Stay in the Loop! Free!

Your email address:


Powered by FeedBlitz

Followers

search my blog posts?

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Suzanne Twins update

After 6 weeks, 24/7 (well not quite) of working on Urania Christy Tarbet's book, Dare to Dream, I took an afternoon off to paint. WOW, was afraid it would take longer to get in the groove, but surprisingly it all came back. All I had to do was change my hat!

This painting has a solid grisaille in raw umber. I've pretty much taught myself this process...I think the old masters used more glazing, where I got more opaque around layer 2. This is layer 3...and I was amazed at the difference! I tend to fall in love with each stage and am reluctant to keep working, and THAT is why it has taken so long to complete this painting. Other than a major downsize move that took 3 months and this book project.

WOULD YOU JUST LOOK at the difference? And I was in love with the under version! I can do alla prima skin tones, but sometimes I like the 'slowdown' of doing the grasaille (grey) so I can really enjoy the process of bringing it to life.

 

The book will be available for sale at IAPS 2013, June 5. It is a compendium of Urania's colorful life as a child, through her art studies as a young mother, her famous ancestors, to her founding of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) in 1995. Over 50 pastel artists from all over the world have contributed pictures of their art and stories about their personal journey to pastels and memories about IAPS conventions. The art is portrayed full page size so you can really 'see' the methods that are as diverse as the artists' locations and styles. 8 1/2" x 11", full color, 250+ pages. Soft Cover. Will be available through Amazon. Watch for date!

PS: don't tell Urania I leaked the news :)



Tuesday, April 16, 2013

April 2013 MB Challenge

We were all running a bit late this month! Looks like the results were worth waiting for...

Suzanne chose the theme this month "Trompe l'Oeil", which is Wicki means "Fool the Eye". I've worked several paintings in this theme. It is really a fun genre. You've probably seen this process in large buildings (like casinos and restaurants) where it looks like you can walk down a hallway, or look through a window at the Tuscan hillside...only to find out it is an illusion.

I loved this little charmer. This is a tumbled marble tile found in kitchen backsplashes. They have such interesting vein effects. I even like the ones with broken and chipped areas because it lends to the antiquity appeal.




"Red Vase in Niche"
4" x 4" oil on marble
©2013 V.N.Ross





"To Do"
10.5"x13", unframed
Oil on Canvas
with painted edges
©2013 Diana Moses Botkin


"That Shirt"
16x20" Oil on Canvas
©2013 Suzanne Berry