Monday, November 30, 2009

Melvin Tess at Cafe Brucke Nov 11 - Dec 31, 2009

A show of paintings by our member Mel Tess is at the Cafe Brucke from Nov 11 - Dec 31, 2009. Here are some links if you'd like to read more:

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Fred Bell is offering art Classes starting January 2010

These are 6 week sessions meeting on Thursdays. To see his work and get more information on his classes see his website, http://fredbellpaintings.com/

James Hempel is offering December Classes

These are ongoing classes offered on Wednesday and Saturdays, where you can work at your own pace with individualized instruction in any drawing or painting media. For more information on dates and times contact James (Jim) Hempel at

About the Milwaukee Sketch Club

The Milwaukee Sketch Club meets every Tuesday evening (7:30 - 9:30pm) from the first part of September through May at St. Peters Episcopal Church at 80 st. and Lincoln Avenue in West Allis, Wisconsin.

On our weekly sketch nights we have two models; a portrait model and a nude model. We have a different nude model each week but the portrait model poses for two consecutive weeks. We ask that the portrait model wear the same clothing both weeks and the same hair style. Our nude model starts out with short five minute poses ending with a long half-hour pose at the end of the evening. The portrait model poses for half-hour at a time with a short break in between. We pay both models $25.00 per evening of modeling.

We welcome new members that are interested in painting and sketching. Artists can use any medium of their choice except for oils because of the solvent odor. If the artist uses a messy medium we ask that they bring a drop cloth or something to cover the chair they are using for supporting their materials and the floor beneath them. Our fees are $85.00 for the year. See the October 10, 2009 posting for our updated 2009 winter schedule.

We also have plein air during the summer with some hearty artists continuing into the colder months. They meet at different interesting areas each session. (See previous blog postings) The plein air is free.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Milwaukee Sketch Club looking for Portrait Models

Looking for clothed portrait models to pose for pay 2 weeks in a row on Tuesday nights from 7:30-9:30pm. Email

Milwaukee Sketch Club at Vernon Marsh




It's getting cooler but still not too bad. If you're painting with a brush you can poke your brush through a wool sock and hold it like normal within your sock. Definitely long underwear, winter coat and hat weather.

This week we're still out in Mukwonago on Thursday.

Next week we will have off for Thanksgiving.

Then the following week we may do Tuesday afternoon at 1pm in Milwaukee/Waukesha area and Thursday at 2:30pm in Mukwonago.

Directions to subdivision overlooking Vernon Marsh.

  1. Take Hwy I-43 to Mukwonago
  2. Then right on Hwy 83
  3. Then east (right) on NN (you'll see pick n save)
  4. Left on ES
  5. Left on Hillview (just past gas station, will see a white farmhouse on corner)
  6. Will make 4 curves then continue straight up hill into Falcon something or another subdivision

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Michael Foster Oil Portrait Demo at Milwaukee Sketch Club

Michael Foster, http://michaelfosteronline.com , is an oil portrait artist and teacher. He has a Masters of Art in Visual Studies from Cardinal Stritch University and has exhibited in several shows including solo shows at the University of Wis. Waukesha and the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center, Brookfield Wi. See his website for his work and current exhibitions.

He demonstrated a larger than life oil portrait at least 4' x 4' on a braced masonite panel, gessoed then wiped with burnt sienna. He worked from a black and white photo so he could visualize the color mood. He works with values, form, questions of form and chooses his own colors.

His first step was to rough in the locations of the face's features with charcoal. First getting the size and placement, Then working on the tilt and turn. He compares what is unknown to what is known, relates it to the whole. If something doesn't seem to be right, cover it with your hand and it will jump to the right place so you can correct it. He started by roughing in the top and middle of the head, then the chin. Then the middle vertical, tilt and shoulders. Then eyes, brows & nose, then eye width and nose width. Then hair & forehead.

He decided on a dominant complementary color scheme of purple and yellow, with a secondary complementary color pair of green and red. He started by blocking in the large dark shapes with purple, then put in the primary light source with yellow-green and the secondary light source with alizarin. Then colors were continually refined while remaining in the same color scheme. Areas were lightened with white and yellow.

He applied the paint directly from the tube to the painting. Colors were mixed directly on the painting. He used several bristle filbert brushes so didn't need to keep cleaning brush. He worked from large to small shapes. When correcting he paints right over the form, then once it's right he wipes out the error. He used the directional flow of the brush strokes to sculpt and carve out the forms.

He tries to get the entire painting as close to done in one sitting. Then lets it dry several days before reworking and glazing. If he doesn't like a particular area's texture he peels it off with a palette knife or sands it. He says when you paint a lot things happen faster.

He uses a very thin layer of retouch varnish applied with sponge brush on his paintings. It can be carefully wiped off with solvent and Viva paper towel if painting is dry before applying.

He takes his own photos using a canon sl and mostly one light source with a white card reflector. You can see his photos on his website that he built this summer using http://otherpeoplespixels.com/ that his friend Tom who is an abstract artist recommended.

All in all an excellent demo.

Jean Crane & Friends "Watercolor Expressions V" 11/13-1/16/2010

One of our members, Joyce, is exhibiting in this exhibit.

Artists Reception is Friday, 11/13/09, 5 - 8 pm

Jill Spanbauer's Lake Country Gallery
Corner of Capitol Dr & Hwy 164
W240 N3485 Pewaukee Rd
Pewaukee WI 53072

262-691-3800

Monday, November 9, 2009

Some classes

Yolanda Kurek, yhkurek@att.net is offering classes at LX Center 217 W Dunwood Rd, Fox Point Wi. Classes start Wed 11/11 and runs to 12/16/2009.

James Hempel, jwhempel@hotmail is offering both Wednesday and Saturday classes in the morning and evening.

Fred Bell, fred@fredbellpaintings.com is offering Thursday morning and evening classes.

Milwaukee Sketch Club at a garden near Lincoln Parkway













On Tuesday, November 3rd, we met at member's yard and the garden scenery was so intriguing that we decided to paint there.

It was cool and we needed our hats and gloves. Somewhat warmer to stand rather than sit unless you have a hunter's cushion.

Next week we will be meeting on Thursday, November 12, at 2:30pm at Vernon Marsh
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/wildlife_areas/vernon.htm

Take 43 to hwy 83.
Take hwy 83 north past Pick n' Save
Take a Right on Frog Alley (this road is labeled Sugden on the left)
Go all the way to the parking lot on the end.

Hope to see you there. Email msc1922@gmail.com if you'd like to meet up with us.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Milwaukee Sketch Club at Hart Park in Wauwatosa




Early in the morning it was quite chilly and the grass was wet. However by the time we left it was sunny and quite pleasant. Fall color very good.













Next Tuesdays (11/3/09) Plein air will be on Lincoln Parkway and 54th St near Hampton ave.