summer minis

Hello again!

It's been awhile since I've posted - due to a busy summer schedule and the fact that I'm trying to master Mail Chimp so my blog will be sent in all it's graphic glory. Look for that next week month. I'm going to assume all my supportive friends and cyberfriends will be happy to hear from me... but if that's NOT you, there will be an easy "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the post via Mail Chimp.


So for now...

  Tiger Eggplant  • 2012 dorothy byers lorenze

Here are my summer minis. No, no... not mini skirts!!! mini paintings! Featuring bounty from twice weekly visits to farmers markets.

Between having company and being company, and working on the house and gardens, studio time came in smaller, less predictable bits.
So, to avoid being totally frustrated, I worked small: 6x6 to 8x10.

Small paintings are rewarding in their own way because you can focus on a particular area of interest - like the stripes of this funky Tiger Eggplant!

 Cabbage Peach  • 2012 dorothy byers lorenze

Another attribute of small paintings is that one object can truly be the star of a painting. Peaches were amazing this summer and this one was so gorgeous and luscious that it really needed special treatment. It's wrapped in tissue paper (a subject I have wanted to paint because of my attraction to folds, which are like puzzles and labyrinths... but I digress)

The tender enveloping of this succulent peach reminded me of a cabbage rose. But that wasn't quite accurate. My favorite 11 year old suggested "Cabbage Peach." And so it is.

If you can't wait for the full color version of this blog (and you shouldn't wait!) PLEASE click on the title "summer minis" at the top of the email and you will go to the web version... much prettier!

Thanks for visiting!

tea with kathy

Painting a series of similar subjects is a great way to learn; it helps to reinforce similar characteristics and work on different aspects of composition, color and perspective. Right now, I'm working on a series of teacups based on china I've collected over the years. Each cup has a story and this chintz cup is one that is truly close to my heart. It belonged to Kathy: a watercolor painter, antique collector, classical music listener and a dear friend.

Kathy shared her art adventures with me and encouraged me in ways no one else ever had. She even made it possible for me to return to college for my degree - offering to watch my baby even though her own girls had just started school full time! After class we had tea and she always served mine in this beautiful aqua chintz cup... because it's "your color"! 

In the spirit of nurturing artistic abilities, here are some of the stages of painting "Tea with Kathy"...

The initial sketch, organizes the composition and proportions are measured. Vertical and horizontal guides check symmetry.
Because of foreshortening ellipses are not quite symmetrical front to back - the front is usually slightly deeper than the back. The "corners" of the ellipse (widest edge left and right) are not too "sharp" and should be directly opposite one another.
Another good test for symmetry is to turn the painting upside down!

Adding local color creates volume which helps me see if the proportions are correct. Here I noticed that the bowl of the cup was a bit too narrow.

Added basic background and foreground colors and worked on overall values here.
Often shadows are blocked in at the drawing stage, but this cup has a very complicated surface pattern so I needed to keep it simple to start.
Basic shadows on the cup background color underlay the surface design - which also must be in shadow.

Here's the tricky part for me: implying an overall flower pattern for the "chintz" design of this beautiful cup without trying to paint each petal!
...and using brushstrokes that follow the contour of the cup so that the flower forms are foreshortened to prevent the cup from becoming flattened,
...and using deeper values of each flower hue in the shadow areas to create more depth and strengthen the form.




After cleaning up edges, adding stronger highlights, more complex shadow colors and details to the flowers and sugar cubes, the final: "Tea with Kathy."

I'm pretty sure Kathy would have had something sweet to say about the resulting painting.

On a personal note, I have to say, the chintz pattern of this china is amazing and I have always loved it. And even though this was a favorite of their mother's teacups, Kathy's daughters Amy and Becky gave it to me when she died... the finest china with the finest memories! And after all, it's my color.

I know I will paint it many times but I'm pretty pleased with this first attempt.
Thank you, Kathy, for yet another artistic challenge!

sublime to ridiculous

If last week's post about creating a nostalgic family heirloom painting was leaning toward the sublime,  time-honored tradition of classical historical narrative (leaning, I'm saying) then this one just might be the ridiculous!

It's still nostalgic, in a convoluted, "twisted," tongue-in-cheek sort of way.

You may have noticed I get great inspiration in the produce aisles. Last week I noticed this  chunky, Chubby Pepper. Putting it on the checkered cloth just seemed natural since the name Chubby Checker came to mind immediately. And don't you just love how the reflection of the white squares dances around the pepper!

So, of course I looked up Chubby Checker for this post and - you won't believe this - he worked in a grocery store and was nicknamed "Chubby" by the produce manager!

Ah the circle of life!

PS - In case you are wondering, Chubby's last name "Checker" came from Dick Clark's wife as a play on "Domino" when she heard him imitate Fats Domino!

Get Framed!

Making art can get expensive so I'm always looking for "quality bargains." Sounds like an oxymoron but not really - if what you're buying isn't decent quality, then it's not a bargain. More importantly, it won't compliment your artwork!

If you think of art as food for the soul (essential, really good food!) then the main course is your artwork. The frame?... well it's not quite the icing on the cake, more like a condiment! But if it's the wrong choice, it could be a disaster. Fries with... mayo? NO.

Local framing stores are far too expensive for a daily painter (so sorry, I do buy local whenever I can). I've tried chain craft stores, and other online frame companies but my go-to suppliers are Dick Blick and Art Supply Warehouse for quality, simple, plein air style frames that compliment without competing. Both come in a variety of finishes. The ASW frames are great in black, gold or silver. I prefer Dick Blick for wood colors. Popular sizes are available from both but only ASW has 6" squares and only Dick Blick has 8" squares. Go figure! Both offer bulk discounts and there is a flat fee for shipping (or no fee over a certain $$ amount). Get on their mailing list to catch a special sale for even better bargains.

Here's an example. This little "plum pedestal" was selected for the Mamaroneck Artist's Guild Small Works show next month. Stop in during the reception May 19 from 7-9, say hello, enjoy the art and check out the quality of these frames for yourself!