Jeannie Seated Serendipitously

12x9 oil on paper - work in progress

Tuesday I was finally getting to work - having moved my things into my living room downstairs where it was so sunny and bright - when V called. She was nearby and wanted to see if I could meet at Starbucks. Then her sister called her and we agreed I should focus on my work and she'd visit her sister. THEN she called back and said her sister would like to pose for us if I'd like. Well, of course I liked that!

She sat in my sunny window and we all visited while we sketched.
I am definitely going to finish this up. It's a nice start.

I am in Atlanta - Marietta specifically - come visit with me at dk Gallery tonight 6-9 pm!

Finishing Touches

10x12 oil on panel
Available at Tidewater Gallery
$900 framed 


I had three paintings of this model in the show! I didn't realize I had quite so many of her. I'll show the others in the next couple of days. She is a lovely model and I loved the intimate "toilette" scenes we arranged during down times at a class. 

Two weeks ago my friend - and fabulous artist - V....Vaughan came over for a model session at my house. Its really wonderful to have the opportunity to compose scenes, photograph and paint from life in the comfort of your own home. Naturally, you want good people to work with in this case - and boy do I have a story for you about that!

Below is the study I started of Kelli. We had her in so many outfits and places all over the house and yard that we ended up only painting about 30 minutes. My daughter and her friend got into the action too and put on costumes and acted out scenes for us too. It was a lot of fun. I can't wait until I begin working larger scenes this fall from the images we captured during this session. I will unveil some new, big works, at the Russell Collection "Femme" show in Austin during December.

 

Dressed Up

10x12 oil on panel

Available at Tidewater Gallery

Its June and time to begin sharing some of the paintings which will be in my upcoming show in North Carolina. This is a pretty exciting event for me. My first solo show and my first series of works. Last fall, I wanted to explore rapid paint sketches and practice getting my ideas down quickly. I chose to paint on 10x12 inch panels because the size is doable in one painting session and its a nice format. The size and process of creation is 'theme' of the series, while the subject matter reflects my usual obsession with painting my observations of daily life - 

"Vignettes"

An exhibition of small works by Robin Cheers

Tidewater Gallery

107 N. Front Street

Swansboro, NC

910-325-0660

Opening reception Friday, June 15, 5-8 pm

Park People Sketches

I can't stress enough how great it is to get out of the studio -- not just for a morning of plein air -- but for a longer trip to really immerse yourself in creating art fully. It was so amazing to have no other plan for a day than to paint! Once back home, I am juggling my many roles and dealing with end of school activities. I'm also working hard to finish up my work for my show opening at Tidewater Gallery June 15th.

When I wasn't painting in NYC, I was relaxing on a bench people watching and sketching. There was something inspiring in every direction. 

I've been so excited to get to work on new paintings too. And I can't wait to start showing my blog friends the new work. Soon!!

Barton Springs Pool Sketches

Today I met a friend for some sketching at one of our lovely spring fed pools. We are so lucky in Austin to have two large spring fed swimming pools. The more well-known one is Barton Springs Pool. And it was so much fun to sit on the bank and watch people enjoying the brisk 68 degree water. Its going to have to get a whole lot hotter (94 today) for me to get in that water!


My first sketch was just a woman sitting on the concrete sidewalk above the pool. I made the water bluer than it is really.


I'm pretty pleased with my second sketch. This is very accurate to the water color in the shallow end. The water created such a distortion that their legs were pretty much invisible, though the water is crystal clear.
I might finish out these pieces with a little more detail and clean up some things... like the broken hand on my sunbather. Then I will post them again on here or ETSY.

Play Day

Today we had no power most of the day due to rolling blackouts. I hunkered down near a window for some light and painted a bunch of small sketches just for fun. I was experimenting and also trying to work up ideas for possible larger works. It was a lot of fun. I was pretty cut off from the world. Except for a cell phone, I had no means to waste time surfing the internet, emailing, etc.

So, here are some of the fun things I did today. I need more days like this!



















Wow - I didn't realize I did so many! These are all 6x6 or 8x8 on loose linen (my scraps). Major, the dog, was painted from life as he was irresistibly cute cuddled up on my daughter's bed. Who can blame him - it was pretty cold for Austin! We're keeping our fingers crossed for some snow though.

A Week of Art Boot Camp

I've now realized that Kim English's class is like boot camp. I painted so much my wrist is sore and my head was reeling every night making sleep difficult.

It truly was a great experience. First, Belinda Aber of Wimberley Artists Workshops is running a great school and has some really good teachers on her schedule. I'm thrilled that she is so close to Austin. Wimberley is a small but active community with lots of beautiful Hill Country scenery around. And the artists who attended the workshop were such a pleasure to work with!


Dinner out for our group at Cypress Creek Cafe


Table 2

I learned a lot and can't wait to get back to work next week to continue pushing myself. We literally painted 5 minute poses. That means we tried to paint two models and the background in 5 mins. and when the timer went off, we had 10 seconds to wipe our panels while the models assumed new poses. Kim English can capture the scene, on a medium sized canvas, with no trouble. Its amazing. And what an exercise for us! We eventually graduated to 10 and then 20 minute poses by the end of the week. The 20 minute poses seemed much too long! LOL


One of my 5 minute sessions Friday.


Another 5 minute sessions from Friday.



This was from Tuesday (day 1) - since that day I warmed up my palette a lot and managed to get a little farther like adding some background info.

I can see the difference from the start of the workshop in my own work, but I still didn't make the progress our instructor could make in his demos. All of us seemed to hang in there, complaining a little, but working hard.



This is an example of Kim's 5 minute painting Friday.


I'd highly recommend the exercise! It sure beats my 30 minute studies! That might feel like forever to me now.



This painting is now mine! A 12x14 5-minute demo by Kim English.
Priceless.

Gusty Day

12x16 oil on panel

Available at Edward Montgomery Fine Art, Carmel next week.

This scene is from one of our Monday figure sessions (scroll down to see the study I painted that day.) I tried to finish the study today but felt constrained by having to work around what was already there. So I started a new one. I have this dreadful habit of not being able to continue work on an incomplete painting. I can't tell you how many I have sitting around the studio now. There is going to be quite a few more now too since beginning our model sessions. Like the one below. I used the same panel to paint a second study of our model in fact, knowing it is just for exercise and I won't complete it. I'm definitely an "alla prima" painter.


9x12 oil on panel - study from figure session

Figure Session

Spent the morning with a model and several other artists enjoying a beautiful morning outside at Mozarts. Mozarts is this really lovely coffee house with lots of decks overlooking Lake Austin. Its really a great setting for painting and we are so glad they tolerate us!

My first painting, below, I did for the first 2 hours of the pose - in 25-30 minute sessions with breaks. I tried hard to apply my recent play with "30 minute sketches" and worked quickly at the beginning. The light moved very quickly too.



I moved to a new spot to get a different angle for my second painting but didn't have much time to work on it. I like my start - colorful at least. And I don't like, or get confused by the background anyway. That is one way pencil sketching has an advantage. With paint I feel obligated to put in the background or setting. Though one of these days I want to put my "live event" skills to the test and paint a large cafe scene (mostly) on location.

Laundry Sketch

30 minute sketch

This is such a great exercise. I needed it today. My week turned out to be very busy and I had spent two days (I think) working on a larger, more complicated piece. So I wanted to just paint some simple scenes and thought that to break them down to their simplest shapes would be ideal. I set my timer for 25 minutes and went to work. Its wonderful to just look at the big shapes, shadow and light, and mass in. When the timer went off, I allowed myself just a couple minutes more to make final touches - hit the lights harder. I'm always trying to capture the sunlight. Aren't we all?

btw - the model is me. I wanted a scene, so I set up my tripod and camera (using the timer) and hung some laundry in the backyard. More on that later.

I know there is a painting in here....

...somewhere.



The setting- a farmer's market.
The story so far - tried to mass in using color. Wiped it off. Tried to draw it carefully and paint each section. Wiped it off.

The trouble is values. My head knows the logic, but my hand can't seem to make it happen. There are many colors and lots of different market "brick-a-brack" but I am not holding the correct values in full color.

So I reduced it to basically three values and am gratified to see that I am right, there is a painting in this scene! But to make it happen in color - there is the rub.

Stay tuned.

note: tomorrow we share our Moses-Botkin Monthly Challenge paintings!

Painting Demo

Last night I went to New Braunfels and did a painting demonstration for the New Braunfels Art League. I have never done one before. I am pretty proud of myself today! I think it went well and I was reasonably relaxed. They talked and asked questions and I described my working methods some while I painted for about an hour.
I had a harrowing drive down there through rush hour traffic in Austin. But once out of town, the highway cleared and I made it on time. (just)
I have to say, I think New Braunfels is one of the nicest small towns in Texas. They have a thriving downtown area, a large art community, nice landscape, and really warm, welcoming people.

As for my demo, I chose to paint something that I have done before. I actually took a large version of this which is finished and going to my show in July. I thought it might be nice to show the final product while I developed the new painting.


11x14 oil on mounted linen

I worked for about an hour so its still quite loose. I massed everything in and then just began to refine areas. I'll probably put another hour into this to complete it. I will post it again then.

Thank you to Gaye Sekula who so gently pressured me to trying this and to the NBAL for your interest and attention and a warm welcome!

Everyday People V

8x10 oil on carton board
$150 + s/h

I keep forgetting to mention that I am working on paintings for my upcoming show at Studio 47 in Woodstock, Vermont. It is to be a three-person show. Initially we thought to do just a solo show, but as I am newly represented there, I wasn't sure we'd have the draw for just me. Want it to be worth everyone's while... setting up and hanging a show is hard work.

I am having fun exploring some new scenes. And some old favorites. I will unveil all the work on here as the July 24th opening draws near.

Everday People IV

10x8 oil on carton board
$150 + s/h

This might be the guy at the bus stop... different days though. He was walking across a crosswalk tuned into his headphones.

Carton board is something I found at Judson's Art Outfitters. Its a tan card stock similar to the cardboard some of the impressionist masters painted on - but its updated and archival. I like the effect the oils create - almost a pastel quality. And the background color is a nice neutral tone.

Everday People III

8x10 oil on carton board
$150 + s/h

Realllly love this one. I am not sure I want to let him go. But, an artist's gotta eat! (Or buy more supplies.)
Enjoy your weekend!

Everyday People I

8x10 oil on carton board
$150 + s/h

Sometimes I just don't feel like painting the background etc. when just the gesture or face says enough. So I am painting some "portraits" of everyday people. This man was sitting at a bus stop.