Heather Lenefsky Art: The Space Between or Where Dragons Come From

The study of art may be, in fact, about the space between the strokes. This is the space, or time, where observations, reflections, and decisions are made. A great piece after all is the summation of a thousand great decisions. This is where dragons come from. Literally. The Watt's instructors, and guys like them, are the real mother's of Dragons. Look them up.

On a broader scale, this pursuit is largely dependent on the space between the classes. It's a life style, really. The truly great artists I have met work very hard, continually. I have heard several atelier goers refer to Jeff Watts as the Tiger Woods of art. They have a very similar training schedule.

In a head drawing class last night one of the teachers, Lucas Graciano, echoed the idea, roughly amounting to the fact that there are many good ways to resolve a drawing issue, but there are many more wrong ones. In the end the only way to know is to try. There is no substitute for putting in the time, and no short cut (although finding the right school does seem to act a catapult in the right direction). Under the expert eye of these instructors, I'm gonna just keep trucking on!

Quick Re-Cap of my first term at Watts!

It was awesome. It was extremely hard. I'm going to need to reread the Brene Brown book... the one about self-compassion. I was just so grateful to be there I didn't reeealy mind being the worst kid in the class. The people are wonderful. I have friend crushes on all the teachers. I love it.

It was stressful at first, leaving a great job to come down and hustle for day-to-day temporary assignments. I hate getting calls at 5:30 am, but I am very lucky to have a degree in something as portable as Dental Hygiene. After about 4 months of sweating it and last minute gigs, I found two great offices and can go to class the rest of the time! Even managed to squeeze in a couple of commissions. Barely.

Here is a mini schoolwork art show from a few classes. I had seven: Quick Sketch and Gesture Head & Figure painting- Jeff Watts, Animal Painting- Tom Babbey, Facial Expressions- Lucas Graciano, Head Drawing & Figure Drawing- Ben Young, and Costumed Figure Painting- Meadow Gist.

Animal Class
(from photo reference)

Burnt Umber lay-in

Burnt Umber & White

Last 10 minutes, high lights added by instructor Tom Babbey!

Tom promised me it was okay for me to sign it, he swears he didn't do 'that much'

9x12" oil on canvas

Rhino painting in Oil on canvas by Heather Lenefsky Art, Rhino Art

Many weeks later...

Spring Brochure!

One super uplifting evening I walked into class and a few of my mates stopped me to tease, "You're famous." I made the next terms 'student gallery' portion of the school brochure! That did feel good. I took a few extra home. This was the first one Tom got me to slow down for. Some how I managed to stay patient, organized, and conscious. I also kept the paint thinner so I could sneak up on it. Then in the last ten minutes Tom came around to me and demonstrated how to lay in the highlights I had saved til the last.

'Red Pony'

In Progress

I surprised myself at how slow and careful I managed to be, when Tom came around at 10pm and asked what I planned to do. It was then I realized the three hour class was over!

and an insanely lucky instagram share from @worldofartists

9x12" oil on canvas panel

Red Stallion in oil on canvas, painting by Heather Lenefsky. Western Art, Horse art, horse painting

Horse Painting by Heather Lenefsky, Red Stallion Oil Painting

Managed to finish it at home & get it up on Etsy!

(now SOLD)

A Few More In Progress

(Haven't managed to get back to complete them. These are 3 hours in)

8x10"s

Gesture Portrait Sketches

oil 6x8", last one is 8x10"

top 5 are Burnt Umber & White

Gesture Portrait, Portrait Sketch in Oil on canvas by Heather Lenefsky

I especially the one on the lower left. I have a long way to go with getting the 'big sculpt' of form and value. Even so, these are so fun! In 40 minutes its mostly an intuitive or expressive exercise.

Gesture Figure

40 min 6x8" oil, Burnt Umber & White