A Lesson in Shadows

This painting was a lesson in Trees and Shadows for my young students.  They did a great job grasping the concept.  And this was how my painting turned out.

It is a 9″x12″ acrylic on canvas panel available for $145.

Looking Forward to Warm Weather

 One of the great things about painting is that when you get really sick of the cold, gloomy weather outside you can go into your studio and paint something “warm”!

I found this photo that I took last summer and decided to warm up the climate by painting it. 

Summer Beach is an oil on canvas panel measuring 10″x10″ and is available for $165. 

Bring on the sunshine.

A Rose Study

Rose Study is an oil on canvas panel measuring 8″x10″.  

A painter often refers to a painting as a study if they are doing the piece to prepare for a larger piece.  This is often the case with plein air painting when an artist will paint a scene on location and then go back to the studio and paint a much larger piece. 

Or maybe they paint a study as a warm-up to a more detailed piece.  They could be testing colors or shapes.  Or it could just be a practice as it was in this case.

Barn with Fence

The Fenced in Barn is an oil on canvas panel.  This is a piece that we did in art class recently.  There are many lessons to be learned on a painting like this from color mixing,  shading, perspective, etc.  We try to choose ideas that allow the student to gain increased knowledge so that they may advance their painting skills.

If you’d like to join us and paint along, contact me at kwalker@doubledogdesigns.com .  We’d love to see you in class!

Jeffie’s Day

On March 4, 2000 I was lucky enough to adopt a little Black Lab/Basset Hound mix puppy.  He came with the name Black Bart but we changed it to Thomas Jefferson Walker and he came to be known as Jeffie. 

Jeffie was three months old when we got him.  Truman was just about 3 weeks older and they were best buddies from the day they met.  They grew up together.

They partied together.  They did everything together.

Then Rosie joined the mix.  

She was a puppy mill rescue who was scared of everyone and everything.  But Jeffie knew what to do.  He slowly helped her learn to play.  And he was the only one that she would play with.  They were so good together.

Jeffie was an angel and the sweetest dog I have every known. 

Today we celebrate Jeffie coming to us.  We lost him at age 7  to cancer.  It was much, much too soon.  But we always think of him with a joyful and happy heart because he that is what he did for us.  He brought us much joy and happiness. 

We miss you Jeffie.

Abstraction

 Abstract Lesson in progress…..stand back!  This piece is a lesson that we are working on with a private student in abstraction.  This particular canvas is large, 30″x40″.  Often when you think or see abstract work it is very big.  This style lends itself to a large format.

When working with an abstract piece you can work it flat on a table or on the ground if it is very large.

Or on an easel if you have an easel large enough to hold the canvas.

This is my student, Marlene.  She came to me several months ago wanting to learn to do abstract work.  Now some people think that sounds funny because all an abstract painting is seems to be paint slung on a canvas, right?

Well no.  You must think about color theory and shapes in order to make a successful abstract work.

With this one, Marlene is well on her way.

Another Day with Crochet

Yes, I’m still crocheting.  I know it stopped snowing but I can’t stop crocheting.  It’s like an obsession.  I don’t know what to do about it.  But I’m having fun so I guess I shouldn’t stop yet.

Here is a bucket hat in blue….

  And a Floppy Hat in Grey and a great travel hat in light brown.

And I had an order for a Mother and Daughter Hat that I made in this beautiful rose color.  Now they have been shipped off to the east coast.

And then I got carried away with slippers again…

These are Virginia Tech colors.  I plan to send a pair to our granddaughter at Tech. 

Now I’m working on University of Virgina colors.

There are also these beautiful variegated girly color slippers that I had to make.  I just love this yarn.  It works up so pretty.

And then there are the coffee cup sleeves because you never know when that coffee or tea will be too hot and you can whip this right out of your purse and save the day!  Ha!

So as you can see the obsession continues…..

Impressionism – Trivia Thursday (on Friday)

I love impressionism.  Many people do.  When you ask someone what their favorite painting might be often people will name an impressionist’s work; ie.  Monet, Degas, Renoir, etc. 

But do you know what invention truly help to develop the impressionist movement of painting outdoors and capturing light and fleeting images?  The paint tube!   Never would have guess that, right?  Before the invention of the paint tube which allowed artists to easily carry their mixed paints in the field they had to use, of all things, pig bladders.  Yuck.  I’m thinking I would have remained in the studio to paint too. 

Miniature Summer Flowers is an oil on canvas panel measuring 3″x7″ and is available for $45.

Always Fun at Art Class

We always have a lot of fun on Wednesday evening at art class.  Last night each student was working on a different painting.  It’s great to see the challenges that everyone has taken on.  And I think we all learn from one another as we progress on our journeys to be better painters.

I spend a lot of time talking about the color wheel and color mixing because I feel that learning color is at least half the battle in becoming a good painter.

This palette is one of our painters from last night as they continued to mix to find just the right color for a floral painting.  The best way to learn is to experiment and practice and that is exactly what this student did.  Good job!

Pat has been painting with the class now for a little over a year and has become a very good painter.  What I love about her is that she is open to trying anything to learn new techniques and improve her skills.  She’s doing great!

If you would like to join us just email me at kwalker@doubledogdesigns.com .  I’ll be glad to give you more information.  Painting is a great outlet for stress; it’s a wonderful hobby; and in a class setting it’s loads of fun.  Come and try it.

Looking East Toward Signal Knob

Looking East Toward Signal Knob is an oil on canvas panel measuring 4″x6″ and is available for $65.