3 Ribbons for Our Family!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!

This past weekend was the Ironton Artist Association Art Show. Our family brought home 3 ribbons! My dad received a blue ribbon for the oil painting division and also received the "Best of Show" award. My son received 2nd in his division and I received 3rd in the drawing division.

Happy Painting

XOXOXO

Josie

Class Acts: Earth, Wind, and Fire

Renaissance Gallery

The exhibition “Class Acts - Earth Wind and Fire”, will open with a reception on Sunday March 10 th  at the Renaissance Gallery . The exhibit features the work of Leona Mackey, Vernon Howell and Rabert Fulks –  each a retired local art instructor, and each an award winning artist producing unique and original work. Pieces by these exceptional, local artists are consistently found in open or juried shows in the Tri-State  region and in the State of West Virginia. One or two pieces in such a show however, often leave the  viewer wishing for more. This exhibit offers the opportunity for a broader view of their work either over  time or through the use of a variety of media. Leona Mackey, a long time art instructor at Huntington High School has transitioned from ceramics  and painting to dichroic and reactive glass in sterling jewelry pieces. Now she is concentrating  on unique fineart works featuring fired glass in stainless steel mounts, either as wall hangings or free  standing pieces. She received the first place award in the 2009 West Virginia Emerging Artist Exhibit. Vernon Howell, an art instructor at Barboursville High School, continues to range far and wide, painting,  working in wood and creating his signature three dimensional collage pieces that are often both  whimsical and industrial at the same time. The collage pieces are instantly recognizable as his,  and consistently receive award recognition. He has exhibited nationally and was recognized  in 2012 with the West Virginia Governor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement for his significant  accomplishments in the arts. Rabert Fulks, an art and graphic design instructor in the Cabell County Career Technology  Center, was once a student of Vernon Howell and is only recently retired. He paints using oil and wax.  His earthy portraits and landscapes are often subdued and draw on Appalachian life and countryside.  His work has already received a number of regional awards including a Best of Show. During the exhibit, the artists are scheduling specific time for demonstration, description of their creative  process or discussion of specific works, their conception and meaning to the artist. “Class Acts - Earth Wind and Fire” exhibit will run for six weeks, until April 21st. In addition to the  new exhibit, the Gallery will be showcasing the completion of the second phase of its update and  remodeling project. The Gallery is located on the ground floor of the old Huntington High building at the corner of  9 th avenue and 8th street in Huntington WV, and is open on Fridays and Saturdays, noon until  4PM, and Sundays, 1- 4PM.

The following was written by my dad:

Many thanks to our friends at the Renaissance Art Gallery, Vernon Howell, and Leona Mackey for including me in the Class Acts: Earth, Wind, Fire Art Show. The show will be up until April 21, 2013. The opening was great.

The Renaissance Art Gallery is open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons until 4:00pm. The Renaissance is located at 900 8th Street on the ground floor of the old Huntington High School building. On Saturday afternoon, March 23, I will demonstrate my approach to oil painting... Thumbnail sketches to a near finished painting.

Huntington Sky Line

Joey got first place in the children's division of the Ironton Art Show. The painting is of Huntington's skyline. I am so proud of him! My nephew received 3rd place and my dad received 1st place and best of show. 

Joey with local artists painting the Huntington skyline.

Dream big and let nothing get in your way....

 ~ Ballet ~ 

Oil painting -  8"x 8"

Chloe ~ Oil

Finally! I have finally finished my oil painting that was inspired by my niece Chloe! I started it last summer...as a matter a fact you can check out the old blog I posted about it. You can find it under under "labels" in my sidebar. I had planned on finishing before the start of this school year, but life happens and I just never had the time. Instead of being able to paint and craft, all I've been able to do for the last 7 months is lay in bed at night and think about all the projects that I want to do this summer! Come on summer...hurry up and get here!

 This photo is a tad bit fuzzy for some reason. I guess I really need to invest in a good camera!


XOXO
Josie

Under painting ~ Chloe ~ oil on canvas

Last night I started a new oil painting.  I had a request on another post to do a ballet painting...so I'm going to give it a try. I haven't forgot the deer in a field suggestion....so Paul if your out there in blog land...it's next on the list. My list actually keeps growing. That's a good thing though. I can always use help with ideas. My inspiration for this ballet painting is a snapshot of my precious niece Chloe! She is 3 years old and was recently in her first ballet recital. Yeaaaa... Chloe!

This first thing I did was sketch a basic contour drawing on my canvas.

After that I used burnt sienna mixed with white to start an under painting.  By doing an under painting, also known as grisaille, I can focus on working out the values before I have to worry about adding the color. This technique will also give the final painting more depth.  Grisaille is a term used for painting monochromatic, usually in shades of gray. Mine is done in shades of brown so technically it is called en brunaille. 

I gradually added shading to help define the form and shape. 

My paint is mixed with a lot of medium so that it goes on "light". 

This also allows me to make corrections as I go.

As I'm painting I realize I need to correct the position of the fingers on Chloe's hand.

In the photo of Chloe she actually has her mouth opened. 

I opted to change that for my painting. 

It's looking better by the minute!

I still have work to do on the under painting...

...so I guess I need to get at it!

Once that is done I can start adding color and detail!

I hope you enjoyed this preview....stop back soon!

xoxoxo

Josie

Roses ~ oil on canvas

Getting started....

Getting there...

Finished!

The Rose is one of the hardest flowers to paint.  

I obviously have a lot more practicing to do! These were starting to look a bit over worked.

xoxox

and

Happy Painting!

Josie

Horse Oil Painting

I thought I'd give you a peek at the painting I've been working on for the last few days. Just keep in mind that it still has quite a bit to do before I can sign my name and call it finished.
Below is the photo that I'm using as my reference. The picture was taken a few years ago when I took my 4th graders on their end of the year field trip to a farm. 

Isn't he  beautiful! The kids had a blast feeding the horses,
 playing in the creek, going for a wagon ride, and of course eating!

I had painted for about three hrs at this point....

I always have a mess when I paint!

Starting to come to life...

Getting better...

Almost finished...sorry about the glare.
 The paint was still wet .
I'll post my completed painting in about a week.

I guess Joey didn't like the kiss from his mommy/teacher! LOL!

Art in the Park

Hey everybody!
Today the "fam" and I went to the local Art in the Park. We saw lots of beautiful  work from several artists, including Dear Ole Dad! Below are some pictures that I took while we where there. I hope you enjoy them!

This is me! I'm smiling because the rain is holding off!

Some of my dad's paintings.

My dad.

 My dad and youngest son.

Joey and his oil painting teacher.

My sister and her lil' girl.

XOXO

Josie