Kim English Workshop - Day 5

Friday.  We started early, Kim was going to do a demo about painting from a photo, but he did that at 2 p.m. instead.  The lesson learned was that there really is a very big difference in the proportions when working from a photo, the camera makes adjustments that are apparent to the eye when comparing the photo to the actual (in this case) model.  I was aware of the color variations, but not so much the proportions.  Of course, we all know it distorts the view, but also the perspective and proportions.
The model today was a female who was very good and posed in pants with red sneakers and barefoot in a black dress and cream colored sweater.  The idea was to paint the model in a scene in 10 to 20 minutes. For me it's hard to work on a figure when it is small, all through this workshop I had trouble with laying paint on and I don't usually have that problem, thank goodness, and suspect that maybe usually I put a stroke down and leave it alone and here I was working more or less in layers and on a wiped off surface, still damp.  Maybe I needed medium.  I don't think it was the boards,
We painted 7 (so the total for the week is about 67) paintings and Kim took ample time doing the critiques at the end.
What he suggested to me was to hire a model and do these quick poses.  Maybe I'll check out my neighboring NAA (Figure Drawing. Wednesday night figure drawing is a twenty-plus year tradition at the NAA - meets weekly - Wednesday Nights 7:00 pm. Live model.) as they have a drawing group, I used to go there, and I can paint there as far as I know.
I bought Kim's demo painting from the day in Manchester.  It's of two houses in the downtown area.  I like it because it will remind me that a good artist can make anything look good no matter what the weather.
There is so much to process after a workshop like this--I'll have to make a list.  I do like working with 2 new colors, permanent rose (he likens to Rose Madder) and cadmium green pale.
My friend, Karen, who has nice paintings of Kims and who took him workshop in Colorado, wanted to come by and say hello to Kim, but Kim left early so Karen and I went to see the show at NSAA and had a snack and drinks--Which I sorely needed!!
Now I'll download my pictures and add some to this blog.  Here is the group photo that Kat sent out today.
I'm in the back row with 1/2 a face.

September 2016, Kim England Workshop

Kim English talking about camera distortion

Third model, painting in a scene.

Last piece of good advice.

Josephine's work, she did a lot.

Kim workshop, Day 2

We started out with 2 minute paintings, trying to pay attention to the warm side and the cool sides.  Today's model is a guy in a long maroon shirt and a red sleeveless shirt and red toe socks. In the afternoon he added a dark jacket. Some of the poses were with a pole for added jesture. We started the day with a nice talk about mixing colors and a neat way to get great colored grays.  Kim did a wonderful demonstration about how various lighting effects affect the model and the subsequent painting.  It makes me want to paint casts and work on the planes of the face again using various lighting conditions. Our 1/2 hour lunches last an hour.  Not good.

I've misplaced my blog notes on this afternoon, but as I recall we did some longer poses, experimenting on lighting angles and trying for a scene rather than just the figure.  We did about 25 paintings.  So between Monday and Tuesday we did about 54 paintings.

Kim painting today's model.

Discussing daylight lighting.

Discussing cool light lighting.

Discussing warm light lighting.

Kim's painting, we did a bunch with chairs in the scene.

As Mark Hayden says, "Camp Mary".

Put out primaries, mix secondaries. 

Then add white in the middle and wipe from center outward.

Heading out to Gloucester

A few of us have been collaborating regarding paint colors.  He uses a couple of colors that aren't generally on the majority of artist's palettes.  One in particular, Cadmium Green Pale, was hard to find and since I didn't pay attention to the workshop list a week ago when I was ordering boards, I had to find a local supplier.  Also, white!  There are a few whites, zinc and titanium and a mixture of both.  The mixture version is what he requests, and I have only a little left in my big tube and, of course, didn't find that one either at most of the local stores.

So I'm packed with clothes and art supplies, and all I need now is a ton of energy.  All this week I've been sidelined with an infection that sapped my strength and I even got a very sore back, I thought perhaps from sleeping so much, but it got so bad I couldn't sit or bend over.  I went to the doctor to be sure it wasn't my kidney and for some possible relief since I'm leaving tomorrow for the workshop, and at this point I probably couldn't go.

I got super strength ibuprofen for inflamation, super strength Tylenol for the pain and a muscle relaxer because it feels like muscle spasms. After 24 hrs I can't believe how good I feel.

On my way to the Kim English Workshop.

Kim English Workshop-Day 4

 First thing I checked the tire and it was the same so I needed to decide to ride it or call AAA to fill it in order to get to the garage--which is what I did.  Saira (Airbnb hostess) called her mechanic and got me in right away.  He was a delightful chap who told me all about his hip replacement and highly recommends Brigham & Women's and to have it done from the front, not the side or the back.

I was on time to meet the group and off we went to Manchester-by-the-Sea to paint.  The weather was a bit milder and the sun even peeked out once or twice.  Kim started to paint almost as soon as he got out of the car and did a nice painting of the intersection near Central Street Gallery where several of my friends show their work.  Again he demonstrated using more or less a notan to start and then continue to use color and refine areas.  His method of brushwork and applying strokes over strokes or cutting in with the negative side works wonders.  We all spread out and worked on a painting.  Mine looked like a second grader did it and Kim was so nice to say, no, probably a third grader. I have to keep in mind that this happens to everyone at every workshop.  Although its tough every time, working outside your comfort zone, using a technique you're not used to or colors also, it's always hard. Kim set up near me facing the other direction and did a great painting (which I bought). He has the amazing ability to create beauty where it more or less doesn't exist.  Surely there are nice subjects, but he can push the colors and sizes and shapes creating beauty--this is what separates the men from the boys, you get my meaning.  This may be what people say when they say you have to picture the finished painting in your head before you begin.

After lunch break, we all went back to work and I made myself paint anything--in other words I didn't see something I wanted to paint so I just painted something.  It was a very busy boat scene.  Just what I should not have done.  Keeping it simple is what it's all about.  I imagined I was doing a Movali!  I was the last to leave and went to the Causeway--a GREAT place for fish and had a friend oyster appetizer.  I asked what is the smallest serving of friend oysters on the menu, and was told the appetizer--it had 20 on it!

Tomorrow we meet at the studio and will probably work from the model, starting early at 8:30 and maybe quitting early.

Kim's first painting of the day.

Two artists painting.

Fried Oyster Appetizer at the Causeway