Readers of this blog will know for almost three years now I have been lucky enough to be around master painter Jeremy Lipking, offering a helping hand when he needs it in return for inspiration from this incredibly talented man.
www.lipking.com
Lipking's work moves me. Plain and simple. We paint in different styles for sure, but I love to watch him paint and hear his thoughts on all things to do with his art. I am a big believer in surrounding myself with greatness to learn more about what I do in my own professional working life - and that he is.
It has been quite a journey so far. There was a Lipking workshop visit to Sweden to Anders Zorn's hometown Mora, a workshop to the High Sierras, a huge sold-out solo show in NY that Lipking prepared for over two years, and a ton of weekly Tuesday night classes and weekend workshops. There was also a delightful addition to the young Lipking family during this time period which made everyone's heart sing.
I have seen many enthralled students come through Lipking's eclectic studio, which is full of his paintings and personal art finds and treasures. I've seen many Lipking demos and many of his large scale, prize-winning paintings in progress. Just this year Lipking won The Prix de West and also The Art Renewal Centre Grand Prize. He knows a thing or two and he is not even 40 yet.
I was prompted to come up with the TOP TEN THINGS I have learned from this young master so far after watching him demo yesterday knowing I was in the presence yet again of greatness. And not to mention grateful for it.
1. Take your time: Lipking thinks things through from beginning to end. His first brushstroke is as important as his last.
2. Simplify: Lipking will take a complicated mountain range or ocean view and simply it like no other. Saying less is more.
3. Warm shadows: paint them darker than you think and use cool muted greys for the light with some cadimum 'bright' mixes for the sizzle on top, a.ka. Lipking 'glow'.
4. Design: Lipking is a master here. Using his excellent drawing skills he designs beautiful shapes around a chosen value pattern.
5. Subtle: super subtle half tones in the light, often connecting to each other and kept lighter in value than you would think.
6. Purple: a blue-ish purple mound of color is always on Lipking's palette, think of a Provence Blue shade. He dips into it often to cool his colors.
7. Washes: thin washes are used to optimum effect and an important part of his approach with parts of the wash appearing in the final painting, under clothing or hair, or just about anything.
8. Observe: Lipking's mind is always working on the lookout for his next great painting. Once on a car ride we swerved off the road to catch a herd of sheep at sunset that he had seen in the distance.
9. Go for exquisite: give everything you paint your full attention from a humble single flower to a vast canyon range at sunset.
10. Paint what you love: this is obvious in all of his paintings. He doesn't paint to the crowd. It seems he paints to please himself and the rest follows.
To sign up for Lipking's next studio workshop day Saturday October 18th, go here:
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| Jeremy Lipking's inspiring demo this weekend at his studio workshop. |
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| My 'take' on the lovely model, Julie. |
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| Lipking on location 2013 |
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| Lipking Malibu beach workshop 2012 |
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| Lipking Studio workshop 2012 |
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| A quick-sketch of me by Lipking |
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| Sweden, 2012. Myself pictured here with Lipking at Anders Zorn's summer house. Amazing times. |
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| A palette knife portrait I did of Lipking "Sierra Shades - Jeremy Lipking" |
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| Lipking workshop, The Sierras Fall 2013 |
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| Lipking Gets Another Cover |
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| Lipking Sold-Out Solo Show December 2013 |
