Technique Serves My Vision

I read this interview with Duane Keiser and the following quote really emphasizes the reason that I am trying to paint more often.

From an Interview with Duane Keiser:

On your website, you show postcard paintings from as early as November 2003. Have you noticed a change in your work over the last year and a half? How have they evolved since you began the project?
Yes, I've noticed some big changes. I have reached a point where the technical aspects of painting have begun to recede into the background of my thinking, like breathing. I feel like my technique serves my vision now, rather than the other way around. I'm more free to enjoy the paint.

Read the whole interview here: www.alexandrasilverthorne.com

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Painting Today, "Penguin Guarding Horn", Gordon van Vliet

Today the painting is oil on board 7 x 5, titled "Penguin Guarding Horn". The Horn is from a cow in Nepal from a trip in 1984. The penguin a paperweight from a friend. Material is brass. The picture did not come out well. The actual painting is better. Enjoy.







Also, below are two pictures of the studio setup.












Also, Take a look at the Terry Miura Studio. I find her story interesting.

Another artist asked about my palette attached to my easel. Here is her post and my reponse. Click on Jennifer's name to go to her blog where this was originally posted.

28 08 2006

jennifereyoung (08:25:18) :

Hi Gordon,
Thanks so much for the nice comments about my blog. I checked out your blog as well and enjoyed your writing and artistry. Hey, what kind of easel is that in the pictures of your studio setup? I’m looking for an easel with the palette in front like the one shown in your picture.

Take care and keep up the great painting!
-Jennifer

28 08 2006

Gordon van Vliet (10:18:08) : Your comment is awaiting moderation

Jennifer,
Well the easel is from ASW, about $100(now $119), but the the palette is custom made by me. We use a palette like this on all the studio set-ups at Christian Kolupski'’s place. Great idea. It is 1/4″ hardboard or glass palette captured in a wood frame. Then clamped with toggle bolts or turn knobs and made in such a way so you can slide it up and down. Also needed is an additional top piece that holds the canvas, turned upside down to hold the bottom of the canvas. Now you have full adjustability. Perhaps I should create an article showing the steps to make one. Also would you consider a reciprocal link. I find these help traffic at the blog ever so much.
Well I hope this helped some.
Gordon van Vliet

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Painting Today, "Woman in Blue" by Gordon van Vliet

This is a new piece I began yesterday with a model. She is dressed in a beautiful blue gown with trimmings. Classic reclining pose on a Victorian couch. I will work on this more. Particularly the upper torso and face. This painting is a little larger at about 28 x 20 oil on canvas. I love the lower dress and the arms and hands. Let me hear your comments too.

I've had a lot of favorable emails on the Snail painting which I posted yesterday. Why not post your comments for all to see?

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Painting Today "Snail No. 1", Gordon van Vliet

Todays panting is 5 x 7 on board titled, "Snail No. 1" and is painted right here in Brighton, NY. Challenge to paint while things are moving, the leaf drying out and the changing shadows as the sun came and went behind the clouds. I hope you enjoy it and please do offer your comments here.

I am also continuing to work on yesterdays painting.

Here is a link to an interesting story/video. This piece was on 20/20 and is about a young man in Canada who uses a novel approach to get what he wants. Good lessons here for everyone. Check out the video at: Red Clip Video

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A Painting Today, "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down"

This new painting I am working on is 16 x 20 oil on canvas of my wife's great grandpa Twitchell. A farmer in Maine during the early part of the last century, he had a lot of children, when he was struck with polio. The story goes that he received some charity from the towns people, but when his children were teased in town and at school, he forthwith refused any future charity and farmed his land on his hands and knees for the rest of his days. This he did successfully and with my future great admiration. I think when I finish this painting I may title it, "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down". Let me know what you think.

I am getting closer to my goal of creating on painting a day. Many of my friends in the art world are following this discipline and I can only see good come from it.

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"Lady in the Garden"

Here is todays painting, "Lady in the Garden", oil on board. This was finished at midday.














Chris Kolupski's wonderful painting is below.

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Portrait "Woman with Turban"

Tonight I finished a new portrait. This is painted on un-stretched canvas, oil and probably will stretch out to 16 x 20. The model is a beautiful young lady and is wearing her hair up in an elaborate scarf of grey and gold. I hope everyone likes it as much as I do.













Also is a plein air picture by Christian Kolupski, oil on canvas, showing myself painting the model out of doors, in the woods, at dusk. Chris certainly has a lot of talent which I continually see demonstrated in his work. Click the link in the right hand column to see more.

Tomorrow morning I will again be painted a model in a garden on the west side of town.

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Webster Pier - GVPAP Paintout

To the left is the painting on easel at Webster Pier on Lake Ontario in Webster, NY, 11 x 14 oil on canvas. It is called "North View from the Pier". Center is the approximate subject and to the right is the finished work. Chris Kolupski is standing at the end of the pier painting. His painting is shown below.


Here Chris Kolupski and the painting he created. He painted two pieces very successfully.

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Portrait "David No 1" 18" x 24" oil on canvas board

This is a portrait of a model that I met at Steve Carpenter's Studio. The values are dark to light with not much middle tone. Background in this piece was a challenge because of the varied color and strong. In a full finished portrait rather than the study here I would grey out and make the background less defined, add more middle value and brig up the highlights. I like the way his shirt came out. This piece is called "David No. 1" and is oil on canvas board 18" x 24"

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Comment on "Painting A Day" blogs and sites

Look at the photo of Mirrorball No. 13, by Duane Keiser . It's really a self portrait and last I checked was bid up to $710 on Ebay. Wonderful painting and lots of lessons to learn from his method and approach. Click on the picture and look foryourself. Also a link to his web site appears in the right column under artists.

I put a listing here of some great articles and web site/ blogs I found regarding "Painting A Day" artists. Also, to all the artists who engage in this discipline, I say, "Keep up the practice and reap the benefits!

Lines and Colors
A New Painting Every Day
Fresh Paint
Painting a Day Project
Postcard from Provence
Painting A Day - 2005 I hope Shelley continues.
Pacific Northwest Postcards
Daily Paintings
Justin Clayton

1 Painting Every Day

Be sure to check out the links to the right under artist. There are several who utilize this "Painting A Day" format quite successfully.

I am of the opinion that an artist should adopt this method for their own practice, to further their skills or as studies for larger works. Sure, put them "For Sale", but don't get discouraged if your results do not mirror those of other successful artists. Daily painting is the best thing an artist can do. If you hone your skill, sales will surely follow if you make your work available.

Monday I am painting at Lake Ontario once more with the GVPAP to practice and refine my ability.

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New Links and Comments

Today I have updated the links portion of this blog. You can see it located at the right column. I have added artists that I admire and some organizations. If you visit these sites and correspond with them, please be sure to tell where you found them. Thanks.

I finished another portrait last Wednesday. Models name is David.

We were rained out at the GVPAP paintout yesterday. 3.33 inches of rain. Rochester alltime 1 day record is 3.77 inches, so a lot of people ended up wet. The weatherman said this was the fourth wettest day on record here.

Please add your comments when you can or email me at vanVlietArt@safe-mail.net. Thanks.

Evelyn Beatrice Longman, Genius of Electricity, 1915
Photo (c)Lee Sanstead
For more information about "Genius of Electricity" go to Lee Sandstead's
website by clicking on the picture above

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High Falls Paint Out with the GVPAP

"Genesee Brewery No. 1"
11" x 14" Oil on Canvas Board.

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Durand Beach

This is painted 11 x 14 oil on canvas board. The view is looking West toward Charlotte Pier. By the time I finished the sunwas setting over the power plant twin stacks. The sail boat turned out well and certain aspects of the waves. The land near the smoke stacks have a few buildings that I like also. The painting appears a little greener than life, so I will pay attention to this in future ones. Very difficult to capture as the light was rapidly changing. Waves are going to take practice from life. I will probably do some studies of other artists sea scapes. Next outdoor is the High Falls in downtown Rochester.

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Finally Summer

This was painted at Turning Point Park in Rochester in the woods at eventide. Soft blue light with dappled sun. The modle is admiring the sunlight through the trees. Small early summer flowers bloom around her and fill the air with fragrance. It is called "Finally Summer" 11x14 oil on canvas board.

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Today's Painting "Simple Pleasure Lost" Gordon van Vliet

This beautiful model is "Christine". She is contemplating the mysteries of the past while Diana, a giant in her own time, admires how far women have come in our own time. Diana craves a smoke and sophistication that eludes her in the Netherworld. I have provided some details. This oil on canvas board measures 18 x 24. I call it "Simple Pleasure Lost"

Noah as Big Boss

Christian Kolupski painted this impressionistic portrait of my son Noah at a recent demonstration held at his studio on June 3, 2006. It is now displayed at Rochester Art Supply. Noah just turned five in May and sat very still for this 3 hours session. I lured him to the committment by telling him we would listen to the Star Wars soundtrack. Chris told him the story whil he painted. Noah was intriqued with the story and also by the painting process which he watched in a mirror arranged to show the artist canvas.

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Cobbs Hill, Rochester, NY Plein Air Paintings

Well I have completed my first two outdoor paintings. on is of the Rochester, NY skyline from Cobbs Hill looking West. In the photo to the lower left you can see the skyline image and me at the back and left. The upper left photo is the complete painting about 4"H oil on board and the photo at right is a close up detail. It shows the First Federal bldg at left, then Kodak tower, Bausch & Lomb, Xerox. In the lfull picture it continues with the Lincon Tower, Midtown, then Marine Midland finally fadining at far write with the Eastman School dormitory building. The buildings in the center portion of the picture are more obscure and they are not the subject anyway.

Next is a 4x6 oil on board painting of a water hyacinth that was blooming in my front yard. I paint two gold fish which are visible to the left and right of the bloom.

Also I sold this portrait on July fourth. I received a phone call from the model offering to purchase it as a present for his parents. He appreciated the likeness that I captured of him. I enjoyed very much paint his glsses and eyes behind. Oil on canvas board 18 x 24.

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