

Something to eat before being cooked...

Thumbs from Bayou Drive Salt Marshes

Hi Everyone,

These thumbs are of the Salt Marshes near the Gulf. They are from a photo (It's an hour's drive north of here). I concentrated on simplifying the composition and using three different formats for the same subject. Now that Painting Water workshop is behind me, I'm thinking more of including the sky in the composition. I'm looking forward to doing a painting soon. Today is the first free day without company. As is often the case, it's wonderful to have them here and then there comes a time when the thoughts start to come: "I can't wait to start painting again". That time has arrived. :>)

snow thumb

While the last snowy winds blow across the high ground near the mountains we know that spring time is almost here. Thumbs are amazing aren't they I was reading about Phoebe's thumbs she said that some had not been successful yet her palms were very beautiful and a great success. I had trouble with the sky area behind the trees near the middle of the sketch, the wind is blowing the snow about and I have managed to get those darks into the foreground trees yet the value of the distant trees and the dark sky are quite close. I am not sure if this thumb is successful it could be I need to make a decision regarding values in the areas I mentioned.

Phoebe's Thumbs from Philippe Park

Hello to all the Thumbies!

My Irish guest and I were able to go to Philippe Park and do some thumbs. This park is on Tampa Bay which has much calmer water than the Gulf.

Yesterday I did a couple of thumbs at the strawberry ranch and they were a total flop. I worked on one for quite some time and tried to retrieve it but it was way too busy. While I was sketching I could feel someone breathing down my back. I turned around and there were at least twelve cows about four feet away staring at me with great curiosity. They were wondering what was I doing in their field! What we won't go through to get our thumbs!

Ulrike's Thumbnailing 5

This time I've got just two to post, but it's better than nothing. The studio and its garden needed an urgent spring-clean and it's best to do that in the first sunny hours we seem to have for ages O;-)

Expresso Beans Anyone?

Hi Phoebe, I have not forgotten that I owe you some expresso beans. You have been very patient and hopefully you believe in better late than never, right? ; )

The other two thumbs are for the next painting that I am going to start. It's about figs on a branch, don't ask me why, it's just an idea I haven't been able to let go of.

great to see everyone here!

Thank you Phoebe for your great idea and for creating this blog! I look forward to all the sharing we will do.

Palmer

thumbs

Hi Phoebe, thank you for sending the link again. Here are thumbnails ideas based around a single tree in a field.

WELCOME TO MMTC

Hello fellow artists and welcome to Many More Thumbs Club. This will be a great opportunity for us to share our thumbnails, stay in touch, encourage and remind each other of the benefits of doing thumbnails. Also I am sure everyone would like to see any process and results from any of the thumbs. So, let the thumbs begin! Post whenever you like.

Got it!

For the first posting I looked for a thumbnail I haven't posted up to now and I found this one.