Insecurity - Layer 1

Last night I managed to get this whole layer done! It's a 40" x 30" canvas, so that's a pretty good session for me. Of course, I was cleaning brushed at 2:30 am, but still, it was worth it. Let's hope I get a handful of decent sessions like that in on this so it's ready to hang next week.

Ophelia II

Ophelia II has been finished and signed! Now I just need to see about getting some varnish on it to even out the flat sunken in areas, which you can see in the lower detail image. This leaves me about 7 days to try and complete another painting, varnish and frame, etc., for the show! Anyone interested in being an unpaid slave laborer, er, I mean studio intern, for a week?

Ophelia II - So Close to Finished!

I apologize for all the glare in this photo. She's almost done! The tub needs some highlights to give it more dimension, and then a couple other small adjustments and I'll sign it. Unfortunately, I've caught a cold right when I need to really be working on my paintings and also in my most important training week for the Hospital Hill 10k. I have yet to get in my final long run, but hopefully today will be my last yucky day so that I can both run and paint!

For some good news: I've booked my flight to New York City so I can attend the Salmagundi Club reception! I'll be there for a few days so my family and I can explore, have fun, and eat pizza. Can't wait...

Ophelia II - Moving on to the Background

I told you I still paint! I know it still doesn't look like a lot of progress, but other than a couple adjustments on the lower arm, the flesh is done and so the rest should not take much longer. Now that this is nearly done, it's high time to get cracking on "Insecurity."

Summer Classes at the Carnegie Arts Center

I am scheduled to teach some drawing classes this summer at the Carnegie Arts Center in Leavenworth, KS. Following is a list of classes and descriptions. Any changes will be noted here and on my website, in addition to on the CAC website. Contact the Arts Center to register!

Beginning Drawing Workshop - Ages 9-12
Classes will focus sequentially on the perception of edges, spaces, relationships, and values. We will learn about foreshortening, the basic ideas behind perspective, methods for measuring placement and relative size of objects, and some light logic.

• Session 1: June 16th, 17th, and 20th 1-3pm
• Session 2: July 7th, 8th, and 11th 1-3pm

Summer Drawing Intensive - Beginning Perspective - Ages 12-16
A workshop focusing on the basics of perspective. With a little art history sprinkled in, we will learn about 1-point perspective on day 1, 2-point perspective on day 2, and 3-point perspective on day 3. Drawing will be done both from the imagination and from life. Please bring a rectangular solid no larger than a shoe box to class.

• June 16th, 17th, and 20th 10 am -12 pm

Summer Drawing Intensive - Beginning Portrait Drawing - Ages 12-16
In this class, we will learn drawing skills through portraiture. Basics of measuring, contour drawing and shading will be covered while we also study facial proportions. Work will be done both from life and from 2D references.

• July 7th, 8th and 11th 10 am -12 pm

Portrait Drawing - Adult

In this 6 week class we will study the art of portrait drawing from lighting and posing the model and what makes a good reference photo, to proportion, creating a pleasing and accurate line drawing, and using value to give your portrait form and solidity. We will work from a combination of life and reference photos that we create ourselves.

• July 26th through August 30th Saturdays 11 am -12:30 pm

Figure Drawing Classes - Adult
Classes will start with short poses for warm-up gesture drawings. Progressively longer poses will be used to introduce several methods of approaching figure drawing, including sight-size measuring, creating an envelope and block in, and measuring on the inside. We will also discuss non-parallelism in the body, anatomy, contour and form.

• July 26th through August 30th Saturdays 1 - 3:30 pm

I promise to post more pictures of work soon... yes I have been painting!

Pictures from the Gateway Arch

Above is from the park that the arch is in. I have other pictures that I took of the arch as well, but these two are slightly less like what you'd typically see on a postcard, so I though they were worth posting.

Pics from the St. Louis Zoo

Just for fun, (I am obviously no photographer!) here are a few pictures from our visit to the St. Louis Zoo. I had a really great time and took tons of pictures. The photo above as well as the two color penguin pictures were both taken by my husband. My son also had a camera to himself, and though none of these are his he did take some great shots!

Foundry Art Centre

I just returned earlier today from my trip to St. Charles/St. Louis, MO. We stayed in St. Charles, close to the Foundry Art Centre, where two of my paintings are in a group figurative show. I never know what to expect when I haven't seen a venue in person, but I was really pleasantly surprised in this case! I'd say this place is museum quality... the galleries really look the part and are large, open, and contemporary. The work in the show was simply fabulous, and again the quality was top notch. Perhaps, when I get time, I can look up a few of the other artists included on the web and see if I can find some links to share.

This picture shows the middle section of the building, which is meant to hold people for receptions, etc. There is a stage to one end, behind where I stood to take this photo. Originally, tanks were built here, and they would be loaded onto rail cars in this very area. At least, that's how I heard it. Today, there are galleries on either side of this room, and on the top floor are artist studios. All the walls facing the balcony are glass, so you can look through and see artists working, or if they aren't there, you can peek in and see their work. Really a great idea and a fabulous way to use an old building, if you ask me.

This is one of the galleries, where my pieces are. To give you and idea of scale and location, that guy towards the back on the right is probably looking at Facade. Finally, there I am (below) with my paintings. The next day, we went to the zoo and to the arch. I had a really great time, especially wandering around the zoo. I have some pictures from those little field trips I could share, too. Anyone want to see some zebras and giraffes?

Heading Out in the Morning

I'm so bummed that I haven't gotten farther on this painting. Still working on the flesh areas, since the rest should go relatively fast. (I hope.) My schedule has been very hectic this past week. I have other projects going on, and today met with the Executive Director at the Carnegie Arts Center in Leavenworth, KS to arrange for me to teach classes there beginning in June. More on that next week!

Tomorrow morning I head out to the St. Charles/St. Louis area for an opening at the Foundry Art Centre Friday night, 6-9 pm. If you live in that area, please do stop by! While I'm out there I hope to check out the arch, of course, and the zoo. Then it has got to be back to work for me.

Ophelia II - The Face II

The face is at least very close to done now. I have decided that I will bring all the flesh areas up to a finish or near finish before really tackling the rest of the painting. I have a feeling this should help the painting move along more quickly for me. I also put in another layer for the hair; I will need to add highlights where the water crests around the head, and of course the hair underneath the water will need softer edges for a more 'floaty' feeling. That will come when I really get going on the water.

Also, for those interested, I have put a couple new demos on my website. Of course, it's nothing you haven't seen if you've been following the blog, but the drawing demo for Nocturne has some new annotated notes.

Ophelia II - The Face

I started in on Ophelia's skin tones last night, after a long nap after jurying Art in the Park. It was a fun job, but a difficult one; there were so many talented artists, it wasn't easy to decide! Hopefully I should be getting some pictures of the LAG's President handing out the awards to recipients that I can post here to officially share who won.

Back to the skin tones: The flesh here has a very limited value range to work with, and so much of the form is built through shifts in hue. Below you can see how soft most of the value changes are, and how the dark areas surrounding the face will help to bring it forward.

Of course, I've noticed things that need to be adjusted, and they will be taken care of during the next session. Another layer here should solidify the form, allow for corrections, and then I'll add in the highlights and details such as the eyelashes.

I'm Totally Jazzed!

Yesterday was an exciting day for me! I got a letter in the mail saying the above painting was accepted into the Salmagundi Club's Annual Non-Member's Painting and Sculpture Exhibition in New York City! The show will run June 30th through July 18th. I'm very excited, and hope to be able to make it out to the closing reception.

Also, I got a call from the Lawrence Art Guild's President asking if I would be the juror for Art in the Park this Sunday. Again, I am just completely honored and excited to do this! It wasn't that long ago that I was set up at this very art fair, and was excited to receive my own ribbon.

Insecurity - Line Drawing

Beginning of a new painting - "Insecurity" Oil on Canvas 40" x 30." This is a large painting for me, and hopefully I'll be able to pull off the multiple hands thing.

May-June Exhibition Schedule

Foundry Art Centre - Figurative Works 05-16-08 through 06-27-08
Reception, Friday, May 16th 6-9 p.m.
Gallery I, II
An exhibition open to work in all media exploring and interpreting the theme of figure drawing. Two of Lacey's recent figure paintings are included.

• Foundry Art Centre
  520 North Main Center
  St. Charles, MO 63301

Charity Auction for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society 06-04-08
*This event is tentative and not yet fully finalized. Please check back for updated information as it becomes available!

• Union Station
  30 West Pershing Rd
  Kansas City, MO

Feminae - Solo Exhibit at Hilliard Gallery 06-06-08 through 06-28-08
Opening Reception Friday, June 6th, 2008 during the First Fridays Art Walk in the Crossroads Art District. This will likely be my biggest show of the summer and/or year with a huge portion of my portfolio on display. Stop by and visit with me at the reception!

• Hilliard Gallery
  18th and Oak
  Kansas City, MO

Lawrence Art Guild All Members Show 06-14-08 through 06-28-08
Opening Reception Saturday June 14th, 2008 6-9 p.m.
Two of Lacey's paintings will be included in this group show at Hobbs Taylor Lofts in Lawrence, KS.

• Hobbs Taylor Lofts
  Eighth and New Hampshire St.
  Lawrence, KS 66044