FAV 15% for November FASO Contest

Knit and Purl

16 x 30

Oil on Linen

This painting was selected as part of the Favorite 15% of the FASO Bold Brush Painting Competition. I took a new photograph of the painting, hoping to get truer colors. I love my new iphone, takes amazing pictures.

New Painting

Knit and Purl

16 X 30

Oil on Linen

This was a bear of a painting. Trying to paint the knitting balls inside of a wire basket was much more difficult than I had thought. Paint and learn. I had to paint the knitting balls which wasn't easy, but then I had to paint the wire basket on top of balls and the shadow of the wires had to be incorporated into the details. Getting all the textures coordinated was a challenge.

Composition of a still life

There have been long held beliefs on how the still life should be arranged for the viewers most rewarding experience.  This has typically been either the horizontal or the front to back viewing. The viewer's focus of attention was believed to travel from the left to the right or from the front to the back. New studies suggest however, that the viewer's eye actually darts around the canvas resting momentarily at different points of interests. 

Looking at the above painting, the old theory would suggest that the viewer would start at the bowl on it's side and move across the canvas to the garlic, the raku vase then the yellow vase, barely noticing the raku vase in the background. Through current research it has been proven that this isn't the case, and in fact the viewer may first focus on the center raku then move to the back raku then over to the bowl on it's side and then may finally rest on the yellow vase. No two people will view a painting the same.

RED

I went to see the play RED at the Goodman Theater here in Chicago last week. On some level, I inspire to be like Rothko. He had such confidence in his abilities. I absolutely love his work. However, he had an arrogance that was both admirable and distasteful.

How can you turn down an opportunity to display your work in such a high profile venue as the Four Seasons? How can you display your work in such a pretentious atmosphere? He secretly resolved to create "something that will ruin the appetite of every son-of-a-bitch who ever eats in that room." From the play it appeared he lived a very lonely and unhappy life. That I do not aspire to.

Materials

Thought I would post a blog of the materials I use in painting, framing and marketing.
I have done considerable research to find the best sources and materials.

Website:
I found Fine Art Studio Online to be an ideal web host for artists. In addition to being easy to set up, their technical support is superb. They have an artist forum, a monthly painting contest and an art collector newsletter that advertises the member artists.
http://faso.com/?gclid=CJXt0OL4pKsCFYjBKgode0dE2A

Frames:
I use frames from Art Ready Frames and Pictureframes.com (sample frame pieces are available for the cost of S & H)
http://artreadyframes.com/
http://www.pictureframes.com

Stretcher Bars:
I recently discovered the very well made bars of Upper Canada Stretchers. The Linen I use sits beautifully on these bars.
http://www.ucsart.com/

Substrates
In addition to Linen, I use Innerglow painting panels. They are 1/2 " thick acid free laminated boards and primed on both sides, which allows for experimentation or occasional disasters.
http://www.billewing.com/Panels.htm

Color Palette:
I have been experimenting with different colors lately, but for the most part, I use the following:
Naples Yellow
Transparent Earth Yellow (Rembrandt)
Venetian Red
Cadmium Yellow Deep
Cadmium Yellow Light
Cadmium Red Light
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue Deep
Burnt Umber
Raw Umber
Cremnitz White (LaFranc)
Permanent Alizarin
Transparent Oxide Red (Rembrandt)
Some colors have to be added depending on what is being painted. I have indicated which brands I am particular about. In general I use Old Holland and Winsor Newton paints.

Mediums:
I try and limit my use of medium because it really really smells.
Maroger made by Old Masters is the medium I use most.
http://www.oldmastersmaroger.com/?gclid=CMOasqL6pKsCFYbsKgod7gxg4w
Other mediums I have used are Linseed Oil, Neo Meglip and Liquin

Oiling Out:
In order to even out the sheen on my paintings, I "oil out" before each painting session. With each successive painting session and oiling out, a nice finish begins to develop giving the painting an old work look.
60% mineral spirits (Gamblin)
30% stand oil
10% gaklyd

Brushes:
I paint mostly using Filbert Longs as they allow more paint to be picked up with each stroke.
Trekell and Robert Simmons Signet are both excellent brushes. Simmons brushes can be purchased at most online art supply companies. Trekell brushes can also be purchased online.
http://www.trekell.com/
Another brush that is so nice for details, as well as blending is the Langnickel Royal Sable Long-Handle Brush.

BTW
New Painting...

Pink and Green Hydrangeas

16 X 20

Oil on Linen

Lois
www.loiseakin.com

New Paintings

This is the first time I have painted this old milk can even though I have had it for quite awhile. Sometimes you just have to wait for the right opportunity to come along. It was painted mostly with the palette knife, giving it lots of texture and character. The onion is almost falling off the table which gives the painting tension. 

Onion and Eggplant

Oil on Linen

NFS

The Imperial cup is a Frank Lloyd Wright design from Tiffany's. The fruit is from Whole Foods. Both expensive places to shop. I thought the cup deserved the best .

Imperial Cup and Clementine

8 X 10

Oil on Panel

This was just sold!

Painting Redo

I finished this painting a few months ago. I looked at it for about a month realizing the blue/green bowl and cloth weren't right among other things. I thought the painting could be better. I always have the option of just letting it go, chalk it up to a lesson. It's not easy to go back into a painting and try and make it better. In my mind I am kinda over this painting. I may not be able to get back the energy and enthusiasm I initially had when I started the painting.

I pushed away those negative thoughts, went and got some more sunflowers and dove back in. This is the revised Sunflowers painting:

This was the original Sunflowers painting. The paintings were taken on different occasions with my limited photographic skills, so the paintings differ in color, but I think you can see where I went with the composition.


News: 
My painting class at the Oak Park Art League starts Thursday, September 8th, from 12:30 to 3:00. The class is 7 weeks, a week off, and then a new class starts for another 7 weeks. The class will focus on the fundamentals of oil painting for the beginning to intermediate student.

News and New Paintings

First, Mineral Point, Wisconsin has Gallery Night twice a year. The next one is coming up August 6th, 2011. Mineral Point has an excellent artist community with a wide variety of artists and galleries to see. I will be a featured artist at the Longbranch Gallery www.longbranchgallery.com. I won't be there that night, but it's worth a trip sometime to see everything.

Second, I will be teaching an afternoon oil painting class at the Oak Park Art League starting September 8th.
Details to follow.

Third, take a look at some of my new paintings. Click on image for a larger view and information.

Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to see paintings right off the easel.

http://loiseakin.com/email-newsletter

Show Opening

I just want to thank everyone that came it to my opening making it a great occasion. It really meant so much to see you all there.

New Paintings for The Poison Cup Show

March 3rd through April 13th, 2011

Opening Reception: March 10th, 6 - 8:30 PM

THE POISON CUP

1128 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, Illinois
773.935.1325

Old Wagon Wheel

Now this one is what I would call painting outside the box. I still tried to give it the same look as my other paintings, but the subject matter is very different. This is the only one I have done from a photograph. It has taken me months to finish this painting. It started out much larger, but I got so tired of painting the spokes and knew I would never finish at the rate I was going, so I cut it way down.

Wagon Wheel

18 X 20

Oil on Canvas

Yellow Chair

Yellow Chair

30 X 40

Oil on Linen

It's amazing what you find in other people's basements. I borrowed this chair from a friend before she repainted it. I loved the color combination of the new yellow and the old blue paint. This chair is well worn which adds to it's character, but is still  in great shape.

March Show

My show at The Poison Cup will run from March 3rd through April 13th.

The Opening Reception is on Thursday, March 10th from 6 - 8:30.
It will be a fun night of art talk and wine tastings. There are plenty of excellent restaurants in the neighborhood to round out your evening.

The Poison Cup
1128 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, Illinois
773.935.1325

See you all there!