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!

Out and About with East Bay Painters

Saturday was busy and the weather couldn't be better! I headed to the Berkeley Marina for a demonstration by David Savellano on sketching a scene with the East Bay Plein Air Painters. Wouldn't ya know it - I forgot to pack watercolors. Luckily I did have pastel pencils and a water brush and soluble graphite & ink! The first page is a cut & paste image from David's flyer (below).

Page 2 & 3: The houseboat and marina view is mine (ink, soluble graphite & pastel)

Berkeley Marina & Houseboats (artist Janice L-H)

Later I jumped in the car and headed over to Alameda to join the East Bay Landscape Painters (Karen, Rebeca, Larry & Fran) before it got too late to sketch. The weather was still warm and I found an area in the shade to sketch the Ferry Building view. I got quite a bit of sun (since I also forgot to pack my hat) but I managed to stay in the shade! (artist Janice L-H)

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)