What's It All About?

Is it ever too late to learn something new?

05/15/2012 12:31:00

Is it ever too late to learn something new?

May in Bloom

08/24/2011 15:25:00

May in Bloom

Oil on Canvas Descanso Gardens,California. This path is back behind the creek on the side off the beaten path. It’s actually hidden from most. The light hit the flowers that were surrounded by thick trees. A tiny stream runs trickling past BeverlySquire of Arcadia and I. My painting this with a pallet knife was unusual and I enjoyed the free sense of painting this way. These were quick strokes with practically no planning in the technique itself. Watching the painting progress from background to foreground was an effortless rendering of the subject before the two of us. The painting took 2 hours. It's signed with a 00 burnt Sienna a rusty red. The selection was cropped so the path would lead you away at an angle towards the dark shadows of the trees. There's solitude on the lonely path with an unknown destination. The colors are viridian green and mixtures of yellow ochre and alizarin crimson, French ultramarine blue, titanium white and finally Payne’s grey. Inspiration for this is painting came while looking for divine direction in my own life. This path leads somewhere forward and on to the rest of life.

Quote for the painting “He walks with me.”

How do you create and maintain community?

08/04/2011 00:14:00

How do you as a creative person, create and maintain community?

I find it so easy to stay in the studio and isolate myself from others. I enjoy being with others, but it doesn't happen if I don't deliberately make it happen. I joined a group of plein air painters several years ago and it was the best thing I ever did for my self and my painting. They went out painting (Plein Air) in and around the local areas. Gardens, historic building, sea side villages, lakes, oceans were among the variey of sites for plein air artists to be inspired. We would meet back at a set location for lunch and a critique. It was wonderful. The more seasoned painters would share all of their knowledge and tips to help the newer painters. Everyone cared about each other and encouraged each other. There are several art clubs in the San Gabriel Valley where I live. A lot of artists belong to more than one of them. The clubs organize shows, classes and demonstrations. They also raise funds for art scholarships. They are made up of wonderful, talented and inspiring people who try to pass on their love of painting to others.

Inspiration?

07/07/2011 07:31:00

Where do you, artists, musicians, actors, dancers and lovers, find your inspiration?

For myself, visiting local botanical gardens, mountains and canyons breath life into me and then into my desire to paint. I prefer to paint on location. That's the best inspiration of all. There's a connection with the subject that you just can't get with a photograph. I have found that in that connection there is peace. All of the senses are engaged. Memories are formed for a lifetime.

I encourage my students to work from life, use a sketchbook and look for the world most people walk by without noticing.

Why do artists paint?

06/09/2011 17:27:00

If you are an artist/painter, tell us why you paint. What is your medium and subject?

I can tell you why I paint. It is a necessity. Painting clears my mind of trivial things that steal the life away from me. Painting is also my connection to my God. I am closer to him when I think about the beautiful world he has created and paint what I see. I think a lot of people go through life without noticing all of the intricate details, color combinations and patterns that nature has for our enjoyment. One of my purposes is to point that out to others. That's why I zoom in close a lot of the time.

Painting is also therapeutic. It gave me a place to go when my world was out of control. Growing up was difficult, and only a few years ago I learned I had blocked a huge chunk of it out of my memory. I painted a lot when I was a teen. It was an escape from what was really happening. In some ways it protected me until I was able to face the abuse in a safer place.

The Pass

05/17/2011 12:03:00

The Pass

Watercolor Landscape

This unique watercolor landscape began with a memory from childhood spent in Colorado. It’s a place called Buffalo Pass, back country high in the Rocky Mountains. It’s very difficult to get to. There are no paved roads. The last time we were there, we were alone with the land and the trees. When we were little we had a lot of nice memories formed there. It is east of my hometown of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The fast moving rain will come and visit at will in this small western town. This past August it hailed pea sized anomalies. Up on the pass, the lake seems untouched by the things that make other places ordinary.

You begin a landscape with this process. The surface was prepped by wetting Fabriano paper weight bright white paper 140 lb. weight, cold press. And then the selection of colors…green gold, French ultramarine blue, cerulean blue and alizarin crimson. The last is my favorite color it’s the perfect magenta for mixing with any and all colors. It’s a preference of habit from when I was in high school, around 16. The brush family was Windsor Newton Sceptor Gold.

The peaceful evergreen pine is capable of making you hungry for the picnic lunch of Blimpie’s Grinders almost forgotten. We had walked about looking at the different wildflowers of unusual blues and pinks, Colorado Lupine and Columbine, the state flower. If you should go there you will see this painting. Write for an exclusive by Marsha.