Crocker BNSA Auction

Image | May 24, 2019May 24, 2019 | Marlene Lee

Last night was the Crocker Museum Auction of Big Names Small Art (BNSA). Primarily of small arts to be auctioned off. 100% goes to the Crocker for art education and exhibits. I donated one of my favorite paintings of four years ago. After being exhibited in various places, it finally found a home at this auction. Thanks to another artist, Dawn Pederson who kept tabs on my painting, the last bid known was at $325.

This painting was painted four years ago. I painted this after taking a workshop with David Shelvino. Here’s blog post that explains how I painted this.

Charly and Jinga

Image | May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 | Marlene Lee

Just finished up two dog portraits in oils for one client.

Begins with many photos provided by the client. I choose one photo, make a pencil sketch, then an underpainting to establish values and the painting. Each step I show the client.

These paintings are small 8 x 6 inches and done on stretched canvas for easy hanging.

Charly 8x6 oil 0519 — “Charly” oil on stretched canvas, 6 x 8 x 3/4 inches by Marlene Lee

Photo reference of Charly

Charly pencil sketch

Underpainting of Charly

Jinga 8x6 oil 0519 — “Jinja” oil on stretched canvas, 6 x 8 x 3/4 inches by Marlene Lee

Photo reference for Jinga

Pencil sketch of Jinga

Underpainting of Jinga

Craig Nelson Workshop

Image | May 4, 2019May 4, 2019 | Marlene Lee

I took Craig Nelson Speed Studies Workshop in April at Patris‘ Studio in Sacramento. It was a three day workshop. The first days were devoted to the figure. But the last day he demonstrated landscaping painting.

I have to say that though I’m more into the figure/portrait painting, I enjoyed the landscaping painting more. His demonstration was lively and there was a playfulness to his approach to painting the landscape. I have been drawn back to landscaping painting.

Craig often paints from photos. He usually enlarges his photos about 11 x 14.

Using a bristle brush about 1/2 inch wide, he lays in the midtones. The brush is nothing fancy; purchased at a hardware store.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to capture the very beginning before he laid in the colors. But here he worked in the midground before working on the waves.

With just a few strokes the waves came alive. His style is impressionistic so the waves are not rendered very detailed but yet there’s the sense of waves crashing onto the beach.

Almost finished painting. Craig would work on it a bit and then helped students. Then he’ll return to add a bit more.

The photo

Close up of the background.

Close up of the trees

Close up of the area before the water.

Close up

Close up of the waves.

More close up of the waves.

Craig’s palette. Note the hardware brush on the right.

“Lexi” Dog Portrait

Image | April 22, 2019April 22, 2019 | Marlene Lee

This is Lexi, the dog who would not stand still for a photo. In this painting I worked more on soften the edges to give it a more softer look. The background is different from how I treated other dog portraits. I wanted a more neutral color so that Lexi would stand out.

Lexi 10x10 oil 041919.jpg — “Lexi” 10 x 10 x 3/4 inches oil on canvas by Marlene Lee

Miss Marple and Friends

Image | April 6, 2019April 6, 2019 | Marlene Lee

Another commission done! This time with three dogs on one canvas. All three dogs are close friends named Blue, Ballou and in the middle is Miss Marple. Miss Marple is the oldest and at 16 passed away. Instead of just painting their portraits as I did with the others, I wanted to include their whole body especially their toes. Their touching toes showed how close they were.

OliverThreeDog_9x12_oil_040519 — Miss Marple and Friends, 9 x 12 x 3/4 inches, oil on stretched canvas

Stages: Pencil sketch, then block-in in oil on canvas and the open grisalle before the actual painting.

20190321_180105 — Open grisalle underpainting

Five Dogs Portraits Done!!!

Image | March 21, 2019March 17, 2019 | Marlene Lee

Just finished commissions from one client. All except one is 6 x 6 inches on stretched cotton canvas. I had been doing preliminaries drawings before going onto canvases. Then on canvas I did a grisalle with transparent red oxide for values. I found by doing these preliminary drawings and grisalles, it helps with the painting process.

Interested in a commission done for your pet click to go to my Etsy shop.

Walt, 6 x 6 x 3/4 inch oil by Marlene Lee

Walt sketch

Roy, 6 x 6 x 3/4 inch oil by Marlene Lee

Roy sketch

Roy

Pippa, 8 x 8 x 3/4 inch oil by Marlene Lee

Pippa sketch

Pippa

Murphy, 6 x 6 x 3/4 inch oil by Marlene Lee

Murphy

Freckles, 6 x 6 x 3/4 inch oil by Marlene Lee

Freckles sketch

Freckles

Emil

Image | March 16, 2019March 19, 2019 | Marlene Lee

I just finished a watercolor portrait for an internet friend in Finland. The original painting is up for sale in my Etsy shop.

Emil 2019 — “Emil” 10 x 7 inch watercolor on cold pressed watercolor paper #140 by Marlene Lee

Oliver Sin’s Workshop, Day 2

Image | March 11, 2019March 11, 2019 | Marlene Lee

In Day 2, Oliver demonstrated with a charcoal pencil.

Oliver is using the side of his charcoal pencil 2B.

Darker values with charcoal pencil, 4B or 6B.

10 minutes poses.

10 minutes demo on Strathmore paper

Block-in beginning with a charcoal pencil 2B. Paper is Strathmore Drawing 18 x 24 inches.

To create the texture of the beard Oliver draws with squiggly lines.

Oliver shows some of charcoal pencils on toned paper.

In the afternoon we worked on toned paper. But first we did some 10 minutes warm-ups on Strathmore drawing paper. The toned paper we use Canson Tientes. Oliver suggested used the smooth side for women and children’s portraits. The textured size best for men.