Ouch, too early for a blog move?

Several of you contacted me about the moving of my blog, and I have to say thanks, because I was unaware of the impact! It's the RSS feed - I have my web designer looking into how to put an RSS feed on the new blog. So in the meantime, I'll post on both. If you want to see the few posts I did put up on the "Other Blog", you can click HERE.

This painting is a variation on a theme.

Cumulus clouds can be imposing harbingers of a storm, or delightful things which tell us of a beautiful day. Oddly diametrical, perhaps that is why I love them so much (they are so Yin and Yang . . .)

So this begs the question, is this a storm coming or going? For me, it's a storm leaving. Though not evident due to my ongoing camera issues, there is a lot of light, nearly transparent blue on the right side of this painting, bringing the feeling of cool, refreshing air after a storm has cleared out the summer humidity and heat.

I enjoyed creating "Passing Storm" so much that I wanted to revisit the idea and theme again.

I have this work set aside for the upcoming show "Inside / Out" which opens on March 09th at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville.

It's as yet Untitled (but will soon get a name), 18 x 18 oil on panel.

MY BLOG IS MOVING

Happy New Year and Thank you everyone who follows this blog! I recently purchased computer software that allows me to update my own website and update things in "real time" not "web-designer time"! Even better is that the new software allows me to put the blog on my website - that just makes tooo much sense and it's so much easier for me.

So, If you've been reading or following this, all you need to do is click on the link below to see the "new and improved" blog:

Materese's New Blog

I finished the painting below and it's on the new blog, also there are some new entries and paintings you might like to read. The website has my about full collection of work, class schedules, etc., etc., etc. .

All my Best,
Materese

How to "Build a Painting" (A work in Progress)

People ask "how do you do that"? Today, I decided to share a bit about how I construct a painting.

I've been working on prepared panel recently in lieu of linen. Neither one is better than the other, but I can achieve certain optical effects on panel more easily than on linen - most especially the illusion of transparent layers of light, which is important for me in my landscape work.

I began this by laying in a very, very light pencil drawing. Almost no detail, I concentrate on the composition, perspective, as well as the size and placement of all the major value planes. Value planes? Yes, that's how I begin, I don't even really think about "a cloud goes here, a tree goes there" I'm really considering how the values (light and dark) and their shapes are going to play against each other and I'm always asking "is this too big or small next to the other value plane".

I usually also tone my canvas, for landscape I do a wash of Transparent Red Iron Oxide and then let it dry before I begin. But I was eager to begin this painting, and went straight into the white surface. I began with the sky and how the light was flowing from the mid region of the right side of the panel. The entire plane of the sky (not including the clouds) was laid in, blended (oh there was a lot of blending with this sky!) and then the clouds were laid in. Afterwards I worked on the tree line and began the grassy field. As you can see, everything at this point is "uber-soft" and very very hazy, and that's just how I want it for right now. It's impossible to make a hard edge soft when you go back into a dry painting, but quite easy to make a soft line hard.

Anyway, that's how it all begins, more to come . . .

A Gift of Gratitude

Ok, Ok, I knew I said in my last post that I'd put up the image of a new small still life! As hard as I try posting on the blog, sometimes it eludes my best intentions. The primary reason this happens is not because I'm lazy, but yes, I've been busy - which is a good thing! LOL! Painting, teaching, hanging shows, meeting with potential collectors, serving on the Board of Directors at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, life is full - and it's great. I am still amazed each day how well things have gone for me, especially during the past year.

So, all this leads me to my Gift of Gratitude.

I am incredibly fortunate to be able to walk into my studio every day and explore on canvas what I experience in nature, and then, share it with others. Eschewing the normal "Existential Artists' Angst" I'm in search of the powerful beauty, joy and promise that nature provides.

In teaching, I'm very lucky to have some incredible students who are courageous enough to push their limits, listen to my (sometimes legnthy . . .) lectures and put a part of themselves on canvas.

All this being said, I simply want to express my gratitude for being able to do what I love and having the opportunity to share it with others. My most sincere Thanks to every collector, student, friend and family member who has supported, encouraged and celebrated with me along the way.

This has been a banner year; creating and selling more paintings in the past 12 months than the last 2 years combined. As a way of saying Thank You , my current collection of work is being offered, through January 08, 2012 at prices from nearly 7 years ago when I began this career.

The image above, "Bamboo and Sake" is one of the paintings that I'm offering at the 2004 price. The full collection and more information is on my website

I'll be popping in and out of the blog for the next month, but my primary focus is going to be on getting ready for the next 2 shows, one in March (at Artists Gallery) and one in April at the Philadelphia Sketch Club.

A change of pace

I needed a change of pace for a bit from land and sky work. My roots are in classic still life painting, and every now and then I just need to dive back into that pool. Simple subjects, pears, but when you really dig into them you begin to see all of these beautiful nuances of colour you realize how real beauty is in the most simple things. I've begun a another that I'll post tomorrow.

This is being offered directly from me, unframed. If you're interested in purchasing it, please contact me via e-mail.

Title: Content
Size: 5 x 8
Medium: Oil on Panel
Price: $150

As The Night Begins

A variation on the theme of moonlight on water.

This painting is being offered through Artists' Gallery, now through December 04th.

Title: As The Night Begins
Size: 6 x 11
Medium: Oil on Panel

SOLD

Quietude

The fascination with the sky, it's movement, light and abstraction continues. Many of my students don't believe me when I advise them that one of the best ways to get a realist painting is to approach it abstractly - when we can do that, (it's not that easy) we let go of our "symbol system" and preconceived notions about what we think something looks like and are able to get closer to the real truth of the thing. If we are lucky and get into that state of mind, there's also the strong chance that we can "double dip" into the experience and pull out the emotional qualities of the subject we are studying.

This painting is being offered through Artists' Gallery, now through December 04

Title: Quietude
Size: 9 x 9
Medium: Oil on Panel
SOLD

Agg, lousy photo of this painting - I really need to get a new camera. I was going to re-photograph it today but it sold in the gallery this weekend! Thank you!

Sunrise at National Elk Refuge, Wyoming

Just outside of Jackson Hole Wyoming is the National Elk Refuge. When you are leaving Jackson Hole to get to the airport, you pass the National Elk Refuge.

As we were driving to the airport very, very early to catch our flight back to Philadelphia, we witnesses a most incredible sunrise. We stopped the car, breathed in the amazing light and mist of the morning and reluctantly, got back in the car to catch our flight. I will never forget the magical, nearly sacred feeling of that morning.

This painting is being offered through Artists' Gallery, now through December 04

Title: Sunrise at National Elk Refuge, Wyoming
Size: 10 x 16
Medium: Oil on Panel

SOLD

Approaching Rain and Cobalt Blue

Martha's Vineyard has always been a special place for me. One of the most striking things is as that the weather changes, it is so immediate, so "in your face", especially when you are on the beach.

I was going though some old reference photographs I had vividly remembered one day when the weather changed on a dime, the deep blue of the sky was being overpowered by oncoming rainclouds. This painting is about that immediate, nearly overpowering feeling that I experienced as the clouds came in over the bay.

This painting will be offered through Artists' Gallery now through December 04th.

Title: Approaching Rain and Cobalt Blue
Size: 18 x 18
Medium: Oil on Linen

Galaxy 2011 / NOVA Art Show and Sale

The Galaxy 2011 / NOVA Art show and sale is something I've participated in for 4 years now. An invitational show, 70 regional artists are brought together for 4 days at the Bucks County Courthouse for the event.

It's for a great cause - NOVA (Network of Victims Assistance) an organization dedicated to helping those who are victims of violent crimes including physical and sexual abuse. 40% of the proceeds of the sales of these paintings goes to NOVA to run their programs as they charge nothing to the individuals they help. It is one of the few non-profits that I will either donate or sell my work for - they run a great organization and hold a well juried, top notch show.

So if you are in the area this weekend, the show opens Thursday, November 03 and runs through Sunday, November 06, you may want to swing by and see some really great work by local artists and artisans.

Title: End of the Day
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 22 x 28