Meet OOPS Artist... Donna Graham

photo by Thomas Brock

Artist ~ Donna Graham

In Fall 2006, I was encouraged by an artist-friend to "pick up a brush and see what happens." I have become an artist (of sorts) …self-taught, wonderfully mentored, and on a journey…

My inner adventures:
I was instantly “taken” with this wonderful form of self-expression!!! While I am a “newbie,” I find that each day that I paint, I learn something new – about myself, about how paint “moves,” about the many techniques, and, especially, about my emotions (and how they become intertwined in the piece I am doing). In the few months that I have been painting, I have dabbled in oils, acrylics, watercolor, and mixed media -– and have not quite found my niche for the medium I most prefer. Living on the North Carolina coast, I am naturally drawn to the serene, coastal images – but, BEST OF ALL, I enjoy putting what I see, feel, and know onto a canvas.

My outward adventures:
I recently entered a juried art show as part of my artistic learning. While not accepted into this first show, I learned so much – and am inspired to forge ahead. THEN, I joined a group of artist friends and experienced (for the first time) painting "en plein aire" -- translated as "in open air.” I was so exited about what I had experienced this day that I was on my phone before I reached my front door telling a friend all about the wonderful-ness of the day.

Vist my art blog here... River's Edge Studio

OOPS! "Paint Out #2" November 11th... Mark your Calendar!

Our first "Paint Out" was such a BIG success that we decided to have one every month. November's "Paint Out" is set for Sunday, November 11, 2007. The Downtown Swansboro location was picked by OOPS! member, Karen Crenshaw, and offers an exciting choice of subject matter from the waterway to street scenes. Artists of any medium and skill level are invited to join in the fun. Simply bring your stuff and meet at the Otway Burns Statue in the park near the bridge at 2:00 PM. See you there!




TRIVA QESTION??? about "OOPS Paint Out #2"

The following artists plan to attend:
Bernie Rosage Jr
Dean Remington
Karen Crenshaw
Donna Graham
Randy Mills
Brenda Behr
Stephen Greer
Mitchell Morton
Tracy Sorensen
Earl and Donna Tyree
Pat Boni

"Plein Air Painting the American Landscape" PBS series now available on DVD

Six Exciting and Memorable Episodes
Discovering America through the Eyes of Acclaimed Plein Air Artists
Check with your local PBS station for air dates and times (not showing in our area yet)

Far more than a “how-to” show, Plein Air, Painting the American Landscape is a celebration of our natural world, a visual retreat to our nation’s beautiful places and an exploration of the rich and colorful history of American landscape painting. From the founding of the Cape Cod School by Charles Hawthorne in 1899 and gathering of the Taos Society of Artists a few years later – to location demonstrations by today’s leading landscape artists – viewers will discover the roots of this uniquely American art form and why painting “en plein air” is once again at the forefront of American representational art.

Check out the webpage here: http://www.pleinairamerica.com/Index.html
DVD's available here: http://www.pleinairamerica.com/BuyNow-c.html

Timmi's Blog Post about our 1st "Paint Out"

I just came across Timmi's blog post from our recent "Paint Out"...
Check it out here...
Spring up, oh well, within my soul
It was a pleasure meeting you Timmi and we all look forward to your upcoming article.

PS... I'll have those finished painting images posted here SOON... I promise!

Plein Air Tip... Understanding Aerial Perspective.

Aerial perspective or atmospheric perspective is the effect on the appearance of an object by the atmosphere between it and a viewer (or the technique of depicting this effect in a work of art, such as a landscape painting). As the distance between an object and a viewer increases, the contrast between the object and its background decreases. The contrast of any markings or details on the object also decreases. The colours of the object also become less saturated and shift towards blue.

Aerial perspective was discovered and named by Leonardo Da Vinci, who used it in many of his works, such as the Mona Lisa, in order to suggest distance.

(Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_perspective)

One of the best discriptions and images to explain this effect comes from the Art Studio Chalkboard by Ralph Larmann at the University of Evansville in the article ATMOSPHERIC or AERIAL PERSPECTIVE.

He states there: Aerial or atmospheric interference with visual perception causes loss of contrast, detail and sharp focus. The effect, which Leonardo called "the perspective of disappearance," tends to make objects seem to take on a blue-gray middle value as they increase in distance.

SIZE OF OBJECTS-smaller objects seem farther away (distortions can occur if objects are the same size or too close to the viewer).

OVERLAPPING OR SUPERIMPOSING-by partially covering one object with another it gives an appearance of depth (distortions also occur if viewer is too close).

TEXTURE-density increases as an object gets further away.

SPACING-objects clustered closer together seem farther away. Horizontal lines which get closer as they near the horizon line appear to be defining a recession in space.

FOCUS-objects lose detail as they recede into space.

BRIGHTNESS-objects are brighter when closer to the viewer, except for reflective surfaces.

SHADE AND SHADOW-darker shadows seem closer especially if overlapping other shadows.

UPWARD ANGULAR LOCATION-creates depth if juxtaposed to ground and sky lines, e.g. tall buildings.

COLOR-color intensity is much greater closer to the viewer and tends toward medium gray as it recedes.

This image from Larmann's article serves as an excellent visual aid to explain the effect of Aerial Perspective.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_perspective

http://studiochalkboard.evansville.edu/ap-aerial.html

Plein Air quote of the week by Jan Blencowe

There is an undeniable urgency when painting outdoors – nature's so grand, the canvas so small. It takes the human mind with all its grand abilities and complexities to sort through the overwhelming visual feast set before it and re-create on canvas the essential components of such beauty and wonder. (Jan Blencowe)

Check out Jan's plein air work here: Art & Life

NC Museum of Art Special "Landscape" Exhibit Coming SOON!

UPCOMING EXHIBITION at the NC MUSEUM of ART
Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism
October 21, 2007 through January 13, 2008

Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism, an exhibition of forty paintings, includes many of the finest examples of mid- and late- nineteenth-century French and American landscapes in the Brooklyn Museum's collection. Ranging in date from the 1850s to the early twentieth century, the works presented offer a broad survey of landscape painting as practiced by such leading French artists as Gustave Courbet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Claude Monet and their most significant American counterparts including Childe Hassam and John Singer Sargent. This exhibition has been organized by the Brooklyn Museum.

Visit NCMOA special Landscapes Web site.

1st OOPS! "Paint Out" a BIG Success!

the weather was beautiful...
the subject matter was breath taking...
the camaraderie was AWESOME...
the Daily News staff, Timmie Toler and Don Bryan, were spectacular...
and the OOPS! first "Paint Out" was a BIG success!

Check out these awesome photos from the event by Thomas Brock... You can read about the event on his blog here... Onslow Outdoor Painters’ Society. Thanks for sharing your talent and thoughts Thomas!

Six artists attended "Paint Out #1"... Michael Hart, Mitchell Morton, Donna Graham, Karen Crenshaw, Stephen Greer, and Bernie Rosage Jr.

Here's a painting that Stephen did yesterday of Donna while she was working...



He even gave it to her as a gift... you're a great guy Stephen!



More photos to come from photographer, Don Bryan....not to mention the Daily News article coming out in a few weeks from Ms Timmi Toler. We'll also share photos of the finished works from "Paint Out #1"...

See ya soon!
Drop us a comment...

Upcoming Mike Rooney Workshops

Upcoming Mike Rooney Workshops:
How to Simplify and Loosen up your Painting combination plein air and classroom
all skill levels, in oils, acrylics, pastels

Morehead City, NC- Oct 19-20
Calabash NC- Oct 22-24
Nags Head, NC- Oct 29-30
Manteo- Spring 2008

contact Mike at rooneystudios@hotmail.com for details or to register.

Mike plans to join us for one of our paint outs once his schedule lightens up a bit!

OOPS! First "Paint Out" this Sunday...

If you are a plein air artist in Onslow County (or neighboring counties) feel free to join the Onslow Outdoor Painters Society this Sunday at 2PM for our first "Paint Out". "Paint Outs" are simply gatherings at a predetermined location within Onslow County (one approx. every six weeks) where we come together, fellowship, and PAINT outdoors!



The "Paint Out" will be held in downtown Jacksonville at the Pelletier House near the waterfront.

All art mediums and skill levels welcome. Hope to see you there!

Artists planning to attend:
Jo Whitley
Donna Graham
Mitchell Morton
Stephen Greer
Karen Crenshaw
Bernie Rosage Jr.

1st Paint Out Scheduled for October 14th...

OOPS! will have our first "Paint Out" on Sunday, October 14, 2007, at 2:00 PM. We will announce the location shortly so stay tuned! We will also be joined by journalist, Ms. Timmi Toler, from the Daily News... how cool is that?

Stay tuned for location...

Plein Air Painters have this to say...

Plein air painting is still an interpretation of reality, even though I am seeing the scene first hand. My "truth" is far more interesting to me than the scene in reality. (Linda Blondheim)

To steep oneself in the sky. To capture the tenderness of the clouds. To let the cloud masses float in the background, far off in the gray mist, and then make the blue blaze forth. (Eugene Boudin)

Plein air paintings are life, and without them the rest of my work would die. Without it, I would have nothing to say in the studio, because without real-life experience, art is impossible. (Scott Burdick)

Working outdoors or from life puts you in direct contact with the life force, not just the light and the landscape, but also the vitality of the world around you. (George Carlson)

All pictures painted inside in the studio will never be as good as the things done outside. (Paul Cezanne)

I strive to capture the moment, that fleeting light or atmospheric effect, tackled with a sense of urgency and an awareness that the prevailing conditions are transient and will not be precisely repeated. (Trevor Chamberlain)

I'm constantly painting the landscape in my head as I drive along, and when I see something that refuses to give way to the next scene, I stop the car and turn around. (Gay Falkenberry)

Plein air painting and painting from a reference: The first is like going to Paris for two weeks with your girl friend, the second is like reading a book about Paris at the local library. (Sylvio Gagnon)

After a few plein air attempts, I found the fast and often half finished and underdone pieces were giving me more pleasure than laboriously ended paintings. So I am left with many "unfinished" works done for my soul and not for sale. (George Kubac)

When you're an artist - especially a plein air artist, where you're working outside - you see the best of life all the time. (Tom Nichols)

Artists who battle the elements, the extreme effort and the exhaustive study to be able to paint a high-quality work in one sitting, wet-on-wet while on location, have something very special to offer. (B. Eric Rhoads)

I would not encourage young artists today to paint in retrospect, but rather enjoy painting directly from life, where all the answers are looking right at you. (John Stobart)

Monet, Manet, Sisley, Renoir, Van Gogh and others went outside to paint for one simple reason - it looks different outside. (Mike Svob)

source... Plein Air Painting-Resources for Artists by Jan Blencowe