ArtExpertOnLine

 This week I am waiting for a friend to send me one of her paintings so I am posting an old collage of mine. It is one of my favorites.   I have done collage for many years and have collected a large variety of papers and images.  It is a fun, but difficult process.  I find it a great way to express myself, but it is time consuming.     I probably spent three to four months on this image.  It is not large, but complex.  I love looking over it and rediscovering designs, and mini images.  After looking small, look at the whole and see the flow of one paper into another, the rhymn from top to bottom, left to right, and diagonally down.    This is one of the few monochromatic works I have ever done.  My memory is that I saw this as a challenge and I wanted to tell a little story with it.  So, if you want to, scan the image and imagine.    I used a large variety of paper.  Some photo paper, some tissue, maga...

     I first saw this last week in my favorite art calendar.  Isn't she beautiful! I had read about the artist before, but knew little about him, however just by looking at this painting I knew it was a commissioned portrait.   We often forget that most career painters need to make money, a living.  And, portraits of society people (who could afford it) was often an artist's choice.   Looking at this beautiful image, it almost makes me wish I was a society lady in France, 1870.  I would want James Tissot to make me look this wonderful!      Looking closely at this painting poses a few practical questions.  First, James Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902) was French and generally knew and accepted with the Impressionists, but he never exhibited with them, or the Post-Impressionists.  A year after this painting was completed, in 1871 he moved to London where he continued an active portrait business.  I will note...

We haven't looked at a still life in a long time so when Sandra sent me a series of paintings to use, I selected this one. Isn't it beautiful!      Sandra is one of those people who you know young, send many years apart and reconnect later in life.  She had a great career as a junior high art teacher and since has taken many painting classes perfecting her craft.           I like this work for many reasons.  One is the background. Without a division line she has created space and light.  We don't know what is in the rear, for she insists we focus on the flowers and vase.  Pay attention to the transition of color in the foreground.  We can tell immediately light is coming from the upper left.  Notice the beautiful transition from white/pink to soft blues.  Skillfully done!     As I have written before knowing when to stop is often a difficult dilemna.  Here Sandra has done a ...

     Watercolor painting is a great skill often achieved after years of practice.  This week we have a friend of mine whose work I have long admired.  Just like Char two weeks ago, Grace has a definite style and way of working that gives her paintings a unique appearance.     Here is what Grace says about this painting:       I painted this watercolor from a reference photo taken from outside my hometown in Indiana.  I just completed an art exhibit there that was in conjunction with the Bicentennial of the county.  I painted 30, 8 x 10 inch watercolors of historic homes and buildings in the area, and this was my favorite of the paintings.     The subject is an old abandoned one-room school house.  I like the composition and the feeling of loneliness of a building that once held a lot of life and happiness.  The old tree in the foreground adds to the drama.     Working from a photograp...

     The guest artist for this week has had technical issues and so for several reasons this week we will look at this wonderful landscape by Vincent Van Gogh.  A week ago I wrote at length about Char's skill plein aire painting in watercolor.  Van Gogh painted out-of-doors, too, but in oil paint.  His technique was to execute the drawing and establish all color outside by thinning the paint to an "oil wash".  He would then go indoors to complete the painting with heavy layers of paint until complete to his satisfaction.    Oil paint is considerably different to work with from watercolor.  Both have their own challenges. Watercolor dries quickly and artists usually work in fine, thin layers as the paint is transparent color. Oil dries very slowly, so color can be mixed and adjusted on canvas if necessary and as needed.      Next week I will introduce you to Grace who will demonstrate her method of creating a painting....

   One of my fun memories was summer months plein aire painting with this week's artist. Since that time, I have met others who have  painted outdoors.  While Char and I set up chairs and easels in the grass, others have worked in their cars so as not to attract public attention.  I remember one specific day we were in an area park and a woman saw Char and was so curious she had to come visit and watch.   Although it was a friendly, sweet thing to do, it broke our concentration and we were unable to continue.  I know Monet painted in a boat on the river, maybe, also, to avoid the friendly public.       The painting Char has selected to share is beautifully executed.  It is perfectly balanced.  Notice how important the light post and small red tree to balance off the right side from the left.  The blue shadow, below, establishes a nice "base, off setting the heavy left top.  The curve of the road, is almost a...

   When I moved to my new home five years ago, I wanted a couple of flower paintings to brighten  up an outdoor deck for summer months.   I ended up doing a whole series in different sizes, simply because they were fun to make.   Of all of them, this one is one of the ones I enjoy the most.  It now hangs in my dining area year round.     Do not try and give a name to it, as I did not look at a specific flower. This one grew out of my imagination.  Unfortunately when I took the photo I could not remove the glare visible in the upper left, so please excuse.     I "read" several things into this image.  To me, it has a slight "Georgia O'Keeffe"  quality.  I was very pleased with the colors, especially the blues.  There was no attempt at creating foreground or background, only please shapes of color.  I have no problem with art created simply to decorate a space.  Actually, I have come t...