Saw this interesting palette while visiting Norman Lundin’s studio. Norman is a fascinating guy who has been making art and teaching artists since before I was born. During the visit, we had this wonderful, wide-ranging conversation which I’d love to recount, but I couldn’t possibly do it justice in a blog post.
Suffice it to say, that Norman is as interesting as his palette. I highly recommend dropping by his gallery, Prographica.
I love this simple painting by Brian Blackham. Just a few stokes of the palette knife say everything.
I strongly recommend the Nikki McClure exhibition, Cutting Her Own Path, 1996 – 2012, at the Bellevue Arts Museum. Nikki has been creating paper cuts since 1996 and her work is compelling on many levels. As graphical designs, the pieces are interesting because the shapes are simplified to the absolute essentials, and yet they are still intricate. The compositions are strong and the knife work is excellent, but the thing that really makes the collection sing is that everything Nikki does communicates her life experience and philosophy. Her values and the world she lives in come across easily and naturally.
The exhibit showcases the papercuts, but it also includes many of Nikki’s calendars, books and album covers, along with essays from her friends in the music industry and an explanation of her process. My favorite book was The Great Chicken Escape. Check out the pictures in the book and then read the note at the end.
The exhibit runs through February 3rd, 2013.
I love the negative space in this watercolor by Susan Booth Titus.
Cornfield, Susan Booth Titus
Mandy Hallenius has put together some fantastic lesson plans for teaching classical drawing in a K-12 art classes. She currently has four lessons available for download. Check them out.
I like this painting by Michael Brophy. From a distance it looks almost photo realistic, but if you step up close, you will see that it is made with an economy of brush strokes. It is currently on display at the Best of the Northwest exhibit Tacoma Art Museum, running through March 2013.
Sound, 2010
Oil on Canvas
54″ x 66″
Michael Brophy
Detail of brush strokes.
Saw part one of the Michael Kenna retrospective at the Tacoma Art Museum. Kenna’s work is apropos, given our recent focus on composition, shapes, and simplification. The show runs until January 6th. Part two starts on January 11th. If you go, I strongly recommend eating lunch at the Relish Cafe in the museum lobby. You can also see Kenna’s work at a G. Gibson Gallery in Seattle from October 26 to December 22.
This introduction to lines really resonates with me. It’s from Mike Mattesi’s book, Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators, Second Edition
(Figure used by permission)