From Omega to Alpha (Second Edition) Is Also an E-book
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Blog/News
Substack Launch and Punching Up YouTube Channel
I have launched a Substack page called Studio at Work, which is about the process. I post something I'm doing or find interesting and you might find a photograph, a sketch, a short discussion about a painting, a thought, or a quotation. Check it out and Subscribe. I established a YouTube page to post videos of events, but I've decided to elevate my efforts as a way to encourage others to create. I have future plans to shake it up a bit more, so Subscribe here as well. Subscribing is free. It just helps me see that there is an interest out there [...]
Questions & Answers from RAAC's Fall Art Tour
Since I've been writing books, I've been remiss with these blog posts. Does anyone even read blogs nowadays? During RAAC's Fall Art Tour I am asked a lot of questions, so this post is my way of answering some of the questions to a wider audience. 1. Are you going to do a Lenten Discipline Series again? If you aren't familiar with this concept, this is a video of how I painted 46 paintings in 46 days. I loved painting small, but it took a lot out of me. Sherrie Shamburg, my framer, came up with a great idea. Try to paint in smaller [...]
Creative to Creative Was Fantastic!
The concept began around 2019, was scheduled for March 2020, and cancelled due to a pandemic. On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Creative to Creative was held at the Little Washington Theatre. Laurie Holladay of Laurie Holladay Interiors in Gordonsville, VA, put together the magnificent set, which set the stage for a fun and insightful experience. As guests entered and took their seats, they were greeted with this: https://youtu.be/ej20t9c-luI?si=U4BaDfZstpQTfiji Posing for the camera before the event. Luke Christopher Photographer The full video of the event can be found below. Just click on Watch on YouTube. [...]
Note about 12
With thanks for the grant from RAAC's Claudia Mitchell's Fund, I've been juggling a new book and painting for my day job, which encompasses getting in gear for the Fall Art Tour (November 4/5, 2023). I tend to focus solely on one thing for weeks if not months, rather than sketching for the book one day and painting in oils the next. The book is basically finished other than some tweaks and minor additions. As I pivot back to oils, I would like to present the cover as well as a couple of snippets from the book. Thank you to Fathom Creative, Inc. for [...]
Grant for Forthcoming Book
I am honored to have been awarded a grant from RAAC’s Claudia Mitchell Arts Fund for my second book, 12 Months on 12 Acres-a sketchbook filled with all that I can observe and perceive from the 12 acres enveloping my studio. The viewer will be given the opportunity to tag along while I experiment and recreate. The publication date is scheduled for late summer or early fall of 2023. [...]
A Page Just for Videos
I just discovered that the hosts of this website have added a professional Video feature, which is far superior than my earlier poorly constructed video page. I'm slowly improving my skills on iMovie, so perhaps I can make some videos showing me painting. Now, if only I could improve my VoiceOver skills. I've added 3 videos to the new page. Click below to see them. Videos [...]
A Busy Fall
Between a late August show at Gay Street Gallery in Washington, VA, a one day event sponsored by the Fralin Museum of Art at the Laurie Holladay Shop in Gordonsville, VA, and the looming RAAC Fall Art Tour, I have been swamped. Right after the opening for the Gay Street Gallery show, I put together this little 5 minute video of the show at Gay Street Gallery. In a more stilted manner than my normal speaking voice, I voiced over my artist statement for the show. I included clips of me painting, the full show, and threw in action stills and videos [...]
English Teaching Forum
I was honored to have one of my paintings chosen as the cover for English Teaching Forum’s quarterly. Multiple copies are found in each American embassy throughout the world. As you can see from the full version, the painting was cropped to make it adhere to a vertical format. [...]
How It Started...How It Ended
The Process Near the beginning of the process, sometimes I remember to take a photograph. Below are some of these photographs of recent works followed by the completed painting. Bear in mind that a painting is never completed until it is sold and out of my reach. At times paintings dramatically evolve and at other times there are no drastic twists and turns. The Blank Canvas, 18x24 in., Oil on Panel A Morning for Meditation, 18x36 in., Oil on Panel Renewal, 30x30 in., Oil on Panel Red Dawn, 18x36 in., Oil on Panel A Timeless Summer, 24x24 in., Oil on Panel [...]
RAAC's 2021 Fall Art Tour
RAAC's 2021 Fall Art Tour Held in the midst of a pandemic, the 2021 Fall Art Tour proved to be the most well-attended and successful tour for most of us. No one knew what to expect in terms of the weather and, of course, the latest on the COVID front. [...]
Why This Route?
Why This Route? At last, I was compelled. Previous attempts at writing a book appeared forced, but this time the words seemed to spew forth effortlessly. Rewriting and proofing occurred, but the thoughts were cemented which made the process less daunting. What began as a glorified pamphlet morphed into a major production complete with a splendid dusk jacket and hardback book loaded with color. I received advice and aid from professionals in the field of publications and I realized I needed to go full-throttle. Full-throttle for me meant being in complete control-learning three different software programs for the layout; hunting decades-old slides; thinking up topics; [...]
Switching It Up
Switching It Up I've stated in this blog and in my forthcoming book, A Painter's Musings, that I like to switch styles to keep fresh. I'm not sure I would find painting fun if that option weren't available. While working on the book, I saw my paintings of buildings I painted in watercolor a long time ago. I remembered how much fun I had painting angles. I don't have the feel to do the exact same thing in oils, but I realized I missed painting angles, so I am varying and adapting that 1966 assignment to fit my whim in 2021. A teacher in [...]
Some Random Musings on Writers & Painters
For those who have enjoyed the Question & Answer blog post, it is with great sadness that I inform you that the supreme questioner, Sidney Oliver, lost her life to Covid on January 23,2021. No one could ask a question with such depth as Sidney and I will miss the challenge of trying to come up with acceptable answers for her discerning mind. Sidney was a writer who also painted, so what better subject for a post than discussing these two creative pursuits? Some Random Musings on Writers & Painters Paris' Shakespeare and Company The original, owned by Sylvia Beach, dated from 1919-1941. The present [...]
Rituals
Rituals? No pickle juice here. One whiff of my homemade medium and I'm ready to paint. When I’m having one of those off days, I sometimes find a rapid cure in tidying my workspace. It puts me in touch with what I have and need (water), what I need but don't have (Manganese Blue), what I don’t need but have (two tubes of Titanium Buff), and what I don’t need and don’t have (turpentine). The process organizes my mind and prepares me to paint. Maybe you don’t have off days, but if you do, do you have a similar ritual? Sidney Oliver Rather than the [...]
All That Remains
All That Remains Betsy Holleman Burke's All That Remains with my work on the cover. A go-cart is all that remains from the demolition of the go-to house when I was a teenager growing up in Knoxville, TN. The Knoxville family home of Betsy Christenberry Holleman Burke was destroyed under false pretenses. Distraught by the experience, Betsy wrote a series of poems that have just been published by Cherry Grove Collections. All That Remains can be found at Union Ave Books in Knoxville, TN and on Amazon. Originally from Knoxville, I was a friend of Betsy's three younger brothers. As we all aged, the [...]
Why Small Paintings?
Why Small Paintings Now? Just a sample of what I hope to have for sale for the 2020 RAAC Art Expo beginning on November 14 at 5 pm. I'm not sure how to put this because it's an odd question, but I want to know how and why you choose to paint small paintings. Is it sometimes a response to a specific exhibit? Often just because you want to? More economical and easier to sell? Does today's virtual environment have anything to do with it? See, I told you it's an odd question. Sidney Oliver Sid, I've often stated that I began my painting career [...]
Designing a Scarf of the Wildlife in Virginia
Designing a Scarf of the Wildlife in Virginia The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center asked if I would design a scarf for them and the image above is the result. It's always interesting trying to figure how to go about an endeavor such as this. I really liked the look and feel of the turnip scarf (Designing a Scarf?) and I thought I might begin with that template in my mind. The turnip scarf is 42" square and is 100% pure silk. Even though I've had qualms about square scarves in the past, they are much easier to wear if they are large. For [...]
Water
Water Do you think this time of COVID-19, of social distancing and quarantine, could inspire you (consciously or not) to "travel" in your paintings, or to create particularly tranquil images as antidotes? Have you noticed any other consequences for your art? Sidney Oliver I often tell this story about the time I had an upcoming exhibition and the only thing that inspired me to work was water-the idea and process of painting water. I've learned to go with the flow when I get on a kick because it often leads to a lovely, satisfying, and productive period of painting. Every book I read, [...]
Is the Future of Art Going Virtual?
Is the Future of Viewing Art Going Virtual? Before being interviewed for RAAC's virtual art exhibition. This involved staging rather than showing the usual unattractive clutter of a working studio. Articulate the main challenges--physical, intellectual, emotional- to you (the artist) faced in making this very difficult transition? Of course the flip side is how the consumer/viewer is supposed to negotiate this virtual experience against a chorus about how there is no substitute for the real thing. For instance, texture. Or the beautiful sheen of certain surface treatments. The amazing sparkle in some Van Goghs only visible in front of the paintings. The intricacies of brush [...]
Painting During the Pandemic & Staying Focused in an Unfocused World
Painting During the Pandemic & Staying Focused in an Unfocused World The Pandemic Line Up of Small Paintings To give you an idea of the sizes involved, the largest is a 10X10" and the smallest is a 5X7." Close ups of each are shown in the post. Another size comparison is to note the background is a 36X48" painting. I will continue to paint other sizes, but I hope to paint a lot of these small "pandemic paintings" while we are in isolation. In the post on Color Phases, I mentioned an urge to experiment with the primaries. That's how this post began, but it has [...]
How Do I Get Out of This One?
You wrote about coming to a point in every painting when you ask, "Oh gee! What have I gotten myself into this time?" I have to accept your word on this because from where I sit, that doesn't square with the seamless mastery I see in your work. So can you give us a visual example of when that happened? At what point in the painting you select to discuss did this "Oh gee!" hit you? What was behind your resolution? [...]
Gaudy?
Gaudy? Snow & Light, 8X10," Oil on Panel What do you do to keep a sunset painting from looking like a cheap paint-on-velvet horror? That's insulting as phrased. Sorry. What I'm trying to say is that some subjects in nature are very gaudy, and representing them can also be gaudy. What is done to keep that from happening? Is it the artist's skill? Is it technique? Sidney Oliver Sid, there might be a lot of variables, so let's explore a few ideas: Your question reminded me of what painter Jim Gray used to say back in the sixties. "Fall is that time of year when [...]
Ideas?
Ideas? Above is the reflection of a sunrise in my kitchen window. I ran outside with my camera to take the sunrise and, when I turned around, I saw this. Ideas even come from beauty behind us... and, no, I haven't painted this. Ruthie, if I may ask, where do you get your ideas for paintings? Do you see a scene from, say, outdoors and see it whole, or do you see vignettes? What makes an idea viable? Sidney Oliver Sid, light matters. It matters a lot. Light is the entire reason for being a painter. Yes, I do realize that I have begun to paint [...]
Color Phases?
Color Phases? During your life as a painter, have you gone through certain 'phases' with certain color preferences.....and any idea as to why? Betsy Brantley Note: In preparation for the postponed Creative to Creative actor Betsy Brantley and I were kicking around the type of questions we might ask each other. I nixed any question on this order because I felt the audience might find it too much in the weeds, however, it's quite perfect for a blog post, so here goes. Betsy, there might be more than one answer as to why there might be phases and I am not sure any of [...]
Optical Illusion or Just a Lack of Comparison?
Optical Illusion or Just a Lack of Comparison? In the Light of Day, 10X10," Oil on Panel Some paintings seem to have optical illusion properties, and I don't mean intentionally built-in techniques. One 10 x 10 inch painting can "read" as 30 x 30 inches , whereas a similar small painting "reads" as a small painting. What's with that? Sidney Oliver Without something to use for comparison, things are difficult to gauge, hence misreading occurs. To get an accurate read, a comparison needs to take place. The more we have to compare, the more accurate we will be. Perhaps I need to take more shots of the [...]
Being Creative Amidst Chaos
Being Creative Amidst Chaos The daffodils are in bloom and I intend to take full advantage of them. Not to be pollyanna-ish, or to minimize other moods that contribute to it, it seems to me that disciplined artmaking requires a pretty open and giving state of mind. Our public context, by contrast, is increasingly tense, defensive, and closed. How does an artist maintain a creative, productive frame of mind in an ever-worrisome, increasingly besieged public environment? Sidney Oliver Sid, for those of us who work in isolation on a daily basis, this might not as difficult a time for us as it is for [...]
Designing a Scarf?
Designing a Scarf? One thing I've I've wanted to pursue: Your beautiful scarves are a lot different from paintings, I would guess. What is your process? How do you design one, and what sorts of 'pilot tests' do you go through before you know you have your winner? Sidney Oliver Let me lead you through the process of the most recent scarf design. This latest scarf evolved in an interesting way, but perhaps no different from any other project. I would never have thought of putting together a scarf featuring turnips if it hadn't been for a request from some women who attend the [...]
Affinity for Nature?
Affinity for Nature? Almost Spring, 16X20," Oil on Panel Spring might not look like this, but it sure does feel like this with those lacy trees and the switch from one season to another. Do you have a particular affinity for nature? What moves you? How/why did you come to paint the fantastic nests (speaking as a beneficiary)? Sidney Oliver Sid, I wish I could say yes, but the shortest answer possible is no. At least, not initially. Swiss Colors, Watercolor on Illustration Board Most painters seem to be drawn to paint certain subjects and this can change as circumstances change. Early on in my painting career, [...]
How Does an Artist Get Ready for a Major Tour of a Studio?
How Does an Artist Get Ready for a Major Tour of a Studio? Serious artists often participate in studio tours or host one by themselves. There must be any number of issues to anticipate when you're planning your set-up. What does it take to ready your studio for a tour? Sidney Oliver Sid, you are right, it takes a whole lot of effort to participate in a studio tour. Since I live in Rappahannock County, VA, I am able to participate in an annual art tour comprised of visitors from at least a one hundred mile radius driving around the beautiful county stopping in [...]
Brushes Not Sold by the Fuller Brush Man, but you wish they were
Brushes Not Sold by the Fuller Brush Man, But You Wish They Were Buying Brushes Today Is Akin to Buying a Pig in a Poke. Tools of any trade are make-it-or-break-it investments. I'd like to know your thoughts about brushes, starting with your preferred brush maker, and proceeding through your favorite shape and bristle types. Sidney Oliver Mail-order is a wonderful invention if you know exactly what you want, but it's nothing but a crapshoot when it comes to buying art supplies and buying brushes online might be the biggest gamble of them all. The quickest advice I can give is to go to the biggest, not [...]
Do Paintings Reflect the Painter's Personality?
Do Paintings Reflect the Painter's Personality? Morning Rays, Oil on Panel, 16X20" Do--or can--paintings somehow reflect their painter's personality? How? What are the clues? Sidney Oliver Sid, the safest answer would be that paintings certainly can tell you something about a painter's personality. I doubt if anyone can do a full psychological blueprint of a painter, but I bet certain traits can be discerned. Each painter has a different personality and that ought to be reflected in the work. Authenticity is key to being a painter. Don't, Don't, Don't copy someone else's painting style. The best copying can get you is a poor second. Study the works [...]
Friends Don't Let Friends Fear Sketching
Friends Don't Let Friends Fear Sketching Above are the sketchbooks of Ruth Anna Stolk who has sketched and painted all over the world. In the previous post discussing a painter who can't draw, Sidney Oliver posed this question: Ruthie, what would you say to a would-be painter who can't draw? I don't mean "can't paint." Say someone who paints realistically but uses someone else's photos for subjects because he or she never learned to draw and is a little bit afraid of trying. This post will zero in on the "little bit afraid of trying" aspect to show that sketching actually can be quite delightful [...]
A Painter Who Can't Draw
A Painter Who Can't Draw I am on the left and it's obvious I could neither draw nor paint. I think I've used this image on the blog before, but I use it to prove a point. Drawing & painting take work and determination. Talent is a small portion of the equation. Ruthie, what would you say to a would-be painter who can't draw? I don't mean "can't paint." Say someone who paints realistically but uses someone else's photos for subjects because he or she never learned to draw and is a little bit afraid of trying. Sidney Oliver Sid, I hesitate to say [...]
Allow Yourself to Feel
Allow Yourself to Feel Awash in Obscurity, Oil on Panel, 30X40" Everyone has a "feel" for something--an instinct born of experience that tells us whether something is on or off the mark. Does this play any role in your painting? Sidney Oliver A friend told me today that when she walked into my most recent show with her fellow art students, one of them pointed to the painting above and said, "What do you see in it?" My friend answered, "I don't see anything. I feel." Just as in life, and perhaps more so in art, feeling with all of its meanings is paramount to experiencing [...]
From the Painter's Standpoint, What Is Involved in Putting Together an Exhibition?
From the Painter's Standpoint, What Is Involved in Putting Together an Exhibition? A well-done exhibition looks so simple: Hang ten paintings and bam, you're done. But I suspect a lot more goes into it than that. What's involved? Sidney Oliver Putting together an art exhibition involves an intense mental and physical process for the painter. An exhibition just opened of my work at the Gay Street Gallery in Washington, VA, which gives me a splendid opportunity to lead you through the process. Gay Street Gallery, co-owned by Kevin Adams and Jay Brown, is situated in an 1836 building that "is believed to be one of [...]
What Type of Palette Do You Use?
What Type of Palette Do You Use? From the looks of it, I use many palettes. This was taken several years ago at the RAAC Fall Art Tour. You can dispatch this one in a sentence, I guess, but I'm always in search of a palette pan. I notice from your studio pictures that one particular kind shows up. What make, and why do you like it? Sidney Oliver Sidney, I know you paint in watercolor, so I'll tackle that first. Man, you have really opened up a can of worms here. For the oil painter out there, skip to the end if you aren't interested [...]
Difference Between Inspiration & Skill?
Difference Between Inspiration & Skill? Early Turner vs. Later Turner Ruthie, your post on copying made me wonder: What is the difference between inspiration and skill? A skilled artist can create an amazing work, but doesn’t inspiration bring us to tears? Sidney Oliver This painting by Degas of Mary Cassatt blew me away. I love the use of white/off white behind her head. Pure genius. Recently I visited the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC and I saw plenty of well-executed pieces, however, the paintings that drew me in and made me want to rush to them were the paintings that were inspired such as the [...]
Copying Work?
Copying Work? Have other painters copied your work? At the risk of sounding stupid, how do you feel about that? Sidney Oliver Why? I have never understood why a painter would want to copy someone else's work. Yes, I've heard the reasons why, but I still don't buy it. Possessing the skill to paint like someone else is simply a skill sans creativity. I've stated earlier in this blog that we all know creative people who aren't artistic. Inventors come to mind. Most people assume one is naturally creative if one is artistic and, I might be going against the grain here, but I disagree. A copyist [...]
Work Affected by Moods?
Work Affected by Moods? Just now I took the above photograph as an example of one of the things you can do to trick yourself into painting. See the bullet list below. I assume that all people are affected, if not afflicted, by moods. How do your moods affect your work? Do you take note of them and resist or go with the flow? Can you discern any difference in your paintings according to your moods? Sidney Oliver I have no idea if there is a right or wrong answer to this question. Many professional painters think that the notion of being "in the mood to [...]
Recent Works
Email: ruthie at ruthiewindsormann.com
