Linda Infante Lyons

2011-10-25T14:32:00.003-08:00

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Museum Painting Class:

We will discussing the use of color in landscapes and starting a landscape painting today. Please bring a medium sized canvas to class. If you would like to do a study first, bring a smaller canvas or panel.

See you tonight!
Linda

Understanding Color through Oil Painting 10/4/2011

2011-10-05T15:19:00.006-08:00

Tue. 10/4/2011

Today we painted simple still life studies, using analogous and complementary colors to create the illusion of volume. Previously the class has worked with color value studies, using analogous colors and white.

As a review: analogous colors are those that are closest on the color wheel, such as blue green, green, yellow green, or yellow orange, orange, red orange or colors that are closely related, such as yellow ochre/yellow or burnt sienna/ cadmium orange. These colors can be used to create a value scale, keeping the saturation and integrity of the color (hue) along the way.

Each color, right out of the tube, has a value-light to dark. Lemon yellow is the lightest on this scale, burnt umber one of the darkest. Learning to see color in terms of value is an important first step in creating a vibrant and compelling painting.

Adding white or black to push values ranges can dull the color or change it altogether ( red + white: pink).

In the previous class, we discussed complementary colors and how they can be used to neutralize saturated colors (pure colors). Complementary pairs for primary colors are:

red/green

yellow/violet

orange/blue

Colors directly opposite of the color wheel are the color's complement. Complements are useful in creating shadow values. A little bit of cadmium red can be added to green to create the shaded area of a green apple, a touch of violet to the yellow of a lemon.

Today we started the still life paintings, sketching with the paint brush and diluted paint the objects seen first as geometrical shapes. The shadow masses were also blocked in as simple shapes.

Starting from dark to light, colors were mixed and applied: Shadow, middle values and light, leaving the details, highlights and reflections for last. The foreground and background colors/values were also blocked in so as to be able to assess the correct overall value composition.

Most have not completed their paintings, so I have posted a few photos if you want to continue to work. Please feel free to try another study at home and email any questions. Wine, snacks and music (Ipods ,cds) are welcome for the next class and please bring objects that you would like to paint for our next class.

See you next Tuesday!

Linda

Exhibits/Workshops/Residencies-Spring Schedule

2011-02-25T08:20:00.004-09:00

I am especially looking forward to the artist in schools residencies this year and to visiting Wrangell for the first time as the guest artist for their bird festival. My Homer residency will be focused on painting and self portraits and the Aquarian residency will deal with painting, botanty, plant forms, and seeds.

Anchorage Museum Portrait Painting Classes-Feb 3-March 31 (no class March 10)
Selo Kachemak School-Homer, AK- Artist in Schools Residency-April 11-22
Aquarian Charter School- Artist in Schools Residency-TBA
Stikine River Bird Festival, Wrangell AK.-Guest Artist-April 24-May 1.
Plein Air Painting Workshop, Anch. AK-Alaska Artists Guild-May 23-26
Anchorage Museum-Oil Painting Classes-Fall Schedule-TBA

Featured Artist-exhibit of new paintings-Artique Gallery, Anch AK. June 4, First Friday

Anchorage Museum Purchase

2010-11-27T04:33:00.004-09:00

Eureka oil on canvas 18 x 20 2010

Eureka has been recently purchased by the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. This purchase was funded by the Rasmuson Foundation and will be part of the museum's permanent Alaska contemporary artists collection.

2010-11-26T09:39:00.000-09:00

2010-11-26T09:21:00.004-09:00

I've been working as a set painter on the movie, Everybody Loves Whales, being shot here in town since late September. The job has been great and I have learned a lot. I am looking forward to getting back to work painting and reconnecting with friends.

I've collected images of plants that I plan to use as reference material for future paintings. Most of the photographs were taken in September when plant life has started to decay and takes on a sculptural architectonic appearance. Posted are a few examples of these photographs.

Hope everyone is well and ready for winter. I will get back to you with details of new classes at the Museum this year.

Linda

New Painting

2010-06-06T23:23:00.006-08:00

Jungle's Edge- Oil on masonite. 12 x 12" sold

The return of the swallows......

2010-05-20T19:33:00.010-08:00

Volveran Las Oscuras Golondrinas

Volveran las oscuras golondrinas

en tu balcon sus nidos a colgar

y, otra vez, con el ala a sus cristales

jugando llamaran

pero aquellas que el vuelo refrenaban

tu hermosura y mi dicha al contemplar

aquellas que aprendieron nuestros nombres

esas...no volveran!

Volveran las tupidas madreselvas

de tu jardin las tapias a escalar

y otra vez a la tarde, aun mas hermosas, o

sus flores se abriran;

pero aquellas, cuajadas de rocio

cuyas gotas mirabamos temblar

y caer, como lagrimas del dia

esas...no volveran!

Volveran del amor en tus oidos

las palabras ardientes a sonar;

tu corazon, de su profundo sueno

tal vez despertara

pero mudo y absorto y de rodillas

como se adora a Dios ante su alter

como yo te he querido.... desenganate

asi no te querran!

Gustavo Adolfo Bequer

(1836-1870)

Final touches

2010-05-16T11:17:00.005-08:00

Putting on the final touches for the June show. I am using gallery wrapped canvas and am not framing paintings this year. The wide edges look great with a neutral color. I am using a gray tinted acrylic gesso and add a purple or green tint to this if needed. I have to resist the urge to tweek the paintings.......they are ready and need to dry.

The last few weeks before a show are problematic. One has to accept that time is up, the paintings are done and that soon they will be in the hands of others. Paintings are like children, I've done what I can to make them what they should be and now I have to let them go. My walls already look empty without them.

My daughter said this too........"Mom, the walls look empty. I miss your paintings." We go through this every year. As soon as the show opens.......it's back to the empty studio to start all over again.

Looking ahead......

2010-05-16T10:03:00.005-08:00

Ah......spring is finally here. The birds are back and there is that new yellow/green color of new birch leaves everywhere. Soon it will be summer, it comes fast, like a wave. Got to be quick and catch it! I try not to get too anxious about summer plans......but I want to do it all....hiking, biking, trail running...plein air painting etc etc.

Here are two things to put on your calendar if you are interested in art. The IGCA will have an amazing exhibit this June. Be sure to look for Asia Freeman's from the Bunnell Art Center in Homer. Of course stop by and see my show at the Artique. I'll have 13 new pieces on display. Opening reception June 4th at 5:30.

I also to plan to organize a book reading at the IGCA in July for Homer/NY author Serge Lecomte. Serge will read poems about his late daugher, Laura and will read and sign his new book. The date has not been set, but we plan do this on a Saturday night.

Early June I fly to Boise, Idaho to do a 70.3 Iroman Triathlon and will be back to start my Pet Portrait painting workshop at the Museum. I believe there is still room to sign up. I would also like to organize a plein air painting class for the fall.

Hope to see you in June at the Artique.

Collect Art 100 x 100 Today at the International Gallery

2010-05-07T14:05:00.003-08:00

This is a great opportunity to start or add too your art collection. Most pieces are of a smaller format and $100 or less. There are other larger artworks for less than $500. Hope to see you there. ~Linda

COLLECT ART
100 x 100

It's not out of reach. This Friday the International Gallery of Contemporary Art opens COLLECT ART and 100 x 100, two exhibitions that feature works by more than thirty artists - all for sale, and at $500 or less (including at least 100 pieces priced at $100 or less). This is an annual exhibition, aimed at encouraging new collectors for original works and offering an opportunity for seasoned collectors to expand their collections without expanding their pocketbooks. While contemporary art is not about the dollar value, sometimes it's nice to have a chance to get something good for a good price.

Get there early - doors open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 7. Stop back by throughout the month - new works may be added.

iPads are cool, but collecting art is cool, too.

It's not for the old, it's for the wise.

Exhibition runs through May 29.

Artists include:
Pat Adofae, Behind the Eight Ball, Jessica Brown, Randall Carlson, Don Decker, Julie Decker, Rachelle Dowdy, Sharon Ennis, Meg Fowler, Michael Gerace, Sandy Gillespie, Peter Graziano, Denise Heimel, Gina Hollomon, Esther Hong, Margret Hugi-Lewis, Sonya Kelliher-Combs, Ashley Kelley, Ted Kim, Darian LaTocha, Keren Lowell, Linda Lucky, Linda Infante-Lyons, Kim Marcucci, Don Mohr, Jsun Parizo, E.J. Pavsek, James Riordan, Wanda Seamster, Todd Sherman, Andy Sonneborn, Michele Suchland, Sheary Clough Suiter, Dallas Wildeve, Sheila Wyne & more...

Close ups for portrait studies

2010-03-30T02:36:00.010-08:00

Here are some closeup images of our model, Meg. Take a good look at each feature and notice the patterns created by light and shadow. Notice how the upper lid casts a shadow of the iris and whites of her eye. When you look at the closeups of the nose, you can clearly see the warm shadow mass (starting from the right), the almost greenish shadow accent followed by the warm pink transition zone (where shadow meets light). You can also see that the lightest area, the light accent has almost a blueish tone. The light area above the nostril is reflected light.

You can download and print these images if you would like to work on them in class tomorrow. Meg is now wearing a red kimono, which has altered the cool/warm transitions in her skin tone.

See you all tomorrow. You may work on last week's painting or move and find a different perspective for a new painting.

Linda

Pet Portrait Workshop- Anchorage Museum June 21-25

2010-03-04T14:05:00.002-09:00

"Brindal" L. Infante Lyons

I will be leading a pet portrait workshop at the Museum June 21-25, 6:30-9pm. This is an oil painting workshop. If you would like to sign up, contact Jody Jenkins: jjenkins@anchoragemuseum.org.

Mixing Flesh Tones

2010-02-17T10:47:00.012-09:00

Hello Painters,

Bring your canvases from last week to class. This is our last day with Andy. Bring in a large canvas for our next session as well. I will show you how to tone the canvas for the next portrait session with Meg.

Take a look at the pictures of Andy's face and look for these distint value zones. Start at the right of his face, in the shadows and move left. Each one of these zones is a value. There are subtle shifts in temperature as well, cool greenish zones in the warms shadow areas and red to cool yellow green in the flesh in the light area. You can see these areas more clearly on the full frontal image.

The have pushed the contrast and color saturation on Andy's images with Photoshop. Andy's shadow mass is warm, the reflected light cool greenish, the dark accent cool (sap green +), the transition zone a very saturated red hue, the skin in light warm with shift to yellow near the forehead and nuetral/cooler near the jawline. The highlights are cool greenish. Normally if the shadow mass is warm, the highlights are cool.

Here are some suggested flesh tone mixes. Remember to think in value as you mix your colors. What value is yellow ochre? Burnt sienna? As you mix your colors for each zone, check your value steps from one zone to another. Do your mixes provide the correct value step? Be aware that values are relative; a reflected light in the shadow zone, will appear dark in the flesh in the light zone.

Hue=Color
Color temperature=warm (red,orange,yellow), Cool (blue,green,violet)
Chroma= Color saturation, purity, intensity.
Value= range of dark to light

Flesh Tone in Shadow: Large shadow mass on the right side of his face.

Burnt sienna + viridian (a touch) + ultramarine blue (small amount)= warm mahogany.
Burnt sienna + viridan + yellow ochre= cool shadow

Reflected light: Area in the shadow mass that is picking up light indirectly. The color/temperature depends on the surrounding colors and the temperature of the light source. Apply reflected light on top of the already painted dark shadow mass.

Yellow ochre+ burnt sienna + sap green= coolish green
Yellow ochre+ alizarin + cerulean= warmish pink

Dark Shadow Accent: Area between shadow and transition.

Burnt sienna + yellow ochre + viridian= neutral greenish dark accent.

Alizarin + burnt sienna + ultramarine blue= warm violet red accent

Transition Zone: Where shadow meets light, usually the most pure in chroma. Look at the bright red area of the nose close up.

Ultramarine blue (a touch)+ cad. red= warm

Viridian + yellow ochre + cad. red = greenish cool

Flesh Tone in Light- Area in direct light.

Yellow ochre + cadmium red + white= pinky flesh

Yellow ochre + cad. red + touch of sap green + white= cool flesh

Highlights: very small accents of light, the hue depends on the light source, background colors, and the temperature of the shadows. Warm shadow, cool highlights. (nose, cheek bone, forehead)

White + yellow ochre + touch ultramarine blue= cool accent

White + yellow ochre + sap green= cool green accent

White + cad red + yellow ochre= warm pinkish highlight

Darkest Darks: Useful darker value for cast shadows, hair etc

Prussian blue + alizarin + burnt sienna= deep purple value

Dioxazine purple +Prussian blue.

Remember to mix dark to light colors, a little at a time. Clean brushes well between colors and values. Mix big batches of color.

Again, bring wine and snacks if you like. See you all Tuesday.

Linda

Portrait Class Tomorrow

2010-02-15T13:21:00.004-09:00

I've posted images of Andy (with his blessing) for you to examine and use during the week. We have looked at portrait painting in terms of value, looking for the big abstract shapes created by light and shadow. We painted a value study of Andy's face and later another study in a monochromatic skin color. The skin color was a mix of the three primaries and white and was monochromatic in that we had one color, adding white to create a value scale. Tomorrow we will examine the subtle shifts of color temperature in a three dimensional object. We use yellow ochre this time (our shortcut for a nuetral yellow). Here are a few things to think about before class tomorrow:

Color temperature: Warm colors-red, oranges, and yellows.

Cool colors- blue, green and violet.

These colors correspond to the color spectrum, of white light divided, as in a rainbow, red on one end and violet (infra red to ultraviolet).

These pictures of Andy are enhanced so as to see these shifts in temperature. Notice in the close up of this nose, the warm shadows on the right, the cool ( almost olive) dark edge of the shadow (darkest value) and the warm red transition zone on top of his nose before it meets the area of light. In general, if the shadows are warm, the highlights ( the lightest of light) will be cool. The transition zone, where light meets shadow, will be the most pure, in the sense of color saturation or chroma. You see the transition zone is a pure unadulterated red.

We will use yellow ochre, alizarin, burnt sienna and sap green (or viridian mixed with burnt sienna) to acheive these mixes. We will have to add a few others (Prussian blue) to push our values to the dark side. Remember............"value does all the work, color takes all of the credit". More on the value of color tomorrow.

Andy is with us for two more sessions before Meg takes over. I would like to do a more finished portrait in the next two classes. If you want to work larger for this final portrait of Andy, bring a bigger canvas.

You are welcome to download and print the images of Andy to work on at home or in class.

I will bring wine and snacks, you are welcome to contribute.

Linda

Black and white image for value studies

2010-02-15T13:13:00.001-09:00

New Paintings

2009-12-20T10:27:00.002-09:00

I have a few smaller paintings available. Slana Slough is a the Artique and Glacier Bay can be purchased from the Bunnell Street Gallery in Homer.

Slana Slough was inspired by my latest road trip to a small native village 50 miles southeast of Tok. I especially loved the names on signposts as I traveled the 200+ miles to Northway Village, I stopped along the way and took pictures (see previous posts) and wrote down some of the names:

Slana, Chisana, Galena, Metastna, Eureka, Nebesna, Siana, Tanana, Sinona, Gakona, Gulkana, Tolsona, Tazlina, Nelchina, Eska.

How lovely!

I am working on a solo exhibit which will show at the Artique in June and preparing for the portrait painting class in January. The class is now on the museum website, with contact and registration information.

Best Holiday wishes to all. Enjoy this awesome winter scenery!
Linda

Trunk Show

2009-11-24T16:24:00.002-09:00

Good to see everyone at the Bunnell Street Arts Center Trunk show. So nice to see all of the artwork displayed in Jo's beautiful home. I will have more small format paintings on display at the Artique in December.

~Linda

Bunnell Street "Trunk Show" in Anchorage

2009-11-16T14:13:00.005-09:00

A wonderful way to spend a winter Sunday afternoon. Soup and Art to warm the body and soul. Sunday, November 22, 1-4pm. Hope to see you there. ~Linda

Bunnell Trunk Show

A fundraising sale of special items for the Bunnell Street Art Center

Where: Jo and Peter Michalski’s home, 921 W 14th Street in Anchorage
a grey, two-story, flat-roofed home with black trim behind City Sagaya

When: November 22, 1 to 4 pm

Artists include Annette Bellamy, Kathryn Carovano, Alex Combs, Sonya Kelliher-Combs,
Steve Godfrey, Elizabeth Eero Irving, Asia Freeman, Ahna Iredale, Linda Lyons, Sara
Tabbert, Rika Mouw, Kathy Smith, Antoinette Walker, Carla Potter, Deland Anderson,
Ann-Margret Wimmerstedt, Lisa Wood, Turid and Ron Senungetuk, and Judy Winn

Minimum suggested donation $25

Enjoy a delicious mug of homemade soup with bread from Fire Island Bakery
Earn a raffle ticket for a pair of Rika Mouw earrings with every purchase or donation of $25.
Raffle Drawing at 4 pm.
For more information email: info@bunnellstreetgallery.org

Botanical Forms

2009-10-31T08:13:00.007-08:00

I am always interested in forms in nature. Lately, I have been focused on landscapes and patterns formed by mountains, streams, water, and vegetation, but I have always loved plant forms.

I have a bonsai tree, a very primitive species of palm that has been around since the age of the dinosaurs. Within weeks of taking it home, it began to put forth a little shoot, perhaps a type of flower, some type of reproductive organ. As you can see from the photo, the shoot has a primeval embrionic appearance.

I once had a little cactus, no larger than a baseball. For years it just sat there with no signs of life. Then, one year it produced a large pink trumpet shaped flower, three times its size. Such extravagant beauty from this unassuming little plant!

To see more photographs of plant forms, take a look at this website, photography by Karl Blossfeldt : http://www.soulcatcherstudio.com/exhibitions/blossfeldt/index.htm.

Portrait Classes at the Anchorage Museum

2009-10-29T13:10:00.002-08:00

I wanted to give you a heads up on my upcoming portrait classes at the Anchorage Museum. I am looking forward to using the Museum's new artroom and working with models. The classes start in January. You can get more information by logging on to the Museum's website: www.anchoragemuseum.org.

Portrait Oil Painting from Life Models
Adults
Tuesdays January 19 – March 23, 2010
6:30-8:30 PM
Instructor: Linda Infante-Lyons

380 miles to Anchorage

2009-10-17T20:04:00.004-08:00

The drive home to Anchorage was incredibly beautiful. The landscape is bare and the snow has not yet fallen. The lakes have a thin layer of ice and the rivers with small circular islets of ice. The landscape is very attractive to me as an artist. The natural patterns are sharp and there is no distraction from leaves and vegetation. The stands of aspen are stark trunks of white interspersed with a sharp green conical spruce, the ground cover magenta and cadmium yellow. On the road from Eureka to Sheep Mountain there were lanvender rolling hills with sentinels of evenly spaced spuce. I frequently stopped along the way to take pictures and made sketches from memory as soon as I got home. I hope to use some of these images in future paintings.

During the 7 hour drive I saw wolves, a coyote, caribou and a red fox. I saw only a few other drivers on the road. The scope and expanse of this land is part of it's beauty and I will do my best to translate the experience of being there on to a small peice of canvas.

~Linda

Day 5, Northway Alaska

2009-10-17T19:49:00.003-08:00

Last day in Walter Northway School, a small rural school 50 miles south east of Tok, Alaska.

We worked on the final details of the self portraits and put the paintings up on the walls. I am very pleased with the students work. I had a great time with the Northway community and hope to have to opportunity to return someday.

Day 4, Northway, Alaska

2009-10-15T17:42:00.002-08:00

Another fun and productive day at Walter Northway School. Today we started painting the self portraits. Some students stayed after school to work on their paintings. Here are a few of the talented artists of Northway.

Day 3, Northway Alaska

2009-10-14T12:26:00.004-08:00

Another great day in Northway, Alaska. Today we started the class with a PowerPoint slide show of famous artists and their self portraits. The kids started their own self portraits by drawing in their faces after a good examination in the mirror. Tomorrow we take out the paint, learn to mix skin color and paint our portraits.

Saludos~Linda

Northway Village Artist in School Residency

2009-10-13T15:25:00.008-08:00

My new lunch buddies.

Learning how to handle paint and use a paintbrush to create different brush strokes and lines.

Color wheels and adding mixed color to the line paintings.

Two days in Northway and the kids are doing awesome work! The residency is focused on learning painting skills and working up to painting a self portrait. Yesterday I introduced myself as an artist with a PowerPoint slide show of my work and talked about what it takes to be a professional artist. I also showed the students how to use a paint brush and to make different brush strokes using black paint. This is a free, open exercise and gives everyone a chance to get the feel of a paint brush and paint.

Today, day two, we talked about color, the primaries, secondaries and with the older kids, the intermediate and complementary colors. All grades worked on a color wheel. Then they took their black and white paintings from yesterday and filled them in with the colors they had mixed.

I really like this progression because the students learn how to handle a paintbrush first. When we paint with color the kids learn how to mix colors and how to keep their palette and colors clean. This is not easy and they did an excellent job.

Tomorrow we finish up these paintings and delve into painting portraits. The next three days will be all about self portraits and I will show them a PowerPoint slide show of famous artists who have painted self portraits.

This school's student body is a little over 40 students, grades K-12. They consist of 4 groups and I see every group K-12 for an hour everday. It is really a wonderful to work with all grades in one day!

Saludos~Linda

Drive to Northway Village, Artist in Residency

2009-10-13T14:54:00.003-08:00

The 365 mile drive to Northway was spectacular! I ended up stopping every other mile to take pictures. The day was clear and warm, some fall colors still abundant. A little fog and mist going through Sheep Mt. to Eureka, which added a certain mystery to the stands of bog spruce. The skies were crystal clear as I neared the Wrangell Mountains except for a few lenticular clouds near the peaks. My photos do not do justice to this awesome country; it is not possible to capture the sheer expanse and beauty of this territory.

Northway is a small village 50 miles southeast of Tok. The drive is to Glenallen then west to Tok. I am enjoying my stay in Northway and will soon send pictures and news of my artist residency with the students of Northway School.

Saludos~Linda

Artist in Schools Residency, Northway ,Alaska

2009-10-09T22:48:00.002-08:00

I am off to Northway, a small village near the Canadian border, southeast of the town of Tok.
I will be the artist in residence for a week in the school of Northway, K-12, 40 students total, mostly of Athabaskan descent. I am very much looking forward to this trip. I will spend a week with the children of Northway, we will focus on the art of painting self portraits. I will be taking the 7 hr drive on Sunday and hope to take lots of pictures of the trip and of the people of Northway.

Commissioned Pet Portrait in Progress

2009-10-07T13:20:00.002-08:00

I am working on an 36 x 36 Pet Portrait, two Bouvier des Flanders and their cat. As you can see, the painting is still wet. I plan to develop the foreground much more and once the dog fur is dry, glaze some areas to pick up the red light of the background. This has been an enjoyable project.

Last Chance for Color

2009-09-27T17:19:00.016-08:00

Turnagain Arm Trail was ablaze with color. Fall colors, last chance for color before winter sets in. I have been driving around and out of town, taking pictures. Material for future paintings. I like to look for paterns in nature, repeating shapes. Janus (blue runner) and I ran along the trail and stopped for pictures. Yellow Devil's Club, bright red High Bush Cranberry, yellow green Aspen,

orange red Cottonwood. Nature's last gift of color, especially warm colors, before the cool blues and violets take over this land for the next 7 months. There is color in winter, subtle color, low horizen sunsets set on snow, it is there if you look for it.

But for these last few weeks, the color is brazen, exuberant, exaggerated. My photos barely capture it all. Soon the snowy landscape will be a white canvas; photographs, memory, and nostalgia will inform my color choices during the long dark winter to come. Once the snow begins to fall.............anything is possible.

October Group Show: Artique Gallery

2009-09-11T07:22:00.002-08:00

I will have 11 pieces in an October group show at the Artique Gallery. First Friday opening October 2. Hope to see you there!

Artique Gallery
314 G STREET, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 99501
907-277-1663 800-848-1312
ARTIQUE@ARTIQUELTD.COM

OCTOBER 2 - 16
Linda Infante Lyons
Gretchen Hancock
Diane Melms
Dan Lasser

Don't Miss This!

2009-08-11T17:41:00.004-08:00

ACT FAST FOR SLOWFOOD
SLOW FOOD SEACOAST

SATURDAY, SEPT. 12, 2009, 7PM

Catered by the Red Beet Cafe. At artful home on Otis Lakewith fresh local produce, seafood, beer & more music, cocktails, artwork, floatable art$100 per person. Discount for tables of 10.Space is limited.

EMAIL igca@alaskalife.net for reservations

BE A LOCAVORE: EAT AND SUPPORT ART. A FALL HARVEST DINNER SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL GALLERY OF CONTEMPORARY ART

This is a sit down catered dinner of locally produced foods, seafood from Homer and more.

Hope to see you there,

Linda

Fairbanks Exhibit- Well Street Art Company

2009-08-11T17:33:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Well Street Art Company is a gallery with artist studios, a refurbished railroad property on Well Street in Fairbanks. Well Street is owned and managed by artist, David Mollett.

I drove up to Fairbanks on Wednesday and attended the opening on Friday, August 7th. There were multiple activities that night (Fair opening night, NPR "What do ya know?" live show, as well as others.......), but the show opening had a steady flow of art loving Fairbankians.

Forest fires were raging and the smoke levels were high. I had a slight cold that turned into hacking cough and by the end of the evening I had hardly a voice. Luckily the rains began to fall by Friday and the skies cleared a bit.

I was too sick and the smoke too thick for me to get out and see Fairbank's sights. Hoping to return to this friendly town.

Next up: Artique Exhibit October 2009
Scheduled classes: Anchorage Museum January 2010.
Potential Plein Air IGCA September 2009.
The Museum classes will be Portraits in Oils and with live models. To register log on to the Anchorage museum's website.

Saludos,Linda

Art is fun! IGCA Summer Arts Camp

2009-07-22T15:45:00.004-08:00

IGCA Arts Camp

2009-07-22T15:15:00.004-08:00

We are on the third day of our summer Arts Camp at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art. The kids are focusing on self portraits and watched a Powerpoint presentation this morning with images of many artist's self portraits, from Rembrant, Frida Kahlo, Vincent Van Gogh to Chuck Close. Later we examined our own features in the mirror and practiced sketching our faces.

On the first day of camp we practiced applying paint and using different brushstrokes. Tuesday was a day of color and color mixing. Everyone is having a great time and it is so wonderful to see these young people excited about art.

It is said that there is a short window of opportunity to expose children to art. Art appreciation is a cultivatied early skill. Later on, as adults, it is diffucult to instill this sensibility. I am so happy to work with these kids and see the little light shine on. I hope that Holly and I , through our Arts Camp, can help keep that spark of creativity and wonder alive in these budding artists and future art enthusiasts.

Tomorrow we will work on more developed self portraits. Stay tuned for more paintings! Friday we will have our own little "First Friday" exhibit.

Saludos,

Linda

Art Camp July 20 -24 International Gallery of Contemporary Art

2009-06-24T09:21:00.007-08:00

Artist Holly Mcquin and I are conducting a fun Art Camp for kids ages 7-12 at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art the week of July 20-25 at 9am-noon. The camp will focus on self portraits and painting, as well as other fun art activities.

Exposing children to art at a young age is the best way to stimulate their already creative minds!

The cost of the camp is $200 dollars and includes all materials. To register and for more information, email me at linfantelyons@yahoo.com. Limited to 10 participants.

Last Day of Class

2009-06-24T09:12:00.002-08:00

Tomorrow is our last Landscape Class at the International Gallery. I am really pleased with everyone's progress this summer! Please bring all of you paintings, or at least one or two, so we can have a group show for comments and feedback.

I'll bring some wine and goodies. Feel free to bring something to eat or drink. We will paint the first two hours, so bring your latest painting and supplies.

See you tomorrow,
~Linda

Westchester Lagoon

2009-06-05T03:25:00.003-08:00

Wednesday, I drove to Homer to pick up paintings from my May exhibit, give a talk on Magic Realism and conduct a color mixing workshop. The forecast for Thursday was for clear skies and sun. I drove straight to Westchester Lagoon on Thursday from Homer for our scheduled first class outside. The wind and rain sent us running back to the Gallery!

We'll try again next week. Unpredictable weather! It was still great to be outside, even for a few minutes.

Stay tuned. Check you email next week, Thursday morning.

Saludos,

Linda

Lenticularis Clouds

2009-05-23T15:53:00.003-08:00

Here are some photos I took of Lenticularis clouds taken from the backside of Flattop looking south. I was hiking with my daughter, Sofia. We stopped and sat down on the mountain side and watched the clouds as they formed. They looked like flying saucers and clay pots spinning on a pottery wheel. They usually signal a low pressure system coming in........hope we can hold on to the sun for a few days more.

Landscape Class Preview: Color

2009-05-13T06:40:00.005-08:00

Here is a preview of color of for the landscape class. This is our second class and we will be working on small monochromatic studies, nailing down the composition and values of your image. So we won't get into color this Thursday, but I want you to read over this primer.

Color and Landscapes:

· Look for the big shapes. Although your landscape is representational, your painting is built on abstract shapes. This is what attracts the eye before one is aware of the realistic image. (Save the details for last.)

· Look at your composition in terms of value. No amount of color can save a painting with weak values. At least a light, middle tone and dark value are essential for a strong painting. A sharpie sketch can help you establish the values and help you choose an interesting composition. (Start our with your darkest values first when you start to paint. Save the hightlights for last.)

· Establish your horizon. There are no hard fast rules on where to divide land and sky. Be aware of where you place your horizon and what you want to express. (Space/distance: more sky, up close/ intimate: less sky.)

Now, a review on color:

· Complementary color pairs: orange/blue, yellow/violet, green/red. Placed side by side they intensify each other, when mixed, create a neutral color. Adding a small amount will tone down or reduce the intensity of a color. ( A touch of red to green= khaki green.)

· Cool and warm colors. Cool: blue, green, and violet. Warm: red, orange, and yellow. Balancing cool and warm colors makes for an interesting painting. Cool colors recede in a landscape, warm colors advance. (More on that in Atmospheric Perspective).

About the colors on your oil painting supply list:

Some warms are cooler, some cools are warmer

Warm Reds tend to red/orange: Cadmium Medium
Cool Reds tend to blue/purple: Alizarin Crimson

Warm Greens: Permanent green light
Cool Greens tend to blue: Viridian

Warm Yellows: Cadmium Yellow Medium,
Cool Yellows tend to green: Cadmium Lemon, Cad. Light

Warm Blues: French Ultramarine
Cool Blues: Cerulean, Phthalo Blue

Warm Purple tends to red: Magenta
Cool (or neutral) Purple: Dioxazine Purple

Warm Brown tends to orange: Burnt Sienna
Cool (or nuetral) Brown: Burnt Umber

Tips:
To get a very dark brown value mix Burnt Umber with Dioxazine Purple.
Viridian+ Alizarin Crimson + Dioxazine Purple makes a nice dark green value.
For a chromatic black, mix blue with brown. Add white for grey.
Burnt Sienna makes a nice underpainting color for landscapes. (more on that later….)

One more thing to think about:

Atmospheric perspective: Looking through distance and air.

· Cool colors recede
· Warm colors advance
· More detail in the foreground
· Less detail as you recede to the background
· Colors are less intense, less saturated as you recede. (Add more white and neutralize your color with its complementary).
· Less contrast in value in the background.

Thursday Landscape Painting, first class

2009-05-07T23:07:00.002-08:00

It was great to see everyone this evening at the IGCA. Today we worked on composition and design of landscape painting. Since we are not outside, we are using pictures and photos as references for our studies. I want you to learn how to stop and look at the image, examine it for visual cues and patterns. With time will develope these observation skills and will be able to make quick spontaneous decisions on site.

What to Paint? Composition and Design:

Simplify and translate what you see instead of trying to copy nature.
Establish the horizon.
Establish the direction of your light source.
Choose what moves you, eliminate unimportant details
Look for the big shapes first, save the details for last.
Look for value first. Remember that darker values will dominate.
Choose overlapping forms for spatial cues. (Forms that get smaller as they recede.)
Stay away from large, shapeless masses.
Look for built in linear perspective: a stream, path or line of trees.
Feel free to move or add an element in your composition.
Do not place a dominant object in the center.

1. Trace with a pencil or sharpie the big shapes in your composition
2. Use a sharpie to sketch your composition. Avoid drawing details.
3. Block in the large shapes first.
4. Block in medium shapes.
5. Establish value, or tonal contrast with these shapes.
6. Establish or create a linear flow. Something that will draw the eye from one end of the painting to the other.

Look for repeating patterns. How do they change as they recede to the background? What are the visual cues in the image that establish depth and distance?

Using a sharpie will make sure that you don't spend too much time on detail, as you would with a pencil. We are not drawing......just blocking in, examining the image for visual information that we will use later for our painting.

Remember, the photos are a reference to help you design your own composition.

Bring painting supplies and a small canvas. ( 8 x 10 ) for next week.

Saludos,

Linda

Bunnell Street Arts Center, Homer, AK.

2009-05-02T19:25:00.007-08:00

Bunnell Street Gallery, Homer, AK

Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK. 5/2/09

The Bunnell Street Gallery First Friday opening went well. The weather was great and we had a nice turn out of people. I am really pleased with the gallery space and the presentation of my work.

The Homer community is very supportive of artists and I look forward to my next trip to Homer.

Thanks again to the Alaska State Council on the Arts for their support of this exhibit, with the Career Opportunity Grant.

Homer Tribune Interview

2009-04-29T13:11:00.004-08:00

http://www.homertribune.com/article.php?aid=4150

Link to the Homer Tribune interview about the upcoming exhibit at Bunnell.

I am off to Homer early tomorrow. Luckily, I can fit all of my 17 paintings in my Honda Element, which has rear seats that can flip up or be removed entirely. Hoping I can get my road bike to fit too.........the weather is looking perfect for a long ride.

Check out the review. If you are in Homer, see you there.

~Linda

A clear day, Mt. Redoubt in full sight

2009-04-20T10:58:00.011-08:00

Redoubt Volcano, Anchorage 4/20/09

Redoubt Volcano, 4/20/09

What a beautiful day. Mt Redoubt is clear and active and full splendor. This is the view from my home/studio. I have always been intrigued and excited by volcanos. You will frequently see them in my paintings. Most the places I have lived and visited have volcanos: Alaska, Washington, Costa Rica, Los Galapagos, Hawaii, Chile,

In Hawaii, The Big Island is a volcano, it is active and alive. I love those miles and miles of lava and those little signs of life taking root, a glimpse of the primeval. I hiked to the lava floes of Kileua, emptying into the sea. Red, hot, deadly flows of lava. In Costa Rica the jungle plant life clings to the volcano edges. The Galapagos were formed by volcanos. Some of the bays were submerged volcanic crators, where sea iguanas, sea lions and penguins swam close, without fear of people.

I own a piece of land in the south Chile at the foot hills of an active volcano, Villarica. You can climb this volcano with a guide and the right gear. Villarica is snow covered, with a few areas of ice. When you get to the top, the smell of sulphur is strong. You can peer into the crater and see lava or a lava crusted dome. Villarica is always active and puffing steam. At night the red lava of the crator reflects on the steam plume. Pucon is the city at the foothills of Villarica, a favorite tourist destination and site of the Pucon Ironman 70.3 triathlon, a race I have had the pleasure to run. The swim is in lake Villarica, starting on a lovely volcanic black sand beach.

I was in Washington, in college at Whitman in Walla Walla, when Mt. St Helens erupted. It erupted a few days before the end of the year and graduation. I remember the ash cloud slowly advancing from the north. Many family members were not able to make it to graduation because of the ash.

I feel privileged to live near volcanos. It reminds me that I live in a dynamic and unpredicatable world.

Spring is here and so are the birds........

2009-04-18T16:36:00.003-08:00

Spring is finally here. The Shorebird Festival in Homer is coming up as well as my show at the Bunnell Street Gallery. The exhibit is titled "Plumas" (Spanish: feathers), and is focused on birds and their environments.

Speaking of birds.......this Ring Necked Pheasant has been hanging around our upper hillside home, strutting around the woods near our property. In Chile the rural folk believe that the appearance of certain birds, especially unusual ones, are signs, omens or carry a message........not sure what the presence of this handsome male pheasant means. I don't believe these birds are native to Alaska.........perhaps he is a lost pet?

The appearance of any bird here in Alaska is a good sign. It means spring is here! I can't see them all, but I can hear them, the knocking woodpeckers, the honking nuthatches and woe -is me- golden crowned sparrows, as well as the cheerful chirps of redpolls who stayed on for the winter.

Conception of the Sphinx: A ... - Google Book Search

2009-04-07T06:55:00.002-08:00

Conception of the Sphinx: A ... - Google Book Search

This is a link to a painting that was commissioned for an Alaska fictional novel by, Paul Brynner
While speaking with the author about his ideas for the cover, we talked about how Alaskans typically dream of exotic colorful and lush places, but when outside of Alaska are nostaligic for our wild, cold, and rugged environment. This related to the underlying current in his novel and was the inspiration for the painting used for the cover design.

Supply List for IGCA Classes and Workshops

2009-04-07T06:37:00.003-08:00

Supply List for Landscape Painting Class

Suggested supply list. If you already have your own supplies, please bring what you have. (Gamsol is the only solvent allowed in the studio.)

Blaine's Art Supply has all of these supplies. Buy local!

Oil paints: 37ml preferably artist grade: Gamlin recommended. On a budget: Georgian or Graham OK. Colors in parenthesis are optional, but useful. Theses colors are pretty standard and are the colors I use in my studio.

Red: alizarin crimson, cadmium red medium
Green: viridian (permanent green light)
Blue: French ultramarine, (cerulean)
Yellow: cadmium yellow light, cadmium yellow medium
Purple: dioxazine purple, (magenta)
Brown: burnt sienna burnt umber
White: Large tube of titanium/zinc mix

Note: You can substitute the less expensive and nontoxic hues for the cadmium colors.
On a budget: You can get by with cadmium yellow light, alizarin, French ultramarine, viridian, burnt sienna and white.

Mediums/Solvents:

Gamlin Neo-Meglip Alkyd Gel, linseed Oil or walnut Oil
Gamsol odorless mineral spirits. (No turpentine or other brands please).

Brushes:

According to your budget, natural or synthetic hog bristle oil brushes.

One #3 Filbert
One #4 Filbert
One #6 Filbert
One #8 Filbert
One # 2 sable or synthetic sable round
One small fan brush
One large palette knife for color mixing.

Surfaces:

Three stretched canvas: medium format. Example: 18" x 24" or 20" x 26".
Three small canvas boards for studies. Small: 6”x 8” or 8”x10”
You can also use Masonite panels, sanded and coated with acrylic gesso. (4 coats, sanded between each coat.). You can buy Masonite (tempered hardboard) at Lowe’s or Home Depot and cut to your specification. If the pieces are larger that 8” x 10” they need to be braced. ( I can explain how to do this in class.)

Miscellaneous:
A medium sized sketch pad and a pencil
A wooden or glass palette or disposable palette paper
A bar of brush soap
A jar w/lid for the Gamsol (Silicoil or stainless steel brush cleaning pot)
Two small receptacles for painting medium
Paper towels or lint free rags
Apron

Color Mixing Workshop:

I will provide acrylic primary (3) colors for mixing, paint brushes and canvas paper to make color charts. I also have plastic palette knives you can use if you don't want to purchase a metal one. If you don't have a palette, I will provide palette paper.

Please bring as many other colors from the landscape painting list above or your own paints as your budget allows. The more colors you have, the more you will be able to get to know your colors and practice mixing. For mixing puposes, cheaper student grade paints are OK. Real cadmiums are expensive! Buy the "hues" for mixing. Acrylic painters are welcome.

I will be giving demonstrations and will show a Power Point presentation color theory and color mixing. If you don't want to purchase paints, you may attend to watch the demos, Power Point, take notes, and ask questions.

Basic Supplies:

*Oil paints (see note and list above)
Gamsol Mineral Spirits
Small jar with lid for Gamsol

*necessary basic colors: cadmium hue yellow light, alizarin, viridian, French ultramarine and white.

*extended (recommended) list: cad hue yellow light, cad. hue yellow medium, alizarin, cad hue red medium, viridian, burnt sienna, burnt umber, dioxazine purple and white. Or if possible, all of the landscape painting colors listed above.

Oil Painting Basics for the Beginner Workshop

This is a workshop for people wanting to learn about oil painting. If you already have painting supplies please bring them in and we will discuss what you have. If you want to buy supplies and get started, below is a basic list. I will bring in the landscape painting supply list for demonstrations. If you are not sure oil painting is for you, you may attend to watch the demos and ask questions.

Basic Oil Paints

Cadmium hue yellow light
Cadmium hue red medium
Alizarin
Viridian
French Ultramarine Blue
Titanium/Zinc mix white

Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits
Linseed or Walnut Oil
Small jar with lid for Gamsol
Small pot or jar for Linseed Oil
Disposable or acrylic, wood or glass palette

1 #3 Filbert Hog bristle brush (real or synthetic).
1 # 6 Filbert Hog bristle brush
1 # 2 sable or synthetic sable round
1 small synthetic (soft) fan brush
1 diamond head metal palette knife

1 small stretched canvas: 8 x 10"
Brush Soap
Paper Towels or lint free rags ("Bag of Rags" Fred Meyers or Home Depot).
Apron.

Any questions? Please email me: linfantelyons@yahoo.com

Painting Classes at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, May 2009

2009-04-05T07:47:00.004-08:00

IGCA- Landscape Painting May 2008

I will be teaching Landscape Painting again at the IGCA starting in May. These are in studio classes, but we will discuss plein air painting, how to set up to paint outside and how to compose a landscape painting in a live setting. We will spend time working on composition, observing images and setting up the painting before we paint. Learn how to compose a landscape painting and mix the colors you need for a vibrant captivating painting.

I also have two workshops on the schedule. The Color Mixing Workshop will cover a wide range of color properties. We will practice mixing and will make our own color charts for color value ranges, nuetralized colors and color temperature. Mix a palette for landscapes, portraits, still life paintings. We will learn all about the colors in our palettes, their properties and possible color mixes. I will provide a few basic acrylic colors and supplies for practice, but you are encouraged to bring your own supplies and wider range of colors.

The Oil Painting Basics Workshop is for beginners. Everything you wanted to know about oil painting supplies and how to use them. What is a medium, a solvent? What substrate should I use? How do I prepare a panel? How do I clean my brushes? What are the properties of my oil paints? You will learn important oil painting basics to get you started in a life long adventure of painting. Bring some basic painting supplies and lots of questions!

I will provide easels, but if you have a portable easel or French easel, please bring it to class. A list of materials will be provided.

Landscape Oil Painting Classes
Thursday Evenings 6-8:30pm
May 7- June 25
8 Classes $160

Color Mixing and Color Theory for Painters
Workshop
Sunday May 10 1-3:30
$30

Oil Painting Basics for the Beginner
Workshop
Sunday May 17 1-3:30
$30

The IGCA is a great place to learn how to paint. Come soak up all of the good art vibes in the gallery!

To sign up email me: linfantelyons@yahoo.com

or call: 351-4478

Shorebird Festival and Bunnell Street Exhibit

2009-04-05T07:39:00.002-08:00

My May exhibit in Homer a the Bunnell Street Gallery coincides with the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Fesitival. The festival is May 7- 10. I have attended this festival and had a great time. Shorebirds fly through this area in May stopping in Homer before they continue their migration north to nest. My exhibit opening is First Friday, May 1st, but if you are in Homer for the fesitival, stop by and see my show. The focus of my recent work is birds.

Sign up for festival activities is happening right now, online:

http://www.homeralaska.org/events/kachemakBayShorebirdFestival/index.htm

MYC Mural Unveiling Ceremony

2009-03-23T22:02:00.004-08:00

The Mclaughlin Youth Center had an official unveiling of the multicultural mural today. The students attended as well as MYC staff, members of the Rasmuson Foundation , The Alaska State Council on the Arts and the Boys and Girls Club of America. The mural is hanging in the entrance to the cafeteria and a plaque is placed next to it with the names of sponsors, student artists and the resident artist.

Again, I really enjoyed working with the kids at Mclaughlin. This was a great project and I believe we produced a warm and colorful piece to inspire future residents of the facility.

McLaughlin Youth Center Collaborative Mural

2009-03-12T18:27:00.010-08:00

The MYC mural is coming along very nicely. We have had all of spring break to paint and hope to be done this Friday. We will have an unveiling ceremony and reception.

I started working with a group of 15 kids in January. We met three times a week during their lunch hour. The first day I showed them a Power Point presentation of international murals as well as local Anchorage murals. We talked about murals and why murals are painted. We practiced drawing, color mixing and painting. In the subsequent sessions we brainstormed on theme, collected images and created image files.

The students each painted two 12x 12" border squares of their own drawings relating to the theme of " Beauty in Diversity". I came up with the center design after our brainstorming session. This design has been modified many times at the request of the students. I sketched the center design and the kids are painting it.

This has been a very enjoyable experience for me. I have really enjoyed working with these kids. They have been motivated, respectful, on task and fun to be with. It has been very satisfying to see them grow as creative, artistic individuals in these past three months.

Stay tuned for final images.

Saludos,

Linda

2009-03-05T20:45:00.004-09:00

Start with shadow areas of skin tone. Also establish right away your darkest darks and cast shadows.

Add middle tones and transition zones.

Highlights and details are saved for last.

I used a photograph of Scarlett Johanneson, protagonist in the movie, "The Girl with Pearl Earring." She was modeling the famous painting by Jan Vermeer.

2009-02-19T10:12:00.003-09:00

Great Class! Today we continued working on last week's paintings. I stressed to everyone the importance of finishing their paintings.

When you look at my demo pictures, you can see how unruly and messy the middles stages can be. The key is not to give up! Like a marathon, you will feel hopeful and excited when you start. Mid-race you will begin to question and doubt your ability to finish, but in the end you persevere and reach the finish line happy and proud of your accomplishment.

The same with painting. There is always a point in my painting process that I do not like my painting. I have learned that this is to be expected and not the time to give up. It is the time to take a break, walk away for a few minutes, come back and reaccess what you are doing. This is how you learn. These doubts or questions are just your mind's way of working things out. I have never given up on a painting and in the end reach a point where I am pleased and satisfied with the end product. If you were always happy with your painting from start to finish.......how would you improve?

This week I did a demo on painting the eye and the nose. Next week we'll talk about hair and lips. Bring another canvas next week. We will prepare the canvas with an underpainting for the next class.

Saludos,

Linda

Portrait Class

2009-02-05T08:55:00.002-09:00

Good to see everyone in class!

We reviewed the skin color mixes and values from last week and added on to these strings of color/value. Last week we painted the area of flesh in light with a mix of Cad. Red medium, Yellow Ochre and White. We added white for a range of values. The area of flesh in the shadow was a mixture of Burnt Sienna and Sap Green (or Viridian Green).
You can make Sap green by adding a bit if Burnt Sienna to Viridian. If your mix already call for Burnt Sienna, just use Viridian as you "cooling" green.

Flesh Tone in Light:

Yellow Ochre + Cad. Red + White=pinky warm flesh tone
Yellow Ochre + Cad. Red + Sap Green + white= green, cool flesh tone

Flesh Tone in Shadow:

Burnt Sienna + Viridian + Ultramarine Blue= Warm Shadow
Burnt Sienna + Viridan + Yellow Ochre= Cool Shadow

Dark Transition Zone: (Where shadow meets light)

Ultramarine Blue (a touch)+ Cad. Red= warm tone

Darkest Darks: ( a new and useful darker value for cast shadows, hair etc).

Alizarin Crimson +Prussian Blue (a touch)+Burnt Sienna

There are more skin tones to come. Next week we will talk about where we use cool tones versus warm tones. Keep this in mind for now: Cool light-Warm Shadows.

Skin color mixes vary, every artist has a favorite mix. I tried these above mixes in the Gary Faigin portrait workshop and found them very useful and similar to my own. I also like to mix a yellow ochre base from Cad. Lemon and Violet, then adding Cad red. or Alizarin, a touch of white and a touch of Viridian to nuetralize or cool down the mix.

Basically, a skin tone ( in light) is all three primaries plus white. For example, the red and yellow make an orange, add blue to neutralize and you get brown, add white for value. Experiment with your colors. See what you come up with. Use what you already know about color. Is your mix too bright pink? What is the complementary of pink(red)? Too orange? What should you do? Can you come up with your own skin tone "recipe"?

In the end, always looks at your subject first in terms of value.

See you next week. Bring this week's painting to work on in class. Bring another canvas to prepare an underpainting.

Saludos,
Linda

Portrait Painting in Oils

2009-01-22T15:21:00.002-09:00

Saludos- First class, great to see everyone!

We started class with a power point presentation and introduction to portrait painting in oils. As in previous classes, regardless of the subject, landscape, still life or portraits, I like to emphasize the importance of seeing your painting in terms of value before you tackle color. Starting a painting involves a careful observation of the subject, picking out the big shapes, and the value relationships with those big shapes.

We started a small "poster" value study and I did a demo on mixing a gray value scale. Where are the darkest darks? Start with these values and work to the middle values, leaving the lighter values for last.

Again, good to see everyone. Please bring all of your supplies and your larger canvas. We will start a color portrait next week, as well as repeated value studies for those that want to practice.

There are many ways to mix skin color, and every artist has a favorite "recipe". All you need to think about right now, is that you can mix skin color with the three primaries plus white. From there we will explore the variations on this mix. ( Which primaries? How much of each? How do I mix cool, warm, nuetral skin tones? How do I achieve the darkest skin tone value, the lightest.........?)

See you next Wednesday.

Linda

McLaughlin Youth Center Mural Project

2009-01-14T14:19:00.002-09:00

I will be working on a collaborative mural with a group of students from the McLaughlin Youth Center funded by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts. The students are presently members of the school's multicultural club and the mural's theme will focused on diversity and multicultural issues.

We plan to work on ideas and concepts weekly, during their lunch hour. By the end of February we should have a well developed design. The actual painting will occur during spring break in March. The mural will be painted in acylics on gessoed panel, with dimension of 8'x16' and will hang in the school's cafeteria.

So far we have viewed images and discussed the work of Mexican muralists, Rivera, Orozco and Siquieros, as well as local and national contemporary murals.

I am exited to be leading this project. I plan to post images of our final work.

Saludos,
Linda

Portrait Class Cancelled Today

2009-01-14T13:52:00.004-09:00

So sorry to say our first class has been cancelled due to the severe icey weather conditions. Who would have guessed we would have a tropical front move in when only two days ago we ended a two week -20 degree cold snap. I am presently marooned in my upper hillside house where roads are sheer ice.

We will make up this class in March.

I am looking forward to exploring portrait painting with you next week. If you are new to oil painting, take a look at previous posts on this blog about oil painting supplies and basic techniques.

I will give a Powerpoint presentation on our first class. You will need to bring your sketch pad, pencil, a small canvas board (8x10) as well as your paints, mediums and brushes. I issued an updated supply list, but there is little difference in the previous one except that I am asking that you bring an alkyd gel instead of linseed oil and three medium format canvases. I also am including the color of Yellow Ochre. The alkyd gel, Gamblin's Neo-meglip sold at Blaine's is faster drying, but it is not critical. Linseed oil will work too. Please, only bring Gamsol as your solvent. A large palette knife will be useful when we learn to mix skin color.

I will provide the images for the first paintings. Later, you can bring in your own photographs for portraits and I will help you pick out an appropriate paintworthy image.

In the mean time, take a look at the National Portrait Gallery's website: http://www.npg.si.edu/ for inspiration. See you all next Wednesday.

Saludos,
Linda

Koniag Education Foundation Grant

2008-11-08T20:17:00.006-09:00

A big thank you to the Koniag Education Foundation for their generous Career Development Grant. Thanks to KEF, I will spend a week at the Gage Institute of Art in Seattle studying portrait painting with artist and instructor Gary Faigin. Koniag is a Alutiiq Alaska Native Cooperation of which I am a descendant.

My mother's family is from Kodiak Island. I am proud of my Alutiiq heritage. My thoughts are with my Alutiiq/Russian grandmother, Mary. I will always honor her spirit, her love of family, and her beloved island of Kodiak.

Oil Painting Classes at E Street Studio

2008-10-27T15:47:00.002-08:00

Hello Artists:

I wanted to let you know I will be holding oil painting classes at my E Street Studio next month. There will be two sessions of six classes on Tuesday or Thursday evenings. Open to all levels of expertise.

Tuesday: 5:30-7:30 pm November 11- December 16.
Thursday: 5:30-7:30 pm November 13- December 18.

Location: Downtown- 501 E Street, Studio 201. Located on the corner of 5th and E, above Polar Bear Gifts, second floor, entrance on E.
Price: $150

To sign up: email me or call 351-4478

Class size is limited to six students.

Yucatan Blue Bird, "Charra"

2008-10-01T17:23:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Mexico

2008-10-01T17:16:00.003-08:00

Open ocean swim start-Cancun Mexico.

Hola!
Just returned from a trip to Mexico. A girlfiend and I ran in the Cancun 70.3 Ironman Triathlon last Sunday Sept. 21. The race included a 2,200 yard open ocean swim in the blue caribbean, a 56 mile bike through the a jungle and a 13.1 mile run along the Cancun "Zona Hotelera". A very challenging race due to the heat and humidity. Race day was sunny and in the 90's. The hardest part was the run which was during the midday heat. Luckily there were aid stations with ice and cold water stationed every km. My first 70.3, felt great, looking forward to the next one!

So happy to be in Mexico! I didn't realize how much I missed the Latin American culture and speaking Spanish. I fell right into to it, it was like coming home! I have always been a fan of Mexican art and the lush tropical Yucatan penisula was very inspiring.

After the race we had a week to get out of the hotel strip of Cancun and explore. We visited some Mayan ruins called "Tulum" where I took the picture of a beautiful blue bird eating cactus fruit. This bird will figure in my latest painting. In fact, I started the painting today.

Back to Anchorage, happy to be home. The fall colors are amazing! Time to do a little plein air?
This coming Friday is "First Friday". I have a piece in the Artique's "Big Works" show and will be there at the opening. Stop by if you are out and say hello.

I plan to teach classes in my studio this fall and winter. I am in my studio all day so please let me know if you are interested and when so I can set up some time for small groups of 2-5 people.
Private classes are also available. Phone: 351-4478

Hope everyone is doing well and inspired by the fall display of color.
Saludos,
Linda

AKSCA and NEA Grant

2008-08-17T21:52:00.002-08:00

A special thanks to the Alaska State Council on the Arts and National Endowment for Arts for a generous grant awarded to support my work on a solo exhibit with the Bunnell Street Gallery in Homer Alaska.

The exhibit will take place next year in May and will coincide with the Homer Shorebird Festival. Birds are a favorite subject,. I will have a special focus on this theme for the May exhibit.

Cycling and Painting

2008-08-15T11:56:00.020-08:00

Sheep Mt. Lodge

Fireweed Bike race, 50 mile finish

You may be asking yourself, what does cycling and painting have to do with each other?

There were four artist/cyclists in our group racing in the Fireweed Bike Race, 50 mile distance, starting at Sheep Mt. Lodge. We arrived the day before the race and spent the afternoon plein air painting the spectacular scenery surrounding the Sheep Mountain Lodge. The panoramas were wide open vistas of glacial cut mountains, mineral rich ranges tinged with yellows, oranges, and reds.

As soon as we had unpacked our gear and bikes, we set up our plein air easels next to the bunkhouse. There we painted, relaxed and took it all in. No pre-race jitters for us!

The morning of the race started out cold and rainy. We all prepared ourselves mentally to face the elements. Just as the 50 mile solo race was ready to start, the clouds cleared and revealed the freshly washed colors of the landscape before us. By the end of the race we were surrounded by sunny cerulean skies and temperatures in the mid 70's.

During the race, I kept track of my heart rate monitor and my bike computer. I pushed hard and found a sustainable race pace. I then settled into an aero postion and focused on the scenery around me. I noticed the patterns of shadow and light and the atmospheric perspective of distant ridges of mountains. I passed a mirror like pond perfectly reflecting the image behind it. I wondered, what colors would I use for such a scene? What colors would I need to mix to achieve that green? Would it be a little Viridian and Cadmium Lemon with a touch of Alizarin?

These are the kind of thoughts that go through a cyclist/painter's mind and it turns out I was not alone. At the finish line, fellow painter/cyclist, Suzanne had the same thoughts and revelations. "Did you see the patterns of pine trees on those undulating hills in Eureka?" she said. "What about that amazing reflecting pond? Wouldn't that be great to paint!"

It turns out she was even more inspired and industrious than I. After the race, on the way back to Anchorage, she stopped to paint the Matanuska Glacier. After 50 miles of riding, beer and pizza and an hour laying in the sun, I was ready to make the long drive home.

Cyclists and artists are passionate people. We spend hours outside training. We love the feel of our bodies as they work hard and we especially enjoy the miles we spend pedaling through the spectacular Alaska scenery. We ride up mountain passes and along tidal flats and see many things along the way, moose, bears, eagles soaring overhead, and beluga whales swimming only yards away from the road's edge.

As we crouch over our aerobars, listening to the steady sound of our pedaling legs and beating hearts, we plan for our next ride or imagine our next painting. Everything is as it should be and we are glad to be alive.

View Finder Information

2008-06-24T21:17:00.004-08:00

Some of you made your own view finder with matte board. Here is a link to a demo with the view finder I ordered from Artwork Essentials. There is a grid, a color and value finder.

Hope this link helps you understand the purpose of isolating the scene you wish to paint for a better composition.

http://www.artworkessentials.com/products/accessories/Viewfinder/VF68G.htm

Great to see everyone today in my studio. Hope to get out and paint again with you this summer.

Linda

Painting Clouds

2008-06-20T21:39:00.005-08:00

If you are like me, (and I know you are), today was one of those days where paintable scenes were everywhere! I wanted to jump out of my car every other minute and set up my easel.

Here is a view of clouds taken from my house tonight. Take a look at the colors in the clouds. Are they really just white? Do you see a gradient in the blue of the sky? Are there shapes or linear patterns in these clouds? What is the direction of the these linear patterns? Can see any spatial perspective in this image?

We are going to talk about painting clouds in our last plein class at McHugh Creek. The forecast is for showers, so be prepared for Plan B. These lovely clouds may send us running to the IGCA.

Check you email 1 hour before our class. If in doubt call: 351-4478

It's late and I should be sleeping! Mayor's Marathon tomorrow, woo hoo! Enjoy your Saturday and see you all Sunday.

~Linda

Painting Refections

2008-06-20T21:17:00.005-08:00

Taku Lake Fall 2007

Westchester Lagoon Fall 2007

Here are some images with reflections from a previous plein aire class to work with since the wind rippled the reflections on Westchester Lagoon last Thurday. You are all awesome hardy painters, working through wind and cold!

Remember:

Reflections are mirror images. The stiller the water, the clearer the reflection.
If the observer is at water level the reflection will be similar in size to the image. If the perspective is higher, the reflection shortens.
Wind and ripples alter or eliminate the reflection.
Water reflects the color of the sky. (In deep still water). Most often, the water is of a slightly darker value than the sky. (Notice in the Taku Lake image that the water is transparent at the shoreline and the color of the lake bottom is apparent).
A bending vertical object will project a reflection that bends in the same direction.

E Street Studio

2008-06-16T22:31:00.003-08:00

I have moved to a new studio downtown. The address is 507 E Street. I am on the corner of E and 5th, right above Polar Bear Gifts, the previous site of Renown Tours (sign still outside). I am on the second floor, suite 201.

I really am enjoying this place and the downtown location. My studio has plenty of room and natural light. I have a view of the downtown plaza, Kobuk Coffee, and the PAC.

I am in the studio painting most of the week, so if you are downtown come by and visit!

Painting Demo

2008-06-16T22:02:00.007-08:00

This painting was done in about an hour in the studio with a reference photo of the Cook Inlet mudflats on our Thursday outing. The painting is oil on panel with an underpainting of burnt sienna.

Reference photo
Sketch with dilute paint. A road map of my composition. Note that I have altered the image from the photo.
First I block in the darker values. These values will dominate and give my painting movement. I need to know where they are and if they work for me.
Next I block in some of the middle values, being careful to work on all areas of the canvas (at least partially). Remember, all pieces relate to each other.
Lastly I paint in details and adjust values and color. The paint is wet and I have to be careful to not overwork and muddy up my colors.

This is not a finished painting and does not represent my personal painting style in the studio. However, this study will be very useful for me as a reference for future compositions. A reference that comes from a personal experience, a moment outside, with the scene before me. A moment that will carry an emotional value that will hopefully be transfered to a final composition.

Oil painters and water do mix!

2008-06-14T12:20:00.007-08:00

Under a steady drizzle, all of you got out there and painted! We hoped the weather would clear, but it didn't and our mountain scene disappeared in a thick wet fog.

It was still great to be outside painting with fellow artists. Despite water in our paint, everyone successfully completed a painting.

Bring your paintings and images to class on Tuesday. We will meet at the IGCA for an in-studio session.

~Linda

Powerline Pass Tomorrow

2008-06-13T23:11:00.005-08:00

Here is today's view of Powerline Pass. Yes, that white stuff you see is snow.........mid June and there is snow on the trail right out of the parking lot! Looks like mid May, a few sprouts mostly dead stuff. Fresh bear scat on the trail.

So, if the rain stops and we head on out, dress very warmly. We may have to modify the site I picked out and hide out from the wind in another spot closer to the trail head. We'll do our best. If it's blowing rain tomorrow, Plan B is back at the IGCA. I have some photos of P.Line and of Cook Inlet to work with. Bring any images you have that you want to work with.

This is Alaska........we take what we get and are happy to live in such a wild, beautiful and unpredictable place!

Email going out tomorrow early.
Sleep well.
Linda

Coastal Trail Tuesday June 12

2008-06-13T08:25:00.007-08:00

Meandering stream and estuary.

Cook Inlet Mudflats

What a beautiful afternoon to paint! We had wonderful weather and no wind. Perfect! Since Potter Marsh is closed for construction, we moved our site to the Cook Inlet off the Coastal Trail near Westchester Lagoon. There were many options of scenes to paint and our group of 10 spread out along the "beach."

The mudflats and estuary offered interesting compositions and challenging color choices. The mud seemed to take on the color of the sky, purples and blues. The estuary stream had interesting reflections and linear perspective to work with.

Remember:

Colors are more saturated (pure, high chroma) in the foreground.
More details in the foreground, less in the background.
Colors are toned down as they recede. (Nuetralizing with complementary and or white)
Colors are cooler as they receed. (Blues, Violet).
Less value contrast in the background.

Also, remember to mix your colors first, apply it thickly and quickly. Avoid over working your painting.

It was a great day to practice our plein air set up and placement and work on designing our landscape composition. Saturday, we will meet at the Glen Alps (Flattop) parking lot and take a short walk out to Powerline Pass. We will talk more about color mixing and color choices.

Everyone did an amazing job!

See you Saturday morning.

~Linda

Tuesday, First Class: IGCA

2008-06-11T08:30:00.006-08:00

Nice to see everyone, yesterday at the IGCA! We will be painting outside at Potter Marsh on Thurday.

Here is an outline of the material we covered. Feel free to email me if you have more questions.

Plein Air Oil Painting
Tuesday, June 10 IGCA

· Plein Air Equipment/Oil Painting Supplies
· Preparing a Panel for Painting
· Choose your site
· Composition: What to Paint?

Plein Air is painting outside through direct observation. What you paint in a plein air session may be the final painting or a resource for a final studio painting.

Before you start painting, take some time to place your easel and decide what you want to paint. Make a few sketches or use a view finder to come up with an interesting composition.

Choose your site :

Direction of light and shade. Where is the direction of your light source? Best to face 90 degrees away from the sun to take advantage of shading. Avoid directly facing the sun or having the sun directly behind you. The best time to paint is morning or evening when the sun is not directly above you. (Hard in Alaska!)

It is better to place your easel is a semi shaded area. Avoid direct strong direct light on the canvas or panel.

What to Paint? Composition and Design:
Simplify and translate what you see instead of trying to copy nature.
Establish the horizon.
Establish the direction of your light source. Remember it will move. Take pictures, makes sketches or paint quickly!
Choose what moves you, eliminate unimportant details
Look for the big shapes first, save the details for last.
Look for value first. Remember that darker values will dominate.
Choose overlapping forms for spatial cues. (Forms that get smaller as they recede.)
Stay away from large, shapeless masses.
Look for built in linear perspective: a stream, path or line of trees.
Feel free to move or add an element in your composition.
Do not place a dominant object in the center.

Remember, the joy of plein air painting is the quick and spontaneous painting choices you must make. You will be forced to make quick decisions and capture the essence of the scene before you.

Plein Air Painting Sites June 2008

2008-06-11T07:56:00.002-08:00

Plein Air Painting Sites:

Depending on the weather, we will meet at these sites to paint outside. If it is raining or very windy, we will meet at the IGCA to paint. Check your email one hour before the session for weather/cancellation updates or call me: 351-4478

Thursday 6/12- Potter Marsh. Meet at the parking lot near the bird viewing platforms, 5:30-8:30pm.
Saturday 6/14- Powerline Pass- meet at the Glen Alps parking lot, 9am to noon. Short hike to Powerline.
Thursday 6/19- Cook Inlet, coastal trail. Meet at the Westchester parking lot, 5:30-8:30pm.
Sunday 6/22-McHugh Creek. Meet at the upper left hand parking lot, 9am to noon.

You will need to pay a $5.00 parking fee at Glen Alps and McHugh Creek.

Plein Air Supply List

2008-05-06T13:24:00.012-08:00

* Thumb Cove , Seward "On the Scene" paint out- 2006

The above photo shows two artists with different plein air set ups. One is using a pochade mounted on a tripod and the seated artist is using a folding field easel.

Supports:French Easel, Pochade/Tripod or Field Easel ( I have 6 field easels for students it you don't want to buy one.) A French easel is a box/easel/tripod all in one. (see photo in previous post) A pochade is a box that is mounted on a tripod. The lid opens to support the painting. Both have space for a palette and for some supplies. Either way, most artists need a bag or backpack to carry all of the supplies.

Surfaces: 6 Various sizes, example: 8x10, 9x12, 11x14 up to 18x24
Canvas Panel or Gesso Panel or Stretched Canvas

Mediums:
Liquin
Gamsol Odorless Solvent

Oil Paints: suggested colors (bring what you have) Gamblin or Winsor Newton artist grade are good.

Green: Permanent green light, Viridian (or Pthalo Green)

Yellow: Cadmium Yellow light Hue, Cadmium Lemon Hue (or Hansa Yellow)

Red: Cad. Red Medium Hue, Alizarin Crimson

Blue: Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue

Purple:Dixoazine Purple, Magenta

Browns: Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber

White: Zinc or Zinc/Titanium mix.

Zinc is good for mixing, Titanium is opaque with good coverage (snow)

If you had to narrow it down, you could get by with these colors: Cad. Lemon, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Viridian, and White.

Make sure the Alizarin Crimson is on the cool red side. With some brands the Alizarin is more purple leaning, almost a magenta.

Basically you want a strong cool yellow that is not orangey and a red that is red/red not orange leaning. We can mix orange later!

We can also mix Cerulean, Burnt Sienna,Burnt Umber, Dioxazine if we have to.

"Hues" are colors that do not contain cadmium but are close to the cad. colors. Much cheaper and non toxic. For plein air clean up, the hues are a better option.

Brushes:
1-#2 Round brush
2-#4 Flats
2 # 8 Flats
1- # 10 Flat
Metal Palette Knife-(diamond blade)

Additional Supplies:

Disposable Paper Palette or Hard (preferred) 9 x12 Palette. You can buy a plastic palette holder to store in your backpack or velcro your palette to your French Easel/Pochade for less mess.

Lots of lint free rags. ("Bag of Rags" in paint section of Fred Meyers.) Cut them into smaller sizes

Small Sketch Book/pencils/black sharpie

Digital camera

Jar for brush cleaning

Plastic bottle with spout for transporting Gamsol.

Small cups for medium/solvent

Plastic bags for garbage

Vinyl disposable gloves or baby wipes for hand clean up.

Hat/Sunscreen/Insect Repellant

I'll bring a can of bear spray~

If you want to sit, bring a light folding chair. Try to wear neutral clothing, especially on a bright sunny day. The colors of your clothing can reflect onto your painting.

I'll talk more about your supply options in another post.

* Andy Sonneborn organizes annual trips to Homer and Seward. Artists spend the weekend painting outside then show their work in a local group exhibit. A wonderful weekend painting with other artists! If you want more info. you can email Andy at PaintSpotInAK@aol.com

Plein Air Supplies

2008-05-03T13:01:00.002-08:00

Before you go online shopping for plein air supplies, stop by Blaine's Art Supply on Spenard and N. Lights. They have two models of French Easels for sale. The owner said she would offer a discount on the lower priced easel for students in my plein air class. I took a look at them today and they look pretty sturdy. Ask for Rene Haig if you are shopping for a French easel.

Blaine's also has all of the oil painting supplies you will need. I will leave a supply list at the store.

Remember, if you don't want to purchase a French easel or a pochade box, I have 6 field easels you can use.

More information on plein air supplies to come.

Good to see everyone who attended my exhibit opening last night!

Enjoy this beautiful spring day.
~Linda

Get out!

2008-04-23T21:58:00.004-08:00

It's time to get out! I took this picture last year around this time on Rabbit Lake Trail.These False Hellebore sprouts were an inspiration for the painting on this blog header.
They were a striking green against a background of dead leaves and branches. Sentinels of spring.

Plein Air painting classes will start in June 10 Tue/Thurs/Sat. Tue 5:30 we will meet at the International Gallery of Art to paint inside and Thurs 5:30 and Sat mornings we will go outside and paint. The last class is Sunday June 22 since I am running the Mayor's 1/2 marathon on Sat. the 21.

Plein air painting forces you to make quick decisions and to capture the essense of the scene before you. I like to hike on trails and find inspiration in the natural forms around me. I take a sketch book, a pencil, and a camera. On plein air painting sessions, I take my oil painting supplies. I paint smaller paintings that will be used as a reference or inspiration for a larger composition. You can also create a final painting on site.

To get to the Rabbit Hill Trail head take Upper DeArmoun Road past Hillside Dr., take a right on Canyon Rd. Take Canyon road (dirt) all the way to the end. This trail is out and back about 9.6 miles round trip. At the end of the trail is Rabbit Lake. Spectacular!

Email me for more info and to sign up. Limit 10. Cost for 6 classes: $150. Some light trail hiking (15-20 minutes). Students provide own transportation and supplies.
linfantelyons@yahoo.com

I'll get back to here with more info. on all of that plein air equipment. On my list of links for art supplies there are a few that specialize in plein air.

Enjoy this beautiful sunset, thanks to the Siberian smoke and Mongolian sand!
Linda

Plein Aire Classes June 10-June 22

2008-04-23T19:31:00.002-08:00

Sept. 2007 Plein Air Workshop. Westchester Lagoon and the IGCA

Oil Painting Basics and Color Mixing Workshop-IGCA April 19

2008-04-19T19:44:00.003-08:00

Green Apple-Infante Lyons

Just a note to those artists in the workshop today that had questions about oil painting materials, substrates, mediums etc. Check out older posts where I go into more detail on these basics. The February 7th post goes into more detail on materials.

I hope everyone left inspired and wanting to paint more.

Saludos,
Linda

Saturday at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art

2008-04-19T17:08:00.000-08:00

Good to see new and familiar faces at the IGCA Workshop today. I wish we had more time to experiment with color mixing. Please feel free to email me with more questions. I have more classes scheduled this summer if you are interested in exploring color mixing and oil painting.
Hope to see you May 2 at the Artique for my exhibit along with artist Guitta Corey. In June, the IGCA will have a studio tour on the First Friday. My E Street studio will be part of this tour. Please stop by.

IGCA Artreach Workshops

2008-04-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

Don't miss this. Come get inspired!

ART REACH - April 19-20
IGCA presents two days of visual art workshops, April 19th and 20th. Please join us for a marathon of workshops covering everything from technical demonstrations to professional development.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19
Exploring Drawing - Don Decker
Painting workshop - Linda Lyons
Alutiiq Traditional Art and Modern Adaption - Perry Eaton
Photographing your art - Kevin smith
Architecture: Is Anchorage Ugly? Mike Mense
Textiles - Karen Lowell
Theatre/set design - M. Hugi- Lewis
Preparing photos for submission - Hal Gage
Open Critique - Chelsea Bailey

SUNDAY, APRIL 20
Pinhole photography - Don Mohr
Public Art - Jocelyn Young
Encaustics - Sheary Clough Suiter
Performance Art - Sean Licka
Figure drawing - Hugh McPeck
Non-standard inkjet printing - Mariano Gonzales
Conserving your artwork - Janelle Matz
+ much more!

$175 for both days / $100 for 6 sessions / $25 per sessiondiscounts available for students with UAA IDs. Presentations by Mike Mense and Perry Eaton are FREE of charge and do not need RSVPs.Download the workshop schedule at www.igcaalaska.orgTo register, email igcavolunteers@hotmail.com or call 279-1116

Please join us in supporting the Arts in Anchorage

Snowed In!

2008-04-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

I can't believe I am stuck at home on Upper Huffman. I made it home to pick up my art supplies for class and the snow was so deep! I got stuck trying to get out. There is a short uphill to get off our property and my wheels were spinning. When I got out, there was was snow up to my car door!

My husband came up to pull me out, but he got stuck too! So we are still stuck here waiting for a friend with a plow to dig us out. I hope you all got the message of cancellation. There was an arts awards ceremony at the Museum at 5:30. I hope some of you stayed and enjoyed this event.

What crazy spring weather! All winter I have been running upper hillside trails with 4 woman and about 5 dogs. Last Sunday it snowed hard then the sun came out and we all went up Prospect Hts. on snowshoes. I have found a perfect spot on the South Rim trail for plein aire painting with a view of the Chester Creek Valley. About a 15-20 minutes hike. I'll put the schedule soon for these classes as well as other classes that will be held at the International Gallery of Art. I will also be opening up a new studio/office on the corner of E and 5th Avenue. Right across Kobuk Coffee shop and the downtown plaza. I'll have First Friday openings there and smaller classes too. As soon as I move to my new downtown studio, we need to get together and celebrate!

Send me images of your paintings!

See you next week. ~Linda

Skin Tones

2008-03-28T09:43:00.000-08:00

Good to see everyone in class. We started painting on the underpainted canvas and discussed mixing skin tones.

Remember there are many ways as there are artists and subjects to mix skin color. Skin color will most likely contain a red, a yellow, white and a cool color (blue or green) to neutralize this mix when needed. Violet can be used to neutralize a yellow leaning skin tone. For me, when choosing a red, I find that a red that is on the cooler side of the spectrum works best. A good cadmium red medium that is not orangey is my choice. Alizarin crimson is also a cool red that works for me.

Here is the "recipe" you asked for of the skin tones we mixed last class.

I first started out mixing a yellow ochre with lemon yellow and magenta. You can buy yellow ochre out of the tube but I prefer to mix my own earth colors.

1. Cadmium Lemon + Magenta= yellow ochre
2. To this mix add a little bit of Alizarin
3. To this mix add a touch of Viridian
4. Add white to this mixture. More white for lighter values.
5. For a cooler, nuetralized tone, add a little more Viridian
6. For a warmer pinky tone, (for cheeks, nose and ears) add more Alizarin
7. If you need a more yellow tone add more of the yellow ochre mix.
8. To acheive darker values, mix up a purple/gray with your Alizarin and Viridian. Add this to your base mixture to go darker.

Keep in mind what you have learned about complementary colors and how they intereact. Also remember that you need to make decisions from the onset about your subjects clothing and the background. The colors you choose will affect the skin tones. These colors will find their way into your skin tone mixture.

2008-03-12T22:50:00.000-08:00

Sorry everyone for cancelling class today! This is really lame, but I bit into a pistachio shell and fractured a tooth, very painful! I went to an emergency dental clinic and 5 hours later.........

It is 11pm and the novacaine is just starting to wear off.

We will have an additional class to make up for this one.

You can start your underpainting now and bring the canvas to class.

Underpainting Instructions:

Sap Green or a mixture of Burnt Sienna and Viridian
Burnt Sienna and Viridian will create a nuetral olive green.

Make a dilute mixture of this green with Gamsol.
Paint evenly your canvas with this color.
Don't worry about brush strokes.
This underpainting should just lightly tint the canvas with a transparent layer of sap/olive green.

Let the canvas dry and bring it to class.

Practice skin tone mixing this week at home. Try combinations of complementary colors plus white. Experiment! Try mixing a warm tone and a cool one. Do you remember how to do this?
Add more of your cool complementary, and you will have a "cool" or more nuetralized tone.
This works well for the chin and jaw area. The warmer tone has more red, for the nose, ears, and cheeks. Also try mixing a yellowish tone for the forehead area.

Sorry again about the cancelled class. Please email me if you have questions or are struggling with a painting and want advice. Send images anytime, portraits or any other painting project you are working on.

See you next week. I'll bring refreshments........wine and snacks. See you there!
Linda

Color mixing

2008-02-23T22:47:00.000-09:00

Mangroves/Infante Lyons 07

Next class we will talk more about color, especially with mixing skin tones.

First, let's consider the colors or hues that we are working with. Remember each color has a a place on the color wheel and depending on that place, is warmer or cooler in temperature. Warm being closer to the red spectrum and cool being closer to the blue/violet spectrum. Look at how colors are set up in the refracted light of a rainbow or on a light wave spectrum and you will see Infra Red on one end and Ultraviolet on the other.

Here are some of the colors on your list:

Cad. Lemon is a cool green leaning yellow. Cad medium is a warmer orangey yellow.

Permanent green light is a warm green, Viridian or Pthalo are blue leaning. I use Viridian with a touch a white to produce the sky blue in my paintings. And Viridian is considered a green!

Our reds are Cad. Red which is a warm orange leaning red and Alizarin crimson is a blue/violet leaning cool red.

Our blue, French Ultramarine is considered a warm blue since it tends to violet which in this case is warm (violet contains red). A cool blue would be green leaning.

Why is it important to know color temperature? First of all, temperature affects your outcome when you mix two colors together. Imagine this scenario, we want to mix a green (yellow and blue) we use Cad. medium (orangey) and with our Ultramarine blue. Remember our complementaries and what they when mixed? The orange in the Cad. med. neutralized the blue and the result is a greyed down green. Which is OK, as long as you know what you want. A bright green would be created with our green leaning Cad. lemon and a green leaning blue. ( I use lemon with viridian for a bright cool green and pemanent green light right out of the tube for a warmer version. Add a touch of red or burnt sienna and you get a nice khaki muted green.)

Imagine mixing Cad red with a blue. What would the resulting violet be? Remember Cad is orangey..........orange/blue compliments neutralize.......what would it look like? What about Alizarin (purple leaning) and blue......brighter?

Its OK to nuetralize your colors......as long as that is what you want. You need neutralized mixes to support and balance your bright or saturated colors.

On that note: warm compliments make a brown. Cool compliments create more of a grayish tone.

Later I will discuss the different areas of the face and the prevalence of certain colors.

Self Portrait Session # 2

2008-02-15T18:01:00.000-09:00

Hello artists. So good to see you all! I am amazed at what I was seeing only after two hours of painting. Awesome!

Here is a recap on last class.:

Review Facial Proportions
Discuss the importance of Value
Basic Skin Tone mixing, with a value study of at least 5, dark to light.
Painting: 8 x 10 canvas, value study with the skin tone value mixed.

We talked about color when we mixed the skin tones:

Color Temperature: Warm and Cool colors.
Complementary Colors
Saturated Colors compared to Nuetralized Colors (with Complementary).
Colors have cool and warm variations. e.g. Cad. red (warm) Alizarin (cool).

There is much more to color ( we did a whole 10 week session on color) and more will be cover in this class.........later.

Skin Color is affected by;

Local light (warm? cool?)
Individual variations, ethinicity
Areas of the face, transparency, blood flow.
Subject's clothing
Background color
Artist color choices

Artful Violins Auction- Sat. Feb.16

2008-02-12T23:37:00.000-09:00

Auction for the "Artful Violins" will take place this Saturday. This is a benefit for the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. If you are interested in attending this event at the Captain Cook Hotel, log onto www.artfulviolins.org/gallery.htm . Images of the violins and artist bios are listed.

This is my violin. I enjoyed the challenge of painting on a real violin.

The unfinished wood surface was a perfect place for a little song bird to perch.

Hope to see you there~Linda

Session #2 Self Portraits

2008-02-12T22:38:00.000-09:00

Trinidad Infante Lyons -L. I. Lyons 1998

Look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow! The images turned out nice and we will be able to use them tomorrow for painting.

Please bring all of your painting supplies and paints. Bring your 8 x 10 canvas and your sketch book.

We will review facial proportions and get right into skin tone color mixing after a brief discussion on value and basic color theory.

If you don't have all of the colors on the supply list, don't worry. What you need right now are the three primaries (yellow, blue, red) and white. Skin color is complex. We will start out with a basic mix and focus on value. If you have Cad. red medium, Cad. lemon, Cad.Yellow medium, Alizarin Crimson, Viridian, and Cerulean Blue, Permanent Green Light, even better. A little linseed oil, Gamsol and you are ready to paint!

A word on colors and toxicity. The cadmium colors are toxic if you ingest them. You have to be careful to wash your hands after use. If you don't want to use the cads. try the cadmium "hue"
which are not real cadmiums, are nontoxic, and don't have the same color intensity, but will do. Plus, the real cads are expensive: 30 bucks for cads. to 5 for the hues. I use the real cads., but for class exercises the hues are fine.

See you tomorrow,

Linda

2008-02-07T15:00:00.000-09:00

Shore Birds- L. Infante Lyons- 2/2008

For those of you that are new to oil painting, here is an introduction to the oil painting basics.
In a previous post, I went over the qualities and contents of oil paints. Let's look over the other materials.

Substrates: Canvas or hardwood panel, both surfaces are primed with gesso. If you are interested in learning how to build and prime a canvas or panel, let me know. I personally prefer panels. They work well with the smooth brush stroke style of my work. I cut and brace the masonite and paint at least 5 coats of gesso, each layer sanded. The product is a smooth, ivory like surface. It is very time consuming , but well worth it. Canvas works well with thick painterly styles. Panels are smooth and are perfect for the detail of portrait work. Shore Birds, posted above, was painted on masonite panel.

Mediums: Oil and water don't mix so oil is the diluent or medium of choice. Linseed oil and walnut oil are common oil mediums. They are called drying oils, as they eventually dry and produce a durable surface. (Unlike olive oil or common cooking oil.) Solvents, such as turpentine and mineral spirits can be mixed with linseed oil to produce a faster dying medium and can be used alone for underpainting. Solvents are volatile hydrocarbons and are toxic. Gamsol is the least volatile and therefore has a low toxicity level. Solvents are also used to clean brushes in between colors. Soap is used to clean your brushes at the end of a painting session.

There are various recipes for mixing these mediums,
so much oil to so much mineral spirits.
I am happy using a solvent in the preliminary underpainting
then use only linseed oil for the rest of the painting.
I have used mixtures of oil of spike (solvent) with sun
dried linseed oil and and a drop of canadian balsam.

Canadium balsam is a resin, another ingredient is some mediums. Resins are basically derivatives of tree sap and give a shiny jewel like quality to the painting. A resin maintains the true brilliance of a color, as some colors can dry opaque and appear chalky or "flat". A retouch varnish during the painting process brings theses colors back to life. Damar is a resin commonly used for the final varnish once the painting has dried.

Underpainting is painting a thin wash of one color on the canvas, eliminiating the harsh white surface. Burnt sienna is a favorite for portrait painting. This color will affect the colors choices we make and will provide a color base that in turn will create color unity in the painting.........more on that later. We will work with an underpainting in this class.

What is the rule of "fat over lean?" Lean means your medium is high in solvents and dries quickly. Fat means more "fat" or oils, thus drying slowly. You don't want a quick drying layer over a slow drying layer. This may cause the painting surface to crack. Reduce your solvents as you progress or at least don't increase the proportion of solvents later on.

Don't get too overwhelmed with oils. They are easier to work with than watercolors (in my opinion). Make a mistake.......paint over it! Later, I will expand on oil materials and give an introduction of colors and color mixing.

In this class, we will focus on skin color. Colors are like the keys on a musical instument. As learning to play an instument,painting takes time, practice and dedication. Get to know colors and you can create a symphony!

Good night.~Linda

Portrait Class

2008-02-06T21:37:00.000-09:00

The Nest/I. Lyons

Great to see everyone in class tonight!

We reviewed a little history on self portraits and practiced drawing our faces using a few rules of thumb for facial porportions:

Divide the head in half with a vertical line.

Mark a line on the top of the head and the bottom of the chin.

Mark another horizontal line across the hairline.

The hairline to top of the eyebrows, the eyebrows to the nose and the nose to the chin should be more or less three equal areas.

The inside edge of the eye should line up with the outer edge of the nostrils and the inside of the iris should line up with the outer edge of the lips. The space betwee both eyes usually is about the size of another eye.

You can also divide the are between the nose and the chin in three equal portions. The nose line, the line between both lips, the area above the chin and the chin line.

Next week bring your small canvas (8x10) and the rest of your painting supplies. We will do an exercise in skin color mixing and do a "portrait poster" a study of the variations of skin color on your face. I'll print the images.......I hope they turned out!

Someone left a yellow bin with paint supplies. I picked it up and have if with me at home. Email me if it is yours. I will take to class next week. If you need if earlier let me know.

First Class

2008-02-03T13:21:00.000-09:00

Diego Rivera- Self Portrait

This Wed. is our first class. I will give a brief PowerPoint presentation on the history and purpose of self portaits and show some examples of images. Most artists painted self portraits, for various reasons and there is an incredible number of styles and techniques.

After the PP presentation, we will discuss facial anatomy and proportions and will practice observing and sketching our faces. I will provide hand mirrors for everyone.

It is often hard to view our own image without judgement. I am going to ask you to withhold this judgement and quietly observe you face, its shape, skin color, and special features. Every face is unique and interesting, a worthwhile subject for a painting.

We often have very little time to observe quietly our image in the mirror. We have little time to observe anything for that matter! I found that I had never really seen my daughter, Trinidad until I had painted a portrait of her. To take the time and observe someone, especially someone you see everyday, is eye opening! You will begin to see the light in their eyes, their being, and personality radiating out. This happens when I paint commissioned portraits too, even with pets. I really get to know my subjects deeply and feel a special kinship with them.

I hope you have a chance in my class to see yourself and take the time and respect the image before you. You only need to bring your sketch books and drawing pencils to the first class. I will be taking digital pictures of you during class and will bring the images, color and black and white to the second class.

This focus in this 10 week class will be rendering realistic self portraits in oil paints with traditional methods. We will be working on a full frontal image with high value contrast and will later work on a three quarter image.

Self Portrait Class

2008-01-31T19:10:00.000-09:00

Rockwell Kent-Self Portrait

For those you taking my class next week and have some questions about oil painting. Here is a little primer on the supplies and colors.

First, we have the actual oil paints which are ground up mineral pigments mixed with a fluid "binder," usually linseed or walnut oil. Each color has a set of unique characteristics such as transparency, drying speed, and lighfastness. This is the list of colors I supplied for this class. Every artist has a personal palette and these are the colors I tend to use. When I first started painting, I had a large selection of colors. Over the years, the colors listed below, I could not live without. I choose not to use the earth colors, which are more neutral. But again this is a personal choice. I list browns, which can be mixed from the primary colors but these variations are very useful.

These colors are listed in pairs, a cool and warm variation.

RED: Alizarin Crimson-Cadmium Red Medium
YELLOW: Cadmium Lemon-Cadmium Yellow Medium
GREEN: Viridian-Permanent Green Light
BLUE: Cerulean- French Ultramarine
VIOLET: Dioxazine-Permanent Magenta
BROWN: Burnt Umber-Burnt Sienna

No Black. A complentary black can be mixed.
White: Zinc White is a good mixing white, but Titanium works too.

More later..........its late. I will hand out color and materials information on the first day of class.
And just ask questions if you have them.

2008-01-30T18:13:00.000-09:00

Albrecht Durer-Self Portrait

Next Wednesday February 6, my self portrait classes at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art will start.

Artists from Rembrandt to Grant Wood painted self portraits. Paintings one's image is an important exercise in learning portrait painting techniques, as well as a journey self discovery and expression.

I am excited about this class and will be giving weekly updates and images of our progress.

Linda Infante Lyons

Understanding Color through Oil Painting 10/4/2011

Exhibits/Workshops/Residencies-Spring Schedule

Anchorage Museum Purchase

New Painting

The return of the swallows......

Final touches

Looking ahead......

Collect Art 100 x 100 Today at the International Gallery

COLLECT ART100 x 100

Close ups for portrait studies

Pet Portrait Workshop- Anchorage Museum June 21-25

Mixing Flesh Tones

Portrait Class Tomorrow

Black and white image for value studies

New Paintings

Trunk Show

Bunnell Street "Trunk Show" in Anchorage

Botanical Forms

Portrait Classes at the Anchorage Museum

380 miles to Anchorage

Day 5, Northway Alaska

Day 4, Northway, Alaska

Day 3, Northway Alaska

Northway Village Artist in School Residency

Drive to Northway Village, Artist in Residency

Artist in Schools Residency, Northway ,Alaska

Commissioned Pet Portrait in Progress

Last Chance for Color

October Group Show: Artique Gallery

Don't Miss This!

Fairbanks Exhibit- Well Street Art Company

Art is fun! IGCA Summer Arts Camp

IGCA Arts Camp

Art Camp July 20 -24 International Gallery of Contemporary Art

Last Day of Class

Westchester Lagoon

Lenticularis Clouds

Landscape Class Preview: Color

Thursday Landscape Painting, first class

Bunnell Street Arts Center, Homer, AK.

Homer Tribune Interview

A clear day, Mt. Redoubt in full sight

Spring is here and so are the birds........

Conception of the Sphinx: A ... - Google Book Search

Supply List for IGCA Classes and Workshops

Painting Classes at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, May 2009

Shorebird Festival and Bunnell Street Exhibit

MYC Mural Unveiling Ceremony

McLaughlin Youth Center Collaborative Mural

Portrait Class

Portrait Painting in Oils

McLaughlin Youth Center Mural Project

Portrait Class Cancelled Today

Koniag Education Foundation Grant

Oil Painting Classes at E Street Studio

Yucatan Blue Bird, "Charra"

Inspired by Mexico

AKSCA and NEA Grant

Cycling and Painting

View Finder Information

Painting Clouds

Painting Refections

E Street Studio

Painting Demo

Oil painters and water do mix!

Powerline Pass Tomorrow

Coastal Trail Tuesday June 12

Tuesday, First Class: IGCA

Plein Air Painting Sites June 2008

Plein Air Supply List

Plein Air Supplies

Get out!

Plein Aire Classes June 10-June 22

Oil Painting Basics and Color Mixing Workshop-IGCA April 19

Saturday at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art

IGCA Artreach Workshops

Snowed In!

Skin Tones

Color mixing

COLLECT ART
100 x 100