What's In A Name? By Eva Marie Tanner Klaas

Sometimes it is more than just the painting that sells the artist's work.  I recently sold a painting of a cat with a crown. I have to admit it was pretty cute and difficult to give up.  I named it "It's Good To Be King".  The happy art collector bought the piece immediately and framed it with the title engraved under the painting.  She loved not only the painting but the title.
Audi Stanton has a wonderful example of naming work. Brookings' coastline has a large amount of driftwood that washes up on the shores.  Some people cannot resist making  these teepee like structures out of the wood.  They are an art form  by themselves.  This structure, in turn, inspired artist Audi  to paint it.  She then named her finished piece with the wonderful  title  "Affordable Beach Front Housing".

"Affordable Beach Front Housing" 11x14 Acrylic

Audi Stanton's Watercolor Floral

Audi Stanton's paints  beautiful floral setups. In this painting, she wrapped the flowers in newspaper and tied with twine.  This unexpected addition adds a surprising element to the painting.    It creates balance.  Lovely, don't you think?
To learn more about this painting, click HERE. 

 

"It's a Wrap" 16X36 Framed Watercolor

Well, If That Isn't The Icing On The Cake.

Kathy Huxley decided painting desserts is fun. Who can blame her?  This wedding cake inspired piece has a few animals sampling the icing. 

"Icing Cake" 9X12 Oil on Canvas

Let Us Paint Cake by Eva Marie Tanner Klaas

Audi Stanton isn't the only Brookings Coastal Plein Air Artists to paint desserts.  Last winter, we all decided it would be fun. There are adverse side effects though.  We all gained a couple of pounds eating the still life.
Here is an example of my work I named "Howdy Cupcake". 

"Howdy Cupcake" 6X6 Oil on Canvas SOLD

Audi Stanton Paints Still Life From Her Own Art Creations

Audi Stanton paints still life from her own art creations.  Let me explain.  Audi created pies, cakes, cookies, doughnuts and more from such things as yogurt containers, sponges, meat packaging and sculpting clay. She called them her Incredible In-edibles.
Audi took photographs of her art creations to design cards to sell. She then took it one step further.
Audi put her Incredible In-edibles in still life setups and painted them on canvas or paper with watercolor, and oil. These are available for sale, too.
So, from one artistic creation, Audi Stanton expanded her three dimensional sculpted pieces into cards and wall art.
Now  that is incredible.

Audi Stanton's Incredible In-edibles are, also, for sale at the Manley Art Center, Brookings OR

Kathy Huxley Knows The Truth About Still LIfe

Kathy Huxley knows the truth about still life and how they effected her art. Over a year ago, she took a workshop with Elio Camacho.  He set up several beautiful floral still life for the class to paint. Each setup had a color theme to them. Blue, yellow, red and orange.  Kathy loved the idea and started doing still life setups at the Tuesday Painters at the Manley Art Center in Brookings, Oregon

"God Bless America" 12X12 Oil On Canvas

She got more ideas of setups from hearing about what other artists were doing on the internet such painting shoes and cakes. Now Kathy paints at least one still  life a week.
You can still see her work at the Crescent Harbor Gallery in Crescent City, California until the end June 2012. She has work at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery, the Manley Art Center and will have work for sale at the Curry County Fair in Gold Beach, Oregon from July 26 until July 29, 2012.

Saturdays Are For Painting and Everyday Is A Saturday

Mark your calendar. The Brookings Coastal Plein Air Artists are painting outside - weather permitting - this Saturday and every Saturday until the end of summer at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery located south of Brookings, Oregon.. Look for the giant, yellow olive sign, french easels and plein air artist Rob Decker. He will be under his multi-color beach umbrella.
We, also,  want to thank you wonderful art collectors who have purchased our recent works this last month. We appreciate you all.

This is what Rob Decker looks like without his umbrella.

Eva Marie Tanner Klaas' Still Life

Eva Marie Tanner Klaas' still life have a strong French Impressionist influence. She originally studied color with our popular artist and instructor Audi Stanton. While in the Sacramento area , Eva Marie had the opportunity to take classes with Susan Sarback at the School of Light and Color.
Here is an example of Eva's still life work. The paint is thinly layered with a palette knife in order to keep the warm or cool under painting. This creates the vibrating color and light. You cannot get this with a brush because the color becomes muddy. With palette knife and Sarback's method,  you layer pure color on top of color while constantly comparing the light or dark, dull or bright, and warm or cool.  

"Lemons and Bowl" 9x12 Oil with Palette Knife (SOLD)

A Rob Decker Still Life

Artists' best work is when they paint what they love. You can tell from  Rob Decker's work that he loves the outdoors. When the weather is so difficult he cannot paint outdoors, Rob will work from a still life. You might even see him with  his sketchbook at his favorite Chinese restaurant drawing his place settings or fish in the aquarium.
Here is a wonderful example of his still life.  This work  shows his  artistic skills with both his composition, values, colors, with warms and cools in this pastel drawing.  If you look closely, you can see the bananas' casting shadow onto the tabletop and  are drawn with the penumbra around them.  This is where the shadow meets the light. It takes a keen eye, experience and hard work to create this "not so simple" still life. 
Remember, you can purchase Rob Decker's work at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery located south of Brookings, Oregon. His work will, also, be for sale at the Curry County Fair in Gold Beach from July 26-July 29, 2012.

Painting A Still Life Helps Improves Your Artistic Skills

The Brookings Plein Air Artists know, like many artists, that painting still life setups will improve your artistic skills.  Painting a still life setup you will learn to draw better, see color and improve your compositions.
It forces you to be more accurate and, therefore,  improve your drawing skills. You need good drawing skills when painting man-made objects such as a bowl, a car, a building or bridge.
You get a better color accuracy because you can see the color relationships and how the color is effected by the light and surrounding colors in a still life.  When you are painting from photographs, you are not able to see the true color so you will tend to make the color up. The camera cannot possibly capture the actual colors.  Painting outdoors the light is moving so you must paint quickly and you rely on your experience to paint the color and value. You can get  this experience from painting a still life setup.
You, also, learn placement  and composition by cropping your drawing into interesting light and dark shapes.  This is done doing several three to four value thumbnail sketches. You are able to take your time and not be concerned of the changing weather or light.

Here is an example of Verna Pooler's watercolor still life. Look how beautifully she drew and painted the shoes.  Then look how she described the roses with three values. Verna left the white of the paper to show the highlights. This is an excellent example of a composition and watercolor. To find out more about this painting select HERE.

"Red Romance"  12X16 Watercolor On Paper 

Painting With Confidence

If you ever get the opportunity to paint next to Kathy Huxley,  I suggest you put down your brushes and watch and learn her approach to painting.  She paints with  bold strokes, color and a perfect composition from the beginning to end. Her training, studying and years of practice has given her confidence to create her artwork.
Here is a wonderful example of her work. To see more go to www.kathyhuxley.com or www.brookingscoastalpleinairartists.com/artwork.html .

"Good Soil" 20X20 Oil

Plein Air Takes Practice, Practice, and More Practice

Eva Marie Tanner Klaas decided in 2010 she wanted to learn oil and color through the School Of Light and Color in Fair Oaks, CA. She had already been successful with her watercolors of cats and selling pottery but she wanted more. She wanted to be a plein air artist like the French Impressionist.  A plein air artist is one that paints outdoors.
This is not an easy endeavor since she knew it is a long process.   She diligently painted still life setups for over two years every week, took drawing classes on perspective, attended beginning and advanced oil painting, attended portrait and figure drawing and painting,  and learned how to properly use a palette knife and brush. Eva Marie, also, took many outdoor workshops.
Who did she study with? Eva Marie studied with professional artists  Susan Sarback,  Bill Monaghan, Randy Blasquez, Terry Miura, and Debbie Gualco.  In addition she took workshops with  David Logenberg, John Hewitt, Randall Tillery and Elio Camacho.
So, now she has to take all that training and  try to apply it to plein air.  That means  practice, practice, and more practice.  You will see Eva Marie up and down the coast and rivers doing just that. Painting and practicing. If you don't see her outdoors working, she is no doubt taking additional  classes and workshops. 

"Come On In" 8x10 Canvas On Board of the Winchuck River below the Ludlum House in Oregon

Learning To Draw

The best way to learn how to draw is to have a sketchbook wherever you go and take classes on the basics from reputable drawing instructors. Audi Stanton and Rob Decker are such instructors.
Audi Stanton has taught students for years on how to draw using her own training and  experience as a working artist. She includes techniques from the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain".  It is a proven method and works. Students in her classes learn how to draw with confidence which is important for an artist. 
Rob Decker has taught several drawing classes and he recommends that to learn drawing, you sit and draw 9 drawings every day  for 30 days. He strongly suggests you commit at least 30 minutes a day.  By the end of the 30 days you will have 270 drawings!  He teaches you to identify your primary focal point, followed by a second and third focal point. This creates a triangle composition that the viewer will follow with their eyes. Rob emphasizes that  when drawing , one should never put a focal point in the center of your composition.  In order to prevent you from doing this, he puts a dot on the center and says "Don't put your focal point there".
Both Audi's and Rob's methods are excellent ways to learn to draw.  Join this site for updates on their workshops and more.

It's Saturday, Again

The week has flown by and it is Saturday, again. That means you can see the Brookings Coastal Plein Air Artists at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery.

Here are some examples of our artists' plein air work of Brookings, Oregon. Do you recognize the locations?

Eva Marie Tanner Klaas - Oil on Board

Kathy Huxley- Oil on Panel

Verna Pooler - Watercolor on Paper

Audi Stanton - Oil on Board

Rob Decker - Pastel on Paper

New Art For Sale By Audi Stanton

Audi Stanton created another one of her whimsical art pieces at the last Saturday paint out at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery.  She used a sharpie pen and watercolors to complete this piece of the nursery's potting shed.  They are now available and for sale as cards.  Don't miss this one as they will go fast.

Winchuck Gardens and Nursery Potting Shed

The Joy Of Plein Air Painting

Many of us have been painting outdoors and still life setups for a few years now.   The best part is the reaction of the public.  Rob Decker always has the best response for those admirers who wish they could be a plein air artist.
"Pull up a chair, I saved you a spot right here". He then gestures next to him.
I am not going to kid you. Art is hard but what a way to spend the rest of your life. Learning to see and paint the beauty around you.
Notice in all the pictures below the joy on our faces.

Rob Decker and Eva Tanner Klaas at the mouth of the Winchuck River south of Brookings, OR.

Kathy Huxley and Rob Decker at Lone Ranch north of Brookings, OR.

Audi Stanton with her watercolors at Winchuck Gardens and Nursery.

Rob Decker, Verna Pooler and Eva Tanner Klaas with John Hewitt in Yosemite.

Rob Decker, Kathy Huxley and Eva Tanner Klaas painting a  cake still life at the Manely Art Center.

A Limited Palette

Audi Stanton is a popular instructor and gifted artist. She creates her art using many mediums and techniques including watercolors, oil and acrylic, book binding, cards, sculpting, sewing and more. One of her popular paint techniques is using a palette knife. She mixes color from a primary palette using  red, blue, yellow and, of course, white to create her beautiful landscapes. Below is one example.

Where did she learn this? Audi was a lecture assistant and student to color expert, Merlin Enabnit.  Click on his name to follow the link. You will no doubt recognize his work and see his influence on Audi's art. Lovely.

A Room With A View

Artists, like  Verna Pooler, find inspiration wherever they are.  Last year, she was staying in San Diego, California in a hotel room with a view of a mission. She was inspired and painted this beautiful watercolor.  Verna replaced the surrounding city with mountains.
It is available and for sale.  Just click here.

Pining for Trees

Plein air artist, Eva Marie Tanner Klaas, is focusing on painting trees this year and Brookings, Oregon is just the place for her to practice. She gets up early in the morning to find her subject.

"Look At Me"  6X8 Oil On Canvas

Sometimes she will come out several times a day to capture the right moment.The rule she has learned is at least 60 percent of the painting should be shadow and dark. The rest in light. She does her thumbnail sketches in simple three value sketches and chooses the best composition. 
Next, Eva blocks in the dark and then light with paint.  When the work is completed, she critiques it and makes changes.  If it still doesn't look right,  she will track down another artist and ask for their expertise.
Here is one of the surf pines Eva painted at the Winchuck.

Watch For Working Artists

Audi Stanton went to Winchuck Gardens and Nursery and found Kathy and Rob painting there.  She brought her stuff too and made 2 small sketches in watercolor.

If you want to watch artists at work, come out next Saturday. Like our blog says, we are a dedicated group of working artists.

Kathy Huxley, Rob Decker and Audi Stanton at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery 6/9/2012

Cute shed.

Audi with her watercolor painting.

Winchuck Garden Saturday Paintouts

All of us Brookings Coastal Plein Air Artists want to invite you to stop by  the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery on Saturdays to see us paint from life.  Last weekend, Kathy Huxley, Rob Decker and myself, Eva Marie Tanner Klaas, painted the beautiful gardens around us.
There will be a few of us painting this weekend, too.  All work is available for sale. Don't forget there are plants, gourmet food, original artwork, wedding baskets and  more.

Eva Marie Tanner Klaas' plein air piece from last week.

No Room For Dessert? How about a Card?

Audi Stanton's Incredible In-edibles are  fun pieces of sculpted and recycled art made into cakes, doughnuts, pies and more. She made sponge cake out of sponges that look good enough to eat and they never go stale. But for those of you who don't have any more counter space, you can buy her cards. Yes- Audi took wonderful pictures of her Incredible In-edibles and made them into cards.
So, if you don't have room for dessert, buy a card or two. They are located in Winchuck Gardens and Nursery or a few might still be available at the Manley Art Center in Brookings, Oregon located at 509 Pine Street.

Artist Audi Stanton's Incredible In-edibles

Verna Pooler's Artwork Had Just The Right Colors

Verna Pooler recently sold a  watercolor that the buyer couldn't resist.  Why? Verna created a piece that was not only  pleasing to the eye but  was painted with the art collector's  favorite "colors".
Think about what is missing in your home, on the wall, bookshelf or mantle.  Affordable, original, fine artwork may just be that finishing touch you have been looking for in our home, office, RV or boat.  Artwork can, also, be a wonderful way to remember a vacation or event. So, treat yourself or someone you care for.

Currently available at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery located south of Brookings, OR

Rob Decker Is A True Artist

Rob Decker is what you would consider a true artist. He has studied and trained in art for years.  After settling in Brookings, Oregon five year ago,  Rob has made it his goal to paint and draw everyday.
Now,  he can be seen creating his masterpieces under his colorful, beach umbrella with the "Minnow"  by his side and has become a familiar Brookings' site and tourist attraction. Many people even stop to take his picture.
  

Artist Rob Decker

The Minnow

If you see him, please ask to see his latest works of art and his sketchbook. (If he is sitting quietly with his eyes closed with his hands folded together, please don't disturb the artist.  Instead, give him his quiet time and check back later).
 Remember, he is the type of artist many of wish we could be. Dedicated, hardworking, talented and most of all inspiring to the artist in us all.

Rob's artwork may be purchased at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery south of  Brookings, OR

Kathy Huxley's Popular Still Life Humor

"LET IT RAIN"

Click Here For Price

Kathy Huxley paints weekly with the Tuesday painters at the Manley Art Center. She has painted there for several years.  This last year,  she has set up and painted from a different still life each week. As you can see Kathy's work is filled with beautiful, expressive strokes and her wonderful sense of humor.

To see her work in person, visit the Crescent Harbor Gallery in Crescent City, CA where she is the June artist of the month. Other work may be seen  the Manley Art Gallery and Winchuck Gardens and Nursery in Brookings, OR.

Following The Sun

There are several of us plein air artists who travel and follow the sun to find a good painting. Last year, Rob Decker, Verna Pooler and myself, Eva Marie Tanner Klaas, met at the floor of the Yosemite Valley in California. We took a watercolor class with John Hewitt and spent days painting the beauty around us.
Here are few pictures from last year's get together.

Verna Pooler in the striped, maroon shirt and white hat painting along with John Hewitt.

Rob Decker showing Eva Marie his sketches from the past week

John Hewitt and the Brookings' Artists

Eva Marie Tanner Klaas Sold A Painting

Eva Marie Tanner Klaas sold a painting at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery last week. It was a beautiful painting of the Winchuck Bridge. She wants to thank the collector for supporting the arts.
Here is a new painting that will be up for sale this week. Please come by and see her work along with all the other Brookings Coastal Plein Air artists. You won't be disappointed.

6X12 Oil On Canvas Painted On Site

Rob Decker's Artwork Is On Display For Sale

Rob Decker is a very, well known artist up and down the Pacific Northwest coast and even Yosemite. He is out everyday, rain or shine, under his colorful, beach umbrella and is committed to create two paintings a day. He starts out with a few thumbnail sketches. For more inspiration, Rob writes poetic lines below the drawings to describe what he sees. He then chooses his composition, draws a beautiful gestural drawing and blocks in the scene with watercolors. Rob continues with pastels until his artwork is complete.
If you have not seen his work, here is your opportunity. His art is for sale  at the Winchuck Gardens and Nursery located on highway 101 south of Brookings, Oregon. You can't miss it. The address is 15546 101 Highway South.

PSST - If you were driving by today, you might have seen Rob, Kathy Huxley and Eva Marie TannerKlaas painting the gardens.

Kathy Huxley Is Artist Of The Month June 2012

Kathy Huxley, our wonderful plein air artist and instructor, is artist of the month at Crescent Harbor Gallery located in Crescent City, CA  for the month of June 2012. She invites you to enjoy her inspiring work and it available for purchase.
Kathy has most recently been influenced by the artist Elio Camacho who studied with the famous Russian Impressionist, Ovanes Berberian.
Painting almost daily, she has learned to successfully push her color relationships to create her own style of painting. It is a show that you do not want to miss.
Kathy is an active member of the Tuesday Painters Group at the Manley Art Center in Brookings, Oregon where she has spent the last year working with still life setups. She is, also, a recognized plein air artist and can be seen painting along the Oregon coast.
Don't miss her artist of the month show at Crescent Harbor Gallery, 140 Marine Way, Crescent City, CA.  To find out more call 707-464-9133.