Still time to register!  http://artstudiosecrets.com/onsite-workshops/oil-painting-workshop-still-life-june-19-20-2010/

Next in the webcast series - Dorian Vallejo!  Please join us and Dorian for a 2-hour live broadcast on June 27, 12-2pm EST.  There will be a q&a session as well as a drawing demonstration.

Click here for more info: http://artstudiosecrets.com/premium/dorian-vallejo-live-webcast-06-27-10-registration/

We’re so excited about the upcoming webcasts too - through the end of the year we have some tremendous artists who’ll be inviting you into their studios to peek and chat!  Stay tuned!

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Dorian Vallejo Brief  Bio:

Born in New York City on March 1, 1968, Dorian Vallejo’s passion for drawing came at an early age. Inspired by his father, the fantasy artist and illustrator Boris Vallejo, Dorian had pencil in hand by the age of three and was working as a professional illustrator before reaching college age, regularly producing covers for Marvel Comics and numerous paperback novels. Today, he is one of the country’s most accomplished and versatile portrait painters creating everything from traditional commissioned oil portraits and sketches to pencil drawings and intimate life portraits.
Dorian attended Parsons and received his BFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan where he studied with Steven Assael, Max Ginsburg, Irwin Greenberg and Marvin Mattleson. He also spent considerable time in Europe studying the works of the great masters. Before becoming a full-time portrait painter, Dorian considered different areas of specialization but was deterred by the growing influence of computers in the art world. Realizing he would always be more comfortable with a palette of oil paints and a north-facing studio, Dorian completes many of his paintings and drawings from life, capturing the essence and energy of his subjects in a personal sitting. When time or distance makes this impossible, however, Dorian will photograph his subjects, using a life-sized enlargement as the basis for the portrait. Dorian’s commissions range from the scions of industry to average citizens.

I was just reading Stapleton Kearns’ blog post and the letter from the outraged artist at the beginning made me think of another thing that trips us up: we don’t know what other people really think.

If you’re not selling, there’s a good chance that the advice and feedback you’re getting falls into two categories. Neither of them is really pleasant, and so they’re usually disguised almost into pointlessness by the giver. So we don’t hear the feedback, maybe for years, until the selfsame realization is made by ourselves.

The two feedbacks are this, and you have to listen for them: your technique is inadequate, or, nobody cares.

Technique is definitely something one can improve… Especially if one is aware that they’re being told to improve. But many times this feedback is nestled so deeply in the bosom of cushioning statements like, “wow great effort!” that you can’t even hear it. You have to train yourself to listen bravely, even ruthlessly, for the cues. 

Then again, after about 90% of technique is achieved, only other artists will even know it’s there.  Circling endlessly around finer and finer points of technical excellence is a good way to avoid content, meaning, and impact.  Possibly forever.  The last few times I’ve been to the Art Institute of Chicago I’ve looked again at the technique of some famous paintings to realize: they only used enough technique to get the job done.  No more, no less. There are errors in paint handling and drawing that, if you posted some of these master works on popular internet art forums, you’d get chewed out like crazy.

The other secret message from the peanut gallery is: nobody cares.  This one is very slippery, because I tend to think that inspiring connections and empathy through something you produce is not entirely in your conscious control.  In other words: some people just won’t ever have it.  Now that’s a terrifying thought. 

In Stapleton Kearns’ blog post, a gallery owner responded to the artist’s complaint by advising that artists should remember that the buyer buys things for themselves, and artists should paint things they want.  I think that’s part of it, but still a bit mollycoddly because it assumes that if one were to turn their attention to the buyer’s desires, one could paint something the buyer would like.  But…  what if not?  What if, no matter how hard one tries, nobody will care what you do?

This second sort of advice is at the root of a few of our perennial conversations.  For instance, where we talk about “not doing it for the money,” or “only painting for ourselves.”  On the face of it, both of those statements seem arrogant and self-entitled, but I think really they’re a pre-emptive avoidance of the idea that success is acceptance.  (But I guess if one delays that acceptance for 200 years, one can never be disproven in this lifetime.)  And acceptance is at least a little bit about who you are, how likable you are, how much charisma you have, and how much care and empathy you can inspire in what you say and do.

Like the anonymous artist in Stapleton’s blog, I’ve been mystified at some of the folks getting paraded around on litters, and it’s easy to point to sophomoric errors in drawing, paint handling, etc.  And to point out their storied upbringing or other unfair advantages: a marketing juggernaut, a stroke of luck here or there.  But I don’t compete with them anyway.  In the relative anonymity of my circle of competition, it’s easy to look around and realize, “oh hey, she just seems *interesting*, ” or “wow, he seems *likable.*”

Like that Stapleton guy.  He seems pretty likeable too.

Last chance, sign up now if you want in…  Virtual workshop tomorrow, accessible from any computer anywhere in the world. Alla Prima Oil Painting from life. The peonies are in bloom! http://artstudiosecrets.com/workshops/workshopdemo-alla-prima-from-life-0510/

We have upgraded our software and now have a private stream here on the site with no ads, and some pretty snazzy streaming software for the resultant videos that I’m excited to share with you.  Better, faster, stronger - that’s our motto!

Registration is now open for two new oil painting workshops with Lisa Gloria:

VIRTUAL, accessible from any computer anywhere: Alla prima oil painting from life.  Saturday, May 22, 10-4 CST.  Click here for more info.

LIVE, presented in person in Shorewood, IL: Painting the still life from life.  All materials included.  Saturday/Sunday June 19-20. Click here for more info.

P.S. By request, we have upgraded our web streaming service and now it has NO ADS.  That’s right. No ads.

Register now to join Portrait Society of America’s chairman Gordon Wetmore for a live webcast from his studio in Chattanooga, TN. Gordon will be doing a portrait demonstration, and answering your questions about the Portrait Society’s international portrait competition, and the art of painting portraits.

Gordon has enjoyed a life-long career as a portrait painter, and has created over 700 portraits of many distinguished and well-known subjects including: President Richard M. Nixon, Jack Nicklaus, Fred Couples, Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale, Leon Uris, Princess Grace, Prince Rainier and Prince Albert of Monaco. Private commissions include: Ford, Wrigley, Hewlett, Bechtel, Post, Searle, Brock, Perkin, Baker, Duke, Gannett, The Lord Inchiquin in Ireland, and The Lord and Lady Tollemache of England.

When: Wednesday, May 19th

Where: Your computer!

Time: 6pm EST (10pm GMT)

Cost: $10

http://artstudiosecrets.com/premium/webcast-series-gordon-wetmore-live-registration/

Princess Grace by Gordon Wetmore

President Nixon and Gordon Wetmore

Juan Jr Ramirez has just published a collection of notes, observations, and technical details regarding Sargent’s painting technique and philosophy.  35 pages, loose bound, self-published, these are the notes of a self-taught painter in Chicago with a unique drive and passion. 

To me, the artists behind the books and videos are way more interesting than the books and videos themselves.  When people put together something for the purposes of sharing what they know, you can tell a lot about their character.  (I’ll review Kassan’s new video asap too )  At its best, making something for the benefit of others is a way of holding out one’s hand and saying (hopefully: kindly) “come, follow me.” 

Juan’s “Sargent Notes” are available here: http://cgi.ebay.com/Notes-Painting-Methods-John-Singer-Sargent-/190393215371?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_Texbook_Education&hash=item2c5451e98b

If you haven’t seen him before, his new website is here: www.JuanJrRamirez.com, and you can follow him on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=664295189&ref=ts

On Facebook yesterday, Lisa posted a plea for magnolia branches from any of her friends who live near her. I say  - ask your neighbors!

I have asked 5 neighbors last year for their foliage. And, you know? Every one of them was delighted to help - to be a part of the artistic process.

1) Hydrangea - the ones in the store were too fancy, not the right color, etc. I have actually approached 3 different people about their hydrangeas in their yards. Usually, since this is such a prolific flower, they say “go to town”.

2) Garden roses - for a basket painting, I needed garden roses, not sweetheart buds. Hard to find, unless you find someone who cultivates them.

3) Daffodils - I was doing a demo, and my own daffodils were already wilty and brown. Ran across the street to ask my elderly neighbor if I could have half a dozen of his.

4) Lilies - ditto.

5) Magnolia blossom - only available for a short time every year - on a street I use daily there are a dozen. I picked the best one (with the lowest branches) and came away with an armful, and a happy new friend.

6) Bittersweet - usually you don’t have to ask anyone for this - it grows wild on the side of the road.

Tip - bring your own garden shears, a container with water, and then - promise them (and deliver) a print of your painting. They’ll love you for it.

Last chance to register for this weekend’s workshop in Aurora, IL with Lisa Gloria: http://artstudiosecrets.com/onsite-workshops/oil-painting-workshop-portraits-april-17-18-2010/  All levels welcome, all materials included.