John Singer Sargent

One of my very favorite artists is John Singer Sargent. In January Leila, Bridget, and I (Like Mother Like Daughter) went to the Boston's Museum of Fine Arts to see the exhibit of Sargent's watercolors. (The visit and awesome lunch was a birthday present from Leila.)

It was wonderful. Sargent's watercolors are so spontaneous. 

Sargent Watercolors at Brooklyn Museum

I certainly learned a lot from seeing his work up close. I have a couple of books of Sargent's work, including some of his watercolors, but it is a different experience to see the pieces in all their glory. For one thing, the colors can never be reproduced truly in a book. There were a lot of paintings in this exhibit. Almost too much if you are studying every painting very carefully.

Seeing great art up close is important. One can examine a piece closely, see how the artist worked; the nuances of color and brush strokes, and the surprises. And then, you can step back and see the whole. See how it all comes together. As an artist I like to contemplate a work and imagine the steps taken to complete it. Makes you realize how important it is to step back from your own work. Paintings are meant to be viewed at a distance.

I've read (Notes on Sargent) that he would tell his students to "Stand back -- get well away -- and you will realize the great danger there is over overstating a tone. Keep the thing as a whole in your mind. Tones so subtle as not to be detected on close acquaintance can only be adjusted by this means."

After seeing the Sargent exhibit I was very inspired to start using watercolors again. I had given it up a few years ago because nothing ever turned out the way I wanted.


Also, I need to remember to make more trips to museums. Boston isn't far and Worcester is very close with their fine arts museum: Worcester Art Museum. The WAM does have excellent collections.

Daisies

I love to garden: mostly flowers and herbs. For some reason I have not had success with daises which is pitiful because they are really wild flowers and should grow like weeds. This year will try again and hope for the best.

I remember as a child seeing fields of wild flowers including daisies. What a beautiful sight.

Here is a painting I did of daisies. They were store bought! Sigh...

Daisies - Pastel on paper 9 1/2 x 7 1/2

Finally, spring is here. After this long, hard winter we see green! I planted some daffodils and tulips last fall and just can't wait for them to come up.

Fallen Tree

Here is a Plein air pastel that I did many years ago. I do like it a lot since it was done very quickly with minimal touch-ups after bringing it back to my studio. I get frustrated if my paintings get overworked.

Fallen Tree Pastel on Canson paper 17 1/2 x 23 1/2

I love going out on a beautiful day and making myself comfortable to spend a couple of hours sketching or painting. Pastels or pastel pencils are easy mediums to take along on such a trek.

I'm looking forward to some nice weather (after this long, cold winter) to get out to sketch and paint. I know that there are hardy artists who will paint outdoors in the cold weather and snow but, alas, I'm not one of them. I do wish I could.

Pastel Painting

I like using pastels because it is closer to drawing than using oils or water colors and I love to draw. Then I end with a painting. It is also very satisfying to sketch with good pastel pencils.  

Here is a pastel painting that I just finished. I started it last summer while on the Rail Trail in Sterling and completed it in my studio. I very often work like that. 

Lake View on the Rail Trail
Pastel on Canson Mi-Teintes Paper - 16x20 unframed

Pastels are made from powered pigment using a binder. There are soft pastels and oil pastels. I use soft pastels which are easily blended. I start out with Rembrandt pastels: they are harder than other brands and makes the initial drawing easy. After my basic composition is done I go to a softer brand. Right now I'm using Winsor & Newton but I understand that W&N has discontinued their pastel line. Disappointing. I had wanted to add some colors to my basic collection and I do like their pastels. 

Have never had a desire to use oil pastels. Always thought I'd rather just oil paint which, as a matter of fact, I've recently been teaching myself to do. 

Hello

I'm an artist living near Worcester, Massachusetts and recently decided to start a blog about my art and art in general: thoughts, insights, inspirations, master artists, etc. Whatever works.

My studio is located in the The Cider Mill which is in Sterling. The mill is a great place to shop if you like vintage and antiques. I'm tucked back in a corner of the mill (Corner Art Studio) painting, teaching, and puttering away.

I am part of the Like Mother Like Daughter blog and occasionally post but my daughter and granddaughters do most of the work. LMLD is about babies and children, keeping a comfortable and beautiful home, homeschooling, our faith, the way we live and so on. It will be very worth your while to check it out.  Leila, my daughter, and my granddaughters (Rosie, Sukie, Deirdre, and Bridget) are super intense about posting faithfully and they do a wonderful job.  

I have made giclée prints of some of my pieces. Prints are a great way to go, and can be reasonably priced to sell. Original work has to be priced high. To produce a piece of art (even a simple drawing) is the result of a lot of study, struggle, and work.

Here are a couple of my prints. One is a copy of a pastel and the other a copy of a charcoal drawing with white pastel. 

Petunias  Giclee print of pastel with charcoal drawing.

Lilies   Giclee print of charcoal drawing with white pastel    4.5 x 6.5
Signed and numbered for sale on Etsy

I'm so happy you are reading my blog and hope you will continue to visit. My goal is to post at least once a week.