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"Well! The weather and the earth
have made for some interesting and stimulating conversation! Out
here in Washington State, we had a nasty earthquake, that rattled homes
and shattered nerves, not to mention the genuine destruction of property
from Olympia to Seattle and beyond. Yours truly and families fared
very well, (considering) and only lost a few glass items.
Books flew off shelves and drawers popped open. The power was off
for a short time. As we cleaned up we had wind, rain, and hail, even a
funnel cloud, (that didn't touch down). Then we watched and held
our breath as a huge snowstorm decended on the eastern portion of our great
country. Again, freinds and family fared well through that force
of nature.
So, as I count my blessings, I prepare for
the wonders of nature that lure me to paint the awesome beauty that surrounds
us!
In my next issue, "Some tools of my trade",
from digital camera to high-quality ink-jet printers. |
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Where I Work And How Long It
Takes
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I have a wonderful
loft to paint in. When we moved to our present home in the 1970's,
I was beginning my oil painting. I set aside a small area in the
laundry room that was well lit and afforded easy clean up. With two
small boys, it was also out-of-the-way enough to leave my work set up.
As the children grew, my space requirements
grew. I was painting larger, more ambitious canvases. We added
on to our modest two bedroom home.
"...hear the roar of the waves;
smell the salt air; and feel the mist on your face"
The plans included a third bedroom / family room with a loft above
having skylights, North facing glass sliding doors onto a balcony, and
a South facing window that can be draped if and when the sun shines. (We
are blessed in the Northwest with many brightly overcast days, some with
rain!) The usual amenities are there. Easles, tables, storage
places, walls to hang the work (in various stages of completion), and an
area for photographing larger pieces, have been included in my studio space.
It is quiet and out of the flow of household activities.
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Now, to answer the
question, "How long does it take to do a painting?" It takes thirty
years and one week for me to paint an oil seascape! Before you shake
your head incredulously, let me explain: For thirty years I have
been taking lessons, studying my subject and practicing on canvas.
I developed the skill to mix appropriate colors, to control the shapes
and manipulate the values to create a scene that is not only believable,
but so "alive", you can almost hear the roar of the waves; smell the salt
air; and feel the mist on your face. Once the technical expertise
had been fixed, the rest was easy. I spend from four to six hours
a day, and in most cases a medium sized canvas is completed in a week's
time.
"I enjoy the surroundings of my
painting loft as much as the process itself"
Now my studio work area has been modified to
include pastel painting and watercolor/gouache techniques. Although
these media are less time consuming than traditional oils, the basic thirty
year learning curve still applies. Everything is at my arms length and
with such a bright and convenient work place, I enjoy the surroundings
of my painting loft as much as the process itself.
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