And I'm Out!

And I'm out!  Just like our favorite 'Jerk' Navin R. Johnson tearing open the new phone book to see his name for the first time in print, "I'm somebody now!"  I just decided I'm good enough to go public, finally!  Public with my journey that is, my adventures in art.  While I have really enjoyed connecting with my patients as a dental hygienist, I have been longing to spend more time painting.  Feeling overwhelmed and not sure how to juggle my desires, I wrote to my local hero Terry Miura for help.  "How do I become an artist?  With art school out of the question, will you please give me an assignment, an art workout, a direction?"  And he did!  As I am excitedly noting the assigned studies, he adds, "And I will critique them (yes!),  when you post them to your blog."

He knows I have no blog.  

Until now! 

Where I'm comin' from


My first portraits 2003
12x12 oil on Gesso Board

Cassandra

Toni

Kirty

I had just had a falling out with the University of Redlands art faculty over an issue which seemed irrelevant and obnoxious to me at the time; whether or not Titian's 'Venus of Urbino' was masterbating.  I was embarrassed and upset as the round table of professors took a 'left turn at Albequerque' during my senior project pitch.  I was planning to reference the painting, but replace Venus with a young college guy in a college girl's dorm room; a comedic twist with female perspective.  But the profs lost track of me and instead passionately battled one another over the depth of the models fingers and whether her wrist was moving…

'Venus of Urbino"

When the newest faculty member finally remembered I was still there, he turned towards me, "Do you think you could get a guy to pose like that (masterbating)?"  "Whaaaaat!?"  I gasped.  "Then I guess you really aren't interested in the feminist critique!" the printmaking lady scolded.  

I lost it.  I marched out, pulled my car up into the studio, squeezed a cheap A frame easel through the ski hole in my honda, tossed my favorite beat up stool into the back seat and left.  

Once I no longer cared about trying to impress, or about graduating with honors, I realized I just wanted to paint portraits.  I 'paint-hiled' my roommate in order to pull all-nighters, and from photographic reference I painstakingly blended every brush stroke until it vanished.  It was a lot of work!  The thick gesso texture which I had, through negligence, managed to make in the likeness of a wooden fence, also proved a challenge.  (But it looked cool to me!)

Painting from photographs was the way we had learned in intro to oil, so I just had at it.  My friends made great models!  This experience with the art department helped me solidify my plan to become a dental hygienist. (I figured once I was financially independent - I'd be able to figure the painting thing out), so off I went to the University of Colorado.  

2004
contest entry

 24x36" oil on canvas

While in dental hygiene school I heard an author I admired was hosting a cover art contest for his new book.  During treatment in Special Care Clinic I saw the most amazing model!  The dental student squeezed in a photo shoot with me one morning on campus before class, and then I stuck to what I knew.  I gridded the canvas in vine charcoal and drew to scale, then blended away night and day until the deadline.

Good news is this painting is still available :)

Sacramento, California!
Where my art education really begins.

I hadn't painted in years when I stumbled into S-12 Studio.  This talented and very cool group of local artists was painting from life!  What a different experience.  It is such a fun energy and way of connecting, while at the same time the clock ticks down layering in a sense of urgency.  It's like a game, where staying present and relishing the process just happen to produce a favorable result.  These life sketches are about making every stroke count and seeing only the notes that matters most.

2009 

11x14" three hour life study

Casey

One of my first favorites from Debbie Gualco's portrait class.

2010 

12x16" three hour life session at S-12 Studio

Past My Bedtime

2012

11x14" portrait commission from life

Fred

What a great guy!  This was my first commission to paint a portrait from life.  He was a wonderful sitter and very fun to talk to.  His wife was so pleased they took me out to dinner!  I loved every minute of it.

11x14" three hour life sketch

Kara

(Kara detail- these strokes are what its all about!)

2013

11x14" three hour life sketch

Sara

One last favorite!  I love how this came out.  I think I was able to use fewer more deliberate strokes, and Sara did an amazing job holding her expression.

Now, to get back to my Terry Homework.