Picture Perfect

     I used this painting on my December newsletter as it was in the December Men in Hats show about Harold Steves that we had in Gateway Theatre but I hadn't used it in a blog...so here it is. I wanted to show Harold out in the field with some of the Belted cattle. I have sketched Harold a few times when we have been at a meeting but, considering that he is a very busy man, this was done mostly from photo references. Some artists are very against using photographs at all for portraits. I think, for this, an artist would have to be very very well-known and the portrait would have to be commissioned. At that point, it would be easy to arrange for five or six sessions. For most of us, this is not going to happen and we are glad to be able to get a photograph of someone seen casually and then work it up into a painting, With our "long poses", we have around two and a half hours to work on a painting and then it is sometimes possible to get a photo  of the model (some don't like to be photographed) so the painting can be finished at home. I have just been doing pastel or watercolour work for Long Pose so as to avoid adding more canvases to the stack - so I have not being doing additional work from a photograph, as I am finished in the length of time we have.
     The history of portrait painting is a long one - portraits of princesses sent to prospective husbands for one. Think of Henry VIII feeling that the portrait of Anne of Cleves  was not a true one as reality was different from the flattering painting. In 17th-century Holland. social status was reinforced by portraits by prominent artists of the times. This continued with CEO's of business and important academics having portraits painted for display in their realms of influence. Then photography became better and society turned to studio photographs until that became mainstream.  Then it was back to painted portraits for those who could afford it. Curators at the Art Gallery of Ontario say that a successful portrait captures "what a person wants you to know about them and what the artist sees beneath the surface."  Lucien Freud was a master of letting the viewer see beneath the surface of his subjects. Brenda Bury,  an outstanding Canadian portraitist, says: "Looking at the portrait the viewer should recognize a fellow human. Machines, such as cameras, don't know the difference between the living and the dead. Painters are required to." Brenda has even painted the Queen and her paintings sell for $15,000 to $30,000. Drawings or pastels range from $3,000 to $6,000. I'd be happy  to work for  much less! There is something particularly interesting in the human face. I haven't heard if Harold has seen this painting but a lot of the people who viewed it at Gateway felt that it captured his personality.
     

Art About Finn Slough

The Finn Slough Art Show is this week- always fun to see what others interpretations of the Slough are. Interestingly, there is always something different to see. The reception is on the Friday night and I'm looking forward to hearing Michael Kluckner speak - and, I must admit, also hoping that he does not go on too long. The problem with some speakers is that, while they may be interesting, it is just too long to sit - and even worse if the seats have run out! I painted a new painting for this year's show and had fun with the light and shadows. Also, it was different to have the fishboat not by the houses. Anyway, I hope people like it.

Spring and growth-

Now we've changed the clocks and the weather is picking up, it is time to think of growth in many ways. Years ago, we used to see a painter in Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island. He was always in the same spot and always painted the same picture- shafts of light coming down through the evergreens. I'm assuming he sold them - to buyers who had no idea that their painting was virtually a duplicate of many others. Original? -yes, sort of. It wasn't a print and it was freshly painted but without an original thought!
For Life Drawing, I like using different materials. For painting, I like different subjects. I'd probably paint people all the time if I could afford to hire models just for myself. But then, I enjoy plein air, studio painting of landscapes, and even the occasional still life when something really appeals to me. I've done quite a few bouquets and a whole series of fruit and vegetables. I choose subjects because of a strong feeling I have for it. Right now I'm working in a couple of different directions. For me, the enjoyment of painting is the constant challenge and opportunity for growth. I may not always be sure of where I'm going, but I find pleasure in the journey. The painting this time was done about a year ago because I loved the old-style keys. And so the painting is called "Keys". The rest of the story is up to the viewer.

Finn Slough Art Show

The annual Finn Slough Art Show is on this week. We deliver our paintings for hanging on Wednesday evening and then the show runs through to Sunday afternoon. The reception is on Friday evening- with some entertainment and delicious goodies. This is always a fun show as it is not juried, will include photographs and maybe have some kid's art too. It is always interesting to see the various interpretations of this community. My entry this year is a winter sunset as viewed from the little bridge. Something I learned about the bridge is that the centre part can be removed for boats going further up the slough - and that this section gets chained in place for Hallowe'en! Most of the artists will be there on the Friday evening so that adds to the enjoyment too. Somehow the show keeps getting better and better all the time. You can find out more about this event and about this historical community at the Finn Slough website.

Small, Smaller and Smallest

The painting show of small size works opens this coming Tuesday - the 16th- at the Federation Gallery on Granville Island. It will be a good show as there will be lots of pieces in it and prices are very reasonable since the paintings are small. It makes a great opportunity to buy a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift -- and you don't have to worry about whether it will fit the recipient. I have a 12" x 6" painting of a cat in this show. I've called it "Bliss". I don't think any creature can get a more blissful expression than a cat! If you want to check out the show, the images should be posted on the Federation of Canadian Artists website once the show opens. Avoid the crowds at the malls and visit the Federation Gallery----

Art Handling Olympics

The current issue of "Art News" magazine reports on a fun competition for art handlers. "Accompanied by music from Chariots of Fire, Rocky, and The Price is Right, contestants hung pictures of kittens, packed up pizza boxes and trash by artists named Panini and Bruschetta, and assembled installations without instructions." The goal was "to spotlight the skills that we use" and to bring art handlers together as a community. Onlookers had styrofoam chickens to throw at contestants in "Speed Hanging" and "Static Hold" among other rounds. One art handler vouched for the authenticity - "what you see is exactly- as a parody- what we go through." I was amused to read this after another episode of "art handling" that I just went through. Along with a number of local artists, I was recently in a situation where there was an hour to bring in and arrange a display to assist a charitable foundation in its fund-raising. Meantime, everyone else, and the caterers too, were going lickety-split to assemble their areas. It was a bit frantic and wearing - and because of poor sound, the attendees appeared to have no idea as to why the artists were there at all! I felt we were regarded with the same lack of enthusiasm that results from the realization that to exit the castle/tourist-attraction, you have to leave via the gift shop. Anyway, I had a few good conversations and nobody threw styrofoam chickens.- and here is a painting shown recently- "Baskets" is 12" x 16" framed acrylic on canvas.

The Diva

Tomorrow is "delivery day" for the Finn Slough paintings. Then the exhibit will run Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday just to noon (pick-up time). As noted last post, the reception is Friday evening. On Valentine's Day, a number of artists were invited to a tea at Finn Slough. This was a very nice event and all of us who went, really enjoyed it. I was pleased to meet "Barbra", the subject of this painting. The cat is actually a male, but is a real diva. He looked so elegant sitting in the window, backlit. I was able to get a number of photos. (Cheers for digital when you can just keep snapping away and not "waste film" if the subject turns his head.) At any rate, this was fun to paint and will be something different for the show.

Lanterns at Omega

I was up at Omega Gallery today - and noted that traffic definitely seemed lighter. Could it be that more people decided that the Canada Line is the way to go? It certainly makes it easy if you are going downtown but it doesn't work for going to Dunbar with canvases in the trunk! Tien Ching decided to keep five for now. One is "Blink" from a couple of blogs ago and one is "Lanterns" which I'll post here. The miner's lantern is a real one that was actually used by my Dad at Coleman, Alberta. Later, he wired it so it could be used as a lamp. I don't actually use it but I'm glad to have it as a bit of history with a personal connection. Tien is not displaying these paintings right now but a person can always ask to see them! This was interesting to set up - first I had a lighter background because I liked the cast shadows of the lantern plant (Physalis alkekengi ) but then it didn't seem right to have a miner's lantern sitting out in the light, so I re-draped the stand and settled on the darker background. After adjusting the light, I was fairly pleased as I felt it captured the glow that lanterns provide.

Ceperely Park

The exhibition "Just a Season" continues at Fraserview Church (until February 28th) I had quite a few questions as to where Ceperely Park was. It is actually part of Stanley Park and I'm not quite sure why that piece got a separate name. Further, I gather that the name is no longer in common use. It is the area with the playground by the swimming pool. I understand it also included the area beyond Lost Lagoon where there is the little stone bridge. There are also group picnic table areas and I remember being on a Sunday School picnic there once. My painting is in the winter, however, with the sun setting. There are ducks silhouetted in the foreground water. The row of trees in the background is along the Seawall walk. This photo shows Barb Bowen adjusting the painting.

Here we go again-

This should show "Homeward Bound" this time. Well,last blog, I clicked on "show image", uploaded the image and it would have published to the post once I clicked "done" -only "done" did not show up to be clicked. This is a Mac and it usually works "tickedy-boo" as people used to say. Every now and then it doesn't - as you can tell from past posts. My theory is that computers have moods and some just "don't wanna.."

Paintings at Steveston

The Richmond Artists Guild was invited to display paintings in MLA John Yap's office in Steveston -right around the corner from Starbucks. Some paintings are on the Olympic sports theme while others are of Steveston and Finn Slough. Each one is by a different artist but they all work together very well and quite bring the office walls to life. Parking can be dicey in Steveston, but I got lucky and parked right outside the office - a good thing, since I had a four-foot ladder in the car for our hanging job. I took a little 24' x 12" acrylic on canvas painting called "Homeward Bound" so it would fit a little wall. It is a fishboat heading back up the Fraser River. It is a nice opportunity to show works- and we are hoping that we will be invited to continue with different shows.