2007 Plans and Placerita Sycamore
Placerita Sycamore - 9 x 12 in. - Oil on canvasboard
Thank you to all those who have visited and special thanks to those who left such lovely encouraging supportive comments as I reviewed the past year and tried to make some sense of where I’ve been. This post includes a little about some goals and plans, although I like to leave them somewhat loose to allow plenty of room for serendipity.
1. Stay focused. My primary goal will be to continue painting daily - whether that’s in watercolor, oil, acrylic or pastel.
2. Keep learning. I am going to take a four month watercolor class starting later this month from a teacher whose style I admire a great deal. He also has a very good teaching method. If time permits, I’m thinking about also taking either oil lessons or a multi-day oil workshop.
3. Try something new. Like figure drawing (life drawing) My plans to do this last year were thwarted when the studio lost their lease. They should be relocated this year and that’s something on my to-do list.
4. Challenge myself. Continue entering shows and/or other competitive events.
5. Be experimental. Learn how to make some of my own supports for oil and pastel painting and to experiment with new surfaces.
6. Get busy. Produce enough work for a local show, maybe in a location in my town.
7. Make time for travel. Take at least one long weekend or week trip for plein air painting.
Other than that, I think I’m going to keep it loose and play it by ear. That’s what I did last year, just following my natural curiosity as interests crossed my path and, looking back, I’d say I’m satisfied with the year’s creative journey.
Here’s a little detail of the painting above.
!! Seven goals and you’re still going to play it loose!
I admire your discipline! Love this landscape, too.
Karen,
I love this painting. The focus on the trees to the left and the range of values that you achieved there are very special. I don’t know how you do an oil painting in a day - your output is phenomenal!.
Lovely Karen. Your goals are both ambitious and achievable. Thank you for letting us fllow along on your journey.
Shirley, thank you (and Linda also). Shirley, I don’t always do an oil painting a day. Sometimes it’s watercolor, sometimes pastel. One thing that is consistent is that they are all one-sitting paintings. Watercolor dries quickly. Pastel is dry from the get-go, and when I paint in oils (so far) I do “direct painting” wet in wet. So this makes it easier to get it done quickly, because I don’t wait for anything to dry. I do this because I am trying to build speed for plein air oil painting in which one must move quickly.
I very much admire your goals. Hope you get to achieve all of them this year. But seeing your work and progress over the last year, that won’t be a problem I think.
Good luck.
I like the soft and peaceful feeling in your landscapes. I look forward to seeing your work. You get better every time. Right now I am into watercolours.Just a beginner.You inspire me. Best wishes this year and always.
Wonderful colors — the yellow in the foreground is so warm.
Good luck with all of your goals!
Karen, I noticed this piece on Daily Painters, since I’ve requested the email every day, and it’s superb. I especially am noticing (and studying, LOL) the way you’ve handled the foliage, so painterly and “treeish”, really nice work. Your goals are interesting too, I like the ways you’ve set them up as actions, and not results or products. Thanks for sharing with us. I think this one will get snatched up quick!
GLORIOUS, KAREN! THE COLORS JUST SING!!! ONE OF MY FAVORITES OF YOURS!! GREAT goals too — you’ve achieved so much — and mostly by learning on your own — admirable and commendable … now to follow your example!
Thanks everyone. Nel, I thought about making specific assignments for myself and there’s something about it that doesn’t quite fit with my way of working, which is to draw or paint whatever excites me at the moment.
I do have general themes I want to explore - such as more local landscapes, more still lives of things in my house including flowers and seasonal fruit and vegetables, more paintings of animals and more portraiture - but I can’t really be more specific than that.
you’ve challenged me 7 good things
Karen, you are always such a pleasure to see, your art sings to me! It is that simple.
I have to say “thank you” also for giving your 2007 art guidelines but stating you will
keep things loose and allow for spontaneity. I look at all these serious plans and KNOW I
will find that kind rigidity something I rebel against. I am going to be sure I set aside time to
do some art every day , but not forcing a specific plan - beyond the stretches you recommend.
Thank you again for all do post, say, and inspire.
Sandy
Love this painting and I admire your realistic goals. Thank you for being a constant inspiration of us all.
I look forward to see you reaching your goals.
Nice list of resolutions. Love the colour and loose use of brushstroke in the painting. Also it is such a good idea for you to look back over work done during the year and what a lot of contrast in the pieces you have produced. I like the ‘Day of the Dead’ one best - tells or suggests a story and the colours are gorgeous.
Wendy
These are great goals for you and all of us. We’ll have to be good in encouraging each other this coming year. The great thing is that we’ll get that added benefit of being able to see all your work and experimentation. All the paintings have been just beautiful, Karen. Thanks for sharing it all. xox!
Good luck with your goals, and have fun!
I love the painting. I like the yellow/orange colour of the foliage, and the way that you have echoed the blue of the sky on the road. I’ve noticed a lot of your landscapes have a road curving through them. It’s nice. I particularly like the tree-lined roads that you’ve done.
I love this painting - it feels very warm to me here in (not warm) Scotland!
Karen,
Thanks for sharing your spectacular, art-filled, productive year with us. Your art has definitely grown and deepened over the year. I’ve enjoyed watching
you begin playing with oils again and watching you experiment with your watercolor techniques. Thank you so much for sharing! I’m looking forward to
seeing what adventures in art your 2007 goals take you on. Good luck and thanks for keeping us “posted”! Happy New Year! - Jennafer