Fresh Off the Easel: Connect the Drops

Connect the Drops  ©2011 Katherine Kean  SOLD
12 x 16" oil on linen

I've had no lack of inspiration for rainy day paintings this year! This is the second one in a series, the first can be found here. I like the contrast between the soft, misty background and the sharpness of the drips.

While working on these I came across the saying, "No one raindrop thinks it caused the flood", which some say describes the mindset that brings about the social phenomenon called "diffusion of responsibility"; related to these other social phenomena; design by committee, the bystander effect, and the Nuremberg Defense. However, couldn't it also mean cooperation, gathering together to accomplish a common goal, or achieving something otherwise out of reach for a single individual?

New Glass Palette

I've used this round glass palette for quite a while. I believe it's original purpose was meant to be as a table topper. It's heavy and thick, about 16" in diameter, and the edges are beveled and smooth. There is nothing wrong with it other than it seems a little bit small when I'm working on a larger canvas.

For my new palette I'm using a glass kitchen counter protector. It has a crinkly surfaced top, but the bottom is smooth, so I flipped it over. It also has smooth beveled edges. There were little silicon pads on the bottom four corners which I found easy to scrape off - really easy, I just lifted an edge with a fingernail and then they just peeled off. I then stuck them on the other side - the side that was the top and is now the new bottom. The rectangle fits well on the table next to my easel and provides a lot more room for mixing. Here it is, below, in use.

The colors at the moment, from the lower left corner and moving clockwise, are as follows: Titanium White, Hansa Yellow Deep, Cadmium Orange, Quindracinode Red, Venetian Red, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Grey Green, Olive Greem, Terre Verte, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine Blue, and Mars Black.

Japan Earthquake Relief Fundraiser - Saturday, April 23

I'm participating in this fundraiser with TAG Gallery and the U.S. Japan Council Earthquake Relief Fund. The event begins at 11am and continues all day, concluding with a reception from 4-6pm. I have donated three paintings towards this effort, from which 50% of proceeds will go directly to non governmental organization projects in the devastated Tohoku region of  Japan.

DVDs For and About Art and Artists: Jeremy Lipking's The Portrait Sketch

Recently I had a few artists over and we watched Jeremy Lipking's two hour demonstration of a portrait sketch on DVD. In the DVD Lipking paints a profile of his wife Danielle. As demos go the production value on this is high. We loved that there was an inset view of the model at times throughout so we can see what the artist sees as he paints. The demonstration is divided into chapters: Introductions, Materials, Blocking In, Painting Eyes, Nose, Lips, Ear, Hair and so on. He says very little as he goes, clearly absorbed in his work, however there is an alternate version with ongoing commentary with Tony Pro, the producer and an artist in his own right. Also included on the DVD is a written listing of materials; his palette, panels, and brushes. a selection of paintings and a bio written by Michael Zakian. I always find it a little bit magical to watch a painting unfold. It was even more fun with friends and a few snacks.

Waiting For the Sun

Amber Lightfall©2011 Katherine Keanoil on linen  15 x 40  inches

After days and days of rain, the sun has come out at last. It's still chilly, but promises to warm up. I grabbed the opportunity while it rained to get inside work finished. During my document updating I re-discovered the "read aloud" feature of Acrobat PDF files. I found that if I used it to read back to me that I could see how text such as my artist statement did or did not flow. In the past I've asked a friend to read it to me, or recorded my own voice on my message service. The digital voice gives a new variation.I also found it a useful tool to use in proof reading. An error read alound seems to stand out more to me than what I might catch when visually skimming over text.

Welcoming Spring With Buckets of Rain

Most of the weekend and on into the first day of spring brought lots of rain to Los Angeles - very fitting as this is World Water Day. All the downpour filled my rain barrels to the brim and the time indoors gave me a chance to finish my taxes and update my website with a few small changes.

This week I sent out my quarterly newsletter, wishing everyone a happy spring. You can view my newsletter here, or sign up for it to be sent to your inbox by clicking on the link below.

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Enjoy your fresh water and happy spring!

 

 

 

A Very Busy Ring of Fire

Coastal Pines Overlook II    ©2011 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 6 x 6"

 The weather here has warmed up allowing for improved drying time. Together with the longer days, that's good news for painters. I've been able to make progress on new paintings and finish this pair. These are imaginary scenes reminiscent of the California Coast near Big Sur. Although they weren't intended as such, they can work together as a diptych, yet I prefer them to be separate.

If there's a competition for our attention, it seems to me that Nature continues to win. It hasn't been a month since an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. As I was updating webcam information to post about the newest eruptions of Kilauea in Hawaii, the 8.9 earthquake hit Japan, followed by the massive tsunami. Just before the quake activity Japan's Shinmoedake volcano also began erupting again.

In Hawaii, the world's youngest and maybe most active volcano, which has been erupting continuously since 1983, has developed a new fissure developed between the Pu'u 'O'o and Napau craters on Kilauea. Here is a temporary camera set up to record the new fissure eruption which started on the afternoon of March 5, 2011 about 2 km WSW of Puʻu ʻŌʻō Crater. This panorama is a composite of eight images from a research camera positioned on the north rim of Puʻu ʻŌʻō's crater.



Coastal Pines Overlook I    ©2011 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 6 x 6"

 Just as it is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of destruction that parts of the world have been experiencing, the images broadcast over the Internet and the airwaves have been unbelievable as well, including the most recent coming from Japan.

In the midst of it I was grateful to find this list of charities on Charity Navigator that are organizing relief efforts. The opportunity to contribute something to help out aids me in feeling a little less powerless.