Portrait of Delia, and Hanford Cloudscape by Laura Gable

"Delia" oil painting sketch on 8x10 canvas, ©Laura Gable

"Clouds Above Hanford" 8x6 oil painting on oil paper, ©Laura Gable

Working on the daily paintings allows you to paint all manner of things. My artist friend Delia popped by the studio yesterday, so she sat for a quick portrait sketch. The light from the window shifted quickly, so we wrapped it up after about 1.5 hours, but it was fun to capture the nuances of color on the beautiful high cheekboned planes of her face. She did a lot of chatting, as she filled me in on her life, so I'm not quite sure that I got the smile on her lips to move to her eyes. Oh and as John Singer Sargent said, "There's something about that nose that's not quite right." (Or did he say it the mouth??) Yah I do like portraits and will give it another go soon.

The other painting is a small one I did on a piece of Arches Oil Paper, which I mounted to gatorboard.  It's from a photo I took up around the Hanford site near the Ringold entrance... a great spot to go do some storm watching. Working with the paper is interesting. It has a soft vellum texture and holds up to oil paint and washes surprisingly well. According to a few "how to" sites, it's best to put a thinned wash of oil paint down first which seems to keep the heavier strokes of color from absorbing totally into the paper. I've got a few spare pieces sitting about, so let me know if you want to practice on it. ;-)

Happy creating!!

What's New With Painter Girl? [day 13]

I've been lurking in the wings this year. Though this is my first post this year, I have been diligently painting daily with paint under my fingernails and even on my pajamas to show for it. Here's a quick showcase of my 13 finished paintings to date, in a grid format from my cool Layout app. Some of these images are just snippets of the actual painting. The full sized images are represented on my blog: http://ldgablepainter.faso.com/blog. Most are small (about 6x8) with 8x10 as the maximum size.

I'm also participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. She hosts it every January, encouraging the masses to paint or draw daily (just like Bobi encourages us to do something creative daily). She hosts a regular podcast on AHA (Artists Helping Artists) Radio, so reaches a lot of people. http://30paintingsin30days.weebly.com/blog

I know our blog here has a good many viewers from looking at the page stats (with 50-100 views per day), even though we don't get as many participants. Here you can learn in depth, the process that goes on behind and inside the creating. Encourage your fellow artists to participate and follow along. And I'm enjoying what each of you are also creating in your own studios. It's great fun.

Scrolling Along

This ole scroll project has continued for almost a month. Some day are proving interesting, like yesterday's collage and colored pencil piece shown here. I'm finding I get a sense of "accomplishment" and "completion" with each day's effort. My days fill with this added thread of creativity… in addition to my other paintings. Delightful!! It's like doing "morning pages" (from the Artists' Way) but with color and glue, rather than unbridled words.

So for the others that are doing, or contemplating a project like this ... I'll be curious to hear your feedback. I think it easily could be done in a book format as well.

"Day 27", collage with colored pencil on scroll. I added prose onto the faces. I like having words represented in these.

Calling it Good

I'm claiming designing and teaching a yoga class (which went great and much fun!), cleaning, shopping and rearranging the house for sleeping spaces and making a few tests with making beeswax candles as my 'art' for recent days.  A bit of a stretch but that's creative too.  :)
Getting to the studio - or not - is part of the process.  Greatly appreciating this January kick-start and filling my soul with your work and your posts.  Thank you!

Here's an image from years back.  Miniature collage Autumn Leaves.  Measures about 3" tall.  One of my favs and delights me that it is in the care and appreciation of Laura Gable.

"Water's Edge"

Here is the finished painting that I fiddled with a couple days ago (mentioned in this earlier post).
http://art-a-day.blogspot.com/2015/01/graphics-work.html

Alas, it looks to be a new painting with not much recall of the original study. But I am happy with it. These lovely ponds are tucked in the Amon Basin off Leslie Road. I hiked in a short distance to find this viewpoint. Not much was happening this day, until 2 bicyclists came zooming past and startled me. For the most part it was just me and the water and the ducks and the sage and the rabbit brush and the trees. A lovely soliloquy for a winter's day. Perhaps I will return there again soon to see what nature provides. Softer colors I'm sure.

"Water's Edge" in it's final revision. 9x12 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

Scroll Project, Killing a Field Study, and Graphics Work

Today I finished a 7" section on the remainder of my scroll, completing 21 total scroll "entries". A large sheet of Velin Arches will hold me over till the watercolor roll arrives. (I found an inexpensive Canson roll on Ebay. It's quite long, so this scroll project may continue for awhile.) Will post progress soon.

The studio beckoned and so I went in and massacred another painting. Reworking a field painting isn't the best of ideas. (somebody stop me!!) But often there's something just not quite right about it, so "tweaking" is in order. Today's painting was the 3rd revision. Maybe it looked better to begin with…. sheesh.

"Water's Edge" 9x11 oil on board, ©Laura Gable
This is revision 2 …I will post todays debacle here once I get it photographed. 

I'm designing this year's Artwalk Bookmark, and today I completed the proof. If I get these ordered quickly, perhaps we can have them by the next Art Walk on the 5th. Thanks to Cindy Rutherford for the front panel artwork. The artists featured on the back are: Anastasio Pena, Melanie Thompson (both at You & I Framing), DS Watkins (at DS Watkins Studio), Susan Schmieman (of Weave Your 'Art Out), and a portrait of my dad (at my Laura Gable Studio). 

2015 Artwalk Bookmarks, front (©Cindy Rutherford artwork image)

2015 Artwalk Bookmarks, back   ©images are the copyright of the artists:
(Anastasio Pena, Melanie Thompson, DS Watkins, Susan Schmieman, Laura Gable)

Scroll project continued.

Here is one of my recent posts on the scroll project I'm still working on daily. It is based on my grandmother when she was young. With a middle name like Tempest, you can imagine the character she had -- and perhaps a bit of a fiery personality? I never saw a temper, just recall her as a sweet homespun farm woman with a great zest for life and always laughing. She was also an artist. Dad said when he was little, that she would invite in the Hobo's that meandered the countryside, and offer them egg sandwiches. She was always saying "Forever more!" "Fair to Middlin" and "Land Sakes Alive." As an older woman, she was part of a social group of ladies who called themselves the "Fat Club" because they would get together and eat, sharing "covered dishes" like her badada (potato) salad … but were forever trying to lose weight. A character, indeed. We still miss you Gramma!!

Grandmother as a young girl, Lilian Tempest Kelly, drawn with China Marker, ©Laura Gable

The scroll is coming along. My second strip of paper has about 3 days left, so I am scrounging to find another strip for about 10 days of effort. Any ideas??

In the Heart of Amon Basin

This area is in the Amon Basin, behind the homes to the north end of Willowbrook housing development. I painted in the field around Christmas on one of the last warm sunny days we've had. Today (while in-situ in the studio) I brightened some of the colors and fussed with the shadows--trying to make them not look fussy ;-). Hopefully I've not lost the freshness of plein air. Anyway a fun exercise painting in the Amon Basin. A few of us are wanting to host an art show of paintings we've done there sometime in the near future. So paint paint paint some more of this beautiful area, and we will show folks just how spectacular it really is.

"In the Heart of Amon Basin" 11x14 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

Misty Winter Vista

We planned an outing out to the Horn Rapids area off Snively Road yesterday--the weather forecast promised a break in the clouds and warming trend. Even though I checked 3 different weather apps, they all proved incorrect. There was a low hanging fog about, and quite damp and chilly. But a couple of us plein-air types braved the cold anyway. Plus we had 2 others that aspired to be there, but were not able to attend for a variety of reasons. (My snow pants came in handy ;-)

The muted greys are quite beautiful out there on these overcast days. I have a new appreciation for our temperature inversions. In the sky near the horizon I could see orangish tints where Rattlesnake Mt softly emerged, and the subtleties of greyed color in the terrain was intriguing, where I found notes of hidden lavenders and muted greens. Nary a sound to be heard, save the occasional bird call and sporadic traffic sounds from the Vantage Highway. Pristine, serene, and sacred was the take-away this day.

"Misty Winter Vista" 10x10 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

Scroll Project (9 days effort Jan 1-9)

The scroll project is coming along. I've completed 9 days of work on the scroll, and the first roll is completed. So will start the next one today. I've got a video here where I pause and focus on each day's art expression. It's been fun to express a variety of artistic "voices" that lie dormant and sometimes need to be heard. No rules, just unroll a section for the day and have at it. I am finding also, that it has a tendency to loosen up my oil painting work, and allows me to be more expressive. So a good thing all around.

Day 9, These strips are from a 2014 daily calendar, which features master works
on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Scribbles are my masterwork ;-)

My scroll project unfurled after  9 days. Its a bit unwieldy.
Not sure if it will end up in another project. If so, will cut it apart.

The first post about this scroll is here: http://art-a-day.blogspot.com/2015/01/scroll-project-pending.html

Amon Basin Marshes

Yesterday I had an opportunity to paint en plein air. As I was heading south on Leslie Rd, the sun peeked out from behind it's cloud cover, and my car veered left toward Amon Basin Preserve. There is this lovely pond there on both sides of the wide path. I set up looking towards the north and did a quick painting. I like the drama of the water in the foreground as it went almost dark purple then faded towards the soft marshes in the back. The reflections were stunning and the distant trees very soft. After about an hour, when the sun ducked out again, my scene quickly changed and it was time to stop. Nature has a way of keeping us from being too fussy!!

"Amon Basin Marshes" painted plein air 1-7-14, 8" x 10" oil on board, ©Laura Gable

My scroll project continues with an "entry" a day. I've got a couple days left on this first roll of paper, then I will post my progress. I'll continue it for the 30 days, but will need a couple more rolls of paper. I may have to get resourceful here.

Photo filters

PhotoStudioHD has some fun filters that I had an opportunity to play with, on my iPad. 

Taking the original sunflower photo (below) to create this rusted metal, aged look. I love it. 

Perhaps I will take Marilee's lead and create a painting from this altered flower. Stay tuned...

altered image

origina image

PS I wanted to let you all know that Figure drawing at Allied Arts starts next Saturday … something you might all enjoy!

Scroll Project

Sometimes after doing a lot of "serious" paintings, I find that I miss the "other" side of art: the messy, unexpected, creating for the sake of creating side.

I was intrigued after happening across an "art scroll" project created by Australian artist Ian Roberts. A prolific artist immersed in various projects, he was challenged to create these scrolls after meeting with an art therapist. (click his name for a link to his website).

The task is to cut a long section of paper, and scroll off a bit each day. Then just do "something" on that section. No rules, no criteria, and it doesn't have to look like anything, it is merely a creative expression for the day. The only stipulation is not to look at what you've created until the 30 days are up…. so because of that I will only post a few things I've done. In these 3 that I've already created, I find that I'm using a lot of heavy strokes and lots of black. My darkness emerges ;-)

Scroll day 3 … 

January 31, it's a wrap

The past couple days of January were spent doing a field study and then some studio work to complete. The few days of sunlight got me wanting to wander out and paint. Though a bit breezy, I did paint briefly in the truck -- a bit cramped and messy! It was fun to study the scene though and just get down a few preliminary strokes before heading to the studio.

There's a lovely sheltered path that passes under a high embankment of trees along the Columbia River off Columbia River Park Trail. Perhaps you will recognize it. The river laps the shoreline, nourishing the abundant eco-system there. I was thrilled to see a figure in bright yellow walk into the scene, and got a shot of him before he disappeared into the shadows. (Follow the progression of the painting below, final is shown last) 

Field Study - "River's Pause", 8x10 oil on board, ©Laura Gable
I got down just enough color to suggest the scene. I enjoy the freshness of this piece.

FINAL: "River's Pause", 8x10 oil on board, ©Laura Gable
(The scene was refined a bit, small strokes added, focal point adjusted, colors and value adjusted.)

Here's the best awareness for the month -- the most rewarding part of art for me is the disappearing into the process of creating ... Moving into that space where time seems to be suspended. May you find magic in these moments like I have.

Thanks for journeying with me. I enjoy the creative interaction, seeing what others are up to in their processes, and value the comments we've shared. Thanks so much Bobi for making this available to us again, and for guiding our steps. You are a jewel.

Visit me on my personal blog if you want, I'll post there throughout the year. http://lauragable.blogspot.com

Grey-Scape

"Grey-Scape" 6x4 oil on card, ©Laura Gable

Who is ready to see the end of these temperature inversions, grey days, mist, freezing fog, hoar frost, intermittent flurries, and freezing rain? We start to realize the value of LIGHT in our days, and which gives us so much to study as artists. A moment ago I saw some actual blueness in the sky so am hopeful that the skies will turn today.

One of my artist friend's recently mentioned that even on cloudy days the sky is actually lighter than it is when it is full of brilliant blue. It does make sense that light grey is lighter and brighter than the cerulean and ultramarine blue skies we crave. The pervasive greyness alters and unifies the landscape's colors and tones. The value scale falls in the middle (2,3, & 4 on a scale of 1-5), as most bright highlights and deep shadows fall away. So with this in mind yesterday, I painted our local hillsides and waterways from memory. I know I would do better with a photo reference, but this moody landscape is emblazoned into my psyche! Greyed color can actually be quite lovely and serene. The yellows in the foreground were even greyed. Compared to the other colors they seem so bright. The cheat grass and other nimble brushes within the marsh take on some varied and interesting colors this time of year.

So my awareness of the day: When I open up and really see with these two treasured eyes of mine, I can find beauty even when things are gloomy and grey. Find the mystery in the misty days.

PS - we are almost done with this challenge. I didn't do a painting a day, but I tried to do something creative most days and when I was too tired to pick up a brush, I even counted the creative thoughts as valid and pertinent!

Cloud Scape

"Cloud Scape" 8x10 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

Painting clouds can be challenging as there are no hard edges. This is my attempt doing so from a photo of a distant horizon and the earth curving away above. I'm not sure I've captured the curving away of the sky, as this was very vast. I do like the feel of it though, and the bits of orange that crept in on the left side of the lower sky. Even though it may look like it, there are no intentional monster faces in these clouds. But if you see something there, am sure it might be a window into the individual psyche (smile).

Today's awareness: I have this wanting to create scenes from memory, yet I find I do much better if I have something to reference in front of me while I paint. Seems like a simple awareness, but it is powerful none-the-less.

Clover Island Stroll

"Clover Island Stroll" 11x14, oil on board, ©Laura Gable

Today was the perfect day to complete this unfinished plein air study. It was started on a lovely September day on Clover Island here in Kennewick, WA. The island has been going through a facelift over the past few years, with the addition of the lighthouse and these lovely foliage lined curving paths with boardwalk viewing bump outs. Though it was a breezy day that started out with intermittent sprinkles, it turned into a bright sun filled afternoon ... perfect for painting lighthouses. This pair of friendly walkers happened by at the right time so we can get a sense of scale of the vertical shapes.

Today's effort involved adding the figures, and refining the shape of the trees and clouds, plus altering the colors on the lighthouse and pathway. I'm wanting to do more in this series. Hopefully it will warm a bit so an outdoor excursion is possible ... or I will dig through my photographs to find a worthy candidate to paint. So that's the day's awareness ... paint in a series.

This was shared by my friend recovering from hip surgery, and it feels very fitting for this painting: "God is good, He widens our path so we don't stumble." May you have wide clear paths today. 

Heart's Afire

"Hearts Afire-revised" 12x12 oil on 2.5" cradled masonite board, ©Laura Gable

I can't get too far into the year without doing a sunflower painting. This few day's effort was actually altering an old painting that sat around the studio too long. The concept was there, just needed a bit more for the execution - two flowers almost combined together to make one. One a bit bigger and stalwart, the other a bit closed in and nurturing. I enjoyed the way this painting has moved closer to my original intention to portray the two hearts afire, with more juicy paint and muted grayish areas, lighter and darker tones, more definite shadows. It says a lot about love and deep friendship.

This is painted on a 2.5" deep cradled masonite board.

A poem I recall from high school days which seems fitting today.
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Just walk beside me and be my friend.

-Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Albert Camus

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/albertcamu100779.html#yUgrl8qasdtRJV1W.99

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Albert Camus

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/albertcamu100779.html#yUgrl8qasdtRJV1W.99

A few progress shots of a painting I'm still working on.

We seem to be entering the doldrums of the month. The point when the new year's gusto starts to settle down. When we begin to realize we are still treading the same path we were on before, but perhaps with a more purposeful step, and a bit more refreshed view of things.

I want to share a few "progress" shots of a painting that I'm still working on.

I started with a balsa wood board that was primed with gold gesso. The first few coats of oil paint mixed about 50:50 with Dorland's cold wax medium were applied with spatula (soft turquoise and wax); Another layer troweled on (soft green and wax); and then with a brayer (white and wax). These colors did dry between coats. A small amount of scratching happens at this point. That is the Step 1 (not pictured).

Step 2 (one is not posted)

Step 2: Once this dries for a few days, I used an oil pastel crayon to draw out the figure. A rubber tipped tool moves wet paint around, making hash motions. She is ethereal and made of the clouds and ocean waves. A bit like a Mary Oliver poem I've read recently --

"Today again I am hardly myself.

It happens over and over.

It is heaven-sent.

It flows through me

like the blue wave.

Green leaves - you may believe this or not - have once or twice

emerged from the tips of my fingers."

Step 3

The figure is defined a bit more a few days later (again with oil pastels) and bits of the background start to take shape.

Step 4, almost there

This time I decided her head needed some attention so oil paint without wax was brushed onto the face and parts of the background. More oil pastel were also drawn on. Next step will likely be another bit of wax/oil paint applied and some scratching through to reveal the under layers. I did that a bit on step 4, though not as much as the last painting that I did.

She will yet evolve a bit more ... stay tuned.

Three Aspens

"Three Aspens" 5x7 oil on panel, ©Laura Gable

The rocks were shimmering in this outcropping from a photo I took a few years back while traversing parts of Colorado. I failed to label the location. The sky was crystal clear, air redolent with pine and clouds had that cotton-candy quality. Pristine! The aspen trees were just starting to lose their leaves. Crowds flock to the mountains in late September to see the "colors" of these golden groves of white barked sentinels.

Am having fun doing these little almost-daily studies. My goal for a few days now has been landscape. And wiggling the brushes around in the oils again. I took a break for awhile from my oil paints late last year, so am enjoying this dalliance. Awarenesses arise while I work, and this day's was to make an effort to design the scene - not just paint what I see.  It's harder when working with the perfect photo (anyway I was pleased with this amateur shot I took). When you are outside and surrounded by the brilliance of the outdoors it is easier ... steal a tree from over there, move the clouds, let the scene dance about. A lifelong pursuit, I am sure.