"Square Tea" & workshop

Today was the first day of my workshop and I lucked out and got a great group, once again! I borrowed this square teapot, from the place I'm staying, for my demo. And last night I got some of these funny little lemons with the "nipple" on top. Wierd, I know. I always tighten up a bit on demos (especially the first of a workshop). Here are a few of my students painting:



I loved the way Leiza (sorry if I spelled that wrong) held all her brushes in one hand while she painted (she did a beautiful painting):



Another big day tomorrow. Gotta hit the hay.

"Adoring" --- SOLD

I forgot to mention that I am going to Santa Fe to teach a 5-day workshop this week - and now I'm here! : ) Santa Fe is a lovely place to be, especially this time of year. The weather is supposed to be in the 60's and 70's all week (a big improvement over Austin). I am looking forward to meeting a new group of artists tomorrow. I will get some pictures (if they'll let me) and post them tomorrow night. I got in a good hike today with my buddy Erin, had my reward (ice cream) and now it's time for a good night sleep. zzz

"Empty Plate" --- SOLD

Someone asked me yesterday what I've learned in the last 500 paintings. For what it's worth, here's what's topmost on my mind:

The most difficult thing about realism (even impressionistic realism) is ... getting things to look REAL. However, if you can pull it off, it is most impressive. And the way to make things look real is to be accurate with proportion and value. And the way to be accurate with proportion and value is to teach yourself to always compare each distance/value with the WHOLE scene (SQUINT!!!!). It's all too easy to get tunnel vision when we draw/paint and only compare within what we're focused on (it's because of the way our brains work). When we do this we lack the big picture and proportion/value are much more likely to be incorrect.

I've also learned some interesting things about edges, but those are better demonstrated than spoken. So, I am going out on a limb here and setting a deadline for myself. I will post a demo video within one ... two months. How about that? (I'm going to hate myself for this, I know it)

"Touch of Lavender" --- SOLD

This is my 500th daily painting! It is a commissioned piece, so not for sale. Someone asked in a comment if I think about being loose when I paint, and the answer is yes, absolutely! I reached a cross-roads with my painting some time ago when I realized I could either go more realistic or more impressionistic. I asked myself 2 questions: which do I like to look at more, and which do I enjoy doing more. The answer to both was impressionistic and so that's the direction I took. That doesn't mean I don't expiriment with all sorts of things, but a big goal of mine is to stay loose with my strokes, and to interpret and suggest rather than copy. I am honestly in awe of those that can produce photorealistic paintings, but for my own enjoyment, I paint this way instead.