Painted Bunting!!! Tuesday January 19, 2010

I was so excited when this wonderful bird appeared in my binoculars I let out a yelp and off they flew! But luckily I saw them nearly every day. The colorful stands out easily but the female was always nearby so more easily identified. They look like many other tropical birds. What a thrill!!!! A surprise addition to my life list.

These were some of the biggest pots I have ever seen. Many variations of them dotted the grounds of the very lovely Pilgrimage Village in Hue, Vietnam. Each morning the water was refreshed, and in some of them, flowers were floated. I could have been kept busy sketching here for a week!
I could have sat on this lounge chair all day on the beach at Nha Trang once the sun came
out. Unfortunately I had a 4 hour bus ride ahead of me, far up into the mountains of Vietnam to Dalat. Each new place offers fresh delights, however, and we always want to see what is around the corner.

Burritos Revolution #40 Monday January 18, 2010

Behold the origin of the best burrito in the world! While sitting and waiting for the handsome chef to make our burritos I penciled in this tableau. On the wall is a framed original of Barak Obama and the word "cambio" (or change for you gringos). This place is always busy . . . can you hear the sizzling of the grill, the smell of beans and rice in the 85 degree air.

What keeps us from Creative Growth? By Lenall Siebenaler

Complacency, satisfaction and the ringing of the cash register are three devils that hinder creative growth. The perpetual student does not stray far from the path of invention and re-invention. That's where real satisfaction lies. That's the real motivation that keeps you at it. "We are created creative," says Maya Angelou, "and can invent new scenarios as frequently as they are needed."

In my mind if I can't play I can't stay...

I used to be more serious about art. It seems during the last few years I've reverted back to childhood. The girl just wants to have fun...

I stopped painting exclusively in Watercolor. Why? Was it because I can't compete with my Watercolor friends? They create wonderful masterpieces recreating pictures in nature that they took themselves. My paintings never really looked real--more unreal, in my mind... It got serious.

Yes, I've been juried into shows and even twice to the Watercolor Society of Oregon. Once a serious painting and the second time a very odd but interesting painting.

I think that maybe I need to go forward doing what I do best. Playing. Playing means change. Playing means no rules. Playing means it doesn't have to be a masterpiece. Playing means "What if?" Playing means anything I want it to mean. Playing encourages growth. I love to dabble in a lot of different media. It is so much more fun. What do you think?

I've added two paintings above that got into a Watercolor Show. What do you think?

Lenall

Beach Umbrellas January 16, 2010

Looks like midgets! But they were actually further in the distance toward the beach. Can you tell it's the ocean in the background with waves breaking on the beach below!!! Lots to learn.

I sketched while we waited for lunch on the beach in San Pancho, just a little north of Sayulita. Then painted later.

Triad of Heartz

An Early Valentine
I've been having fun filling in these heart templates with the Zentangles. I like to start out my day with one or two, just to get my brain in the mood. Enjoy!

Dinner at High Tide Jan 16, 2010

Since I don't know how to paint things in the dark of night yet, picture this drawing with a crescent moon lighting up the surf as well as low light from the beach side restaurant. The night before big winds blew in from shore, stirring up huge waves and lots of rain. They were still shoveling sand out of the kitchen at dinner time, after "4 meter waves" that pummeled the beach. While we were eating, the couple at the red table cloth and we nearly had to run with our dinner as a wave lapped at the table legs. What did we have for dinner? Freshly caught huachinanga (red snapper) and shrimp.

El Mesero Jan 15, 2010

Sayulita

We finished our first week with my in laws and now we're on our own with time to paint. Thom and I played around with an art duet, both drawing this. He's much better with people. I'm trying to loosen up and sketch a little more.

Pictures for Give Away

Sorry, the pictures for the give away seemed to have disappeared into the ether. Here they are again. You can leave comments on this post or the previous one to be included in the drawing. You can also double your chances of winning by leaving a comment on my blog by clicking here. Thanks for looking!

Lime:

Rust:
Navy:
Navy close up:
Black and Tan stripe:
Close up:
Polka dot:

Give Away Time!

In celebration of finishing all my hearts for two shows, and in appreciation of those of you who visit our blog, I am giving away one of my large hearts this month. These are 5"x12" and have a bent wire hanger on top, which I've cropped out of the photos.

All you have to do to enter the drawing is leave a comment and tell me which heart you prefer. I'll do a random drawing on Feb. 1 and announce the winner here. I am also doing a separate heart give away on my blog, so leave a comment there too to double your chances of winning! (Portland Art Collective members are not eligible to win on this blog, but you can enter on my blog.)

There is no light in Portland right now, so I had to use flash and colors are a little off.

Lime:

Rust:

Black and Tan stripe:

Navy:

And Polka Dot:

If you are in the Portland area, my hearts will also be on display throughout Feb. in "The Heart of the Matter Show" at Guardino Gallery and at Portland Central Library in the Friends of the Library gift shop. Thanks for visiting!

Book Recommendations--Composition

I've been thinking about composition a lot this year. Here are a few of my favorite books on the subject:

Mastering Composition by Ian Roberts

Roberts covers basic compositional information such as working with an underlying armature and thinking of big shapes. One really useful addition is a DVD that comes with the book in which Roberts takes his own paintings and changes them in a variety of ways to show how even the subtlest change can cause your eye to get stuck in one area of the painting and lose your central focus.

Creative Composition and Design by Pat Dews

This book is a nice relief from all the composition books that focus solely on painting. Dews includes a lot of her own collage work which translates to textiles very nicely. She also includes a variety of artists and their differing approaches to composition, some starting with shape and placement others with value or color.

Compositional Exercises for the Painter by Lucia A. Salemme

I like this especially because she includes many great master paintings and discusses what makes them work compositionally. She then gives suggestions for exercises based on the lessons of the masters.

Some Great Advice from Robert Genn

Have a decent ego; cultivate self-esteem and individualism.
Keep an open mind; there's more than one way to do things.
Focus on your processes; that's where the joy comes in.
Be kind; it never hurts to give to others, even praise.
Be innocent; have a childlike--not childish--approach.
Be thankful, even for the smallest of blessings.
Be a perpetual student--be curious and seeking.
Filter your priorities--and don't suffer fools.
Be creative. It's the highest form of life.
Honour and respect time; it's the main gift.
Be optimistic; the opposite holds no charms.
Develop good habits--they will develop you.
Be thrifty--waste not, want not.
Work to please yourself.
Be hard to please.

Just in case you don't follow his free twice weekly Painter's Keys letters email, you might want to check it out! I have been a subscriber for 8 years and 95% of the time I find something that ressonates. Life is all about learning!
here

For your Calendar

I want to invite you all down to Salem to see a wonderful art show and it is for a great cause, it will help Marion and Polk county food share programs serving about 70,000 people and half of them are children.
Artist: "Nourish & Sustain" - 100 Artists Show
Show Date: Tuesday, February 2nd - Saturday, February 27th, 2010
Opening reception: First Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 5-7pm.
Where: The Mary Lou Zeek Gallery, located at 335 State Street in downtown Salem

Here’s how it works-
The exhibit will open on Tuesday, February 2nd at 10:00 am pacific time. The public will be invited to bid on their favorite artwork via a silent auction that will run through Friday, February 26th at 5:30 pm pacific time. Beginning bids are $50.00 with minimum increments of $5.00 and a maximum purchase price of $300. The entire show will be posted online at http://www.zeekgallery.com/. Bids can be made in person at the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery or by calling 503-581-3229.

I was sent an empty tin can along with 99 other artists, we each created a one of a kind piece of art, this is mine. I look forward to seeing you, thanks Tory Brokenshire

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Winston Churchill

Good things (and people) come back to you! by Lenall Siebenaler

On Tuesday night, I attended a watercolor art group meeting that I hadn't gone to in three years. It was wonderful to see old friends and get caught up.

I haven't been painting in pure watercolor since then. I also have not been attending the twice a year WSO conventions. My only New Year's Resolution is to work on and nurture my relationships with girlfriends. This is a step in all three directions.

For more about this go here

I didn't paint that night, but started these cork danglies which I finished last night. Of course, I had to incorporate the yo-yo heart!

Lenall

New Classes at the Village Gallery of Arts by Lenall Siebenaler

Hello, Lenall here!

Just wanted to let you know that I will be giving 3 classes at the Village Gallery of Arts in Feb/March. Check them out on my blog here
http://www.lenall.blogspot.com/
Lenall

Zentangling My Time Away

Almost two years ago I discovered Zentangles. They are extremely addicting and a great way to stimulate that "holidazed" creative side of the brain. For someone who can't draw (me) this is a way I can put pen to paper and actually have something come out cool. Enjoy!

Online Classes

I am really excited about all the classes that are popping up online. It's especially wonderful to take them when you want to be nestled in during the cold days of winter. I'm on my fourth one now and have found each one that I've taken to be great. It seems that teachers have to put more effort into coming up with interesting, well-organized curriculum since they can't rely on personality and class interactions so much, and it makes for some pretty exciting lessons.

I'm currently enjoying DJ Pettitt's "Memories and Manipulations" Photoshop class. This is what I've created during the first week:

I love how this turned out looking like a batik! It is layers and adjustments of 3 photos from my archives: undulations of a sandy beach, a tree, and a flower. DJ says the class is for all levels, but I'm finding it pretty challenging after already taking some Photoshop classes. You definitely want to know the basics before signing up.

I've included a list of all the online classes I know of in our sidebar. I'd like to continue building on this, so please let me know if you know of other classes. You can read about the other three online classes I've taken here.

We'll be adding more resources over the next few months, so keep posted.

Announcing a new blog by Lenall Siebenaler

I'd like to invite you to visit my new blog. It is aptly called "Plethora of Color." I will be posting the link in future PAC postings and hope you will visit it regularly once it gets up and running. I'm always up to something. This weekend I made 2 more types of Valentines.

Plethora of Color Blog:

http://www.lenall.blogspot.com/

Lenall

New Paste Paper Composition Books by Lenall Siebenaler

I've been making Composition books for 8 years now. Each year I make them differently--perhaps using a new technique learned that year. This years version was Paste Paper. I sold most of the books I made in December so I made more to sell in the Friends Library Store.

Create a Quilted Pet Portrait

I enjoyed making this cat portrait for a friend's birthday present. Check out how I made it Here on my blog.

New Valentines by Lenall Siebenaler

My cards were very well received this year at the show. I've been thinking about making new valentines since then. I have a list of several different types I want to try. Today, I spent several hours working on a couple different ones. I made about 30. Did you notice the yo-yos? Oh, dear, here I go again. The last time I started making yo-yos, I couldn't stop. These are valentine yo-yos.

They will be for sale at both the Village Gallery of Arts in the Cedar Mill area and at the Friends Library Store downtown Portland at the Central Library. I am sure I will make some for the 2010 show also. The photos aren't great as I scanned them and the yo-yos are dimensional and add too much light so there are shadows.

Lenall