brought to you by the number THREE...

I am off on a new painting adventure this week, taking in the gorgeous fall colors and traveling south to study with master painter Kim English. The upcoming week also marks the third anniversary of my blogging/painting journey. So, to "celebrate" that milestone, I plan to embark on a new daily challenge (oh, I do love assignments)... but more about that later.

First, I want to mention three art related events of interest:

(1) The Musée d'Orsay in Paris has loaned paintings to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts until January 2011, for a delightful look at how the Impressionist movement came to be. One of my favorite paintings in all the world is on display there; Edouard Manet's portrait of his friend, and fellow artist, Berthe Morisot. It is a stunning example of the power of design and composition using dark against light with minimal brush strokes, color and values to depict the stylish young artist. (I LOVE her hat!) While Morisot's work focused on a lighter palette and more color brought on by the Impressionist's influence, Manet's painting depicts the more established style that his contemporary value painters held dear.

(2) The exhibit coincides with the American Impressionist Society show at Richland Fine Art located just down the street, so you can make it a day of art!

(3) Also, if you haven't yet heard about my blogging pals' website "Artists Helping Artists" you are in for a treat--check out Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry's blog radio show. They interview artists each week and this week's guest was Kevin Macpherson. If you missed the original airing, you can go back and listen to the archives anytime. Always awesome info and ideas from two very creative, engaging hosts.

"There are three principal means of acquiring knowledge...observation of nature, reflection, and experimentation. Observation collects facts. Reflection combines them. Experimentation verifies the result of that combination"...Denis Diderot

American Impressionist Society week in Nashville

It was a whirlwind week of events...First there were workshops featuring master artists Peggi Kroll Roberts and C.W. Mundy. It was my fourth workshop with Peggi, and while I wish I could say NOW I understand it all, I'm afraid I have many miles of canvas to go. She makes it look way too easy. Must be those magic brushes of hers!

Below is Peggi painting a demo:

She painted this little guy below, too. What amazes me most is how her figures "read" from across the room. The values are always perfect, making the paintings appear almost photo realistic from a distance, yet very abstract up close. It is pure magic!

We were also treated to a seminar featuring Bill Bush, of Fredricksburg Artists' School, who spoke on The Business Side of Art. Another evening was devoted to an entertaining slide presentation and lecture by C.W.Mundy; and we were given the opportunity to hear first hand how Vasari colors are handcrafted at their NYC location, much the same way the Old Masters ground their pigments centuries ago. Also, there were painting demos by AIS President Kathy Cooper and VP Mary Garrish.

And the lovely opening night reception was hosted by Richland Fine Art where we were honored to meet AIS co-founder Charlotte Dickenson.

Below: Me and my beach painting. A few years ago, instructor Camille Przewodek discussed with our class the importance of setting goals. She suggested that we choose an artist whose work we admire and then visualize our work hanging next to theirs in a gallery. Well, I'm very happy to say that while Camille's painting is not hanging next to mine; it is however, just a few feet away. How cool is that?

....and below is my friend Marian Pascuta, whose award winning painting hangs behind us.

In addition to the juried show, there are several master artists' paintings on display, including a couple of my other favorite teachers: Kevin Macpherson and Carolyn Anderson! The exhibit will continue into the first weekend of November.

"It's not our art,

but our hearts that are on display"

...Gary Holland