Artz Tour de France 2 Update!

I've been busy posting on the travel blog covering the 16 day art adventure in France.  My husband went along this time, and we led eight others in a two week trip to discover and paint France - from bustling Paris to the deep French countryside of "La Creuse."  You can read all about the trip at www.artztourdefrance2.blogspot.com.

Coming home, and still under the influence of jet lag, I've been using the erratic hours to paint scenes from photos that I didn't have time to paint while traveling.  It's a wonderful way to keep the wonder of such an experience going.  Here are a few paintings from both my sketch book, a Vang aquarelle journal, and some larger pieces.

Ahh, the joy of it all.  I'm so thankful to God for the experience to again go to France, share it with those traveling with us, share times with our French friends, and enjoy the amazing history and beauty.

The Journey Within - The Journey Without

Over this past year I've continued to paint the seasons.  It's what I do!  I love summer, I love fall, I love winter and I love spring.  Each season has it's own beauty and inspiration for paintings.  Many of these paintings will be part of an exhibit May 15 - June 19th.  These past days have been filled with updating my artists statement and writing a narrative for the paintings.  When I look at an art exhibit, I like to know something about the creative process of the artist.  The over riding theme for this exhibit, is seeing God's hand in creation and enjoying the process of re-creating the beauty as I see it through the medium of watercolors.

As I'm putting on the finishing touches of preparations to transport the paintings to the venue, I do so with the last phrase of my artists statement in mind:  My favorite art quote is “Every artist dips his brush into his own soul and paints his own nature into his picture” by Henry Ward Beecher.

The “joie de vivre,” or joy of life, that nourishes my soul flows from the Source of Life, Jesus Christ, who gives life abundantly.

I agree with the declarations of J.S. Bach and George Frederick Handel when they inscribed on their magnificent compositions:

Soli Deo Gloria! The Gift is His

Back by popular demand! COLOR!

Several of my students have been asking for a repeat of the
 "Fun" d-amentals of watercolor series that lays the foundation for understanding color theory.  During the month of April, four classes will be offered, what I call,  "The Genealogy of Color" or the "Family Tree of Color."

One of my watercolor mentors, Jerry Thomas, told me that once I understood the mixing of color, the primaries, their compliments,and their analogous colors it would be like portal opening up my painting in a whole new way.  He was right.  As I continue to grow in the understanding and application of a limited palette and all the possibilities that come from three colors, I am amazed.

This series will be tweaked a bit.  Instead of painting the enchanted forests of negative space painted trees, the same color principles will be applied in painting a variety of subjects.

Spring is on the way - time for some color!

Red/Green compliments and their analogous color

Yellow/Violet compliments and their analogous colors

Blue/Orange compliments and their analogous colors

Tissue Textured Watercolors

16 x 20 painted tissue on wc paper - "Oberlin's Oak"

16 x 20 tissue texture on wc, "Winter Glory"

5 x 7 tissue texture on wc paper

5 x 7 rice paper texture on wc paper

Students have been wanting to have a class on painting tissue paper textured watercolors.  A class was planned as a "Super Bowl - Super Paint Out" for those wanting some escape from the Super Bowl hype. That class was snowed out and rescheduled.  Yesterday eight students came to play!

 The technique in a nutshell is this.  You can use either rice paper, or regular gift wrap tissue paper for this project.  You begin with a sheet of 140 pound watercolor paper, it can be a cheaper brand than normal.  Mix 1/2 elmer's glue and 1/2 water.  Brush this mixture on the paper.  Roll up a piece of tissue or rice paper, cut a couple of inches larger that the wc paper.  Roll it into a tight ball, very, very tight, to create the intricate wrinkles.  Open up the paper carefully so as not to tear and lay it gently down on the glued wc paper.  Gently pat from the middle to the sides.  You don't want to smooth out the wrinkles, but you don't want to have an puffy pillow air packs either.  I found it helpful to lay another piece of watercolor paper on top and press the whole surface with my hands.

When the tissue is flat, add another coat of the elmer's glue/water mix. Dry with a hair dryer if you are in a hurry.

Paint and see what lovely patterns the tree branches take as the paint follows the wrinkles and creases.

Although the rice paper is acid free, and I don't know about the tissue paper, I do prefer the tissue paper over the rice paper.  Rice paper tends to feather out quite a bit more, even with the glue treatment.  The tissue paper creates a wonderfully free surface that facilitates the branching out with a bit more control.

I do think I'll paint the four seasons with this textured style for the upcoming May exhibit I will have at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation.  So far, I've mainly painted fall and winter because the wrinkles create the wonder branches that you see when all the leaves are gone.

It's so fun to play!

"Bearly Painting!"

It's fun to do something totally different than what I normally paint.  I just finished painting a four foot fiberglass bear to benefit the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette.  Thirty seven fiberglass bears arrived here in January and local artists are busy painting them for a summer exhibit in public spaces around Lafayette and West Lafayette entitled "Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!"

When I considered submitting a concept of what I would paint, I prayed and in fifteen minutes the greatest Creator of all, put in my heart the little idea of painting a bear covered with berries and call him "Mr. Very Berry Bear."  I looked up on the web the berries that bears actually eat, downloaded photos and used them for inspiration for the painting.

The project took 30 hours to paint.  Life Long Fitness in Lafayette, Indiana, provided their entry way space for studio space.  Another friend is painting her "Blossom Bear" in the space next to mine.  They will be there until the art museum takes them to Defauw Chevrolet to be clear coated, and placed around town bolted down on poured concrete bases. An auction will take place at the end of the summer and all the bears will find homes!

Painting the Seasons

It's been a while since I've posted on the blog, but that doesn't mean I've not been painting. I've been painting the seasons getting ready for an exhibit at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation gallery for the month of May.

Poinsettias are always a part of my painting rhythm each year.  I love to paint and teach how to paint poinsettias.  I always have pots of poinsettias to look at so we can paint what we actually see.  There are so many different techniques you can use to paint them.

During a visit to the Twin Rocker hand made paper shop, I picked up four square pieces of handmade paper to create one scene for each season.
Last spring I painted a baby cardinals nest that appeared in just outside our lilac bush outside the living room window.  Of the three eggs, only one hatched and I was able to take the photo that I used for the painting.

The inspiration for the summer painting came from a photo shoot at Prophets Town in West Lafayette to catch the prairie flowers in bloom.  I began the painting last summer but struggled with the composition and getting the queen anne's lace just right.  After using some white guache I was able to get the effect that I was looking for.

Milk weed pods and teasels are some of the beauties of fall.  I gathered some milk weed pods and kept them in my studio to study and sketch for the fall painting.  It was a challenge to capture the fluff of the milk weed seeds, but a fun one.

In January I was able to spend in week in Hillsdale, Michigan.  There was a beautiful fresh snow that I captured at sunrise in minus 17 degree wind chill factor weather.  It was worth braving the elements to see the beauty of the sunrise over the pond in Slayton Arboretum at Hillsdale College.

The four main painting of the four seasons are finished.  But there are so many more I would love to paint.  This afternoon during the Super Bowl, while Steve watched the game, I enjoyed painting another scene from the Slayton Arboraetum.

"Artz Tour de France 2015"

Artz Tour de France – 2015

A second art trip to France is in the making! In 2010, ten artists went to France to paint for 15 days.

You can read all about the adventure in the blog:

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/sugarbaker/1/tpod.html

Many artists have asked for a 2^nd trip to include spouses. So this trip will be open to single artists and couples.

 Here are the Basic Facts!

• Room for 10 people (either singles or couples)
• Dates – first two weeks in June, to be locked in with air fares
• 1^st Week Paris – painting and visiting sites: the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay(impressionists), the Eiffel Tower, Boat Trip on the Seine, day trip to Monet's garden and more!
• 2^nd Week Gueret – staying in the guest house of our personal friends, painting rural France and experiencing the culture first hand. Gueret is near Limoge in central France.
• Tour Organizers and Guides – Steve and Jerie Artz, bi-lingual, residents of France for 14 years, lovers of France, the people and the culture
• Paint and Photograph as much as you want – no official art instruction, but mutual painting, sharing and critiques along the way.
• Cost – depending on air fare and hotel fee in Paris, between $3,000 and $3,800 per person(the travel agent says the air fare is fluctuating! We'll work to get the best rates possible). The hotel is reserving 5 rooms for us that will need to be locked in as soon as we have 10 people signed up. The cost will include, round trip air fare Chicago/Paris, train fare from Paris to Gueret, hotel in Paris, Museum Pass, Boat trip on the Siene, excursion to Giverny, Monet's garden, food in Gueret (we cook for ourselves, had a great time last time!), van rental in Gueret, organization and guide. Does not include souvenir $ or food in Paris.
• If you are interested, call or e-mail and you will be sent full information. As soon as we have 10 people signed up, plans will be finalized. E-mail: artzjerie@gmail.com, phone (765)838-8359 It was the trip of a lifetime in 2010 – it's going to be again! Jerie