Saturday, February 28, 2009

Feb 28 - Plein Air at the Air Port

Yesterday's on-location spot was the 1930's Flabob Airport in Riverside. Now, some of you know that my mom had her private pilot's license when she lived in Hawaii before World War II, so I grew up with pictures and stories of flying small planes and pictures of even smaller airports.

Because of that history, I passed right by many of the artists who were set up on the OTHER side of the cafe (with its blue airport logo), driving around to the hangars to get the pilot's view. The management said to stay off the runway, so I set up on the taxi lane, and this is the first sight a pilot will see when he or she pulls in to park their plane. Flying in for lunch or breakfast is a hobby of many pilots, and the cafes at these small airports around the country serve quite good food!

I had fun with the Bonanza in the foreground, the plastic chairs in front of the cafe, and the ubiquitous wind sock. I felt as though I had dropped back in time as I was on the asphalt and carved out this 12x12 acrylic. And I know my mom was looking over my shoulder with a big smile. It is for sale for $350 in a nice custom frame.

The June workshop is now full, and thank you for responding so quickly!

You can see my entire blog HERE.

My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.

Color System information can be found HERE.

If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Feb 27 - The Big One Further Along

Now I'm adding the details on this 30x40 oil, and now I'm about half-way through that phase. The contrast of light is beginning to come into play, as well as the contrasts of color, value and texture. I'm especially pleased with how the gates are placed, one painted dark and the other painted light. They seem to be like a comfortable couple of friends.

The open gate may bother some people who are familiar with "range protocol" which is to leave the gate as you find it, either fully open or fully closed. But I wanted to give a suggestion of possible entry into this space with the gate ajar, and just open enough for the soul to slip through. The distant mists are in place, and I'll be finishing up these details and lights after this weekend's plein air event.

Today I did two nice little gems, one of Riverside's Flabob Airport--it was like stepping back to 1930 to be on the taxi-way and painting the buildings and aircraft! That's a 12 x 12 acrylic, which I'll share with you when I get good images of it. The second painting was of local landmark Mt. Rubidoux lit by the last light of the sunset tonight, as seen from Carlson Dog Park (yes, Sparky and Onslow were with me and worn out!). That one, too, needs a better photograph.

Tomorrow I'm painting the Riverside Art Museum for the Quick Draw part of this week's event. I have some ideas of what to paint, not your usual "building in sunlight"... more to come!

There is only one spot left in my June Boot Camp Workshop, and I haven't even opened it up for deposit payment yet!!! The Color System just WORKS....

You can see my entire blog HERE.

My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.

Color System information can be found HERE.

If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Feb 26 - Onward with the 30x40 Oil of the Pasture

Your art lesson continues with this 30x40 oil painting. The canvas is now covered with the inherent values of the major areas--there is no true focal point, although the lightest area near the gate, which is painted with the Warm Box of the Color System. This contrast of temperatures gives a distinct depth to the work, with the foreground sunlit areas contrasting nicely with the distant appearing hues from the Cool Box.

When I work on a large canvas like this one, it takes a bit longer to get it all together. Although it is further along sitting on the easel behind me, I enjoy seeing it at this earlier stage, knowing I was on the right track....

More tomorrow!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Feb 25 - More on the 30x40 Oil

I have the title for this one... "Secret Pasture". Many times when I work on a painting, a title will come and sit with me and smile, offering its name, and so it is with this one. Seems I am moved to paint places like this one, seeking out secure and safe sanctuaries during these troubled economic times.

As I continue to cover the canvas, I am more concerned with maintaining the middle values than I am with the purity of the color. I still have NOT opened the Warm Box of my Color System. Look at the way the colors already offer their cool and distant feel, without any friction among them. Am I concerned about edges? Not at this time.

The movement of the arched fenceline in the foreground is repeated, upside down, in the distant edge of the field. Nothing is straight! To create movement in a painting, it is always a good idea to keep things angled, curved or tipped. If your goal is static feel, then make your design lines parallel to an edge. Locks 'em down every time!

On other news (I just love those three words!) my art was selected for the poster for the University of California Botanic Gardens Spring Show. Here's the flyer for it. Funny that the poster comes out with the same complimentary colors I've been using with my latest large landscapes--red-violet and yellow-green. Hmmmm....mystery afoot!

You can see my entire blog HERE.

My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
(June workshop, which still isn't officially open, is filling fast--only two spaces left.)

Color System information can be found HERE.

If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Feb 24 - Still Plein Air Painting and Loving It!

Two for one, today! The Spaghetti Factory building in Riverside is the first painting. I started and finished this yesterday on location, under wet skies, as part of the Riverside Plein Air Paint Out. Most of the other artists picked the diagonal corner across from the building, but I liked the distant sky light above the vined walkway on the opposite corner instead. This 12 x 12 acrylic was done, like the Victoria Avenue piece, completely with the Cool Box from the Color System. The streets were wet, and traffic was light, so it was a fun paint. Took me about an hour and a half for this artwork.

And for your additional pleasure, here's the second pass on the 30 x 40 oil that dominates my studio. I'm quite pleased with the way it is coming along, and will share more images of it tomorrow. I'm laying in the large color fields to get the canvas covered (no mean feat with this large of a surface!) and paying close attention to the mid-range of values that need to fill this area so that the gorgeous backlit foliage will really get attention. Again, I'm completely in the Cool Box as I paint the soft mid tones.
Workshops: I have six people for the workshop in June already, so if you'd like a taste of the Color Boot Camp here in California, please email me your intent. I'm giving a painting demonstration in Hemet next month (March) and I'm pretty darned sure those last four spaces will be gone by then. April's workshop is full with a wait list forming. The June workshop is set for June 4 (evening) through 7th, so you can mark your calendars. Cost is still $195 for three days and lunches. Email me your interest, and I'll hold you a spot.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE. (The June workshop isn't up yet.)
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Feb 23 - A Big One - 30 x 40 Oil

I'm using some of the photographs I took in Georgia last year to create this morning light landscape of the forests, fields and fences of the area on Fay's farm. This is the rough design, painted over a scuffed orange wash to get rid of the white.

You can already see the tension created by the horizontal fence line, the verticals of the tree trunks, and the angled fence line taking you into the picture plane. Interesting how just a few lines can already create a feeling of depth on a flat surface. The color will only enhance this! I'll be using the Color System to depict morning light. I know there will be an animal or animals in the composition, but right now I haven't decided where they'll go. I know they'll be back further, so you'll have to seek them out, traveling the design path to get to them. Painting is such fun!

I've decided to open another workshop here at my studio in California--in June--the Three Day Color Boot Camp. Returning Boot Campers are "Repeat Offenders" and three timers are getting "Re-booted"! Looks like it will be from Thursday evening, June 4th through Sunday, June 7th. I have five slots tentatively filled so far, and if you'd like to be a part of the fun, just email me.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE. (June isn't listed yet.)
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Feb 22 - Plein Air Week in Riverside

Victoria Avenue in Riverside is one of the most lovely routes through a beautiful city. Today I joined the Plein Air Artists of Riverside who were sited along its length painting on location as part of the Plein Air Paint-Out, through next weekend.

This is a 16 x 24 acrylic, and I completed it in about two hours. The weather was overcast, and no distinct light source defined any shadows. I didn't EVEN open the warm boxes of the Color System! I kept having to lift Sparky and walk into the ivy every time a Sunday dog walker would come by. The little protector was "on duty!"

And I had every plan to photograph this one while I painted it, but just did a head-slap about three-fourths of the way through when I remembered I wanted to do it! I will for the next few works during this competition week, giving you an idea of how they come together. Just be assured that this painting was completely done with only six colors and white--the Cool Box in my Color System--those pill boxes with paint!

The Color Boot Camp workshop last weekend was a great success. Two painters wrote about it, saying the following:
"Who would have thought that the "color system" would be much more than just color. It gives us a formula/map to keep us on track. And it helps us reaffirm our values through the correct color choices. Thank you so much, Elin. You are an amazing teacher. I cannot believe the energy and INFORMATION you put into your classes." - Pat Corbin Chao

“Elin taught us the practical applications of her Color System with bright, lively lectures and our indentured servitude to paint, paint and paint. Elin says that "painting is a journey" and I feel like I'm just starting off on the trail. For those of us that are just figuring out all of the painting stuff, there is an enormous benefit to using the Color System. If you don't know it, take a look. And if you have a chance to attend one of her workshops, don't hesitate. It's a blast!
And you'll learn a whole bunch to boot!” - Randy Smith

There are still spaces in the East Coast workshops--you get FIVE FULL DAYS of the Color System, and "Yellin' by Elin" in the Color Boot Camp.

Congratulations to new collector Ray Castenada of Miami, Florida on his purchase of two 16 x 20 still life paintings from my web site!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.