"Moose, Courthouse Dog" 8x8 oil

This is my latest dog portrait--"Moose, CASA Courthouse Dog."  Moose is known for his mohawk (!) and his sunny disposition while helping kids be calm  in courtroom situations.  I loved trying to capture his mohawk and his expression.

"What I Did Last Summer"

Happy Autumn!  The aspens and red maples are just starting to turn their glorious colors.  After an eventful summer, I am trying to get back to posting regularly!

First a bit of news:  The Pastel Society of New Mexico Signature Members' Show is being shown at the Matrix Gallery in Albuquerque, NM, during the month of October.  You can view pictures of the opening and the paintings in the show (including mine) at this Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/PSNMSignatureMembers?ref=stream  You don't have to be a member or sign in, so have a look!

My summer included participating in David Barranti's Master Drawing Class, where we were all challenged to expand beyond our usual subjects and treatments and even learn to use a new support for watercolor!  And expand we did!

Next, I traveled with another artist friend for two weeks.  Santa Fe galleries were first on the agenda.  Taking in the broad and amazing array of artwork  in Santa Fe never gets dull.  We were especially blessed to meet and to hear landscape artist Chris Morel explain some of his insights about his solo exhibit at the Nedra Matteucci (formerly Fenn) Gallery.  A most enjoyable and informing opportunity!

Our next stop was four glorious days at Ghost Ranch, near Abiquiu, where O'Keeffe spent much of her later life.  We painted in the colorful and amazing landscape both day and night and in between enjoyed discussing and sharing art with each other and a few other artists.

"Dreaming of Ghost Ranch" 12"x 9"wc

Leaving Ghost Ranch was tough, but we drove on to Oklahoma City to see and draw in the Prix de West Art Exhibit at the National Cowboy and Western Museum Hall of Fame.  Outstanding!!  The museum itself is gorgeous.  The breadth and depth of the artwork in the show and the permanent collection are without equal in my own museum experiences.  Not only does the show display the absolute best in realistic "Western" artwork, but their collection of such artists as Charles M. Russell, Walter Ufer, Nicolai Fechin and other Taos artists is superior.  And the sculpture!

After nearly three days absorbing and drawing from the paintings and sculpture, we dragged our weary but exhilarated bodies home to recoup before beginning to process the wonderful experiences we had.

Tomorrow--some of what I know after the summer.  

Serendipity

It was serendipity that I found this quote:  "There is an art to wandering. If I have a destination, a plan – an objective – I've lost the ability to find serendipity. I am on a quest, not a ramble. I search for the Holy Grail of particularity and miss the chalice freely offered, filled and overflowing." (Cathy Johnson)

I experienced serendipity at its fullest yesterday while attempting to visit the Rio Grande Botanical Garden, aka the ABQ BioParkBotanic Garden, in Albuquerque.  Amazing garden!  Packed full of irises, poppies and all manner of other colorful blooms.  I highly recommend a painting day or two there, if you have opportunity.  

By the time I arrived at the park (new GPS system not so user-friendly!), wandered around just absorbing and SEEING the wonders, ate lunch, warmed up, set up and painted, for about an hour, my time was gone!  The time was truly a treasure in that glorious garden.  I manage to grab a small watercolor and this small oil from the party that was going on.  

"Glorious Day" 8"x 6" oil
Buy this painting

Be sure to note that I am teaching an Iris Painting Class at the Hondo Iris Farm on May 28th, 9-4.  Call or email me for details.  575-430-6148 or sarajchambers@yahoo.com.

Meditation on Teaching--What Do You WANT?

Having just taught a pastel painting class for the Pastel Society of El Paso, I have been thinking quite a bit about what affects my own and others' creation process.  I frequently heard myself asking  individual artists, "What do you WANT?"  Just because I would choose a color or a placement of an element, does not mean it is the right way if it does not reflect what the artist wants.

INTENT is usually the first element of composition that needs to be addressed, and this class made me aware of how important it is. INTENT means deciding if a painting has a story or message or is simply meant to be beautiful for its own sake.  But it also means remembering WHAT attracts us to a subject and  makes us WANT to paint it.  WHY do I choose to paint or draw a particular thing or idea? If our motivation is unclear, we cannot know WHEN or IF we actually reach the goal.  Conversely, if what attracted me was, for example,

This is me, trying to get what I WANT--glorious red poppies!

the vivid color of some flowers, but I end up nuancing the foreground dirt or the sky or the leaves or the path or the landscape behind them, instead, I may not get what I WANT or what I INTEND.

The temptation, particularly using photographs as references, is to wander off in the details and the unrelated bits, thereby diminishing the power of what we WANTED to say or show.  To greatly strengthen a composition, first remember WHY you chose the subject and WHAT you want to show.  Then, balance the rest of the details in proportion to your INTENT in order to arrive at what you WANT.

BTW--note that I am offering a plein air class at the Hondo Iris Farm on May 28, 9-4.  Contact me at sarajchambers@yahoo.com or 575-430-6148 for details.

Happy New Year--Dancing in the Dark

Happy New Year!

I know, I know--that was over two months ago.  But my "new year" was stuck in limbo for six weeks due to an illness in my family.  Then it took me another three weeks to "get back to myself"!  This pastel is one of my newest paintings.  I called it "Dancing in the Dark."  (20x16 pastel on board)  Irises always make me happy!  I really enjoy the play of the light against the dark teal background.

We have an upcoming trip to Chile and Argentina.  It will be very fun to see what that trip adds to my future paintings!

I will be teaching a two day class in pastel painting in early May for the Pastel Society of El Paso.  That will be a lot of fun!

PS--I found out that my short term "paralysis" at creating during a crisis has a name--"anticipatory grief."  Who knew?  Whew--glad it is over!

SpiritBird Studio Art Gala This Weekend

The annual Gala Art Show is at my SpiritBird Studio this weekend!  Come enjoy ART, wine and cheese, and lots of fun people!

1-5 PM Saturday

2-5 PM Sunday

221 KARR CANYON RD

(2.2 MILES S ON KARR CANYON RD)

HIGH ROLLS, NM

See new paintings from all my plein air experiences this year, including China, Atlanta, and New Mexico.  I have oils, watercolors, and acrylics in affordable sizes.  Shop early for Christmas!

PRIZES:  I will give away a small piece of original art every hour on the hour.  You need to be present to win!

SILENT AUCTION:  Several  paintings will be priced specially for a silent auction.  increasing bids can be placed up to a limit and bidder need not be present to win the bid.  Winners will be notified by phone or email of their winning bid.

Be sure to visit my new web site at SaraJChambers.com and sign up for my free newsletter, which will only be published a few times per year--not usually more than once per month.

Color Challenge #2

Happy Wednesday!

Color Challenge #2 is this:

• Select a subject that you want to paint.
• Identify the one color you cannot do without for that subject. (Cad red in this one.)
• Use a standard palette or a CMYK palette.  Study and decide what other colors could work best for you.  Select three other colors, two spaces apart on the color wheel, creating a tetradic color scheme.  (This scheme makes a square.)
• Do two color studies, one warm and one color, using these four colors.  Note that you have two warm and two cool (usually) and that you have two sets of complements.
• Paint your subject using these four colors in combinations that work for you.
• Remember to have color and temperature dominance.
• Be cautious while creating grays that may become "dead" if taken too far.
• Notice what decisions you had to make to make the scheme "work" for you in an actual painting.

I hope to see some fun results of this exploration!  I had a terrific time trying to apply this tetradic scheme to "Flying Free (Green-winged Macaw)" 14x11 oil.  I fudged the red toward the red-orange, using cad red as the color I had to have, and using cad yellow pale, phthalo blue, and a little ultramarine (BV).

As a footnote, the free online Gamut Mask Tool is a great resource for playing with color options.

New Website Link for FASO

I have a new link, until my domain name transfer is complete:  Sara Chambers Fine Art.
Check out my new look!  And sign up for my e-newsletter HERE.  The full change should be finished by next week!  Yay!

"Golden" ("Emma Too, Golden Retriever--Courthouse Dog")
6x6 oil 

Meanwhile, here is a photo of a small palette knife study I did of Emma, the Chavez County Courthouse CASA dog.  This was a color study of oranges and cyan on a burnt sienna toned canvas.  This and another painting will be a gift to the Chavez County CASA Program, since she is their dog!

New Website Look and Color Challenges

I am taking the plunge--changing my website provider to FASO.  I do hope this is not toooo painful a process.  They are supposed to move my domain name, so it should remain the same.  Here's hoping!

I have spent all afternoon working on the new site, and I am just getting started!  I have only uploaded a dozen images, putting them into collections.  Once I get going, adding images will be simple.  But change is painful!!

I've been doing a lot of study about color lately.  Two students came to my studio a couple of weeks ago to explore the nuances of using color in our art.  What a blast we had!

The image on the left, "Spots of Sun," is intended to explore the split complements of Y, BV, RV.  It's my first pastel in a while.

My Weekly Color Challenge #1 for my students (and for any who would like to participate) is this:

1. Using a standard primary palette, choose a complement pair (ie R-G, B-O, Y-V, YO-BV, RO-VG, RV-YG).  If you want to keep it simpler for the first time, choose a primary pair.
2. Paint two studies--1@ warm dominance and cool dominance.
3. Do a small painting using the combination.

Points to consider:

1. What is the dominant temperature?
2. How much contrast or depth comes from putting warm against cool?
3. How do you achieve rhythm and/or a center of interest?
4. How much pure color can you use of each of the pair and still achieve harmony?

Send me pictures of the results by next Thursday.  Let's play!

I would enjoy having an ongoing exchange of ideas and experiments with any interested artists.

Update on Zendoodle

OK--most people must be still in the post-holiday recovery mode, as not enough people signed up for the Zendoodle 101 Playshop by Monday, my deadline to pull the plug.  Soooooooo--I will reschedule the class to see if more of the folks who have been asking will be able to make it.  Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, I AM still doing the Zendoodle 201 Playshop on January 19 from 10 to 1 (bring your lunch) at my SpiritBird Studio, to teach more complicated designs.  There are still a few slots left, so call or email today, if you think you would like to participate.  If you have never done Zendoodle before, it might be better to take the first class before this one.  But if you are familiar with the process or have been "doodling all your life", you could easily pick this up and have a blast with these fun tangle designs!  Here is one of the designs that we will learn shown three different ways:

We are sure to have a relaxing and FUN "Playshop"!  Remember, there is no "right" way to do these--only YOUR way.  They become as individual as handwriting--one mark at a time.

Sign up at sarajchambers@yahoo.com or call 575-430-6148.

Also, a heads-up that I will be teaching a two-day workshop (playshop) for the New Mexico Watercolor Society, Southern Chapter, in Las Cruces on April 30 and May 1.  The subject will be water soluble pencils/media.  This hummingbird that I also have at the top of my blog is created with this approach. This should be way too much fun!  Contact me for more information.

Happy New Year

Happy 2013!

I am always amazed when a new year comes around.  We think of a new year as a new beginning, but I believe it is merely a reminder for us to focus on positives, recognize and receive our blessings, and renew our resolve to use our time in the very best way.

One of the best ways that an artist can renew her resolve is to take a short class to jump-start her creative juices.  I am offering two classes ("Playshops") in Zendoodle at my SpiritBird Studio in January.  Neither class requires any ability to draw and materials are provided:

Jan. 12 (Sat.), 10-1, Zendoodle 101 "Playshop"--Art for the Artless or Doodling Becomes Art. $40--materials and tax included. Have you always wanted to do art, but didn't think you could "draw a stick figure?"  This class is for anyone who wants to create art one mark at a time.  No ability to draw is necessary.  The results are both beautiful and meditative.  There is no right or wrong way to create these pieces of art.  Everyone has his/her own style and signature marks.  Create two to four pieces of art to take home from the class, plus take home methods, ideas and materials for creating more and more.

Jan. 19 (Sat.), 10-1, Zendoodle 102 or 201 (can't remember which!) "Playshop"--Advanced Designs in Zendoodle, $40--materials and tax included.  A continuation of the 101 Playshop.  We will learn six to 10 advanced designs and explore ways of designing to further stretch your creativity. Bring your kit from the 101 class.  I will add more paper and materials. (Yes, we will learn how to create the elements of the design above!)

Space in either class is limited, so call early (575-430-6148) or reserve your place by e-mail (sarajchambers@yahoo.com)

Also, remember that I teach an ongoing drawing class, geared to individual needs, on most Tuesdays.  See the info on the "Classes and Workshops" page (on the blog tab).

Another fun note--my paintings will remain at the Amaro Winery Tasting Room until the end of January at least!  This is a great place to take friends to enjoy wonderful wine and art together.  They are located at 402 S Melendres, open 1-5 every day, and 6-10 on most Fridays (with live music!!).

You can sign up to receive my blog by email by filling in the info at the top right of my blog site.  Thanks for your comments!

ZenDoodle Fun This Saturday!

This Saturday, Nov. 17th (10 a.m.-1 p.m.), we will be having fabulous fun learning about ways to create artwork using different designs in my "Zendoodling for Fun & Meditation"!  The sample design at the right looks complicated, but it's very easy to create, one stroke at a time.  Zendoodling is a fun but calming process of combining strokes of the pen into amazing designs to create art.

You will learn the basics of the zendoodle process, plus lots of different designs and create lovely artwork to take home.  You take home the pen, multiple pre-cut pieces of the lovely watercolor paper that we use, plus some ways to collect the designs for future use.

It is so much fun to put these patterns together in an intentional manner to make fabulous artwork that can be used for cards, decorations, or framed art.  I will also teach you how to incorporate watercolor or other colored media into your designs.

I still have a couple of slots open for the class.  If interested, call me to sign up: 575-430-6148.  Come join the fun at SpiritBird Studio, 221 Karr Canyon, High Rolls, NM.  Get directions HERE.  Cost is only $40 for the materials, ideas and completed artwork.  You take home plenty of materials to do many more pieces.

My latest in my SpiritBird Series is a commissioned 5"x7" oil on panel, "Spirit of Love." I love the feeling of light and flight!

Zendoodle "Playshop" Coming Up!

The SpiritBird Studio Holiday Gala was a great party!  Lots of folks came to enjoy art, wine, snacks and fall colors--and special holiday prices for the art.  Happy winners took home some fun small pieces of original art. Look for next year's dates in the near future.

My "Zendoodles for Fun and Meditation" Playshop is coming to SpiritBird Studio (High Rolls) on November 17th, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.  Cost is only $40, including materials and tax.  Space is limited, so sign up soon!  Contact me at 575-430-6148 or email at sarajchambers@yahoo.com.  I am calling this a "playshop" as there should be absolutely no work involved!  You will take home several pieces of completed artwork, materials, and lots of ideas.

Zendoodles are doodling with intent.  In this "playshop", you will learn the basics of combining patterns for fun artwork. The important thing to remember is that you do not have to be good at drawing to create a great piece of artwork!  We will be playing with designs to create art.  I will show you the simple steps involved in this fun process and share multiple patterns for you to take home to play with.  Create greeting cards, journal decorations, clothing items, stationery . . . the list is endless!

You can also embellish any drawing that you do for training or fun to take your piece to a higher level.

Directions to my studio are on my website:  www.SaraJChambers.com.

Amaro Winery Art Show Reception

We had a fun time on Friday night at the Amaro Winery reception for my art show!  I neglected to take pics at the reception but have a couple showing a bit of the show.  Lots of folks came to enjoy the art, the music by Soulshine, and, of course, the WINE!  I am truly pleased and grateful to have this opportunity to display my artwork at this lovely venue.

 The show looks really great in this light, airy space, with some super colored walls, too.

If you missed the reception, you can view the show from now until January 2.  Tasting room hours are 1-6 every day but Sunday (1-5).  They often have live music on Fridays from 7-10.  What a marvelous opportunity to enjoy wine and art at the same time!
Thanks, Amaro Winery and Kelly (owner)!

Busy October

I have been quite actively preparing for three upcoming exhibits.  Two of them are in October and I will send paintings for the third at the beginning of the month!

First, I am setting up an exhibit as featured artist at Amaro Winery in Las Cruces, which I will hang next Tuesday, September 25.  The reception for the exhibit is Friday, October 5th, 5-9 p.m.  Come and enjoy an evening of art, wine, live music by Soulshine, and food. 

You can visit  Amaro Winery to see the paintings (and enjoy the wine and company) from September 25-January 2 (2013) during regular tasting room hours, 1-6 p.m. M-Sat, 1-5 Sun, and, of course, on Fridays until 9 or 10 p.m.  Amaro is located at 402 S. Melendres St., Las Cruces, just south of Amador Ave.

Next, my annual studio event is coming!  Save the dates!

2012 Holiday Studio Gala

SpiritBird Studio

221 Karr Canyon Road, High Rolls

(directions at www.SaraJChambers.com)

Saturday & Sunday

October 20 & October 21, 2012

2-6 p.m. Saturday

2-5 p.m. Sunday

New paintings

Holiday Savings

Refreshments

Hourly drawings for art

Silent art auctions

This is happening the same weekend as the High Rolls Apple Festival.  The fall colors should still be great, so come on out and enjoy the art and the mountains!!

Last, I will have six paintings in the Artists Haven Gallery November show, which opens November 3rd in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  I am excited to have my paintings in this special exhibit for the third year in a row.  The gallery features six artists a month, plus they display two pieces of each artist's art year around.

Look for the postcards announcing each event.  See you at Amaro and SpiritBird Studio!!

Resources for Gesture Drawing

I have been teaching gesture drawing in my drawing class lately.  I have found that doing this exercise is ADDICTING!  Below are some excellent online resources for gesture drawing.  The Pixielovely site is especially amazing.  How generous!  I expect to make a contribution to keep this one going.

http://www.terryvision.com/pages/previousBlogs/Blog_17Jan07-Tips.html 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=ctkRwRDdajo 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmiwGm32dXU&feature=related  explanation and demo plus great references!

Pixielovely Figure Drawing Training Tool:  http://pixelovely.com/gesture/figuredrawing.php  FREE!

Come join us for drawing class challenges on most Tuesdays, 9-12.  Cost is only $31.78 per class or $105.94 for 4 classes, prepaid.

Painting in Open Acrylics

I have been training myself to paint in acrylics, in preparation for our trip to Peru  I have acquired a 6x8 Thumbox Guerilla Easel.  It's very fun to use.

I am combining Golden Open Acrylics with regular ones to get blending with fast drying.  I got a couple of sample sets that have 22 ml tubes--just right for travel.  So far, I still battle the regular acrylics drying too fast in the New Mexico dryness, but I am learning to tweak them in combo with the Opens.  Here's hoping--we are leaving soon!

I painted this 8x6 experiment of Yarrow on linen today in not too much time. I am getting faster!:

I find I like using a palette knife, as the texture seems better, after putting in an underpainting.  Let me know what you think. 

Spectrafix--Miracle Fixative!

I seldom if ever use fixative with my pastels.  The boards that I use with pumice surface really holds the pastel without fixative.  But I have explored ways of sealing and varnishing my pastels in order to maintain the bright colors and textures without glass.  Although I was able to do so, the process was extremely imperfect:  It required much labor, lots of coats of spray varnish, much reworking, could not be done in my studio (fumes!), was weather dependent (wind! Think "New Mexico"!)

Recently, another multi-media artist, Bob Burridge, recommended using Spectrafix  casein-based fixative as a means of overcoming theses obstacles.  I just tried the Spectrafix on a small pastel (above).  I cannot see any difference in color or texture from "before" to "after"!!  I am AMAZED.  I plan to try varnishing it after it sets for a week, per one of the customer comments.  Totally no smell or fumes.  Cannot wait to try painting a pastel on canvas.  It will be great for charcoal drawings, also.  Thanks, Bob! 

Here is their website: http://spectrafix.com/index.html

PS--I am not receiving a commission from Spectrafix ;>)

Chile and Drawing

This is a partial view of a three foot tall chile that I am painting to be donated for the Hospice El Paso art fund raiser auction in early September.  What a challenge!  Since this is poppies, the working title is "Red Hot Poppers."  Get your bids in early!

Meanwhile, I am also offering an ongoing drawing class (3 hours per session), which will meet the next three weeks in July--Monday, July 16; Tuesday, July 24; and Tuesday, July 31. Classes will begin again early in September, probably on Tuesday mornings, unless there is consensus for another time.  Stay posted for times and dates.

The July classes will meet 9 a.m. to noon each session.  Cost for the three July classes is $75 plus tax, if paid in advance. Otherwise, the classes are $30 plus tax per class.  Tuition beginning in September will be $100 plus tax for 4 classes at a time when paid ahead, or $30 plus tax per class.

I will be teaching and reviewing drawing exercises and skills, and will begin to cover the basics in drawing the human face and figure when it seems appropriate to the class members.  Each class will feature skills, inspiration and application.  Join us to hone your drawing skills, gain some discipline and incentive and become the draughtsman (-woman /person?) you are meant to be!  Call to sign up today:  575-430-6148 or send me an e-mail:  sarajchambers@yahoo.com.

Creative Composition Coming!

My "Creative Composition" class is coming up soon!  I have shortened the class to three days--June 18-20 (M-W), in order to accommodate some students' schedules, so the price is now $250.  Such a deal!  I still have a few openings.

The class will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily for the three days.  We will cover the most important elements of composition, except for drawing, which many folks are taking next week from my friend and fellow artist David Barranti at the Cloudcroft Art Workshops in Cloudcroft, NM.

Come find out what the masters have to teach us, as well as secrets that many have never heard or were able to learn.


What is Gustav Klimt teaching us in this famous portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer (that only a few years ago auctioned for $132 million dollars)???!