Celeste Bergin

In progress

2012-02-01T21:26:00.000-08:00

I read somewhere that Georgia O'Keeffe often had three paintings going at once. I've never worked that way, but I currently have two paintings in the works and tomorrow I will have to decide to tackle one or the other ......or both.

(Detail) Painting, Celeste Bergin, Rain in the City, oil on 10x10 cradled panel

The Artist's Point of View

2012-01-31T18:17:00.000-08:00

Go HERE to see David Burbach's Artist's Point of View, his new show at the Photo Continuum. (It takes just a few seconds to load, then "Play Slideshow") Is there anyone you know in the photos?

And this is a detail of the large work I've started...(don't worry, it will make sense later.)

Detail: Celeste Bergin, Untitled, oil on 30x40 gallery wrapped canvas

Monday!

2012-01-30T20:35:00.000-08:00

I painted this today from a photo reference. I was drawn to the strong and interesting shapes and I had black and white paint out from a couple days ago. I also started a new project today, a big canvas. I can't post anything from it until it starts making sense...(and that's a ways off!)

Oil Sketch, Celeste Bergin, Black & White Portrait Study, oil on 9 x 12 canvas panel

Howdy!

2012-01-29T18:01:00.000-08:00

I cleaned my "bunker" studio today. It took me hours and I'm not really done. I stacked tons of bad paintings, good paintings and in-between paintings. I didn't blog the painting above when I initially did it (in Nov of 2010), because I did a 2nd version of it that I felt was better and I blogged that one instead. Since I don't have a new painting from today, I'll post this initial version....because, in retrospect, it's kind of a nice painting.
What to keep and what to throw away is a constant issue! I want to get rid of the bad paintings, and I should get rid of the in betweens too. It's a chore to make the decisions. This study will probably inch it's way into the keep pile.

Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, (Life session) Cowboy, oil on 9x12 canvas panel

Just for Fun

2012-01-28T19:54:00.000-08:00

Another little oil sketch in only black and white. I might paint this again, I loved interpreting the unique shapes.

Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Old Telephone, oil on 4x4 canvas panel (Update: SOLD)

Friday!

2012-01-27T19:52:00.000-08:00

Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Chair, pencil on 6x9 paper

Agree!

I went to Hood River this morning.. there was an unusual spot of yellow orange in the sky that I tried to capture in this photo. The camera didn't pick up what I saw...but I like the photo anyway.

I got to see the "Trash 2 Art" exhibit at the Columbia Art Gallery.

I especially enjoyed these shovels that were cut into intricate designs.

....And this...once a mundane wheelbarrow and now a filigreed objet d'art.

Not something you see everyday!

That's my Friday...what about yours? Was there some art involved in your day?

Thursday!

2012-01-26T20:18:00.000-08:00

I meant to start on a big project today...instead I painted this oil sketch of my shoes.

Oil Sketch, Celeste Bergin, Slingbacks, oil on 5x5 canvas panel (Update: SOLD)

Wednesday--!

2012-01-25T21:32:00.000-08:00

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better". ~Albert Einstein

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Near Corbett II, oil on 6x8 canvas panel

Srebnik-ing

2012-01-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

I like painting these small floral "thumbnails". They are meant to be rough drafts...for ideas, possibly for something bigger and better, but this idea was fussy and stilted looking...until I Srebniked it. (Srebnik has taught us to drag a paper towel through the paint sometimes....to create a "dissipating light"). Breaking up the colors and shapes in this small painting relieved it instantly from looking uptight. I like it well enough now, I might even make some corrections later to see if it could fly as a little "real" painting on it's own.

Thumbnail sketch: Celeste Bergin, Sunflowers, oil on 5x5 panel

Monday!

2012-01-23T21:28:00.000-08:00

No painting today, but I sketched my shoes and organized some flower studies/paintings into one folder.
That's my Monday......how was yours??

Sketch: Celeste Bergin, My shoes, pen on 6x9 paper

Sunday .....!

2012-01-22T22:38:00.000-08:00

Today I took a painting to the Cascade Aids Project (CAP) for their art auction. Donated paintings are juried, so that the caliber of the art will be high. Wish me luck! (It will be awhile before I'll find out if my painting was accepted. I'll post the painting if it gets in...but not before, I don't want to jinx it). After I turned in my painting I asked the staff if I could photograph them and they so nicely posed for me! Thanks, CAP!

Later tonight I went to Janet's Art Studio (in a great house on NE Fremont) for a life painting session. The scheduled model didn't show up, so Janet's daughter Erica pinch hit for us. Erica was a great model and she wore a hat that made her look kind of 1940-ish. To see what everyone else did, go HERE.

Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Erica, oil on 16x20 canvas panel

Friday!

2012-01-20T18:07:00.000-08:00

I painted with the North Portland Painters at Kat Sowa's Studio in Cathedral Park today. Our model had a look like Royalty. I started out painting the entire figure (she wore a fantastic dress)...but I wasn't happy with the panel sizes I had with me. I switched gears and did a portrait. To see what the other artists painted, go HERE.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, M, oil on 12x16 canvas panel

Thursday!

2012-01-19T22:55:00.000-08:00

Value Study: Celeste Bergin, Creekside, oil on 8x8 canvas panel

Hello... Is it me you're looking for?

2012-01-18T22:20:00.000-08:00

Here is an interesting link (warning...nudity)....a great website for doing timed gesture drawings:
Figure Drawing
Drawing: Celeste Bergin, Gesture, oil on 12x16 paper

And just for fun:
Lionel Ritchie's song "Hello" came out in 1984. Have a look at the original, followed by The Hello Experiment and to round out your Hello experience, be sure to watch this too:

Tuesday~!

2012-01-17T18:34:00.000-08:00

Oil sketch: Celeste Bergin, Snowy road, oil on 5x5 canvas panel

Monday!

2012-01-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

Today in Craig Srebnik's class we watched him paint from a black and white photo. As a first step, he painted in all the darks and sent us to our easels to do the same. (We all painted monochromatically again today and used the same photo reference). After we had something representing all the darks, we watched him paint the 2nd step (mid tones and the light mid-tones). Back to our easels to do the same! The final round was highlights. Three hours went by super-fast. This is an ongoing class, but we don't reconvene again until February. I'll practice in the meantime!

(Oil Sketch) Celeste Bergin, Monochromatic workshop painting, oil on 18x24 canvas panel

Sunday .....!

2012-01-16T00:33:00.000-08:00

I didn't paint today, but I sorted through some of my old work. About 85% of my old paintings need to be discarded! The painting above, however, won't meet that fate...it is one of my favorite early paintings. I painted it out of my cigar box pochade while sitting on my bed. There's my orange nylon jacket and my red sweater.

Say, did you know author Henry Miller was a watercolorist? I like the paintings in this video (below). Looks to me like he thoroughly enjoyed painting...... his work was colorful and playful.

"Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself".----Henry Miller

(Top Photo) Painting: Celeste Bergin, Bedroom Closet, 2008, oil on 6x8 canvas panel

Saturday!

2012-01-14T17:18:00.000-08:00

A thumbnail sketch has an inherent charm. I like how this one is like a little painting in and of itself. "I'm just a sketchy idea...or wait. Perhaps I'm more?"

Thumbnail oil sketch: Celeste Bergin, Flowers, oil on 3x3 wood panel

Life painting session --Eric

2012-01-13T22:42:00.000-08:00

I painted with the North Portland Painters at Kat Sowa's Studio in Cathedral Park today. Our model looked like he could be a composer.... or a "squire" from yesteryear. I opted to use just raw umber and white, like I did last Monday. To see what the others did, go HERE.

Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Eric, oil on 16x20 canvas panel

Wednesday--!

2012-01-11T21:44:00.000-08:00

I had lunch with my art friend Meredith today. We went kind of late, so we had the place to almost to ourselves. Next to our table there was a decorative plate with some glass stones in it. We both noticed how super-pretty it was. I pulled out my camera...."I'm going to blog this", I said. "ooooooookay", she said.

(Top Photo) Oil Study: Celeste Bergin, Sandy, Oregon, oil on 5x7 cradled panel

(....And there were golfers outside the restaurant on the 18th hole, golfing in the cold-cold weather)

The glass stones looked like soap bubbles

Tuesday~!

2012-01-10T21:14:00.000-08:00

Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Colwood, oil on 4x4 cradled panel

Monday!

2012-01-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

Today in Craig Srebnik's class we watched him paint a demonstration using the same black and white photo he used for class last week. This time he painted monochromatically using just Raw Umber and Titanium White. When it was time for us to paint we were given our choice of painting like he did or with color. I used Raw Umber and Titanium White. Srebnik told us that landscape and figure painting are "really the same thing"......both require correct values and shapes.

(Oil Sketch) Celeste Bergin, Monochromatic workshop painting, oil on 18x24 canvas panel

Saturday!

2012-01-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

Painting: Celeste Bergin, The End of the Day, oil on 8x8 stretched canvas

Here is a slide show of First Friday Receptions I attended last night for Jodi Burton, Patrick Kolb (at Lane Gallery) & Stephanie Cissna (Montavilla):

Friday!

2012-01-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

Today I met up with some PPASP & North Portland Painters and we painted in Kat Sowa's studio in Cathedral Park Place. Kat had two floral set ups for us to choose from. To see what others painted go HERE.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Still life floral, oil on 12x16 canvas panel

Thursday!

2012-01-05T21:29:00.000-08:00

Did you know that you really need very little in the way of supplies to paint outdoors? At first I didn't, in the beginning I dragged a veritable studio outside, two giant bags, an easel, and pounds and pounds of stuff! Then I got wise and looked at the endeavor as more of a simple sketching situation. This is one of the systems I use, a cigar box that I bought at a thrift shop. I squeeze paint directly into it ......and I've painted many paintings from it.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Hillside, oil on 6x8canvas panel

Wednesday--!

2012-01-04T22:33:00.000-08:00

This is a plein air painting that I will have in a "solo" exhibit at the US Bank in Lloyd Center beginning next Monday. The bank is located at the corner of 16th and Weidler and the show will be up until February 2, 2012.

Today I visited with George Broderick in Rainier. We went to lunch at a Mexican Restaurant, next to the river. After lunch we went back to the Gallery where we had coffee, I got to see George's new work and a very cool book about Cuba. It was a visual extravaganza sort of day....

Perusing a photography book about Cuba

Frida Kahlo chair at the Restaurant

(And when you leave George always "walks you out".... He's a classy guy)!

See you next time, George :)

Top Photo: Painting: Celeste Bergin, Blustery Day on the River, oil on 8x10 canvas panel

Tuesday~!

2012-01-03T23:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday in Craig Srebnik's class we got to watch him paint a demonstration from a black and white photo and then we were to take to our own easels (and paint from the same photo he did). Tall order! You should have seen his version of this (perfection!). I did not achieve near the strong lights and darks he did in his painting...but all and all I know I learned some important things and I give myself points for getting this far after just one hour. I think we'll work from the same photo again next week.

(Oil Sketch) Celeste Bergin, workshop painting start, oil on 18x24 canvas panel

Also yesterday, after five years, I "left" my volunteer position of communicator for PPASP. Five years is a long time and I really thought people HAD to be very tired of me...but! a great surprise was that today I got scads of emails from PPASP-ers who gave me glowing "reviews" and thanked me. That was BIG. In many ways I often understood and accepted the "thankless" aspects of the job I had undertaken, but the truth is....it definitely meant a lot to me to be thanked. oxoxoxoxoxo!!

Now, just for fun, here is an unusal video below. In 1941 Salvador Dali designed and hosted a party held in the Bali Room of the Hotel Del Monte, Monterey, California. The event was titled Night in a Surrealist Forest and it was a fund raiser to help European artists displaced by the war:

Monday!

2012-01-02T18:53:00.000-08:00

I've done some cat-sitting for a friend for a couple of weeks. Maxine the cat would not let me pet her until just a couple of days ago. It's such a nice thing to finally become friends with Maxine!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Cat, oil on 9x12 canvas panel

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T21:29:00.000-08:00

----Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.-----Ralph Waldo Emerson

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Westmoreland Pond, oil on 9 x12 canvas panel

Friday--!

2011-12-30T19:27:00.000-08:00

Here's a guy with an old-timey mustache, painted with three colors directly on a magazine page. I liked seeing the words on his cheek, so I left that unpainted. Painting these sketches on the printed page is great practice and almost always yields interesting results.

Oil sketch: Celeste Bergin, Mustached man, oil on 9x12 printed page

Painting in the rain

2011-12-29T21:14:00.000-08:00

Typically, steady cold rain makes me head for the coffee shop, but because Michael Lindstrom (who paints in the rain a lot) invited me to Burnt Bridge Creek today, I decided to throw in with him and brave the elements. Painting in the rain is a challenge. There is a distinct "repelling" sensation as the paint is put down, but I wound up liking the experience. Burnt Bridge Creek is a super pretty place and I thoroughly enjoyed the day! I may use this as a color study for another painting.

Color Study: Celeste Bergin, Burnt Bridge Creek, oil on 8x10 canvas panel

"Throwing myself" in! (my old golf rain jacket helped)

A Lovely spot ...I want to go back again

Vicki stayed dry under a tree

Michael captures the day

Painting over an old painting....again

2011-12-28T21:02:00.000-08:00

I recall seeing a brilliant book title: "Life is Goodbye, Life is Hello"...and I thought, I don't even have to read that book.... the title is haiku enough.

I like painting over old paintings for the "Hello-Goodbye" aspects of it. (Steps below)

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Homestead (painted over "life model"), oil on 16x20 stretched canvas

1. Place the darkest darks directly over the old painting

2. Next, place the lightest lights (I used a palette knife)

3. Block in the other major shapes and approximate local colors

4. Add the sky (now the entire canvas is covered)

5. Strengthen the buildings and place final details ....finished!

Tuesday~!

2011-12-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

Today I went to the Breakfast meeting at O'Connor's. It's always fun to take in a painting or two and see what other painters bring in also. I like this truck painting because it is a good example that proves that a seemingly complex subject is really a bunch of simple shapes placed next to one another. After the meeting Carrie and I wound up at a favorite place, Verde Cocina, for some sketching.

What about you...did you have an artful Tuesday?

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Old Truck, oil on 9x12 canvas panel

Happy Birthday....to me!

2011-12-26T20:27:00.000-08:00

Believe me, the day after Christmas has never been an ideal Birthday---but I've gotten so I like it now; it is a perfect day to "kick back" and it is super-surprising that people have sent me so many Birthday wishes...(I like it!)

My birthday has always been a good time to take stock of the year..and 2011 has been a great one, largely because of my art friends (and that includes you, my blogging friend!)

I found some time today to add a few revisions to this copy of a John Singer Sargent painting ....Sargent proves to us that grays are............ colorful..!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, after John Singer Sargent, oil on 16 x 20 gessoed masonite

Friday--!

2011-12-23T19:12:00.000-08:00

Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Nocturne, oil on 8x8 canvas panel

Thursday!

2011-12-22T22:13:00.000-08:00

My art friend Mark Larsen hosted a breakfast at Bread and Ink this morning. A topic discussed was paintings that hit and paintings that miss. I brought in a stack of paintings that I felt "just" missed. Close, but no cigar. It was fun to talk about what went wrong. The painting above is probably my favorite in my stack of paintings that missed. The tree takes up half of the panel (vertically).......but the more I look at it, the more I believe it has enough good qualities to override that compositional flaw.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Tree on the River, oil on 6x8 canvas panel

...and here is a little Chet Baker for Christmas:

Life painting session --"G"

2011-12-21T17:28:00.000-08:00

Today's model "G" was pretty and had a "serious" look about her. My aim was to concentrate on big shapes! Life painting sessions are over now for awhile, but I will try to find a way to paint models each week, either at Hipbone or from reference.

(Top) Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Portrait Study of "G", oil on 16x20 canvas panel
(Below) Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Figure Study, "G", oil on 12x16 canvas panel

Tuesday~!

2011-12-20T22:18:00.000-08:00

This is a painting that I took to the breakfast meeting today....for "discussion". I told everyone that even though this painting is green-green-green and a little blah compositionally, I enjoyed how I made the big kind-of-nutty decision to make the sky green.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Sauvie Island, oil on 9x12 canvas panel

Glaze-o-rama!

2011-12-19T21:24:00.000-08:00

After last week's glazing experiments, I decided to do a little more glazing and also make some corrections to earlier work. Revisiting older dry paintings is a cool way to feel like you are getting a ton of stuff done...when, in reality, it takes very little time. For the glazes, I used one part thinner to 2 parts stand oil, and then I applied the color where I wanted it.
(All of these paintings are "studies" and I was not heavily invested in the outcomes...I wound up pleased, though).

This bouquet was painted quite a while back. I like it because it is the complete opposite of "fussy". A glaze of yellow made it more interesting.

This painting received a light all over glaze of Ultramarine blue. I then went back and removed the blue out of the yellow. The glaze helped unify the colors in the painting.

Here are these people in the rain again..... I "obscured" her ugly foot. Good move, if I do say so myself.

I added a bit more color to this portrait. She was a cool experiment (with a grisaille). I'm calling her done now.

(1) Painting: Celeste Bergin, Wild Flowers, oil on 8x10 canvas panel
(2) Painting: Celeste Bergin, Reflections, oil on 8x8 canvas panel
(3) Painting: Celeste Bergin, Conversation, oil on 9x12 canvas panel
(4) Painting: Celeste Bergin, Portrait, oil on 16x20 canvas panel

That's my Monday...how's yours?

Dramatic values

2011-12-18T20:31:00.000-08:00

Every now and then I have the opportunity to see an instructional art DVD. Recently I watched M. Katherine Hurley's "Dramatic Values". In the DVD Hurley "adds and subtracts" values with a black pastel and an eraser. I painted this painting tonight with her instruction in mind. (It always seems "naughty" to paint with some black! ....Will Santa know?)

Painting: Celeste Bergin, The River, oil on 8x8 stretched canvas

(And just for fun, here is a Potpourri no-rhyme-or-reason slide show of recent things, some photos taken with my iphone):

Saturday

2011-12-17T21:47:00.000-08:00

This is a painting over an old painting. It's a big improvement over what it eradicated.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Yellow Tree, oil on 8x8 canvas panel

Art Collecting (Part II)

2011-12-16T18:42:00.000-08:00

Last night I met with my art friend Michael Lindstrom and I picked up my newest art acquisition, a wonderful plein air painting from Steigerwald Refuge. My new painting is already installed in a perfect spot where I will see it every day.
I thought this occasion is a good time to re-post my "Art that I own, I am a Collector" post from July of 2011. I added a few new photos, but the list is still not quite complete.

__________________________________

I think most artists admire other artists..I'm no exception. For many years I didn't have anything much on my walls except for my own work, but recently I realized that now I have a good start on a great art collection. Some things I have purchased, some things have been trades..I love all these treasures (yes, even this questionable and "ugly" Dali). Welcome to my my collection, (scroll down, it's in random order):

This is a signed lithograph by Salvador Dali. it was purchased in 1978 in the Bahamas. It is from the "Pergatory" panels of Dante's Inferno. I have a certificate of authentication, however, Dali is the most forged artist of all time. In order to be confirmed that it is attributed to Dali I would have to have it appraised by a firm that is accredited to authenticate in Dali. It's spendy and I don't know if I want to make the investment in knowing. This is the first "real art" (if it is) that I ever owned. I realize that it is very er...novel but the strangeness of it thoroughly impresses me, along with the fact that it may be an actual Dali.

I bought this painting on eBay a couple of years ago. Thanks to my blogging friend hwfarber, I learned this was painted by Arturs Upelniek/Upelnieks (born 1911). Here is a link to a post about one of my favorite acquisitions. (An interesting thing that I later learned about Mr. Upelniek was that he was once lost at sea, and many of his paintings depict a relentlessly dark and foreboding ocean). Upelniek immigrated from Latvia and became a member of the Ashcan school.

A beautiful piece of pottery by Kurtis Piltz (no website). I traded a painting for it.

I use it as an umbrella stand or to hold huge arrangements.

(The Kitty cat, Daisy is also a "prized possession").

Life casting, by Peny Wallace (I bought this in 2009, it is of Peny's daughter)

Another of my most favorite paintings, by Eric Jacobsen

I acquired it very close to this event.

A classic Eric Jacobsen landscape (isn't it beautiful!?) Acquired in 2009

Small painting by Eric Jacobsen purchased at Eric's studio sale

Small painting II by Eric Jacobsen purchased at Eric's studio sale

Brenda Boylan pastel (I traded a small painting for this)

Eric Bowman Acquired 2010 (I feel so lucky to own this!)

A study by Crawfurd Adamson (Gift from Crawfurd and Broderick Gallery)

Bonnie White, Gorge artist (purchased at Gorge White House)

Hanging vase by Margaret Synan-Russell

Painting purchased during Cathleen Rehfeld's Studio Sale

Cathleen Rehfeld (artist trading card, I still have to do mine)

Mosaic purchased at Bread and Ink Emilie Machon (no website)

The artist told me that when that cup accidently broke she announced,

"No problem, I will just use it in my next mosaic!"

Painting purchased during Portland Open Studios, Virginia Leonnig

... see the WPA influence?

Mark Larsen (trade for a painting of mine)

Kimberly Kent, purchase of one of her plein air encaustics (during her studio sale)

Kimberly Kent, (Gift) Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting

Mike Rangner, purchased at the Gorge White House

Scott L. Hendrie, Watercolor and ink portrait of "me" (gift)

Todd Smith Oil painting purchased at Todd's solo show at Gorge White House...(it's TOO good!)

Elizabeth See, Purchased at Columbia Art Gallery 10/10

Carolyn Rondthaler, (Watercolor), purchase from her show at First Unitarian Church, summer 2011

Eric Bowman, purchased in his "Collector's show" December 2011 (I ♥ this painting! )

Michael Lindstrom (Oil painting trade) My newest acquisition---Plein air, so thrillingly "fresh"

This is not absolutely everything..I have to add photos for work by Marcia Vander Schaaf, Stephanie Cissna, Karen E. Lewis and Olivia Jacobsen! It was fun posting my collection to share with you!
What about you...do you collect art --what do you have on your walls?
It is a good thing ...to acquire art!

Thursday!

2011-12-15T17:25:00.000-08:00

Something I hear a lot is.."you are always doing something". It's true, some sort of daily art thing is kind of a habit for me now. I remember a woman (Cindy Bilotti) who came to one of our meetings a long time ago ...she told us that she had a room devoted to painting. She further told us that leaving her paints out (squeezed onto a palette) in that room was "key". Just having the paints "out" and always available was something she did to remind her to paint whenever she could. I, too, leave my paints out (continually) and I know it is one of the reasons I use them.

Oil Sketch, Celeste Bergin, "Insight" Oil on printed page

Life painting session --"L"

2011-12-14T17:36:00.000-08:00

I got to be the transportation again today for our model "L". She is a very pleasant and pretty young person. She told me later that the pose was very challenging for her ...the arm she was leaning on was hurting and she had to will herself to stay still. I had my own challenges...some of my painting was satisfactory, some not. I always have some charcoal with me, so if I get frustrated (which I did) I can alleviate some of the aggravation by doing a quick sketch.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, "L", oil on 12 x 18 canvas panel

Sketch: Celeste Bergin, "L", Charcoal on 6 x 9 paper

Revisiting......

2011-12-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

Today I was still in a "glazing" mood from yesterday. I gave this painting a new light layer of Indian yellow and I made some changes to the female. Well, now that it is uploaded I see the yellow layer is nice enough, but that her foot looks ...er.....weird. I don't mind that his foot is ambiguous....but her ankle and shoe ...hmmm.
One of my teachers once said: "Every single solitary stroke matters"...and when you see an ankle that ends up looking like a pipe instead of an ankle, you certainly understand the wisdom of that statement). I'll fix it down the road-I've revisited this painting a couple of times.

I went to the regular Tuesday PPASP meeting today. It is always so much fun to hear and see what everyone has been doing. What's on your easel?

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Conversation, oil on 9x12 canvas panel

Messing around with..........Grisaille

2011-12-12T19:38:00.000-08:00

I painted a Grisaille (above) some months ago. (A Grisaille is a monochromatic underpainting). Traditionally, it is painted in gray tones. I painted mine in Umber.

I was looking around for something to do tonight....so I mixed up some medium with a tinge of color..

..and I applied the glaze to the painting. Instantly the subject looked more lively.

I added a little rose color here and there and I'll probably add more color to her when she dries further. This is all just an experiment.

Sunday

2011-12-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

"Touch the earth, love the earth, honor the earth, her plains, her valleys, and her seas; rest your spirit in her solitary places.....for the gifts of life are the earth’s and they are given to all".
-----Henry Beston

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Approaching Rain, oil on 6x6 birch panel

Saturday!

2011-12-10T19:29:00.000-08:00

Red and green.....it's such a pretty combination.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Roses in a glass, (homage painting) oil on 6 x 8 canvas panel

Friday--!

2011-12-09T18:01:00.000-08:00

I found myself at Columbia Art & Drafting today. I've had my eye on a fountain pen and it was on sale, so I purchased it. Just like the fountain pens of yesteryear, this one has an "ink reservoir" (you draw up ink into the pen from a bottle.......very old-timey)! This new pen has a fine nib and after using it I think I will get another with a broad nib. I sketched this German Shepherd for a test drive...and added a little watercolor.

Sketch: Celeste Bergin, German Shepherd, ink & watercolor on 6x9 paper

"Paint over Thursday"

2011-12-08T20:12:00.000-08:00

The coolest thing about oil paint is that you can paint over other paintings "ad infinitum". Here are the steps (below):

This is a practice portrait that I did awhile back. It's nothing that I won't miss...so I'm painting over it.

I'm using a limited palette of Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, White and Raw Sienna. I put the general shapes in with Burnt Sienna.

I paint the sky in as one big shape and place warm and cool colors to describe the trees.

Keeping everything super-simple, I add colors/shapes for the building structure and the road.

I leave parts of the original darks exposed and add some indication of the roof and some fence posts. I finish the trees with some additional brushwork. The original "dude" is completely obliterated---mission accomplished!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Grange Hall, oil on 9x12 canvas panel

Wednesday--!

2011-12-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

I like painting things on magazine pages. I know it is not "archival" and I don't care, because it is simply for practice. It is kind of fun looking through the magazine to choose the headline...and I chose this page because "Richard Long" was my 8th grade art teacher. When "Mister Long" wasn't babysitting a bunch of dippy youngsters he painted wonderful paintings, many of them with dark subjects, like the JFK assassination. Hard to believe, I know.... in 8th grade I was kind of an incorrigible. Mister Long used to have to confiscate things from me because I liked to disrupt the class, but he never punished me very harshly. I think he liked young people and he had an inordinate amount of patience.

Clarification: The magazine article is about a different artist with the same name as my teacher. Do you share your name with another?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are

or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Tuesday~!

2011-12-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

Today I went to the PPASP meeting and then to the "meeting after the meeting". It was a great Tuesday for me...how was yours?

Painting: Celeste Bergin, In the Studio, oil on 11x14 canvas panel

Things don't always go as planned

2011-12-05T18:21:00.000-08:00

I worked on a painting today that didn't work out. It's currently in the trash can. When I have a failure I usually draw something---so I don't end the day on a sour note. (It is literally "back to the drawing board"). Some time ago I was taught that going one direction with the charcoal/pencil is the ticket! You can cover a lot of ground and it looks ......"certain".

Charcoal Drawing: Celeste Bergin, Portrait, Charcoal and white pastel on gray paper

I saw this video earlier and just knew I had to share it.
"Casper" is really good at enjoying the moment. (And don't worry, I understand the soap is special "dog soap" and not irritating to his eyes).

Sunday!

2011-12-04T21:50:00.001-08:00

Here are some photos (below) from Broderick's Holiday Reception in Rainier. The colored glass around the door is a favorite feature...it "lights up the room"...(and, specifically, so does George)! I saw some of the same people from just yesterday...but no complaints...it is ALWAYS a treat to visit with art friends!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, The End of the Day, acrylic on 36x36

Portland Plein Air at Cathedral Park Place

2011-12-03T22:22:00.000-08:00

It has been said that a painting is not finished until it is hung on the wall and viewed by another!

All the paintings in today's exhibition served as a tangible reminder of the many good times we had together in 2011. A big thanks to our host Kat Sowa and to all the art appreciators who came out to see our work. It was a perfect day .............spent with people who love painting!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Last Light, oil on 8x8 canvas panel (Update: SOLD)

"Hanging out" at Cathedral Park Place

2011-12-02T21:16:00.000-08:00

"All pictures painted inside in the studio will never be as good as the things done outside". ---Paul Cezanne

Painting: Celeste Bergin, In the Valley, oil on 8x6 canvas panel

Thursday!

2011-12-01T22:48:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I'm turning in my paintings for Saturday's Cathedral Park Place Holiday Sale & Open House. (It's a Plein Air show) This is one of the pieces that will be exhibited. Cathedral Park Place is the old Columbia Sportswear building and it has lots of beautiful wall space. Maybe I'll see you there!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Clouds Over the Orchard, oil on 6x9 canvas panel (Update: "SOLD")

Overall Sale & Open House Date: December 3, 2011 10-6pm

PPASP Reception time: December 3, 2011 5-6pm

Cathedral Park Place, 6635 N Baltimore, Portland, OR 97203

Life painting session --"J"

2011-11-30T17:25:00.000-08:00

Today's model "J" stood in high heels for three hours (she had breaks, but still...man! I'm glad I don't have to do it). She wore a red dress and she had a black shawl around her arms. She looked Spanish (despite her fire-red hair)! I didn't finish her legs, but I was pretty happy with the outcome. That red dress was fantastic. I did a 2nd painting, a quick portrait, but this first study is the better of the two. "J" definitely had a Fandango look.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, "J" in a red dress, oil on 16x20 canvas panel

(....need a smile? Watch this...yeah it is another Flash thing, but you will like it):

At the Chinese Garden

2011-11-29T21:07:00.000-08:00

I went to the Tuesday meeting today (check it out HERE). "The meeting after the meeting" was different today...we usually sketch together, but today we each had other things we had to do. I still got in a couple sketches, however, when I visited the Portland Chinese Garden downtown. I stopped in the Tea House and drank some Chrysanthemum tea. This was a first for me...it is served in a lovely single tea cup. The woman who served it had to explain to me how to drink from it. (You use the lid to hold the flowers back from your lips).

Monday!

2011-11-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

I'll have small works in two shows this coming weekend. Saturday I'll be at the Cathedral Park Holiday Sale and Open House and on Sunday I'll be at Broderick Gallery's Holiday Show in Rainier. Come out and see the paintings, me and all the other artists!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Daisies & Fire Lilies, oil on 6x6 canvas panel

After! After!

2011-11-27T19:32:00.000-08:00

I bit off a lot, beginning a copy of Sorolla's After the Bath late this afternoon. This is my first pass and I'm considering it a good start. My objective was to do my best to achieve some of Sorolla's super-strong sunlight. (I say "some" because everyone knows no one but Sorolla can paint like Sorolla! It's almost silly for me to even say his name!) Still, many painters seek to understand by copying a great painting; I'm no exception. So, onward.

1. I am certain that my approach is nothing like Sorolla's, still I researched his palette and I found and put out as many of those colors I could find. I used Gamblin Fastmatte red transparent oxide to mass in general shapes. (Sorolla had no Gamblin Fastmatte!)

2. I continue to place big shapes with the Fastmatte paint.

3. As with any painting, it seems smart to establish the lightest light first. I mixed white and cadmium lemon for the lightest light.

4. I place the lightest lights where they appear in Sorolla's painting. (Thanks, Joaquin.... for making those lightest lights very obvious for me).

5. The darkest parts of the painting seem obvious too (the shadow and the woman's hair). I put those darks in and place some middle colors where they belong ...(careful not to place anything darker than the established darkest dark or lighter than the established lightest light).

6. I continue to place warms and cools where I see them, making sure to keep the values where they belong. I made an error with value and color in the man's hat and I vow to fix it tomorrow. As I was working on this I thought geez...complicated!, but the more I kept with it the more I was glad that I gave it a go. Time for a reward cup of Joe...I'll give it another pass in a day or so!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, After the Bath (after Sorolla), oil on 16x20 canvas panel

Saturday!

2011-11-26T20:41:00.000-08:00

We used to use these Pantone pens (pictured below) mostly for storyboards. We would spend hours with these uncapped pens in a little unventilated room. "Irrk--- Irrrk---- Irrrk----" (pens squeaking) Dennis Pirello and I would slog away endlessly on projects--- deadlines looming----working through lunch---- and eventually we'd find everything hilarious...."It's 2:00" "hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha"! high on the fumes. Good times! Those were the days when safety wasn't a big consideration. It's sort of a wonder Dennis and I are still alive.

Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Do these Markers still work? Marker on gessoed paper

Friday--!

2011-11-25T20:37:00.000-08:00

Tonight I ran across some pastel supplies I have from a few years ago (from when I tried pastel for the first time myself). Kitty Wallis showed me and some others in our art discussion group how she does an underpainting first, prior to applying any pastel. I thought I'd go ahead and see if I could remember some of Kitty's method and do a pastel study on Wallis Belgium Mist paper. Well, why not?!
(Progressive steps in slide show below)

I remember Kitty does a preliminary light charcoal sketch (with vine charcoal). She said "I try not to get too invested in the sketch, it is just for general placement". After the sketch the idea is to put in some values/colors with the liquid pigment (again, without worrying over it, because in Kitty's words: "It's all changeable and fixable"). After the paper is dry to the touch, dry pastel goes over the top of the foundation of the sketch and liquid pigment. Working in pastel is wonderful practice for considering...value...value...value!

(Kitty Wallis gives workshops, see her sidebar on her blog).

Pastel: Celeste Bergin, Pastel study, Pastel on 9x12 Wallis Paper

Thursday!

2011-11-24T21:21:00.000-08:00

After Thanksgiving dinner (and the ensuing clean-up) I wanted to spend just a little time on some painting practice.....I painted this floral on a printed page (and the headline seems suitable for today!) It is enjoyable to paint on this "unlikely" surface.

(By the way, an interesting side note, did you know the uber-famous painting The Scream was painted on cardboard?)

Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Floral practice, oil on printed magazine page

My treasured friends & family... past and present

2011-11-23T21:43:00.000-08:00

This is a polaroid photo of me and my brother Tom in the early 60's. I guess I used to fix my hair with curlers and hold them down with this "bonnet". It's a vague memory. I am certain Tom had to have made fun of it. He teased me relentlessly from sun-up to sun-down. I would like nothing more than to pick up the phone today to hear him say something "affectionately mean" to me in his distinctive halting speech. He talked like this.
My Mom loved this Nativity and she put it out every year without fail. She loved the holidays and especially Thanksgiving. Mom did wonderful impressions and she could gobble like a real turkey. No matter how much we would beg her, she would only gobble for us on Thanksgiving and no other time. In true show-biz fashion, she knew it was best to "keep 'em wanting more".

Here is a slide show of some of my family and friends whom I miss very dearly. (It is an incomplete list.... I am missing a few photos) I'll update it for Christmas!

I hope you have a wonderful Holiday. It goes without saying...(but I will say it anyway) I appreciate all of YOU. Thank you so much for your friendship!

Tuesday~!

2011-11-22T22:00:00.000-08:00

It's Tuesday... so I drove through a downpour to O'Connors to meet up with the other artists and catch up with them about some of their current projects. After the meeting Carrie and I went to the "meeting after the meeting", where we sketched at Carolyn's table.

Now, here's a way for YOU to have some nonsensical sketching fun too...Go HERE!

Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Carolyn's Scissors, Pen on 6 x 9 paper

Monday!

2011-11-21T18:22:00.000-08:00

Just a little impromptu direct painting "night-sky" practice. My aim was to go with some simple shapes, limited colors and high contrast. I'm happy enough with the outcome, although I'll likely make a couple corrections after it is dry. Here are the steps:

1. General design

2. Placing the lightest light

3. Placing the darkest darks

4. Adding additional tones, both light and dark

Final "Night Sky"

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Night Sky, oil on 8x8 stretched canvas

Leftover palette painting

2011-11-20T18:37:00.001-08:00

At the end of the week the paint on my pochade palette is sort of a mess, contaminated here and there and fairly dried out. Before I clean up the entire palette in anticipation of the new week, it's always fun for me to try to paint something with just the leftover paint. Waste not, want not, frugality is "in"! I painted this in my studio from a prior plein air painting. I learned this leftover paint/painting idea from the very talented Michael Orwick.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, End of the day. oil on 8x8 stretched canvas

Spartan figure

2011-11-19T21:01:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I like to paint the simplest things...the simpler the better! It's challenging to see if something "reads" with a minimum of strokes. I enjoy the nothingness surrounding this simple person. It's just an exercise and after it is dry it will likely go into the "11x14" box.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Waiting, oil on 11x14 canvas panel

Friday at Kat Sowa's

2011-11-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

We met this morning at the Cathedral Park Kitchen for breakfast and then Kat Sowa hosted a modeling session in her studio (in Cathedral Park Place). Our model had a definite "Casablanca"look. I enjoyed the day! A big bonus was that George Broderick dropped by. My painting started off well...but then it went very sideways. Unbloggable! When I got home I sketched the model from a photo and from what I remember of the light...(Well, hey.."Play it again, Sam!")

Charcoal Sketch, Celeste Bergin, Model "H", oil on 20x16 canvas panel.

Gouach-ing it!

2011-11-17T23:19:00.000-08:00

I have this really cheap set of Gouache that I sometimes use on Tuesdays (when I go sketching with my pals). Someday I may make a concerted effort to learn how to use water media "properly". Nathan Fowkes sure knows how to use it!
("Gouache"!----I always have to look it up, because I never remember how to spell it).

Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Gouache tubes, Gouache & ink on 6x9 paper

Life painting session --"K"

2011-11-16T19:16:00.000-08:00

Someone gave me an Art Alternatives "natural linen" canvas panel a while back. I decided to use it today in life painting. The model was lit from above and to the right, throwing most of her into shadow. I liked the natural linen canvas panel for it's tone, but not so much for the feel on the surface. (The panel was commercially primed with clear acrylic and seemed somewhat "resistant" to paint). Weird! Well, nevertheless, I rate the outcome as interesting. "K" is a favorite model.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, "K"oil on 18x24 "natural linen" canvas panel

Tuesday~!

2011-11-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

After the PPASP meeting today, we went to Carolyn's for sketching. Carolyn has a lot of objects to consider.... I especially like this "vee-sign" bronze-type sculpture that usually sits in her foyer. To see what we sketched today go HERE.

What about you, did you have an artful day?

Sketch: Celeste Bergin, vee-sign sculpture, ink on 9x9 paper

Monday!

2011-11-14T19:22:00.000-08:00

Glasses are an interesting element to paint in a portrait, but not many people look good in half glasses, in my estimation. No one really "rocks" a pair of half glasses. I don't think even Benjamin Franklin really pulled it off.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Portrait practice, oil on 9x12 canvas panel

Sunday!

2011-11-13T19:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my art friend Kimberly Kent delivered this great painting to me..as a gift! Kimberly had put this painting into an eight+ show awhile back and I admired it. I learned today the whole story behind the painting. Kimberly and several of her friends played a game of "Pictionary" with paint and large canvases. (They each in turn added elements to the painting until the Pictionary word was guessed). Take a good look at the painting.....can you guess the word? (Answer at the end of the post).

Now here (below) is my practice from today. I had an idea to paint on printed paper again. Painting on any kind of paper is fun (gessoed or not); it frees you up..and you'll let go of so much attachment to the outcome. It was good practice for sure and as a bonus I saw in the end .....that the vase seems to be smiling! (Slide show below shows the progression).

Pictionary Answer: Litterbug

(Top painting): Kimberly Kent (and friends) "Litterbug" oil on 24x30 stretched canvas
(Bottom painting) Celeste Bergin, Floral practice, oil on 9 x 12 printed (magazine) paper

Saturday!

2011-11-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

I gessoed a few canvases in black awhile back. I wanted to use the last one that I have left today. I've been surprised that painting on black panels is not difficult....but what about a landscape...could that possibly work? Well, to quote the inimitable Fred Picker *: "Try it!"
(My blogging friend Don Michael has indicated that he paints on black all the time..."no big deal"!)

Here are the steps I used. (I used one of my previous paintings for reference)

1. First I just put down some basic marks to indicate where the major shapes are.

2. Then I established the lightest lights right away (This is extra fun on black!)

3. At this point I painted all the major shapes simply using only 2 to 3 values.

4. Here's a "move" I just recently learned from Craig Srebnik. I dragged a paper towel right through the paint all over the entire canvas. (This is done with a medium-light pressure). The object of doing this is to integrate the colors together.

5. After the paper towel "treatment" you'll see that the sky and the water are contaminated...but don't fret, all one has to do is re-state the colors where necessary.

6. So... in the end I learned that a landscape can be painted onto a black surface. (Thanks for the advice, Fred Picker (RIP), Craig Srebnik and Don Michael)!

(*The famous story I heard about teacher Fred Picker was that one of his students asked him a super-complex-involved technical question (that went on and on). "If I do this and then I do that and then I do this...will that be ok?" ...after a pregnant pause Picker said: "Try it!")

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Reflection, oil on 8x8 stretched canvas

Friday--!

2011-11-11T21:13:00.000-08:00

Today Carrie and I met up with the North Portland "chapter" of PPASP for breakfast. We had a great day, complete with a tour of the proposed gallery space in the Cathedral Park Place building and Kat Sowa's new (fantastic) studio/teaching space. Afterwards, we walked down the street to Cathedral Park to paint.
Recently I saw an artist divide up her canvas panel into sections to do small studies. I vowed I would do the same at the next paint out. (It got too cold for me before I could paint something into the final square)!
To see what the other painters painted today go HERE.

Celeste Bergin, Oil sketches of Cathedral Park on 16x20 canvas panel

(PPASP-er's are being invited by Kat Sowa to participate in an upcoming plein air/landscape exhibit in the center "gallery space" at Cathedral Park Place...have a look at this slide show):

Thursday!

2011-11-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

I am happy today and grateful for my wonderful friends who know me. I'll always paint and draw with the goal of improving every day. I will be back tomorrow and the next day and the next (and the next and the next and the next, etc).

Top Painting: Celeste Bergin, Flowers in the studio, oil on 8x8 stretched canvas

Bottom Painting: Celeste Bergin, copy of Howard Sanden Hands from his DVD...I recommend it highly !)

Life painting session --"Roger"

2011-11-09T16:31:00.000-08:00

Roger has to be one of the best models we have ever had. He posed as a cowboy. He had a shotgun across his lap and a lantern at his feet, very Marlboro man. I forgot my panels and had to borrow a couple. I had trouble with the whole figure and wound up concentrating just on his face. I love the new spotlight they have at the studio, the lighting was dramatic.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Cowboy, oil on 20x16

Monday!

2011-11-07T20:44:00.000-08:00

I worked on my painting of the walker today...but it is so late now, I can't photograph it...(too dark). Instead I will post a drawing I did at Hipbone Studio. I like the strong contrast. This was a three minute pose and I ran out of time before finishing.

Life Drawing: Celeste Bergin, Guy at Hipbone, charcoal on 16x20 paper

Saturday .....at the Japanese Garden

2011-11-05T21:19:00.000-07:00

I wound up at the Japanese Garden today. It was raining, but a shelter provided a pleasant place for sketching. I also stopped into the Pavilion to see "Mottainai": The Fabric of Life exhibit .....and I recognized the author Ursula Le Guin taking in the show along side me. How's that for a "High Brow"Saturday?!

Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Stone lantern, ink (Elegant Writer pen) and water on 6x9 paper

Friday!

2011-11-04T22:11:00.000-07:00

Art Day! It began at 9am when I went to the Craig Srebnik demonstration (which was great). After that I went to lunch at Five Spice Seafood with my art friend Jim King. (Guess what?......... we talked about ART!) In the evening I went to the Jacobsen Family Show at Art on the Boulevard. I did paint something myself today ....but I didn't get very far with it, so I'll work on it again tomorrow. Meanwhile.......

This is Olivia Jacobsen. She is standing with her beautiful orange tree/green house painting....(and see the red dot on the label? I am the lucky new owner !)

(L to R) Back row: Christine, Max and Eric Front row: Owen, (baby Stella) and Olivia Jacobsen

So yes, this was a great art day....how was your Friday?

Thursday!

2011-11-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

I went down to see the "Nature in the City (Parks!)" show at City Hall today. There is a reception tonight, but sadly I have to miss it. On the bright side, it was nice to see the show without a crush of people. I hope some of my plein air friends who go to the reception will share their photos with me later. City Hall is a really beautiful place to show art and I feel privileged to have my work displayed there.

Top Photo: Oil sketch: At the exhibit, oil on 8x8 stretched canvas

I have three paintings in the exhibit. Here I am posing next to my painting of Mt. Tabor Park.

Do you like my cool black and white hat? (I got it awhile back and it is plenty cold enough to wear it today).

This space will be filled with art appreciators later tonight for First Thursday. I like how the organizers handled the display and the art looks great in this gorgeous atrium. All the artists who are participating in "Nature in the City (Parks!)" have agreed to donating a portion of sales to the Willamette Stewarship Program and the show will be up until November 30.

Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Portland OR

Life painting session --"L"

2011-11-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

I got to be the person who delivered our model to the session today. "L" doesn't own a car. It was nice to visit with her before and after the session. She explained a little about how she manages to stay so still for three hours (with a few breaks). "I listen to all the music being played, she told me, and I liked every song today except for just one. I listen to the lyrics and if I know the song I sing it in my head".

Top photo: Painting: Celeste Bergin, Life painting session "L", oil on 16 x 20 canvas panel
Bottom photo: Celeste Bergin, Life painting session "L" II, oil on 16 x 20 canvas panel

Things from my day to share with you

2011-11-01T20:48:00.000-07:00

My photography of my last painting was unsuccessful, so I have to re-shoot it. Meanwhile, I do have things from my day to share with you.

I painted this floral painting & I'll decide later if I want to do more to it.

On the way downtown I saw these pigeons evenly spaced on the street lights (and the photo was taken through the blue tint at the top of the windshield)

I got a surprisingly good parking spot right in front of City Hall

The "Occupy Portland" people were busy occupying the park across the street.

This is one of the three paintings I delivered for the show at City Hall.

(And you are invited to the reception on First Thursday)

"Nature in our City (Parks!)" art show will open on Thursday, November 3 from 5:30-9:00 PM in Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4th, Portland, OR and will run until November 30.

I also went to the usual PPASP meeting this morning. You can see the "pictorial recap" HERE. It was a good day....hope yours was a good one too!

(Top painting): Celeste Bergin, Floral, oil on 8x8 canvas panel

(Bottom painting): Celeste Bergin, Mt. Tabor Park Sunset, oil on 20x20 stretched canvas

Detail of large painting

2011-10-31T19:22:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow new art is due from eight+ at O'Connor's in Multnomah Village. I painted something new and this is a detail from it.

(The eight+ are Kitty Wallis, Carrie Holst, Carolyn Rondthaler, Anton Pavlenko, David McBride, Katherine van Schoonhoven, Eileen Nelson and me)!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, After the Rain II, oil on 36x36 stretched gallery

Sunday .....!

2011-10-30T20:50:00.000-07:00

Here I am yesterday (in my "outdoor studio") with my gesso-ing project. I gessoed a 36"x36" canvas for my newest project along with a stack of smaller canvas panels. It took me hours, but I like doing tasks like this almost as well as painting paintings (especially when it is not raining...and I said almost).

This is a painting I touched up today. I made some corrections to the window and the lamp. I like this painting because it reminds me of an English Mystery (Colonel Mustard...in the Library....with the lead pipe). It didn't start out to be that way, but it took on that life of it's own somehow.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Library, oil on 9 x 12 canvas panel

Saturday!

2011-10-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

I gessoed boards today, and with my leftover gesso I did this 3 value sketch.......just for practice.

Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Black & White, white gesso on black gessoed 11x14 paper.

Friday!

2011-10-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

Every now and then my art pal Carrie Holst says......... "Paint like a child"........(and I say: Yeah, why not!?)

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Follow the road, oil on 10x10 stretched canvas

Thursday!

2011-10-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Pond, oil on 8 x 6 canvas panel

Life painting session --"K"

2011-10-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since life painting sessions and today was the first day back! Our model was a super-good one who modeled for us last year. The session is three hours and I managed to do two paintings. The side light was great....it made the model's face look "drenched in sunlight".

Painting: Celeste Bergin, K in a big hat, oil on 18 x 12 canvas panel

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Seated K, oil on 12 x 18 canvas panel

Sketching after the PPASP meeting

2011-10-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

After today's PPASP breakfast meeting I went to Carolyn's house for what we call "the meeting after the meeting". I enjoyed sketching her cut glass salt & pepper shakers. Check out the meeting HERE and the sketching HERE.

Dark portrait on paper

2011-10-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

I painted this with three paints I had left over from several days ago (Ultramarine blue, Alizarin Crimson and white). It's painted on black gesso.

Oil sketch: Celeste Bergin, Dark portrait, oil on 9x12 gessoed paper

Sunday .....!

2011-10-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

I went to the Broderick Gallery "Verticals" reception today. It was enjoyable to talk with artist Martha Mason. Her paintings are abstract, but with the occasional "recognizable" item thrown in. "I like to draw", she said...and that was clear in all her work. Even when the work was completely abstract, one could see the quality of her sure and beautiful line. I'm with Martha...I like to draw. When I got home I painted this quick value study from a photo reference.
Visit Martha & George's reception HERE

Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, Value Study, oil on 9 x 12 canvas paper.

Saturday!

2011-10-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

This morning I got to see a demonstration by Craig Srebnik. What an excellent painter he is! The emphasis of his talk/demonstration was about linking darks and generating "unity" in a number of different ways. I incorporated some of what he showed us today into this figure.
Craig is giving another demonstration next Wednesday. Contact Craig via phone or email in advance to sign up....find out about it HERE.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, At the Club, oil on 16x20 canvas panel

Craig Srebnik

Charcoal ....on Wallis Paper

2011-10-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

I discovered Wallis Paper when I first started painting. I met Kitty Wallis back then and she generously gave me some samples. Wallis paper is unique, it is "sandpaper" (a very high grade) designed to "grab" your dry or wet media. I have used it for both pastels and oils. Every now and then I like to do a sketch on Wallis...because of the unusual sensation of that "grab". It seems the contrast can be much greater on Wallis paper than on any other artist paper.

I sketched this image and then dampened an old brush with mineral spirits, dragging it through the drawing to create some blur. If you use a brush on Wallis paper you just have to make sure it is an old brush you don't care about. (The sandpaper damages your brush).

Sketch (an idea for a painting): Celeste Bergin, Waiting in the rain, Charcoal on Wallis Belgium Mist, cropped to 6 x 12

Thursday!

2011-10-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

Today I got to take a little road trip to Goose Lake in Washington. It's about 140 miles round trip from Portland. The lake was beautiful....but the changing trees caught my eye. I did some watercolor sketches and this quick oil too.

Painting: Celeste Bergin, October Drive, oil on 9x12

Oil sketch

2011-10-19T20:26:00.000-07:00

This is an oil sketch...I may or may not give it another pass. We'll see!

Oil sketch: Celeste Bergin, Female portrait, oil on 16x20 canvas panel

Tuesday~!

2011-10-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the PPASP meeting and to the "meeting after the meeting" for sketching. I also revisted this cafe still life a little, to heighten the red. Tuesdays...... are good days!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Cafe, oil on 9 x 12 canvas panel

Monday!

2011-10-17T19:54:00.000-07:00

Oil Sketch: Celeste Bergin, End-of-the-season flowers, oil on 11 x 14 gessoed paper