Posted onOctober 15, 2024|Comments Off on Picasso visits Birdseye library
Autumn is here and we were introduced to a new artist, Pablo Picasso. I recently taught a free children’s art class at the little Birdseye library. Picasso was so famous and painted in such a variety of styles over the decades that I thought there would be something for everyone. And there was.
Always getting in the spirit of the class with Picasso stripes and beret.Me giving a very brief discussion of Picasso’s styles over the decades.
These free children’s art classes are designed for kids ages 8 to 14 but we actually had a four year old (with grandma) up to a sixteen year old. It’s 25 miles to town so the idea is to offer some fun art activities for this rural area.
Beginning stages of work.Picasso’s peace flowers
In this case, I always enjoy trying to channel the featured artist, at least in dress. I gave a brief introduction to Picasso, why he was important, and some discussion of his changing styles over the years. The kids were very receptive. Although I offered a few projects which focused on emulating the artist, they were actually free to create their own paintings. I love the variety of work they came up with.
Capturing the cubist idea of viewing a face from both front and sideLet’s copy a Picasso self-portraitHummm….the northern lights with hearts. I think Picasso would have loved this.This artist was fascinated with the harlequin squares.
We’ll do some self-portraits at the next class in November. I’ll look forward to what the kids come up with. All materials are included. Call the library to register as the class size is limited. https://jdcpl.us/birdseye-library/
Well, this looks like Pikachu but we love it anyway.
My rendition of the musicians. You don’t have to include every detail, just make hints of many items.Musicians at the music festival.
Being an artist means that you continue to view the world through an artist’s eyes. You’re always looking around you with an intention of expressing your views through whatever means with which you are most comfortable. For me, it’s capturing my views through quick sketches. These are not finished drawings or paintings, but quick translations of what catches my attention.
Many of these sketches end up as finished paintings. Most do not. They are just recordings of my thoughts and viewpoints. There is something about sketching which makes me look more closely. As opposed to photographs., which do not always. The sketches dig into my consciousness, impressing certain details that I would normally overlook with a quick photo.
The full quick sketch kit – plastic bag, sketchbook, collapsible water container, paper towel, plastic eraser, pen, mechanical pen and paint box.
I keep a quick sketch bag at the ready. Since my favorite tool is watercolor, paper, and pen, this is what I keep in my bag.
A one gallon ziplock bag
A small sketch book, probably for watercolor or at least pen and ink, sometimes precut watercolor postcard sizes
A mechanical pencil
A pen, usually a commercial fade-proof and waterproof ink, nothing fancy
A plastic eraser
A folding water container
An old-fashioned metal PRANG watercolor box, filled with my good paints, only eight colors
Two or three good brushes, small enough to fit in the color box
A paper towel or cloth rag
A bottle of water
This is it.
A few samples of small sketchbooks I keep on hand.A homemade postcard from watercolor paper, and another sketchbook with tear-out pages.
This is light weight. Always packed. Ready to grab at an instance and get out of Dodge.
My old metal Prang watercolor box, filled with the good watercolor paint and a few brushes. I let it stay open overnight until the paints have dried out so it travels without making a mess.
This past weekend I participated at a small local arts and music festival. I haven’t done art fairs for thirty years so it was a good opportunity to renew my experience. And to discover why I don’t really want to do it any more.
Capturing the tents of the vendors.Vendor tent at the festival.
But it also afforded me a few hours to sketch the people and entertainers at the festival. Fun to experience that. But also fun to know that I don’t have to do this any more. And I had a good opportunity to people watch. With my quick sketch tools.
Are you ready to get out in the world with some quick art tools? The better prepared you are to go, the more likely you will be to do so. Be prepared.
Posted onJune 9, 2024|Comments Off on Creativity in Art: Three Books You Need to Read
It is no great secret to anyone who knows me that I am a true book addict. I love books. Just everything about them except their weight when you have to move them. There is hardly a room in the house which doesn’t have a shelf or at least a pile of to-be-read books.
Last year I put myself on a book diet, i.e., vowing not to order any books for the entire year. Ha ha. Well, I stuck with that intention for most of the year, with some exceptions. Gift cards could be used. And of course, the libraries, and free digital resources. This forced me into rereading some of the many books I already own rather than buy new ones.
However, it’s a new year and my wish list is long. But I have been a bit more cautious about the size and number of books that I buy, still concentrating on rereading old favorites.
The Art Spirit– by Robert Henri
First published in 1923, Henri did not actually write this book. It is a compilation of his class notes and lectures by one of his students, Margery Ryerson. Henri taught at the Arts Student League of New York and the National Academy of Design. He emphasized using some of the new styles of the day (impressionism and cubism) to capture some of the grittier sides of life, particularly urban scenes. He is credited as being the founder of the Ashcan School and instructed many soon-to-be famous artists.
My copy of The Art Spirit is pretty old, underlined, starred, and has notes in the margins. This is the only book that I took with me on vacation recently. I often find that in rereading an old favorite, I will pick up new ideas and I did here.
Be a warhorse for work, and enjoy even the struggle against defeat.
You are working for your character, and your pay is to last you all your life.
I believe that keeping one’s faculties in full exercise is the secret of good health and longevity. It made Titian a young man at nearly a hundred.
Perhaps mental inactivity is the most fatiguing thing in the world.
This is not necessarily a how-to paint book but a book about creating and living as an artist. An old book, still in print, which reads like new ideas.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin
Best known as an icon in the music industry, Rick Rubin has created a long shadow as an innovator and producer. Upon reading this book, you can immediately see why his influence is so great and he’s so respected among those in his field. He’s a deep thinker.
The nearly 400 page book is filled with short chapters which give you inspiration and things to contemplate. Especially surprising is that despite Rubin’s music background, he uses the term art in the broad sense of the word -physical art, music, writing, dance, nearly any kind of creative pursuit. I was pleasantly surprised.
This is not the type of book that you want to rush through, but to take in small bites, read and reread sections, then begin again.
I suggest that you check out a copy of the book’s chapter headings at 78 Areas of Thought, either online or in the bookstore. You will want to consume the ideas, yet take time to savor them. A book for your shelves for years to come.
Life in the Studio – Frances Palmer
You may be surprised by my choice of this book since Frances Palmer is a potter. She’s also a gardener, cook, businesswoman, and creative soul. I think I mostly bought the book because of the beautiful photographs. They are just exquisite.
I admit, my first pass through the book was just to consume and enjoy the photography. Truly wonderful, not only the lighting, but the entire settings.
My second pass through this book was to read how Frances Palmer became the creator that she is today. Yes, she does talk about some technical aspects of learning her craft, but I enjoyed the wabi-sabi nature of her work. The pottery is filmed displaying colorful flowers from her own garden. (She turned the tennis courts of her house into raised beds.) Palmer also hosts intimate meals for friends and family featuring her family recipes served, of course, on her tableware.
But some of the parts of the book that I appreciated most were her journey from beginning crafter to the renown artist that she is now. Her insecurities, her difficulties, the support of her friends and family. And I especially like that she is still learning and adapting to new ideas and techniques. It is a big step for any creator to get out of their comfort zone and try the untried, not knowing how it will turn out or be accepted.
If you like unusual clayware, beautiful flowers and photographs, earthy recipes, and some nice biographical scenes of a successful artist, I certainly recommend this book.
These are not the only books on creativity that I like, but I think this is a good mix to fire up your artistic juices. Give yourself a treat this summer.
Summer is nearly upon us and people everywhere are getting ready to do a little traveling. Maybe for vacation or maybe just to visit some friends and family in distant places. Most of us capture our visits with dozens if not hundreds of photos in our phones, or as I like to call them, our personal entertainment devices. But how many of you actually go back and look at all the photos you’ve taken? Probably not too many.
I want to encourage you to develop the habit of recording your trips and making small sketches in a travel journal. This doesn’t have to be complicated or involve carting around tons of equipment. And you surely do not need to record details of every minute of your trip. But a travel journal is often helpful to prompt your recall of that marvelous chocolate shop in the Marais District of Paris, or the intriguing rock shop at Zion National Park. A note now will save much time trying to recall those lost memories.
I recently had the very great pleasure to visit relatives in California, both northern and southern. Although I have traveled to California before, this visit was pure pleasure and exposed me to many beautiful sights. Plus, I dined on all kinds of delicious food. Yum.
Since I was traveling very light, I only took the barest of art equipment and a journal in which I’ve recorded many other trips over the years. I make brief notes of daily activities, plus some essential facts about the details of my travels. My greatest pleasure is to capture some scenes through sketches and small watercolors. The best part of my recordings is that they help me to concentrate on the scenes and set them firmly in my memory. Obviously I can’t capture every scene, but am happy with the ones that I do. They mean so much to me when I review my travel journals at a later time.
Small sketch kit. Prang watercolor kit with my added professional paints, book, mechanical pencil, permanent ink pen, collapsible water container.
These are some of the sketches from my recent journal. My metal Prang watercolor set has been refilled with professional watercolors. It is so old that it’s a collector’s item now. I only carry three or four small brushes, a mechanical pencil (no sharpener required), a pen with permanent ink, a folding water container, all in a resealable bag. The notebook is only 5 x 7 inches. I have smaller sketchbooks and larger ones but this size fit in my backpack and was easy to carry.
Municipal Rose Garden, San Jose
The first day we visited the beautiful Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose. I could smell the scent before I even entered the gardens. People of all ages were strolling or lounging in the shade of some magnificent redwoods. We sat in the shade and caught up with life while I made this sketch. You do not have to include every detail when you are sketching but may take liberties to change things to suit your needs. You’re trying to catch the spirit of the scene, not necessarily the exact replica.
Pillar Point Harbor at Half Moon BayDriving down California Highway #1
Another day we drove out to Half Moon Bay and walked out to Pillar Point to see the surf. Later, we drove down the iconic California Highway #1 to Santa Cruz for dinner on the pier. I even spotted a plein air painter on a bluff above the ocean.
The Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
One day we took the train up to San Francisco for a day of sight-seeing. Starting at the Palace of Fine Arts, we walked to Crissy Field, down the shore to Copper’s Corner. I sketched the Golden Gate Bridge from this vantage point. Fortunately my son took pity for my knees and respect for the hills of SF to hire cars to take us to various spots. We ended our outing having lunch at the famous Sam Wo’s restaurant. I was exhausted by the time we took the train back to San Jose.
Later, I flew down to LA where I reunited with my sister and nephew and niece whom I haven’t seen in many years. They were the best hosts and tour guides. We visited the outstanding Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Another day we went to the Getty Museum atop the hills. The collection was beautiful as was the museum and the views. One day was spent at the wonderful Hilbert Museum viewing its impressive collection of California art. Special kudos for my nephew’s husband and his navigation of the LA traffic, all without a hint of impatience.
Did I sketch everything that I saw or visited? Of course not! But I captured some significant to me places and events. Plenty of food for thought and future paintings. Meanwhile, I can refresh my memories with my sketchbook and notes.
So while you’re planning your next trip or vacation, don’t forget to pack your sketchbook and some drawing materials. Happy traveling!
Here are a couple of links to previous postings about travel sketching.
As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, this little library plays an important role in the community. As small as it is, it hosts a number of activities for patrons of all ages. All of these activities are FREE to attend although attendance may be limited due to space.
I brought in a few of my own sunflower paintings for some inspiration.
Recently I volunteered to teach a few children’s painting classes. The first of these classes was to learn about Vincent Van Gogh and to paint a picture in his style.
Although the class was limited, we had a nice turnout this week. I explained to the children a little about Vincent Van Gogh, who he was and why he was important. Also, they learned about his painting methods. Each table had several vases of sunflowers (faux) which the children were encouraged to choose what and how they wanted to paint. The library supplied all the art materials and even had little aprons just their size. They learned about mixing colors and how Van Gogh was known for his bold brush strokes.
Each child composed his or her own painting.Disposable palettes and tablecloths made clean up a snap.
All in all, it was a great group. I hope the kids had as much fun as I did.
Next month, we’re going to learn about Georgia O’Keeffe and her skull paintings. I’m bringing in a collection of real skulls (cow and deer) for them to use as subject matter.
Many thanks to AmyJo, the library branch manager, and other patrons who make programs like this possible. Public libraries are the best bargain around. What’s happening at your library?
Posted onDecember 3, 2023|Comments Off on Pen and ink, sketches and drawings
This week I’ve been fooling around with some pen and ink artwork. If it’s a sketch, then it’s looser. If it’s a drawing, then it’s more formal. That is not an official designation, just my own idea.
Birdseye Branch Library, pen and ink, Kit Miracle This one is plain but I actually colored in the Christmas wreath with a touch of red and green on the samples that I printed for the library.
So about a week ago, I thought I’d do a drawing of the library for the library. This is the little Birdseye Library which was featured in a post a few months back. I thought a pen and ink drawing which they could reproduce and sell as note cards would help them raise some funds. Most people can afford a package of cards for $15 without too much of a stretch. As with a previous painting I did of the library, I gave them the reproduction rights. They would handle all the printing, selling, etc. They can put the image on T-shirts, bags, cards, whatever. I hope it helps.
I’ve enjoyed creating pen and ink sketches for about 40 years. I find them very relaxing and will often just doodle while watching TV or sitting outside. Some of the images of buildings and structures are more formal, but most of the landscapes are pretty loose.
The old bank building and other stores, Birdseye, Indiana, pen and ink. Kit MiracleInman Episcopal Church, first church in Birdseye, Indiana, Pen and ink drawing, Kit Miracle
This week I did five sketches. In addition to the little library, I did a drawing of the first church in Birdseye and an old bank building in the small downtown area. The little church was from a very old photo that someone supplied me. But the downtown buildings were from some of my own photos. I have boxes of old pictures. Many have turned out to be good recordings of places and buildings which no longer exist.
The Crabapple tree. Pen and ink, watercolor. Kit MiracleA Quiet Place to Rest, pen and ink, watercolor, Kit Miracle
Finally, I sketched a couple of trees. An old crabapple which the grandson loves to climb. And a dogwood by the herb bed which shelters a bench, perfect for taking a break from yardwork. I have added a couple of touches of color in the form a cardinal pair. This is done after the image has been printed on heavy card stock in black and white. I’m turning this one into our Christmas card this year. So it’s part print and part original.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all that jazz. Take a moment to enjoy some nature and get a breath of fresh air.
The most recent paintings that I’ve done have been with using a very limited palette which I’ve posted about previously. I’ve now cut the number back to four colors plus black and white. I like the challenge to see if I can adapt the most colors from just a few options. Actually, it works very well.
The original reference photo. I like the dappled light.
This painting is based on some photos that I took of summer flowers several years ago. Called August Bouquet, it showcases some zinnias and Queen Ann’s lace, plus others. The vase is sitting in the shade on an old wooden table, with dappled sunlight showing through. I’ve added some scissors as a foil for the flowers.
Vertical canvas prepared with thin color washesCanvas with sketches, and colored outlines
The canvas is a 20 x 16 vertical, 1.5 inches deep. I’ve already sanded and gessoed it and added a little texture. Then I added a thin wash of colors approximately where I anticipated locating the main shapes. After this coat dried (working with acrylics that only takes about twenty minutes), I then made a loose pencil outline of the flowers and other shapes.
The next step was to add color to the outline. I don’t try to make the outline colors match the subject, in this case, flowers. In fact, I often choose what I anticipate are contrasting colors to the final painting.
Middle stage with some fill-in color, loosely painted. I actually like this stage best. I think it would look nice in a larger size.August Bouquet, almost finished. I did not stick with the dark brown of the wooden table but kept to a lighter tone. I will tweak it a bit and add some gold or silver leaf details. Maybe.
Then the main shapes began to get filled in. I hesitate to call this the tedious part, but it is much more involved than the previous steps. I just have to stick with it until I’m done. I zone out, listening to music or a recorded book. Sometimes I fill in the background first; sometimes I start with the main subject. There are no hard rules here.
Canvas on my easel. I’ve turned off the painting light to get a better idea of values and colors. You will also notice a couple of shed snakeskins hanging on my easel. Actually, this is ONE snakeskin (about five ft) which my son found in the woodshed. He thought it would be fun to leave it for me in my studio…spread out on the floor. Big joker, eh?
I step away from the canvas often at this point to compare values, colors, shapes. The painting light above my easel can cast light which is too harsh so it’s best to turn it off while I compare values. This is a good point to take a break, perhaps overnight. I’ll often run out to my studio in the morning to see if the painting looks as I thought I left it or what glaring changes I need to make.
Although August Bouquet will be finished with a few more details, plus probably some addition of gold or silver leaf, I actually like one of the middle, less-finished stages best. One doesn’t actually need to put in every detail; in fact, it’s often distracting and doesn’t help convey the message of the painting.
Maybe I’ll paint it again with a less-finished look. What do you think?
My notes with a list of the colors I’ve used. All Liquitex or Golden Heavy Body Acrylics. These paints are high quality and thicker than standard paints. I can get more texture with them. My disposable palette with the four colors plus black and white.
Posted onNovember 7, 2023|Comments Off on Feature article in Southern Indiana Living Magazine
My work is featured in the November- December issue of Southern Indiana Living Magazine. Thanks to the wonderful write up by Judy Cato, she’s managed to condense forty years into two pages – with pictures! Thanks so much, SILM and Judy. Check it out here, pages 18-19.
I was tinkering around in my studio this week in between starting some new work when I pulled out a sketchbook. Well, one of many. I have sketchbooks of all kinds and sizes. Some fit in a pocket or purse, others are what I call vacation sketchbooks where I record scenes, thoughts and ideas while traveling. There may be more than one vacation in a book. Some I will start and finish completely, while others I pick up as needed. One of my favorite sketchbooks is a handmade Japanese book with thick deckle-edged paper. I don’t remember where I got it but it is so beautiful that I choose carefully what I put in it. Most other books, I write in the back the maker and particulars. And my name and contact info in the front.
Found objects, present from my son. Praying mantis egg casing and three blue jay feathers.A posy of violets, large four leaf clover, and a pretty leaf.
I find sketching to be very relaxing but I’m not obsessed with it. I try out new ideas. Make notes of the materials I’ve used. Or I might write the name of a book that I heard about while listening to NPR. They’re my sketchbooks and I can do what I want. There really aren’t any rules. I might cut swatches from a favorite article of clothing before I put it in the rag bag, or add a post card. Or how about that sticker from that wonderful chocolate shop I visited in Paris. I would never remember the name of that again.
If you looked through my books, you might find some pressed flowers or leaves, lots of four leaf clovers (artists are good at finding those). A favorite quote from a Chinese fortune cookie.
Typical found birds nest waiting to be captured in my sketchbook.Basket of feathers, mostly turkey, and a small nest composed of dog hair and lichen.
Many of my sketchbooks are devoted to nature or natural elements. I have plenty of subject matter out here on the 90 acres. Plus, one of my sons would (and still does) leave interesting things on my drawing table. A birds nest, some feathers, a praying mantis case. I’ll hang onto these items until they become too ratty and disgusting to have around. But the drawing will last much longer.
A messy robin’s nest. See if you can spot the secret code in the drawing. Notice the thumbtack shadows.
One of my oldest sketches (not in a book but just loose paper) was of a very scruffy robin’s nest which my son brought me one day. I did a fairly large drawing, added some (imaginary) eggs, and scanned it electronically. I’ve used that drawing for many years. I’ve even printed it off on watercolor paper and painted it so I have two versions. Unfortunately, I have seen my drawing pop up on the web elsewhere under someone else’s name. Ha ha. What they don’t know, is that I added a secret code to the drawing so I know it’s mine. I kept the original drawing on my bulletin board in my studio for years until the paper yellowed but you can see the thumbtack marks in the corners. Yeah, those artists are violating copyright laws but I have neither the time, interest nor resources to pursue the matter.
Box of found objects. Birds nests, acorns, chestnuts, magnolia seedpods, etc.
Back to the point. I highly recommend keeping a sketchbook or two or four. They’re so great to relax, record your life, your thoughts. I’ve used pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, colored pencils and markers. I don’t use charcoal much as it tends to be messy and it smears but you can use what you want to in your book.
A dead bird. Anything can end up in the sketch book.
Posted onSeptember 17, 2023|Comments Off on The Golden Marble – More Gold and Silver Leaf
The Golden Marble, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 24. 23K gold leaf and sterling silver leaf. Kit Miracle
This is another painting in the gold and silver leaf series that I’ve been exploring. At 30 x 24, it’s the largest one so far. I also completed this one before Leo’s Muse which I posted last week.
The subject is a young boy who has been playing dress-up with his sister. In a spirit of silliness, she has adorned him with ribbons and hair clips. His smile engages the viewer as he shows off The Golden Marble which is a prized possession.
Although I usually plan my paintings very carefully, I’ll admit that I really wasn’t sure where I was going with this one. I liked the subject. I knew that I wanted some gold and silver. Other than that….well…
A preliminary sketch of the subject of The Golden Marble
As usual, I did some preliminary drawings of the child. These are just to familiarize myself with the subject. I then sketched him on the canvas, a straight-on shot. Then I began playing with background colors. I elected to use some very bright and warm colors, radiating out of the figure.
Initial lay-in of colors. I did the background warm/hot colors first. The began a grisaille of the figure.Now laying in flesh tones, plus adding some detail to the background.
I then painted the figure in grisaille, those greyish tones. Later working overall with adding some detail to the background. More paint on the primary figure. Although I had some reference photos to work from, this doesn’t really represent the situation. I painted very loosely, adding more to both the figure and the background until I was satisfied.
The figure is pretty complete. I decided to add a carpet to part of the floor, leaving the rest as hinting at wood flooring.Applying the gold and silver leaf while working on the floor
Because the canvas is so large, I had to place it on the floor of my studio to work on adding the gold leaf. Again, no fans or air conditioning blowing as the metal leaf is so fragile and blows everywhere. It was pretty challenging to decide where I wanted to place the metal leaf, plus I kept switching back and forth during the process. Sometimes the gold would be on top; other times the silver would be. The fixative is clear so I had to carefully judge where I wanted to place it, and estimate the right amount of tackiness for the metal leaf to stick. Overall, I’m pretty pleased with the result.
The Golden Marble, detail 1. I left plenty of the warm background colors show through. As you can see, I alternated placing the gold leaf on top of the silver, and the silver on top of the gold. Abstract shapes alternate with more organic circle or bubble shapes. No real planning, just in the flow.The Golden Marble – detail 2 showing the texture of the canvas and close-ups of the hair decorations
The final steps were to go back and touch up the figure here and there. I have learned that it’s difficult to touch up or make changes in the gold and silver leaf as it just doesn’t look the same as when first applied. I may find some way to eventually meet this challenge, but haven’t yet.
The very final step is to spray a protective coat of clear acrylic over the entire painting. This keeps the silver leaf from tarnishing and the gold leaf from flaking off.
Overall, it’s a very striking piece. I want to explore my next subject in this medium.
I'm a professional artist, retired director of a performing arts center, bona fide book addict, and enjoy the quiet life...most of the time. I'd love to hear from you or get your ideas for future posts. Come back soon!
I'm a professional artist, retired director of a performing arts center, bona fide book addict, and enjoy the quiet life...most of the time. I'd love to hear from you or get your ideas for future posts. Come back soon!
my90acres 