Workshop Lessons

I was happy to participate in a plein air painting workshop with instructor and fabulous artist, Marc R. Hanson based at the Crooked Tree Art Center in Petoskey, MI. This workshop followed the weekend opening of the Oil Painters of America (OPA) Summer Salon Show. The show will be in the center until August 31, 2013. If you get a chance to see this fabulous exhibit, please look for my painting, "River Banks - Spring Thaw". 

Marc Hanson's demo on using a simple black and white value study and then painting those same values with color.
Square one on left is the scene with four values in black and white, below that is the same using color.

My attempt using the same exercise of Bear River.

My painting of the same scene using those principles of simple value structure.
"Rushing River", oil, 8x10

Marc doing a demo the next day at Bill's Farm Market. Here the demo is on using the same simple value structure and quickly painting in the large shapes using three - five values and color.

Below are several of my studies from that day of painting.

Capturing a Day in Paint

Last week Sunday while in Petoskey, MI, my artists friends and I decided to spend the day painting in Harbor Springs. Harbor Springs in a quaint town with only five or six blocks of shops, restaurants and art galleries. There is plenty of subject matter. We were excited about the beautiful harbor with the sailboats so that is where we set up our easels. The first half hour was sunny, then it clouded up with fog. The weather changed so frequently, from calm to windy, from warm to chilly, sunny to foggy, that it was hard to establish values and color in the painting. Almost gave up but I loved that red boat and so  I quickly painted in the foreground water and bouy and liked the results.

Red Sailboat - Foggy Morning, oil, 11x14, $300 unframed

The owner of this boat may be interested in purchasing this piece, so it is currently on hold.

That was hard work. After a lunch break, we set up to do an afternoon painting. The sun was out consistently and decided to do another harbor painting from a different viewpoint.

Harbor Springs Bay, oil, 12x16, $900 framed

I am satisfied with this painting and will frame it!

Not wanting to quite leave yet, we ate dinner at Turkeys. You know if you have been to Harbor Springs, it is the pink one with the black and white striped awning. I did a painting of it years ago and it is a charming place both inside and out.

With just a little bit on energy left, we did a small evening study as well.

Harbor Study, oil, 8x6, $300 framed or $200 uf