Vermeer's Muse

Girl With The Pearl Earring - Scarlet Johannsen 16 x 20 Oil on Canvas

I decided to take a Portrait Painting Class at the Anchorage Museum to learn skin tones: colors, values and figure painting techniques.  We have a gifted teacher, Linda Infante Lyons.   This is my first portrait from the class so far.  It is a portrait of actress Scarlet Johanssen from the movie Girl With The Pearl Earring.   

I hope to attempt a full figure painting in the future, and am hoping this will be the stepping stone to that goal.

Ready For The Homer Show

Halibut Cove - 11x14 Oil on RayMar Panel - Available for Sale - 

Finished up two paintings this weekend.  The one you see and another 6 x 8 I started this morning and knocked off today.   Just got back from KAKM Public Television Art Showcase Preview, all the art that will be auctioned off Feb. 19th, 20th and 21st was out for public viewing, it was also a chance for the public to meet the artists this weekend.   I have on painting that will be going up for auction around 8:30pm Alaska Time, and they will be interviewing me for a few minutes as it comes up.   I have been donating art for their auction for 4 years now.   It is a great way to support Public Television in Alaska, and a great opportunity for buyers to get artwork for good prices and a tax write off also.   So tune in Channel 7 live on Air Auction.

Blood, Sweat & Tears

Seafarers Memorial - 18 x 24 - This is a Acrylic painting I have been struggling with for the last month off and on.   I am painting it for the Homer Alaska show I have next month.  This one has been a real struggle since the Statue is in the shadow you can't see much detail, its there but the shadow makes it hard to see.

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated, I am going to let this one sit for a week before I decide to call it done or not.

Energized and Excited

Golden Crown - Oil 8x10 on Canvas Panel - Available for Sale -  For the last 2 days I attended the Alaska Arts & Cultural Conference in Anchorage Alaska.   I can sum it up in one word "Awesome".   I do not know the attendance figures, but I do know it was standing room only.  The energy level was incredibly high, everyone was excited and thrilled to be there, speakers and attendee's were feeding off each others emotions and energy.   The conference covered information for Artists, Educators in Art and Art Organizations.   The conference sessions were very well thought out, there was information for all the different groups.   The willingness of the speakers to share their knowledge with us was incredible.   One aspect of the conference that I was thrilled to see, was that we had attendees from all over the State of Alaska, from the major cities to the smaller rural areas.   No one left early at the end of the conference, we all did not want it to end, but as all good things do it must.   The rally cry at the end was "Lets not wait another 10 years for another conference."   I came home energized, excited and thrilled to be apart of the art world in Alaska, what a great group. 

When I got home I wanted to jump in the studio and paint, but realities of life, I had to snowplow away the 18" of snow we had the day before out of the driveway and off the roof of the house.   But today even though the Super Bowl is on, I hear the Studio whispering in my ear, so..............................

Back to learning

Baby Its Cold Outside - Oil on Raymar Panel 6"x8"

This is a little Oil Painting that I did and it was fun, to get the light in the tent effect.  Reminds me of a Winter Camp out my brother and I went on back in the 80's.   It was a gorgeous day, in the 20's we camped on a island at Lake Louise and it dropped to -40 degrees that night.  It turned into a Survival Trip.   Trying to stay warm was a struggle.  It was to cold to cook anything, even the bottle of Black Velvet froze that night.   What a learning experience that was.

I have started taking a Portrait Oil class at the Anchorage Museum from artist Linda Infante Lyons.   I have not done portraits in a long, long time, and never in Oils.   Have done them in Pastels, so this is a new learning experience.  I a real excited about trying to expand my abilities.  I believe Linda has a blogspot here on Blogger.com also.   

I have a Art Show the first weekend in March in Homer Alaska at the Fireweed Gallery.   So this weekend I will be working up paintings for the show.

First Friday Miniture Painting Show

First Friday in December Miniture Art Show - The Alaska Plein Air Painters is having a miniture Painting Show Friday Night 5PM to 8PM at the Artic Rose Art Gallery in Anchorage Alaska.

Should be a interesting show, I have included 3 of the 10 paintings I am submitting for the show. The show is limiting the sizes to no greater then a 8x10 painting, my largest is a 6x9. Should make some excellent Christmas Presents.

A Special Moment

Flat Top - 6" x 9" - Acrylic on Panel

This small painting I painted last Saturday, Flat Top Mountain is a popular hiking destination, summer and winter in the Chugach State Park. Just above Anchorage in the Mountains surrounding us. Yes it really is Flat on top of the mountain.

I was watching Football on Sunday when I saw a commercial advertisement from one of our local Art Galleries, "Come meet the artist: Robert Bateman". I couldn't believe it, he was in town. I am a huge Bateman fan. His wildlife artwork is the work of a true Master. So I called my painting buddy Don, and we made plans to go to the one day show on Monday. Monday night I took one of my Bateman Fine Art Desktop Books and off we went. Both Don and I were so excited to get the chance to meet him in person, would be like meeting a Rock Star for aspiring rock muscians. When we got to the gallery it was packed as can be expected, and boy were they moving the artwork. Glad to see that in this economy. Don and I waited patiently in line for our turn. As we stood in line, I watched Mr. Bateman take the time to talk to each person in line and make the effort to find something out about each person he was meeting. I was very impressed, he did not rush anyone. When my turn finally came, I introduced myself, he asked me if I was a artist also, how he figured that out I don't know, he asked what medium, and if I was a wildlife artist also. I told him I worked in Acrylics and Oils; and did Wildlife and Landscape paintings. He wrote a very kind dedication in my book and we shook hands firmly. Both Don and I were charged up afterwards, instead of going home and driving our wives crazy with "We met Robert Bateman!" over and over we decided to go out and get a Hamburger for dinner. I have been on cloud nine for the last two days. Never ever thought I would get to meet one of my idols, a true living legend. He was kind and gracious. A very Special Moment in my life.