Sunday!

This is a small oil study from today's workshop class with Ned Mueller. The thing Ned stressed most was simple major shapes. The idea is to establish a good solid design and add details later...at the very end.  Ned is SO GREAT and so were our hosts, Carol and Paul Hansen. There is talk about Ned coming back in November.

To see more photos from the day...go HERE.

Oil study, Celeste Bergin, Crouching woman, (from photo reference) oil on 6x8 canvas panel

Saturday!

I'm in day two of the Ned Mueller workshop. He has done a lot of traveling to exotic places, so he has many beautiful reference photos. Ned says: "good art is an interesting arrangement of colors and shapes." Today our challenge was to paint from 3 or 4 different photos (combining elements from each). Apparently, in India women carry all manner of things on their heads. (I'm glad I live here--but I do love the colors of their Saris). It was especially fun to put down big shapes of bold color.  In the evening Ned treated us to a bonus portrait demonstration of fellow painter Jim King. To see photos from the day....go HERE.

Workshop Painting: Celeste Bergin, Marketplace, oil on 9x12 canvas panel

(Here are the people in attendance at the finish of the portrait demo: L to R, Paul, Carol, Hilarie, me, Jim, Ned and Roger)

Friday!

I'm in Ned Mueller's 3-day workshop at Carol Hansen's studio. Ned provided stacks of interesting reference photos for us to paint.  (We had our choice of bringing in our own photos or choosing from the ones he brought). I opted to use his, but I felt indecisive about which photo to commit to. I decided to paint small studies instead of one painting. Ned stressed establishing major shapes and paying close attention to values. 

At first I was going to do these value studies in just black and white...but Ned walked by and said "add some red, it will liven it up." This figure had great shapes and the warm (red) and cool (black) definitely worked well, just as Ned predicted.

The third study I did was this little landscape. It was a great day and it went by super-fast. We'll be back in the morning. To see more photos from the day....go HERE.

(Top Photo) Oil Study, Celeste Bergin, Dingy, oil on 8x10

Photo 2 Oil Study, Celeste Bergin, Bearded man, oil on 6x8

Photo 3 Oil Study, Celeste Bergin, Landscape, oil on 5x7

Photo 4 Ned's demonstration and lecture

Thursday!

Today's topic at our art discussion meeting was composition "dos and don'ts". This painting (above) is one that I brought as an example of a successful composition. It is a plein air painting that has good contrast and a nice variety of shapes. 

The meeting had great attendance..the best ever!

To see what everyone brought (we only photographed the "dos").....go HERE

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Corbett overlook, oil on 9x12 canvas panel

Tuesday!

I did some clean-up in "der bunker" studio today. I ran across this painting that I did on a cigar box a few years ago. It serves as a good reminder that oil painters aren't confined to canvases*. I enjoy how the embossed words on the lid show through the paint.

*I don't know what I'll do with this...if anything. I guess I could varnish it! It was an interesting experiment.

Here's what the inside looks like. I used to use cigar boxes as pochade boxes. When I first started painting "on-site" I loved putting a cigar box (charged with paint) into my tote bag and heading off to a coffee shop. So portable! I can't say I have any genius paintings from those days..but I remember the experience was fun!  I wonder why I stopped doing that...? Well, sketchbooks and pens are obviously a whole lot more convenient....but who knows, maybe I'll put paint back in this and head out with it once again. Why not!

Tomorrow back to finish the studio clean-up. Hope you are having a great week so far!

(Top Photo): Painting, Celeste Bergin, Sunflowers on 8 x 10 x 2 wood cigar box

Monday

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Evening, oil on 6x8 canvas panel

Sunday!

I started a painting that went nowhere today...so at the end of the evening I did this quick Conte' sketch. (The reference is from a magazine). I liked using a big eraser to create the lights.  (He reminds me a little of "the most interesting man in the world"). I'll have another go at the painting tomorrow. 

In honor of Mother's Day, I changed my facebook profile to this picture of my Mom. (I always did want to look like her!)

Here we are probably in the area of 13 years ago when I visited her in Florida. The absolute best thing about my Mom was her sense of humor.  She made me laugh most every single day!

This is the painting of my Mom that my blogging friend Crimson Leaves surprised me with last year. (She got the reference from a photo I had blogged). This painting hangs in my bedroom..and it is a treasure.

----------------

Yesterday I went to Eric Jacobsen's painting demonstration at the Sovereign Gallery. Slideshow (below).  Eric gave a great talk throughout the demonstration. Remember the big shapes!

(Direct link to photos: HERE)

(Top Photo) Sketch, Celeste Bergin, Bearded guy, Conte' in 9 x 12 sketchbook