Mar 8
Yes, I realize this is a watercolor blog and the exhibit posted here is not about watercolor. The fact remains it is a Bob Miller exhibit. In this case Miller trumps watercolor … a rare event, indeed!
Over 25 paintings of Bob Miller’s Flying Machines! Here’s more information in Bob’s own characteristic printing …
You can see more of Bob’s work here.
Feb 27
Sacramento Indoor Watercolor Classes Begin March 24. Follow this link for information.
Value Sketch for the watercolor painting, Gambatte 1.
(Click image to view finished painting)
Like most of my work, this three-value sketch was accomplished along the banks of the American River near, Sara Park, in Sacramento, CA. I found material for this sketch about a half block upstream from where we meet each week during Free Fridays.
Despite great odds, a few small, determined, weather beaten, branches and twigs, in the form of a “Y” caught my attention and eventually became the basis for this composition.
Gambatte 1, was painted on location February 7, 2010 at about 1:30 in the afternoon. A second version was begun and completed the following day. Later in the week, a third version served as a demonstration painting. I plan on posting the other two versions in the near future.
On completion of the first painting he weather changed from being damp, overcast, and dreary to bright reassuring sunshine. I recall Henry Fukuhara saying that artists can move mountains. Could it be that they might also change weather patterns? It’s a nice thought.
My thanks to Mary Higuchi for the title. Gambatte. Mary tells me it is a Japanese word of which Henry was quite fond, meaning hang in there and give it your best. That seems like good advice for all of us. It also seems to mirror Henry’s personal approach to life.
To call this painting a tribute to Henry seems a bit presumptuous and unworthy. However, the date and time of day are important. Since I was unable to attend Henry’s memorial, I painted this watercolor as the service was in progress. Under the circumstances, I believe Gambatte 1, represents my best effort on that particular day.
For more information, including finished painting, price, and availability, click here
Jan 31
4/25/13 – 1/31/10
American artist, teacher, and irreplaceable friend.
To know Henry is to love him … and be influenced by him. Henry was an irreplaceable friend, a role model to many people. He was an artistic original, a special, caring, sharing, nurturing, forgiving human being; an artist’s artist, a teacher’s teacher, a mentor’s mentor, and an American’s American. Artists of the world will miss Henry, but will not forget him, … nor will they forget his unique watercolor paintings.
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|||| More About Henry Here: http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookid=390981328443&eid=viewgb_21310
|||| HENRY FUKUHARA DVD AVAILABLE ON LINE:
A two disc, DVD of the 8th Annual Henry Fukuhara Watercolor Workshop, at Alabama Hills and Manzanar, April 30th and May 1st, 2006. It was Henry’s last visit to the Manzanar Workshop. The DVD is a summary of each morning’s activities, including Henry’s lecture and demo for each day. Total running time is approximately three hours. The DVE is $30, including shipping and handling. At Henry’s request, the receipts go toward supporting the Henry Fukuhara Award given at the Annual Watercolor West Exhibition. To purchase the DVD, contact Watercolor West at www .watercolorwest.org. Or, follow this direct link to the Watercolor West site and further information.
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NOTE: The following information has been provided by Henry’s close friend, Al Setton:
A memorial service was held Sunday, Feb 7, 2010, at the First Presbyterian Church, in Santa Monica, CA.
Prior to Henry’s passing, he requested that any donations be made to either of the following sites. Both were important to him and are art related.
Japanese American National Art Museum
369 E 1st St., LA. CA 90012
213 625-0414
http://janmstore.com/donations.html
The Japanese American National Art Museum accepts online donations and has provisions for notifying the family of donations made in Henry’s memory. The Development Office can be reached at development@janm.org or 213 830 5646.
Henry donated all his work to the East LA College Art Department, Vincent Price Gallery. They have many of his paintings, his teaching notes and his wonderful sketchbooks. As they are a State institution funding to catalog and show the works is non-existent. Donation can be made to the Fukuhara Endowment at East LA College Foundation, 1301 Avida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA 91754-6099. For questions 323 265 8610, http://www.elacfoundation.org/elacfoundation/index.asp
Jan 26
Sacramento Indoor Watercolor Classes Begin March 24. Follow this link for information.
Tree Turnabout – DETAIL – Original Watercolor Painting by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)
I did a sketch, value plan last October during an outing along the American River parkway (goody, goody for me). I noticed an interesting pattern at of light and dark at the base of some small trees. The value plan seen below is the result. I was more interested in the abstract pattern than accurately depicting what I saw before me. If memory serves, beyond an attempt or two, I never developed a finished painting from the sketch (boo, hiss, throw the bum out at home plate).
Recently, while doing what has been termed “spinning one’s wheels” I sifted through my collection of value plans and this piece again caught my attention. I turned it upside down (see below) and decided to have a go at it in the inverted position. This resulted in the painting seen at the head of this post. As the saying goes, “Turnabout is fair play.”Hmm, is there REALLY anything like “fair play?” Why, yes, of course there is,! I’m surprised at you, Woody! Why would you even have to ask?
After all the preceding hocus pokus, the intellectually astute salesman in me points out that the detail image (above) is probably better than either the painting, or the original sketch (right side up or inverted). Ah, yes, the destination is not important, it is the journey … that makes one run out of gas. Words to live buy … er … by. The line forms to the right.
For more information, including finished painting, price, and availability, click here
Colors: Ridiculously Reddish Red (PR13), Regular Gasoline Yellow Pale (PY58), Political Self-interest Puce (PV28/), Earthy Earth Brown (PBr75), Independent Indigo (PV33), Supreme Court Black (PB99), Yakety Yack Ochre (635), Blood Pressure White (Pw120/80), and Blind Man Blue (PBl00).
Dec 30
Sacramento Indoor Watercolor Classes Begin March 24. Follow this link for information.
FAll Fantasy – DETAIL – Original Watercolor Painting by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)
This is one of three demonstration paintings, all of which are based on a simple, Post card size value plan done,some months ago, on location along the American River Parkway, Sacramento, CA.. Recently each of the three paintings was finished in the studio.
From time to time I receive emails or comments expressing interest in seeing the value plans that accompany the various paintings posted on this blog. For those who are interested,what follows is an image of my value plan.
Colors: Operatic Red,Summer Squash Yellow,Unionist Blue, MS Grey, Chocolate Sunday Brown, and Licorice Black.
For more information, including finished painting, price, and availability, click here.
Nov 27
Shasta Sunday – DETAIL – Original Watercolor Painting by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)
This post is a reminder of the old baseball saying, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” I’d give the author credit, but there seems to be some disagreement as to whether the saying originated with Casey Stengel, or Yoggi Berra.
More to the point, some of you might recall I did a previous version of this subject last July for a weekend watercolor workshop in Mt. Shasta, CA. I titled that painting, Morning Moment,
The image detail ofShasta Sunday (seen above), is one of three demonstrations painted for a recent watercolor class. Each of the three pieces was based on the original sketch/value plan crated last July.
Correct grammar aside, I suppose one might suggest this is deja vu all over again. The question now is, will Shasta Sunday be thought of as a hit, a home run, or a strikeout? One sure bet, is this piece definitely went into extra innings.
Colors: Shasta Daisy Yellow, Mother Earth Brown, Black Bear Black, Red Bank Scarlet, Great Glacier Gray, Pine Tree Green, Periwinkle Purple, Snow White White, Bubbling Brook Blue.
For more information, including finished painting, price, and availability, click here.
Nov 16
Sailor Take Warning – Value Plan
(Click image to view painting)
Something a little different this time around. As an indoor classroom exercise I create a value plan with three values of construction paper, white, gray, and black. The shapes are cut out with scissors and taped one on top of the other to develop what I think might be an interesting pattern for a painting. The idea is to maximize simplicity of shape and value. I guess one might say it’s the old, “Keep It Simple Stupid” approach. And, good news, extra tape cam be used to tape over the mouth of any supercilious art critic among us.
The value plan (after the fact) is based on a completed work that began outdoors during a recent Free Friday mini-workshop along the American River. Originally,I had intended to take a failed painting and rework it. However, I accidentally notice an interesting scribble made on the reverse side of the painting. Apparently, I had used the back of the painting to test a black ink pen. In doing so, I had unwittingly created some wonderful, loosely drawn marks.
Intrigued by these decorative, flowing calligraphic marks, I decided to try to incorporate them into a watercolor painting. Standing in place, I randomly selected items around me and put together a design within my rectangle. One thing led to another and eventually to a painting. As noted before on this blog, some times the creation process works, and sometimes it doesn’t. I like to think in this case it worked reasonably well
Question of the day: Does anyone really take time to READ this malarkey?
Colors: Sunrise Red, Yakety-Yak Yellow, Spring Ochre, Early Morning Blue, Hazy Lazy Brown, Russian Rouge, Wet Weed Green, Corporate Orange, Persnickety Purple.
For more information, including finished painting, price, and availability, click here.
Nov 8
Tootsie Fruitsy – DETAIL – Original Watercolor Painting by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)
Well, here we go … another opening of another show (so to speak, er, write). This painting is a studio piece. By that I mean it was painted entirely in the studio environment. I did it as a demonstration piece for the folks who are participating in my current watercolor classes.
In its finished state,Tootsie Fruitsy, gets its title from two sources. First, this work reminds me of Juicyfruit gum. I can smell the delicious aroma as I type this overly wordy entry. Second, another tip of the old hat to that creative, artistically inclined, youngster, Craig Ferguson (host of The Late, Late, Show on CBS (or as the Smother’s Brothers used to call it, the Cow Boy Station). As many of you know, Craig often does a humorous bit about the “Tootsie Fruitsy Ice-ah Creama” man (no offense intended to my friends of Italian ancestry). Or, as Craig might say,“Come on, lighten up, it’s a JOKE!”
I’m not sure how I feel about this particular watercolor. Part of me likes it and another part isn’t so sure. The two sides battled it out in my brain and the “likes it” won out. Of course it’s not about like it or not, it is about learning, about the journey, about the luxury of being able to do it at all. Besides, in art, failure is success.
In retrospect, I might have stopped several layers earlier* . There are times when a painting seems to come too early, too easily ,and one mistakenly feels a need to push on, to develop it further. I try to avoid this kind of silliness, but every once in a while “trying to please” takes over. Who the devil am I trying to please? Who ever it might be, an imagined audience composed of peers, students, jurors, societies, galleries, critics, the buying public, etc., is caused by self doubt, insecurity, and ignorance. Truth be told, what really matters is the opportunity to create another watercolor painting.
Colors: Juicyfruit Yellow, Censorship Red, Puritan Blue, Threatening Purple, Protestant Orange, Catholic Green, and Profitable Black.
For more information, including price and availability, click here.
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* The (I could have stopped here) third of seven layers …
Nov 1
BTB&TR – DETAIL – Original Watercolor Painting by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)
This painting is a non-objective, demonstration piece from my current, weekly watercolor classes. It consists of of three or four layers, one over the other with drying time between each layer. The dominate shape is derived from a newspaper photograph of four men in suits, possibly businessmen or politicians. The subject matters not, only the basic, dark and light shapes are of concern here.
The first layer is the “light” layer. I use three, high key values (light light, medium light, dark light) of transparent primary colors to lay in a wet-on-wet, non-objective pattern. The layer is allowed to dry.
Next comes the second, or medium value layer. This is done, wet-on-dry, and where the initial shapes are described within the rectangle. I create a mid-value intermediate tertiary color with which to develop the initial pattern. Before continuing, this layer is also allowed to dry.
The third and final layers, all wet-on-dry, are used to further develop. adjust. and define the over-all design.
BTB&TR is an abbreviation of Between The Bridge and The River. The name really has little to do with the
Upon finishing this non-objective watercolor I sense a feeling of the fury of a raging fire. I thought about naming the painting, Fire and Fury. Maybe I should have stuck with that original title. It is certainly much shorter in length. However, a book and an interesting religious concept came between the painting and the original title.
I recently completed the audio book version of Craig Ferguson’s American On Purpose (The Improbable Adventures of An Unlikely Patriot). It’s a great read. I haven’t had so much fun since the days of creative radio and television personalities Don Sherwood, Al Jazzbo Collins, Steve Allen, and Johnny Carson)!
Chapter 40 (Between The Bridge and The River), of Craig’s book seems fitting to the feeling of the painting. Also, in some small way, it is my recognition, respect, and appreciation of Craig Ferguson’s artistically creative approach to late night television.
In the late 50’s I was fortunate to spend many Sundays as a disc jockey (“And now, here is your local announcer …’) spinning very large discs or platters (vinyl records) of a religious program. The name of the program escapes my memory, but the featured speaker was Father Keller who always ended his transcribe program with, “It is better to light one little candle than to curse the darkness.”
What, you inquire, do the above five paragraphs have to do with my watercolor painting, Craig Ferguson, fire and fury, and religion? Read or , better yet, listen to the book.
Colors: Religious Red, Devilish Scarlet, Blistering Yellow, Purgatory Blue, and Grim Reaper Black.
For more information, including price and availability, click here.
Oct 19
Blue Ice – DETAIL – Original Watercolor Painting by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)
Blue Ice begins as a non-objective painting, wet-on-wet (wet-into-wet), on 140 pound watercolor paper.
After the paper absorbs a significant amount of water, its surface is randomly scarred with a metal putty knife. Blue paint is then applied with an eye toward creating interesting shapes of varying sizes. At this stage paint value is a range of light and mid values. The work is then allowed to dry completely.
The next layer is comprised mostly of mid and dark values of blue, Attention is devoted toward creating interesting positive/negative shapes in an attempt to bring harmony and unity to the work while developing an over all checkerboard pattern. During the time this layer is still wet and soft, the shapes are scraped with the putty knife. This layer is allowed to become totally dry before continuing..
The painting is completed in one to three more layers by making final adjustments to shapes, value, and color. The end result is a non-objective painting which has a cool temperature emphasis and a blue color dominance.
Colors: Brilliant Ice Blue Blue, Cool Earth Red, Yahoo Yellow Hue, Midnight Oasis Black.
For more information, including price and availability, click here.
