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Monthly Archives: March 2014

Hare and Hounds

28 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by pat in England, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Cotswolds, Hare & Hounds, Tetbury

When we come to the Cotswolds, we often stay in Broadway at The Broadway Hotel.  This past year we stayed near Tetbury, and found a sister hotel of The Broadway — The Hare and Hounds.  We’ve always been pleased with this small chain, and the H&H didn’t disappoint.

IMG_8991It’s quite large, and has an adjoining wing that housed our room, and the Jack Hare pub.

IMG_8993These Cotswold properties have a reputation for taking classic historic properties with character and doing the interiors with a contemporary flair based on a local theme…

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…here, obviously, hares and hounds.

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The pub and bar and the more formal dining room were delightfully filled with the creatures. Plus we had one of the best breakfasts of the trip for me…salmon and scrambled eggs, lots of tea, toast and fruit)

IMG_8998One of my favorite things about these inns is the display of original art and prints throughout the hotel…from the restaurants to the hallways to the rooms and baths.

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IMG_8979Even the older prints look modern in this setting.

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A few of my absolute favorites in this inn were in our room…

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The hares on the walls were wonderful and full of character.

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Even in the bathroom there was a fanciful piece of art…

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You have to love a place that loves art and color so much.

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The perfect place to stay before our garden tour of Highgrove.

 

 

 

Tetbury, The Cotswolds

22 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by pat in Shopping, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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Cotswolds, Tetbury

Last summer we decided to try a new area in the Cotswolds, and because we were gong to visit Highgrove Gardens, Prince Charles’ home, we decided to stay near Tetbury. It did not disappoint.

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It was not quite as quaint and perfect as the village of Broadway, where we usually stay in the Cotswolds.  But it had a real charm all its own.

IMG_8939The main streets were filled with all sorts of shops, and it is known for its antiques.

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It was interesting.  Very classic in style, and obviously an upscale market.  The shops were varied and seemed to cater to a country set.

IMG_8942There were also flowers everywhere…

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…for sale or just to make you feel good.

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A beautiful town with lots of character and…

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…full of surprises. I could walk from window to window and be impressed with the varied displays.

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A perfect morning in town strolling and window shopping before retiring to our Country Inn.

 

Floating

13 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, paintings, sketching, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

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art studio, cut outs, Henri Matisse, oil painting, Paris, Polynesia, The Centre Pompidou

And finally, Floating. I have always loved Henry Matisse’s cut outs that the artist did in the last years of his life.  When I saw these two Polynesia works at The Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the three figures sitting in front of them literally being drawn into the floating images…I was there.

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Sometimes one the most difficult parts of a painting is deciding what to paint.

Image 3I often take many, many photographs and tape them to my studio wall, hoping that something will jump out at me.

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This is after hours of playing with the images. Re-cropping. Adding or subtracting and re-adding figures. Deciding which color palette fits the mood of the scene. Shadows. Light and dark.

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Then, finally, once it is sketched on the canvas, deciding on the ground color that will set the tone for future layers of paint.

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And it is always at this middle stage of the painting that I wonder if it was really the right decision.

I recently was reading an art tutorial blog and the artist mentioned this middle period of horror when you think all the hours you have put in are for naught! I thought it was just me that had to force myself to work through this phase. Obviously it is a common issue.

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But finally I come out on the other side, and I am happy.  It’s when I breathe that final light into the canvas that the image lets itself be born.

I don’t stop working on a painting as readily as I once used to.  If I come back the next morning and some area just doesn’t seem quite right, I work with it.  And sometimes it might get worse before it gets better. It takes immense concentration, patience (not my strongest virtue) and focus.

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But experience has taught me it is worth the frustration.  Finally, one morning, I come back in to the studio and just breathe a deep sigh of satisfaction and relief.  The painting is finally alive. And finished.

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All photos and images by me.

Spring Morning: The Met

08 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, paintings, sketching, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

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Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, oil painting

The second in a series of gallery paintings I worked on this winter is a 30 x 24″ oil called Spring Morning. In many ways it was the most complicated of the three.  Dealing with architectural elements is always a challenge for me, and this scene was no exception. But the lobby of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is magnificent, and worth the effort.

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I try to work out problem areas early, before I put paint to canvas.  Sometimes the drawing is one of the most difficult phases, especially in these with multiple perspectives and an overhead viewpoint.

Image 2Notice in the upper left hand corner where I realized in time that my floor tiles were out of line.

Image 6I didn’t notice an issue with the center podium under the flowers until later in the process.

ImageThe proportion and scale were slightly off.  Still easily fixable at this point.  One of the hardest lessons to learn is to look carefully, then look again.  A lot of time I find a tea break and coming back with a fresh eye helps to see issues.

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Often I photograph the work in progress (therefore all these lovely progression photos).  When I put the image up on my computer screen I often spot something that I might not notice staring constantly at the actual canvas.  Rather like a fresh pair of eyes on a new point of view.

Image 3Sometimes I look at a black & white version of it on the computer to check my contrast and shadows.  It all helps.

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And finally comes my favorite part…adding detail and breathing life in to the work.  I work on mood and shadows, depth and atmosphere.  On this piece I actually ran a glaze with a golden hue over the canvas to soften and unite the many parts near the final phase. Each day it progressed in the rich layers of transparent color and small detailed highlights.

Until, as in this case, the soft light streaming through the doors adds a glow to the entire scene.

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All photos and images by me.

 

 

 

 

The Women

01 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, paintings, sketching

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Getty Museum, Henri Moore, Los Angeles, The Seated Woman

For several months now, I have been busy in my studio, painting three new works that focus on the art museum experience.

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I am intrigued by how people re-act to their surroundings, and how art museums, generally speaking, bring a wonderful sense of calm and reflection to the visitor.

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The Women came from a visit to the Getty Museum on a gloriously sunny day in Los Angeles.  One of my favorite viewpoints to paint is looking down from above, and after many intriguing photographs from the balcony/courtyard area of the museum, I found my subject. The progression came easily once I decided on the details.

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I wanted a monochromatic calm to permeate the scene.

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The branches are meant to entangle and include the two women strolling, Henry Moore’s statue The Seated Woman, and myself as the viewer.

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I wanted just enough color to weave the scene together and engage the viewer. The green shirt draws the eye upward to include all the participants in the tableau.

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The balance was complete.  The two women bound in a strolling conversation, the Seated Woman, and myself were equally included in the scene.

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