Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Raven Gallery and Framing Ides of March Show 3/5-5/3/11


Submission deadline March 1, 2011. show to hang March 5 to May 3rd. Opening Reception Friday, March 11, 2011 from 6pm to 9pm. $25 entry fee for 2 large or up to 4 small paintings. For more information contact Troy Tatlock 262-695-1501 or troy@ravengalleryandframing.com (Click on image to enlarge)

WIPAPA Plein air this Saturday 2/26/2011 8:30am

See their blog for details. http://wipapa.blogspot.com/

Joyce Eesley Speaks at Alverno's Art & Cultures Gallery today


Brown Bag Artist Talk
Free & open to public
12-1
2/23/11

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Milwaukee Sketch Club News

Long time member and president Bob died. His obituary should come out tomorrow. Art is our new president now. Joyce remains our secretary. Beki Borman Lloyd from the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center asked our group to exhibit there so we are planning to exhibit there in Fall.

Monday, February 21, 2011

International Women's Day Art Show at Grand Avenue Club


One of members, Bonnie will have 4 pieces in this show.

The Grand Avenue Club
in cooperation with

The Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee
http://www.womensfundmke.org/upcoming-events
invites you to a community-wide celebration of

International Women's Day, 2011

at the opening of an exhibit of women's art and a presentation on the women of Milwaukee

"Mystique Views of the Feminine"

will be presented by
Gallery Grand 604 N. Water Street Milwaukee WI,
Tuesday, March 8, 4pm - 6:30 pm (program 5pm)
The show will run through May 13

The exhibit features works by Cheryl "Cyndaar" Banks, Bonita, Sandra Deelaney, Angel French, Jilandante Glynn, Rhonda Gatlin-Hayes, Colleen Shoop_Kassner, Susan Drause, Patricia Obletz, Ellen Pizer, Janet Roberst, Carri Skoczek, Beth Walloch, Della Wells and additional artists from the GAC Art Collective.

Inspired by women's hopes for "bread and roses too," we will dine on a banquet of breads and baked goods from a diverse array of ethnic and regional traditions, including Irish soda bread, Scandinavian yula kak, home-baked challah, sweet potato pie, Italian focaccia and more!

RSVP by March 1 to:
March8@grandavenueclub.org
Please call 414-727-3362 for more information

Heaven City Thursday 2/17/11













It was a gray, overcast, wet and warm (almost 50F) day. Lot of neat angles on roof.

Next Thursday we will be painting on top of a hill in Falcon View Estates. http://milwaukeesketchclub.blogspot.com/2011/01/winter-2011-plein-air-sketching.html

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Vernon Marsh just off Frog Alley Rd, Thursday 2/10/11





I'm a little behind on posting. This is probably the last time we'll be able to get to this area of Vernon Marsh for awhile as they are making hwy 83 into a 4 lane hwy so it will be closed near Frog Alley Rd.

This is a great area to paint no matter the season. Towards dusk the colors of the snow became very beautiful. I think it was close to 20 F last week. I don't remember it being particularly cold or warm for winter. Not like this week when it been up in the high 30s and low 40s. Very damp.

Tomorrow we're going to heaven city restaurant. http://milwaukeesketchclub.blogspot.com/2011/01/winter-2011-plein-air-sketching.html

Monday, February 14, 2011

Steve Olrich Charcoal Portrait Demo 2/8/11 overview

Steve Olrich http://www.steveohlrich.com/ gave a portrait demo using Joyce as his model.

He used the comparative method. He set up so he would look at the model from the same spot and angle. He stepped back to view his work and the model about 3 drawing sizes back from the easel. In the studio he sometimes marks the floor with a piece of tape so he always looking from the same spot. He also closes the same eye to keep seeing the same perspective. He talked about using a skewer to help measure and locate shapes. Also can use a plumb line (He made one from string and a kneeded eraser.

He used mostly medium grade vine charcoal on the smooth side of gray canson mis tientes paper. He used harder vine charcoal and a kneaded eraser to blend. Then white charcoal at the end for highlights.

  1. Like Jim he started with the neck and shoulders. Then blocked in around the head before starting on the face. He worked from big to small. Talked about establishing the foundation. Treat hair like a big shape.
  2. He did a loose drawing of features looking at parts of face in relationship to each other.
  3. Checked proportions (hairline/eyebrow nose/chin - thirds) (jaw - cheekbone) before getting specific
  4. Drew shapes to get likeness. Look, draw, check. abstract simple shapes
  5. Shadows: Drew shape of shadows, then fill in. Put in strongest, darkest darks. then erase to pull things out. Don't worry if part of drawing is lost when putting in shadow.
  6. Check proportions, Look at big values. Redraw as needed
  7. Place in lights. kept charcoal and white separate with gray paper in between
  8. Modeling. Blending. Make sure form turns.

Jim Hempel Portrait Demo at AC Art Association 2/7/11 (A quick overview)

Jim Hempel, http://www.jameshempel.com/ , gave a portrait demo using oils. He likes to paint life size. He arranges his palette from light to dark and holds his palette so he can compare colors easy. He worked using sight size method where the picture is next to his canvas.

He likes bristle brushes and mainly uses paint and odorless mineral spirits solvent. He says use enough paint and be generous with it. He uses Utrecht oils but also rembrandt, winsor-newton and reimbacher. At the end he may use softer brushes. In the demo he used canvas paper. If he likes the results he would glue it to a masonite board.

In general he squints to see the larger abstract shapes. Using vine charcoal he started with the carriage of the shoulders and neck. Then block in the area around the head. He stepped back often to compare what he was painting to his work.

He paints thin to thick. He sees the shape, mixes the color then paints it. He pulls the paint and holds the brush like a wand. Painting motion comes from your shoulder. He thinks of the painting process as going from out of focus to in focus.

Overall steps
  1. Paint the foundation
  2. Step down in brush size
  3. Finish up by fine tuning top to bottom, paying special attention to lightest lights and darkest darks.
  4. Scan through face
  5. Flat soft brushes to soften edges. No paint.
  6. Highlights

Monday, February 7, 2011

Pius V church 2/3/11



It was a clear, sunny, cool day (about 18F). The last half hour the shadows moved really fast. By the time we left the light was more golden and shadows more intense. Snow piles are very high. Last year we painted the other side. See http://milwaukeesketchclub.blogspot.com/2010/02/milwaukee-sketch-club-in-mukwonago-near.html

Next Thursday we are going to Vernon Marsh, just off Frog Alley road.