Spring Art Class III - Final Projects - May 2010

The rain is back but the classes are over and finals have been critiqued! Here's to my teachers (Abigail Jane Rubenstein and Carol A Levy) this semester - long on patience and full of encouragement.

Drawing Class: The theme was Reflections (and I did what came to mind) - an Alice In Wonderland theme (based on illustrations by John Tenniel and others from the long-time favorite children's books).

Drawings are graphite on paper 21"x30":

"Dormouse Through Another Looking Glass" (artist Janice L-H)

"Dormouse Landing In Reality" (artist Janice L-H)

Figure Painting Class:

We had to display our current favorite paintings at the final critique.

Oil, acrylic and pastel paintings - artist Janice L-H

(the models are Christopher, Rachael S., LaWanda, Lisa and Barbara)

Here's some paintings from the final model sessions:

The model is Christopher: canvas paintings 22"X30"

My very first oil painting! It was really cool.

Christopher in acrylics (22"x30")

The model is Lisa: pastel on paper 18"x24"

Figure Painting instuctor Carol A. Levy in a humorous moment (holding up a great torso in acrylic by classmate artist Natalie). It's bigger than she is!

Spring Art Classes II - April 2010

Spring is really in the air! The weather is getting sunnier (interspersed with rainy days). The hills are still green but that will start to change soon. Time to get outside and paint! But first,

I'm still in Student mode...

Midterm madness is upon me and I have posted a few of the more successful paintings and drawings from the classes.

Figure Painting:

The model is Lawanda.

(18"x24" acrylic- artist Janice L-H)

Midterm project - after a sketch by Michaelangelo)

(22"x30" watercolor & pastel- artist Janice L-H)

Drawing class:

The assignment: 24 small drawings of a view/space each 8"x9" using graphite (I'll did 20 but only show a few).

graphite on paper (artist Janice L-H)

Spring Art Classes - February 2010

"Carmel Mission study"
(12"x 18" pastel on paper artist Janice L-H)

Spring is almost here and the assignments in class have kept me pretty busy. I'm really going to try as best I can to fit in my weekend painting sessions with the painting Groups (East Bay and North Bay Plein Air Painters , as well as the Sacramento and the Benicia groups). The Saturday class (Landscape Art) is also starting soon and Marc Pandone chooses some nice local areas to visit with his students. Mountains and Valleys and Trees...Oh, My!

At the very least, if I can't get in a pastel or two, I can use the time to work on some assignments! In the meantime, I include a few exercises below.

Figure Painting:
The model is Barbara. Some of you may have worked with her before. Both matronly and quirky, Barbara has the best fashion accessories!


(18"x24" acrylic on paper - artist Janice L-H)

Drawing Class:
I don't think I've ever spent so much time on line drawings without adding paint or pastel. The first one is from my sketchbook "Nicasio Land Co Ford" (with the NBPAP in Nicasio last Sunday) and the second drawing is a class assignment (18"x24" graphite on paper) titled: "My IsShoes With Teddy"


(9"x12"graphite & ink on paper)


(18"x24" graphite on paper)

Goodbye to 2009, Hello 2010!

2009 was a year of discovering painting en plein air and forming new friendships.

I got myself back in the the classroom and that led directly to my painting en plein air.

I discovered the "wonderfulness" of working in pastels and became determined to follow up
that discovery with forays into acrylic painting.


Here's a few works from late in 2009 that I never got a chance to blog about:



November 7th, 2009 at Viansa Winery with one of the East Bay Plein Air Groups:

The view from the winery grounds was spectacular that weekend but VERY bright!



Overwhelmed with color and patterns, my initial attempt here didn't have very much focus. When I returned home I tried to tone down the background to give more depth, but I guess I'll just have to go back this year and try again.

"Viansa View" (12"x 18" pastel on paper) Artist Janice L-H




November 22, 2009 at the Shollenberger Park, Petaluma with Northbay Plein Air

I certainly can't improve on the great write-up that Gerald DeDios posted on the NBPAP blog. See it for yourself at http://nbpleinair.blogspot.com/2009/11/ghhhyes-we-are-painting-in-petaluma.html. Meeting up with the painters and visiting Alfredo Tofanelli's studio in Petaluma was the highlight of the day.


"Under The Overpass" (12"x18" pastel on paper) Artist Janice L-H



Acrylic Fun and Games
Fall Class in acrylic painting tried my patience with the new medium!

"Soup's On" - acrylic on canvas (Artist Janice L-H)

I came to the realization that I didn't own ANY white cups or saucers.
And didn't have the required lighting in the house for dramatic lighting. Using the camp flashlight just didn't cut it!

Luckily the class had great lighting and some of the exercises we did just made me realize
that I need to get some figure drawing or painting opportunities in 2010!

"Babydolls and Mannequins" - acrylic on canvas (Artist Janice L-H)


"Viansa Fountain" - 24"X36" acrylic on cardboard (Artist Janice L-H)


Here's looking forward to a great 2010 with more painting opportunities with
local artists in the Bay Area and beyond: East Bay, North Bay, Benecia, Solano and Sacramento!