Beginning Oil Painting Class

For those of you in the area, I will be offering a college prep class for high school students starting in January, that will focus on good ol' oil painting.  Recently I had the pleasure to work with high school students as the visiting artist at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh.  I found that I really enjoy working with these bright, open, rising artists.  It should be a fun class - so please tell your favorite teenage artist!    

Winter Session
OIL PAINTING FOR BEGINNERS
Dates: January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21
Time: 6pm-8:30pm
This course will cover the essentials of oil painting from proper surface preparation to color mixing. Working from still life set ups, students will explore painting materials, learn about composition, color theory and paint application. Using direct observation to gain skills and confidence, these finished paintings will be portfolio ready!
Instructor: Alia El-Bermani
Tuition: $150/$135 members
Material Lists will be provided upon registration

Please contact Artspace to register.

Phone: 919.821.2787
Fax: 919.821.0383
Email: info@artspacenc.org

www.artspacenc.org  

Self as Skeptic

Last week, after spending many hours on the large painting of my son, I wanted to take a little breather so I started a new self portrait.  It is a relief to work smaller and once again from life.  As you can imagine, I am not able to get my five year old son to hold still as a model, so I've been struggling with the limitations of photo reference.  This self portrait is a huge relief in that sense, though I do have a mad crick in my neck.

 open underpainting of 

The Skeptic, oil on panel, 20" x 16"

The day after I started this self portrait, I had the pleasure (for the second time) to see the beautiful Rembrandt in America exhibition at the NCMA with some lovely friends.  This exhibit boasts nearly 50 portraits by both Rembrandt and "the school of Rembrandt".  There are some truly remarkable paintings to feast on, such as the following self portrait painted in 1659 (which is on loan from the National Gallery of Art).  The exhibition continues at the NCMA thru January 22, 2012 and then travels to the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

It certainly is a humbling experience to compare my efforts in paint to that of the master Rembrandt!  But it also serves as a great source of inspiration to see how he layered so much paint and completely controls the viewers focus with not only the variation of paint applications, but great mastery of value relationships.  Here are a few more progress shots of my humble attempt.  It is still not complete and unfortunately, photographing a wet painting is nearly futile... my apologies for the poor photo quality.

work in progress 

detail of first pass of color

The Skeptic (in progress), oil on panel, 20" x 16"

 

100 Grand Tonight!

I am honored to share that two of my Southern Weed paintings have traveled west to California.  They are included in the 3rd Annual 100 Grand exhibition at Sullivan Goss Gallery in Santa Barbara, which opens TONIGHT 5-8pm!  This exhibition has become a fun tradition for artists and collectors to start off the holiday season.  Please stop in if you are in the area!

Persimmon, oil on panel, 8" x 8"

 Pokeberry, oil on panel, 8" x 8"

December 1, 2011 - January 29, 2012

Sullivan Goss - An American Gallery

7 E. Anapamu St.

Santa Barbara, CA

www.sullivangoss.com 

805-730-1460