Chromatic Strata

Chromatic Strata
24 x 18" signed, limited edition giclee art print on gallery wrapped canvas.  No framing necessary; ready to hang.
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$225 includes shipping and insurance.

Exploring Impressionism in Watermedia, Hands On. Spring 2011, Watercolor Art Society-Houston

The Red Canoe, Winslow Homer

Do you love the paintings produced by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist watercolor painters Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Paul Signac, Childe Hassam, van Gogh and others?  Let us explore the tools and techniques used by these masters and discover ways to add freshness and spontaneity to our own paintings.

The Impressionists developed new techniques to convey a "different way of seeing." It was an art of immediacy and movement, of candid poses and compositions, of the play of light expressed in a bright and varied use of color.  They often explored plein-air painting in order to recreate the sensation in the eye that views the subject, rather than attempt to recreate the subject.


In this course we will project paintings of these masters to take a close-up look at a few of the techniques they used.  A weekly demo of specific techniques will follow.  Then, together, we will recreate the feeling of plein-air in the classroom.  Each week, together we will paint a projected, large photograph of reference material provided by the instructor.  This will give students an opportunity to experience, first-hand, the spontaneity and freshness of these master painters by making brushmarks and colors that depict their own impressions.

Demonstrations will alternate: one week in watercolor, then the following week in acrylics.  Students are welcome to try both, or stay with one medium for all classes.  Because the art supply industry has produced many innovative materials since the early days of Impressionism, we will have an opportunity to enjoy the advantages of these fine materials.

A homework assignment will be given weekly and a brief critique of one painting will begin each class, for those who wish to participate.  Tuesday afternoon classes begin January 18 and end March 8, 2011, 1:00-4:00 p.m..

Play with Purpose

Color is No Object, Susan Giannantonio

"Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."  Pablo Picasso

The Music of Painting

The Striped Blouse, Edouard Vuillard

"Who speaks of art speaks of poetry. There is no art without a poetic aim. There is a species of emotion particular to painting. There is an effect that results from a certain arrangement of colors, of lights, of shadows, etc. It is this that one calls the music of painting."--Vuillard, Jan. 1894

Look Back, Paint Forward

Old Willow sketch, Susan Giannantonio

A trailblazing group of artists in Canada in the early 1900's struck out to the Canadian countryside and, after years of study and practice of sound academic painting and drawing, began to experiment with broken color, dots and dashes, underpainting, and alla prima. In an essay about these artists called The Story of the Group of Seven, Lawren Harris wrote, "When we focus our own seeing through our own creative activity and conviction, we are working from the inside, with the creative spirit itself; then the arts of the past and of other peoples become immediate, alive, and luminous to us."

Art's Unlimited Source

Pansies, oil on canvas, Richard Schmid

In one of my favorite "how to paint" books Alla Prima, Everything I Know About Painting, master painter and one of my very favorite artists Richard Schmid says, "Somewhere within all of us there is a wordless center, a part of us that hopes to be immortal in some way, a part that has remained unchanged since we were children, the source of our strength and compassion. This faint confluence of tangible and the spiritual is where Art comes from. It has no known limits, and once you tap into it you will realize what truly rich choices you have." For a glimpse of his creative genius, check out a 5 minute YouTube video of Richard finishing a painting: click here.

Beyond Precious

Whispering Call, 4 x 5' acrylic and collage on canvas, Mary Wilbanks

One of the messages that rings true about Mary Wilbanks' artistic journey, consistent both in her work and her instruction, is that sometimes we need to let go of what is too precious for the sake of the larger composition. Her paintings are rich in texture. The passages pull you in, compelling you to more carefully investigate. In the book Bird by Bird, author Anne Lamott tells us, "Go ahead and make big scrawls and mistakes. Use up lots of paper. Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist's true friend."

Go to the Masters

The Red Canoe, 13 3/4 x 20" watercolor, 1889, Winslow Homer
(sold at Sotheby's in 1999 for $4,842,500 and prior to that, in 1983 for $260,000!)

In the book Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg tells us "if you read good books, when you write, good books will come out of you. Maybe it's not quite that easy, but if you want to learn something, go to the source." That is my philosophy on painting as well. Those artists whose artwork draws me to it again and again have so much to teach. I never tire of pouring over the beautiful passages, hoping to figure out how to convey some of the magic in my own work. --SG

Chromatic Parallel

Vincent's Violins, Susan Giannantonio

"Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul." Wassily Kandinsky

No Time to Lose!

Dining Room on the Garden, 1934-35, Pierre Bonnard

My creative friends, it is time to pick up your brushes (pen, musical instrument, camera, your tools that enable you to create) because there is no time to lose. Get out of your own way and get busy!
In his old age, Pierre Bonnard stated "I am just beginning to understand what it is to paint. A painter should have two lives: one in which to learn, and one in which to practice his art."

Picasso, Profound

Watercolor Artist, Susan Giannantonio

22 x 30" watercolor on paper
There is much to learn from watching children. For an artist to paint from the heart of her inner child is an illusive challenge.
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Pablo Picasso

Down with Perfectionism. Embrace Clutter!

Parable on Klimpt, Susan Giannantonio
30 x 22" mixed watermedia on paper

In the words of Anne Lamott, when we attempt perfectionism we will block inventiveness and playfullness. In the wonderful book Bird by Bird, Ann says "Perfectionism means that you try desperately not to leave so much mess to clean up. Tidiness suggests that something is as good as it's going to get. But clutter and mess show us that life is being lived. Clutter is wonderfully fertile ground--you can still discover new treasures under all those piles, clean things up, edit things out, fix things, get a grip."