Great turnout for the May Paint Out at the Banks Party

OOPS artists present... LtoR: Bernie, Dean, Karen, Earl, Donna T., Stephen, Eileen, Patsy, Mitchell, and Pat.

~

The Banks Party was a success and we look forward to returning next year...

~

Mike Rooney Plein Air Workshop.. A Review and Critique...

Mike Rooney Plein Air Workshop.. A Review and Critique by Bernie Rosage Jr.
~

Mike Rooney giving plein air demo to workshop artists in Jacksonville, NC.
~

Many OOPS artists had the privilege of attending a one day plein air workshop by artist, Mike Rooney last Saturday. We had a great time and learned a lot! Mike is a super artist, teacher, and PERSON! I highly recommend one of his workshops...
~

The day began with RAIN... no worries though... this gave us time for classroom work where we all made a "C".
~
Actually three "C's"... Mike taught us the importance of the "Three C's" that is...

~

C= Composition: Mike shared with us many types of compositions and the importance of the Rule of Thirds for focal interest. I think his words were... "You'll have a CRAPPY (another "C") painting if the composition is poor!"

~

C= Contrast: Mike shared how contrast and value (tone) are one of the most important elements of a good painting. We did exercises on breaking down a scene into 4 or 5 shapes and blocking in their values correctly. These shapes and block-ins are the building blocks for a good plein air painting to get everything down fast because of the changing light conditions.

~

C= Color: Mike made us look at color from some different perspective than many of us have been taught. He wanted us to get away from using complementary colors in shadows to prevent a dull gray look. He showed us ways to get vibrancy and life in our work and we did exercises in class to reinforce this.

~

We also learned that we have to know the rules before we can break them... this appealed to the rebel side of me!

~

We broke for lunch where the workshop continued for many of us as Mike spoke about approaching galleries while we ate.

~

After lunch the rain stopped and we headed to a nearby park (with a shelter just in case) to plein air paint.

~

Mike spoke to us about his gear and the paints, brushes, and knives that he uses. He showed us his COOL homemade pochade box that was very practical and portable... (I'm making me one of these little jewels!)...

~

Mike found a spot and began giving us the process of "what goes on in his mind" as he begins...

~

Here's the scene he chose for his quick demo...

~

Mike completed the block-in stage and had us all scatter to find our own settings and paint our block-ins...

~

OOPS artists, Stephen Greer and Dean Remington...

~

~

OOPS artist, Karen Crenshaw...

~

~

~

~

OOPS artist, Bernie Rosage... painting "Happy Trees"... NOT!

~

OOPS artist, Mitchell Morton...

~

Mike went around giving everyone personal attention as they completed their block-ins...

~

After the block-in stage we all gathered back with Mike to see him finish his painting. He threw a rock in the water (above) to show us how the the impact area denotes the focal point on our paintings where the greatest detail and contrast should be. Just like the water ripples fanning out and losing detail, so should it be in our paintings.

~

Dean looking on as Mike finishes his study... BTW... Dean took Mike up on his 100 paintings challenge!

~

Mike's finished study from his demo...

~

The day comes to an end... we pack our gear... head back to the Council for the Arts for the final leg of our workshop... a critique by Mike on each of our paintings. We learned to cover our paintings and slowly reveal them showing problem areas. This 30 minutes proved to be worth the price alone! I think we all learned to LOOSEN UP!... I know I did!

~

The workshop was a HUGE success and Mike is an awesome person, painter, and instructor! My only negative critique is that it wasn't a three day workshop!

~

Thanks Mike for a great time and workshop! I know it sounds like I'm trying to be the "Teacher's Pet" but seriously... if the workshop would have STUNK... I would have said so!

~

Bernie

~

~

Visit:

Mike's Webpage

Mike's Blog

Mike's Online Video Lessons

~

Mike Rooney Quick Lesson Videos on YouTube

Check out these two Quick Lesson videos by artist, Mike Rooney. Mike's DVD on knife painting will be out soon... available through Jerry's Artorama... here's a tid-bit.

Mike Rooney Palette Knives QL


Mike Rooney QL Painting Butter

Opening Reception this Sunday for OOPS Art Exhibit

Please join the artists of the Onslow Outdoor Painters Society (OOPS) this Sunday, June 1, for the opening reception of their gallery show. The OOPS "Plein Air" exhibit starts this Sunday and will be on display at the Council for the Arts the entire month of June.

Click on image to enlarge...

What a GREAT weekend for plein air painting...

Between the Mike Rooney plein air workshop and the May paint out at the Banks Party.... we had a BLAST this past weekend!

Give me a few days to get the photos uploaded....

Taking Your Paints Outside; Practical tips for plein air painting, or painting on location by Marion Boddy-Evans

Check out this great article by Marion Boddy-Evans, at About.com.

Plein Air Painting: Taking Your Paints Outside; Practical tips for plein air painting, or painting on location.

Some common questions like these are anwsered...

What and Where Do I Paint Plein Air?

How to Deal With Spectators While Painting Plein Air

How to Cope with Changing Light When Painting Plein Air

Do I Have to Finish the Painting Outdoors?

What Art Materials Do I Need to Take With Me for Plein Air Painting?

Is It Safe to Take My Paints on a Plane?

Do I Need an Easel for Plein Air Painting?

How Do I Transport Wet Canvases?


Source: http://painting.about.com/od/landscapes/a/plein_air_paint.htm

OOPS June Exhibit Inventory...

The following OOPS Artists paintings (possibly more) will be on display at the Council for the Arts in June.

ATTENTION OOPS ARTISTS: Please be thinking about a price (if you want to sell them) and a title for your works to be exhibited.

PO denotes "Paint Out"
~
10-07 PO ~ Pellitier House
Karen, 12" x 16", oil
Mitchell, Acrylic
~
11-07 PO ~ Downtown Swansboro
Bernie, 8x10", Oil
Dean 8x10, oil
Karen 12" x 16", oil
Earl, Oil, 11x14
Donna T, Acrylic,11 x 14
Mitchell, oil
~
12-07 PO ~ Aman Farm
Bernie, 9x12", Oil
Eileen, 8x10", pencil
Karen, 11" x 14", oil
Earl, Oil, 11x14
Donna T, Acrylic, 11 x 14
Mitchell, oil
~
1-08 PO ~ Heart's Desire Equine, Bear Creek
Bernie, 9x12", Oil
Dean 9x12, oil
Karen, 12" x 16", oil
Patsy, 11x14 Pencil/Pastel/Colored Pencil
Earl, Oil, 11x14
Donna T, Acrylic, 11 x 14
Mitchell, oil
Pat, Watercolor
Stephen, Acrylic, 12 x 16
Kathi Lenn - Pastel 11x14
~
2-08 PO ~ Faulkner Estate, Bear Creek
Bernie, 6x12", Oil
Dean 11x14, oil
Karen, 12" x 16", oil
Patsy, 16x20, Acrylic
Earl, Oil, 11 x14
Mitchell, oil
Stephen, Acrylic 12x24
Kathi Lenn - Pastel 11x14
~
3-08 PO ~ Downtown Jacksonville (Old Train Depot)
Bernie, 8x10", Oil and 14"x18" Oil
Dean (?)
Karen 11" x 14", oil
Patsy 8 1/2 x 15 1/2, Acrylic
Donna T, Acrylic, 11 x 14
Mitchell, oil
Pat, Watercolor
~
4-08 PO ~ Beriut Memorial
Bernie, 10x8", Oil
Olivia, 10x8", acrylic
Dean 9x12 oil
Patsy 16 3/4 x 10, Acrylic
Earl, Oil, 11x14
Donna T, Acrylic, 21 x 11
Mitchell, oil
Pat, Watercolor
Stephen, (2) Acrylic 12x8, Acrylic 12x10
Kathi Lenn - watercolor 11x14
~
5-08 PO ~ Civil War Encampment, Richlands
Bernie, 8x10", Oil
Dean 9x12 oil
Earl, Oil, 11 x 14
Mitchell, oil
~
Kinston Paint Out
Bernie, (2) 8x10's, Oil
Mitchell, (3) oil paintings
Stephen, (3) Acrylic 12x24, Acrylic 12x24, Acrylic 13x12
Kathi Lenn - (4) 2 watercolors 9x12, 2 watercolors 11x14
~
Extra Plein Air Outings
Eileen 8x10", pencil
Dean 9x12 & 11x14, oil
Karen, Orton Plantation, 12" x 16" oil
Kathi Lenn - (2) pastels both 11x14

New River Banks Party Paint Out... Sunday May 25th.

New River Banks Party
Memorial Day Sunday, May 25, 2008
10:oo am ~ 4:00 pm
Water Front Park, Downtown Jacksonville



This picture is of a gathering of people on the banks of the New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina (circa 1905). Like in days of old... people will gather once again on the banks of the New River at Water Front Park near the Pellitier House in downtown Jacksonville. Take a boat ride, meet authors, watch artists, artisans, and traditional crafters at work, listen to local music and storytellers, and for the first time there will be a Seafood Chowder Cook Off. With the exception of a bowl of chowder... the celebration party is FREE to the public! Make plans to attend...

OPPS artists will position themselves around the park and the historic Pellitier House painting en plein aire for one of their monthly "paint outs" from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.

See you there...

Mike Rooney Workshop on May 24th... DETAILS and MATERIALS list...

Several of the OOPS members are signed up for the Mike Rooney workshop in Jacksonville on May 24th. The workshop in full but some spots are available at the cost of $50 each payable to Connie at the Council for the Arts.

Cool news... Mike has a plein air instructional DVD coming out soon. We'll keep you posted!

Here are the details for the workshop...

Saturday, May 24, 2008
9:00 am till 5:00 pm
at the Council for the Arts
826 New Bridge Street, across from City Hall

Mike Rooney, will teach an outdoor painting class guaranteed to loosen up your style and transform your art. Learn to paint with a loose, colorful and impressionistic style. There will be a quick demo, indoor instruction (if it rains) and outdoor painting.

*The workshop attendees will meet at the Council Building in the morning (9:00 am) for a few minutes and then head out to paint. Then at the end of the day you meet back here for the last hour for a critique.

Some topics that will be covered...

~Working indoors from photos
~Capturing light effects
~Simplifying objects- stick figures welcomed
~Working quickly- time waits for no one
~Massing in and values- from blobs to objects
~Color and composition theory, it’s not as boring as it sounds
~Color palette choices- your individuality expressed in pigment
~How to sell your work on your own and/or approach galleries with your work after you’ve created your masterpiece


Suggested materials list:

Easel and any supplies needed to paint outside. (i suggest you do a 6x8 outdoor painting outside before the workshop to see if you have everything you'll need)

A TV tray or portable table to put your stuff on if you don’t have a French easel or pochade kit

Pad of 140 lb watercolor paper for exercises

Oil painters! If you want to underpaint like I do in addition to your oil gear you will need 5 small tubes of acrylic paint and a small and medium synthetic brush:
Acrylic tubes of magenta, white, any yellow, red, and blue
Water to wash out acrylics

Several canvases or supports of your choice (no larger than 11x14). I suggest bringing at least 3-6x8's and 1- 11x14 for the one day workshop

Paint- at least one each : yellow, red, blue, and white, brushes, rags, and all materials needed to paint

In case of rain...
Bring a few detailed landscape photos if it rains. Make sure these photos have good light and shadow pattern (stark difference between what's being struck by the light and what’s in shadow)

Click here if you don't know where the Council for the Arts is located...

ATTENTION... OOPS Artists... Need your Help!

I will be sending out an email early next week to float around the OOPS members to gather an inventory of paintings we have completed for the show. Connie at the Council wants to display them according to Paint Out locations so that's how I'll set the inventory email up. Start your own inventory listing with number of paintings including location, title, size, and medium so when the email goes out next week it can make the rounds faster to get back to me. We want everyone represented since all the artists are listed in the Arts Alive magazine article that comes out in June... so if you have only ONE piece... that's fine... we want to include it. If you have ten pieces... that's fine too! Make plans to have the pieces framed and looking good... presentation is very important.

Thanks for your interest and support in OOPS!

Bernie

Paint Wilmington! May 5-10 presented by Walls Gallery

Paint Wilmington! 2008 - May 5-10.

Nine accomplished painters from around the country converge on Wilmington starting Sunday, May 4. They're coming to paint full-time for 5 days. The Show of the new paintings of Wilmington and its environs painted during the week opens Saturday morning, May 10 at 9am at Walls Gallery. Special Mother's Day hours from 2-5 Sunday afternoon.

Details at the Walls Gallery site HERE...

Info from Karen and Walls Gallery...

Important Dates to Remember...

Here are some important dates to remember for OOPS in the near future.
Mark your calendars now...

May 23, 2008 ~ Friday ~ before 4:00 PM
Deadline for framed works to be turned in (on or before this date) to Connie at the Council for the Arts for our June Exhibit.

May 24, 2008 ~ Saturday ~ 9:00 AM - 5:oo PM
Mike Rooney plein air workshop at the Council for the Arts for those signed up. Supply list will be posted soon.

May 25, 2008 ~ Sunday ~ 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (extra May Paint Out)
OOPS Plein Air Painters needed to paint at the Pelletier House for Annual "Banks Party". An extra May paint out... another chance for great exposure.

June 1, 2008 ~ Sunday ~ 2:30 - 4:00 PM
Artist reception (that's us) for our June Exhibit at the Council for the Arts. Plan to come so the public can meet the OOPS artists and see our work. Did I mention there will be snacks????!!!

June 1 - 28, 2008
OOPS Gallery Show at Council for the Arts (Framed works must be turned in by May 23, 2008)

June 14, 2008 ~ Saturday ~ 1:00 PM until (June Paint Out)
Downtown Swansboro. This paint out is in conjunction with the "Arts by the Sea" festival. Meet at 1:00 PM in front of Yana's. Come early and plan to stay late to enjoy the festivities. Great opportunity for exposure for OOPS and the arts in general.

July Paint Out ~ TBA
Donna and Earl are picking the date and location for this one.

August Paint Out ~ TBA
Dean is picking the date and location for this one.

May Paint Out "Finished Works"

Our floating May Paint Out at the Civil War Living History Event was a little disappointing. The weather was great Saturday but Sunday morning started out with showers. The poor turn out of reenactors for the event added to the disappointment. Thank goodness for the calvary camp...they stole the show.... the infantry camp had one tent! Earl, Donna, Bernie, Mitchell, and Dean painted Saturday and Karen dropped by for a visit. We kind of missed the camaraderie that we're used to with the spread out time frame... live and learn.

Click on images to enlarge...

~

~
Earl Tyree

~

~

~
Mitchell Morton

6x12" Oil on panel...

~
~

Bernie Rosage Jr.

Bernie added the soldiers from imagination to make the scene look alive. The wind was a bit of a challenge Saturday afternoon.

8x10" Oil on Linen on panel...

Close-up...

~
~

Dean Remington

Dean literally painted this one in the dark... we had to carry it over to a street light to see it!

9x12" Oil on panel...

Cool Beans!... OOPS makes the Headlines!

Make sure you check out today's Sunday paper...
ANIESA HOLMES of the Daily News staff wrote a GREAT article about OOPS and the Kinston Paint Out.

Online version here...
No mistake, OOPS take top honors at paint out

Thanks Aniesa for your support and great article...

May Paint Out this weekend Saturday May 3 and Sunday May 4 at Civil War Living History Event in Richlands.

Join us for an extended paint out this weekend at the Onslow County Museum in Richlands. Our May paint out is in conjunction with their annual Civil War Living History Weekend. The times for the paint out have been extended due to the awesome potential for unique plein air works timed with the weekend events. This paint out will be floating... in other words... come when you can. Saturday will offer the most excitement and the event usually dwindles out Sunday by noon. Several of us plan to paint Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning from about 8:00 AM until around noon. Come when you can... you won't want to miss this COOL event!

WHAT: OOPS May "Paint Out" at Civil War Living History Event

WHEN: Saturday, May 3, 2008 from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM (or until they run us out) and
Sunday, May 4, 2008 from 8:00 AM until NOON.

WHERE: Onslow County Museum, Richlands, NC

WHY: Plein Air Painting... we're addicted!


A great chance to paint scenes with a variety of subjects from camp scenes, tents, Civil War era soldiers and civilians, flags, wagons, horses, cannons, still lifes, woodland scenes, etc...

Newbies welcome... all mediums and skill levels... simply show up with your gear and be prepared to have fun!

This is our last chance to paint before our exhibit at the Council for the Arts in June.

See ya'll there...