Session 3-From the Literal...to the Suggestive- Painterly Realism

[LarrySeiler]

* the place of the Gesture in painting
* advantages of the limited palette
* developing a color language
* building on deliberate purposeful brushwork

October 18th...I'll be teaching on suggesting your detail; how doing so asks more of the viewer, and initiates greater interaction and narrative with the painting.

I have video painting an Impressionistic last light plein air during peak season of the fall here in northern Wisconsin. Video painting a still life exercise instudio...

This picture shows the same location, painted two different last light nights, the aim or goal differing each time. One focusing more on the contrasts of the values, the other the emotive state of color and mood. One more tonal...the other more from impression.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Oct-2011/532-2paintings2moods.jpg

my video will demonstrate with less than an hour's light...painting from life an impression...this painting, 9"x 12"

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Oct-2011/532-ratriver_fwdemowc.jpg

then...a video/study instudio that focuses on the alla prima axiom, "a brushstroke laid is a brushstroke stayed"...with intentioned purposefilled brush work...using background juicy paint to sculpt the subjet, and dealing with edges to imbue that sense of air/environment...

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Oct-2011/532-creeper_painting110.jpg

[Amandine]

I cannot believe we will learn all that stuff, live. :clap: :clap:
You're very generous with us, Larry. Many many thanks.

[LarrySeiler]

well...if we're gonna do 'er, Amandine...gonna give it my best shot and try to do it right... :)

glad you find this one of interest

[mariann1234]

Thanks for all the great information Larry. I can hardly wait until Tuesday night.

[oCDs01-711]

Inspiring hour with you Larry.

Shirley

[LarrySeiler]

thank you Shirley

[Sonni]

I looked at your video where you counted brushstrokes. I tried it somewhat with the last one, with great difficulty. Will concentrate on oils and strokes this week.

[LarrySeiler]

It gets easier...but, its something like a campaign you wage. There are at times casualties..but in the end, is victory.

I find it most challenging (counting the strokes)..when I am also playing the role of videographer. Hardest part for me...is remembering the count for the camera...that is, remembering to add it up...take a moment to show it to the camera. Would be easier if I had someone control that aspect. One of these days, I'll maybe pull my wife into it!!! :evil:

[sherrysherman]

Hardest part for me...is remembering the count for the camera...that is, remembering to add it up...take a moment to show it to the camera. Would be easier if I had someone control that aspect. One of these days, I'll maybe pull my wife into it!!! :evil:

LOL! That's what Johannes Vloothuis has done - pulled his son into it!! :) (Also has assistance from Judy, who I think is trading lessons for helping with the webinars - a win-win arrangement!) It's a bit much for one person to try to do it all, teaching, filming, technical, answering students' questions....

[Improv]

Well that was a waste of time! I got into the webinar with 20 minutes to spare, no problem. Then 5 minutes before start time, my connection closed down! I tried for 30 minutes to re-connect, but couldn't. How many people were in there?

Guess I just wait for the recording-:crossfingers:

No cheer,

Improv

[sherrysherman]

Well that was a waste of time! I got into the webinar with 20 minutes to spare, no problem. Then 5 minutes before start time, my connection closed down! I tried for 30 minutes to re-connect, but couldn't. How many people were in there?

Guess I just wait for the recording-:crossfingers:

No cheer,

Improv

The power in Sarah's city went down, so that shut down the meeting. It reopened within a few minutes, then Johannes joined us and offered to be the admin for Larry. We tried to see if we could get Larry back on the line so he could do his presentation, but it didn't work out. So Johannes is just answering miscellaneous questions that people are posting. Not to substitute for Larry but so that the hundreds that had reserved that time would not find it a total waste. There will be no recording for this session, but Session 3 will be offered next week.

[Improv]

The power in Sarah's city went down, so that shut down the meeting. It reopened within a few minutes, then Johannes joined us and offered to be the admin for Larry. We tried to see if we could get Larry back on the line so he could do his presentation, but it didn't work out. So Johannes is just answering miscellaneous questions that people are posting. Not to substitute for Larry but so that the hundreds that had reserved that time would not find it a total waste. There will be no recording for this session, but Session 3 will be offered next week.

Thanks for the explanation, Sherry. At least I was in good company. Still would have been interested to hear what Johannes had to say.

(Maybe it was a good thing that I didn't get through, because if I heard Jo's voice when I was expecting Larry's, I would have been TOTALLY confused! lol!!!

Cheers

Doug

[LarrySeiler]

Well that was a waste of time! I got into the webinar with 20 minutes to spare, no problem. Then 5 minutes before start time, my connection closed down! I tried for 30 minutes to re-connect, but couldn't. How many people were in there?

Guess I just wait for the recording-:crossfingers:

No cheer,

Improv

the city...from which the host/admin lives and operates out of, here in the US..lost power. An outage affecting the whole city.

It was a bummer...and this should indicate my reaction-

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Oct-2011/532-larrygoingcrazy.jpg

but...there isn't much we can do. Its a humbling situation...

So...what will happen, is these will get pushed back a week longer in the series...and I hope you will rejoin us.

Speaking for myself....I teach art fulltime throughout the week, and have been burning the midnight oil all week long to put together a good program, so...I am disappointed...but so is F&W...and some things we just have to learn to live with.

A good friend, consoling me once over other matters said, "all you can do...is all you can do, and all you can do is enough"

simple...but a lot of wisdom and truth to that.

We tried what we could tonight....sorry...

[LarrySeiler]

... but so that the hundreds that had reserved that time would not find it a total waste. There will be no recording for this session, but Session 3 will be offered next week.


...and, the webinars are at this time free...well...and thus thankfully, no one is strapped as a result of the experience.

We'll pull thru...and I'll give ya'll a good one next week. Hang tough with us folks..

and thanks Johannes!!! :thumbsup:

[crazywoman53]

When I used to run EMS calls and we had a night when no one died I considered it a good night. It gave me a new perspective on things that frustrate us that we have no control over.. no one died tonight because of it so we'll pick up and move foreward next week. I knew " somewhere out there beneath the silvery moon" there's art instructor pining just to teach to me.. and lots of others too.. I can't sing but you all can ad lib for me. :) Looking forward to next week. It will be a good session!

[Sonni]

I'm leaving for my winter digs in a third world country in a couple weeks, where the most reliable technology is a donkey or a horse. Today's event helped get me in the mood for it.:)

[harospro]

I got thrown out just at the exact time the session should start. I tried to get back in and on the third try it worked. Guess my surprise when I heard Johannes voice instead of your's Larry. I have taken webinars with him so I recognized his voice. I'm glad he was there to explain the situation to us and then to offer to answer our questions so our time would not be totally wasted. All in all an interesting experience. Thanks Johannes for pitching in and I'll be looking forward to next week Larry.

[oCDs01-711]

So sorry this happened to your class, Larry.:( I know you were disappointed after working so hard on your presentation.

Wow, there were around 386 people at one time! Super. I can't even imagine what teaching a webinar must be like: lecturing, using computer programs, switching computer programs, reading student questions, recording, etc etc ETC! Then Mother Nature throws a wammy.:eek: :eek: :eek: Can't do anything about that. Things happen.

I'll be there again next Tuesday! :clap: :D

Shirley

[siberart]

Stuff happens! Interesting to see that Johannes has over 2000 emails with as many in the trash.

Also, iPad2 Go to Meeting App has no Q and A. See you next time.

[lonelm]

Great pic Larry. I got on very early so saw the PP bits while you were setting up. Loved the FaceTime part as well but the lecture looked like it was going to be great. One of the biggest worries in any workshop is to have technical difficulties. It happens and we look forward to next week.

[mapost1]

Technology is great when it works, and totally frustrating when it doesn't. But thanks to Johannes for jumping in and making the most of an unfortunate situation. Great team work, something technology can't readily provide.

[Dharma_bum]

Great "reaction shot" Larry. :) Maybe we should all paint your portrait from that for this weeks homework.

As I can only make every other class, I'll miss #3 now instead of #4. Hope they are put up for sale soon.


Dan

[Improv]

A good friend, consoling me once over other matters said, "all you can do...is all you can do, and all you can do is enough"

simple...but a lot of wisdom and truth to that.

Or, as someone else (John Lennon) once said: "Life is what happens when you're busy making plans! " ;)

No problems, we'll all try again next week! :thumbsup:

Cheers

Doug

[mtnrunner]

Oh I knew you were fit to be tied when it all shut down! I am really looking forward to it next week. Nice of Johannes to try to keep things interesting while they tried to get you back on.

You know... Carol Marine is asking for "funny faces" to be sent to her. I really think you should send her that photo with a little background story to go with it!!! Seriously!
deb

[LarrySeiler]

We'll have a good one next week, carrying on as usual.

In addition to what I have prepared for you...I have two videos prepared to share, depending on time...may have to time lapse and narrate off the cuff, which I'm pretty good at. The first is a daily type smaller painting of this musky lure called, "the Creeper"...the other a plein air done in upper Michigan at Fumee Falls. First I did a quick study because I could see how dramatic the light was and also what was soon to be lost after the sun dipped behind a protruding bluff/rock face. Then...I laid that study aside, nearby...and proceeded to do a larger work from it. Here's a small comp to give you an idea-

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2011/532-creeper_fumee.jpg

I'll give Carol some thought there, Deb...what are you saying, I have a weird face or something??? :lol: :D

[artastic]

sorry the session bailed Larry, looking forward to next week, and thanks for Johannes for stepping in,

[Squeaky Swan]

Oh wow! I thought I had missed out on last night's webinar because of prior family obligations. It seems by the posts here that it didn't go as planned and will be next week. Sorry for everyone else, but that means that I won't miss the next in the series! Hooray for me!

[mtnrunner]

I'll give Carol some thought there, Deb...what are you saying, I have a weird face or something??? :lol: :D[/QUOTE]

Weelllll.... maybe, just a little... kinda sorta..... :lol:
In all seriousness, she is requesting photos of people making silly faces - this would be perfect! we might see you in paint!!!

[LarrySeiler]

I'll give Carol some thought there, Deb...what are you saying, I have a weird face or something??? :lol: :D

Weelllll.... maybe, just a little... kinda sorta..... :lol:
In all seriousness, she is requesting photos of people making silly faces - this would be perfect! we might see you in paint!!!


okay Deb...introduced myself to Carol, and the situation by email...having her blog listed on my blog anyway. Sent her the two pics...so, we'll see if she has interest. They just might be too scary and over the top!!! Plus...she could be wading in images sent at the moment..

peace

[mtnrunner]

well, would be fun if something good came out of this! I hope she paints you!

[LarrySeiler]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8ZeSdC5xcs

An exercise I teach, promote...that will help wean the artist from the linear and the literal...to more painterly suggestive realism, can be seen in this video I made...counting brushstrokes. I may refer to it...show a part of it in the next two sessions coming up...but is relevant especially in the session going from literal to the suggestive.

The counting...and the purpose, is to put greater emphasis on the value of a brushstroke, as though the stroke (with its proper color and value pigment) is in and of itself the art... to understand that scumbling, when necessary to blend is at that point and time intended, but too many artists when watched dab meaninglessly with the brush as though waiting for something to happen.

When especially pressed for time, and quite often if you paint outdoors, developing a commanding mastery of the brush leads to a profound efficiency. To anyone watching...it is something akin to magic. We have a number of fine painters here at Wetcanvas that possess this magic, and produce work where it is most evident. I think of David Simons as one, in the Landscape forum...

Emile Gruppe cautioned against counting brushstrokes, and I agree were it done on your bread and butter work, your commissions, painting outdoors, etc., Just as there is the regular game of basketball with its rules, its coache's box, its referees and officiating, there are scratch games like Horse, Twenty-One, Around the World...that are not full fledged court games. Thus as an exercise...like lifting weights to enhance your sport's performance...it will increase your confidence and manner of applying paint. In short...make you efficient, make your attack direct, intentional, in control....

[Tresgatos]

I enjoyed the demo on you tube - thank you for sharing it

Barbara

[LarrySeiler]

Awesome...its a good exercise!

[robertsloan2]

My apologies to everyone who's been waiting for my notes.

This Thursday, I have my Street Artist Program screening. Yesterday I cut a big pile of mats. Today, during class, I was cutting a big pile of back boards. I didn't notice the time until Dougwas messaged me to ask if I'd missed it.

Yep, I missed it. My back's in pretty bad shape right now, I'm just curling up in my chair resting from the activity. I am going to have to catch the last two by streaming when I can make the time.

I don't know what shape I'll be in next week. I'll try to make it to class but from here on, no promises, this is the second time I missed because I lost track of the time on a bad back day.

[Amandine]

My back's in pretty bad shape right now ... I don't know what shape I'll be in next week...

Take care of yourself, Robert. That's the only thing that matters. :wave:

[LarrySeiler]

yeah...not good, sorry to hear, Robert...do take care of yourself!!!!