Tag Archives: color boot camp

Mar 10 – One from the Plein Air Event, Lesson in Oil!

March 12th, 2010 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

On location with the Plein Air Artists of Riverside, and on Thursday I found myself in front of one of the many bridges that were the focus of this week-long paint out.

Now I don’t necessarily “do” bridges or other architectural renderings–I leave it for the designers to create beautiful structures, and I’ll just enjoy ‘em, not paint ‘em. But this event had us with a focus on local bridges, and who am I to complain? It’s just “stuff”….

So I start out with a toned canvas (12 x 9) and set up just as you see, with the bridge to my left. This way I’m not twisted as I paint, with my arm on the canvas and my head torqued around over that arm. Learned that in life drawing years ago–don’t let your painting arm block your view. Lot of artists don’t know that!

I’ve loosely blocked in the structure and design, knowing that I’m adding a figure later on in the upper left third (smudgy mark). I had a heck of a time with those receding arches. Talk about tough to “get”, but I leave some room for correction later. The day was overcast, and that’s a bummer, but as an artist, I can do a bit of artistic license and add a spot of sunshine if I wish. (And I do wish.) So for the first several images as this one develops, I’m going to stay completely in the cool box!

My workshops in Georgia and Florida are generating a great deal of interest–the excitement about the new recruits and the re-booters for the Color System is felt all the way over here in California! My flights are booked, Sparky has his space, and I’ll be doing the teaching for three weeks in April and May! If you’ve ever wanted the Color Boot Camp experience, please click below for workshop information for your area! Either Kathie or Judi will be happy to add you to the fun groups forming. I especially love it when “rebooters” come back for more “Yellin’ by Elin”.

On another note, I want to thank all of you who wrote in response to yesterday’s posting on Qso’s passing. So many of you have the hearts of animal lovers. It brought me great comfort. Although there’s a hole in my heart, I know that not too much time will pass before another snuggly fur-face will come to fill it. Sparky might need a playmate!

My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Mar 9 – Sadness and Acceptance

March 10th, 2010 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

Many of you have noticed the sporadic emails in the last few weeks, and for that I sincerely apologize. I’d hoped to share with you the finished polo ponies, but in utter amazement, I cannot FIND the painting! In the chaos of doing a major studio cleanout, I put it “somewhere safe”. Have you ever done that?

But today I am very sad for having to put down my companion of eighteen years–Qso, the German Pinscher–shown here with Pesto the studio cat.

Pets connect us to our past, living lives of scant more than a decade, and linking us to events and people from earlier times. As they age, we see our own lives (compressed) of youth, prime and then, if we are lucky, and if the animal is as well, we carry them through their old age, giving them the gift of care and a final exit with dignity and sadness.

So today’s message is one of communication to all animal lovers out there, those of us who have lost a beloved pet, and to all who share with me the sharp pain of the memory of their last days.

Animals have a prescience and acceptance of death that we humans can only envy. She told me it was time, and her passing was peaceful. I have always said that if we lose a pet, we have a hole in our heart waiting to be filled by an eager newcomer, whose future may be uncertain if we stay within our pain of loss. I am not sure when that achy place will be filled, but fill it will.

So, beloved Qso, I sent you to the Rainbow Bridge today as my last gift to you, and buried you just outside the studio door where you’ll always be in my thoughts, and nearby. Safe journey, my companion. My heart is heavy tonight.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Mar 3 – More Details on the Polo Ponies OIl, 16 x 20

March 3rd, 2010 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

The “Color Punch” begins to show up now! The difference between this stage and the earlier one may be minor in square inches, but it is major in pulling the color design toward the finished state. These few brush marks on the backs of the horses bring out the message of light and value difference (also color temperature difference) that need to happen to make this painting work. There is still much more to do, however seeing these few brush marks may help to show how the Color System works. There is no lighter value than the sunlight on the gray horse. There is no stronger edge (or will be) than the topline near that horse’s tail.

If there is a strong edge elsewhere, it will be compromised by little value change, no temperature change, or act as a subordinate “supporting” edge in the design, and not be as important.

I’ve put a smaller image of the prior stage to show you how much those marks change the dynamics of the design of the painting. Suddenly there is “punch” whereas before it was just a nicely coming along painting.

When we as artists want to control where the viewer’s eye goes, our tools are straight from the design box. Here I’m using value change, edge hardness and temperature difference to force your eye to go to that horse, even thought the rest of the painting may be visually interesting. While I continue to paint from this important step, I will be ever mindful that the gray’s back as my focal point. No edge or contrast will be as strong as that area. Now on to finish this beastie!

There are still spaces in the Florida five-day workshop in May (first week–GORGEOUS time to be in Florida!). Please contact Kathie Camara if you’d like a spot in the Color Boot Camp, where you’ll paint along with me for five fun and full days of learning in Central Florida!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Feb 10 – Demoonstration Painting, the Beginning….HVAA

February 11th, 2010 | Posted in Elin Pendleton


Today I had the pleasure of going back to Hemet and meeting 80 people who had come out to see my demonstration in oils. It was a wonderful afternoon, and everyone seemed to have a good time watching me paint and chatter along about how I do these images. I didn’t quite finish the painting, but did photograph it in stages as I painted it. So here’s the first step. This is a 16 x 20 canvas panel, and comes from source material I took while at the Kentucky Horse Park several years ago. This is the initial drawing of the polo ponies tied and resting beside their trailer, and shows the essential design. The canvas has been toned with a warm “peachy” middle value, and I draw the essential shadow shapes as well, so that the whole design is cohesive and shows the structure. The drawing is done with a brush filled with burnt umber thinned to an ink-like consistency.

The demonstration went well, and I have the wet canvas behind me, and will finish it tomorrow in the quiet of my studio.

Many of you have asked how it is that I do all that I do (in my 60s) and how I can be so positive and caring as I face recent challenges. I offer to you one of the major reasons I am able to live with joy and physical fitness (Believe me when I say I was pudged out and lost 27 pounds doing this!). The more I learn, the more it trains me to handle whatever life throws at me. I’m ending my third year of training now.

Although a true martial art (deadly and effective), it is based upon a philosophy of blending and taking the energy of what comes at you, without “winning” or resisting the attack. Powerful stuff, both on the mat and in my mind.

And now I’m sending this to you before I leave to spend a few days with a close friend in a gorgeously beautiful place, rejuvenating, relaxing and reassessing. Life is very, very good.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Feb 6 – Finished the Acrylic "Dog Walkers"

February 8th, 2010 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

Compare this image with my last posting, and you’ll se some VERY important changes, but those changes might not even be noticeable at first glance. That’s the beauty of the artist’s eye–the subtleties that we are aware of because of our training, years of comparing and contrasting what we want versus what is already on that flat surface. The changes just HAD to be done. I still think this one should have gotten into the Art Show at the Dog Show, but when they are “show” people, perhaps they ahve a different outlook on dogs in general My paintings of the shelter cast offs didn’t receive merit there, however YOUR response to that series made my day. So art shows are one good venue for exposure, but ought not be the end-all-be-all for measuring one’s artistic competence.

I’m going to share with you the source material for the second painting (the acrylic) that’s in the new DVD coming out “Misty Light and Overcast Days” in the Colorful Painting Series. Since this one has acrylic paint on it, too, I have had to drop the “Oil” out of the title! It is a composite (roughly assembled in Photoshop) of a 100% wolf that belongs to an acquaintance. Three images of the same wolf makes for an interesting composition, and you can bet I’ll be adding to and changing it for good “painterly” execution. It’s going to be on a 16 x 20 linen canvas.

On other fronts, I’ve shared with you news of moving, my horses and dogs, and many aspects of my life. So perhaps you would like to know the most recent. Tonight (Saturday evening) I’m home solo yet again, which will be an ever-increasing condition due to my spouse’s declaration of having been and needing to love more than one female. While I have been adjusting to these “discoveries”, I realize I am living in a “murky, complex, bizarre chaos” of an artistic life. There is nothing ordinary about the full life of an artist, and I am coming to realize that many choices I have made will never be “ordinary”. Fraught with the magnitude of this side-swipe to my daily existence, I have positioned myself as an observer/bystander as these events unfold while I weigh my options.

Yes, that’s why I was erratic in posting for the last couple months. Even the death of my mother (April 7-8, 2006, blog) didn’t interrupt my painting. This did. Please withhold your comments as my strength comes from standing on a three-point solid base of focus, commitment and optimism. If I think I can lean on folks, I become unbalanced and off that base of strength. Not good, at least not right now. Know that I’m doing well, and continue to cope as things progress.

I am looking forward with great optimism to the workshop next weekend, the painting demonstration for Hemet next Wednesday, and the upcoming workshops in Georgia and Florida this April/May. And my heart swells with real affection I have for people (like you) who have been there for me for these almost FIVE YEARS!!! My goodness, time flies.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Jan 21 – Starting an Acrylic entered into Art Show at the Dog Show

January 22nd, 2010 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

Even while working on the oil of the backlit Labrador, I also had the easel occupied with this acrylic, destined for jurying for the Art Show at the Dog Show. It is a 12 x 16 board, and the source material was a dog walker spotted outside of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

You can see my source material printed and set to the left of the canvas. The lighting is overcast, so of course the first layin and the majority of colors will come from the “Cool Box” (Color System).

I was utterly fascinated by the seemingly indifference of the dog walker and the rambunctious Lab pup on the left side just SO wanting to get away and “do something”. The white standard poodles, the Golden Retriever, the Catahoula Leopard Dog–yes, there is one in there–and the Newfoundland. My goodness, which category can it be submitted for jurying?

Ah well, I hope you’ll enjoy how it unfolds. I’ll finish up the oil this week as well and post the finished canvas for you.

Still a few spots in the Color Boot Camp in February–and a demo coming up for the Hemet Valley Art Association, too!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Jan 8 – Starting One for the Art Show at the Dog Show

January 9th, 2010 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

I did a demonstration of oil painting for the Canyon Lake Art Association last night, and painted this 16 x 20 oil for their pleasure. I am doing this painting for the Art Show at the Dog Show, and it is a yellow Labrador getting that spring into the water on a retrieve. The source material is from collector Dick’s son, who raises these great dogs. And the body of water is Lake Elsinore, near where I lived for many years.

I’ve prepped the canvas with a base color of what looks like a cool yellow, but is Australian Red Gold–a burnt orange. The lights in the room weren’t conducive for good color, which will play out in the other images coming. Sigh. I had one of the members stop me every ten minutes as I painted it, so there will be some nice progression.

If you look at the design of this drawing, you’ll see that the splashy water and the dog’s head occupy the Golden Mean of this surface. Intentional. The source material wasn’t like this, and I’ve also moved the horizon line down into the canvas to create more distance for the viewer to enjoy. It’s good to be back in oils!

Signups continue for the February three day Color Boot Camp here in Riverside! I’m looking forward to the new “recruits” to the Color System. You can go here for full information.

And on ebay is one of my book/kits for painting horses–Walter Foster had a run of these, and they are now sold out. I’m not selling this one, but find it interesting to see them come up occasionally.

My roots go way back with the CLAA, being a life member, so it was fun to visit with them again. Tomorrow you’ll see what it looks like (and how I think, in the text) after ten minutes of painting.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Dec 30 – Day Off to Recooperate…

December 31st, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

The canvas (12 x 9 acrylic) is covered now with the basic hues that will dominate the finished painting, and I’m stepping back to let it dry so I can continue to lay in the layers of detail to follow. If this were done in oils, I’d continue to proceed, yet handle my brush at a different angle to keep from lifting up the under layer into the new hues and values going on top. With acrylics, that’s not an issue (more non-thinking painting!). This painting is going to hold to the complementary blue/orange grays in the final stages, so no surprises coming there. Where you will find surprises, is in edges, value changes and shapes!

I’m back in California now, over my jet lag, and it is cloudy and cool. Much warmer than New Jersey, but I still have had a fire going for most of the day while sorting out mail, shipping DVD orders and planning my work on the finish of the “Misty, Overcast and Difficult Light Subjects” DVD. Not much more to go, and then the final editing on that one. Good thing I didn’t have “real” deadline for it–I’d never have made it. Deadlines only control those who need them.

The New Year is approaching, and I have several ways I can celebrate it, one of which is to stay centered in my path and gather strength from my friends while staying home by the fire. Or I could go get a tattoo and go out and make a fool of myself in several social situations….Hmmmm, well I am an artist!

Interesting, though… I don’t have any resolutions to make and break, because I am greeting each day with my own honest living, in the choices I make (didn’t gain any pounds over the holiday!), and in where I want to spend my money and time. I value my family and friends over all, and will continue to let them know how important they are–YOU are–to me. Let’s hope for a bright 2010 full of opportunities and good choices. Even if we have to realign our paths, I hope that the new path will be just as exciting.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Dec 27 – Finished the Three Pears

December 28th, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

Here they are, the trio of pears in acrylic finished, 6 x 12 inches. I’ve finished putting the rest of the warms on them and cleaned up and detailed out the stems, background and surfaces.
After seeing the work of Gustav Klimt in the Met, I’m really realizing that loosening up is a good thing, and so the paintings are starting to come across with the strength of energized brushwork instead of tight details. I’m pleased with the new direction.

Available, $295, and scheduled for the Women Artists of the West online show this January, when I get a better photograph of it.

Off and running today–I took the dogs on a long walk along the Saddle River watershed, and came home with visual experiences that are going to come to light in the days ahead. I have already blocked in a new work from today’s visuals, which I’ll share tomorrow. Ah, tomorrow! I pack and fly back to California, coming in late, and will see the sunrise on Tuesday in the hills of Two Trees. Back to the dogs, cats, goats and horses who have been idle and well fed while I’ve been here. Back to routines and yardwork, the big studio and painting with my friends.

This trip has been wonderful, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to revisit the eastern hardwood forests, extended and near family and New York City. I hope I can return someday, and without too much time in between. Nice news is that Sparky and I are flying back first class. Nice!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Dec 26 – The Pears in Acrylics Continued…

December 28th, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

Check out how the color is developing on this 6 x 12 canvas now! I’ve started to add the warms over the underlayment of colors (look at yesterday’s to see the initial layers) and it really is coming along.

By putting layers of more subtle colors UNDER the final layers, the painting develops a depth that is not possible any other way. Each one of the pears is starting to have a character now, and their shapes are interesting and hold the viewer’s eye–even at this early stage. I have found that I don’t need Yellow Ochre, but can mix a decent one from the cool burnt umber and the cadmium yellow–OK, it BREAKS THE RULES. But by careful manipulation, it still remains in the cool family.

So a limited palette can work with my Color System, yet it is not for the faint of heart. One must have a good deal of experience in mixing colors, and have an “eye” for the temperature inherent in the mix before moving out of the System for new expression. My visit to the MET museum really toasted my eyes for this, and I’m more than ready to stretch my wings!

Ah, only two more days here in New Jersey, then I head back to California with Sparky. My eyes are filled with the lovely greys of the winter here, and I’m sure that will enhance my paintings in the future. Today I walked in the rain over to the central part of Ridgewood, Sparky in his rain gear, and me without an umbrella, and took in all the wondrous sights of value and muted colros on this rainy, gray day. I think I may have to travel more!

The February three-day Color Boot Camp is OPEN now! Did you get a Christmas surprise that you’d like to use on that workshop? For a link straight to that page, click HERE.

And in other news, I’m enjoying my visit with my family, and had a wonderful Christmas with a whole bunch of them! Here’s that Vermeer, “A Maid Asleep” that I didn’t know existed before my visit to the MET….

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Dec 24 – Still inside and painting!

December 25th, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

The guidelines from yesterday are driving the values as I push the design further into the darks. I elected to put a strip of dark under the edge to push the pears back from the viewer. Although not a relatively good design choice, I believe that linking the middle shadow to it will create the visual path that we need to “get into” the composition. Let’s see how it develops.

No color yet, just the grays of the ultramarine blue, burnt umber and some thalo green whispered in to create that backdrop. (You can refer back to yesterday’s post to see the source.)

Now later today, family will be emerging from all quadrants of the compass to bring holiday cheer and laughter to my nephew’s here in Northern New Jersey. The snow is still on the ground, but the roads are clear. The tree is surrounded by presents, firewood is laid in, and the food is being prepared as I type this.

Aren’t the shadows and the blues of this scene out the front door just wonderful? In California, we’re dominated by browns, grays and gray-greens. Here it is all about the complementary hues of blue and grayed oranges! More paintings coming from this trip, “you betcha”! Getting my eyeballs filled with snow patterns and shadows!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Dec 22 – The Snow Scene Finished (Acrylic) and the MET

December 23rd, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

What a day… I finished up the 12 x 9 acrylic (shown here) of the snow scene on the dog walk day. It didn’t take too much to bring it to a finished state from yesterday’s phase–just more layers of filmy color and caligraphic lines.

I then went to the most magnificent museum I have ever experienced! The Metropolitan Musuem of Art in New York City rocked my socks off–with hundreds of paintings and sculptures, it was as if I were visiting some very old friends from my art history courses.

First I headed straight for Rosa Bonheur’s “The Horse Fair”, because seeing it in the flesh is an incomparable experience. This painting is huge, and one of the unsung main attractions of the museum in my opinion. And I saw four Vermeers, one I hadn’t known about, several Van Gogh’s, and Monet’s paintings of Rouen cathedral, haystacks and water lilies. I was overwhelmed after three hours, and had to leave… I wonder if I can return before I depart and see more of the other exhibits? I don’t know. I’m just reeling from the visual input.

There were two more exhibits, one on Samurai weaponry, and the second one on American genre paintings, which included several Winslow Homer pieces. I was in Heaven!

I encourage anyone who has time to visit their local museums and see real art “up close and personal”. It can change your life! Here’s a closeup of Monet’s haystack–check out the subtle colors in the entire area, especially the shadows! Wow!

Speaking of that, my workshop schedule is updated with the FOUR new workshops scheduled for 2010. Please check THAT out!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Sep 27 – Finished Girl with Chickens and a New Commission

September 28th, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

The painting is finished, and I’m pleased with it. It tells the story of a friend of mine who recently passed away from cancer, and this was her family’s image. Yet it is all children everywhere interacting with other living things, and the continuity of life from youth to final passing that is a reality for all of us.

I’m getting ready to start the fourth video in the Colorful Oil Painting series, where artists can use good color every time to depict the time of day. This one will feature the soft overcast or misty light and twilight situations, and will have two complete paintings done.

I also have a new commission on my plate, of a lovely Tennessee Walker who has special meaning for her owner. I’ll be starting that one as a lesson for you in the days to come.

And I’m getting the studio cleared up for a life drawing session on the first Tuesdays through my plein air painting group. And that studio will see MORE use in November, as I have only three spots left for immersion into the Color Boot Camp!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My next workshop for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Sep 20 – Continuing the Chicken Girl

September 21st, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

I mentioned that this painting is falling off my brushes, and it certainly seems so tonight. I’ve been working on some of the color notes in the girl’s dress, the three lower chickens and the white bird. I’m especially pleased with how the light is coming through the tail on that one, and included a detail image of that part of the painting so you can see how it is done. Cools, with yellow ochre and then going to the warms where the light actually is on the edges. Fun to do! That Color System makes it easy. Who would have thought to put the ochre there? And yet it works.

I’ve been listening to the Rolling Stones. Somehow soothing to reach into one’s past and listen to the beat of those (now) ancient rockers–connecting a lifeline to survival mode. Painting is an escape, a return to knowledge and certainty for me. “Let me please introduce myself, I’m a man of wealth and taste….”

Too bad there isn’t a horse in this painting, I might think it ought to go to the American Academy of Equine Art show. I’m having so much fun making GOOD paintings lately.

Here’s the detail shot of the unfinished white chicken. You can see how I first put in the larger color notes to hold down the shapes. Of course, the shadowed sides are the Cool Box, and the sunlit edges are from the Warm Box in the Color System! I’ll come back and put in the blends, calligraphic marks, and wrap this painting up in the next few days.

My love for painting is only superseded by my gratitude for my dear and close friends out here in cyberspace. Thanks for coming along on this journey with me–you are very special right now!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Sep 19 – Laying in the Mid Values

September 21st, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

I’ve spent some time laying in the mid-tones on this canvas, and absolutely enjoying the grays I’m making with the Cool Box of the Color System in the shadows and the warm gray-greens in the sunlit areas. I haven’t started any details, except to define and locate the masses of the large shapes. And if course I haven’t painted the focal point!

The upper edge is fogged in with the glare of the sunlight, as this is so very backlit. That creates an interesting ethereal atmosphere, which will be pulled out and developed on the next session. The interesting mid-tones of the chicken nearest the child, with the green lighter midtones is really easy to discern. Controlling the temperatures of the colors I use is ever-so simple with the Color System, and makes painting like this, so easy.

The shadows are an integral part of the design, too, so they are placed without details in their proper areas, too. There are currently no chicken colors in the warm family on any of the birds. Some look warm though, don’t they?

I’ve also taken a close up of the lower left corner of the painting so you can see the large, loose brushwork. It is fun to paint this way, because I don’t have to worry about any details!

This painting is coming off the brushes with an inner strength I had forgotten I had. I’m focusing on the new book, and the next (YES!) DVD on the Color System. I think it is definitely time. The cameras came out today, so I’ll be planning the paintings for “Misty and Challenging Lighting Situations, DVD #4!.

The November workshop is half full already, and I’ll also be contacting the applicants with the information, supplies list, and lodging paperwork this upcoming week.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Sep 17 – The Darks for Value Structure

September 17th, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

Starting this painting is significant for me, because it relives many sweet memories of a time when I didn’t have to worry about feeling loved, because I had the love of my parents when I was this size, and that lifelong love is a sustaining strength now, even though they are both gone.

They say that artists paint what they know, and create from their center–their being–and that it is truly impossible to have a mature artist create a travesty or a sham–it reads clearly and comes through as false work–both weak and uninspiring. To be an artist means we are open and receptive to things around us, and we allow ourselves to be accepting of our environment. However, this sensitivity in creating art comes bundled with a vulnerability that can be assaulted and abused. This painting comes to you, unfolding as I am with the emotions of my life, raw and revealing as the canvas on which it is painted. As one of you commented, “Elin, you are writing and painting from the bone.”

On the technical side, I am putting in the darks first to shape the design of values–just a rough mark-in to pull together the knowledge of good design into the work. I haven’t placed the midtones yet, however, this painting will have the “small light, large dark in midtones” theme as it progresses. Of course the rim light around the girl and her chicken will be the lightest lights, and enhance the focal point which will be developed later.

The November workshop is filling with folks interested in three and a half days of “yellin’ by Elin” here in Riverside. Sorry about the link only taking you to past workshops yesterday. Here is the correct link for the two workshops this fall:

http://www.elinart.com/pages/wkshpriv.html

Hope you’ll join me for a COLOR BOOT CAMP!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Aug 28 – My Dad, Almost Finished

August 28th, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

It is about 90 percent finished at this stage; now I’m working on the likeness. I don’t have it yet, and have to work on face and arms more. Just like my relationship with my father, I find myself striving harder than I normally would to depict the essence of who he was, on a level I know he would expect. That’s the tough part. Rising to the level of expectation.
Another day’s work, perhaps.

The summer dry heat’s on out here now. Over 108 today and record 110 degrees tomorrow. I stay deep in the studio where it is cool during the day, and make sure all the critters that are outside have plenty of clean, fresh water. It was too hot for the goldfish in one water tub–they just got too much sun. I moved it to the shade and populated it back up with mosquito fish.
Last night I slept outside in the trees in my Hennessy Hammock, with only a sheet. It never cooled down enough to need more. There was a nice light breeze though. The hammock is the same one I used while in Florida, out in the pasture–great sleeping, anywhere!

Making compost, having hay delivered and stacked, working with the horses–the days are full. I’m also busy responding to the many kind emails from people who have found hope in my posting my husband’s success with his protocols for cancer. I’m honored to have made a small difference in peoples’ lives, whom I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting. What astonishes me most is that this information isn’t available to everyone, and so few people know about Dr. Budwig’s research, and how supplements and diet completely affect our health.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Aug 27 -Begin Details of my Dad’s Portrait – and the Response to Healing Cancer

August 27th, 2009 | Posted in Elin Pendleton

Now that the basic values and hues are in place, it is time to cover the canvas and start to pull in some of the details. The long, narrow canvas was intentional, as I wanted to show his long life symbolically, and his position on the far right, looking across that space, is a reminder of the life well lived, and retrospectively enjoyed. When the source material was taken for this image, he had not been diagnosed yet with melanoma, but he had undergone many surgeries to remove skin cancers. His mouth and nose are a bit deformed, and I’m working how I’m going to convey his “selfness” without detailing out too much of that. It will come.

I’ve been overwhelmed with kind responses to my posting the protocols and my husband’s success with it. Yes, it was hard to go raw (but salads are raw, Elin!). I have been able to make some really good recipes and, like anything, it is a conditioned response–what we’re used to. And what is it worth? That steak and fries, or preventing/healing cancer? No-brainer for me. The biggest difference is how one feels using the flax oil/cottage cheese mixture. I had this kind response to yesterday’s email from one person who is fighting her second bout with cancer:

I gave my body a kick start last night. When I got home I put about a cup of CC and mixed it with some of my super reds powder (high anti-oxidant and good for flavor too) and emptied 6 capsules of flax seed oil and stirred it until it was thoroughly incorporated. This is all until I can buy that flax seed oil today after work and a smoothie machine/stirrer or whatever it is you use to make ‘em. Anyway I ate that and you know what, those mild puffy feeling sort of cramps I had yesterday are gone. I feel completely normal like before all this ever happened to me. That never happened before or that quickly. I have been using the herbs like Esiak which is supposed to be the gold standard for cancer, but it never made me feel this good so fast. Can’t wait to get the book. I saw they already shipped it yesterday.

(She ordered Bill’s book, Cancer Free.) When I can know that my knowledge helps people make choices, like hers, I am rewarded beyond belief and feel the overwhelming response that my time here on Earth has meaning. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your lives.

I’m opening up the workshops for fall for registration. Just a few more tweaks on the pages. There will be two–one in October, and if you can’t get in that one, there will be a SECOND Color Boot Camp in November. No snow here, and I already have a list of emails to send out to let people know the workshops are open. If you’d like to be sent that email, just let me know.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is not yet updated.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2009 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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