Go Figure

When I lived in California I was lucky enough to take a week-long portrait and figure painting, watercolor workshop from world famous artist Mary Whyte. One afternoon we ventured out of the studio to the beach (we were right on the coast in Crescent City) to take some photos of the model. Let’s face it, you don’t normally come across young women dressed like this strolling the beach.

It was a foggy day and the light was strange. The ocean and the sky was a strange, muted yellow green. I painted it once true to the photo, but after the online course I took this past winter, photos are just a reference and I have broken free from trying to reproduce them—a very big breakthrough for me.

Some people don’t like people in their art; others love the human, lively element people add to a painting. Which do you prefer?

“Shell Searcher”, 8×6″ oil on panel, SOLD

“Sandy Walk”, 8×6″ oil on panel, SOLD

Thanks for looking. 🙂

 

A Day at the Beach Was Not a Day at the Beach

When my friend invited a group of us to go to the sand dunes, I was thinking hiking the dune and some nature trails by Lake Michigan.

As she parked the car I saw one large dune and a public beach. She unloaded a blanket, towel and beach chair and headed for the beach. I was not prepared. I was not dressed for the beach. I did not bring a blanket, towel or chair. Luckily I had a hat, sunscreen, sketchbook and camera.

It was near the end of summer and I then had shoulder surgery, then it was fall and then the holidays, yada yada yada. I have been wanting to paint this beach scene (and others) since last year.

Finally! This little girl gets to go swimming!

I definitely would frame in a floater frame or edge-to-edge frame so nothing gets covered up.

Want to Swim, 8×10″ oil on panel.

Available at http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/570980

New Year—New Colors

 

Gazing, 6×8″ acrylic

Pantone Inc. is best known for its Pantone Matching System (PMS), a proprietary color space used in a variety of industries, primarily printing, though sometimes in the manufacture of colored paint, fabric, and plastics. Annually, Pantone declares a particular color “Color of the Year”. Fashion designers, florists, and many other consumer-oriented companies look to Pantone to help guide their designs and planning for future products. Pantone has said that color “has always been an integral part of how a culture expresses the attitudes and emotions of the times.”

Pantone has chosen two colors for 2016, Serenity, muted pale blue, and Rose Quartz, a pale pink. A challenge was put forth on Daily Paintworks to create a piece or art using those colors. This is my answer to the challenge.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/andrea-jeris/gazing/438373

How Far Can You Throw a Painting?

Beach or Water

Pretty far it turns out when you paint on a 6×6″ hardboard panel. It’s kind of like a square Frisbee.

Clearly not every painting is a masterpiece, and there is this emotional roller coaster artists go through when painting, (this is good, what am I doing, why did I think I could paint, it’s not so bad, I’m fantastic). Sometimes you just have to wash it off and start over. Sometimes half way through you lose your inspiration or vision of what you wanted. Then what do you do?

Half way through I was going to fling this one out the window. I walked away. Went to do something else. Cleaned up for the day. Washed out my brushes. Did not look at it again until the next day.

As I walked into my studio in the morning I noticed how I liked the contrast. And the composition. The vision was back. The inspiration was back. I went back to work. It’s not a masterpiece but I am happy. And that’s what I am looking for.

“Beach or Water”, acrylic on Gessobord panel 5×7″ unframed, is available by for $50 http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/andrea-jeris/relaxing-either-way/394477