Winnie The Pooh

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." Winnie The Pooh.

An especially poignant life sitting this week via my palette knife. Art helped me through a very sad week.

"It All Comes Of Liking Honey So Much..."
By Johanna Spinks
12 x 12"
Oil on canvas

Green Renewal of The Fires

Chris Dali - "Renewal"
By Johanna Spinks
36 x 36", via palette knife

The Face of Malibu Rebuilds
By Johanna Spinks
A series of interviews and sketches by Spinks appearing weekly in The Malibu Times featuring the rebuild of people who have lost everything. 

Green renewal on the fire torn mountains - and within me. This portrait of Chris Dali, relative of the great surrealist painter Salvador Dali, was started the day of the Malibu wildfires that took 600 homes and two-thirds of my neighborhood. Yet alone, the rest of the destruction through California.

It was started the day of the fires, from a three hour life sitting with Chris, and survived an absolute inferno blazing around my studio, home and neighborhood in a way that is hard to describe and  nothing short of a miracle that my home, studio, and this painting and other paintings didn't burn. The fire came right up to my kitchen back door and studio front door but decided to go, unfortunately, to my neighbors. We have some big repairs but nothing compared to others. 

I did lose quite a few commissioned portraits in Malibu homes that burned to the ground. I am so sad for these familes who have lost everything. It is going to be a long re-build. As some of you know,  I been painting "The Face of Malibu- Rebuilds" with The Malibu Times, donating my time sketching, interviewing and writing about people who have lost everything  in the fires while still being displaced myself. So far about 11 people have been featured. The interviews are painful and tears on both sides are often shed. 

The green portrait of Chris has been sitting on my easel for three months, waiting for me to get back to it, defying me not to finish it after all it has been through with nature. The journey home and back to life has been slow. It was three and a half weeks before we could legally get to our home with roads opening, yet alone live there. We managed to hard-hike in once and it was just devastating to see the destruction and not be able to immediately protect your home from incoming rats and terrible smoke damage with broken windows. Nothing happens until those roads open! Now, friends' burned homes are being bulldozed to the ground. Humbling. Shattering. Something life doesn't prepare you for, to watch. 

Three months later, I am feeling so grateful I got to finish this portrait of Chris. It will aways be a special painting for me, as will the new series and the very brave people I am also grateful to have met.

I also show the "Face of Malibu Rebuild" sitters who I have met so far. The series continues weekly.

Thanks
Johanna

Historic Defeat, Prime Minister Theresa May -

A historic defeat  today for The Right Honorable Theresa May today in Britian. I am a bit confused by Brexit , living out of Britain,   but I do know the Prime Minister likes shoes, and therefore I like her. I also feel bad for anyone having such a rough day.

I painted this via my palette knife.

"Brexit Means Brexit - The Rt. Hon. Theresa May"
By Johanna Spinks
Via Palette Knife

Comp. Tickets - The Other Art Fair, Los Angeles

Thanks for following this blog and my artwork. It means the world to me.

As a small thank you to readers that are local,  I have a few comp. tickets to The Other Art Fair, Los Angeles. Contact me at johanna@johannaspinks.com if you would like to attend. You can choose the day you would like to go at a link I will give you.

This promises to be a great show of contemporary art and I am excited to show my "POP-Traits!" for the first time which some of you have been following on this blog.

I will be blogging about the four day show so stay tuned.

Johanna

Advice From Bowie...

It's taken me awhile to get this one to the finish gate. I am glad I stuck with it. Sometimes our brain just gets in the way. Right?

I wasn't quite sure if I would continue into a second year of painting large format portraits, mostly form life. But the path has become clear. It is obvious now that there is no turning back.  I am on a journey with them and good things are happening, slowly but surely.

As David Bowie said once, as an artist  if your feet aren't dangling off the edge of the diving board in fear, creatively, then you are not really creating. You are missing the point by staying in a zone that is familiar and safe. He of all people knew this changing his look and vision  so many times although there was always a consistent revisit to some older "Major Tom" themes until the day he died.

 I have been sitting on the edge of that diving board since picking up the palette knife in my portrait work about four years ago but especially last year with 16 large portraits painted mostly in two life sittings of people I met who interested me and some favorite models. It spun my head around.

Here's to more spinnng. Onward.

Johanna

Through The Eyes of a Child
by Johanna Spinks
36 x 36"
Via Palette Knife.

Close-up
Image copyrighted

Standing Room Only...

It was standing room only at the Museum of Ventura County's show "A Woman's March" this weekend showcasing mementos and art from women who attended this historical march.

 I was honored to have one of my recent large palette knife portraits displayed so beautifully there. My portrait was of a hat maker I found on ETSY called Racheal who was knitting up 100s of these hats. I was fascinated by her so decided to paint her recording this unique time in history, whichever side of the political fence you find yourself on.

The show runs thru March 25th at the Museum. Catch it.

"The Hat Maker -Racheal"
by Johanna Spinks
Oil on canvas
Via palette knife.
36x36"
For sale thru Saachi Online

Standing room only. Show had only been opened 10 minutes at this point!

With Museum creator Anna Bermudez. Love this  talented lady and her support of us artists. 

Hanging near a Time Cover is always good.

Chatting with Congresswoman  Julia Brownley

Edibles

Showables

I love this photo of the installer. Makes me smile

Thank you  Racheal. 

Labor of Palette Knife Love

This new painting I am finishing up has been a real labor of love for me. The sitter is someone I have known since her childhood. She has grown up into a smart, sassy and fun young lady.

Painted via my palette knife which wasn't so easy with the windswept hair. Persistence, persistence, persistence. I know I will get there in the end.

"Natalie, Windswept, Brooklyn Bridge"
By Johanna Spinks
Via palette knife
24 x 34"

Masters of The American West...

There is a great show on at The Autry Museum right now, Masters of The American West, featuring some of my very favorite painters, Morgan Weistling, Jeremy Lipking, and JoAnn Peralta to name just a very few.

Catch it if you are in town! It is not be missed. Painting at it's finest.
https://theautry.org

This painting of mine has absolutely nothing to do with the show but I did have a grand time painting this sitter from life in two sittings this month with the headpiece Patrick, the sitter, brought in from his collection. Patrick is of Native American heritage so that was kinda cool to capture.

My experimentation with this large format via palette knife continues. I am happy to announce my "Pink Pussy Hat" portrait, see previous post, will be in a show at the Museum of Ventura County in March. Stay tuned.

"Warrior Spirit"
By Johanna Spinks
Oil on Canvas via Palette Knife
36x36"
Available for purchase through Saachi Online.

First Sitting

In Situ

The Second and Final Sitting of Three Hours Each

Contemporary Contemplation

Life just couldn't get any more fun painting super large with my palette knife.  I never really saw myself painting portraits so contemporarily but here we are.

Thank you to Mather for sitting for this.

Custom portrait commissions available in this contemporary style.

www.johannaspinks.com

My latest
"Om"
36"x36"
Via Palette Knife
By Johanna Spinks
Original and prints available for purchase at Saachi Art
saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Om

In progress - life sitting

In Situ

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. 

Party Sparkle On?

Are you getting your party sparkle ready? I am.

I found this perfect vintage topper to wear and paint. Thanks Kristy for sitting for me.

Happy New Year Everyone.

Party Sparkle On
By Johanna Spinks
Oil on Linen
SOLD

Joyous Greetings

My studio Holiday Card.

 “La Couronne de Houx”

Via Palette Knife, 10 x 12"

Email me if you would like me to send you one snail mail.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

And a beautiful 2017 To You and Yours.

I'm A Political Winner!

Here's my latest take on the topic of Brexit.  A palette knife portrait of Britain's new Prime Minister Theresa May using her famous slogan as the title for my portrait.

The first portrait I painted around Brexit of David Cameron, see below,  was just announced a winner in the 2016 America Art Awards Political Commentary Category.

That sure was nice! Thanks to AAA judges. And special thanks to Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May.

"Brexit Means Brexit - First Day- Theresa May"
By Johanna Spinks
Oil on Linen via Palette Knife

"Brexit - Last Day - David Camerion"
By Johanna Spinks
Oil on Linen Via Palette Knife
Voted a winner by America Art Awards 2016 Political Commentary Category.

Lights, Camera, Action -Paint!

Thanks to The San Fernando Valley Art Club
for inviting me to do a portrait demo for the third time. Thanks also to my lovely artist pal Theresa for sitting for me. Thanks also to a new collector who purchased the sketch hot off the easel. I post the stages. Hope you enjoy.

I Love Paisley- Thanks Laura Ashley!

I have always had a thing for paisley fabric probably thanks to Laura Ashley and being put in those kind of frocks as a kid.

Lovely Katy arrived at my studio for a life-sitting wearing a simple paisley shirt. I didn't really do the shirt justice but I certainly was enamored with it - and Katy.

It was a three hour sitting with The Saddlerock Painters at my studio in the Malibu Highlands, yes, near Saddlerock Mountain.

This painting has already found a home but if you are interested in some of my smaller daily paintworks which are very reasonably priced, please go to this gallery link

www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/johanna-spinks

"The Paisley Shirt"
By Johanna Spinks
10"x10"
Via Palette Knife

"Counsel woven into the fabric of real life is wisdom".

Walter Benjamin

In progress...so much to get done in just under three hours via my palette knife which moves slower than a brush for me.

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

Golden Secrets of Painting

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

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

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

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

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

Can't wait to start another one!

Would love to hear your thoughts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Golden Days" by Johanna Spinks
24x30"