Kitchy-kitchy - Homage to an Artistic Hero

In case the pencil is too faint: One of my artistic heroes is Carol Marine. This is a copy of her recent oil painting "Vintage Milk"~

Ten-Minute Cheese Spreader Sketches

Timer Set!

These sketches were done in response to a challenge one of my favorite teachers, Carol Marine, issued recently on the Daily Paintworks blog - paint the same thing over and over for no more than 10 minutes. The cheese spreader, the blue post-it note, and the paper primed turquoise for collage-making were handy. I've done this with Carol before - it's a great exercise. Really helps you think about values and colors and quick decision-making. Inspirational - and surprisingly tiring. Whew! Be sure to visit Carol's blog to see her great work and the DPW blog to see lots and lots of 10-minute sketches.

Carol Marine Workshop

unfinished study, 6x6, oil on panel

I spent most of last week at a workshop taught by Austin artist Carol Marine. Carol is first and foremost an incredibly talented painter and colorist - she has a special way of seeing a subject, simplifying shapes and values, and then translating that vision into an economical number of perfectly toned and placed brushstrokes. And she makes it look easy.... gee whiz. Moreover, she is a wonderful teacher: direct, honest, very accessible, and just a whole lot of fun. Be sure to check out her blog - click here.

Carol did inspirational demonstrations each morning and then set us on a course of exercises - like the 10-minute/15-stroke apples to the left - that weren't easy but very informative. It was great fun to be with our artist/host Dena Wenmohs and spend time at The Bunkhouse - Dena's artists' retreat and bed & breakfast in Cypress Mill, Texas. Plus, in addition to Carol and Dena, I made wonderful new friends - some from far away and some just around the corner. What a marvelous week.... I'm exhausted!!