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Thursday, July 28, 2016

Golden Secrets of Painting

I don't know about you, but I love seeing how things are made, especially paintings and especially paintings with a lot of things going on in them.

I just finished this multi-figured golden beach scene which was designed initially as a 'companion' painting  for a client who originally commissioned me to create a fairground "Golden Days" painting for their first child's nursery in Washington. See below. That was not a fast painting.

This painting, "Endless Summer" 30x24", was done mostly from my imagination with the theme of childhood in my head.  I live near the ocean so it is close to my heart. I have long been a fan of Edward Potthast's charming paintings of happy summer beach scenes so there is also a heavy nod to him in this painting too. Thank you Mr. Potthast.

My color harmony was limited to different hues of blue and orange to match the carousel painting. At times I got blocked, wondering if it is was going to work,  but because I knew I had a strong start, I kept telling my imagination to just proceed. The start took me five days to work out the S curve composition and how all the figures would be arranged in spade. The gold lay-in wash created sunshine without really having to try too hard later.

My application was mostly via palette knife apart from the washes which are impossible to do with a knife.

Can't wait to start another one!

Would love to hear your thoughts.

For more of my figurative work please go to my main website:
www.johannaspinks.com

Available paintings are here:
http://www.johannaspinks.com/#!figurative/c21w9


Endless Summer By Johanna Spinks
24x30" via palette knife
www.johannaspinks.com

The start...this part of the painting took me a long time to work out. S curve composition of umbrellas .

A good start? Maybe I have a painting that will work.

Slowly moving outward toward all the umbrellas and the figures near them or underneath.

Almost there. The final water and sky were painted in a single fast session as with the pier and beach huts.


"Golden Days" by Johanna Spinks
24x30"





Wednesday, July 13, 2016

New Prime Minister Theresa May

Iron Lady The Second?

 I sketched this block-in  for a portrait of Theresa May, Britain's new prime minister as of today!

I wanted to capture the emotion of the day and the big task ahead taking Britain forward from "Brexit".

 A big job ahead of her - and me. Good luck new Prime Minister May.

Come back to see the portrait done.

Prime Minister Theresa May
"The First Day"
by Johanna Spinks
www.johannaspinks.com


This portrait follows one I did last week.

"Brexit - Last Day- David Cameron"
By Johanna Spinks

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Cheers! My Perfect Commission

Anyone who knows me,  knows I love wine.
Rose in the summer
White anytime
Red in the winter or next to a good steak.


The perfect commission landed in my lap earlier this year, creating five wine labels for The Stonehaus in Westlake Village, California.
The company, who sells its' private label wine all over the world,  specifically wished for my pen and ink/watercolor sketchbook style. A match made in heaven. Can't wait to taste the wine. Thanks to Maria Solorzano too.


www.johannaspinks.com

http://the-stonehaus.com

Friday, July 8, 2016

Life's A Beach - Work in Progress

I love seeing how things are made...so I thought I would share with you a painting I am working on, 24x20" via palette knife. Untitled as yet.

www.johannaspinks.com

Monday, July 4, 2016

Happy Fourth - As American As Apple Pie?

As American as apple pie? Maybe not quite. I still like a cuppa at mid-afternoon. But super proud to have become an American citizen December 20th 2002 at mid-day. I never take this life privilege for granted.

 HAPPY FOURTH of JULY AMERICA!

"Apple Pies" by Johanna Spinks.

www.johannaspinks.com