Day 156

Everyday I'm Shuffling, (study), 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

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This is a study for a larger painting. One thing I'm enjoying about these little daily paintings is using them to test out ideas for larger paintings and work the bugs out. This guy is my first Bulldog, and he was both challenging (that face!) and fun to paint.

Day 155

Sue, 4 x 4 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

This is my friend Sue, and she's coming home in a few days - she's been away for almost a year on an epic 11 countries in 11 months missions trip. Sue is one of the kindest, happiest people I've ever met, and the world is a much better place because of her.

I invite you to check out Sue's adventures, and especially scroll down through the photos. The smiles say it all. http://suzannehofer.theworldrace.org/

This may be one of my favorite paintings to date, and it's funny that it's so small, but I really enjoy painting faces on these little 4x4"s.

Day 154

Reclining Nude 2, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

Another 40 minute pose from life at the figure drawing group. Pretty happy with the reflected light on this one. 

Day 153

Mugshot: Kim, 4 x 4 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

This is the third in the series of the 2012 Hilton Head Gang mugshots. Once again, so much complexity in the skin tones, and these mugshots have been a great learning experience to just play with color. For instance, it wasn't until I put the greens and lavenders in her skin that the whole thing came together.

Day 152

Hitchcock Trail Study, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

The Loess Hills of western Iowa turn the most beautiful shades of gold in the Fall. I wanted to do a quick study, trying to capture the colors and textures of the hills against the blue sky. 

I'm also having a one day sale for Cyber-Monday in my Etsy shop - 20 - 50% everything, today only! Click here.

Day 151

Mugshot: Laurie, 4 x 4 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

The 2nd in the 2012 Hilton Head Gang mugshots is Laurie. Karin Jurick told us at her workshop that we could really push bright colors in these little 4 x 4 inch paintings, (where they would be obnoxious in a larger format), so I dove right in with some bright orange to compliment Laurie's blue eyes. I like it!

Day 150

Goat Itch, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

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Remember when I did the value study for this painting a few weeks ago? It made it a lot easier when it came time to paint this guy in color. I had quite a bit of fun with this one, pushing the reflected colors on his fur and adding thick areas of paint with the palette knife in the sunlit straw.

I'm going to take tomorrow off for the holiday. I'll be back Friday. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

Day 149

Steppin' Out, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

I'm very pleased to announce that today's painting was accepted into the Randy Higbee Gallery's very popular annual 6 x 6 inch show and sale next month, in Costa Mesa, CA. I am truly honored, as some of the best artists in the country will be represented. 

Here we have a scene from my local farmers market this fall. This young Bernese Mountain Dog was so great. Can you believe he's not done growing yet? Luckily, I have lots of reference photos I've taken at the farmers market to keep me busy all winter, since our markets only run from may through october. 

Day 148

Figure Oil Sketch, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

Another 40 minute pose painted from life at the figure drawing group. I wonder what would happen if I stopped leaving the faces for last? I usually only have a minute or two to work on the face before the time is up. 

Day 147

Mugshot: Karin, 4 x 4 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

Well, here it is. The first of the 2012 Hilton Head Gang mugshots. None other than the ringleader, Karin Jurick herself. This was a lot of fun to paint, and I learn so much doing these little mugshots. Can't wait to paint the rest of the gang!!

Day 146

Mugshot: Cloud, 4 x 4 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

If you missed the post about painting mugshots, click here. 

I wanted to do a warmup mugshot before starting the real mugshot project (where everyone who attended Karin Jurick's workshop paints "mugshots" of each other,) so I decided to paint one of Cloud. This painting cracks me up! My little boy's been arrested. His crime? Stuffy homicide:

Day 145

Marsh Study, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

One of the things I fell in love with in South Carolina were the marshes. The marsh grasses reminded me of vast prairies intersected with water, and were truly a feast for the eyes. Most of the land here in Iowa is vast mono-crops of corn and soybeans, and the prairies that used to be here are few and far between. 

With this study, I was trying to get the feel of the colors of the grasses, and the way the evening light was hitting the water. This is Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, near Hilton Head Island.

Day 144

Torso Study, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

Another 40 minute pose, painted from life at the local figure drawing group. This was the first session since I got back from Karin Jurick's workshop, and I can see some really neat things going on with this painting in regards to looseness, brushwork, and skin tones. 

Day 143

Beach Boy study, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

I got a great series of photos of this guy on the beach at Hilton Head Island, and wanted to do a study before I tackled any of them, to get the feel of the colors of the dog against the water. This guy was so funny to watch, he was having a good old time playing in the water.

Day 142

To Dye For, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

Click for purchase information.

This colorful pair were walking on the beach at Hilton Head Island. The reference photo for this painting was taken by my dear husband while I was busy at the workshop. (It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.) He knew I was looking for bright colors, and boy did he find them! I had a ball painting their outfits - it was just too much fun. 

Karin's last day demo was amazing! She painted one of her museum pieces that I dearly love, and it was such a privilege to see this painting come to life before our eyes:

Karin Jurick's demo, 8 x 8 inch.

It was a wonderful week that I'll never forget. I made so many new friends, and of course, to study with Karin Jurick is something I'll always treasure. As a bonus, I came away with lots of great photos to use as reference for future paintings, and even more memories.

Our workshop group photo. Karin is in the orange scarf. 

Jason and I in the historic district of Savannah. I can't tell you how much I adored that city. I left part of my heart there, and need to go back and get it:

I'll leave you with this photo - I bought one of Karin's tabletop easels (it's amazing!!) and she signed it for me. Paint on, Kat. Yes indeed... 

Day 141

Mug Shot, 4 x 4 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

One of the things that Karin Jurick is known for is her incredible four inch square paintings of mugshots. We each got to paint a mugshot at her workshop from a photo she gave us. I learned SO MUCH from this one painting. It was actually very fun, and I definitely want to paint more - it's a great exercise in painting faces. Last year, the workshop participants painted mugshots of each other and even made a blog (and a book) of them all, and I'm happy to report that we're going to do it this year, too! I'm really looking forward to painting "mugshots" of everyone in the group, it will be such a great way to remember our week together. 

Before we began, Karin did a mugshot demo, and once again I was in awe watching her work. Here is her finished mugshot, painted in about 35 minutes:

Karin's mugshot demo. 4 x 4 inches.

One of my favorite things during the week was watching Karin paint a dog. Not just any dog, but her terrier mix, Joey. My life is now complete. 

Demo painting by Karin Jurick of her dog, Joey. 5 x 7 inches.

You can see all of Karin's mugshot paintings here. (Or all on one page here, if you don't feel like scrolling through a blog.) I highly recommend checking it out, they are incredible.

Day 140

Pink Hat, 8 x 8 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

100% of sale donated to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Click here for the auction.

This is my second painting from Karin Jurick's workshop. The class was turned loose to paint from our own reference photos. I had taken this photo on the beach a few days prior. I loved the pinks and purples, with the dog's tongue echoing the lady's hat. This painting is in Daily Paintwork's Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser. I'm donating 100% of the proceeds to the highly rated charity Best Friends Animal Society for their Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts to help defray the extraordinary costs incurred by the companion animal rescue groups and other organizations saving and caring for pets impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

This is Karin Jurick's demo from that day. How sweet is this painting? She makes it look so easy. (Click for a better view.)

Karin Jurick's demo.

Later that afternoon my husband and I went on a dolphin sightseeing cruise. We saw a bunch! Or maybe it was the same one over and over, haha. They came right up to the boat a few times. 

And this is an Egret, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) in an oyster bed at low tide. Another great day at Hilton Head Island!

Day 139

Full moon on the beach at HHI.

I'm back from my week-long workshop with Karin Jurick in Hilton Head Island, SC. It was an amazing trip that I'll never forget. Not only was the workshop incredible, I had never been to the South before and didn't expect to fall in love with it the way I did. In addition to Hilton Head Island, we visited Savannah, GA, a city I've wanted to visit for years - it was everything I dreamed of and more. I didn't want to leave! We also visited Beaufort, SC, where it was love at first sight as well. 

I truly loved the lowcountry and it's friendly people, beautiful scenery, and incredible food. I felt so at home there, and can't wait to go back.

Before I talk about the workshop, I have to say I'm thrilled to announce that my painting Shadow Walk 6 won the top prize at the Edward Hopper House show Small Matters of Great Importance in NY! It was extra special to find out while we were in Hilton Head and to share the news with Karin and my new friends at the workshop - to be in a supportive group of fellow artists that included one of my biggest art heros, Karin Jurick... that meant so much to me, and it couldn't have been more perfect.

Shadow Walk 6

6 x 6 inch oil on panel, © 2012 Kathleen Coy

On to the workshop - It was a huge thrill to meet Karin Jurick - as I said, she's been one of my favorite artists for years, and she was a top notch teacher and a whole lot of fun, too. My main goal at the workshop was to learn from her masterful and bold use of color, especially in regards to skin tones. By the end of the week, I really felt like I was starting to "get it." In addition, I learned a lot in regards to working with reference photos that will be very helpful, as well as some great tips on drawing the figure. One of my favorite parts of the workshop was watching Karin do a demo painting every day. She is truly amazing to watch.

This is the first painting we did at the workshop. The entire class painted this photo of Karin's. We watched Karin paint it as a demo first, then it was our turn. It was a great warmup, and it was fun to line all the paintings up together when we were finished and see them all together. This was my painting:

Workshop Warmup, 8 x 10 inch oil on panel.

And here's a shot of Karin's demo in progress. I LOVE her skin tones and especially that little spot of reflected light in the shadow of the underside of the right arm. She is brilliant:

Karin Jurick's demo in progress.

I'll be writing more about the trip during the upcoming week, but I'll leave you with a few of my favorite things about my time away:

• Getting to spend a week in the company of an amazing group of women at the workshop. Seriously, these ladies were fantastic! Love you gals!

• Watching Karin Jurick paint a dog. And a museum scene. And a landscape. 

• A private party at Morris and Whiteside Gallery for our group, where we got to see incredible artwork that included Dan Gerhartz, Milt Kobayashi, and Andre Kohn. Simply amazing.

• Fresh seafood! (Can you overdose on oysters?) 

• Riding bikes on the beach with my husband.

Hope everyone had a good week. Even though I wish I could have stayed for another week, (or a lifetime), I'm inspired and ready to get back to work! Here's a link to Karin's blogpost about the workshop: http://karinjurick.blogspot.com/2012/11/live-work-play-time.html 

See you tomorrow!