"He Always Wore His Red Cape When He Danced" ~ Acrylic Figurative

"He Always Wore His Red Cape (when he danced)"
Acrylic on Canvas
12" x 12"

This is another in the "Friends and Lovers" series that I've recently added to my updated web site. Click HERE to view the others.

I've recently posted about my workshop with Cheng-Khee Chee and painting some Koi. In 2008 I took a Nicholas Simmons Workshop, see the blog post and the Koi painting I did HERE and Nick had us using liquid acrylics.

I highly recommend you go to Nick's blog and watch his "Bad Watercolor Day for Hitler." Nick are you a Quentin Tarantino wannabe? Shades of "Ingloureous Basterds"!! It makes no difference to me acrylic or watercolor. They are both watermedia and just paint some Koi in either one. Congrats, Nick on the Belgium show. If you are a Facebook fan, here is Nick's profile.

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BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

Other blogs where I post:

Daily Painters of Texas

Daily Abstract Painters Gallery



TEXAS CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST FINE ART DAILY PAINTER
NANCY STANDLEE ARLINGTON, TEXAS ART FOR SALE

Contact: NancyStandlee@sbcglobal.net

Cheng-Khee Chee Workshop ~ Day 4 ~ Crinkle Paper Technique ~ Slide Show

"Tree in Fredericksburg"
Mounted Masa paper
14" x 20"

Day four of the Cheng-Khee Chee workshop found us wetting and crinkling masa paper and aiming for "exciting texture" in our painting. Texas has many different trees to choose from but if you've followed this blog very long you won't remember very many "tree forms" found in my work. After we crinkled the paper then the paint was applied and yes, he showed us exactly how to "crinkle". Mine was nearing disaster status when I remembered I'd thrown in some white gouache in a fit of last minute packing and I was able to reclaim some of the rock and flower shapes. The tree still needs some hot licks and my signature.

Artists Opportunities:
If you belong to LinkedIn you might want to join Professional Fine Art Network. They have a blog and will post artist profiles HERE. Mine has recently been added. You might want to join and add yours if you're an artist and want to connect with fellow artists.

Artists might want to check out http://watercolorpainting.com/ for a place to add your blog or web site link. I have noticed in my stats that I'm getting visitors from this site. It's fee for adding your name and $25 a year for adding an image.
Submit your blog here: http://watercolorpainting.com/links-artist-blogs-and-journals.htm
and submit your web site: http://watercolorpainting.com/links-artists.htm
Here you can select your category and add your medium:
http://watercolorpainting.com/links.htm
You send your email to links@watercolorpainting.com and specify in the subject line where you would like to be listed.

Cheng-Khee Chee Slide Show: Enjoy some of his work. (Mouse over for titles)

Please visit my website and comment on my blog.
Find me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

Other blogs where I post:

Daily Painters of Texas

Daily Abstract Painters Gallery


TEXAS CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST FINE ART DAILY PAINTER
NANCY STANDLEE ARLINGTON, TEXAS ART FOR SALE

"Mountain, Rocks" ~ Cheng-Khee Chee Workshop ~ Day 3 ~"The Road to Graham"

"The Road to Graham"
15" x 22" Strathmore board
Watercolor

In the Cheng-Khee Chee workshop, Chinese traditions meet contemporary treatment and from traditional styles to abstract improvisational methods. He charged us to be sensitive to changes and explore and experiment and take risks. Being aware that the group dynamic of fellowship will contribute to growth and creative ideas.

As a former elementary librarian, I was surprised to learn that Chee is a former librarian and he illustrated "Old Turtle" by Douglas Wood in 1991. My students loved checking out this book.

The Third Day:
On the third day we discovered the improvisational splash color technique using our rock or mountain reference. One day on a Canvas by Canvas road trip to Graham for a gallery show we took many photos on red rocks and cactus and it was a familiar and recent photo. The idea was to paint on a smooth painting surface, Strathmore 500 board, hot pressed, that would repel and not absorb the paint. We covered the surface with glossy acrylic gel diluted with water in an even coat and the result was similar to painting on glass using a broad brush charged with color and sweeping it over the surface. His demo was always with emotion and energy and he covered the board with warm and cool, and a variety of shapes, discovering the subject matter as he painted, a combination of dreams and reality. My personal painting got a little heavy handed with the color but I got lucky.

Critique:
Six numbers were drawn and I was #3 and Chee agreed to paint and critique 6 paintings if we'd like him to. It could be a critique where he'd say "Oh, how beautiful" or go to the clinic where he'd operate - praise or operate, cure or kill. I chose the clinic approach. On my painting, he said there were too many shapes so he consolidated some rock shapes, left the cactus alone but added some water. I always agree when anyone wants to take one of my paintings to the clinic. The photo isn't very good below because it was snapped quickly under the mirror before the surgery.



You see, we are still friends after the clinic visit. This was a long day as the evening was a koi demo for the SWS meeting but Chee was always gracious and helpful.
If you'd like to read more about these techniques we studied this week, Cheap Joe's has a 28 page book "The Work of Cheng-Khee Chee" that describes each technique and gives finished examples.
Chee "I have never been satisfied with my painting, but always happy when I paint." That elusive perfect watercolor is always waiting for the next work. On the last post of the series, I'll post a slide show of some of his work.

Please visit my web site and comment on my blog:

BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

TEXAS CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST FINE ART DAILY PAINTER
NANCY STANDLEE ARLINGTON, TEXAS ART FOR SALE

Cheng-Khee Chee Workshop ~ Day 1 ~ Rooster

"Rooster"
Watercolor on half sheet
15" x 22"

The first day of the Cheng-Khee Chee workshop was using the traditional watercolor technique. I chose a safe rooster reference and used a half sheet instead of the full sheet and he said just plan on using the palette we brought without mixing the colors in the muffin tins. Whew! There are just so many things to consider the first day this was indeed a welcome break.

Creative Catalyst carries his DVD's that follow along with these techniques if you can't get to a workshop. I've been trying to cram the night before to anticipate reference material and techniques.
"The Intimidator"
I have to have this brush before my next workshop. This 6" brush just screams "Watch out. Move over. I know what I'm doing." (whether you do or not) Chee usess it to wet his paper front and back and it does a super job but the "coolness" factor is over the top. It won't even go in the largest 3 lb. coffee can water holder without being turned sideways. Yep, next order for sure - maybe not the 6" but maybe the 4" or 5". I just try to remember for each days project - It's not the product, it's the process and all of us are working hard to understand the process and having a lot of fun and fellowship.

Cheng-Khee Chee Workshop ~ Day 2 ~ Koi

"Koi"
Watercolor 1/2 sheet
15" x 22"

This was painted using the saturated wet technique, wetting the 140 lb. Fabriano paper front and back, laying in the background colors and then finding the koi. This week I'm in a 5 day workshop with master watercolorist, Cheng-Khee Chee from Duluth Minnesota. His work is influenced by the East-West experiences and tradition. His creative process is strongly influenced by Taoist philosophy - finding the most natural and effortless way to express the essence of a specific subject that he has deep feelings. His wife, Sing Bee, helped me mix up my colors for a special palette in muffin tins similar to the one below that Chee was using. It's fun and a little intimidating and the 20 plus members are working hard. I'll post a slide show of images later. The first day was using the traditional watercolor technique and I painted a rooster but later for that also.