Posted in painting

Finished by Friday – a Farewell

Posted on by Laura Kate

Taking a break from packing boxes this week, I decided to attend Open Studio at my local art association for a class conducted by mentor Cheryl Bryan. This will be my last class with Cheryl before I move away. She sent us this sketch…..

……and told us we would practice painting with only two colors. We were to choose two that, when mixed together, created a neutral black.

I chose to make my own sketch instead of tracing Cheryl’s. I followed her general design but simplified the line work in the lower left area. My chosen pigments were Winsor and Newton’s Ultramarine blue and transparent orange. This is one of my favorites for a good black, as I discovered when painting Winter Chicks in 2023.

The following morning, I cleaned up my edges, adjusted a few values and added tiny and minimal details using Micron pens and a soluble graphite pencil.

This was a fun, easy class that produced a highly-stylized result. I loved every minute. I call this one Dancing with a Seagull. It is 9 by 6 inches on cold press Arches paper

I will sorely miss these Open Studio sessions, the people at the association and especially instructor Cheryl Bryan. It will be hard to find another group like it in my new home. I’ll check in with Cheryl periodically, in the spirit of Apprenticeship.

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One of six children, I was raised by a busy mom, who instilled in me a love of fabric. Though I learned to sew and knit at a young age, it was the arrival of my first grandchild that pushed me into action. A long-time knitter, I am now ready to explore all things fiber.

14 thoughts on “Finished by Friday – a Farewell”

  1. The stylized wave makes me think of “The Great Wave” – but the seagull makes me think of the ocean liner posters from the early 1900s. Both make fantastic graphics, and yours is really well done!

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  2. I think this painting is just so fun and I particularly love how you “did” the wave! I bet you will find a community that will feel comfortable, but I like your idea of checking in with the one you are leaving! The internet makes it easy to stay connected over long distances!

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  4. Where are you moving to? Would be awesome if it was in Wisconsin somewhere…ha! I want to start attending local art association nights and gallery openings. I’ve sat too silent too long, and really want to experience the world of art a little more one-on-one.

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    1. I wish I were moving closer to you. Ultimately, we chose Dubuque , IA. It is 90 miles from Madison, but probably another 40-50 to your house. Maybe we can meet at the September Fiber Fest in Verona?

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