Workshop with Qiang Huang

Well there is so much to tell about the workshop I'll have to break it up into a few posts. Unfortunately it is back to the real world as soon as I got home and this will be short. Let me just say Qiang Huang is a marvelous, generous and patient teacher. His presentation is very organized and if you come willing to learn, you will. The first photo is one of the demos he did for us on the second day so we could watch him paint roses in a still life. Each and every stroke he takes is well thought out and deliberate.  

          If you get an opportunity to study with him you will not be disappointed! More tomorrow.

Christmas Sampler 36 x 36

 Day One

I am working larger than normal, which I like , but it takes a lot longer. I wanted to post last week but didn't have much to show yet. The concept for this painting is a Christmas Sampler. Each object represents either a tradition we have as a family, a keepsake, or a belief we hold. Does anyone else put oranges in their stockings? This was handed down on my side of the family. My Dad said that during the Second World War he got an orange and a lead toy soldier and that was it.

  

 Day Two: I've added some items to represent the baking I like to do. The sleigh bells were from my parents. We liked to hang them on the front door so we could here our older kids try to sneak into the house, knowing they were out too late.

Day three: The Amaryllis finally bloomed over the weekend so I could add that in. It's a little tricky because it's really red and I have the red background. I am using my Mom's Bible under neath it to make it stand out from the back ground. Mom used to open her Bible to Luke Chapter 2 and place it on a bed of greens near the  creche each year. Just a few more thing to block in and then I can work on finishing each section.

Turtle 12" x 16" oil

Recently Daily Paintworks posted a challenge, asking artists to paint a painting in the style of an artist they admire. So I decided to do this turtle painting in the style of Aboriginal Canadian, Norval Morrisseau, also know as Copper Thunderbird. He painted legends of his people. I love his use of black lines and bright colors.

Redhead 8" x 8" oil

  The photo for this painting was taken in Maine on a very rocky beach at low tide. I just loved this little girls hair and her fist clenched in concentration s she dug for buried treasure

Face # 14 4" x 4" oil on canvas board

I loved the tilt of this woman's head.

Yellow Rose 6" x 6" oil

This is my painting for Daily Paintworks challenge #3. http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Challenges . I didn't have any red roses, but I did have a beautiful bouquet of yellow ones on the kitchen table. I had just gotten them a few days ago to brighten things us and to ward off "cabin fever", prevalent in CNY and Siberia this time of year. Of course there is no sun to speak of today so the picture was taken inside, hence the glare. Oh well, next sunny day I'll retake it. But I must report that the snow is melting fast today and I can see the pavement on my driveway. Next will be green grass.....

Glass Bird 6" x 6" oil

This was one of my mother's treasures, a lovely glass bird.

Thinking of Spring 6" x 6" oil

Well, we are over our 120" bench mark for snow, or close to it here. We shovel just about everyday - it's a mandatory exercise program. I thought this nest with a little blue egg was a needed reminder that spring will be here before you know it. Now if I can just find a robin to pose for me.

Snuggled 9" x 12" oil

It's been snowing and sleeting and generally wintery around here. I thought even the vegetables looked like they were snuggling trying to keep warm.

Roses 6" x 8" oil

Another try with roses.

Pitcher #4 8" x 8" oil

Last try for awhile. I like all the reflected colors in the pitcher.

Stalking the Pitcher 8" x 8" oil

Ok back to the green GMO apples and the notorious pitcher. I like the top of the pitcher this time - the shape is right. But the handle is off, always something. But one thing I like is the dark background behind the pitcher and salmon colored ground. So I'm going to try it again...sorry if it's getting old.

Cyclops Turnips 6" x 8" oil

I think these look like si-fi creatures searching for you! I really like the purple color of turnips. Next I have to see how they taste. Any good recipe suggestions?

Green Apples 1 8" x 8" oil

I found these gynormous granny smith apples (most likely GMO) and combined them with a white ceramic pitcher I have painted before. I like the salmon colored background and the reflection on the picture from the paper and apples. But that pitcher gives me fits....

The Gift 6" x6" oil

This was given to me with instructions: Do not open until you paint it! So the next day I got right to it so I could open it! Any guesses what was in it?

Tiny Shadows 8" x 10" oil

This is a collections of my friends really cool stuff that was hanging around in her studio. The "shadow box" is an old, wooden tray for silverware, painted red on the outside. It was fun to set up but not as fun to paint. Way to much information in such a small space. I do that a lot, try to cram to much into the picture. Id like to try this again only much larger.

Warm Ups! 8" x 8" oil

I took and 8" x 8" canvas and divided it into 4" square so I could do 10 minute paintings as warm ups. I am finding that this helps me with color and composition because I don't have time to mess around. I have to make a decision and go with it.

Pinecones 6" x 8" 0il

This was a quick study of a couple of pine cones found on a walk.

Empty

6" 8" 0il

I like all the bright , fun colors of the Fiesta pottery.