Summer Class and Plein Air Paint out and Event Calendar

Hi there,

 I have busy class and plein air painting schedule this summer that I would like to share with you.  Sometimes you can paint with me.  It  is a  great opportunity for you to paint or observe painters Plein Air Painting.  

If you keep your eye on the calendar you will have a pretty good idea when the next class is or when the next paint out is.  And of course you can always call me.

Go to the calendar page link

This week's classes are as Follows....  

• Tuesday Evening, June 20, 2017, Plein Air Painting Class at 5:30 pm at the Trimborn Farm located at 8881 W. Grange Ave, Greendale, WI
• Wednesday Afternoon, June 21, 2017, Painting and Drawing Class at 12:30 pm at the Studio at 5121 South 84th Street, Greendale, WI 53129

Happy Painting.

Judith 

I had experienced a wonderful plein air class last week with Derek Davis one of the many fine artists at the Cedarburg Event.  I have much to share from him about how to approach plein air painting or really any painting. I hope to share that info with you this coming Tuesday at the informal paint out at Trimborn farm.  We start at 5:30pm and should be done well before sunset ....at least a good hour.  So make the time to be there.

Exciting Summer Ahead for Learning to Paint

As you know the spring is coming to a close as May has arrived, the flowers are blossoming and the leaves are peaking out of the branches.

This past season in my art classes I have developed a new series of classes
designed to train an aspiring artist to become an astute draftsman ready to begin composing ones own paintings.  As one of my students would say....to orchestrate a composition rather than slavishly copy a photograph or a scene in Plein Air.
For those students who have chosen to follow my instruction in doing the preliminary practice of sketching and planning their values and shapes in their composition before they begin painting,  it has been exciting to see how students have grown.

Key Factors to Growth
1.) Training to observe CAREFULLY
Start slowly, observe, ALWAYS check and recheck
2.) Think composition......first consider  the value pattern and shapes you design more than the "objects"......  consciously  creating  interesting and powerful compositions.
 To improve the composition of your given source material sometimes alter what you  have carefully observed.

This summer I plan on offering some plein air painting instruction utilizing the sketching principles we worked on developing this past year.

After looking at values in drawing and working on a the problems of drawing a still life from life.  Jeff  attempted his first still life in acrylic paint on his own.

Careful observation of shape, value combined with conscious awareness of the composition of light and dark pattern over the entire canvas including both positive and negative space here demonstrates how careful observation and thoughtful composing of light and dark pattern structures a beautiful painting.

I have two suggestions for Jeff.  One is regard to the cloth texture.  In acrylic it can be very challenging to create smooth blending.  A Golden or Liquitex blending medium can be very helpful to slow drying time and allow for smoother transitions in the folds. That said without using the medium Jeff did an amazing job working at getting at smooth folds, even without blending medium. 

Secondly look at lost edges.  Especially the middle pear.  I receding edge should be softened as in the the case of the shadowed underside of the pear. Also the cloth edges in the rear could be softened to suggest that they recede behind the pears in space.

For a first still life however, this is a great beginning to be proud of in every way.  You said you worked on this first still life for 10 hours.  Something you should know about Jeff is that he was an Olympic Speed Skater and now trains Olympic Speed Skaters.  If he applies the same disciplined training that took him to the Olympics to painting he will be an accomplished painter before he knows it.

Judith Reidy September Studio Painting Class Time Changes and Plein Air Events

   I just have a few  bits of news.....

September Studio Class Schedule

Due to  Plein Air events in my schedule, this month's September afternoon classes are as follows..

1st week: Thurs., Sept. 3, 1-3pm

2nd week: Tues., Sept. 8, 1-3pm

3rd week: Tues., Sept. 15, 1-3pm

4th week: Thurs., Sept. 24, 1-3pm

Note classes move to Tuesday on 2nd and 3rd week.  Note classes return to Thursdays Sept. 24th.

Also know you are invited to four art events. 
 All are great learning opportunities.... 

TONIGHT

Brush with the Wind 

Reception

 Friday, Sept. 4  6-9pm

Artists in the Garden

BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS 

AT WHITNALL PARK

 SATURDAY & SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 & 13, 2015, 10:00AM - 5:00PM

Event Details

New Berlin Plein Air Event Exhibit

 Sunday, September 13, 2015 noon to 4 pm 

Exhibition  and Silent Auction

 at 

New Berlin Historical Site

19765 West National Avenue,

New Berlin, WI

Shorewood Plein Air Event 

Reception September 19

All are welcome to the final day show, sale and gala on September 19, events throughout the day starting at 10am through 9pm, 1701 E. Capitol Drive, Shorewood, WI  53211 Front Lawn of the Shorewood High School.

Please know that you are invited!

Also remember that two afternoon Thursday classes have been moved to Tuesday.

See above.

Judith Reidy's Exhibition Opens Jan 31

You are welcome to view Judith Reidy's Exhibition

Yes, please come on over and view Judith's paintings at the Greenfield Public Library

5320 W. Layton Avenue, Greenfield Wisconsin 53220.

I think that you will enjoy  viewing her plein air and studio painting in  oils, acrylics and pastel.