Valentine
Posted on February 14, 2021
It’s no secret I love roses! I have different varieties in my garden and I never grow tired or their spiral shape and soft petals.
In this painting I wanted to play with the different shades of creamy white and the warm colors found in the center of some of these roses. The red roses are the divas that demand your attention in the center of the composition. The soft grey background keeps the focus on the beautiful forms of the roses.
Valentine
(14 x 1 1 inches, oil on panel)
Framed Painting: $695 plus shipping
How Does an Artist Develop?
Posted on January 3, 2021
Book Review:
Problem Solving for Oil Painters by Gregg Kreutz
If I had to pick one book for an artist who was just starting to learn how to paint, this would be it! Gregg Kreutz is a master painter, author and an instructor at the Art Students League in New York City.
“A great painting is a moment captured.
It may have taken years to create but its effect on the viewer is immediate. The quality of spontaneous vision can mislead the aspiring painter into thinking that art emerges full blown from the soul of the artist . . . in fact real art is more often that not the result of hard-won struggles with all sorts of problems, some lofty, some mundane. . . The artist develops by answering questions like,“What makes form look dimensional? How does light flow?”
(pg. 7, Problem Solving for Painters by Gregg Kreutz, 1986).
Often when an artist is first learning to paint, they might not know what questions to ponder. This book covers many topics and has insightful questions that can serve not only as a learning tool but as a way to critique your own work. It covers topics from shapes, values, edges, shadow, color and more. Plus, it’s filled wth Kreutz’s beautiful paintings!
Winter Glow
Posted on December 3, 2020
What is Tonalism in art? According to the americantonalistsociety.com this type of art can be defined by the use of subtle tones of color often using various greens, purples, blues, and grays that are soothing and restful on the eye. It depicts atmosphere or unseen air and stresses symbolic form. Tonalism often uses expressive paint handling to embody emotion and to represent nature. It’s unique soft-edged forms create a sense of mystery and an emotional response.
My painting, Winter Glow, was created partially from a photograph and also from memory. I wanted to recreate the cold, peaceful stillness found on a winter day, the feel of the crisp air, yet a bit of warmth from the beautiful glow of the sun.
Winter Glow
● SOLD (12 x 16 inches, oil on panel)
November Gratitude
Posted on November 3, 2020
“Gratitude is the golden tray on which I offer to others what God has given to me.” —Father Joseph Martin
November and Thanksgiving is always a time for reflection on what we are grateful for in our lives.
This year with the covid pandemic it has very difficult for so many, but it has also forced us to look at what is truly important. I am so grateful for family, friends and the simple joys in life. Cooking meals, stopping to enjoy nature’s beauty and spending time together (in small groups this year) is what I treasure.
Thank you for supporting my art. Wishing you health, happiness and many blessings.
Autumn Birches
(9 x 12, inches, watercolor on paper)
Painting with mat: $65 plus shipping
Available for sale through Etsy
Autumn Gold
Posted on October 5, 2020
This painting was fun to create and a bit of experimentation. I used gold and copper leaf to add some glistening colors in the beautiful fall foliage that I observed.
Autumn Gold
(14 x 1 1 inches, oil on panel)
Framed Painting: $450 plus shipping
Available for Sale through Paypal
Zinnia Sketch
Posted on September 11, 2020
I planted a variety of zinnias this year and they are thriving in my garden. I have the smaller heirloom variety and also the taller zinnia giants. I decided to paint outside today in the beautiful autumn weather and create a plein air sketch in my garden. Here are the results!
Zinnia Sketch
● Sold (4 x 8 inches, oil on panel)
The ”Keys” of an Exciting Still Life
Posted on August 14, 2020
In May, I treated myself to a 3-week, online class taught by the amazing artist, Daniel J. Keys. I have admired his loose brushstrokes and his ability to make a simple subject come to life with his interesting paint handling and unique compositions.
Daniel’s online class consisted of wonderful videos on a variety of topics such as observation, lighting, composition, accurate drawing, values, along with thoughtful video critiques with photoshop changes to show you enhancements to your painting and his thought process. I highly recommend taking one of his online classes.
Week one consisted of watching the video, My Favorite Roses and creating a master copy of his work while viewing his reference photo. This was a great experience and taught me how to start a painting a little looser while still being accurate and incorporating a sense of play with interesting brushstrokes into a painting. Value and edges are so important! Below is my poor man’s Keys master copy (shown on the top) and Daniel’s beautiful painting (shown on the bottom.)
Master copy of Daniel’s yellow roses by Jill Brabant. My transitions in the yellow roses in the shadow areas need to be more gradual to capture the soft form. In my attempt to create loose brushstrokes I lost some of the form of the roses. There is a fine line between a sense of play and knowing when to describe the form with a harder edge. Daniel’s more neutral background (less blue) makes the yellow sing in the roses. His leaves show better value transitions without creating every detail.
Yellow Roses by master painter, Daniel J. Keys
Spring Serenade
Posted on July 9, 2020
Oil Painters of America 2020 Virtual Salon Show of Traditional Oils
August 13 – October 3
Oil Painters of America
Oh, Happy Dance! I am very excited to be included in this amazing show! As an art teacher, I love using my own life examples to inspire my students. I often start the school year with a picture of one of my drawings from kindergarten. I then show students a drawing of my work now, after years of practice and persistence. I like to use the analogy of learning to ride a bike to explain the process of improving as an artist.
When you learn to ride a bike, you don’t just jump on a road bike and take off. First, you learn to ride a tricycle. Then you learn to ride a 2-wheeler with training wheels. Next the training wheels come off and you learn to balance while your father is holding the back of your seat to balance you. Then after many falls and brushing yourself off, you can finally learn to balance on your own.
And so it is with painting. Persistence is the key along with the willingness to experiment and fail. Learning is a life-long process (and there is always more to learn)! The master painters that we admire today were once using training wheels, too. If you are just learning to paint or feel as if you are struggling as an artist, remember:
We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.
—Helen Keller
As a traditional oil painter, I have been so inspired by the representational painters at OPA and I am very honored to have my painting, Spring Serenade juried into this prestigious show.
About the Show: Oil Painters of America assembles the finest display of approximately 300 representational oil paintings. The focus in the jurying process was to select paintings that show the highest quality in draftsmanship, color, and composition, emphasizing a diversity in representational style and subject matter.
Spring Serenade
(20 x 16 inches, oil on panel)
The Artist’s Garden in May
Posted on May 7, 2020
“Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint and the soil and sky as canvas.”
—Elizabeth Murray
My garden is my muse and a constant source of inspiration for me. In May, the roses and peonies are bursting forth in a colorful array!
The Artist’s Garden in May
● Sold (14 x 11 inches, oil on panel)
SCNY Black & White Exhibition 2020
Posted on February 3, 2020
On View February 3- 21, 2020
Mondays- Fridays 1-6pm
Saturday and Sunday, 1-5pm.
I am excited to be included in the Salmagundi Club’s historic Annual Black and White Exhibition. This show is a juried members’ exhibition of black and white or monochromatic sepia drawings, graphics, photographs, paintings, and sculpture by artist members.
Working in just black and white helps an artist to concentrate on values, composition and edges. This piece was so fun to paint—thick impasto with a palette knife.
Members’ & Guests’ Reception: Upper Gallery | Thursday, February 13, 6:30-8:30PM, with a performance by Joseph Camardo and The Jazz Doctors.
