Moods of the River......Towards the end of 2021 I wanted new artistic challenges and decided to change my medium from watercolors on paper to acrylic paints on canvas. A novice again, but that 's OK...it's what I needed and wanted. All the art supplies were new and I entered into this process with persistence and motivation. It was during this discovery time I would hike out to Oregon and Washington rivers to relax and enjoy. I'd take photos of the water and, one interesting painting later... a passion was born! I took many hikes to many rivers and have been painting, painting, and painting throughout 2022! A novice no more. This entire year I have been working on a body of work, (defined as a cohesive series of artworks which are all linked in style and theme) and have been focusing on the 'Moods of the River'. I've mentioned this before in these newsletters and at my open studios, but today I'm going to share some of my experiences and writings with you. I've been very consistent with my painting practice and am delighted to say I have finished 23 water works with my intention goal of obtaining Fine Arts gallery representation in this new year. "TOTALLY TRANSPARENT" 20"x24" Totally Transparent is such a trendy contemporary saying but I chose this title for the beautiful transparency in the water... the pale green down the falls and show of the under water rocks. Did I see the delicacy of this while sitting there observing and experiencing? No. While there I merged my awareness in the fast moving waters...the smoothness to turmoil. I love that term since it frequently describes the movements of these waters. The turbulence and sunshine both contribute to the color and light you see in these rushing waters. And... let's not forget that I am the creator of my dreams and can add red rocks whenever I am inclined. "WATERS OF REFLECTION" 30"X24" Reflections are calming, some say healing. They soothe and make me sigh. Water reflects the beauty surrounding it. There is much happening in this painting and at first it seems the rocks and boulders take center stage but, looking further you may become aware of how the water settles over and around the rocks with its own unique information. This results in an abstracted realism which interests... before its entirety calms. This is my favorite characteristic of water and the quality I witness makes each hike and visit to the water's edge surprising. A gift. To be painted. ALL THE RIVERS RUN 20"X24" And here I have captured a common and reoccurring attribute of water...its ability to adapt and adjust. This last hike I brought my breakfast of hot coffee and goat cheese stuffed dates, wrapped in bacon, to eat while I sat on the boulders and studied the water. Yes, an odd breakfast but I wanted to try my son's recipe, and it was portable. I watched the flow around obstacles and became enchanted by the swirling designs water makes leaving the flow, only to course correct and eventually blend back into the current. Enjoying my dates I realized, here was a teacher...reminding me not to take myself so seriously and be more at ease with life, and course correct as needed. The river somehow accesses an openness to wonder and thinking for me. This inspires me to paint what I see and capture how I felt. And now I've shared three moods of the river with you. Perhaps you can sense the joy in my process. There will be more to share, stay tuned. Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese 12 pitted Medjool dates 3oz goat cheese 6 strips of bacon 1. Preheat oven to 375 and line baking sheet with parchment 2. Fill dates with 1-2 tsp goat cheese 3. Cut bacon in half and roll around stuffed date 1 1/2 times and stick a toothpick in the middle to hold it together 4. Bake for 10 minutes then flip dates onto their sides and bake another 10 minutes...or until bacon is crisp... but not too crispy. I've included the recipe as this might make a tasty appetizer during your holidays. Happy Holidays to you!
Hugs, Patrice
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I enjoy a good parody.....which is a comical imitation of another's work. The Greeks started all this back in the day when a song or poem imitated the style and flow of the original song or poem. The Greek word 'par' means beside and 'ody' refers to ode or song. Over centuries, this method of absurd imitation would affect literature, music, film, and art. Here are examples of some famous parodies in Literature: The Hunger Pains: A Parody (Hunger Games) Bored of the Rings (Lord of the Rings) Fifty Shades of Earl Grey (Fifty Shades of Grey) Music: Anyone remember Weird Al Yankovic? Ha! He made his career making fun of popular music back in the 80's! Here are a few of his parodies: Eat It (Beat It) Like a Surgeon (Like a Virgin) Steve Martin also did a parody on the King Tut exhibit that traveled around named: King Tut. I'm dating myself as I remember that one too. Film: Young Frankenstein (Frankenstein) Austin Powers (James Bond series) Robin Hood: Men in Tights (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) Art: And now we come to my personal favorites. I have a few to show you. They are creative and whacky, sometimes making a statement of the times, drawing attention to a social need, and I'm sure just creative fun. DaVinci's "Mona Lisa" with a newer contemporary look Van Gogh's "Starry Night" and parody just in time for Halloween! Parody... an odd little area of the art scene, and it's interesting to me to see how various expressions come out of one pure art form. Imagination is a wonderful thing!!! Hope you enjoyed it too.
I'm entering my winter painting season now and have plenty of photo references from my summer and fall river hikes. I am planning to write about each of my paintings and will share that in future newsletters. You can see my new work on the website: www.patricecameronfineart.com My next Open Studio & Gallery will be the first Saturday in February. I have invited Susan Greenbaum to share my space and show/tell/sell her beautiful abstract paintings. More info to follow. Be well and appreciate beauty, Patrice Today I'm going to show you how I organize my thoughts, and eventually obtain what I envision onto the canvas. Plus this is a great time to announce this year's Portland Open Studio where you can tour artist studios and observe their process. Let's begin. I use a limited palette of primary colors to create my green, orange, and purple. The white and black helps to obtain varying light and dark hues and I always include a small amount of my secret ingredient: pthalo blue, a gorgeous warm blue. With these few pigments, I can create any color I need. This is my recipe for a cohesive painting. I prime the canvas with a color I would like to see pop through as I paint. Salmon orange or viiolet is a favorite. This has both. In order to draw dimensionally correct, I grid my reference photo and canvas. After the sketch is complete I start painting the shapes with it's appropriate value...the light, mid tone, or darks and intuitively use color, knowing there will be layers and each color choice adds to the complexity. Once done, I will go back into various area and start to add more layers of color, letting under colors show. The finished painting is a process of defining shapes, augmenting color with layers, and deepening values. This is the process that allows me to enter that wonderful flow where time has no meaning. This is the process of why I do what I do. There I am... #92...
Come visit me...10am to 5pm. October 8,9,15, & 16...2022 I will have my yellow Open Studio signs out. 3020 SW 66th Ave., Portland, 97225 I would love to show you the progress I am making on "The Moods of the River" series. I'll have extra maps for the tour so you can see what other artists in the SW neighborhood of Portland are creating. This is always an anticipated and fun annual event. If you are unable to attend, please feel free to pass this along to those you think may enjoy. Thank you! Hugs, Patrice www.patricecameronfineart.com Sometimes I have naturally occurring common experiences which develops into unique new thoughts and a desire. This happened to me this month and I'm eager to Show & Tell it all! I woke early and joined my friend for a photo hike up in Washington, specifically a portion of the Lewis River which has beautiful areas of river, climbable rock/boulders, and beautiful river falls. I believe all the planets aligned that morning... minimal traffic, golden sunshine emerging, the perfect temperature with blue skies, AND... no one else there! Before I go on I want to show you how lovely. I'm a Capricorn, so the goat in me had no trouble climbing rocky areas to find the perfect places to capture landscapes or close up water photos. I admit that half of the time was spent sitting quietly...listening to water music, birds, and my deep sighs. Back in the studio I am studying each photo for potential composition, interest, and my "joy-painting" factor. As I study, I realize the river has a personality! It becomes a live entity to me now and displays lazy, languid pools or busy flowing waters with purpose. I see transitional flows, trickles, rushes and deep drops of fury throwing it's spray into exclamation with a natural carefree release, to calm. It occurs to me.... I want to paint more than what I see. I want to capture the river's mood's and personality in my paintings! And I want to paint how I felt! Yes, that feeling. Most mornings I lie in bed thinking about a project I'll start or one already on the easel, and that enthusiasm washes over me, demanding I start my day in the studio. I listen and go. "COLORS OF WATER" 12"x24" acrylic on canvas. Sunlight and shadow factor in the color of water. Add turbulence and movement which expose, alter, and visually surprises! Interesting water is alive and moves...don't you feel invigorated looking at this?! And here is where I tell you that I have challenged myself to paint 15 large paintings, studying the river's flow and patterns between, alongside, and down rocky structures. I intend to paint more than what I see. An essence, feelings using temperature of color and techniques of brushwork. I'll point these out to you as I post paintings in upcoming newsletters. I also want to culminate this creative project with solo Gallery show. I'll be thinking more about where later. Life seems to work when a compelling idea takes form and progress is consistently made. So that is my plan these next many months and I'll be sharing my progress. Thought you might enjoy knowing where my art comes from. (I'm often shocked and interested where it comes from, myself!) I have 10 of my watercolor paintings hanging at the RISE GALLERY 10445 SW Canterbury Lane Tigard 97224 through August 31, 2022. Gallery hours 10am-4pm Monday-Friday To let you know... I have been juried into the
Portland Open Studios October 8-9 and October 15-16 so the rest of the summer and early Fall, I'll be happily working on my River series. If you are interested in my progress, give me a call and stop by my gallery. I'll be happy to show you. Bring a friend...I would appreciate that. Or go to my website as I'll be posting them there...but they are not as fun as looking at the originals. Enjoy your summer! Create Happiness... Patrice I recently attended my critique group, a safe place where I bring in a painting and give other artistic eyes permission to evaluate my composition, values, and completion. Half of the group attended a three day workshop and brought in work, but it’s the discussions that are still are on my mind that lead me into the story of this newsletter. Workshops are popular with all artists…. writers, painters, or performers… as they teach technique and offer growth opportunities. It was explained that the instructor directed participants through intense and rapid sequences of mark making, changes in pigment, using non-dominant hand and timed sketches. Each day began with this exercise then focused on completing a specified goal of either floral, abstract, or figure. I listened as each participating artist felt pushed beyond their authenticity. They described exhaustion, frustrations, and confusion as one said, “I finally just needed to paint what was right for me” and another added, “It was interesting but I needed to see and paint beauty.” The third participant actively enjoyed the chaos and brought to the group multiple pieces she had completed after the workshop. Creating my art is a solo experience so interacting and listening to art maker’s stories tends to grow my awareness and allows me to think bigger perspectives. Each artist develops a specifically clear expression of oneself. It is also well known that unspecified times after workshops such as this one, can inspire an artistic question leading to thoughts and experimental action. I’ll be interested to hear and watch for this at future critique groups. I myself, have sought out instruction in basic techniques, starting with oil painting. I was 24 years old! Yikes! Want to see how I’ve grown through patience, perseverance, and good teachers? OK…this might be fun to show some early work. I enjoyed working with oils as a beginner because if I didn’t like something I could scrape it off and start over. Eventually the solvents needed to clean brushes bothered me and I started to focus more on drawing. A year at Marylhurst in various drawing classes helped me ‘to see’ better as an artist. To look and observe, to see beyond the obvious. I had not yet embraced the importance of Values but enjoyed moving pigments and water around in shapes. Much better value and more focus on shapes, values, and a limited palette. Slightly abstracted and softly bold. Watercolors were introduced to me at the ripe old age of 33. I started keeping files of my paintings so you can see the changes. I’m delighted to tell you that my best teachers during this phase were: my mistakes. Lots of them. There were no YouTube channels to watch…just good old fashioned art books so I bought, studied, tried to replicate the exercises and had enough good experiences to continue. Years later I would meet an instructor who would turn into a dear painting, sushi, mentor, and support friend… as I grew myself. We started the critique group and continue to learn. About 10 years ago I signed up for a 4 day mentorship intensive with a well known Californian artist. I arrived with my intention and supplies and he took my watercolors away and told me to paint with acrylics. I didn’t know anything about acrylics. So… I did. I felt exhausted, frustrated and confused but worked with what I did know…values (darks, mid tones, and lights). One artist working in collage had fashion magazines so I borrowed one and painted faceless models, with attitudes. I keep these in my studio as a reminder of how courageous I am. Today I am painting in acrylics and transitioning to large canvases. I hike in Oregon’s gorgeous nature and many times experience a place with such positivity I am inclined to paint it. My landscapes make me smile with good feelings, remembering the joy and timelessness of my painting process. I enjoy sharing my monthly newsletter stories. Perhaps you would find nature’s calm makes you smile too. Live your life courageously!
Make sure to check out all my new Small Space acrylic paintings and larger canvases too. Blessings, Patrice It's been a busy year so far as I plan, paint, and prepare for a popular artist’s group exhibition. Every April we bring in our new work from the prior winter…in this case, the previous two covid years! A lot of creating took place during that time.
The last couple of days I’ve been constructing the grids where the 25 participating artists will hang their work for the show and sale. I have been involved in this artistic collective for several years, but the Lake Area Artists have been showing and selling art for 42 years in the same location in Lake Oswego! Every year our efforts and talent brings in many returning collectors, new businesses choosing fine art to enhance their spaces, and recently, an increase in millennials making their first purchases. Of course, we artists appreciate support from our community. Wednesday we set up the room with grids, tables, and assure an easy flow through the gallery. I am in charge of this part of our show. Thursday we all experience a controlled frenzy as artists bring in and set up their work in their designated spaces. Two full days just getting everything ready. And Friday 10am we opened our doors and invited those waiting to enter…. the beginning of our long awaited weekend. I stay there during the entire weekend to help when needed, wander and appreciate all my friend’s new art and techniques, but mainly stay close to my work and talk to those interested in how I spend my life’s energy… creating. Last evening, Friday, during the Artist’s Reception a couple stopped to view my Small Space Collection of acrylic landscape paintings. I approached and introduced myself and the gentleman asked me to tell them about my painting process. From all the marketing tools I have studied I know I should have specific answers available…but my brain and soul does not work like that. Instead I asked them specifically what they were interested in knowing. He asked, “Tell us about your painting frustrations and how you resolve those conflicts in your mind and on your canvas”. I felt like fresh air was gently blown into the room at that moment. Authenticity and vulnerability co-mingled inside me …and my heart opened. I discussed my process and told them I had much knowledge, more guts than brains, and had already experienced the fear of mistakes many times over. This powerful recipe allowed me to fail at my objective, step back and take time to evaluate, plan, and integrate a different approach, then evaluate and alter again. I was not a perfect painter. I valued patience, learning, and unexpected outcomes. That was one of many discussions I had with collectors, art appreciators, and those coming in to look at fine art (and sip complimentary wine) as their mental health break. So, my friends, my story is out. I’m a confidant painter…and I have moments (or days) of doubt and perplexity. Many times I just go out for a walk and air myself out. My paintings always looks manageable (and better) when I look at them with fresh eyes the next day. Hmmm… this reminds me of….Life. Spring has sprung... winter is officially over! Covid appears to be gone and social calendars are filling up. It's been a long three years and I am sure many of you, as I, have grown...contemplated, redirected priorities, and explored new possibilities. Throughout it all, I admit that my painting has been a stabilizing force... (aka a new obsession) that took hold of me late last year: working with acrylic paints on canvas. Oregon landscapes, in particular...places I hiked and enjoyed, I now bring into my studio to paint to enjoy again! Many of you who have been following me already know I take the summers off to hike and kayak Oregon's awesome trails and waterways. Camera handy, I capture whatever moves me and interpret this experience through my art. The winter months I paint. These past several months I have created over 25 paintings of Oregon landscapes exploring specific ideas or techniques in smaller sizes and placed into contemporary floating frames. The end of April I will be introducing them in exhibit and for sale at the Lakewood Center for the Arts in Lake Oswego. The included images are examples of back lighting, perspective, color and reflections. Here is my Spring list of where I am exhibiting. CURRENTS GALLERY 532 NE 3rd St. McMinnville, Oregon 97128 WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF OREGON...APRIL 2 -APRIL 30 HILLSBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY 2850 Brookwood Parkway Hillsboro, Oregon 97124 LAKE AREA ARTISTS EXHIBIT AND SALE...April 29-May 1 LAKEWOOD CENTER FOR THE ARTS 368 S State St Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034 ENJOY THE SPRINGTIME!
Get out and appreciate Art. Next month I'll be giving you insight into how artists gather as community to share and support. Patrice Going with the Flow...The last quarter 2021 found me exploring and painting with acrylics on canvas and since then I have amassed an impressive body of work which I conveniently display in my studio. I recently stood back to take them all in and was quite surprised that 3/4 of them all had water themes, which I did not plan. Hmmm... that's interesting, I remember thinking, what's up with all the water? Over-thinking, as I normally do, it occurred to me I'd been painting in the studio daily and focused in my own world, allowing life to be. Metaphorically, this experience is like the water's current floating and carrying me in it's flow. Yes... that's it...I was in the flow. This flow is a mental state where one is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, involvement, and enjoyment of the process. Everyone can experience this flow and my thinking boldly believes meaning and value occur during these times. Flow has actually been studied and if you'll allow me to mix creativity with science for a moment I'd like to share that in flow states one feels the potential to succeed, has immediate feedback, and are so engrossed that other needs are not important. I personally feel clarity, serenity, and timelessness. So flow essentially equates to happiness. That's how I view it...that's how I feel it... a true bonus by-product of my creative life. t would be fun to talk with others about this optimal experience but my sense is that this feeling is worthy of itself and requires no explanation of meaning. The real question might be: HAVE YOU FLOWED LATELY? Enjoy and see the beauty around you,
Patrice "Life" and "Art" share a successful commonality...Planning!Ha! did you come up with the same answer? I'm sure there are many, and today I'm going to discuss, and show you how I move from glorious inspiration to a finished painting I am proud to put out into the world. Now, before I share ME... I really want to acknowledge that inspiration and the action of creating fluidly coexists and spontaneously produces beautiful works that astonish! I've seen this. And I also know who the artist in me, IS. I give thanks for the inspiration then sit with my supplies, capability, talent, and desire for this particular curiosity to emerge onto my canvas. This very start makes me happy and tingly as I contemplate creating. As a landscape painter, I'll often use a reference photo and as you'll see...I'll tweak, add, delete, and change according to what I desire. But I always start with my road map!...my thumbnail sketch! The left photo shows my reference photo. I see the photo BUT: I also remember my solo hiking up in the foothills of the Cascade mountains on the Bend, Oregon side...I was incredibly happy to have this time to myself to explore.....that 'Feeling' makes me want to recreate and paint. Look at my thumbnail sketch... I have shortened it and added mountains in the background. I've also paid attention to VALUES... the darks, mid tones, and lights. Doing this always makes me look closely at my images so I know what I want and expect. This is my roadmap and I feel comfortable with my plan. Here's my first sketch and blocking in of values...those darks, mid tones, and lights. Yikes! Look at all that purple!!! Ha... no worries...I don't like starting a painting always with white so I'll cover the canvas with a color that might be advantageous peeking out somewhere. So this is a good start according to my thumbnail sketch...but wait... I look and see too much mountains which feels over powering. I think more foothills may tame that down. Ahhh...that's better! Now I paint in the sky and water and have my basic structure and values in. Time for the fun of fine tuning. In this final phase I am still true to my thumbnail sketch so it's coming along easily as I know what to expect and do.
The colors are pretty cohesive.... have you noticed? That's because I pre select 3 primary colors ... a red, blue, and yellow and augment my palette with white and black. My composition is good, shapes, and colors. What I am paying special attention to is brush strokes and I think you'll see evidence of that in the painting. It's clean, fresh, gives the impression and feeling I want, but is not overly worked...which I like. This is what artist's know...it's hard to stop sometimes. We always feel the need for just one more brushstroke...it's hard to stop and be happy. For you movie buffs, you may remember Forrest Gump saying, "My mom always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." I believe pre planning and thumbnail sketches help me to observe, identify, and proceed aware and with purpose, so I usually always get what I expect. I'm painting alot as I get ready for my Spring Exhibition and group show the end of April. Group shows...hoo boy...that's a crazy idea to write about... so I'll be sure to take photos for a future newsletter. I have acrylic and watercolor paintings on my website you may enjoy: www.patricecameronfineart.com If you enjoy my artsy offering, please forward to your friends. I would appreciate that. See the beauty around you, Patrice Humanity can withstand and grow regardless of the circumstances we experience. It's been a long pandemic period and slowly, like new shoots in Spring, we celebrate small positive changes, while maintaining caution in our environment. I have taken time to train my covid pup and contemplate the many changes. We all have. There was a long period of imbalance where my creativity ceased. Then little traces of optimism sparked and new ideas started to flow. Perhaps you feel this process in your own life and find yourself moving towards enthusiasm. I'm painting now and would like to share my thoughts, process, and outcomes in monthly updates. Here we This is a good painting to display with all the recent cold,snowy weather here in Portland. As an Oregon-inspired painter I captured this scene up in the Cascade Lakes outside Bend. Yes, I have put my transparent watercolors away for now and am experimenting with another water-based paint medium: acrylics. It's interesting to me that acrylic paints are still new on the art scene compared to oil paints or watercolors. First developed in the 1940's as house paint (!) this synthetic paint became popular with artists so manufacturers improved methods by adding richer pigments. This resulted in a paint that produced the sharp effects of oil paints (with much less drying time) and soft effects like watercolor, and became popular and versatile with artists working in mixed media and experimentation. Pop artist Andy Warhol, for example, explored acrylic's with his famous Cambell Soup Can. The future of acrylics continues to unfold but it's clear that it has become an important and powerful medium in the evolution of the visual arts. Acrylic paintings do not need glass protection as watercolor paintings do, so there is no glare, which I like. Plus, one of the biggest benefits of acrylic paints are the intense saturation of colors, what joy! In both paintings you can see the opague and sheer/transparent effects of the paint, both created by the amount of water with the pigments. In my watercolor paintings I would pencil in the sketch on the paper but now use a small flat brush to make small marks on the canvas for guidance. Next month I'll talk more about this...how I start, progress though, and finish a painting. Have a blessed January. |
AuthorHi...I'm Patrice... an oil and acrylic painter who writes, and enjoys sharing how I create and think. Archives
March 2024
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