This is a re-do of an old painting* that I painted over in the open painting session offered at Srebnik's studio today. My original photo reference was misplaced, so I had to "wing-it" and make things up. Well, it's all just for practice and I made improvements for sure.
*Craig encourages painters to bring paintings to the session that have been problematic, so he can offer advice.
To see the Craig's alla prima demonstration from today go HERE.
Friday is often "girlfriend day" and today I enjoyed a Cowboy Pizza with Irene and we watched a DVD. The movie was Hugo. If you like a lot of pretty movie effects you have to see it.
When I got home I gave myself a challenge to paint something entirely with a palette knife. My reference was a previous plein air study. An interesting aspect to my assignment was a heavily textured panel. I let some of the canvas show through. Palette knives are cool. The one I used was a nice bend-y one. I'll do more of these!
Practice Painting: Celeste Bergin, Sauvie Island, oil on 6x6 textured stretched canvas
I arrived late to Hipbone Studio today and all the easels were taken, but Jeff found a good spot for me and I used one of those donkey benches. I'm glad to be back! Our model was a good one and I got to visit with Allen Schmertzler and Mary McCoy during the break.
In one pose the model used an umbrella for a prop (.....appropriate for today's weather)
I like how my indecision about where to place this long stick
made it seem like the model was sweeping
This is the Burnside Street side of Hipbone. I took this because I enjoyed how the yellow center line, the man's coat and sign on the building are all the same yellow (cadmium yellow medium, I'd say).
A good day for me.........what about you?
(Top Photo): Celeste Bergin, 3/28/12 Life Model, pencil on 18x24 paper
(Bottom Photos): Celeste Bergin, 3/28/12 Life Model II & III, pencil & charcoal on 18x24 paper
I applied color to the value study I did a couple of days ago. That was fun!
I also had to go downtown to retrieve my palette that I forgot in the basement classroom at the Oregon Society of Artists. After that I drove through the gray day to meet my friend Sondra for lunch. Our lunch reminded us both of our student days at Mt. Hood Community College....when we'd go through the salad bar, loading up our plates with "diet food" (and "full-fat" ranch dressing). We've always been this way.
Gray day!
Lunch!
(Top Photo) Celeste Bergin: Value Study with color added, oil on 7x5 gessoed hardboard
I went to Craig Srebnik's figure class today. We worked on the same painting that we started last week. Craig starts each session with a demonstration, pointing out key things that we need to pay attention to. Every lesson has built on the one before and when we run up against problems (and we do!) he explains how to make corrections. I especially liked painting the reflected light from the orange sheet onto the skin.
Painting: Celeste Bergin, Sleeping Nude, oil on 24x18 canvas panel
Well, this is just a sketch on gessoed paper. It breaks all kinds of compositional rules, but no need to have me arrested, it was just dashed out for practice.
Oil sketch, Celeste Bergin, Walker, oil on 6x9 gessoed paper
Craig Srebnik did a painting demonstration at Kat's today and afterwards some painters went outside to paint plein air (...the weather turned nice). A few of us stayed inside to work in the studio. Our artist friend Jodi Burton modeled for us. This portrait isn't altogether finished...but I'll make some adjustments tomorrow. To see about our day at Kat's go HERE.
Paintng: Celeste Bergin, Jodi, oil on 12x16 canvas panel
This morning I went to an art discussion breakfast at Bread and Ink. Several of the artists brought work to show. You can see the paintings from today HERE.
This evening I attended the CAP Preview Reception in the Lincoln Building downtown. Since 1990 CAP has hosted an art auction and party to raise money to help all infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. The event has grown over the past 20 years and now encompasses 250 works of (juried) art. At the reception I was pleased to see some of my art friends who are also participating in the CAP auction. It is a big honor to be involved and we'll also be attending the big gala in April.
I started a flower study today...but I didn't finish it. I might get back to it later tonight.
Recently I saw an amazing commercial, "L'Odyssée de Cartier." It's a full three minutes long and rumored ot have cost over 5 million dollars. It may be wrong of me (especially when I realize how the cost of it could feed a small country), but I love the ad. It is, shall we say, visually magnificent (video below). What confuses me is that Cartier's symbol is the panther, but isn't that animal in the ad a leopard?
I didn't have time to paint today, but I always do something art-related every day. Sometimes, like today, it is just a pen sketch.
Someone asked me a while back what type pens I use. I like Staedtler Mars fineliners. I've learned from my friend Carrie Holst, it is important to double check all your pens to make sure that the cap is snapped on super-securely, or they will dry out fast! Some pen brands even seem to require a double snap.
In other news from today, I got to ride-along to pick up a friend from the airport. We made the hour and 1/2 trip to Sheridan where Annie met up with her son who is becoming a firefighter. We got to visit the Sheridan Fire Department and got a tour of the facility:
(from L to R) Trevor, Dave, Billy & Annie
I learned a lot about what types of vehicles are used for what sort of emergency. Not really any sort of a L'Odyssée, but certainly a super interesting field trip.
(Top Photo) Sketch: Celeste Bergin, "Shopping!" ink on 6x9 paper
This block-in is from Monday's figure class. We all had our work cut out for us, because the pose was challenging.....there was a lot of unusual shapes to consider. Next week we're supposed to continue on the same painting.
Block-in, Celeste Bergin, Figure, oil on 18x24 canvas panel
The painting above is one that is on display at the Lane Gallery until the end of the month. (If you are in the neighborhood, please stop in!)
Painting: Celeste Bergin, After Work, oil on 5x7 gessoes hardboard
Tonight I went to a meeting of The Columbia River Art Group (it's an art discussion/critique group of oil painters). The painting above is the one I brought for evaluation. A suggestion was made that cropping out the pale sky would strengthen the painting. I dismissed the idea because cropping it would be a chore (it's painted on a canvas panel). I also wasn't totally convinced that a crop would help the painting. However! when I got home I cropped it in photoshop and now I think I agree, the crop is an improvement (?) (is it?) Let me know what you think. :)
(Top Photo) Painting: Celeste Bergin, Oregon Coast, oil on 8x8 canvas panel (Bottom photo) revised to 8x6 canvas panel)
I had lunch with a friend today after visiting the Lane Gallery. We went next door to the Press Club. Afterwards, it was raining and we leisurely walked to the corner. A red Lotus car zoomed into a parking spot in front of us. Smoooooth! A James Bondy type got out and started across the intersection. "Hey!" my friend called out, "You're going the wrong way"! He looked over briefly with a look on his face like this is the zillionth time someone has called out to me. "I have questions," she continued...but he acted like he did not hear her and he kept walking. Now, I do not know what she had in mind to ask him, but I think she may have thought of it as nothing ventured, nothing gained. I was proud of her.
I've finally run out of things to say. Oh, just kidding. I'll show you this photo of Daisy (above). She is the reason I own about 10 lint rollers.
A sketch of a dude in Starbucks...and I do mean dude, because he wore a dramatically long coat. I think they call them dusters. Just as I started to get to the coat .......he got up and left.
Happy Tuesday!
(Top Photo) Daisy
Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Dude in a duster, ink on 6x9 paper
Our assignment in Craig Srebnik's figure class today was to paint from a photo reference of Da Vinci's Leda and the Swan (sans Swan). We used only burnt sienna, yellow, black and white. Before we set brush to canvas we were reminded about highlights, midtones, transitional tone, core shadow, reflected light and cast shadow by a super-helpful printed handout that Craig authored (and had us work on). Great lesson!
Painting: Celeste Bergin, Figure assignment Leda and the Swan, oil on 18x24 canvas panel
I had the opportunity to attend an open painting session with Craig Srebnik and some of his painting students today. We were urged to bring a painting that was not finished so we could finish it. I brought in a figure I'd painted in his class from a reference photo. Craig showed us how to apply a thin layer of safflower oil over the dry painting, so that it accepts new paint easily. I painted over my original painting, paying attention to the principles of turning form and giving it better color and light. It's still not completely done....but it's getting there.
I met up with the North Portland Painters today at Kat Sowa's studio for a life painting session. Our model was fellow painter Za Vue's nephew (I forgot to get his name). He did a perfect job, staying still as a rock. To see what everyone else did, go HERE.
Painting: Celeste Bergin, Nephew, oil on 12x16 canvas panel
(My landscape painting above is divided into horizontal thirds, sort of in a Rothko way)
Today I had the great pleasure of visiting the Rothko exhibit at the Portland Art Museum. Dave and I had arranged to meet Jim King there and by happy happenstance we also ran into art friend Marty Tassoni:
Jim, Marty and me
It was a surprise to find out that photographs are now allowed at the Portland Art Museum! Hooray!
Rothko, of course, is famous for his color bands. I thought I saw a face in this painting. Do you see it? (And isn't it typical for a representational artist to see something recognizable where they should not?) I must stop that. Seriously, it is a beautiful exhibit, every painting is exquisite.
The Sculpture Court at the Museum...the weather was nice!
We had lunch at "South Park" right down the street from the Museum. I love how that fish is "swimming" through the bricks in the building. I recommend you see the Rothko exhibit! It is there until May 27, 2012. (This is a link to some of the Rothko paintings: KATU)
I took Craig Srebnik's figure class recently. He had us thinking about depicting the body carefully. In the class we often referred to Bridgman's Guide to Drawing from Life. (It turns out the book is available in several places online in pdf form). I liked when Srebnik discussed the "distribution of masses" with us. Bridgman's round-square-round-square system helps to make sense of many shapes within the figure.
In other news, I took a walk today and as usual I wound up at the Monastery. The sky was especially pretty. One of these days I vow to sketch or paint at least a portion of this beautiful building.
(Top Photo) Practice sketch: Celeste Bergin, Distribution of Masses, pencil on gessoed paper
Just a little oil sketch.......I painted it while referring to a previous oil sketch, which is a fun thing to do. I think I was able to maintain the "festive" sense of the original. (Of course, it could be argued that flowers are always festive, by their very nature, and that I can not expect any credit for that.)
Hey...how is your Monday going? Tell me, I'm interested.
Oil sketch, Celeste Bergin, Festive Flowers IV, oil on 4x4 gessoed wood panel
I'm happy to report that I met my sales goals for the SE Area Artwalk! Thanks so much to all the people who purchased and to everyone who came out to see me....the artwalk was so much fun! It was great to see my art pals Sylvia Tucker and Pam Flanders today and a couple subscribers to my blog introduced themselves to me for the first time too (that's you, Sheryl and Sherry!) I couldn't be more pleased that I was selected to be a featured artist (along with Gila Lane and Richard Fung) for the Artwalk in the beautiful new Lane Gallery. My art will remain up for the entire month of March, so please go visit the gallery if you missed the weekend artwalk (2627 SE Clinton, Portland 97202), Wednesday-Saturday 11 to 5. Slide show below :)
(Top Photo): Painting: Celeste Bergin, Rain walker, oil on 6x12 cradled wood panel SOLD
The SE Area Artwalk is going great. More art appreciators and friends showed up today....sales are brisk! I'm resting up to return tomorrow. The SE Area Artwalk continues Sunday 10-5pm.
"We have within ourselves enough to fill the present day with joy and overspread the future years with hope." --William Wordsworth
"If I don't have anything better to do that day, I'll copy paintings, generally by people who have some relationship to the work of the moment." ---Wayne Thiebaud
People's is Suite 4005 Settlement Galleries Pioneer Square Mall, downtown Portland open Thurs-Sun 12-6pm February 16, 5pm-9pm Reception Feb 16-March 10, 2012
Keizer Chamber of Commerce 6075 Ulali Dr NE Suite 102 Keizer, OR 97303 February 2012-February 2013 (Yearlong display in public building)
Mayor's Gala Invitational 2012
Keizer Civic Center 930 Chemawa Road Salem, OR 97303 February 2012-February 2013
The Gorge White House Celeste Bergin Traveling Light (Solo Show) 2265 Hwy 35, Hood River, OR
541-386-2828
May 2012, Artist Reception Sunday, May 6 1-3pm
The Great Nautical Art Show Oregon Maritime Museum 115 SW Ash St # 400C Portland, OR 97204 (503) 224-7724 Oregon Society of Artists 2185 Southwest Park Place Portland, OR 97205 (503) 228-0706 Reception on the SternWheeler:
Nature in our City (Parks!)Opening Reception: (First Thursday), November 3, 5:30-9pm Portland City Hall 1221 SW 4th Avenue Portland OR Overall exhibit dates: November 3-November 30, 2011
A juried show benefiting Street Yoga, a non-profit
Winner: Honorable Mention
"The Way of Peace, The Way of Art"
Kingstad Gallery Guest Artist and Juror 15450 SW Millikan Way Beaverton, OR 97006 Show dates Dec 2008 March 8, 2009
Reception, Thursday January 15, 2009 6-8pm
Broderick Gallery "Fire and Ice" Twenty two artists 15800 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road, #120 Lake Oswego, OR Artist's reception January 27, 5:30-8:30pm Show dates January 19, 2008-February 19, 2009
Winner: Best of Show 15450 SW Millikan Way Beaverton, OR 97006 Show dates September 10– December 6, 2008 Closing Artist Reception November 18, 2008
6:00 - 9:00 pm.
2008 Pacific Northwest Plein Air Painting Competition and Exhibit Winner: Honorable Mention &
4 purchase prize awards Columbia Center for the Arts 215 Cascade Street Hood River, Oregon 97031 September 5-28, 2008 Artist Reception Friday Sept 5, 2008
"Artist's Choice III" Portland Plein Air/Studio Painter's Summer Exhibit IV O'Connor's 7850 SW Capitol Hwy Portland, OR Show dates Sept 4-Sept 31, 2008
Juror: Oregon Society of Artists "2008 Fall Show" September 9- October 3, 2008
"Icons & Iconoclasts" Kingstad Gallery 15450 SW Millikan Way Beaverton, OR 97006 Show dates June 6– September 5, 2008 Last Tuesday Artist Reception August 26, 2008 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
City Commissioner's Dan Saltzman's office "All at Once" First Thursday Reception 5:00pm until 7:00pm August 7, 2008 1221 SW 4th Avenue Room 230 Portland, OR 97204 Show dates August 5-August 29, 2008
July Salon Show "Floor to Ceiling" Broderick Gallery July, 2008 First Thursday Reception July 3, 2008 Show dates July 3-July 31, 2008
"Artist's Choice I & II" Portland Plein Air/Studio Painter's Summer Exhibits Multnomah Village 7850 SW Capitol Hwy Portland, OR Every Month beginning on First Friday
Worksound Gallery "Urban Neighborhood Paintings" 820 SE Alder Portland, OR Opening July 11, 2008 Show dates July 11- July 31, 2008
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