Oil Painters of America

It's that time of the year again, waiting to hear if one has got into The Oil Painters's of America National Show which attracts thousands of entries from super talented artists.  The results will be out this week.

This is my entry this year. A portrait of a local artist who walked into my studio one day wearing this unique headpiece she had created in neon pink,  including the Georgia O'keefe-esque skull which caught my eye. As a portrait artist, I live for moments like this. I knew right away I had to paint her.

I hope you like. I also hope I get into the show otherwise you might need  to swing by my studio to mop my tears.

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, what a week it was out of the studio on a trip to the East Coast. HOPE YOU ENJOY AS MUCH AS I DID.

 The opening of my mentor's show "Pulps To Portraits' By Everett Raymond Kinstler. N.A. at The Norman Rockwell Museum. WOW!!! Go! here

 Study this man! Buy his books. I am so grateful for Mr. K's teachings. clickhere

 A quiet private moment in the studio of Norman Rockwell. Thank you to the staff for opening it up for us.

Going for gold at The Boston Museum of Fine Art. John Singer Sargent

Playing Footsie With William Merrit Chase

 Don't touch the painting!

 Hands down, the best hands I have seen

Leaving On a Jet Plane

Packing tonight for early flight for this great man's show, Everett Raymond Kinstler, N. A., "Pulps To Portraits"at The Norman Rockwell Museum.

 hclick here


I have been given a huge gift from this man, my mentor. He changed my life and my art thinking.  Mr. Kinstler helped me be the artist I am now. Not that I don't have a LONG way to go.

I am hugely in his debt, like so many other artists he has inspired, and hugely excited to be at this opening night. Stay posted!!!

How To Paint A Still Life?

How to paint a still life? Well, don't ask me. But this was my demo yesterday at my First Friday Studio Atelier Day.  If you want real specifics of 'how', pick up the phone or post here.

Come paint with me this September (12th through 16th)  at my Malibu Wine Country Workshop. Watch this space for details.

"Summer Glow"
Oil on Linen Panel
9" x 12"

$500.00 incl. shipping

How to paint a still life? Well, don't ask me. But this was my demo yesterday at my First Friday Studio Atelier Day.  A most enjoyable day including lunch.

Come paint with me this September (12th through 16th)  at my Malibu Wine Country Workshop. Watch this space for details.

How To Paint Features?

How to paint features? Just paint them well, that's all I can say. Let's face it, a crooked nose out of place, a mouth slightly askew, eyes too close together, will not score you points. Someone WILL notice and you will, well, lose face! Don't pay lip service to anyone who tells you anything different!

My class demo this week at The California Art Institute in Westlake Village, CA.  http://www.calartinst.com/ Join me there Wednesday mornings.

Join me at The Los Angeles Figurative Academy of Art http://www.laafa.org/  this spring/summer semester Friday mornings, starting April 20th. This school was just voted among the TOP TEN atelier schools in the USA.

Join me for my once a month day-long painting atelier,  "Oil Painting- A Valued Approach" in the beautiful Malibu wine country. The day includes lunch and wine tasting. Email me for details. johanna@johannaspinks.com

Join me at The Vita Art Centre in Ventura, July 12 thru 14th for a painting workshop.

How to Paint Fabric

"Lazy Saturday"

9"x11"

oil on linen board

$500.00 incl. shipping

This is hot off the easel this week of the lovely Zhanna, a favorite model of mine.

I like  how the fabric turned out. I painted it fast and furious.  I bought this slip for a small fortune knowing I would paint it a lot. It is rather gorgeous I think and begs to be painted more.

A challenge to paint though. I had planned to paint it so much more sheer. But sometimes you just have to lay aside plans, get a big brush out and 'feel it', always remembering to turn the "form". I pushed the values in the dress darker than they appeared and made the most of the fabric "flow" remembering to carve out the body underneath with some dark, crisp notes.  Once I had something I liked, I left well alone.

So basically I have no idea how to paint fabric at all. 

Maybe you do? 

A Tale of Two Cities..Two Mayoral Portraits

Ms. Cheryl Heitmann, Deputy Mayor of Ventura, as featured in The Ventura Breeze http://www.venturabreeze.com/, Thanks to publisher Sheldon Brown.

Painting a portrait of a  British Mayor this week and so enjoying it.

Gosh, it's been busy this week. So much to catch up on.

A portrait delivered to a lovely client who I so enjoyed working with from Northern CA.  Another 'Face of Ventura' sitter, or maybe two or three including the charming deputy mayor Ms. Cheryl Heitmann; classes to teach at The California Art Institute and a Spring/Summer semester to plan for at the gracious invite of  The Los Angeles Academy of  Figurative Art,  just voted by American Artist Magazine as one of THE TOP TEN TEACHING SCHOOLS IN AMERICA;  new newspaper editors to meet; new portrait projects to plan for; fresh travel for rather exciting portrait events all around. See tomorrow's post for that!

English bacon butter sandwiches are helping me through this WHIZZ but not my waist line. Oh, well, who cares. This is not the first time I have relied on fried hog. Sorry to all the veggies out there.

Enjoying painting my current portrait of an English mayor. 50" x 40"-ish.  All that red robe gorgeous stuff, fluffy fur, and ancient gold ceremonial necklaces, not to mention the most amazing face. Who can complain? I was charmed by this lovely mayoral lady last September at a lunch in prep. for this portrait. No hog.

Looking forward to attending the ever so elegant National Trust For Scotland Event  Gala April in New York City at The Metropolitan Club where I will have a portrait up for grabs, so to speak.  More to follow on that. This is always such a lovely rewarding evening. 

 MOST excitedly of ALL, I am told my 'Face of Ventura' project will get its'  museum debut at The Ventura County Museum of Art thanks to my dear friends at Food Share http://www.foodshare.com/ late August this year. More on this to follow....

FOOD SHARE feeds 74,000 hungry people  each month in Ventura County. People all over the world visit this blog. Find your local food bank,   DONATE!!!! VOLUNTEER!!!

A Portrait Commission Signed Sealed And Delivered this week

Ms. Kat Merrick,  super cool lady and Founder of TLVC, and a Face of Ventura

  A Face of Ventura sitter not published yet...identity kept secret. ha ha

A Face of Ventura Sitter Not Published Yet

Lovely portrait sitter...portrait accepted.

Painting the fascinating deputy mayor  Ms. Cheryl  Heitmann