Back to my Richard Schmid Color charts after a sweet visit to Alabama

I spent the better part of last week with grand daughter little Annie who just had her tonsils out.  You know she's hurting when you have to beg her to take a few licks of an ice cream cone!  

Here she is a few days later...still pale and not eating much enjoying a bit of Alabama sunshine.  Yes....it's snowing today again in Cleveland.

Cadmium Lemon Chart
I really can't believe how much I am learning about color doing these charts.  I hope it will show in my work as I keep learning and growing in oils.  As hard as it is to dive into a new medium, I feel really great about the fact that I am no longer afraid of them and I'm fulfilling a life long dream of finally learning how to use them.

Cadmium Yellow Pale Chart
Three done...9 more to go:)

Taking on Richard Schmid's challenge...Making my own Color Charts

I've had a copy of  Richard Schmid's book Alla Prima for 20 years.  It is the greatest book on oil painting that I know of.  I've been in and out of my pastels for 10 years but I've read it a few times...in hopes of one day learning oils.  Recently, in frustration,  I pulled out my old copy, (He has since revised it), and have decided to take his earnest plea and make my own color charts.  With pastels, you just choose the color you want from hundreds of pastels....but there is always a moment when you can't find that perfect color and it is one you can't layer to mix....like a crazy pink for a flower.  As I've begun my quest to work in oil, I've been frustrated not knowing what I will get if I mix this color with that..."how do I get that combination of skin tones that I want?"  "What will make that grass color?"  So this week I ordered pre-made blank color charts and today I began.

  This is the first of 12 charts I will make.  I've followed it just as described in the book...taking my palette and getting five values of each color only by adding white.  As I make the other charts, I will begin mixing colors with a dominant color.  They will be more difficult!

I ordered the color charts from
Artist's blank color chart panel recommended by Richard Schmid

They are wonderful!!! A huge time saver.  They had free shipping and were here by priority mail in 2 days.

I used only a small palette knife as it is easier to keep clean.... a must with the charts to avoid contamination of colors.  Below is just a bunch of pictures showing how it went.  It was the most fun I've had in a long time with art and I was amazed at what I have learned about my palette with just this one chart.
It was great practice with my smallest palette knife too:)

Beginnings :)
The top colors are right out of the tube....The lower colors are supposed to be an off white of the corresponding color.  

Then you start finding the middle values.

This part was so much fun!  

Nothing better to do when there is "snow day #8" going on outside!

I'll post the others as I go along!  I imagine it will take weeks!

Sydney and her doll
Oil on Canvas
I'm finally painting again after struggling with a very sore elbow.  It's still sore but having some better days.   After seeing three doctors, and not painting for a few months....I'm going through Physical Therapy and doing a lot of icing.  Hopefully it will come around.  There are other options, but ones, I'd rather skip :)

This is one of  my grand daughters.  I love painting the kids because for one they are beautiful, and I know them well enough to know if I've captured their sweet little souls.  This is a quiet moment for Sydney, like her mother, she is a busy little girl and I'm sure Jessica took many takes to get her still for a moment.

I'm starting to go to life drawing sessions again....slowly, and will take up more oil lessons in April...but first I've decided to create some extensive oil color charts for my brain.  Unlike pastels, you have to mix what you want in oil and I need to find that out for myself.  I'll post them as I go.  I'm sure it will be a very meticulous messy process!

Practicing Patience

I've been getting some inquiries as to why I'm not posting any paintings lately.  Well....I have an issue with my right arm/elbow. 
I meet with a surgeon in a few weeks...
I am still doing a few shifts in the NICU every week, but I'm not suppose to be doing much else (I'm suppose to be in a splint).  In the mean time...I've been getting reacquainted with my favorite art books and doing some very light sketching...and pattern design for new Grand Baby quilts. (OK, I confess to doing a few quick oil sketches just to pacify my passion!)
I'm not very patient, but I do have to count my blessings.  If and when I have the surgery, I will be off of any painting for a month at least.  Until then, I will be only practicing...patience.




 

Studio painting on a cold November day.

Medina Farmland
Studio painting 2013
Oil on Canvas

I love this farm.  This is a photo I took this summer.  I'd rather paint en plein air, but....it's been FREEZING here so my cozy studio won out.  I did this one on my own, trying to hear Larry Churski as I problem solved.  Oils are still very new to me...they are messy and clean up is time consuming...and I can't stay away from them!!!

Lessons with Larry November 2013

Late BloomerJoanne's Farm...Hinckly OH
So today I took my life in my hands as I boarded a four wheeler with wonderful Joanne (in her mid 80's!!!) and toured her beautiful farm that backs up against Hinckley Ledges.  I can't even describe the view of beautiful fall colors at the top of her hills.  Nor can I believe that she can drive like that at her age.  I hope to be as active and engaging at that age.  
I wanted to paint the white barn on her property, but something told me to take on the pond as it is the most difficult type of landscape for me and I am here to learn.  So...another day the barn. 
Larry is very patient with my slow starts.  I have so much to learn of this medium!

Virgil and beginning oils

Virgil
pencil and charcoal on smooth vellum
Akron Society of Artists Model session

Harvest in Medina County
Oil on canvas
Lesson with Lawrence Churski

In my search for a local mentor/teacher, I've started lessons with Lawrence Churski.
He works in Oil and Watercolor...so I am learning oils, something I have always wanted to do!  Larry is funny, kind and an amazing artist.  If you want to see his beautiful work you can go to  Lawrence Churski Fine Art.  

Berlin Farm 
Amish Country, Berlin Ohio
Oil on Canvas
Palette knife and brush

This one I did in my studio from a photo taken a few weeks ago.  I was having problems...so I shot a picture of it to Larry and asked for suggestions.  He sent a laundry list of things to fix and as I did each one, I was amazed at how much more I liked it.  Learning my art ABC's all over again with a great teacher and a tricky medium.