Visit at the Flint Institute of Arts

The Flint Institute of Arts has an ongoing exhibit until April 18, 2010 entitled "Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism, Paintings from the Brooklyn Museum of Art."

I had the opportunity to visit the exhibit and was amazed at the difference between viewing the original paintings in person and viewing photographs that I have seen of them.  Viewing the brushstrokes and subtle color nuances seen from 2 inches to 30 feet away, gave me a new understanding of the artists execution of a painting.

Monet was particularly entertaining.  Up close the paint appears to be congested and spotty.  As I backed away, the painting came alive with a feeling of atmosphere. Color is important in my current studies and the viewing of these paintings was like attending a workshop as I studied them.

Artists' paintings in the special exhibit include:  Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet, Frederick Childe Hassam, John Singer Sargent to name a few. 

The Institute also has a number of paintings in the permanent collection, including European and American Impressionist works by Alfred Sisley, Charles Daubigny, Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Pierre Renior among others.

If you live in driving distance, this exhibit should be on your to do list.

Art Calendar Business Magazine for Visual Artists

In addition to carrying a list of artist opportunities, this magazine has indepth articles for artists.  Currently, on their website, they have a summary of the new tax credits, deductions and exemptions for 2009. 

Art Calendar provides much information online for the artist looking to promote their artwork - communities, webinars, videos.  Checking out their printed magazine, I was pleasantly surprised on the informative nature of all of their articles. 

I will be subscribing to Art Calendar Magazine to maximize my information flow to give me more time to paint! 

Facebook and Promoting Your Art Web Presence

On the surface Facebook and Facebook fan pages appear to be easy to get up and going and they are if you only want a standard showing.

I took Dee Overly's workshop on "Build a Fan Page on Facebook" on Saturday and was amazed at all of the extras that I did not know of.... AND was not readily listed anywhere to be found. I had my fan page up and running, however Dee provided a plethora of information on how to use the Fan Page as a tool to expand your Art Web Presence. She focused on links and add ins, allowing the artist to get maximum exposure. The best part is her step by step manual guides you through the process without the frustration and extensive time involved if one was to try to search it out for themselves.

If you are not in the Mid Michigan area, check out her Art Web Presence website for printed materials to purchase. Her step by step manuals are easy to follow and provide fast results for the artist who mainly wants to create but recognizes the benefits of marketing and name recognition. Let's face it, we love what we do and want others to see and appreciate our work.

I have been taking workshops with Dee Overly for a couple of years now and my web presence is really starting to take off. I will be implementing these changes soon and I hope to launch my new website, designed by me, coached by Dee soon. Until then you can see my work on my Facebook Fan Page and on the Great Lakes Plein Air Painters site in my gallery.

Inspiring day at the Grand Rapids Art Museum

The Last Load, Mathias Alten 1935

It was a cold winter day with the sun shining on one of the few days that we see it in the winter here in Michigan. It was my day off work. Laundry needed to be done along with house cleaning. A wondrous thought came to mind…. I really want to see the special exhibit at the Grand Rapids Art Museum entitled: American Impressionism – Paintings from the Phillips Collection. Impressionist use of color is my current area of study and I felt this exhibit would further my studies faster than pounding the books.

As an added bonus: James McNeill Whistler and the Romance of Great Cities Exhibition of Drawings and if that wasn’t enough: Tissot’s London 1871-1882 Art and Culture of City Life Exhibition were also on display!

I was in heaven. I spent the morning really studying and breaking down Tissot’s compositions. It intrigued me to see how the subjects in the paintings were carefully orchestrated to follow axis lines, usually to a common point. In the impressionist exhibit of 54 paintings from collector Duncan Phillips, I was mainly studying the interplay of color. Magazines, photographs, and Internet surfing cannot prepare you for the wondrous interplay of color that these artists used.

Childe Hassam, Theodore Robinson, John Twachtman, J. Alden Weir, William Glackens, Maurice Prendergast paintings were on display for me to view with my nose practically in the paint. The guards were keeping a close eye on me to make sure my nose did not go into the paint! Some of these artists I have not explored before. One particular painting that caught my eye is in the permanent collection of the Grand Rapids Art Museum: William Ritschel – Moonlight on Monterey was a beach scene, which he was noted for, with a rocky foreground with a tree. It was all done in greens, mainly cool viridian greens. I have never seen such a dramatic versatile play of greens to create depth form and interest. This play of mainly tone to create form may not be fully realized in a photograph. I later tried to search out this painting on the internet for further study to no avail. Thankfully, it is in their permanent collection and I can go back to view it at a later date. The trip for me is about a 2-hour ride one way.


Lunch at the museum was a real treat. The view of the children ice skating outside along with the warm greeting from the centerpiece at my table was a perfect backdrop for my very tasty lunch. My right brain was like a computer, processing a plethora of painting possibilities. Some may be coming soon!

Greenfield Village Dinner and Halloween Walk

Friday night I went with family and friends to Greenfield Village in Dearborn to take part in the 19th century autumnal festivities and good old fashioned family fun. We ate at the Eagle Tavern which was filled with old fashioned violin players, storytelling and harvest games.

For dinner we were served:

Cheese and Dry Cured Sausage

Bread Bowl

Apple Butter

Whipped Creamery

Apple Cider Squash Chutney
Midnight Cake with Vanilla Sauce
Roasted Quail with Apples and Greens

Stuffed Pumpkin

Sage Pork Sausage with Onion Gravy

Beefsteak Pie

Corn Relish

Walnut Ketchup

Following the sumptuous candle-lit harvest supper we made our way into the moonlight to follow the enchanted pumpkin path to take in the sights and sounds of Halloween throughout the Village. Many of the historical buildings were made into spooky scarry fun. The bridge was filled with smoke that appeared to be going into a tunnel as you were walking. Scarry noises filled the air. The mysterious woman on the balcony has been a favorite conversation piece for us for a few years now.

Going Back in Time....

Yesterday I went back in time to a period where life was simpler in some ways yet exhausting in others. The Woldumar Nature Center hosted an American Heritage Festival that was both enlightning and entertaining. People in the history of early America worked hard and depended on mother nature to provide favorable weather for the crops that fueled their very existence. It was a time where one had to work together with others and lend help to survive the trials of the times. For relaxation, the people practiced thier artistry, making elaborate designs from everything - wheat, hair, metal, wood, cloth. The designs and imagination of the time excited the artist in me!

The river boat ride on the Grand River was so relaxing and peaceful. The day was cloudy and misty at times, but the the colors on the river were just starting to show their grandeur. It was an hour long ride that included passing by the old Oldsmobile Estate. The gray herons, ducks and swans were leisurely paddling along, feasting along the way.

I made my first wheat arrangement with the help of demonstrator JoAnne Arasin, Director at the Michigan Historical Museum. The museum is also the place where I won 2nd place at an art show with my piece, Twilight Gathering.

I also just had to post this adorable bunny what was as soft as cashmere. I couldn’t believe the softness of the fur. I found him and his handler on the trails on break. He was so excited with the woods.

I wanted to mention some of the demonstrators that I enjoyed viewing: Karla – Antique Hair Brading, Kathy – Basket Making and Dried Flowers, Paul – Blacksmithing, Anson – Cast Iron Cooking, JoAnne – Wheat Weaving, Kelvin – Raven Farm Portable Saw Mill, Greater Lansing Wood Carvers, Lansing Model Railroad Club and the list goes on.

A wonderful relaxing time and many resource photos to keep me warmed up in my painting projects for the winter!

Victorian Elegance

Saturday I went to the Northville's 20th Annual Victorian Art Festival. Some of my artist friends were there painting a model in Victorian dress at the Art House - Robert Perrish, Mary Step, Barbara Eko Murphy, Daria among others. After taking pictures of the model and chatting with everyone, I headed for town. Artists were painting there too, where many men and women were walking the town in period dress. Model A's and Model T's were on display. And a favorite of mine was a man on an old tyme bicycle that had a huge wheel in the front.

I took a ton of pictures, had a nice salad at Poole's and then headed off to the Lake Erie Metropark to take pictures of the birds of prey at the Hawk Festival.

And, as if that wasn't enough, I was only a stone's throw from Crafts 2000 in Monroe, my favorite deep discount store to purchase name brand artist grade paints and brushes.

It was a gorgeous fall day, sunny in the 70's. I covered alot of territory and enjoyed immensely! I hope to get some of my ideas from my photos onto canvas this winter.

Plein Air Paintout with a twist

Yesterday, I was at a Plein Air Paint Out with the Ann Arbor Women Artists at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The day was pleasantly warm with sun and clouds and the gardens were in full swing. I spied some black eyed susans in an area with a variety of greens. I wanted to paint the black eyed susans in the sea of greens with only 3 colors plus white. I have heard that a more harmonious painting comes about with this method so I decided to give it a go. I used Cadmium Yellow Light, Cadmium Red Medium and Ultramarine blue.

Needless to say, the painting was not up to my expectations. More exploration with the colors and prior strategy needs to be played out. I found it to be a good way to think outside the box as you really need to brainstorm where you want to go with limited options.

I think I will do a color wheel with the colors and also do a complimentary chart to see how the grays play out. This will help me to see the range that I have ahead of time, thus eliminating the floundering effect.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens has beautiful gardens with a wide variety of flowers, a sitting arbor and several trails into the wooded area with marsh ponds. My favorite spot to draw or do a watercolor in the winter on a sunny day is the conservatory (greenhouse). It is huge and is filled with plants starting with tropical and ending with arid cactus. It is warm, lush and inviting on a cold winter day.

You find collectors in unusual places...

The Kensington reinactment and encampment was such a fun gathering. Everyone was extremely authentic and informative, from the Native American Indians to the Colonial Women who followed the soldiers. The tents, the primitive utensils, the camp fires, and the yummy way they preserved the food was all a real treat. I could feel the hardship of the times doing everything from scratch.

It was soooo hot. I sat in the shade to do some sketching for some future painting ideas and drew some collectors. Both of my sketches were sold to people enjoying the encampment. I received many positive comments, passed out my business cards and educated the interested parties on what my process and thoughts were in creating my sketches. Maybe this added to their desire to acquire them.... a momento of their visit.

Colonial Kensington 1700's Encampment and Reinactment

I will be doing photography and painting at Kensington today, making sure to enjoy the following event:

Saturday, August 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kensington Metropark - American re-enactors will provide entertainment, battle and tactical demonstrations and a variety of 18th century crafts and demonstrations. More than 200 costumed American Indian, French, British and American re-enactors representing the years 1700-1796.

For more information, contact Kensington Metropark 1-800-477-3178 or 248-685-1561.