Chacala Boy, oil, 14x11... finished

I enjoyed painting this sweet face. If you compare this painting to the one in my previous post, you'll see he looks better nourished.

Below are some of the portraits painted in the workshop... I'm delighted with each one!

Gwen Bell


Juli Koroly


Ruthie Sexton


Janice Crawford


Kay Moore


Annice Anderson


Barbara Pask


Linda Wacaster


Ray Beck


Leslie Newman

Norma Folse

For a while now I'd been casting about for 'direction' in that constant question of what to paint next. Then the other day I bought Robert Henri's book, "The Art Spirit," and on the twelfth page he writes, "An art student must be a master from the beginning; that is, he must be master of such as he has. By being now master of such as he has there is promise that he will be master in the future." I've read other versions of that notion- to paraphrase: completely fill the place you have in your life in the present; take care of the job in front of you/love the people in front of you/clean the house you live in/do all that you do now with your best skills and best effort.... because until you do, you can't possibly be ready for what's next, or what's better.
I was immediately aware of the paintings I have sitting around the studio that have been started, but not finished. Ok, well, some of my broadcast viewers remind me of them regularly, too. I see that I need to finish a few paintings before asking what's next. Expect some finishes in the next few posts!
-Susan

Salon's Jury's Top Sixty... and some starts

These last few days have been so full that now it's hard to know how to fill you in! I enjoyed all the events associated with Salon International, and it was made more special by getting to experience it all with artist Debra Bryant, who was my guest from Florida and who had a painting in the show, as well. She emailed me a couple of days ago to tell me the news that my painting had been awarded a ribbon as one of the Jury's Top Sixty in the Exhibition. I'm thrilled!

While she was visiting, we did a broadcast together in which we both started self portraits. I've worked on mine a bit since, and though it is FAR from finished, I thought I'd show you how it looks at the moment, but stay tuned for many improvements:

Saturday, April 17th, I held my second online painting workshop and this time the subject was a portrait. Again, I was so proud of all the work done by the participating artists. I'll post the images of their completed portraits on my blog in a few days when they send in their images for 'assessment and suggestions.' My own painting from our common photo reference is not completed, but I'll show you what it looks like now. His face will be a bit plumper in the final version:

Hope you're enjoying a beautiful spring!

Studio makeover, Debra's visit & Gentleman Traveler

My studio/computer room in its former hideous state:

This room was originally the fourth bedroom in my home, although I've only used it as an office for the 20+ years I've lived here. A few years ago I discovered the advantages of painting with my reference photos on the computer monitor, so I moved in a couple of easels... and the flotsam and jetsam began to accumulate. Until I started broadcasting my painting time, I usually had a movie or TV show going while I painted in order to have 'company' of a sort. Now I get to have a conversation with real people while I paint. Life was good, but oh, was it ever messy!
The same space now:

I don't think the "before" pictures truly show how awful it was in this room, but trust me- you wouldn't have wanted your loved ones to enter without making sure their shots were up to date.
How did this transformation happen? I have a friend who was born organized. You know how Superman had X-ray eyes and could see inside and behind things? Well, she can look at clutter and stacks and jumbles of who-knows-what and see how to put it in order. Me? I look at a cluttered room and just turn in circles until the depth of my despair could fill a Russian novel.

Yesterday she took on my studio and the room didn't stand a chance. It whimpered a little (or was that me?) and gave in to her tidy plans. I keep going to the door and saying, "WOW!"

Tonight I'll get to do my Wednesday night (7:00 p.m. Central time) broadcast in a space with SPACE. Please drop in if you can! On Friday, I'll be broadcasting painting with Debra Bryant , whom I get to host while she's in town for the opening reception of the Salon International exhibition this weekend. I'm not sure exactly when we'll broadcast on Friday, so if you add your email address to my "Get an email when I'll be painting online" form on my blog, you'll get an email with the time. Friday evening Debra and I will attend the Salon's Awards Banquet. Photos to follow!

My painting, Gentleman Traveler, was accepted into the Salon International and its image is now posted on Greenhouse Gallery's website here, and the super enormous image of it is here. Here is the framed view.
Some of you may remember that Daniel Greene critiqued my accepted entry last year, and what a thrill that was for me. Well, this year's judge, Everett Raymond Kinstler, is going to critique Gentleman Traveler. I will do my best to video his critique and post it here afterward. It'll be an honor to have him consider my work for the few minutes he'll focus on it.

Remember that I'm offering an Online Portrait Workshop a week from Saturday- April 17th, 9-4:30, for $50. So if you have good internet access and want to paint a portrait that Saturday, I hope you'll join in the fun! Follow this link to register:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4YWRGKKTFG5QU

Come on by tonight at 7 for a chat while I paint... You know I love it.

Susan