KISS AND TELL... BY JOHANNA SPINKS, A PORTRAIT PAINTER'S DIARY.

Dewy-ness or Mess?

2012-01-29T11:14:00.000-08:00

I have always like the challenge of painting golden skin tones. So much more color to be seen. Pinks , mauves, oranges and yellows. Great chance to use yellow and purple color harmony. However, all that color can also turn into a hot mess.

This was my class demo at The California Art Institute this week. Those of you that know me, know I paint fast. A demo can be finished in an hour if necessary and look somewhat complete, albeit rushed. I decided to really slow myself down on this sitting, to try to go for subtlety in that skin. My sitter from Jamaica, really beautiful, had a certain dewiness. I wanted to capture that 'ness' not 'mess'.

I think students were surprised to see how little I had done at the end of the session. I hadn't even got to the hair, yet alone the ravishing peacoack fan behind her head...I am working on giving myself the gift of time.

Another sitting next week...come back!

Figure Painting...For All It's Worth...

2012-01-26T14:18:00.000-08:00

"Repose", 9x 12, oil on linen

Been busy in the studio recently so here is a quickie. A three hour figure study. I was hoping for a second sitting but alas..

The life painting time is never wasted. A model before you is always a training session for the drawing/painting eye. I think the human form the biggest challenge of all to paint. I also much prefer,when a model/sitter is on front of me, to paint a portrait of them, rather than full figure. It just interests me more.

However, one must always paint it all trying to improve the BIG FOUR. Drawing/composition, values, color, edges.

Please go out and purchase the wonderful figure drawing book by old master draughtsman Andrew Loomis "Figure Painting For All It's Worth". He knew an awful lot more than most around today. His books remain among my favorites.

Going For Gold

2012-01-14T09:40:00.000-08:00

Going for Gold: on easel, almost finished, oil on linen, 9x12, $500

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The lovely and ever so gracious Ms. Barbara Meister, this week's Face of Ventura sitter.

Read her amazing life story in The Ventura Breeze, online, here

The joy of portrait painting, making new friends!

Gold shoes set up.

Vintage Lace: oil on linen, 9x12, $500.00.

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A busy week in the studio. There was a portrait commission to really enjoy, gold shoes to paint, a new Face of Ventura in the press, and a model in a vintage black lace dress that just needed my attention - oh yes, and two FULL teaching days to contend with.

What do all these have in common? Nothing, except the enjoyment of painting it ALL from life, from portraits to gold shoes and black lace. My mentor Mr. Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A., who I remain eternally grateful for, has always advised his students to paint everything. Not just portraits.

So gold shoes from my closet, a black lace dress I wore in 1984 to a nightclub (custom made for me and out of mothballs), a sitter, the delightful Ms. Barbara Meister ( a new friend), and a lovely lady by Koi pond, on commission, all demand my studio art eye this week.

I feel blessed. How about you?

STOP The Presses... How to talk about your art...

2012-01-10T22:20:00.000-08:00

Interviews, be it in the newspaper, on radio or TV, always make me a bit HYPER, especially if they are live. Pre-recorded is a wonderful safety net. Pubic art demos too get me a little fired up ahead of time.

This week's interview for KADY TV's "OurVentura.com" with interviewer Annie-Gabriel, pictured, was a delight. I love it when interviewers do their research ahead of time and guide you well through the mine-field of live recording. Annie-Gabriel was very upbeat, colorful, welcoming and smiling, and had done her homework with a pre-interview over the phone with me. Her timing through the 15 minutes of uninterrupted air-time was as calm as a cucumber. How did she do that? I couldn't. I was impressed.

The jitters come in because who wants to have a verbal boo-boo? Not me. And you really don't know how it is going to go until that red-light is blaring at you, blinking like a cad. red beacon, almost saying "will she, won't she?..."

Will you be 'on'? Will there be a silent pause? Will you fluff your lines? Have a coughing fit? Embarrass anyone, including yourself? The charming show producer gave me a peppy prep. talk minutes before the interview mentioning something about the timing of things. I just took a deep breath and said to myself, just talk about what you know. That is the very best plan, seems to me.

So here are the few things I have learned so far...but when the"60 Minutes' TV show comes knocking I may need to reconsider:

*Have bullet points prepared. Five things you want to tell people about you and your art.

*Re-read your resume, artist statement, awards, in a clear state of mind shortly before.

*Have a sentence or two prepared for the very beginning of interview.

*No mumbling. Talk very loudly to yourself about an hour before, especially driving on the freeway. Who cares who is watching.

*Remember important names. Your own - and the interviewer - especially. Have a cheat sheet tucked away with those names on them.

*Eat a light, bean-free, meal ahead of time. No grumbling stomach.

*Plan a bathroom break just before hitting the microphone. Live air time is very expensive and it stops for no-one including a bladder break.

*Carry make-up powder, male or female. Shiny foreheads and cheeks make you look nervous.

* Remember to thank the magical people who got you to this point on the journey

* Remember to sell YOUR enthusiasm for art: inspire people who might be on the edge to pick up the brush!

Juicy Brushstrokes...

2012-01-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

Ma Lo, 9 x 12, oil on linen, email me for purchase

Studio Diary

January 4th.

Busy day in the studio today. Get to start a new commission of a lady by a Koi pond although I have been sketching it up in my head for a while - and a TV interview in the afternoon, all of which I am look forward to.

Here is a sketch I did from life last night of Ma Lo, who I call the most beautiful woman in the world. I love juicy brushwork. The hardest thing is to put a brush stroke down that you kinda know is good and leave it alone. People say I am a fast painter. I think I paint fast because the more I work at something, painting from life, the more I seem to ruin it. I like to get in and out fast. A spontaneous look. Use the brush loaded with paint and carve out the forms, hoping to get the right color-value correct. That's the plan at least.

However, painters like Jeremy Lipking, who I was painting with last night, seem to be absolutely genius, at getting the slower, more considered finish, just right.

What do you think?

RESOLUTIONS - How to paint a multiple figure composition

2012-01-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

A New Year. New Resolutions? What's yours? I don't have one. Here's why.

I will be forever reminded each January 2nd of the biggest resolution I ever took on in my art life, to draw every day of the year through 2010 ('365 Days of Drawing by Johanna Spinks') and post publicly about it all. I pulled it off without missing a single day but wouldn't want to do it ever again despite some glorious moments. A show, a book and a piece in American Artist Magazine. I am still receiving emails about this challenge BTW.

In Jan. 2011 I took on a slightly less ambitious project but a huge commitment, nevertheless, to paint 55 people from life, in a single sitting, representing the old mission town of Ventura, CA, USA, all recorded by the town's newspaper and local radio station, adding to the studio pressure somewhat. The job must be done in a timely fashion with a pretty good likeness at that, so the town can actually recognize it's well-known folks and I don't fall flat as day-old New Year champagne.

So as we all start afresh, taking on new projects, I am reminded and stimulated by a project of Christmas just passed, which I plan on doing more of this year in my studio, the multiple figure painting.

I post an enjoyable project I did toward year's end for a client on an Holiday deadline involving a multiple figure request for a painting around a carnival scene featuring the client's young nieces and nephews to be placed in little vignettes. I was given a completely bare canvas, around concept and execution. The only restrictions really being specifics of age, height and hair color of the children. I hope you find it useful to see how I approached quite a complicated painting in terms of situating the children nicely around good concept, value design, perspective and overall color.

I researched images and ideas for many hours, and sketched a ton, before finally settling on my plan which was then executed fairly smoothly. A rewarding journey I hope for both myself and the client. I was a little sad actually to see this painting ship out.

SCROLL DOWN to see the beginning.

The finished painting, shipped, and approved. A great feeling.

You can see here how much I use my original sketches to the end and inspirational board of master paintings and color swatches of light. I also visit a fairground carousel and take notes. This was really helpful.

More fine-tuning. I want to get left side of the painting full-realized before moving on as I feel the carousel is the most important part of the scene. I am holding on to the warm ground in many parts of the painting, little specs showing through at the finish. Try not to re-work too much, otherwise this effect will be lost.

Slowly start to build up color using the little girl on the lower left as my anchor for the rest of the figures and a color harmony of blue and orange, warms and cools.

The painting, 24 x 32, starts with a very warm ground for the planned night-time scene. I start out with a loose charcoal drawing on the linen canvas, then use burnt umber going over charcoal lines.

A second sketch is made for the client, really nailing down how the enlarged fairground scene is going to look, reducing the figures and making much more of the fairground. The children remain in their original vignettes. I feel it was worth taking the time on this and am very happy with the direction.

An rough oil sketch is made for the client to see, 16 x 20, drawing freehand from the cleaned up acetate. The client prefers the children smaller in the scene. Back to the drawing board, using what I have in this sketch and fine-tuning more.

I clean up my somewhat lively pen and ink enlarged sketch with an acetate sheet so I can see where I am going. I was going to grid up the original 8 x 10 drawing in my sketchbook, but decided not to in the end preferring the spontaneity of the original drawing, lost to my mind, when you grid up.

A few freehand drawings, from my research, in my sketchbook lead me to this concept. I studied as many master paintings of fairgrounds and carnivals that I could get my hands on. I make notes on the drawing about the children's ages, names and height. This is important.

PARTY HAT TIME. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

2011-12-31T14:42:00.000-08:00

Available for purchase. Email johanna@johannaspinks.com

pastel and water wash, 16 x 24"

My first one-handed drawing (yes, I broke my wrist, frustrating for an artist!) and my last drawing of 2011 on the last day of the year. Feels good to get back in the saddle.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!

Girl With A Mandarin Collar...

2011-12-24T09:12:00.000-08:00

My Class demo at The California Art Institute.

FACE OF Ventura By Johanna Spinks - HALFWAY SHOW

2011-12-07T19:42:00.000-08:00

Johanna Spinks from Peter Godinez -Xerox Ambassador on Vimeo.

Draw Today, Draw Tomorrow

2011-12-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

Last night's drawing: Gazella, Pastel, 16 x 20

THE FUNDAMENTALS!

2011-12-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

The Studio Companion IS Getting His Drawing Time In

Thanks to The Ventura County Reporter for this great piece on the school where I teach The California Art Institute - and for putting me in the same sentence as Morgan Weistling!...That is always a good thing.

clickhere

How To Hang An Art Show Easily...What Was I Thinking?

2011-11-30T21:23:00.001-08:00

Any personal art show puts me in a state of unease. This one, is for my Face of Ventura Halfway Celebration, was relatively easy.

You ask why, dear blog reader, from all over the world? NO need to comment.

*No framing. BLISS!!! I planned it that way at the start of this project very deliberately. Gallery wrap mount canvas all the way. Exactly the same size, 16"x16". Same warm colored co-hesive ground.

* No picture selection. BLISS!!!

Obviously ALL of the 27 sitters painted so far in my FACE of VENTURA PROJECT, have to hang. Well, you know what I mean. 28 more to paint. Some are good, some are fair, some are not. That is what you get from life-painting, and a real sitter at that, not a model. Can't be an art winner every time.

* Experienced engineer there to measure precisely and punch nails. Guess wot, he is ONE of the FACES. Mr. Jerry English. I planned it that way. Err, not. Happy accident.

* Ever so gracious host, willing to repaint walls, and make everything VERY comfortable, The Ventura Executive Suites! clickhere

Chocolate thrown into the mix.

You get the picture. Cute blog post - so be there! It is the least you can do.

Draw Today, Draw Tomorrow

2011-11-20T09:01:00.000-08:00

Pastel sketch, 12" x 12"

My 365 Days of Drawing Challenge 2010 featured in American Artist Magazine, August 2011

I get twitchy when I don't spend time on my drawing - no matter what is going on in the studio and in my regular life.

My 365 Days of Drawing challenge to myself last year, recently featured in American Artist Magazine, has left me with this twitchy condition, a huge plus. I know if I don't work on my improved drawing skill set hard-earned in 2010 it will soon disappear.

If you played the piano and didn't show up for a few days to do your scales, you would feel rusty. I don't like feeling rusty.

So here's is last night's effort. Actually, a two-sitting drawing. Pastel

CONSIDER YOURSELF INVITED!

2011-11-13T18:07:00.001-08:00

Cease and Assist The Greats..?

2011-11-12T09:12:00.001-08:00

My sketch yesterday from life, two hours

Sketch from a year ago, done from photos I took

Sketchbook sketch from life

Block-in for painted sketch

Chelsea has the type of face I love to paint. Not to mention being a super person. I hadn't seen her for a year since my stint at "Weekend With The Masters" assisting the inimitable master painter Morgan Weistling. http://www.morganweistling.com/

It was fun to re-visit with her when she arrived at the studio of another inimitable master, Jeremy Lipking, http://www.lipking.com/, to model for his packed three-day workshops. Lucky for me, I was also assisting Lipking on this day. I find Lipking to be in a painting world class all of his own. That is why I choose to assist him.

Someone close to me asked me the other day:"Why are you assisting another artist? Aren't you too far along with your own art career to be 'seen' doing that?"

Well, quite frankly, no. Being around brilliance often makes one raise one's own art game. There is no fudging this level of mastery however you try to sugar-coat it. Also, the greats I have been lucky enough to be around, work very hard I have noticed, on top of their natural born gifts. They are also incredibly generous in spirit too to an artist like myself wanting to get to the next level.

So between my assisting duties (and of course watching Lipking's magnificent ethereal morning demo) I squeezed in a two hour sketch of my own yesterday afternoon. Top image. I also post one I did of Chelsea, a year ago, from photos I took, after the Masters weekend. Also, a drawing I did of Chelsea from life quietly in my sketchbook while assisting Weistling.

It is interesting for me to see the difference. A year is a long time in an artist's life. The darks in my old sketch are now too heavy for my liking.

For details on Lipking workshop schedule and his regular Tuesday night class go here: http://www.lipking.com/

For details on Morgan Weistling 'everything' go here: www.morganweistling.com/

For details on Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A., (I don't paint anything without thinking of this great man every day) go here: http://www.everettraymondkinstler.com/

Wham Bam! One hour demo at CAI

2011-11-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

A busy teaching semester at The California Art Institute. Some new students in my Wednesday class along with old. Painting the figure from life, still life and landscape.

Yes, we do it all in this class! My Valued Approach (five value system) easily applies to all aspects of painting.

Decided to show new students how the form principle applies just as easily to an apple as a face.

The demo had to be quick as there was a lot to teach working on each student's canvas too.

Total painting time ONE HOUR on this demo.

Yes, not perfect. But the teaching message there.

To Catch A Chief...Face of Ventura Project

2011-11-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

This has to be one of my favorite, and most interesting, sitters so far in my 'Face of Ventura'project...Chief Ken Corney of The Ventura Police Department. Now there is a guy with a high-pressure job. BTW, every sitter has been SUPER!

I can't give you any more details of my sitting with the Chief as I might get arrested. Chief Corney was certainly very arresting, full of wit and warmth, great stimulating conversation, and a clear passion for what he does.

THANK YOU CHIEF CORNEY!!!

And thank you to all the supporters of this project so far. WOW! But especially Sheldon Brown of The Ventura Breeze featuring the series.

How to paint clerical robes...what was I thinking?

2011-10-29T08:42:00.001-07:00

On the radio today. Catch me at noon west coast time on The Lyn Fairly and Friends Show

http://www.kvta.com/on-air/lyn-fairly/

Top image is a portrait commission just about to leave my easel. A reverend from the mid-1800s for a church collection. My second reverend for this collection. I wanted a back light on my sitter. A candlelight kinda feel. That I made up from my head.

The photo reference was minimal for this posthumous portrait. Only one ever-so grainy photo of an old 'head' portrait done of this reverend - and not a good one at that. No clothing I could count on.

So how did I do the vestments? Research. Always do your homework. I looked up other clerical portraits from the time for feel and style. Then I posed some cloth on a dress form in my studio under a light and the rest is history.

I wanted a contemporary color harmony tho' as I feel it important to paint in your own time period even if you are painting someone from a long time ago.

Hope you like.

Visit the studio with me today...

2011-10-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

Whats on my easels today? Take a peek!

How To Paint Eye Wear...What was I thinking?

2011-10-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

I seem to be painting a lot of eye wear recently. So, how to paint eye glasses? Leave them to the very end of session and get in and out faster than a bank robbery leaving just a few notes of paint.

Then it's money in the bank!

My teaching class in now back in session, Wednesday mornings, at The California Art Institute, Westlake Village, Ca. Join me for each First Friday of the month 'in studio' painting day.

Email me for details johanna@johannaspinks.com

A Man About Town...Face of Ventura

2011-10-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

Meet Mark Hartley, my latest sitter for my The Face of Ventura project being kindly featured in each edition of The Ventura Breeze.

Mark is a pretty amazing man and I knew I wanted to paint him for my series very much. He takes credit for much of the great renovation that has happened in downtown Ventura, taking old buildings and restoring them to their former glory. If you haven't been to his restaurant The Watermark you are missing out, not just on fine-dining, but the exquisite building containing the restaurant. It has to be seen to be believed. On top of all of this restoration, Mark is a big-wig music industry mogul. A man about town!

Anatomy of a Portrait Demo...What Was I Thinking?

2011-10-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Demo's End, One Hour Twenty Minutes.

Glad I brushed my hair.

Focus, focus. Paint your training.

Get the big shapes in of light and shadow. Draw well!

Forget those cookies on the coffee table. Make use of the breaks! Time is short.

Engage with those beautiful blue eyes. Feel it.

Gratitude For The Journey, a lovely sitter, and my mentor Mr. Everett Raymond Kinstler! www.everettraymondkinstler.com

To paint a demo in an hour and twenty minutes with a sitter picked from the crowd that you have never met before, me talking all the way, answering the artist audience's questions, with lights, camera, action blaring, and a microphone that is playing up, what was I thinking?

Well, you tell me?

Thanks to my friends at The SFVAC for the gracious invite to show my approach. It was a fun evening.

Do or Dare?...Portrait Demo Tonight.

2011-10-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

Sink or swim? Join me tonight at the San Fernando Valley Art Club where I will be doing a public portrait demo. One hour and twenty minutes to paint a sitter chosen from the crowd. Should be fun!!!

http://www.sfvartclub.org/

This sketch is a demo I did in my recent class at The California Art Institute. NEW SEMESTER NOW ENROLLING. Email me for details.

Enjoying painting on a somewhat distressed board I prep. myself. The paint gets sucked in like ink on blotting paper. It takes several rounds to make it work.

Should I leave those boards home tonight? Play it safe? Do or dare?

The Face of Ventura ...What was I thinking...

2011-10-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

I was honored to paint all around great person Josh Addison for my Face of Ventura series. So what was I thinking?

I had better not mess this up! He is the guy who founded The Bell Arts Factory that I rent my studio. Not a good day to hit a bum note with drawing and a likeness.

I think I did ok. I sure had fun with him. Thank you Josh.

More Sketching at The V&A

2011-09-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Blissful sketching at The V&A continues...this one a white marble winner, 'The Bather' by Albert Toft. He was obviously a very clever chap. His sculpture wasn't half bad either.

Older post:

I decided to spend more time than I ever thought possible sketching at London's Victoria and Albert Museum over the last few days...so what was I thinking as I sat there sketching watched by onlookers over four day period?

*It is so cool the V@A (http://www.vam.ac.uk/) have these little 'sketching' chairs for artists who want to sketch in the sculpture gallery - how thoughtfully British. All we need now is Union Jack sketch books for sale in the gift shop.

*The history of this great art institution - and to be sketching amid its' mind-blowing contents - is making the hairs on my neck stand out.

*People do - and say - the funniest things to draw attention to themselves and to distract the artist from drawing. Are they secretly envious? One lady explained the intricacies of breastfeeding to her seven year-old daughter loudly in front of me. NOT KIDDING! I didn't fall for it. My concentration remained intact. She was puzzled.

* How on earth did this sculptor, Aime-Tules Daleu, 1873, render this piece of a peasant girl breast-feeding her tot? It is very tender. Certainly for a mom. The crowds roaming through the V@A love it. Or is it just my drawing they are checking out? I sure got a lot of comments.

*I am so grateful that I now have the drawing confidence to sketch and copy masterpieces in museums, and I really enjoy it. Thank you to the ' 365 Days of Drawing' challenge I set myself last year. I continue to discipline myself to draw very often now, hence being in the V@A, when I could be in the local pub having a large G&T with friends. Ok...I did that too. Later.

* Simplify and connect the shapes. Know what to leave out. Hmmm...it is good to have a mentor. I think of Mr. Kinstler's words all the time, near or far. http://www.everettraymondkinstler.com/

* I must do a close-up of the sculpture's face AND another of the full figure. I have not lost my Type A personality with jet lag. DRATS.

* Why was that scone in the V@A tea room, in front of the exquisite Pre-Raphealites' stained glass windows, A, so expensive (err, derrrr!) and, B, so stale? Unforgivable. I have had better scones in America at that awful coffee chain beginning with S. That is telling you something.

Come back tomorrow to see more drawings from my serene sketching sojourn at The V&A....

Another Day Sketching at The V&A

2011-09-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

This was a marble bust of a child called Innocence. How I wanted to take that bust home...least I got a drawing out of it.

*The history of this great art institution - and to be sketching amid its' mind-blowing contents - is making the hairs on my neck stand out.

* Simplify and connect the shapes. Know what to leave out. Hmmm...it is good to have a mentor. I think of Mr. Kinstler's words all the time, near or far. http://www.everettraymondkinstler.com/

* I must do a close-up of the sculpture's face AND another of the full figure. I have not lost my Type A personality with jet lag. DRATS.

Come back tomorrow to see more drawings from my serene sketching sojourn at The V&A....

Sketching at The Victoria and Albert Museum...What Was I Thinking?

2011-09-23T07:29:00.001-07:00

*The history of this great art institution - and to be sketching amid its' mind-blowing contents - is making the hairs on my neck stand out.

* Simplify and connect the shapes. Know what to leave out. Hmmm...it is good to have a mentor. I think of Mr. Kinstler's words all the time, near or far. http://www.everettraymondkinstler.com/

* I must do a close-up of the sculpture's face AND another of the full figure. I have not lost my Type A personality with jet lag. DRATS.

Come back tomorrow to see more drawings from my serene sketching sojourn at The V&A....

Man of Letters...Face of Ventura Project.

2011-09-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

My Face of Ventura project delivers the most interesting of sitters to my studio door. I knew from the very first time I met Bill, the local postmaster in town, who is known by EVERYONE, that I wanted to paint him.

This man of letters has had a long career in the U.S. Post Office. It took him a while to think about being painted by me. I was very blessed when he said yes. Now, I have a new friend and a deeper respect for the old charming ways of snail mail.

Post those letters folks!

YOu can catch my series each week in The Ventura Breeze newspaper and on talk radio's Lyn Fairly and Friends Show, KVTA 1520 AM , Saturdays at noon.

My Class Demo -What was I thinking?

2011-08-31T08:18:00.001-07:00

Class demo at The California Art Institute: What was I thinking? 18 x 24

Keep the skin tone overal cool

Catch the rim light on her hair

Feel 'it'

Make the separation of light and shadow strong but subtle

Connect with the sitter

Feel 'it'

THIS IS WORKING, at least for now.

Focus on The Masters With Ms. Donna Granata

2011-08-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

MS. DONNA GRANATA

End of the sitting, a great meeting of the art spirit! Read Donna's Story This Week in The Ventura Breeze http://www.venturabreeze.com/
I was so looking forward to painting Ms. Donna Granata for my FACE OF VENTURA PROJECT. I had heard so much about her and her impressive work. She is an extraordinary portraitist in her own right. Highly intelligent and one class act. Ms. Granata also founded FOCUS ON THE MASTERS here an impressive ongoing archival project to record the lives of many extraordinary artists and their work in the county of Ventura. I attended a TV taping of Donna's interview a couple of years ago with David Leffel for said FOCUS and was very moved by her interview of this great man.

Plus, Donna also has a great face to paint.

It was a lovely meeting of the art spirit and mind.

Thank you MS. DONNA GRANATA!

MY FACE OF VENTURA PROECT is kindly featured in The Ventura Breeze every issue and I am excited that each sitter will now be appearing on The Lyn Fairly Show, "Lyn Fairly and Friends" Saturdays at noon. KVTA News Talk Radio 1520 AM . Please listen in...http://www.kvta.com/on-air/

Thank you Lyn and Sheldon Brown of The Breeze!

The New Romantic Figure Show Opening...What was I thinking?

2011-08-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

I went to the opening of 'The New Romantic Figure" show last night in California considering myself a bit of a romantic now and again.

It was a smaller show than I was expecting. It was a good show. I enjoyed it. Happy to see artists I really admire, like Jeremy Lipking, show me once again how a figure should be painted.

Lipking's work is flawless. A master. Period. Click here

Seeing the whole collection, I was also reminded , and oddly reassured, of the challenges us artists face painting the figure well, romantically or not. Anatomy, anatomy, anatomy. Good values and accurate drawing in the right place. There are no short cuts. There is no forgiveness in a badly rendered neck, deltoid muscle or hand. Time put in results in, well, good results out.

I was also stunned by some of the frames on these paintings. They looked like huge pieces of coffin-esque furniture and surely cost as much. I could take a pass on those.

One huge drawing by Russian born artist Alexey Steele Click here was worth the visit alone. Where did he get a piece of drawing paper that large, we were all wondering? He spent a long time on that drawing, that I can tell you. And it was masterful.

Alexey Steele coined the term "Novorealism", a new art movement spearheaded with his talented art buddies Jeremy Lipking and Tony Pro. Click here The movement's aim, I believe, is about reviving romantic realsim and idealism in this new century but don't quote me on that. Art movements come and go, names sounding a bit like birth control are chosen, but I think these three stellar guys, Pro, Steele and Lipking are going to be a big force for quite while with their work. A sturdy base of a three-cornered art pyramid, that others will build on, and aspire upwards to greater heights.

Catch the show...worth the visit.

www.callutheran.edu/kwan_fong

Kwan Fong Gallery

California Lutheran University

60 West Olsen Road

#3800

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

August 20 thru' September 30

Featuring work by Jeremy Lipking, Tony Pro, Michael Lynn Adams, Peter Adams, Cyn McCurry, Michael Pearce, Mia Tavonatti

Image posted here is nothing to do with this show. It is by me and I feel quite romantic about it.

A Demo Re-do..What was I thinking?

2011-08-18T18:17:00.001-07:00

I have a part of me that just can't rest until I have solved a niggling art puzzle in my mind. The jigsaw pieces of learning.

Somewhat unhappy with yesterday's demo in my teaching class, see previous blog post, I allowed myself some time today to do a study from that class demo to figure out for myself what I would have liked to have seen come off my brush.

This is what I was thinking:

*too slap-dash looking

*not sensitive enough

*NOT THE SHIMMER EFFECT I WANTED ON THAT LOVELY SKIN

*you can do so much better

*don't let sleeping dogs (demos) lie. learn from them.

So this is what I am now thinking:

* I am glad I worked on my art puzzle.

* it is rewarding.

*it is part of the journey

*paint by numbers much easier - and possibly in my future

How to paint different skin tones... WHAT WAS I THINKING?

2011-08-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Class demo at The California Art Institute yesterday,,, Asian skin tones are fun to paint...so what was I thinking?

*warm versus cool

*catch the shimmery glow

*I have made this head too large for my liking

*I wish I had started again

*always be willing to change

*hot or cold lunch?

*food in England is so good (model's and my conversation)

HOW TO PAINT A FUTURE PRESIDENT, WHAT WAS I THINKING?

2011-08-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

This young man is a future president of The Unites States, of that I am sure. He is already involved in politics as he heads off to college with big plans ahead.

His lovely mother commissioned me to do his portrait, honoring this special time in his life, in a single three hour sitting from life with no photos, and that is what we did around lots of chat and fun. He is one smart and engaging person. I was thrilled that he had spent hours researching a portrait artist online, knew a lot about art and my painting heros, and wanted an artist who had a "brushy" style. YES!!!!!

So what was I thinking during this single sitting?

*make this good. don't disappoint his trust in you and your work.

*get a good block-in fast. this inspires confidence in the client always.

*pay attention to the shape of his closely cropped hair, always key to a likeness. cropped hair is a challenge.

*work edges well to avoid cut-out effect of said cropped hair.

*handsome deep set eyes...but paint them open and engaged with 'me'. I spent quite a bit of time on this to get the feel I wanted.

*mass in the clothing in bold strokes,,,more time to spend on the handsome face.

*make that red tie sizzle, the brightest bright in the portrait

*will I get his portrait when he is president?

*must get his email

*Thank goodness I became a citizen of the US. Phew, I wouldn't get a presidential commission otherwise. Worth that $10,000 I paid.

Well, providing I get that president...

Face of Ventura By Johanna Spinks

2011-08-14T08:47:00.001-07:00

This is Mati Waiya, this week's sitter for my Face of Ventura project. Mati is a Chumash ceremonial leader and dolphin dancer and founder of The Wishtoyo Foundation.

I have now painted twenty sitters for this project. You can catch each one on The Lyn Fairley Show Saturdays at noon KVTA News Talk Radio 1520 AM

It was the first time someone has burned sage in my studio before I started a painting of them to ward off evil shenaningins . I liked the feel of that and might make it a habit.

How to paint a demo...what was I thinking?

2011-08-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

Well, what do I know really? But this is my class demo from The California Art Institute this week. So here is what was I thinking?

*when will this get easier?

*why can't I paint like my idols?

*why can't I paint like myself?

*planes, planes, planes and not the flying kind.

*edges, edges, edges. I want a 'distressed' kinda look to the study.

*hold on to the transparent dark side of form on this thirsty paint sucking board, no matter what.

*did that student just leave because he has a stomach ache or is bored?

*my likeness is good and fast...GREAT as I have still been working on my drawing since my 365 day drawing challenge ended.

*why do my fingers end up in the paint almost as much as my brush?

*lead poisoning will kill me before I ever get "this" painting thing the way I want it.

365 Days of Drawing Hits The Stands

2011-08-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to American Artist Magazine for giving a nod to my '365 Days of Drawing' challenge to myself, successfully completed, last year. The issue I am appearing in, is now on the newstands.

Who would have thought when I was battling through some of those long drawing days of 2010 through murders, fires and muggings, (oh, no. wait, that is this year!) I would see it appearing here some eight months later? Not me. I am so appreciative my challenge got recognized by AA.

HOT FLASHES!

2011-08-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

I get excited by working on really hot grounds. This is a work in progress, a portrait of a young artist who walked into my studio the other day complete with a hot pink head piece she had made and long dreadlocks.

At first the fuchsia ground seemed like a good idea. Then it seemed too much and I thought to scrap it. Today, I am enjoying it again. I am hanging on to that hotness as long as I can - just like in life.

You will never completely get rid of a hot ground. There will be little specks flickering through. It also makes me focus on thin paint versus thick paint and distressing the canvas in places with a knife.

Hot hot hot.

HOW TO PAINT FROM LIFE...What was I thinking?

2011-07-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

My latest Face Of Ventura, Jalopy Joe.

So what was I thinking while painting this sitter?

This was a posthumous portrait. I decided, while painting Joe from a photo, that I will not be painting anyone else from photos for my Face of Ventura series being featured in The Ventura Breeze. He will be the exception.

Each sitter, nominated by the town's people for good deeds or of special interest, is painted directly from life in a two to three hour sitting with no touch-ups or tweaking after they leave the studio as I think this defeats the purpose of the project - the direct interaction with the sitter, hearing their life story and revealing the centuries-old art of portrait painting, from life, to them. I have worked hard to build this skill set up over the years and continue to.

It really tests an artist's metal. Some days you are shiny and 'on'. Other days you are dull and 'off'. It also reminds me to DRAW all the time so one is prepared.

Too many portraits are done from photos. You see portfolio after portfolio of them at The Portrait Society of America's annual conference. There is a certain flatness to them oftentimes because of this.

Things change if you finish a portrait from photos after the sitter has left the room. Yes, you will get a more finished art piece and a more exact likeness perhaps, more pleasing to perhaps the sitter and the artist's ego, but you sacrifice a certain ENERGY in my opinion. My series is far from perfect artistically. Sometimes I wince. But each sketch has a very definite life force.

I don't want to mess with that even if it means I have to put my art ego aside which is a little hard sometimes.

Thanks as always to Breeze publisher Sheldon Brown for featuring my series in his paper. My Face of Ventura project would not be the same without it.

How to paint eyes...What was I thinking?

2011-07-26T22:16:00.000-07:00

How to paint eyes? Heck, I don't know.

But this is what I was thinking during this two sitting head painting.

FIRST SITTING;

Ah, Rembrandt

Ah, Vermeer

Ah, ain't life great? I am in THE ZONE. (finished the face fast)

SECOND SITTING, some weeks later.

Is it almost tea-time? I need a cookie.

Too early for wine?

Taco stand near?

My hand isn't moving right.

I am not in THE ZONE.

Stick with it. Get it done. I did. Glad.

VEILED

10 x 10"

Oil on linen panel

$500

Shipping $10

How To Paint A Corset...What Was I Thinking?...

2011-07-22T08:44:00.001-07:00

How to paint a very large corset 38x48? Well, it is just about the same as everything else.

But this is what I was thinking yesterday as I painted this whopper.

*make it LUSH

*VIBRATE color all around

* remember to keep looking at that John Singer Sargent watercolor book on the studio chair

*he would be so proud of my subject matter

*make the form (dress form?) turn. PUSH light, shadow, halftone.

*can a dress form have cleavage? yes, to guarantee a sale it can

*control the value of the corset so I can put some high key SIZZLE on later

*wish I could wear this. It looks like a size 2.

*why do I love corsets so much and why are people staring through my studio door as I paint this?

*I must be strange? Reader, you don't need to post an answer to this.

BEAUTY IN BLUE

OIL on CANVAS

38x48

$500

Shipping $25

DON'T FORGET VENTURA ART WALK IS THIS WEEKEND. COME VISIT ME, STUDIO 78, BELL ARTS FACTORY, VENTURA, CA.

HERE IS THE LINK FOR ALL THE INFO AND A MAP

http://westsideartwalk.org/

How to paint a portrait?...what was I thinking?

2011-07-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

How to do paint a portrait demo? Well, don't ask me.

All I do know is that I had just one short hour to do this one yesterday at my teaching class at The California Art Institute from START TO FINISH, 18 x 24

What was I thinking?

*keep it simple stupid

*Don't mess up as new students watching

*carve out the face like sculpture...think planes

*hang on to the dry blue toned canvas for half tones, no matter what

* Keep it airy - use mid value purple for that

*That long hair is going to be a w-itch to paint in such a short time

*Don't get sloppy

*I must eat a low-carb lunch

* Wish the school would make coffee soon

How to paint glass...what was I thinking...?

2011-07-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

How to paint glass? Well, I don't know. But this is what I am thinking as I finish up this still life in my studio today:

SQUINT...get wrinkles while you paint to simplify the shapes

DRAWING...watch those perspective lines. Hmmmm.

VALUES...this is a painting close in values which is harder for the light effect. May need to push those cast shadows more.

EDGES. Do lost and found. Do soft and hard.

BALANCE Do rough paint. Do smooth paint.

Hang on to some of the original panel ground at all costs. (See light part of orange bottle.)

Spray some Chanel in studio to clear the air.

"STILL THE FAVORITE"

10 x 10

oil on panel

$500

Shipping $10

SOLD

WHAT WAS I THINKING...

2011-07-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest Face of Ventura - lovely librarian Star Soto.

So WHAT AM I THINKING WHILE I AM PAINTING STAR FOR MY NEW ART PROJECT BEING FEATURED IN THE VENTURA BREEZE EACH EDITION?

This is a public demo.

1. I wish my back wasn't against an open door. I am cold. So is the sitter.

2. I need to get some good color going here with my limited palette. The room's light is not the best and we are near a restroom, even worse. I bring a backdrop fortunately so I can block out that uninspiring view. I hope no-one trips on my light wire. Will I get sued?

3. My sitter comes straight from a day of work. She must be hungry. I need to give her some breaks. A lot of people are eating around us which doesn't help.

4. My drawing had better be 'on'. Star's family show up. Not to mention, the public passing by.

I get a good likeness from early on ! Yes!

5. I need to make good shapes in her hair. Seems important to the 'feel' of Star. This takes me time.

6. That guy talking to me who is telling me 'how amazing' my work is, smells like a five-day old brewery. Take comments with a pinch of salt

7. Remind myself, public demos and locations can be a challenge. Always prepare. Take nothing for granted. Ever.

The Teacups Are Back

2011-07-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of interest in a LARGE watercolor sketch I did of teacups last year in my 365 Days of Drawing Challenge to myself.

I could have sold that sketch 10 times over.

I thought it would be interesting to see how the cups would look painted in oil on a very smooth board. So yesterday I re visited them.

MY THOUGHTS;

KEEP CUPS IN GOOD DRAWING

KEEP THE COLORS CLEAN

COLOR RAW IN PLACES

GREYED IN OTHERS

PAINT SMOOTH IN PLACES

ROUGHER IN OTHERS

PUSH COLOR HARMONY

I am curious to see if these cups are as successful.

My Cup Runneth Over

10"x10"

oil on board

$500

shipping $10

SOLD

How to Paint Flowers...FAST

2011-07-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

Lunch is served in Mark Twain's garden on my recent visit. Crumbly quiche and crisp salad devoured in a Martha Stewart 'eat your heart out' kinda delish way!

I feel I have done an o.k. job of painting 'Day Lilies' in the garden in the morning.

But I desire to paint a mixed arrangement of flowers in the afternoon, challenged that the flowers grow in seemingly 'same sex' floral garden borders, as glorious as they are!!

WHAT TO DO?

I have my answer. I notice my most gracious gifted artist hostess Susan Durkee http://www.susandurkee.com/ has a vase of combined CUT flowers from her most impressive Mark Twain garden http://www.thelobsterpotstudio.com/ in the kitchen window sill while watching her preen the quiche. I grab the vase, with her permission, and place it on a table outside. Susan even adds a few blue flowers for me, the perfect host that she is.

WHAT TO DO NEXT?

SQUINT

MASS THE VALUES

WORK WITH BIG BRUSH

KEEP COLOR CLEAN

WORK FAST WITH A SUN DRENCHED HEART

NO REGRETS - EVEN THE SECOND SLICE OF QUICHE

"Sun Drenched"

6" x 8", framed

$350.00

$10.00 - shipping

Painting in Mark Twain's Garden

2011-07-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

Nothing beats painting day lilies in Mark Twain's garden in Connecticut, USA.

What a treat that was. Despite bug bites and sunburn and painting on my knees for about 90 minutes, I squinted my way through the delicate shapes of these day lilies. Wish I had more time with them. And wish I had my camera with me to finish them.

Thank you to Susan, our lovely artist host for a wonderful day.

Day Lily- Mark Twain's Garden

Oil on Panel

8x10"

$500

Shipping $10

How to pack for landscape painting?

2011-07-06T22:47:00.000-07:00

I don't know which is more exciting..ME and my new pochade box (hand-made!!) finally ready for our 4 a.m. start for landscaping trip to east coast, or the fact I have made high protein snacks for the journey. YU tell me?

FACE OF VENTURA PROJECT

2011-07-04T09:04:00.001-07:00

FACE OF VENTURA PROJECT CONTINUES...

HERE IS THIS WEEK'S SITTER GENE DUNN, a charming retired fireman, THE START OF THE SKETCH AND THE FINISH.

I DON'T USUALLY DO MY SKETCH BLOCK-IN WITH CHARCOAL, preferring to go straight for the brush, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON MY DRAWING THIS WEEK. CHARCOAL IN MY HAND MAKED ME DO THAT.

Vermeer - the hottest thing since sliced bread?

2011-06-29T20:59:00.000-07:00

My favorite painter Vermeer traded his master pieces for bread just to survive.

I guess he had no time to second guess his art work, never imagining in his wildest croissant dream moment that he would be the hottest thing since sliced bread centuries later, his "Girl With a Pearl Ear-Ring" idolized world-over.

Did he like his paintings when he finished them I wonder? He was a SLOW methodical painter, fastidious in technique, who apparently did very few paintings in his lifetime. Being the bread-winner, got in the way.

Not that I am anything close to a Vermeer, but I promised I would post the' finish' of this painting just off easel, after the earlier 'mushy middle' stage post. I am now in the final stage wondering if a good crusty warm french loaf is in my future.

"SILENT LONGING"

American Stories By Johanna Spinks, copyrighted.

18"x24"

oil on linen, framed

$1,500

Shipping $50

How to paint hair?

2011-06-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Super nice guy Peter Godinez of Xerox, made this surprise nod about my Face of Ventura Project.

Hair is fun to paint, so is a bald head but I really must remember to brush my OWN hair more when someone is filming from behind.

Where is the hair and makeup team when you most need them? Oh, who cares! So long as the sketch turns out ok. Thanks Peter!

http://youtu.be/idfH96wfXC4

Dog Tired With Sargent

2011-06-20T18:22:00.001-07:00

Bentley Azure is not just any old toy dog. Oh no. He gets to sleep in front of huge portrait paintings by John Singer Sargent. Now how cool is that???

This one, of sitter Pauline Astor, c. 1898, is at the Huntington Gardens Library in Pasadena, Ca. It is said to be Sargent's largest and most impressive full-length portrait in a landscape setting.

The dog pulling on the cool satin gown, a marvel in itself, is a spaniel and certainly female. Bentley could not take his eyes off her all night.

He is dog tired today.

It's A Dog's Life..

2011-06-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

My mistress is bored of doing her blog so has handed it over to me for today.

My name is Bentley Azure. I am a very smart silky terrier and handsome in a canine sort of way which you can see in my distinguished portrait here which was featured in The New York Times a few years ago. What a 'DOUBLE WOOF' surprise that was.

SHE didn't do a bad job of my likeness but I think there is 'something' wrong about the mouth" for sure.

As a trusted studio companion for nine years now and I have seen it all, from the fur flying on the bad painting days to being served fresh chopped liver on a silver platter on the good.

Unfortunately the bad days seem to outweigh the good from where I sit and observe - and I am often treated just LIKE chopped liver, only once in a while allowed to sit on that comfy red portrait throne in HER studio.

This weekend is quiet after a busy studio week. . A party tonight. A portrait sketch to finish tomorrow. Hopefully that will mean some good quality 'curl up' on the couch time while SHE is distracted with those little black sticks that look like they come from the garden.

FACE of Ventura...Public Demo tonight...

2011-06-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

I am doing a public demo tonight from 6 to 8pm at Ventura Harbor, The Greek Restaurant, for my Face of Ventura project. Here is this week's sitter film director Lorenzo Destephano, creator of The Ventura Film Society and currently working with legendary actor John Hurt....wowee,,,

Now that's a chap I'd like to chat to over a martini - but not two. Might fall off my manola's.

Painting- The Mushy Middle Stage

2011-06-15T23:08:00.000-07:00

I am at the mushy middle stage of this painting, knowing I will bring it 'home' but quite a lot of work to do still.

I said I would post it again as a 'work in progress' so hope you find it interesting. Those yellow arches on the left will disappear tomorrow. That is the original ground. and there is a lot of tweaking all around that needs to be done.

Most of all, I am working 'inside out'. Finishing an area almost to completion and then working outward from it. I find this a challenge and it is not my usual process but the great master artist Morgan Weistling www.morganweistling.com often works this way and he has inspired me, as he often does, to try new things around old concepts of hanging on to one's drawing, value control, and compostion concept.

Who knows...every painting or sketch has a 50/50 % chance of being a somewhat success or complete disaster. Don't ya think?

PS..unless you are Mr. Weistling.

TALK TIME...

2011-06-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Catch me today on KKZZ am 1400 Talk Radio today, The Lyn Fairly show, 11 am to 12 noon, talking about guess what?

Thanks to photographer James Scolari for this great photo of me painting my most recent Face of Ventura. Ventura Film Society Founder Lorenzo Destephano who will also be on the show.

Call in and chat to us.

805- 639-0008.

Quick Sketch With A Belly Dancer...

2011-06-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

Even belly dancers need a break. This was a super quick sketch demo I did at CAI today in my teaching class. Wish I could have taken it further.

Ever felt that way?

Orange and blue was the color harmony with two light sources set up on the figure, one orange, one blue, to push the theme. This makes it harder for students because it is harder to see the form compared to a raking single source light.

Quite a few students got frustrated with their work for one reason or another...harder for the teacher! No coffee break today for me. I was working flat out.

The model had to move her pose because she was uncomfortable after half an hour of sitting. People complained the about orange and blue lights being in their eyes; two lights on one pose in a teaching room is going to hit someone the wrong way.

YES, it was one of THOSE days! BUT I believe in shaking things up in the teaching room. Shaken but not stirred. Hmmm....

Face of Ventura Project

2011-06-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

Another day, another amazing sitter, Lynn Mikelatos, for my Face of Ventura Project with The Ventura Breeze newspaper.

55 people will be painted from the town in a single sitting from life to reflect the town, each image and the sitter's unique story appearing in each edition of The Breeze. So far 14 people have been painted.

I was really sick this day. But the job had to get done in a timely fashion for the newspaper deadline as I had to travel. NO matter how kindly the newspaper publisher Sheldon Brown is, he would not think kindly of a blank hole in his paper.

A challenge is a challenge, no matter how big or small the project you take on. I learned that last year doing 365 Days of Drawing, no matter what. Newspaper deadlines over a two year span, week in, week out, keeps you on your art toes, not to mention your sketches from life appearing for all the world, at least Ventura, to see.

I am enjoying it tho.!

How To Paint A Perfect Mouth...

2011-06-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

How to paint a perfect mouth? Well, don't ask me! But I do love painting lips. In my old makeup artist days I was told by the esteemed TEEN magazine editor I did the best lips in the business.

Painting lips in oil is far harder than in lipstick. For years I put too much information in them, thinking I was perhaps applying lipstick? Too many dark accents. Too much of a 'sea gull wing' affect. Then I saw how Mr. Everett Raymond Kinstler N.A., http://www.everettraymondkinstler.com/ and Mr. Morgan Weistling http://www.morganweistling.com/ did them and I learned a thing or two... slowly. Lipstick is so much quicker on the draw.

Here, on this quick sketch from like, I tried to leave out a lot of information on this model's very lucious pout. Maybe going for a neutral bisque Chanel No. 16?

Class demo this week at The California Art Institute.

The overall sketch wasn't the best, my drawing a bit off, but I liked the lips. A kiss-off of sorts?

The Artist's Muse...

2011-06-01T18:06:00.000-07:00

One of my most 'painted' and favorite models Rosie Spinks graduates college shortly...and is chosen as a perfect 10 (you will have to read the link to fully understand why) by UC Santa Cruz. I couldn't agree more although I am a bit biased.

Here are some paintings of RosieI have done over the years. I am sure there will be more but she won't be around as much.

http://news.ucsc.edu/10x10/

How to paint eyes?

2011-05-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

How to paint eyes? Well, what do I know. But funny how our art 'eye' sees things differently give it a day or two off. This was my class demo from CAI last week which I wasn't that keen on when I did it. But today, after a refreshing weekend, I think I caught something in the model's/eye mood that day. She wasn't having the best day and was reflective about life. I knew that.

They say the eyes 'have it', are the windows to the soul. For me, during this painting session all I can say is that I paid a lot of attention to the left eye but said nothing in the right one. I also let a lot of EDGES go, something my students have the hardest 'linear' time with around the eyes. I had fun with the colors in said focused eye, losing edges and pushing brushwork.

A bore says it all, don't you think? Hope I wasn't that...

Work in progress...

2011-05-27T17:54:00.001-07:00

I am enjoying working " inside out " on this painting, 18 x 24, trying to finish an area before I move on. Also enjoying working on the hot yellow ground. Come back to see it finished.

Think Pink...Face of Ventura Project

2011-05-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

This is a very special young teenager, Olivia Simonson, whose story really touched me. I know her mother, who passed away from breast cancer, would be so proud of her and I was thinking that when I painted her from life, in a single sitting, for my non-profit Face of Ventura Project running in The Ventura Breeze newspaper in CA. http://www.venturabreeze.com/ Thanks to Sheldon Brown, publisher, for his continued support of this project.

You get what you get when you paint from life with its distractions. There is talking, well, of course, breaks for coffee, lunch, restroom, aspirins or whatever. Each sitting has a life of its' own.

But I felt a real connection to Olivia hearing her talk about her mom and how she is now trying to raise money for the PINK RIBBON cause by climbing the world's highest mountain. As a proud mother myself of two young ladies, I found this eloquent role model inspiring. You don't get that connection painting from a photo in quite the same way.

FACE of VENTURA Project

2011-05-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

A privilege to paint another sitter for my Face of Ventura Project running in The Ventura Breeze. Each sitter painted from life in a single sitting, each with their own unique story.

Craziest Royal Wedding Portrait?????

2011-04-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

This has to be the craziest example of royal wedding fever? I found it on the internet and realized we are indeed in the middle of a nuptial frenzy like no other...

So with that in mind, I post my drawing of Kate I did last year during the 365 Challenge. GO KATE and WILS!!!

Some people really do take things too far.

Heaven sent...

2011-04-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you get a good demo, most times you don't -they are average due to the nature of the beast. This is how I feel about demos. I am rarely able to get in the 'zone' around teaching. I have made peace with this.

You paint 'what you know' accepting you are teaching a lesson and hoping to show that lesson well for students.

I like this one tho', my demo from Vita this week. The sitter is an art student from my gifted teen class with a heavenly face. She is very reserved in person but, boy, did she look at me right in the eyes all the way through the sketch. I could have painted her for hours. She was also wearing one of my favorite vintage hats from my collection.

I set myself a challenge to hang on to the original 'hot' toned canvas on much of her face keeping some of the original drawing lines too. That made it a success for me. I knew when to stop before I messed it up by rushing and overworking. It also meant my drawing was 'on'.

Thank you Juliana.

Mural Master, Face of Ventura Project

2011-04-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

Always an honor to paint another artist...this is THIS week's 'Face of Ventura' sitter appearing in The Ventura Breeze newspaper, the incomparable Ms. MB Hanrahan, muralist extraordinaire and an artist I really admire. A true artist thru and thru! I sure had fun paintings her dreadlocks too.

Thanks as always to Sheldon Brown of The Ventura Breeze http://www.venturabreeze.com/

Surf's Up...

2011-04-20T07:33:00.001-07:00

Class demo at Vita Art Center this week...a 13 year old surfer sitter. Come join the fun...surf's up! I love to paint 'real' people in my teaching class. Fun to grab them off the street.

Tattoo Me? Face of Ventura Project.

2011-04-18T17:46:00.000-07:00

I have been lucky enough recently to teach some of the best tattoo artists in the Ventura area who ink just about everybody and anybody who want a really good tat!

They are very talented with line and see value really well. They push me as a teacher. Plus, they are really cool and I am not, but they don't make me feel that way. They laugh at my jokes too.

I chose one of them, Manuel Valenzuela, to be my next sitter for The Face of Ventura Project appearing in The Ventura Breeze. http://www.venturabreeze.com/He was painted from life in a single sitting of about two hours. We met when he showed up at studio Open House and bought a painting. We had a connection of mutual respect as artists. Read about this great guy here:

Food Share's Bonnie Weigel...Face of Ventura Project

2011-04-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

I am a little behind posting my Face of Ventura project sitter this month...I wanted to make sure this special lady, Bonnie Weigel of Food Share, got air time with her story. She is someone I really admire. Brains, beauty, and soul, fighting a really worthwhile cause, hunger.

"Waiting, Tiananmen Square"...A Valued Approach

2011-04-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

I just completed my new Chinese painting, "Waiting, Tiananmen Square", thanks to my daughter's recent visit there. Painting it, I am reminded of the principles of balance in all things.

So, inspired by own quiet thoughts this week painting this little girl so far away in China, I wrote a class handout tonight thinking about new students coming to either one of my new teaching semesters beginning tomorrow. Let me know your thoughts...

OIL PAINTING – A VALUED APPROACH BY JOHANNA SPINKS

There are no rules, just tools.

I teach a certain art ‘alphabet’ through my art eye as my great teacher says. The 'language’ is YOURS to make your own through dedication and repeated practice, especially drawing and painting from life.

Every teacher teaches a slightly different alphabet. Don’t fall victim to the endemic art disease ‘PARALYSIS BY ANALYSIS’. Too many teachers, too many classes. Stick with a school of painting to really learn for a LONG while, until you feel you understand it. Random WORKSHOP-ITIS will get you nowhere but your wallet will feel lean by about $500 each time, plus supplies. Don’t be a kid in an art candy store. Pick your favorite candy. Chew. Suck. Mull the flavors over.

Buy every art book you can afford around THE school of painting you like. Set those books up when you paint. See the level you aspire to. Allow yourself a few years to ‘look’ like a bad replication of your teacher. This is normal and required. Then move on. You have to be unique and share your own art voice, point of view. There can never be another Rembrandt but we sure can learn from him.

DRAW!!! Often. You don’t need to pay for this class. IT is free and worth its weight in art gold. It separates the men from the boys. It is the biggest challenge I have faced. And continues to be. DRAW!!

VALUES comes first. Color second. You can paint a face purple and it will look great if you understand values and how to turn the form. It becomes second nature after a while. But it does take a while to get down. Keep it simple. Three values for the light, two for the dark, never the two families of light and dark ever wishing to meet. Like families, they are having a row and hate each other. Forget Thanksgiving.

BALANCE: Every painting must have this.

BALANCE in value range: Don’t paint what you see. Paint what you know. Push the effect. Gear your painting to a ‘lighter’ value painting with your mid values going higher or lower value painting, with your mid values going darker. YOU decide to your art eye what fits. Control the value pattern.

BALANCE in color: Use your color wheel. LEARN IT. It is easy. Choose to paint with three primaries for a long while, plus black and white. Especially on art trips! Handcuffs are on. Select compliments. Red with green, yellow with purple, orange with blue.

BALANCE in temperature, Cool versus warm and vice versa. Remember, your ‘grayed’ color is the stage to show off the raw, vibrant color. Like a good, rich French sauce over a bland piece of steak. It will sing. Your viewer will want desert. It has taken me a while to learn this.

BALANCE in brush work application: rough next to smooth. A bore says it all with too much of either. Quiet is needed. Excitement is needed. Just like in life. Too much of either makes one dull.

BALANCE in paint application: thick impasto areas of the canvas thick as cream, thin areas transparent as a silk stocking. Keeping things transparent is hard. How many times have I lost transparent stockings from over-working or drawing errors?

BALANCE IN COMPOSITION: a thread of dark in a sea of light, as thread of light in a sea of dark. Painting without these contrasts fall as flat as pancakes.

BALANCE IN YOUR ART VOICE; allow yourself to some days paint angry like Van Gogh, some days paint quiet like Vermeer. Don’t question this. I often do and it is a mistake. TRUST THE ART SPIRIT

BALANCE IN SELF-BELIEF. Know some days you will find it hard. Some days it will flow. Some days you will get into competitions, some days, in fact most days, you won’t.

BALANCE IN ART VIEW. Some like to be Sunday painters, some like to be professionals. Both are equally important.

BALANCE IN EGO. Let it e-go. There will always be someone who paints better than you unless you are very lucky, especially gifted, or my mentor. There will always be someone from centuries ago who knew so much more about classical art than we do now. Rembrandt? Vermeer? Waterhouse?

Therefore, be gracious to your art neighbor. Being competitive is counter productive. Instead, play forward whatever knowledge you have been blessed with or learn tomorrow. I most certainly teach because of that. I only write all of the above because I have been blessed by great art people, a magnificent mentor, along with a great art school. I have studied and learned from all of this along with my art books. You are all on my book list. And, of course, I am still on the journey.

THE POINT OF THE JOURNEY IS THE JOURNEY. IT IS A MISTAKE TO THINK ONE WILL EVER GET ‘THERE’. BALANCE ALONG THE WAY IS ESSENTIAL to perhaps enjoy the ride.

365 BOOK LIMITED EDITION with ORIGINAL DRAWING

2011-04-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

Don't miss this! I am doing a limited edition of my book "365 Days of Drawing By Johanna Spinks", Oscar Gold hard cover, (well of course!) including an ORIGINAL personalized drawing from the challenge , featured in the book.

I was blessed also to have the incomparable Mr. Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A., master painter of seven U. S. presidents, portraitist of 'Who's Who' in America over the last half-century, and a draughtsman like no other, write a forward to my book.

I have studied the teachings of this great and gracious man for quite a few years now. It has been a magical journey leading me to a point in my art of wanting to get to the next level in my drawing - hence the very public 365 day drawing challenge in 2010, documented almost daily on social media.

Mr. Kinstler (//www.everettraymondkinstler.com/) wrote -

"Every serious artist knows that drawing is the grammar and gut of good painting. It's partly a matter of learning what to leave out.

Johanna Spinks was stimulated to challenge herself to do a drawing a day for one year.

Share with me her passion and talent as she explores line and color on a flat surface, creating a two-dimensional journey into a world of faces, figures, objects, and places, all filled with joy, movement, and Jo's unique personality."

Forever thanks Mr. K.

I am happy to say the book includes an image of every single drawing done during the year, many turned into paintings, and a written overview of the year by myself. It is a record of an incredible year in drawing and lessons learned putting yourself out there artistically in a very public drawing challenge.

I had the tremendous help of a new company called "Flaunt Your Photos".

Peggy's great art editing eye and vast publishing experience, was priceless. 365 sketches plus other year images AND text, found themselves nestled into the new pages of this book within 10 days or so! Thanks for working so hard for me Peggy.

www.flauntyourphotos.com

365 Days of Drawing

Limited Edition, gold hardcover, 12" x 12"

$150. incl. tax, shipping and original drawing from the year signed by artist.

contact artist johanna@johannaspinks.com

Use Paypal button, top of blog to the right.

Make your brown eyes blue?

2011-04-07T17:36:00.000-07:00

Nothing more pleasing for me than painting a pretty girl with beautiful green eyes - for a class demo yesterday, about two hours.

Kept it simple. 18 x 24

Ok..I know you are reading THIS blog out there (from all over the world) because I have a widget that tells me so.

So tell me what YOU think! Don't it make your brown eyes blue? If not, what does? Don't be shy.

PAINT BY NUMBERS?

2011-04-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

Well, not exactly. But I do like sometimes to concentrate on a specific thing in a teaching class demo, as in this case - the color harmony of red and green - rather than sticking to a formula.

This was my demo in my portrait class at Vita Art Center in Ventura...the model, actually a real person, had crazy wild great hair...black with light blonde streaks. No point playing it safe. And of course her hair is my favorite part of the sketch. Simple as that, 1...2...3...

California Gold Rush...

2011-04-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

Whatta weekend! My solo show opened to a full house on Friday night. Better than gold. Then a race Saturday to The California Art Club Gold Medal 100th Anniversary Show Reception at The Pasadena Museum of California Art where my painting 'Geek Chic' appears. A lovely brunch followed Sunday, given by CAC, for the artists in the show. Again, pure gold.

Thanks to everyone who made the weekend so very special...I was in some very lovely gold company all weekend long.

Now I just want to paint! No more organizing and worrying about shows. NO more anything....just paint!

Details coming about how to purchase my limited edition book '365 Days of Drawing' which comes with a high quality print of the book cover which is of course GOLD!

A GREAT NIGHT!

2011-04-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone for the most amazing night at the opening of my show 365 Days Of Drawing...to view more photos go here....

http://photocast.me.com/maribelarte/100415/rss

I GET HANGED!

2011-03-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

I am being hung...my show that is! Exciting to see it all come together finally...

Editing "365 Days of Drawing By Johanna Spinks" was not easy.

It feels like wonderful closure on a year of drawing.

See you tomorrow night for the opening.

CREAM OF THE CROP? OR NOT. Art competitions...

2011-03-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

I found myself painting cream this week in a demo as some major art competitions announced entry results. I also found myself and my art colleagues talking a lot publicly and privately about art competitions: who was the 'cream of the crop', who was in, who was out? Hot or not?

The grit of the art pitter-patter I heard was this:

*do politics come into play? (I take The Fifth on that one).

*are competitions fair?

*how did it ALL get so competitive?

*does an Old Boys' Club exist?

*why do judges miss genius?

*why don't the judges see that blue figurative painting has so many flaws?

*why are the same people getting into competitions and others not?

*what does it take to get into this "... "show, ( fill in the blank)?

* should I quit entering this particular competition?

*should I quit art completely?

The big art show "results" announced within a one week period across the USA this week were from The Portrait Society of America's International Portrait competition and The Oil Painters' of American National Show. There was also a flurry around the California Art Club Gold Medal 100th Anniversary Show opening this weekend, April 2nd, at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.

My painting "Geek Chic", above, was picked for CAC Gold. However, I was turned down for about the 11th year in a row by another competition.

Thousand of artists apply for each and all of these shows. Many of us know each other somewhat. We are all "friends" on Facebook after all. Ha!

And thanks to Facebook, Blogword and Twitter there is a sharp public sting when we see our rejection obvious along with others' rejoicement. It can be hard.

It can also be hard to judge shows. I recently judged a show and one of the entrants was allowed in at the end of the judging, groan, immediately asking me if I had picked his entry. I hadn't. I knew the news hurt but I also knew I had a judging criteria from my own art perspective just like every judge has in other shows, big or small, national or local.

I don't have the answers to any of the above questions but I have learned entering competitions is VERY IMPORTANT and helps your career when things go well. They also tell you, with a winning entry, the level you are at. But they can't define us. We paint the way we paint because, like our handwriting, we can't change it. It is just what comes out of us, a need to express ourselves. Competitions, success of failure, mustn't mess with that.

I have also learned to expect NOTHING in terms of results.

I have also learned great things happen when you LEAST expect them.

I have also learned rejection hurts for a couple of hours no matter how hard you try to 'let it go' and acceptance puts you on top of the world for the same couple of hours.

Art competitions have been going on for centuries. Art is subjective. There isn't a formula for any of it and there probably is unfairness from time to time. Most of all, an art entry has to 'speak' to the judges amid a sea of entries. Who needs to see another David Leffel copyist?

My mentor told me a story I have never forgotten in one of his workshops: that he entered the same piece in a competition, rejected one year, and awarded a gold medal the next. He kept both letters on his mantelpiece, reject and accept, to remind him of the randomness of it all. What he did with the gold medal, well, I hope he hung it from a high beam so it caught the light.

I have learned to savor the good art competition moments, like dropping my painting off at CAC Gold yesterday. It felt good to sign in right under Mian Situ's name! It might be a long while before I sign under him again.

I am learning to be selective with my entry money. If a competition continues to return no results after years of trying, it is perhaps best to move on and spend your entry fee elsewhere. After all, these entry fees add up and no-one wants to be always an art bridesmaid at the same competition reception for years and years.

I am learning not to compare myself with other artists. Chose my own path and and keep on it. If Prince Charming is visiting another artist that day, giving her or him the winning glass slipper, be happy for that artist.

Thanks to life guru of many, Seth Godin, this week for his mostly timely piece The Tryanny of Being Picked:

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/03/reject-the-tyranny-of-being-picked-pick-yourself.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29&utm_content=FeedBlitz+Preview

IN THE END, let go of competition. If one is able to keep working hard daily at one's craft in a passionate way for a lifetime, putting it out there selectively, surely that is the prize? The rest cream on the cake.

Got Cream?

Daily Painting Demo

8"x6"

$200, free shipping

STUDIO MADNESS

2011-03-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

GETTING READY...a few big pieces for my show, 365 Days of Drawing, opening Friday April 1st.

And a quiet piece I allowed myself to paint yesterday just for painting joy and rejvenation in the middle of all this corset madness.

Two to Tango?

2011-03-18T08:12:00.001-07:00

It takes two to tango. And today I don't feel much like tango-ing. What do you do on days when you feel disappointment in results?

Class demo California Art Institute.

TEASER ALERT...THE BOOK IS COMING!

2011-03-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

Phew...I did it, with some considerable help. My book is on its way to the printer in time for the show!! Cheers, clink! clink! All around. Here is the cover. Hope you like!

365 drawings drawn each day of 2010, many turned in to painting studies, made their way into a book with the help of a marvelous company called FLAUNT YOUR PHOTOS

FlauntYourPhotos.com

I could NOT have done it without FYP, a company geared toward helping artists in particular (but other normal folks too!) do just what I did. It was painless too, I have to say. Mrs. Peggy Kinstler founded FYP and she is used to working with artists being married to master artist Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A. Peggy's great art editing eye and vast publishing experience, was priceless. 365 sketches plus other year images AND text, found themselves nestled into the new pages of this book within 10 days or so! Thanks for working so hard for me Peggy. I have a new baby about to be born.

The book will be available for purchase in three different sizes and prices, 5"x5", 8'x8", and 12"x12".

Watch this spot for more info on how to purchase, and pricing.

Glow...

2011-03-10T22:28:00.000-08:00

I say a juicy vibrant tangerine will remind you why you wanted to start painting in the first place.

As much I try to keep those orange globes muted, I just can't hold back for long. I want them bright orange. Nothing else will do.

Demo this week, one on one instruction. How I enjoy that type of teaching.

GLOW, demo.

8x6

Oil

Hot dinners...Face of Ventura Project

2011-03-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

Eloquent inventor Jerry English has done more things in his long healthy life than I have had hot dinners! He was a MUST for my FACE OF THE VENTURA with The Ventura Breeze http://www.venturabreeze.com/#

Publisher Sheldon Brown and I are just about to paint our tenth sitter, all from life in a single sitting, out of 52.

I must eat more hot dinners. It takes a lot of energy to paint handsome interesting people.

Jerry English

Portrait by Johanna Spinks

Gerald (Jerry) Dean English was the child of Alden Weslie and Doro- thy Ann English born at St. Johns Hospital in Oxnard in 1937. He spent his young life growing up on the west end of Ventura. He has traveled the world and came to realize that Ven- tura is the best place on Earth.

Jerry joined the U.S. Air Force in 1955 and attended technical school at Lowery Air Force Base in Denver Colora- do, where he studied munitions, demo- lition, and nuclear and thermal nuclear weapons. He was then sent to Germany where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechani- cal Engineering at the University of Mainz. During this time, Jerry raced motorcycles for the Adler Factory in Frankfurt, includ- ing the German Prix in 1958 at the Nuremburg Ring.

County as a private investigator. In 1983 he was employed by a company called Swat Viper where he provided seminars and training for SWAT teams in Califor- nia, Nevada and Arizona.

All his life he has felt giving back to the community, no matter how busy he was in his various professions, was most important. As a member of the Saint Patrick’s Parade committee and the Fair Parade committee, he enjoyed lending his talent as is needed.

Staying physically fit is crucial to enjoying the quality of life at 73 years young. Skating long distance is the

Johanna Spinks made everything very relaxing and enjoyable and it was definitely something I would do again!

Returning to Ventura in 1960, Jerry worked as an engineer at Raytheon, Gulf Western, MacDonald Douglas and the Atlas Missile Program. Needing a change, Jerry started his own business in 1964 in the marine industry, becoming a certified deep sea diver and earning an International Underwater Contractors License to maintain the offshore tanker moorings.

Having an adventurous spirit, Jerry decided to become a stuntman in 1975 and joined the Independent Stuntmen of Motion Pictures Group of Holly- wood. In 1982, Jerry created a company called Western Justice, in which he trained body guards and provided pro- tection for celebrities such as Pat Benitar, George Benson, and the Royal Family of Bruni, just to name a few. In conjunction with his businesses, he worked for Wells Fargo Investigative Services, and Gil Acosta Investigative Services of Orange

measure of condi- tioning for him. As an example, Jerry roller skated from Arcadia, Califor- nia to Las Vegas, Nevada and back in 72.6 hours! He endured 687 miles round trip in tem- peratures of 115 degrees. He enjoyed skating across

Death Valley when it was hot and still survived to enjoy another day in his be- loved, beautiful home town of Ventura.

We asked him what he likes best about living in Ventura?

What makes this town so unique is the friendly people that live here. Fur- thermore, Venturans fight to keep their heritage. You can feel it! Just walk down Main Street or walk on the beach and speak with people. And, of course surf- ing the beautiful Ventura beaches, Mav- ericks, Surfer’s Point is still the best spot to surf.

And how was the experience of having your portrait painted by Johanna?

The experience was a real pleasure. Johanna Spinks made everything very relaxing and enjoyable and it was defi- nitely something I would do again!

In the Pink

2011-03-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

I am crazy for people with died pink hair. Just love to paint that. This was the model for my class last week. I discovered her walking around my studio complex and knew I had to paint that candyfloss fuchsia hair.

NEW CLASS STARTS AT VITA ART CENTER THIS WEDNESDAY. Four weeks. $120. From the model.

BE THERE!

Pretty In Pink, Class demo

8x10"

Oil on linen panel

$125, free shipping

SAVE THE DATE!...

2011-03-04T14:30:00.001-08:00

Flying by The Seat of Your Art Pants..Malibu Art Association Demo...

2011-03-03T08:08:00.001-08:00

You really are flying by the seat of your Ralph Lauren pants and Jimmy Choo shoes (yeah, right!) when doing public demos - as was this one for the Malibu Art Association in CA, a great group of artists and my third appearance for them.

You never quite know what to expect. How will the room be (acoustics), how will the audience questions be (artists can ask questions that really make you stop in your painting demo tracks and have to think!), how will the light be? What will I forget to take? Will I be 'on' my game that day?

I try to prepare as best I can, taking my own lights, extension cords, chairs, backdrops, props. etc. double checking everything with a list....yes, I have learned the hard way. Demos are never just the two or three hours you are there. There is prep. work. And it is hell if you forget the zinc white or the model.

This demo was of a friend of mine who I have known since she was five so pressure was there too as you want do to something half decent - not just a stunt kinda thing

AS it turned out the room acoustics were not good and it really IS hard to shout as you paint, I discovered. Some demos do microphones, some do not. Remember, your back is to the audience as you paint. Not easy. My time was also cut short by 15 minutes suddenly at the end due to unforeseen circumstances in the room booking. But that 15 minutes of demo 'finish" time is worth about three hours of solid gold in normal art time.

So I go what I got being reminded why it does take certain 'energy' and most of all training in life painting to do these things. I am always grateful and honored to be asked to share my work and approach and the art folks at MAA were a delight as usual.

Pizza Pizazz...Face of Ventura By Johanna Spinks

2011-02-27T10:33:00.000-08:00

The moment I set eyes on Pizza Man Tony I knew I wanted to paint him for my Face of Ventura Project which continues with The Ventura Breeze newspaper. Not only does he make the best pizza in town and has done for some 40 odd years, he has one of THOSE faces that us artists love. He turned up in his baking apron and shirt full of pizazz. We had the best time together, chatting and singing along to Frank Sinatra while I painted him.

To read Full Breeze go here: http://www.venturabreeze.com/ Thanks as always to publisher Sheldon Brown.

Tony Barrios

Portrait by Johanna Spinks

Tony Barrios is indeed a Face Of Ventura.

Born and raised in Ventura in a home about one block from his res- taurant, Tony’s Pizzeria located at 186 Thompson Boulevard, he has had an exciting, rewarding and suc- cessful life.

While at Ventura High School he was a 16-year-old exercise boy and rider at several race tracks including Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. In fact (at 102 pounds) he was grooming to become a jockey when World War II interrupted his plans when he went into the Army at 17.

World War II also presented him with something that he didn’t want – a Purple Heart. While in action in France, with the 106 Cavalry Recon Squadron he was wounded when a land mine blew up a few feet from him. He was 19 at the time. He has been with wife Jerrie for 30 years and has 3 sons, 3 daughters and 11 grand kids.

Among the many things that he has done: for 10 years he was a rodeo clown, in 1955 he was the Ventura County hard pitch softball batting champ, he was a Kempo black belt, and he once raced Jesse Owens except that he was on a horse (he won).

He also plays the guitar and sings just like Frank Sinatra. But he says, “The difference is when Sinatra sings it’s sad and when I sing it’s pitiful”.

But he is best known as the creator of Tony’s Pizzeria which he opened first where the present Knights of Columbus is located, and in 1968 he moved to his present loca- tion on Thompson. His mentor was a New York pizza man.

Today he still works part time and his 2 sons, Tony Jr. and Johnny, run the place most of the time with occa- sional help from daughter Linda who comes in from Visalia.

He still loves being with his cus-

tomers and socializing with them, some of whom have been eating his pizzas for over 50 years, and playing the Keno machines at local casinos.

The next time that you drive by the Tortilla Flats Murals (right next to the Pizzeria) you will find him be- tween the two images of Jesse Owens and do stop and say hi.

We asked him what he likes most about liv- ing in Ventura?

We have so much to enjoy here, especially along our south-facing shoreline.

Surfing, fishing, cycling, strolling along the promenade and pier, and often the thrill of spectacular sunsets, Seaside Park, Ventura Harbor, Grant Park all with backgrounds of rolling green hills and distant mountains. We are truly blessed.

Over the years the people of Ven- tura have been so good to me, and those who visit from out of town of- ten express a wish of wanting to live here--notsurprising, as most would agree, our weather is hard to beat. To me, its 100% enjoyable!

And how was the experience of having your portrait painted by Johanna?

One day I walked into my business and waiting for me was a lady by the name of Johanna Spinks who told me she was an artist, and wanted to paint my portrait.

The experience was such a pleasure because of the way she paints. She asked me what kind of music I liked, and I told her I loved to listen to Frank Sinatra. She turns on her tape player, takes her long handled brush, and starts to paint at her easel in rhythm with the music, showing signs of real happiness! It’s a great pleasure to know her. Also while in her studio I met Sheldon Brown, publisher of the Breeze, an- other great person.

To READ THE FULL BREEZE Go here

Post-It...That's The Tick-it.

2011-02-25T18:18:00.000-08:00

Today I got serious. I have a show coming up. How on earth do you choose to mount a show from the 365 Days of Drawings you did in 2010?

I tried to cancel the show, very seriously. Didn't want to go there. The challenge was DONE, my public art soul out there for a whole darn year, day by day. Not so easy.

Why put it out there anymore?, I said to myself. My family agreed. Don't do it, my husband said. However, Ms. Mary Perez, owner, curator, of The Vita Art Center in Ventura, CA, mounting the show, (committing to it quite early on in the drawing challenge last year, b.t.w., which kinda kept me going at some points) , calmly talked me out of it. She said she had never seen me so jittery. Ms. Perez also said I would really regret it if I didn't do the show. This is exactly the type of curator an artist needs. Gets it!

I thought of the super successful "American Idol" TV show in the USA. You have to reach, right? Consolidate the hours of performance/learning/training into a three song set sometimes? You gotta be in it to win it, whatever 'win' is, right? And I really did frickin' draw every day no matter what for 365 days. One needs a conclusion to a year like that. A finale of sorts.

So self edt. Get the blue 'Post-Its' out. Tonight I laid out the selection of drawings I liked the best and became an 'American Idol' kind of TV judge, although not so Paula Abdul, if you know what I mean.

Consistency overall. Pick the 'art spirit' that propelled you forward in 2010 for 365 days. Amazingly enough, it seems to me there was a current, a theme of sorts. SO I PUT BLUE STICKIES ON THOSE, just like an A. I. judge. However, I do have to put my art ego aside to show that 'current' in the show. Not always the best drawings showed the current. No-one can help me with that it seems.

I now share with you my journey of putting on this show. Do you wish you could vote me off my version of American Idol perhaps?

365 Days of Drawing By Johanna Spinks

Opening Reception Friday April 1st 2011, 6 to 9 pm

Vita Art Center

Ventura, CA.

More details will surely follow

Hold the Olives...

2011-02-24T08:01:00.001-08:00

A double teaching day yesterday with two demos from life. Another one today for The Malibu Art Association, my third time painting for this lovely group of artists.

The painting in the morning, Backlit Demo, was from a model, so a little more freedom was had to be arty and play with light.

The second demo in the afternoon was of an artist friend of mine, Lis Schwitters, so more traditional. One really needed to capture the person and not get arty!

What fun. Think I might have to put my flats on though today. All this standing for hours. And it might be a double something cold tonight. Shaken not stirred. Hold the olives.

Here is the Malibu info:

http://www.malibutimes.com/articles/2011/02/16/malibu_life/people/people2.txt

Backlit demo, California Art Institute

11 x 16

$125.00

Draw and Drive?

2011-02-21T17:57:00.001-08:00

Went away for some R&R this weekend but became fairly obsessed with doing this drawing in my motel room between takes of sightseeing and fun.

Us artists live in our own little world don't we? I would probably draw and drive if I could.

Pastel

12 x 16

$125.00

Fresh and Juicy...

2011-02-18T11:08:00.000-08:00

Another day, another teaching demo at The California Art Institute...this one was about one hour of painting. I would like to have spent more time on it but I DID like what I got. The model was beautiful and just my type.

Her skin came out kinda fresh and juicy like a ripe piece 0f peach from my local farmers' market. Maybe there is something to be gained from working fast and furious. Simplicity. Often my head studies look best at mid-way point rather than the end. What do you think?

Ariela

8 x 10

$95.00

Free shipping

BRING ON THE BUBBLY! FACE of VENTURA PROJECT

2011-02-15T19:29:00.001-08:00

SITTER NUMBER 4 OF 52!

You know a good thing when you see it as an artist -as sure as a glass of sparkling Veuve Cliquot champagne (my favorite) is always good. When you can get it!

I knew Mrs. Jolene McBee would be a fantastic sitter to paint for my FACE OF VENTURA portrait project with The Ventura Breeze newspaperwww.venturabreeze.com/

I had sat and watched her, eggs over easy stalker-style, at the coffee shop she owns knowing that I HAD to paint her but would she do it? Even my husband said munching his hash browns: "Now there is a face you should paint."

Well, myself and Sheldon Brown, publisher of The Ventura Breeze, which is hosting this project and then some, decided to have breakfast at The Vagabond Coffee shop and use our mutual charms to persuade her. We just had to make it happen.

I have to say, this lady was among the most gracious I have ever met. She was a joy to a paint and spend two hours with. I found a new friend in Jolene and am reminded why I love to be a portrait artist. Thank you Jolene. See ya at breakfast, hold the champagne. DRATS.

My name is Jolene McBee

I am the owner and operator of

The Vagabond Restaurant located on

Thompson.

I came to Ventura in December of

1971 and absolutely fell in love with

this most beautiful city. I started working

as waitress at the Vagabond Restaurant

in February 1975. I was hired

as temporary help until such time as

the manager, Mr. Mac McBee, could

hire someone full

time. As it turned

out, he never

hired anyone to

take my place. I

loved the work

and the place

and Mr. McBee

seemed happy

with me. So happy

in fact that

we were married

four years later in 1979. And I never left

the business. My husband and I bought

the restaurant from the original owner

in 1985 and then it really became our

life and our love.

We have raised our children, grandchildren,

and now great-grandchildren

in this most wonderful, homey and

comfortable place full of love, laughter,

and so many, many, cherished memories.

After my husband passed away in

2003, I met with all my employees and

we all agreed to stick together and to

carry on the business just as Mac had

done all those years before. We became

even more determined than ever to do

the best we could with the legacy he had

left us. I think he would be proud of all

of us.

My passions include spending time

at the restaurant with my family, my

employees, my friends and customers

and especially with my 2 1/2 year

old great-grandson, Zack. I never have

enough time with him.

We asked her what she likes most about living

in Ventura?

The things I love about living in

Ventura are absolutely too many to

mention here. I love the fact that Ventura

has a “small town feel”. The people

here are some of the most warm, caring,

loving people that I have ever met. I am

originally from Texas and I know about

Southern hospitality

and I can

tell you that the

citizens of Ventura

(and Ventura

County) show

just about as

much hospitality

and friendship

towards others

as anybody in

Texas. Of course,

the climate, the beach, the ocean, the

mountains, are probably the biggest

draw for most people, but ,as for me,...

it’s the PEOPLE.

And how was the experience of having your

portrait painted by Johanna?

I have never in my life sat for a professional

photographer or had a portrait

done of me. When Johanna and Sheldon

first approached me to sit for her, I

really thought she was joking. I couldn’t

believe that anyone would want to paint

me. When she explained her project to

me, and I really understood what she

wanted, I was surprised and felt very

honored that she had asked me.

My time with Johanna was fun

and entertaining and something I may

never experience again and I am so glad

to have had the opportunity to get to

know her and witness what a wonderful

person and extremely talented artist she is.

Gracious thanks to The Ventura Breeze and especially publisher Sheldon Brown. To read full article and The Breeze go here:

http://www.venturabreeze.com/

GIVE ME HE-ART...

2011-02-13T09:06:00.000-08:00

Someone I don't know asked me from afar why do I always paint or draw beauty in my art? My first reaction was "I don't". I have done my share of gnarled old character and enjoy that. My second thought was, and 'so what if I do?'

Artists do tend to like a theme. Case in point. Yesterday I went to see The Masters of The American West Show at The Autry Museum in L.A. This year's show is a a stunner. THIS IS THE LEVEL OF PAINTING I ASPIRE TO. Forget the subject matter. Morgan Weistling's work was once again my favorite in the show, winning the covetted Patron's Award, and not for the first time! but I am a bit biased when it comes to this man's great work. See it here www.morganweistling.com

I raced home and got out my drawing board. Back to the drawing always. Forgive me but I did a bit of beauty. The MASTERS all had it and I had seen plenty of beauty today in the show, be it in the face of a weathered cowboy, in the drifts of melting snow, the feathers of a white swan, the fur of a wolf, or in the lace of a pretty child's apron.

Keep going, I said to myself, and may the Art Gods please give me strength to paint my HE-ART, always as beautifully as I can.

STRENGTH

DAILY PAINTER ORIGINALS

16 x 22"

Pastel and gouche on paper.

$95.00

Shipping $6.00

HARMONY IN WHITE...100 Days!

2011-02-08T08:13:00.001-08:00

I love painters who paint white well, don't you? To that end, I have decided to do 100 small studies in white, in one sitting, to push myself. These won't be a consecutive 100 days as I don't do consecutive anything anymore after last years 365 Days of Drawing! That train left the station. Toot toot.

To this end, I rejoined Daily Painter Originals this week, see big white link box to the right, where the studies will be posted along with some fine work by the other artists there.

White works by Sorolla, Philip de Laszlo, Sargent, Sergei Bongart and current day color masters Ovanes Berberian, John Asaro, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Dawn Whitelaw, Michael Shane Neal, Daniel Gerhartz, Scott Burdick, and Susan Lyon are some of the paintings I pore over. My mentor Mr. Kinstler said that 'white on white' paintings are a challenge. Try white marble against a white cloth. Later...much.

I paint pretty fast so these will be a warm up exercise in the studio to start the day. I will be curious to see where this goes.

Here is the first one I did yesterday: I hope you like.

100 Days of Harmony in White, #1, Party Shoes, QUICK SKETCH

6x8", oil on canvas

$75.00 plus $6. shipping.

GIFT WRAPPED, YES IN WHITE! , with white display easel.