How to Begin A Painting

Have you ever been confused about the "right way" to begin a painting?  Do you read different experts, or take workshops only to come away confused because you are told/shown a different way to begin a painting with each new workshop?  One workshop presenter says not to tone a canvas and keep it white (they give support why they believe this to be better).  Another says to tone it to a value scale of 5.  Some say the toner should be warm while others use a color that is neutral.  These are just a few of the issues of "beginning" a painting on panel or canvas.  After much reading myself it has dawned on me that there is NO ONE RIGHT WAY!  So how do you choose? My blog for the next few months is going to deal with this issue and hopefully I can shed some light on this question.  My husband says it's kind of like choosing your faith or religion.  It's a matter of what you believe.  I want to explore as many ways to start a painting as practical and explore the strengths or weakness of one method over another?  How do you begin a painting on panel or canvas?  Let me know your method, okay? I will post as many different practices as possible.

New Painting

               12" X 24"    Making Applesausce
As 2010 comes to a close  and goals are being made for the new year, I am taking the time to inventory this year's progress.  As most of us feel that we could have been more ______ fill in the blank, I do an actual inventory of what I have painted.  This week I drove up to the Gainesville area to pick up the remaining paintings that came back from the summer gallery in Kennebunkport, Maine.  It was like seeing old friends again.  There's something special about seeing your work after a long absence because the good and the bad jump out at you.  So as I close this year, I am somewhat satisfied with my work.  This piece is the last of this year's work, and as always, I go back to subjects of home and memories of North Carolina living.  I love painting Mason jars and translucent or transparent objects.

I sincerely thank all of you that have followed along with me this year on the blog and I promise I will do a better job of posting more regularly (one of my goals for next year).  My second goal is to conduct at least four workshops along with my regular teaching at home.  The last big goal is to put together information and images for at least one national publication.  Best wishes and have a wonderful holiday season.

Words of Wisdom

I just read a thought from a clinical psychologist--Terri Melgar on Scott Burdick's Facebook wall.  It is important enough to share with my teaching friends and others.

"To learn we must be open to the idea of needing information and/or so frustrated with what we are doing/or what is happening to us, that we are willing to let go of the way we are use to doing "it" and risk!!!  Trying something new. (this isn't for the faint of heart).
Children can learn so easily, not a lot of expectations, self corrections and fear to block the intake of new information.
Those get built in from family and other primary care givers which is where that teacher good/bad shows up.
Hopefully in life we are both student and teacher, being open to new ideas and approaches and willing to share our knowledge.  To make ones self available to the possibilities of learning about the things that interest us is a wonder . . . filled experience.  Often times a gift is given from an unexpected source."
This statement reminds me of the old story of the man who was walking down a dirt road and passed by a house.  On the front porch was a dog spread out resting but then let out a howl of pain.  Watching, he noticed the dog howled then stopped, then howled again.  An old man was sitting in a rocking chair next to the dog.  "What's wrong with your dog the stranger asked.  The old man responded.  "He's lying on a nail."  Puzzled by the answer, the stranger asked.  "Why doesn't he just get up?"  Still rocking, the old man said, "It doesn't hurt bad enough." 

Just a thought to think about.

Halifax Art Show

The Halifax Art Show was a total success.  The write-up in the paper brought many people to the show and all were very complimentary.  For me, just meeting old friends and making new ones who share a love of art is worth the price of admission.  The Museum of Arts and Science's guild gave me a purchase award for a landscape of a sunset river scene on the Tomoka River.  This piece will become part of their permanent collection for Art in Public Places.  Another pleasant surprise was an invitation for a show at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens.  I also had a few comments from folks who read my previous blog and watched the video essay on The Banishment of Beauty.  If you haven't seen it, you should.  Scott Burdick did a fantastic job of articulating why we should value art for the sake of its beauty and craftmanship.

Scott Burdick's-The Banishment of Beauty

Scott Burdick's well articulated presentation on The Banishment of Beauty  (one of my favorite figure/narrative painters) was presented  at this year's American Artist's Weekend with the Masters event. Narrating his video essay, he describes so clearly what has happened in the last century since the onslaught of modern art.  Using Thomas Wolf's explanation of understanding modern art, Burdick shows how modern art has become just illustrated literary comments where shock value, vulgarity, and egotistical intellectual messages have become highly prized by museums and galleries.  It is obvious to me that these higher institutions of art want and promote what mirrors our current culture . . . rude comments, vulgarity, bullshit, and incivility to the public.  With these last few months of political name calling and outright inhumanity to man, my platform is beauty, love, and hard work.

Halifax Art Show

Life has taken me in many directions these last months--all good.  Gallery sales have improved somewhat but the economic downturn has really taken a toll.  Having said that I am excited about next week.  November 6th and 7th is the Halifax Art Show in downtown Daytona Beach.  Last week the local paper--News Journal--called and asked if I would like to be the featured artist for this year's article in the newspaper.  Don't ask me twice!  Today the article with pictures appeared in the Sunday paper.  They did a great job and their choice of using the portrait of Angel on the cover of the tabloid was very well done.  The article has already brought e-mails asking about the art and prices.  For all of you locals, please come down and say hello.

Beginning Again

    














One thing that has become very apparent to me this last year is an internal struggle with what do I really want to paint.  Having had a full time job for over thirty years with a paycheck coming in every month, I painted what I liked.  It was fun and I learned something with every piece I created.  Things have changed!  My daily life is about painting and I have come to know that what I paint has to be more than just a pretty picture that sells.  It has to be about my passion.  I'm not about making social or political statements.  I'll leave that for the more . . . you put in the word that comes to mind.  The struggle has now formed into the big question.  What do I care about the most or simply stated;  what do I want to share with others that is important to me?  The artist I have featured here is the one person  that has helped me to understand the direction I must go in.
    Last year, as some of you know, I went to the event called Weekend with the Masters in Colorado.  There I met a painter that I have followed these last few years with great interest.  Of all the people I met there and I have to say, most of the painters I know today, she was truly unique.  Talking with her for that afternoon while I was in her group, something came through that I didn't understand until later.  She cared about people.  Her demeanor was unpretentious, quiet, and caring.  That caring seems to come through in each of her paintings.  There was and is an honesty that resonated with me from the moment I met her.  She was just recently feature on CBS Sunday Morning.  I have attached the video for you to see and hear her. It's about 7 minutes long.  I think you will feel what I have been trying to describe.   She is indeed a truly gifted artist and individual.  Sunday Morning with Mary Whyte.