In Search of Mars

As the sun was setting, the wind was picking up and the clouds came rolling in, I truly did not think I would see the moon last night. This time of year in AZ it is not only hot but windy. Monsoon season does not always mean rain, it can often be sand or just winds. Last night it was wind, a very warm wind that pushed the clouds out, exposing the moon and Mars.

The reports on the news focus on the blood moon, the effect of light reflecting on the moon because of a total eclipse. Which could not be seen from N. America. But, the other part of that was Mars was very close to the earth and moon, so close it could be seen on a clear night with just your eye. Sure enough, I could see it, not near as big as some might think but no doubt that it was a planet. My photos don't really show much, but you could see color from Mars. There was reflections in the clouds with color, the moon kept getting brighter and brighter as the evening went on, just to show off a little.

So, here is my little attempt to capture the Moon and Mars.

The evening started with clouds

Close up with veil of clouds

Within a half hour the clouds had gone

View of blood moon and to lower right the planet Mars

Owls

This morning I was greeted by our neighborhood Great Horned Owl. I only had my cell phone with me so not a great photo but enough for a memory and maybe even a reference for future works. This reminded me that I told my students from the Art of the Bird class that I would post a few photos of the Barred Owl who was fluttering around a bit before settling on it's stand.

Here are a few reference photos that you may use if you would like. I played around with some in photoshop, removing some of the background, flipping one of the images and zooming in for details. When working from photo references or rescue birds it is important to use multiple photos and to look at birds in nature. You may have a great photo of the wings but the face is out of focus, find a photo of a face in focus that is the same position to create your painting. Be aware of light sources, direction of light and reflections in the birds eyes.
Rescue birds are there for a reason, they can not survive in the wild. They may have damage to a wing, eye, talons or neurological which may cause them to sit in a unnatural position. Observe nature, you are the artist, use photos as a reference and create the painting to be your own, in your style. I try to be true to the bird or animal even trees that I am using in my work. I study them to learn their names, and parts of the country/world that they live. I look forward to seeing what you create. Enjoy!

A Light Show

A very inspiring morning, a study of lights and dark's. This morning I woke to flashing lights. It was still dark outside so the lights were pretty bright. I brewed my coffee and went out to watch the show. There was flashing light in the distance, soon the thunder came, with a little wind and more light. The sun was rising somewhere behind the clouds creating lovely soft tones in the sky.

This was a wonderful example and a way to end art workshops that dealt with lights, whites, dark's, not blacks. If that seems a little confusing, next year you can come take one of my classes.

Here are a few photos from this morning performance. A little light, some dark's and lovely soft colors. This AZ landscape keeps temping me to do a painting. We shall see what I can come up with that is not a landscape.

Companions

It has been awhile since I have written a blog post. The last couple of weeks I have been teaching at Common Ground on the Hill. Had a great time, wonderful students that produced amazing work. While I was there blue jean canvases were given away for free. I took one to experiment on, my students ask if pastel would work on canvas. Why yes it will but needs to be sealed. I was not 100% sure about blue jean canvas so I gave it a try. There is a grain that makes it hard to draw fine lines with pastel pencils. Medium soft pastels work better then really soft pastels. It too needs to be sealed, it took several sprays but did not lose the whites too much.

The first image was a barn owl, after-all we were doing a bird class. Here is a picture, it is 16x20" blue jean canvas with sealed soft pastel. Title: & Seek

Since this bird was looking at something, needed to figure out what he might be looking at, with the help of my friend, Lori, a little inspiration came about. The second image is a bunny. Titled: Hide 

Both pieces are on display at Willow Oaks craft cider and wine, in the Art Spaces. They are open Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 - 5:00. The Art Spaces are many, going throughout the two stories of the three story building. They are located at 6219 Harley Rd., Middletown, MD 

A little side note: Save the date, October 20-21st, 2018, Marilu Tousignaut and I will be showing together again. The theme of the show is " Rooted In Memories". We will revisited some of the places we have traveled together and create new work. We will have demonstrations going on and there should be music, working on the details.

Black & White

Starting with the basics, black and white. The workshops I teach start kind of at the beginning, looking for, contrast, the dark's and light's. How to deal with white or light on a dark surface and vise versa. In preparing for my demo's I make studies with step by step photos for future reference. The step by step will be posted in an album on Facebook, sometimes on YouTube. I'll keep you posted as to when they go up and where.

I have two black and white pieces on the drawing table at the moment. I have been wanting to do a magpie for some time now and thought it a good transition piece as the black and white bird has some lovely blues. This image will be used in the birds class, using a wet charcoal technique for the background.

The other image is on black paper. Using this process it helps to learn to look closely at what you are drawing/painting. Looking at the lights first and only drawing what you see, from there we will quickly move into toned paper. Toned paper helps to remove the fear of looking at a white piece of paper. Starting with a grey mid-tone, remove the highlights/light areas and finish the work using charcoal pencils to create the dark in the image. It always amazes me how a 3 tone image is so beautiful.

If you have questions about my workshops, want to set up private lessons, commissions or sale of my work, check out my website or email me. lindahp@lindaharrisonparsons.com
website: http://www.lindaharrisonparsons.com

The Smell Of Rain

This has been a very dry and warmer year in Arizona. This morning we have rain, a gentle rain with clouds that look like they may stay around for the day, hopefully. I have always loved the smell of rain in the air. In Arizona they say if you crush the leaf of the creosote bush it smell like rain in the desert. It is a different smell then back east. May be a little sweeter instead of earthy, like in wooded areas.

This morning I enjoyed sitting outside, it was cooler, the sound of the rain hitting the roof and of course the smell. I could not resist taking a few photos and trying to think how can I incorporate this feeling into my art. I will be in the studio most of the day, we shall see what comes from this tranquil moment.

When White Is Not White

Lately, I have been painting unique bird images. The black crowned night heron chick for instance. A funny little guy that made me smile, so had to paint him. This week I finished a mother egret. At first I thought she was sitting on her nest of eggs. On closer inspection of my photos I saw there were two babies tucked under her. I did not put the babies in the picture because it was more about how she spread her feathers to create a soft, save, space for her babies.

Painting this white egret in early morning sun it became all about what makes white when there is so much color reflected, in the shadows and cast shadows. White, like reflective objects, silver, copper, glass, is about what you see, not what you think is there. One of the things I tell my students is; whites or lights are only as bright as the darkest dark beside the white in the composition. The other is look at your reference and paint what you see...with that being said, as an artist it is your interpretation that creates your art. Kind of falls under the learn the rules so you can break the rules.

The more I worked on the egret, I did not use pure white, well, was close to pure white at the very end. Most of the white was toned down with shades of blues, mixed with some reds, even yellows, browns and a touch of grays.

The piece started with a wood panel that had previously been painted with blues left over from my palette. I put it away and literally forgot about it, as I was cleaning up my studio I found it and several other panels. Some are prepared with different colored backgrounds. The others I primed this week with white gesso. Will just have to wait and see what they become...I have ideas brewing.

Here is the finished egret and a little step by step from beginning, middle and end. Any questions about this technique you can always email me at: lharrisonparsons@gmail.com

"Soft Spot" mother egret oil on wood panel

"Where's Mom" Black Crowned Night Heron chick, oil with sealed charcoal & graphite on panel