The Oil Painting Continues.

Here is my oil painting from the Old Masters Still Life class that I've been taking. It's quite close to finished (I think) There's a section of the silk drapery at the front that I will have to adjust and I will still work on the white cloth of the back ground. Highlights will go in at the very end. I am enjoying using the oils so much that I am seriously thinking of making the switch from acrylics.

Old Masters Oil Painting Class Week 5.

The old masters oil painting class that I'm taking is going along smoothly. I'm a bit behind the other students as I missed the third class due to a long weekend away, but I'll have an opportunity to get caught up soon. When I left off in my last post about this I had finished the very detailed line drawing (done free hand thank you! No photos or projectors allowed). We transferred the drawing onto the canvas using an oil transfer method.

Week 4. Here I've blocked in the dark areas using raw umber and medium. Step 2 was sculpting the light areas and highlights with white and medium. We are building up layers and creating colors with glazes

End of class week 5. A thin glaze of Indian red was used. It enhanced the already dark areas and created a soft peachy orange on the areas where the yellow ochre canvas shows through. I went over a few of the dark areas with raw umber and then again glazed with white, the highlights. It's starting to look three dimensional. Using the oils is so different from the acrylics especially in drying time. Just for fun, I started a still life here in my studio using the same painting method with acrylics so I can compare the two mediums. Stay tuned.

Old Masters Painting Class Update.

Here are a few photo's of the studio where I'm taking the old masters oil painting class. The second class was all drawing.

We had to go back to basic drawing skills (drawing 101) and refresh ourselves with perspective and measuring.

Here is the still life that we are working with. It's quite traditional, draped cloth, a silver vase, and a few pieces of fruit in a wicker basket. That basket is quite old and cracked and definitely a challenge to draw.

What I've done so far. Considering that I don't usually draw in this manner and my last official drawing class was some 30 years ago (yes, that's brutally honest!) I think it's quite good. Next time, we'll be finishing up the drawings and learning how to transfer them onto the canvas. Stay tuned.

Old Masters Painting Class

Like most of you I started January with some goals that I'd like to accomplish this year. Some of my blogging friends even chose one word for themselves, to guide them throughout the year. If I were to choose a word for myself it would be Happiness. For myself, my family and friends. 

Learning new skills and growing as a person and an artist is something that would make me very happy. So when my friend Lynn told me that she was having an instructor come in to her studio to teach a small group oil painting, I jumped at the opportunity.

Traditional oil painting like the old masters did. We'll be learning the techniques of Peter Paul Rubens, and Antony van Dyck. Our instructor Alexander Dzuybko-Doyle will be teaching his skills to us for 12 weeks. Last night was our first class. We had an introduction to the style and techniques and then began some very precise drawing of a still life that was set up for us.

 Caravaggio

Still Life with Fruit 1601-1605

Peter Paul Rubens 

Portrait of Clara Serena Rubens 1616

As I've never had a formal class in painting and I've never, ever painted in oils, this is going to be a great learning experience and a lot of fun. I'm not sure where this will lead me in the future but I know that learning these new skills and especially the discipline that comes with them, will certainly help me in life and in my artistic journey. And that to me equals happiness. I'll definitely be taking my camera along to the classes and will share the painting as it progresses. 

I Heart Pomegranates.

Tis the season for pomegranates. Just one look at these exotic lush fruits and I feel festive. So trendy and luckily very healthy, you know that all the polyphenols balance out the vodka in a Pomtini.

Rita's Festive Pomtini

2 0z. vodka (I prefer Absolut)
2 oz. pomegranate juice
lots of ice.
Shake all together in a martini shaker
Pour into a martini glass
twist of lime (optional)
ENJOY

Tiny tasty jewels

Pomegranates 8x10 Acrylic on Panel
$250.00

Three Pomegranates 8x10 Acrylic on Panel
$250.00

I've been buying lots of pomegranates lately as we all love to eat them and they look beautiful just sitting in a bowl. I couldn't resist painting them. Drop me an email if you're interested in purchasing.

BoGo in Red Banana's Shop.

I'm having a special event in my Etsy shop this weekend. BoGo or Buy One Get One!! Anyone who purchases a painting from my shop will receive one of the watercolor paintings above as a free gift from me. Each watercolor painting is an original painting (done by myself) and is matted in a soft white mat board. They measure 8"x10" and fit a standard 8x10 frame. You can even choose which one you'd like by letting me know in an Etsy convo or an email. Perfect to give as a gift or to keep for yourself. This event will expire at midnight (EST) Sunday November 22, or while quantities (the 5 shown above) last.

New in My Shop.

Stillness 10x8 Acrylic on board
Click here to purchase

It's been very busy here in my studio. Last week "to do" lists were getting the better of me, But today was great. Eight items on my list for today with six items already crossed off. I'll see if I can get to the other two later in the evening. New paintings are being listed almost daily in RedBanana's Shop (my Etsy shop) and there's plenty of affordable art available for gift giving. New mixed media paintings coming soon.

Arts on King Show

Here are some photos I took of my paintings at Arts on King. My show runs until August 31st so if you're in the area please stop by and check out this wonderful gallery. Jodi Wheeler did a beautiful hanging of my work. Jodi is a fine artist and she curates the shows for both Arts on Queen and Arts on King. Her lovely mixed media work can also be found gracing the walls.

Originally opened in 1991 by Ellen Wagner, Arts on King along with the Wagner Rosenbaum Gallery was located at 169 King St E. in Toronto. I had a show of my landscapes and still lifes upstairs at the Wagner Rosenbaum Gallery in August of 2003. The retail/gallery space closed after 13 years and Arts on Queen was opened. Now happily back in the community at 165 Queen St E., Arts on King features a variety of media by Canadian artists. I personally think that they have the best selection of handmade jewellery in the city!