On painting

works in progress - each 24 x 24 oil on wood panel

'Shape' was the focus yesterday in my Time to Paint  afternoon class.  Training oneself to see figures, buildings, trees etc, primarily as shapes first, and what they actually are as secondary, helps to organize a painting composition into a sound design of abstract elements right from the get go.  It's just way too common to get bogged down into painting details too soon...which usually results in tight overworking.

Everyone works on something of their own interest in my groups.  It's exciting for me to see what inspires each person, and to share some tools that might aid them to find their voice through their painting process.  I don't give a lot of instruction on technique, because I never feel like there is one solution or one rule to be followed.  For me, a painting is a conversation, and you can't tell someone what to say.  How to say it, now that is something that can be learned.

Demonstrations are probably the best way to find out how an artist employs techniques that work for them.   I think when you're learning painting, the best thing you can do is study from a variety of artist teachers.  My experience in taking workshops myself is that you absorb especially the techniques and methods that resonate with you.  You take from it only what's really important to you... perhaps using it and employing it yourself for a while, til you discover what to keep and what to let go.  There will most certainly be techniques and methods that you want to let go of, just as much as there is those you value.  Taking workshops is a good way to build your own handy toolbox of techniques and philosophies to use as you need it.

 

indoor pursuits

I go through a dry spell at times where I just don’t know what I want to paint, but I know I want to!  Yesterday I thought I'd approach things in a different way to stoke the fire.  So I am focusing on the elements of shape making and placement and seeing how that might change things up a bit for me.

Mice in the studio! eeek! heh heh Instead of tv last night I painted this rock while listening to the radio. I often use it as a door-stop, and sometimes a weight for my easel, but it was pretty ugly, not anymore!

Winter Spirit

 

Winter Spirit - oil on panel - 12 x 9 inch

Glimpses of wildlife toughing it out through the long winter can remind us to pluck up our own winter spirits a bit. That's what I was thinking when I was painting this little fellow. 

Translation

With the Current - oil on canvas - SOLD

Art, being a language, things often get lost in translation.  An idea is a cerebral thing. Through the language of art it gets translated; made manifest in the art form. It's always unique.

A viewer comes to the artwork with their own life experiences, which influence their interaction with a work. What they take away from it may be entirely different from what the artist set out to communicate.  That doesn't matter.  What does matter is that something is communicated, and the viewer is richer for the experience.

Sometimes when I'm teaching, I struggle with the translation of the art language into my primary language; English.  Through practice I'm getting better at it. It's always easier to show a concept rather than to talk about it if I can.  Sometimes I show a concept by demonstration, which can be helpful.  Showing examples in works by other artists, especially the great ones is useful too.   It's important for people that are learning the language of art to see how diverse it can be; so much room for individuality, and that itself is something to be treasured and embraced.  Finding one's own voice is what it's all about; while at the same time learning when and what tools to reach for in order to get that voice to sing.

Seaside cottagescape

cottagescape of folded paper

So yes I am fooling around some more with the paper and the scissors! heh heh. here is a tiny folded cottagescape similar to my little town that I made, only this one is with seaside/holiday cottages.  I am drawn to  miniature things. One day I will build a miniature beach house or cottage  somewhere in my garden to inspire my fancy.

Here's a picture I took many years ago.  Rachel and Holly are peeking through a gate to someone's garden at a house in Switzerland...can you see the little castle? 

a happy hum

acrylic painting demo

Yesterday was the first day of my winter six week 'Time to Paint' sessions.  We discussed the role of values in the painting process, stepped through a demo to a painting by simplifying into a 3 value study first.  Soon a happy hum of creativity filled the studio. 
This term I have 5 students in the afternoon and 2 in the morning. The small group is perfect for a cozy creative atmosphere.
I rearranged my studio which created more space for everyone to be in the same room, as last term we were split into 2 different rooms.  I like this arrangement much better.   
Below you can see the demo process I went through to take this photo resource to a painting...first a graphite value sketch, then an exercise we did taking the image to a 3 value study in one colour...then the painting itself.  The purpose of the exercise is to simplify the information within the photo resource to make it easier to interpret.  Well, that's the theory, anyways!

acrylic painting demo process

 

art distraction

I get distracted a lot by art. That is, when I'm supposed to be paying attention to what is happening in other realms, like tv or movies for example.  Instead I am attracted to what is on the walls. For example last night on tv I'm watching 'Lady Mary' glide up the staircase in 'Downton Abbey', and I catch sight of the frame of a gargantuous painting hanging on the wall behind her, anticipation builds in me and I find myself transfixed by what is to come in that painting...is it a portrait(yes it was!), and from what age...what artist? ...oh darn! the camera doesn't linger long enough for me to get a satisfying look! 

Painting in progress - oil on panel -

 The same thing happened recently when we were watching a super BBC series called Broadchurch...in the family house of the murder victim there was this interesting painting on the wall behind a dresser, and every time the camera was pointing in that direction I lost interest in the plot, and was transfixed by that piece of art!!  It was, I'm guessing, a contemporary(semi abstract?) landscape, but I never really got a good long look enough to satisfy my painterly curiosity.  I'm guessing this is a fairly common kindred painters experience!

Autumn Market

Autumn Market - oil on panel - 12 x 9 inch

Kingston's market changes frequently depending on the season; which vendors are out. It's a fav painting subject as its usually a hive of activity.  
I started this piece before the holidays, with a limited palette of warm colours(cad yellow pale, cad red, burnt umber, ultra blue). Then I lost my way and life got busy! 
While it sat on the easel drying, screaming for attention, I gave the whole thing a glaze of indian yellow just  to shut it up.!! ha ha ha! Sometimes it just feels good to give it the old wipe over!
Besides, there's a magic with glazes that often can add depth and completely change a paintings direction(I was hoping!)  
Today the glaze was fully dry, and I thought "No time like the present"...I added the figures of the mother and daughter, which improved things...Eureka! The whole thing was hideously yellow from the glaze, but I began the process of juggling tones/colours and applying them over the glaze... finding what was right... The sky went through a transition of at least 3 different tints before I felt good with it.

tiny town

Tiny Town - accordian folded paper images

I made this little folding town out of architecture from some of my paintings...and when I stood it on the shelf in the gallery the twinkle lights behind reflected in just the right places to imagine a tree or a moon in the night sky. heh heh. I really don't know what use it will serve, or what I will do with it, but I thought it sort of magical, all the same. I think I might also make a row of folding houses from some beach house images I've painted too. Would have a different look. Clearly I have a little too much time on my hands! 
Kind of brought back a flood of memories while cutting around the paper shapes.  I have this one memory when I was about 6, confined to bed with a childhood illness; my mum gave me a paper doll book. I hadn't had one before, and I was so happy with that book! I was so excited to play with it that I hurriedly took my little scissors and cut out all the dolls and the clothes!  Then my mum came back into the room and noticed that in my excitement and haste I had actually cut off all the tabs by which to hang the clothes on the dolls! O dear, disappointment!! "Never mind" she said, and patiently helped me tape all of the tabs back on. 

It's a Wrap!

Hello on this last day of December, 2013!  It is snowing a fog outside my window, but I have already finished the errands I needed this morning before it began full force, and now I am happy to be snug indoors, making soup.  
Reflecting on 2013, I have heaps to be thankful for!  Love and health of course are at the top of the list. In art, one of the best things I ever did was to make the decision to make more time for my art. I quit my job at the frame shop 3 years ago now, and since then I have been growing my little art business slowly and steadily, and at the same time growing my art with each painting.  The final month of this year has really been a boom and I couldn't be more delighted!

Janet with Rome Nights I and II

Yesterday morning I stopped at the house of my friend Janet as she was so excited and wanted to show me where she hung up her two new paintings Rome Nights and Rome Nights II.  I hadn't remembered that Janet had lived in Rome a number of years ago for 4 months.  So when her husband Dave gave her a gift box under the Christmas tree with a coupon allowing her to pick out a 'Sally Chupick original'  on Christmas morning, she started checking out my website and identified strongly with the Rome Nights paintings.  
Personally I couldn't be happier for them to reside with my dear friend Janet.  Those paintings are special to me..they were painted to record and evoke the mood and atmosphere experienced in the sultry Italian evenings dining and wandering in the old city cafe's and piazza's, and at the same time I purposely tilted the perspectives to give them more personality...the thing that pleases me so much is that Janet understands their quirkiness and enjoys them.  But then, that's Janet too.  He broke the mold after He created her.  She's so special!

Bright Winter Moon

Bright Winter Moon - oil on wood - 12 x 16

Hello there! It's great to be back online again. Our internet was 'knocked out' for 5 days while we experienced the effects of an ice storm that moved through our area a few days before Christmas... a very small sacrifice compared to the thousands of households that were without power (in Toronto) and still are.  It will be a memorable holiday season for many, memorably miserable for some.  I worked on this little painting last week, but was unable to post it after we lost our signal. I had first thought I would paint snow falling, but then decided the moon was more of the star(little celestial joke) in this case....so added the cat as a bridge,  linking the house and the moon.  I got the idea from Miss Puss(my daughters cat) who was visiting us during the holidays.

'that' feeling

I got it on Wednesday...that feeling...the magic moment.  heh heh.  Trimming our little tree,  listening to Christmas carolls...that feeling came into the room and lingered,  my heart("that was two sizes too small") grew larger and I felt Christmas. joyful. thankful. blessed. all those things.  Have a wonderful Christmas!

December Market

December Market - 9 x 12 - oil on gessobord panel

Chilly last night... but with my studio radiator cranked up I was cozy working on this little painting. Lots of wreaths and greenery for sale at the market in December.  I have subdued the green in the sky to give more of a frosty feel. It was fun painting with the light tints, sort of like adding frosting to a cake.
I was supposed to go to Ottawa last night, but am going today instead. Better to drive during daylight and not in snow squalls, which was the weather in Ottawa last night.  

Halifax trip and mini block sale Ebay

Maria, Sally & Rachel relaxing on the couch

Back from Nova Scotia on Monday! Had a good visit with daughter Rachel and Matt. Lots of chats and one on ones, made it feel completely Christmasy even though early. 

Rachel

We had clear weather for a wander around Halifax on Saturday and walking the dog on Sunday.  I cant believe what a quick trip it is by air, considering it's next to the Atlantic. My plane left Halifax at 10 am, and I landed in Ottawa, then drove to Kingston...I was at home and sipping a cappucino in my own little house by 2:30pm, and I didn't speed at all!
Tonight I'm heading to Ottawa to be Nurse Sally for a week, then back home again on the 17th to get ready for our Christmas.  Doesn't leave a lot of time for painting, but I'm dabbling in the studio in between.

ON SALE  now on Ebay,  Two of my seasonal mini-block oil paintings are on sale at 20% off the regular retail price. These two are newly listed.

Winter Cabin mini-block oil painting
click here

Winter Cabin 2 mini-block painting
click here

Make art, be happy

I was downtown just before lunch today and passed by our market square, Kingston has a lovely one. There is a public skating rink just behind city hall, and there were some lunch hour skaters gliding about. just dreamy.  one gal was even gliding around the rink chatting away on her mobile phone...o to be so sure footed!   The square is also a subject on my easel at the moment...the early morning light of a winter market day.  You can see the beginnings of it in the picture, I'm  figuring out tones, and even though I have an initial idea, you never know it might morph into another idea as I progress. 
I like that about oil painting...the ability to change direction if and when I feel like it.  Inspiration is best when it sneaks up on you and surprises you with an idea you may not have thought of.  There is a little quote by artist Robert Genn taped to my easel which I love...it inspires me, reminding me of process:  "Take your brush here and there like a bee in an alpine meadow. Watch the greater image materialize.  You need that thing over there to tell you what to do about that thing over here."
Concurrently, I have a nocturne on the go too...will post both when done.  It certainly feels good to get back in the saddle after a busy month of everything but painting!  Yesterday was so mild it was the perfect day to string up the outdoor lights and I've been baking quite a bit too. tra la la la la; la la la la!

Art Swaps and yay for December.

December is here...the season of lights!  I am so glad of it. Glad for friendship, and glad for sharing.  Sharing art and swaperoo's with artist pals!  

Did a fun swap with 2 pals recently and now I'm the lucky recipient of this darling little glass dove, and this beautiful encaustic painting!  Lucky, lucky me.
Below is a picture of some of my art in the Upstairs Gallery at The Blue House in Brighton, ON. It's a lovely airy space, and I was happy with the way the work looked when it was all hung up. My show runs from Dec 1 - Dec 28.

 

solo show at The Blue House, Brighton

You're invited!  This Sunday, December 1st is a wine and cheese opening reception(4-6pm) for a show of my works in Brighton, Ontario at The Blue House, where I am the featured artist for the month of December. I'm delighted to have this opportunity to show my work in a new venue, and such a pretty one too!  

The Blue House is a marvelous gift shop on the main street in Brighton.  There will be about 25 paintings of mine in Upstairs Gallery.  If you're in the vicinity it would be wonderful to see you there at the wine and cheese opening! 

RSVP: thebluehousebrighton@gmail.com 

balancing empty space with detail

I've recently made big changes to a painting that I initially thought I had completed a couple of weeks ago.   Took a big brush and some thick opaque paint and wiped out a whole for-ground that I had spent at least 2 weeks 'getting right'.  Turns out I didn't.  The problem was just 'way too much stuff', so that there was no where for the 'eye to rest'.  It was more a cutesy illustration than a painting really... actually made me uneasy just looking at it.  I kept feeling like if I could just get rid of the 'stuff' on the left side I'd be happier with it...cloud cover? Could that balance some of the detail with a little empty space?  Well, you can see the changes I've made so far...feeling better already:)

The Colours

The Colour's - oil on wood - 6x6

I've painted so many of our  town's nooks and cranny's over the years, and I love doing so, but I've quite neglected one of Kingston's landmark heritage sites; Old Fort Henry.  Today's painting(left) is one of a little group attempting to change that. It's not that I haven't wanted to paint it, but it's position on the landscape eludes me; it's like a tiger hiding in long grass.  

'Gateway' - the fort is up on the hill on the left here

'Sunset at Fort Henry' - watercolour

From above it presents itself as a grey architectural barricade, which is what it's meant to be after all...but from that angle it doesn't really give one a feel of what it's all about.  An aerial view tends to have the whole landscape as subject and not really the fort itself as focus, as you can see in these 2 other images from past paintings.  

When I paint, I'm most interested in how I feel about a subject.  So this week I have set myself a task of painting a group of little paintings that tries to do just that.  It's a bit of a challenge because although I love painting old stones and light, a Victorian era military fortress  presents it's own challenges...formality for one!  Things like weaponry and uniforms are not arbitrary subjects; yet my goal is to remain true to simple design and painterly application, not getting too caught up in the details.

Saturday at the show

We had a great day today at the Thousand Islands Art show and sale!  The sun shone, people came out...and the little quaint cottage that used to be a piggery (yes...I did say piggery!) was just bustling. I'm too tired to write much else, but here's a couple of piccys from today.