Courtney's opening at California Modern Art Gallery with Paola

After seeing Paul's tree Paola and I went to the California Modern Art Gallery where we saw a couple of Courtney's beautiful paintings. I also saw a lot of people that I have met this month at various art gatherings. The art was beautiful at the show. They had a multitude of different talented artists. Check it out!

Paul's Finished Tree with Paola

Paola and I went to visit Paul's complteted Wishing Tree in the Yerba Buena Children’s Learning Garden. It was beautiful. I can't even imagine how it would look in the day light. The gold leaves were glimmering so much and the sun was barely out. Look at the great contrast with the SF backdrop. You should go check it out if you are in the area!

Some drawings

These drawings are from my figure drawing class. I love the full figure one. I was feeling pretty comfortable while doing it and I got some good feedback from my instructor. I started the head in the last hour.....meh! Good to practice though!

Plein Airing it again!

Rebecca and I went plein air painting on Fulton avenue Wednesday. It was good to be outside painting again, but I can't say I really like the results (AT ALL.) Here come the excuses.

1) I was ridiculously tired (haven't had more than 6 hours of sleep a night)
2) The wind was whipping up Fulton so I was freezing and didn't stay to finish.
3) It seems like I haven't plein air painted in over a month (oh I guess I really haven't)
4) My painting mind is back on the figure (hence going painting with Rebecca.) I need to keep a balance somehow.

The treat in the end was an awesome veggie sandwhich (a la Rebecca), a trip to the Women Impressionist exhibit at Legion of Honor (a la Rebecca), and coffee, a yummy bagel, and good conversation (a la Rebecca and Simple Pleasures Cafe.)



Headed to the studio till midnight after running errands.

Great day!

Working as a temporary assistant to Paul (an amazing sculptor)

The school year began with a busy start because I started working for a sculptor named Paul (in the middle with the sunglasses. Great guy!) He had a major project to complete for a wishing tree he created that is going to be at Yerba Buena. He had me and a few others assist him for a bit. Here are some pictures from some of those days. It was a great time. He was cool and I met a lot of great people. Paola is in a lot of the pics. Her and I really clicked. We tag teamed a lot of things like bending wires, applying cement and whatever Paul needed us to do around his great studio. I am glad I had the opportunity to work with him and I can't wait to see his finished product. The dedication is this weekend.

Head painting and first workshop.

So on Monday I did a head painting that I kind of like. We used a limited palette composed of only, white, yellow ochre, and burnt umber (hence the yellow feel to the painting.) Can't say I really like this paint combination. It makes the model look somewhat sick. Well at least mine does :)



I did the other painting during part of a workshop the same day (I was exhausted by the time I got home around midnight.) I really like the way this one turned out because I had felt my classwork wasn't that good. It was redemption. Not to mention, I felt like I got it done in a timely fashion. Granted it was a limited palette.





Very quick landscape that I did after the workshop yesterday. I was sticking with the limited palette theme.

Today I had my figure studio class (I am taking it again because I feel like I need to get back to drawing after not having had a drawing class in over a year.) Jason asked us to do a sketch book this summer in Italy and I had such a hard time getting myself to draw (I did little watercolors instead....maybe I will post some of those on my Italy blog at solainitalia.blogspot.com ......later....much later.) So I decided another drawing class was in my future so that I could improve my skills, speed, and enjoyment of it. I just love painting, so much better. But this will definitely improve my painting skills.

I went to another workshop today after class and felt so much better then I did in class because I stopped fighting what I already new and just went for it. I did this one fairly quick at the end of the workshop. I like it's graphic nature. I am really enjoying this going to class and then to a workshop. I just have to make sure I get enough sleep. One can only drink so many Rockstars....

back, back, back to school again. Whoa, whoa, I gotta go... back to school again!

I am back from Italy and back in school again. Check out my Italy blog if you would like at SolainItalia. blogspot.com I haven't quite finished the last two weeks of it though. Soon, very soon.

So here is my first homework for Situation and Environment class. I am taking it online. This is my first online painting class and I really like it so far. For this assignment we were supposed to use a limited palette of four colors and spend about three hours painting from a photo my instructor provided. He wanted us to focus on a two value painting and not to worry about too much detail which is why the time was limited. Not to mention, it is supposed to simulate a painting that we would have done in class.

I like the head but I feel like my colors could be better and the proportions and hands aren't good. I have to work on that. I didn't spent much time on the hands. Overall I like it, especially since it is my first painting of a figure since last semester. All those landscapes got me rusty......but not too rusty :)