Live Life Large?

Work in Progress
36"x36"
By Johanna Spinks


Living out large in my art life continues...sitting from life this week. A good start but a ways to go. Thanks to lovely La Larva for sitting for me. Come back to see it done?

Go Big or Go Home?

My 2017 New Year Resolution of painting all portraits via palette knife is off to a bright start.

 I went large format for the first time ever this week in a life sitting painting my pal Keri and it was exhilarating.  My brain had to really work hard to get out of its' comfort zone.  At first I wasn't sure I could do it.

I now realize I have been building up to this for a long time.

Thank you Art Spirit.

 Stay tuned. It's going to be a year like no other in my art life. 

"Lush"
36"x36"
Oil on canvas via palette knife
By Johanna Spinks

The life sitting with Keri
About two hours in. 

Paint An Apple, Paint A Face.

Years ago I was told if you can paint an apple well, you can then do a face. I did both this week from life, via my palette knife, both in same color compliments. Both still excite. Thanks to photographer/art muse Timothy Clark for sitting for me. What a nice guy.

Timothy 16 x 12"
Oil on linen
via palette knife
www.johannaspinks.com

"Spa Lunch"
Oil on Board
5x7"
by Johanna Spinks
www.johannaspinks.com

Single life sitting
Timothy Clark
via my palette knife
www.johannaspinks.com

"David Cameron -BREXIT Portrait"

Breaking Bad? Time will tell on Brexit. Today I painted my thoughts via palette knife.

Please post your thoughts.

"David Cameron -Brexit 2016"
www.johannaspinks.com

Thank YOU! Palette Knife Portrait Show Opens.

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone from far and wide who attended my show opening, "Going Under The Knife",  sent flowers to the event, phoned, texted, social media posted, or emailed warm well wishes. To be honest, I felt the love from all over the world.

I feel so very lucky as an artist to have had this type of support and I appreciate it deeply.

Thank you also to the curator of the Museum of Ventura County, Anna Bermudez, and Museum CEO Pattie Mullins, for the invitation to show in the first place.

And forever thanks to my mentor Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A., for his encouragement to continue to explore  the palette knife portrait work describing my journey as: "A refreshing departure and journey into creative portraiture."

www.everettraymondkinstler.com

Show runs thru April 30th at The Tool Room Gallery, by appointment with the Museum, scroll to previous post for contact and location details.

Gratitudes
Johanna

Gisele From Paris...

Gisele
Oil on Linen Via Palette Knife
By Johanna Spinks
www.johannaspinks.com

Gisele from Paris came to my studio today and sat for my palette knife for about two and a half hours. What a joy she is. Hope I caught some of that here?

Catch my upcoming palette knife portrait show "Going Under The Knife" ...opening Friday April 1, 6-9 pm.
http://venturamuseum.org/upcoming-events/tool-room-gallery/

New Quickie YOU Tube

 A new quickie YOU Tube video of a palette knife portrait I just started in my studio for a client. Enjoy!

Don't forget my upcoming solo show...

"Going Under The Knife" By Johanna Spinks

An Exploration of Palette Knife Portraiture

Museum of Ventura County

Tool Room Gallery

@Bell Arts Factory

432 N. Ventura Ave.,

Ventura, California 93001

Please note this a satellite gallery, off Museum's main campus.

Opening Night, Friday April 1st, 6-9 p.m.

Show runs through April 30th

After reception, viewing by appointment only.

310 384 7029

www.johannaspinks.com

Just over two years ago, award-winning portrait artist Johanna Spinks decided to take a risk with her familiar paint brush: putting it down. In its place, she picked up a palette knife and began using the metal artist’s tool for her private, non-commissioned work in order to paint the people around her. Her upcoming curated show at the Museum of Ventura County’s Tool Room Gallery, entitled “Going Under the Knife," is sampling of this palette knife work. Much of this work was done from life sittings, depicting those near and dear to her and those who captured her heart on her travels through India, Europe and the high Sierras during this timespan. Johanna’s mentor and seven-time presidential portrait painter Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A. describes her palette knife portrait work as "a refreshing departure and journey into creative portraiture”. 

Included in the show will be a large portrait of Ventura scientist and philanthropist 102 years'-young Howard Boroughs which was recently accepted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Ventura County. Johanna painted Howard in five life sittings at his home, an experience she holds most dear. 

One thing is for sure, the palette knife won’t be put down any time soon. 

A Selection of Palette Knife Portraits
By Johanna Spinks
Most painted from life.
www.johannaspinks.com

David Bowie...

I was in a retro nostalgia Bowie mood and invited the incredible @vnixie to sit for me today, via palette knife,  to capture that feeling. She is perfection, as was he. 

I was lucky to meet Bowie once, a long time ago. You could feel his presence in the room. Such a genius creator and innovator. 

Life is sadder with this legend gone but of course he is just with Major Tom. Back shortly. 

V-Nixie
By Johanna Spinks
Via Palette Knife
16 x 20"
www.johannaspinks.com

J.W.Waterhouse Sketchbooks

"The Victoria and Albert Tearoom"
24x18" via palette knife
By Johanna Spinks
For purchase
here

The block-in painted from life with that knife

Slowing working through

The background begins

Visiting the sketchbooks of J.W.Waterhouse within the vaults of The Victoria and Albert Museum. Wow!

I have long enjoyed a good scone, thick clotted cream and a nice cuppa especially in lovely British tearooms. I found myself once again in the tearoom of The Victoria and Albert Museum with its' beautiful Pre-Raphaelite windows that leave you breathless with wonder and so enjoying the moment.

I was also lucky enough to visit four of J.W. Waterhouse sketchbooks in this Musuem's collection which was a remarkable experience. Yes, I actually got to leaf through them with my bare hands. What an incredible artist J.W. Waterhouse was. I don't think anyone has yet come close to what he did with his brush and imagination.

So, all of this came together in my painting inspired by the tearoom and those sketchbooks. It was started from life painting the lovely model Amina in my teaching class and taken further during the days that followed. The windows are downplayed which I apologize for but sometimes you have to edit.

I hope you like.

The Long And Winding Palette Knife Road

My journey with the palette knife continues, some days good, some days not...but I know I am pushing myself which I suppose is the point.

At this point I know what I can do with a brush.

The long and winding palette knife road? Leads you to your path? We'll see.

This is my quickie demo (90 minutes) from my life painting teaching class yesterday of the lovely artist/muse Mather Louth, painted on day two of a migraine. The model and pose gorgeous but a lot to take on in just 90 minutes.

http://www.matherlouth.com

I went for a color harmony of red and green trying to get as much color into Mather's skin as I could while still greying it down, working with that knife much like icing a cake. Fast.

I hope I am making some progress. What do you think?

Today I start another one, with a little more finish of a wonderful lady that I am excited about.

"Mather Louth"
Palette Knife Life Sketch
10x12"
Oil on linen board
Johanna Spinks

My weekly studio class is always great fun. Great models and great poses.
Wednesdays 10 to 2pm
Join us?

The Palette Knife Portrait Continues

Fresh back into the studio from my trip abroad I am anxious to get going again with my palette knife portrait work preparing for a show.  They won't all make it. You have to paint a lot of portraits from life to get a few good ones it seems to me. The palette knife is more hit and miss than painting with the regular brush.

This one of Julie is the first one painted from life on my return thinking somewhat of the beautiful J.W. Waterhouse paintings and sketchbooks I was lucky enough to see in the U.K. I tried to keep some areas to almost the bare canvas while working up  other areas much thicker.

Today I start a portrait of a vineyard owner with that palette knife. Come back to see the work in progress?

"Julie"
12 x 9"
Oil on linen panel via palette knife
Johanna Spinks

Easter Roses Via A Palette Knife

I just whipped out some Easter roses with my palette knife while basting the ham. Happy Easter everyone!

California Gold Museum Weekend

Opening Night


Dear friends:

Just wanted to share some personal pix from this weekend's opening festivities as finalist in  the California Art Club's 104th Gold Medal Juried Exhibition. 

I have been lucky enough to be in this prestigious show in the past so was really looking forward to what I knew would be a great weekend.

I was so happy that my palette knife portrait of my daughter, "The Homecoming",  was hung so beautifully,  two over from the Gold Medal Painting Prize winner Jim McVicker, pictured, with that stunning self portrait of his. Great guy too.  It's a super show and on for another month at the USC Fisher Museum, so catch it and see over 200 terrific pieces or view it all online here:

http://www.californiaartclub.org/104th-annual-gold-medal-juried-exhibition-and-sale/

I also love the CAC show statement in the entrance way, which is why I included it here in the pix, not just to show off my Artists'  Sunday brunch outfit.

Thanks to the California Art Club for all they do for us artists. Really!

I feel inspired and honored to be part of this great group and historical show. 

Thanks to all who came, especially to lovely artist/friend Theresa Walker Harris, pictured with me,  who flew in especially to the show - and  took these pix. 

"The Homecoming"
12"x9"
Oil on linen via palette knife
By Johanna Spinks

Inspiration...A Special Story

I was so inspired today by my journalist daughter Rosie Spinks who spent five months in South Africa, working on a story, seeing it  published via GOOD on a very delicate subject.

http://magazine.good.is/features/prostitution-legalization-decriminalization

I decided to feel inspired myself and knew I wanted to paint with a palette knife this afternoon and do a portrait of Rosie Spinks so that is exactly what I did.

Not a bad day's efforts. I like what I got even though it took me way less time than my daughter's well researched article, five months in the making, living in South Africa to find her story.

When inspiration comes, you fly with it, right?

Palette knife portrait, "The Embroidered Top", 9 x 12",  by Johanna Spinks

Palette knife portrait,  in progress, close-up

Palette knife strokes, close up

Palette Knifer From Life

What better way to spend a day than painting a life portrait along with a great art buddy for good conversation?

"Lynette"
Oil on linen
By Johanna Spinks
10 x 10

Finding You Own Painting Style...

I thought this article today by John P. Weiss a really great read! Deeply resonated with me and I am sure a few others. Click on the link to read the full article.

My pal Jeremy Lipking gets a well deserved mention. Now there's a guy that has found his style and then some! He is deservedly winning every award around this year including the Prix de West and ARC. Catch his upcoming one day workshop July 26th.

www.lipking.com

65 Red Roses
Palette Knife
22 x 28
By Johanna Spinks

The Problem With Painting Workshops

by John P. Weiss

So here's the deal. Take those workshops, copy those museum masterpieces until you've reached a level of true proficiency. Then stop all that. Pack up your paint box easel and spend some serious time digesting the world around you. Slow down, even when you think you're wasting time. Study, think, experiment, and stop trying to ape someone else. Inside you is a unique voice. It has been whispering in your ear for a long time, waiting for you to blossom. [...] 

Read the rest of this article at:
http://faso.com/fineartviews/77296/the-problem-with-painting-workshops

----------------------------------------------
This excerpt appears courtesy of FineArtViews Art Marketing Newsletter by FASO,
a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists,
collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art).


For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.faso.com/art-marketing-newsletter

New Palette Knife Portrait -in progress

In progress, my new palette knife portrait and it's a large one.  Come back to see it done.
A couple of spots left in my summer workshop. Hurry, they won't last.

In progress, palette knife portrait, 22 x 28"

Largest Palette Knife Portrait So Far

Early morning start to my largest palette knife portrait so far, 36 x 24". Come back to see the stages.

Work in Progress
oil on linen
via palette knife
"The Missoni Scarf"

65 Red Roses Done

Well, I finally finished my large palette knife portrait of Eva Markvoort. Her story of her courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis really moved me deeply. It is my second portrait of her.

Eva sadly lost her battle, but not before inspiring millions and raising a lot of money for CF through her documentary on Netflix (put out by Oprah Winfrey's OWN)  called, you guessed it, 65 RED ROSES, and her hugely popular blog of the same name.

 Why that name? It is how small children pronounce CF.

 You can read more about Eva's life story  here and try to donate to CF if you can.

http://65redroses.livejournal.com

Eva's 65 Red Roses
Oil on linen via palette knife
By Johanna Spinks
22 x 28"

the start

The middle

Closeup

Palette Knife Portraits

It's a double expresso morning as I burned the midnight oil finishing up this one last night.

I post the stages, started in my teaching class last week.

Lynda
12 x 16
Oil on linen via palette knife
By Johanna Spinks

Close-up