Tucked Away-6x6-SOLD

SOLD

you'll recognize this from a previous painting i did when i was in the keys. liked it so much i did it again. this time in front of folks in the nags head workshop. i showed them how to lay down very simple shadow shapes and light shapes that were so simply done they looked like they were cut out of construction paper. then i went from shape to shape breaking one into two or three all the while correcting the shapes drawing and working on the edges. it went from a "cartoon" version to a finished painting in the last 1/3 of the painting process.

Upcoming dates

Bald Head Island Workshop- Plein Air- How to Loosen Up and Paint Colorfully- May 2- 4
stay on beautiful Bald Head Island and learn how to nail the values of a landscape scene, mix the correct color you see out there, use broken color to jazz passages of the painting, and how to simplify complex scenes. added plus! its on an island that you can only drive golf cars around on. that makes for a really slowed down, fun, experience on the northern most island in the tropics. yes... can you believe it? it is considered the very northernmost extremes of the tropics.

Lumina Ave Shapes 12x12

Headed to the City Art show in Greenville. Opening reception is May 12th

The atlanta workshop is over and next up is a three day workshop in Nags Head NC, starting this monday.

Felt good to work out a few problems on this in the studio. i had the yellow building in the middle ground too dark and too cool so i lightened and warmed it up. when i did it plein air it was partially in sun and partially in shadow ( midtone). it was correct but didnt look good on the painting. then i put some broken color in the shadows, sky and pavement in light to add subtlety and extra color vibration.

Always paint what looks good on the canvas, regardless of whether it was really there or not.

Roswell/Atlanta Workshop

Today was day one of my three day workshop in Roswell Ga. a beautiful little town on the outskirts of atlanta. we went over values for much of the day painting and "seeing" in black and white. or in this instance grayed down versions of ultramarine blue (blue with orange in it) see the value scale on top? the number 1 value has a line drawing a connection to the number three value. that means if a box, block, object etc is white on the light side (no. 1) it will be a number 3 in the shadow. and a number 2 object in light will most likely be a no. 4 value in the shadow. a dark object will appear to be a no. 3 value in light and a no. 5 value where it gets no light. these are diane's box exercises from class today. thanks diane! heres a white object (could be white or yellow or light pink) on a medium tabletop(could me red, medium green etc) the background obviously dark

now heres a medium box with what looks to be a dark tabletop and a light background

and this is a dark block on a medium tabletop with a light background.

once you learn how to bracket values in a logical way you will be able to add observation to some reasoning and figure out what values things should be and why.

bracketing means putting a two value jump in value from the lightest plane (direct light) to the darkest plane in shadow (the one getting the least amount of light) If there's a midtone (strafing light or half in light half in shadow) its the value inbetween the lightest and darkest. so if its a white block the plane getting the most amount of light would be no. 1, the midtone would be no.2 and the shadow plane on a white block would be no darker than no. 3.

Day two tomorrow. i'm stoked!

Changed my Mind

i've decided not to put Pathway to Nirvana in the City Art show and i'll be painting something else up instead. getting packed for the atlanta workshop so no time to paint any dailies to post. i better get some painting done here shortly or i'll lose my mojo and i hate that feeling!

Wilmington Workshop Day One

Today was day one of a three day workshop in Wilmington NC. Fifteen stoked students learned all about the importance of values, how to "bracket" them into believable and simple value plans. then on to color, how to mix any color imagineable. i pulled pages out of magazine and at the end of the day students were mixing any color i gave them. Then i showed them how to mass in the shadow and light pattern, then go back and make it even more believable by going from two values (one for light, one for shadow) to four and then on to six. Tomorrow we'll put all this into practice as we take it outside painting plein air. i havent been painting much lately. been running from one workshop to the next so i dont have anything image-wise to post. i'll get something on as soon as i can. Flying out to Roswell Ga. (near Atlanta) this Sunday to hold a three day workshop on Monday. there's a space or two left. if you'd like to sign up email me and i'll hold you a spot. Next Workshop- Dare County Arts Council Plein Air Workshop- manteo nc- apr. 25-27 email me to see if there are any spots still open

Where ya been?

got a few emails wondering if i was still alive. they said i never went this long without posting on the blog. yes i am alive. alive and very well as a matter of fact.

as i write this post i'm on the 6th floor in an oceanfront room looking out over the ocean as the sky turns a pretty shade of lavender with just a hint of magenta at the top then on into a baby blue cloudless sky. how did i end up here? courtesy of the Wilmington Art Association. a very nice group of artists having a show and they asked me to be the judge. after work i went kiteboarding out back behind the hotel. this is a tuff gig i'll tell you.

gotta run right now but just wanted you to know that i didnt end up in a ditch on the way back from Key West. and thanks to those who wondered. nice to know i wont leave the earth without at least two people wondering where i went LOL

Workshop Update

Paint Camp- Ft Pierce Fl- tomorrow and saturday- two spots open for tomorrow. several open for saturday. Always wanted to learn to paint but never tried? Paint Camp is for you. i supply everything you need. just come empty handed and leave with a painting that looks just like the step by step demo i do for you. way fun! Wilmington Plein Air workshop with WAA in a few weeks- a last minute cancellation opened up one spot call me (919-920-9718) or email me to reserve a spot

Corner Office on Stock Island-6x8-SOLD

SOLD

nice little slice of stock island scenery. all cubans who speak very little english, a few speak spanglish, and they love painters! then at lunch, right around the corner, you can get some real cubano food cheap, and its like youre sitting in havana! my kinda place.

Heading outta here day after tomorrow. there are a few slots left for my Ft. Pierce Fl. Paint Camp Friday Apr 1 and Sat. Apr. 2. if youve never painted before or dont feel real confident with your painting, this is the workshop for you. you just walk in, sit down ( supplies provided) and in 2 1/2 hrs you walk out with your painting, and it'll look just like the one i paint with you. now thats cool. all the while you'll learn about drawing, mixing color, making sunlight, shadow, and form. email me if you want to sign up. the last day to register is Thurs. the 31st.

Pretty in Pink on Newton St.-6x6-SOLD

One from the "Meadows" area far from Old Town but just as beautiful, with quiet streets and tons of conch houses to paint.

Note: CONTRAVERSY AHEAD-- We've got a raging discussion going on about yesterdays post where i gave my two cents about the nasty habit of a small number of people going from painting blog to painting blog giving their pearls of wisdom (read: unsolicited criticism) of artists work.

NOTE: Now dont worry! i'm not mad or losing my laid back vibe.... i'm stirring up the pot, i know. not because i dont want negative comments on my blog or cant handle criticism (if i couldnt i'd have quit the painting business years ago) but because i think a post needed to be written on the proper way to offer criticism of an artists work. I'm doing it for all the artists out there who have had unwarranted negativity hurled at their masterpiece. us artist types are very insecure after all. and if they must give this unsolicited criticism they should do it in a private email instead of out in front of people who are considering buying an artists work off their blog. its how a few of us pay all our bills, after all.

A lot of artists read this blog and i'm assuming a few will agree with me on this.

i'm just saying that if an artist doesnt specifically ask for it, these "snipers" (who have no credentials or relationship with the artist) are IMHO being rude. most of the time you go to look at their profile (on Blogger) to see their work, and there isnt even a profile, much less a website full of wonderful artwork. i can learn from such a person. if a person who doesnt paint regularly (and at least as well as the person theyre critiqueing) is going to be inconsiderate concerning our work, at least they should leave their correct name and have an email address where we can give them our opinions as well, in private. am i wrong on this?

there's been quite a bit of follow-up comments and i'd love to know what you think of this topic. feel free to 'flame' me (remember that word, old timers?) if you disagree with me. i asked for it. uh oh LOL post script: Doug IS NOT the person who got this firestorm started. he was very kind and prompted me to write the post about how one should offer alternative ways of doing something, ie. a painting. he did it exactly right and i appreciate him for his comments.

Red Sail- 6x8

SOLD

Conch Colors-6x8-SOLD

i am posting lots of smiley emoticons before i make some people angry with me on todays post. so here they are. breathe deeply and hum your favorite tune till youre sufficiently calm.

:D :D :D :D

i got a comment from doug, a very kind daily blogwatcher, who suggested maybe the cars werent needed on Conch Colors (the first one posted below) but that he liked the piece anywho. i read that and fired back (in a knee jerk fashion) that i "planned" it that way and thanked him for his input. problem was, after much thought, he was right. so i asked my painter friend for a second opinion and indeed she said that just the tops of them didnt do anything for her. you need the whole car on a street if youre going to include them. so i repainted Conch Colors leaving the blobs i had for cars out. guess what? it improved the painting and i'm thankful for doug and diane's input.

then i thought it would make a good post about the best way to give your negative opinion of an artists work.

OK here's the part you might get angry with me about. lets talk about how not to give input, especially if its to an artist. i have had people do this to me, and i've seen it done to others. critique is fine but there are right and wrong ways to give it. Doug did it the right way and i'm thankful for it. if he hadnt i would have dismissed him and not taken his thoughts seriously. to my detriment.

lets agree that the most masterful painting in existence could be arm-chair quarterbacked a million different ways. add on top of that that artwork is a highly subjective and personal creation. here are a few thoughts:

* dont think just because its their blog and you dont have to say it to their face that you can be inconsiderate. my opinion is that anonymity can sometimes breed incivility, in this digital world we live half our lives in. remember there's another insecure human being on the other end of your email of blog comment. youre not the only one. we're all insecure about something right?

*dont be judgmental and assume that the painting is "wrong" because they didnt do it the way you would have. they did the best that they could at the time. remember alot of these things are painted out in traffic with tourists asking you if theyre disturbing you by disturbing you! then just as you begin to draw an 18 wheel beer truck parks in front of the scene for 45 minutes as the light is fading, its easy to say why didnt you do this or do that after looking at it from the comfort of your computer chair or sofa, where time seems to stand still.

* unless youve established some repore (sp?) with an artist, keep your critiques to yourself. make sure they think of you, "this person has earned the right to question my decisions" Until that happens they will not look kindly on your critique of their work.

* use the sandwich method to tell your wife you dont like her choice of dresses, and painters that you dont care for a section of their painting! the sandwich method sandwiches the negative statement inbetween two tasty compliments on both sides of it. one in front, and one in back. makes the nasty part go down much easier right?

i have a person who writes to me all the time with unsolicited advice and unflattering remarks about some of my paintings (without using the sandwich method i might add) but when i go to see what their artwork looks like there's no blog, website, or artwork theyve done anywhere. that burns my hind end! easy to sit back and say this and that but have you put any paint on canvas today? this week? ever? dont critique me harshly and rudely unless youre a painter. i dont go on their stockbroker or MD website where they work and armchair quarterback their job performance. especially anonymously. thats just bad form. i delete this persons email, unread, when i see the address just to keep my bloodpressure in safe territory.

* before dashing of your pearl of wisdom, remember that there are over 2000 decisions made on a two hour painting and ask yourself, "whens the last time i got all 2000 of them right?" If the answer is just yesterday then dash off your wise advice and silently thank God youre so easy on your own stuff . and if you must offer it anyway, please use the sandwich method.

as in the case of doug he did everything right and i still responded from ego more than i should have. hey, we're all human and doing the best we can, right. I'm glad he was so nice in offering his "alternative method of solving the problem" and not chiding me for missing a few things. think about it if there are 2000 decisions to make and lets say 3 or 4 choices per decision thats 8000 ways a painting could have been painted. lets say a person paints two or three a day and thats about 24,000 things to be considered! no wonder i'm so tired at the end of the day! LOL

thanks doug and diane for making Conch Colors a better painting.

note: please dont see the above as an invitation to give me unsolicited critique on a regular basis, unless you painted outside at least five times the week you send it, and its on the internet where i can see them, or we are friends. "D

more happy emoticons in case your miffed with me for saying these things

:D "D :D "D

Conch Colors-1st try

this ones all about color harmonies. yellow and a very warm blue. these are very close neighbors arent they? you can probably hear the person in the next house breathing. a little too close for my tastes, but thats old town key west. i do love painting em when theyre this close (and colorful)

Big House Little House-8x8-SOLD

Keys Blues No. 1-6x6-SOLD

ive been on a bit of a journaling kick these past few days. its painting an idea with words.

Old cottages trace the routes

one step ahead of the hungry ocean

Storms move and downsize

abrubt curves in an otherwise straight line

Tropical Shadow and Light-6x8-SOLD

a little prose to summarize my experience this winter in the keys.

Sun Bleached Memories from the Southernmost

Warmed glimpses of fragmentary images, not unlike undeveloped polaroids, magically transform an ordinary existence into stretches of sugar white sand and endless reef. Like the wonderful dream just seconds before waking you fear not being able to recall Key West, her old town charm and verve, or her beautiful sister to the north, Marathon. As connected and separate as twins living on the same ocean and slivers of land. A two lane ribbon of straight salty road, makes one no less important than the other, both essential and teeming. Southernmost keys all joined by the same mother ocean and having the same salt crusted inhabitants and objects in common. Turquoise environs surround white and pale yellow jewels of the ocean, made of dreams and fiberglass, and wood. Demanding their fair share of attention, with their lovers doing the scraping and fussing. Hard work in their dusty, paintcan strewn boatyards speckled with swaying palms dancing in the warm breath of the clouds. The smell of the salt as it rises from where it came,impregnates everything and everyone, thick in the heat of the tropics Sustaining a lifestyle all the while, corroding everything it touches, the ballet that is ying and yang. We are warm here 90 miles from cuba, watching in comfort while snow shovels sling frozen rain into piles on ice slick streets, as the shovels eagerly wait for another blast in a few days to give them job security. Shovel-less i felt guilty at not sharing in all the misery north of Miami during the suns farthest trip away the whole year.

A memory of cheering celebrations in Mallory Square. An ordinary sunset, made anything but, beckons me (after i leave for other latitudes) to celebrate the beauty of living this life. it tries to slow me down, and chides me when i dont, fortgetting to value each day in my shortlived time on this blue marble. a sunsets a sunset, no more. how many do we have for sure? as the polaroid image of my turquoise and sun-streaked memories begin to take shape, i revel in the notes being played in my soul. Like the musicians on Duval paying their homage to Buffett or Marley in return for tips from a few transient sunburned and sometimes inebriated northerners and islanders. The ritual is all part of the dance. a conch republic of beauty and diversity. the best and worst of humankind intermingled with gulls crying and conch fritters frying. The tan lines are visual proof. This wasnt a dream. Will i retain a hold on the feeling, the warmth of the tropics (and its people), while the winter howled elsewhere? Months from now? Years from now? Decades in the future when anything that didnt happen that week might seem like a faded photograph, hard to see, but enjoyable and reminiscent? A trigger for a flood of knee deep 70 degree, crystal clear water, sea turtles, and mangroves to bubble to the surface. Surely my snapshots in paint created from soul, sweat and salty air will remind me in my innermost, of my southernmost life and keep it from slipping out of my grasp. A comfort when i need them most. Toes-in-the-sand synapses, will flash like a minnow, glinting in sunlight when the sun hits him at just the right angle. Tropical greens will always chase the gray, cold, and leafless landscape until it bows in submission. The easy going, "there's always tomorrow" attitude of conch-lifers sends worry and overachievement scurrying. All the while sundrenched songs of good hearted non-conformity drift in and out of consciousness, from downtown to Newtown, all the way past Islamorada, up to Key Largo, up to Boston, up to New York and Maine, over to Chicago. Then to all points on the compass. A lifestyle born on a chain of islands, calling to fellow islanders wherever they may dwell. The smell of shrimp boiling as the sun slips, green flash, dreamy southernmost republic.

Up for Repairs-6x6

Nothing more beautiful than a boat in the late day rays. ive come to have a great respect for these boat owners i'm around in boatyards all day. they work steady day after day, scraping hulls, refitting, varnishing wood, and tons more tasks, to keep their "babies" on the water. i feel really at home when i'm in a boatyard for some reason. theyre very appreciative of us paint slingers trying to paint "portraits" of the things they love.

Little Conch House-6x6-SOLD

KeyWest is covered with these little conch houses and i love the way the palms and vegetation envelope them and when the sun hits em just right theyre so cool. there arent alot of big mcmansions here and most people have learned to live in much smaller quarters than the rest of the beach communities i go to. as more and more people inhabit the island the less space there is to spread out, plus the cost of property here is really expensive. so most people have postage stamp sized lots. you never see anybody out on a riding mower thats for sure.

Workshop News- Ive got a few spots left in my Paint Camp workshop in Fort Pierce, Fl. april 1st and 2nd. you can take one day or both. its really geared for the inexperienced painter that doesnt feel confident yet, as well as the complete beginner who always wanted to paint but was too scared to try! drop me an email -rooneystudios@hotmail.com or call me- 9199209718 to reserve a spot.

One spot left in the Wilmington NC workshop Apr. 11-13. call or email me to get that last spot

Keys Shimmer-6x8-SOLD

couldnt resist painting this sparkley scene. i love backlit stuff, throw in some rim lit puffy clouds, and sparkles. you had me at backlit!

Workshop News- a person has dropped out of the wilmington nc workshop coming up april 11-13, due to sickness. there is only that one spot remaining so the first one that emails me or calls can have the spot. my email is rooneystudios@hotmail.com and my cell is 919-920-9718

Sleepy Canal-6x6-SOLD

From a recent trip to Summerland Key.

In the Sling

16x20

contact me for price and availability

this is from an 8x10 i did recently. i like the lost and found edges on this one. you dont want all of one or the other. just like you dont want all the shapes to be the same value or temperature, you dont want repetitive edges. the eye only really sees hard edges at the exact spot its looking at and blurs the others (called periphery vision) so doing it in your paintings mimics that and gives it a sense of reality.

On Borrowed Time-6x8- SOLD

This old wooden boat is unfortunately slated to be chopped up very soon. built in 1920 it proved too expensive to repair for the owner. after spending $10,000 he found the whole hull eaten up by wood worms and threw in the towel. the stories this boat could tell, having spent its many years running back and forth all over the caribbean from its home port in key west. just think... this boat was a dozen years old when world war 2 started. i had to immortalize her before she's forgotten forever.