Cheerful and Colorful Paintings

Cheerful and Colorful Paintings in Oil, Acrylic, Mixed Media and Collage
nancystandlee@sbcglobal.net

Friday, November 23, 2012

Nancy Medina Flower Oil Workshop, "Sunflower Friday" , Betz Gallery, Houston, Torn Paper Collages by Nancy Standlee, Texas Artist

 Sunflower Friday, 12145
14x11 Oil still life on canvas board

For Sale on my Daily Paintworks HERE.

Was it only last Friday that I was in the Winter Flowers in Oil workshop with Nancy Medina? I felt so much lighter then. In fact after eating dressing, pecan and chocolate pie and tastes of candy, etc. I dreamed last night as a lady was weighing me she said "You don't look like you weight 300 pounds!". 
Here we are, Nancy and Nancy (our lighter selves) pre-Thanksgiving photo.Those are her florals behind us, not mine..(wish) I'm the one in red sitting close so maybe some of that painting knowledge will rub off.

Betz Art Gallery in Houston has moved and had a grand opening with their 12x12 show. I have 3 collage pieces in the show. So if you're in the area these collages can be viewed until December 1, 2012.



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Thursday, November 15, 2012

Larisa Aukon Workshop, (Day 3 and 4), Sedona Arts Center, Betz Art Gallery, Houston by Texas Artist Nancy Standlee


Tlaquepaque Chapel 12136
oil on canvas 12x9

We painted plein air at Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village on Wednesday all day and Thursday morning during the Larisa Aukon Architectural Plein Air Workshop at the Sedona Arts Center during the last week in October. We used our sketches/studies to paint in the studio on Friday, the last day of the workshop. Tlaquepaque is a painters dream with interesting views and architecture views around each corner. I painted a larger version on Friday, see blog post HERE.





The Arch at Tlaquepaque, 12140
oil on canvas board, 9x12

On Friday, during our studio time Larisa said we could choose one painting from our weeks supply of work and she'd paint a few strokes on it. This was my choice and she made the 2 shrubs/trees different as I had them too similar.

 Larisa had us paint 3 6x8 studies on Wednesday morning in about 30 minutes time, each with themes of simplify, exaggerate colors, then paint what you see.

 Simplify, 12136, 6x8, Oil on canvas board

 Exaggerate Color, 12137
6x8 oil on canvas board




 Paint what you see, 12138, oil on canvas board, 6x8
.
This was the scene we were painting, Red Rock Candle Shop.

I've been commissioned to do a very large collage.. so large 3 4x6 ft panels I got 3 of my girl friends to help me with it. Here is the center panel and the photo is not the best as we took the photo in a living room in low light. We are beginning the R and L side panels but taking off a few days to cook Thanksgiving dinner but will return to the glue asap.


Flirty, 12144    (Sold 3/10/2013)
12x12 torn paper collage 

Three of my small collages, 12x12 will be in the Betz Art Gallery Show (First Annual Juried Exhibition) in Houston TX and the grand opening celebration is Saturday, November 17, 2012 from 6-9. I hope they get there as of today they had not arrived and I'm getting anxious. I've just finished "Flirty" for the show.

Sandra Offutt from Port Townsend WA was also in the workshop and did some lovely oil paintings. See her website HERE.  

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Monday, November 12, 2012

Larisa Aukon Workshop, Sedona Art Center, Day 2, Jerome, AZ Plein Air by Nancy Standlee Texas Artist


 "Casa Latina" Jerome AZ 12139
9x12 Oil on canvas
 Painted Plein Air in Jerome, AZ, (interesting reading of Jerome's history on the link) October 30, 2012 during the Larisa Aukon architectural plein air workshop from the Sedona Arts Center.

We made the 30 mile trip from Sedona early in the morning loaded with our plein air painting supplies. At about 5000 feet it's known as the mile high town and America's most vertical city. It's a community of about 450 with a lot of artists and a once thriving mining town. It's a 3 level town and we met at the bottom level and I soon learned how difficult it was going to be for me on cobblestones and the elevation, loaded with backpack, easel and the works. We located some shade on the 2nd level, a bathroom within walking distance and set up to watch Larisa give us a demo of the Connor Hotel below. I decided this looked good to me to try as I wasn't wanting to hike to another level before lunch. I finished this 6 x 8 study of a similar set up. This was the image at our vantage point.

 Connor Hotel, 12135
6x8 oil on canvas board
Later after hurried burgers at the Haunted Hamburger we watched Larisa's demo of a church and we found a spot where we'd like to paint. 


 Larisa Aukon church painting
Since the church was on a very steep incline I chose a flatter area and painted this gallery and gift shop. 


Maureen
I chose to paint "The Merchants Gathering" building, 300 Hull Ave, where Casa Latina is located filled with Latin American Arts and on the other side of the building, Cody DeLong's studio is located. At the end of the day, after many hours of staring at the front of the building I went inside to meet the owner, Maureen Anderson and she said the building had been home to the Studebaker building of carriages, cars and mining trucks. 

We packed up and drove back to Sedona and Nance took me to this fabulous Thai restaurant, Thai Spices. Oh, wow, did I ever enjoy that great fresh food. (Nance is my new Sedona friend. She found my blog previously and we'd corresponded and we met in Sedona and were in the same workshop.)

I've mailed 3 collage pieces for a 12x12 show in Houston at the Betz Gallery. They are having a grand opening on Saturday, November 17, 2012. This rooster painting has a map background and fortunately has Houston in the top right top. 


Next post will be about our painting at Talapaque in Sedona.


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Friday, November 9, 2012

Russell Farm Art Center Barn, 12143, Small Plein Air Oil Painting, by Texas Artist Nancy Standlee





Russell Art Farm Barm, 12143
oil on canvas panel 6x8 in. study

I've been posting about my Sedona art experience painting plein air with Larisa Aukon recently but Sharon Markwardt invited me to paint with her group at the Russell Farm Art Center yesterday and I chose to do plein air from the porch. It is a beautiful location and quiet, but yesterday it was a little windy but some rocks kept my easel from going airborne. I wanted to paint plein air before I forgot all that Larisa had taught us. I did a preliminary sketch but I didn't put myself on a painting timer. Afterwards I even checked out a Thai restaurant in Arlington as I remembered our group painting dinner from Sedona. 

Sharon Markwardt is a professional Southwest artist who shows in Santa Fe at the Waxlander Art Gallery. It is inspirational to see what painting she is working on so if you live in the area (Burleson, TX) and want to join the group for some painting time, just know you are invited. A $5 donation to the Russel Farm Art Center is appreciated.

The Russell Farm Art Center
They are having a special Christmas Celebration with hay rides, art galleries open, lots of lights and it's all free. December 13-15 (Thurs 5-9, Fri. 5-9 and Sat 12-9) and the best news - it's all FREE.

On the next post I'll get to Day 2, painting in Jerome, AZ plein air with the workshop. 

The time is drawing near to take down the Arlington Museum of Art Show, The Community Art Showcase. I have a large collage high heel and an mixed media acrylic in the show. It comes down Nov. 15.  



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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Larisa Aukon Workshop, Architectural Plein Air, Sedona, Day 1, October 29, 2012 by Nancy Standlee Texas Artist



 Sedona Heritage Museum 12134
6x8 oil study 

See the previous post of my studio painting on Friday from the Larisa Aukon workshop at the Sedona Art Center but I'll back tract a little as I arrived on Saturday, October 27 and the FIRST thing I did (before the motel unload) was find the Sedona Arts Supply to get the needed odorless turp and I tried not to buy anything else but by the register was a Gamblin oil paint "Sedona Red" that I had to add to my order. For the non oil painters who read this, oil painters need a medium to add to the paints and it is NOT allowed on airplanes so if the facility doesn't provide the first stop at the workshop destination is to buy some odorless mineral spirits.
I stayed at the Days Inn Kokopelli Inn in Oak Creek Village and it had spectacular views each day's drive into Sedona about 6 miles away; however it was slow going as you have about 15 roundabouts to slow down, yield or take a first, 2nd or 3rd exit. Sugar Foot, my GPS, was always right on the money and even after I could find my way I'd turn her on to listen to her say "in .4 miles approaching roundabout and take the 2nd exit". On the way to the Art Center there were spectacular views of Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock and the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
On the first day of class we met from 10-5 and the rest of the time 9-4. It was very cool in the mornings around 38 degrees but it warmed up quickly so we never needed a heavy coat. 
That first morning in the studio Larisa explained our week's events and said rule number one was find shade to stand in when we painted plein air and that she didn't like dealing with umbrellas. Larisa warned us about a big problem in workshops was "expectations" and just forget about painting a decent painting, relax, listen to the teacher and consider this week's work as exercises. These will be sketches to refer to later to see how we've progressed. Friday would be studio and calm down time and she recommended a 16x20 to work on. Since I didn't have a wet panel carrier for that size I chose to do a 12x16. Her "Golden Rule" is don't mess with the quick sketch piece back in the studio as it will lose it's outdoor freshness. She is after a "fresh air look". Use it as a study. A photo gives a reference, not life. The plein air study gives life. After a hurried lunch at the Sedona Memories Cafe, my new friend, Nance and I set up at the Sedona Heritage Museum as Larisa likes the porch there. A good choice for first day jitters because there were not very many visitors around and none of us wanted a stranger critique on our first day. We painted small studies of 6x8 inches.
 Larisa giving us some encouragement.
The Museum Porch below
 Larisa's quick colors demo/study. She said these were not finished paintings but we were to put down initial colors as a study of light, shadow, reflected light, and simplification.

After a morning slide show, lunch and the short trip to the museum, Monday's goals were to look for Light, Shadow, and Reflection (and always a goal is to simplify the image and that was the goal for all week.) Larisa gave a demo at the museum at 1:00, we painted quickly as it closed at 3, then back to the studio at the arts center for critique and discussion for Tuesday's day trip to Jerome, an old mining town. (Watch for the next post about the mining town trip and plein air painting.)

Oh, yes, today (on Monday, 29th) I celebrated my 77th birthday and what a great place to celebrate - in a workshop painting with new friends. 


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Saturday, November 3, 2012

Sedona Architectural Plein Air Workshop with Larisa Aukon by Nancy Standlee Texas Artist



The Chapel
12x16 oil on canvas panel
 (this photo can be improved later as it was taken inside in the studio.)

This was painted in the studio on the last day, Friday, of the Larisa Aukon's Architectural Plein Air workshop in Sedona at the Sedona Art Center after a week long effort of small sketches and studies in oil outside. I found Larisa Aukon's colorful oils on the internet and wanted to take a workshop and since I'd never been to Sedona and it would be my birthday week, I signed up for the 5 day architectural plein air oil class. It is a stretch for me as I've recently began painting in oils (Jan, 2012) and I don't "do buildings" or paint plein air (and that is a fancy word for saying painting outside). I left DFW Saturday, October 27, a day early because the Sedona Arts Center had been hosting the 8th Plein Air Festival all week and plein air painters from all over the world would be showing their paintings in the gallery with an auction at 4:00. I rented a car in Phoenix, got unloaded at the Days Inn, and arrived just in time to enjoy seeing some incredible art.
The auction:
 Each artist had one work presented and set a minimum bid. The artist would come to the stage with someone else holding the painting and the auctioneer would begin. Now that takes a lot of nerve to stand in front of an audience with your painting, waiting for the first bid. Some were not bid on, but several sold  beginning at around $200 up to $2900 with profits shared between the center and the artist.
An online friend:
I received an email from Nance the week before I left saying she had been a follower of my blog and hoped we could meet someday and said she lived in Sedona and would be taking the plein air workshop. I couldn't believe it as it was the same workshop I was attending and I told her we'd meet soon enough. She met me after the auction and we went to the Javelina Cantina for good conversation and Mexican food. Nance was an incredible host for the week, introducing me to some of her favorite places to dine and answering my many questions. She has a Flickr account with some of her paintings HERE.http://www.flickr.com/photos/sedonaNan  My motel was about 5 minutes from her house and if Sugar Foot, my GPS, ever failed I could always follow her home.
Tour on Sunday:
I chose a 2 1/2 hour Sedona tour on Sunday morning and then met Nance for a quick tour of Tlaquepaque, a very interesting art and craft area. In a later post I'll tell you how to pronounce it but for the time being it was easier for me to say "Hockey Puckey".
I'm sitting in the Phoenix airport waiting for my flight back to DFW remembering what a great week the eight of us had painting plein air with Larisa. We all learned more about the perils and fun of painting outside and the weather was our friend this week as we all tried to imitate Larisa's colorful painting style.





Nance and Nancy in Jerome on Tuesday
Sedona

Larisa painting demo.
One of Larisa's paintings.
She will have a 2013 class at Scottsdale Artist School and here is her course description and you can see her supply list HERE.http://scottsdaleartschool.org/instructor/instructordetail/id/397

In the next posts I will go into more details about each days activities so stay tuned. 
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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

"Bleed Purple, 12132, a Donation for TTS/TTP TSU and a Collage Commission by Texas Artist Nancy Standlee


Bleed Purple, 12132
Torn Paper Collage Purple Boot, 20x16 on canvas

See at my online gallery at Daily Paintworks
There is a nice perk now at Daily Paintworks. If you purchase a painting you have 4 chances in 30 days to win a featured artists painting. Check out the Artist Spotlight and Giveaway icon.
 


This past weekend was the Tarleton State University homecoming and I always enjoy going and seeing friends from from my years there back in the 50's when Tarleton was a junior collage. In 1954-56 I was fortunate to be initiated into a secret spirit organization, the TTS/TTP and on Saturday they held an auction and I made this torn paper collage for the auction at the Melody Mountain Ranch afternoon party. 
I was very pleased with the amount it brought to their fund. Over the years the organization has gone through changes and in 1956 people knew who had been in the organization when the annual came out and this is the page from the annual about 2 minutes in with the "Rack Ranger" banner. I'm second from the left in the short video.
http://www.tarleton.edu/traditions/purplepoo.html

Commission:
A North Texas chief of staff of a corporation Googled collage artist in April and contacted me about a large commission to go in their new building for April 2013. After meetings, many emails, and me producing a prototype that was approved for the project, I felt like it would nearly be beyond my time capabilities  (after two back to back workshops and I began to feel overwhelmed). There would be three 4 x 6 feet canvases using some of their correspondence and I could use some of my painted and found paper for collage. In September I explained I felt like it would be impossible for me to work in their time limits with my workshops and commitments and then 3 of my collage artist friends came to the rescue, Maryann Stephens, Connie Michael, and Karen Foster joined me and they were approved for the project. With their expert help, trucks were rented for moving the canvases, a studio was secured, and supplies were ordered and work has begun. In this blog I will post our progress. Tables have been set up, the image has been drawn off, papers sorted and one of the figures  and some background paper have been applied. Here are some photos of us at work.

 Going over the drawing with a permanent marker. Connie, Maryann, Karen

 Connie and Nancy confer.

Wow..these are really tall canvases. Checking our drawing.

 The figure in the center panel and outlines of figures of the left and right.

 Closeup of some of the text around the figure.

This is the biggest project that any of us have been involved with and we are having so much fun working with each other and working our the daily problems we are facing. Stay turned for our progress.

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BLOG                  Nancy Standlee Art Blog
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Purchase paintings through my Gallery at Daily Paintworks.
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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The Bunkhouse or the Honeymoon House, Don Sahli workshop at the Wenmohs Ranch by Texas Artist Nancy Standlee

The Bunkhouse, or the Honeymoon House 12130
16x20 Oil on Centurion Deluxe oil primed linen panel, ready for framing


The Bunkhouse at the Wenmohs Ranch is an artists retreat converted from a spacious 1890's house and will accommodate 7 or 8 guests. It is also known as the Honeymoon House as there have been many babies born there. Some of the Don Sahli workshop students stayed there. Two days were in the studio and two days were plein air. The above painting was done in plein air in the morning by Nancy.  Don painted it in the afternoon and we could observe the changing shadow patterns.

 
 The Bunkhouse sits beside the Art Barn Studio.

Watching a demo behind the Art Studio (this is such a great photo I may have to paint this)



 Don painting the Bunkhouse in the afternoon. He likes the Julian French Box easel and travels with his paints stored inside and puts it in checked luggage.

He is scheduled to return to Dena's Ranch in November 2013 for another workshop.
Don has an informative newsletter, to read the archived issues or sign up, click HERE.http://sahlistudio.com/page/399/don-sahli-newsletter

In one of the newsletters HERE he explained some steps that could be taken to get the most from a workshop. More posts to come from this informative workshop.


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BLOG                  Nancy Standlee Art Blog
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Purchase paintings through my Gallery at Daily Paintworks.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Van Gogh's Table, 12129, Oil Still Life, Don Sahli Workshop, Wenmohs Ranch by Texas Artist Nancy Standlee




Van Gogh's Table, 12129
20x24 Oil on oil primed linen board, ready to frame


I was at Dena Wenmohs Ranch, October 11-14, 2012 for the Don Sahli Workshop. He is from Evergreen, CO, and studied with Sergei Bongart. 
Don believes:
"We learn three ways; by doing, by seeing it done and by seeing what has been done - I use all of these approaches to learning in my teaching."
 A  link to his store and supplies is HERE
We worked large or large for me (20x24 and 16x20) still life and plein air.The above painting was a set up in the studio based on the theme of a series of paintings he has done of "Pictures in a Painting".
This was painted the 2nd day of the workshop.The first two days were devoted to studio still life painting and getting some concepts down, like "start with the darks" and the thrid and fourth day was plein air at the ranch.
Don described the class this way on his website 
"Painting on location, taking the studio outside, brings its own set of challenges.  Plein air painting is a spontaneous response to nature.  In the outdoors, things change quickly; the natural world is in constant motion.  As the foundations of plein air painting are presented step-by-step, you will learn how to simplify complex landscapes into “simple pieces” dealing with color, value and temperature.  Don Sahli’s personalized teaching method, along with limited class size, will ensure everyone’s success!"
We had 11 students and several demos and then Don spent the rest of the time moving from student to student, making suggestions and answering questions. He is energetic, personable, and a great teacher.  
Don has a blog that explains his method in more detail HERE.http://www.paintersjourneyblog.com/

The Van Gogh set up


 Don with his toned canvas and finding shapes before his first still life demo.

Don's palette with very large paint pools. He says "Paint like a rich man."


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BLOG                  Nancy Standlee Art Blog
WEBSITE            Nancy Standlee
WEBSITE            Canvas by Canvas
Contact:             NancyStandlee@sbcglobal.net

Purchase paintings through my Gallery at Daily Paintworks.
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