Heather Lenefsky Art: June 2016

I just broke up with my day job. Completely. It's happening. I mean - crap- it HAPPENED! It was more than a day job. It was a career. One that many good hearted, non-squeezy, Dental Hygienist hopefuls fight for a shot (hah dental pun) at. It was a well-paying, flexible, and social career, and I broke up with it. Woah that's giving me relationship flashbacks, "... He was such a good guy... The sex was great... He was so clever…Great on paper…BUT…”

Here's the thing - it was great. But to be honest, it just wasn't right for me. My last straw came in the form of one new sheet of paperwork. When I felt an irrational emotional surge (OK- near meltdown) over a single piece of paper, I knew it was time to for a chat. My boss knew all too well, that I was tragically born without two things: an inside voice and a poker face. I was nervous to come clean to her - yet it just came out. But she was a step ahead and already knew. She was wonderful, understanding, and even excited for me to move on and follow my passion. She immediately tried to help me new (now, career) pursuits by taking me to photograph (and ride) polo ponies! I couldn't have been more grateful.

So, oops! I am a full time artist (...and full time art student)! It’s like I always say, “what could possibly go wrong?!”

Serving beer and warm dogs is in NO way bellow me if I get myself into trouble. But, I have waited long enough and it was time to sack up and take this risk. The most encouraging email met me in my inbox from my mentor Terry noting, "Joseph Campbell repeatedly said, “Follow your bliss” (and the universe will conspire in your favor) I found this to be true, time and time again." I am excited!

So, speaking of universe conspiracies... I am dying to tell you Dad, Terry, and discerning adventurekateers who have found this blog (who are you by the way? Let me know in the comments!), THE event of 2016! But, I'll save that for the next post... haha see what I did there? Tune in next time!

Art Critique

Abruptly transitioning now to the crit Terry gave me after my last post so that you may benefit from it! He encourages me to keep listening to the Watts gang suggesting I continue to work on the 'big sculpt' paying attention to the skeleton and then the sculpt of the features after that, integrating them properly. Anatomy, a lifetime pursuit! He makes some good notes on Landscape as well.

"Remember, you have to decide before you start painting whether to take the impressionist color approach, or more of a tonalist approach. With the Impressionist color, you paint high key so you can push color in the shadows. In order to emphasize the color of the secondary light (reflected and ambient) you have to have a situation where that light is strong, illuminating the shadows. If it’s strong enough to illuminate–you can actually see color and information in the shadows–then the value has to go up. You can’t see anything in the dark."

Terry recommends studying the method of one's teacher. Though he adopts more of a tonalist approach, Ben Young, my plein air teacher at Watts, probably works more into the colorist end of the spectrum. From Ben I am also trying to learn good design and edge work. Watching him work on cloud forms the other day, it was amazing to see how he would move things forward and back in space until the design was appealing. This is so hard! Especially when our reference is lacking, and it requires invention.

Terry liked seeing my backgrounds evolve, and after I painted 'Bella' he wrote, "This one has the background that I’d been waiting for you to do! The totally intentional mark-making, and the thoughtfully muted colors without making it dull. Nicely executed!" Yay! I have also been continuing to try and think more about shape design as it relates to form, and by the time I was wrapping up my biggest and most recent Dog Portrait, 'Sir Butters,' I heard from several teachers including Tom Babbey, Terry Miura, and Jeff Watts that they thought it was my best one so far! Here's to trying to stay on this trajectory!

And NOW! My latest pieces...

Blue Roan

6x6" oil on canvas $300

available here