In April I will be teaching a workshop for the Hoffman Center for the Arts. I'm calling it Mindful Art. They asked me to create an image for publicity. It started out to be a personal mandala, but quickly turned into one about my thoughts and feelings regarding my children. It's amazing how impossible it is to keep yourself out of your art. I had a wonderful conversation about this with a fellow artist during my opening reception for the Hoffman Center in January. It reminds me of a thought that often comes into my head, "No matter where I go, there I am." And obviously, no matter where I go, my kids are with me heart and soul.
Standing Watch
I created this painting for a show that will run through March at the Nehalem Bay Recreational Center. The show acknowledges and honors the Clatsop and Tillamook People of the Oregon Coast. They are working to regain recognition as an independent tribe and a portion of the proceeds of this show will go to support their cause. As I researched the history of the people and the direction of the show the image began to formulate in my mind of someone standing watch, waiting for the hunters or warriors to return. The watcher may be the tribal chief. It could be a mother anxiously waiting the return of her husband or her sons. It may even be the Great Spirit watching over all of the people. I think to some degree we are all standing watch. And I find comfort in knowing that there are those who stand watch for me.
Magic
There is a concept in art called the Gestalt Theory, which basically says, "we see the whole before we see the individual parts that make up that whole". It is a concept that continues to fascinate me. Looking close up at the brush strokes on the cape it makes no sense. It's simply a bunch of lines. But scanning back, those lines come together to not only create the shape of the cape, but also the movement as it folds in and out, and the texture of the straw. How magical is that?
Straw Hat
This style of straw hat was traditional for the Tillamook People. It is certainly different than the straw hat my own dad wore when I was growing up. But somehow I imagine that the children of this culture saw it in much the same light I saw my dad's hat. It wasn't a toy, although sometimes he would let me wear it. I knew it protected him from the sun, but was also a symbol to him of what he stood for as a farmer, rancher, and cowboy. It's hard for me to see a cowboy hat without thinking of my dad. I think that the children of the Tillamook people probably also wanted to wear their elders' hats, imagining themselves wearing them one day when they grew older.
Upon Layer
Every time I walk away I think, hmm... Maybe I'm done. Maybe this is enough detail. And then I come back and realize I can do more. A good piece of advice I received many years ago was, "A good artist knows when to stop." I don't thinks it's time yet, but here's another layer.
Layer Upon Layer
Sometimes it's slow going. But another layer on today. I got some pretty good detail in the hat and a few suggestions in the robe. One step at a time. This week my days have all been one step at a time. There has been a lot going on the past month or so and sometimes it's a whirlwind and sometimes it's minute by minute. But, just like the painting, layer upon layer the tapestry of my life is create.
Layering
We now have raven black hair and a second layer on the foreground. Next I get to start on the real detail work. Everything else has been set in the background with soft edges and little detail. Not the real fun begins!
Blocking in the Foreground
As much fun as it has been to put in the background, now the real fun begins. I've started by blocking in the major shape and will then begin to develop the intricate details that we can see close up. This is getting exciting.
The Waters Appear
The scriptures say the Lord created all things. I'm getting just a small taste of that as I create dry land, and now water. I can't imagine what it would be like to create the real thing. It's fun to simply try to recreate it in 2D form. But to some extent creating is creating is creating. And no matter how we each do it, in our own individual ways, there is something about standing back, looking at it, and seeing that "it is good".
Rocky Cliffs
These rocky cliffs are home to the infamous Spanish treasure that was supposedly buried here. "Goonies" was based of the legend, as was the indy movie "The Legend of Tillamook's Gold". For me, the treasure is in the vista of the mountain and the breathtaking beauty of land meeting ocean. I must say, I do live in a wondrous place.
The Tillamook People
The Tillamook people are returning. Perhaps they were on a fishing expedition, or an exploration, or a visit to the neighbors. Wherever they have been, they traveled in their longboats. I can't help but wish I could be in one of those boats. I would love to hear the stories they would have to tell.
A Green Hill Far Away
Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain has been home to creatures of the forest forever. It was home to the Tillamook tribe for hundreds of years. And now it's iconic silhouette lets me know when I'm almost home. Apparently the Tillamook people, and later the pioneers, would burn the trees on the mountain in order to draw the deer and elk down for good feeding. Now, however, the logging companies are the ones to take from it, often leaving barren squares of brown where the green once was. I do like that Oregon has a strong re-forestation program, but I still don't like seeing the bare spots on the mountain. For this painting, I am using my artistic license to keep the entire mountain green.
The Hurrier I Go
I may have mentioned this in a previous post, but when I was growing up my Grandma Nina had a plaque on her wall that said, "The hurrier I go, the behinder I get". Today was one of those days. I thought the underpainting was dry enough to add a glaze of color. I was wrong. Instead it wiped out the paint that wasn't dry and left a big white spot that doesn't want to take paint. ARG! Lesson learned... don't rush the process...
Exhausted
Although the day had begun and I was exerting all the energy I had, the weight of exhaustion kept my internal beams from breaking the surface of the day. The past five days have felt like I've been carrying a ton of bricks around in a backpack. I finished a major, dreaded task today though, so I'm hoping I can begin to pull out of the depths of this fatigue.
From a Distance
Unforeseen circumstances kept me away from both my studio and my computer the past few days. There are just some things you can't do from a distance. But today you can see Manzanita Beach on the Oregon coast from a distance. I love how one single brush stroke can make all the difference between a muddy mess and exactly what I wanted I wanted to say.
Go Big or Go Home
I have an image in my mind of a painting that I can't wait to start. However, I need a model, a sunny day, and a good location. I may not be starting it any time soon. But I had a rare opportunity to go to an art supply store, so I decided to pick up the canvas so when I do get my reference, I will at least be able to start right away. I'm a sucker for a sale, but I've come know that "Buy two get one free" isn't quite as good as it sounds. So when I saw "But one get TWO free" I had to read it three times to make sure I wasn't mistaken. I ended up coming home with three 24 x 30 gallery-wrapped canvases. I was so excited that I had to start painting something on one of them. So "Neah-Kah-Nie Canoes" is going to be bigger than expected. I'll talk more about this painting as I go along. But for today, I've got a big sky on a big canvas. A big day for me!
Lookin' Good Soldier
Sometimes I can't figure myself out. I was making great progress on the face and feeling really good about it. But it has taken all my will power to get myself back to the canvas. Perhaps I was afraid I would mess it up. I don't know. But man, I have been fighting myself today. I finally did it though, and I think he looks quite handsome. I'm checking in with "Dad" to get his opinion before I go any further on it. But for now, I think he's looking pretty handsome.
They Make Me Sound So Good!
Most artists I've worked with suffer a similar plague, that of feeling like their art isn't good enough. I'm an artist, not a salesman, and I have a very difficult time promoting myself. So when I read the Hoffman Center of the Arts blog post and advertisement for my art class, I was pretty surprised at how good they made me sound.
February’s Oil Painting session starts Thursday, February 4. If you’ve been worried that oil painting might be too difficult, don’t worry. There’s no mistake you can’t fix because the medium is so flexible.
Materials don’t need to be cost prohibitive either, because Karen teaches color mixing with only three basic colors.
Once you’ve given oils a chance, you’ll never go back!
And here’s a hearty endorsement from one of Karen’s recent students:
“I love your teaching style, Karen. I’m enjoying your class very much. I have to say, I normally don’t take art classes, but you’ve changed my mind with this one. You take time with each student, and I’ve learned some great new techniques.” Jan Layne, student in the January session of Karen’s oil painting class.
This is an ongoing oil painting class that takes participants from where they are to the next level. Karen has been teaching art for eight years and is experienced in teaching beginning students as well as those who have been painting for years.
Class participants will learn the elements of art and design, classic painting techniques, and color theory through the process of creating their own paintings. Each session is three hours long.
Tuition: Students pay $165 for 4 sessions at a time. There is an additional $20 supply fee per period if students don’t have their own (bring materials fee to class for the teacher directly). If students know they will miss one of the sessions there will be make-up session on Thursday, March 31st.
Time: Thursdays, Feb 4, 11, 18, 25 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Hoffman Center for the Arts, 594 Laneda Avenue, Manzanita
A minimum of 4 students is required for the class to go forward. Please register no later than Thursday, January 28 to ensure the class will proceed.
Students who already work in the medium are asked to bring their own supplies. A complete list will be provided at registration. Students new to oil painting can use provided materials for an additional $20 (paid on the first day of class directly to the teacher).
Click here to register. For questions about the class, contact Karen at peasehouseart@gmail.com.
Local artist Karen Gale (peasehouseart.com): After a 16 year career in education, Karen studied in the Department of Art and Design at Southern Utah University. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, she has created Pike Road Painters artist group in Yamhill, Oregon as an art teacher, joined Currents Gallery in McMinnville as an artist and art teacher, and founded Pease House Art in Oregon City. She now lives in Bay City with her husband, teaches art locally, paints, and is illustrating a children’s book.
The Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly
I was a little intimidate to paint all those stars on the flag. I tried to think of ways to make them suggestions rather than actual stars. But as I began it just kept flowing and pretty soon, there they were. They aren't perfect, but it was fun to pay attention to which ones were full stars, which would be lost in a fold here or there, and which would be more faded into the shadow. I always feel a great sense of pride when I stand for the national anthem, as the flag is presented, or the Pledge of Allegiance. Painting the flag was an honor as well.
Painting Private Ryan
It will become obvious as I paint the uniform that Ryan is not a Private. He is, however, a pretty private person. His dad, who commissioned the piece, is also a quiet and unassuming person. It's an honor to be asked to create an heirloom for their family. When I finished this session I didn't feel like I'd made much progress, but when I came back to it, I could see Ryan beginning to emerge. I have to say that I really enjoy what I do.