Day 218

Torso Study 2, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2013 Kathleen Coy

This was painted from life in 40 minutes at the figure drawing group. I'm quite happy with the colors in this, and the reflected light.

Day 208

Girl with the Tree Tattoo, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel.

© 2013 Kathleen Coy

It's always fun when the model has tattoos. This was the 40 minute pose at the figure drawing group last night. Here are my 25 minute charcoal drawings of her:

Day 203

Seated Pose, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2013 Kathleen Coy

Painted from life in 40 minutes at the figure drawing group. I liked the way his face and chest were in shadow, and the way the light hit the ear and upper back. 

Day 198

Reclining, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2013 Kathleen Coy

Painted from life during a 40 minute pose at the figure drawing group. If you're in the area, you can see this painting (and several others of mine), along with figure drawings in various mediums, at our annual figure drawing from life group show at the Hot Shops Art Center in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. Opening party this Saturday, Feb. 2nd from 6:30 til 9 pm. There are some very talented people in the group, and it should be a good show. Hope to see my local friends there!

Day 186

At Rest, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2013 Kathleen Coy

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This was painted last week at my figure drawing group. I think this is my favorite little figurative oil sketch, so far. 

Day 180

 

Seated Figure after Charcoal Sketch, 5 x 5 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

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My figure drawing group has been on break, but it starts up again soon. I wanted to practice, so I painted this from a charcoal sketch I did at the group a few months ago. It was a little challenging to make up the colors from a drawing, but I had pretty good information from my sketch:

Day 179

Return Our Wings, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

I was in the mood to do a figurative piece, and was looking around on http://artists.pixelovely.com/practice-tools/figure-drawing/ for a pose that caught my eye, and this was it. Is there really any other shape that is as compelling, powerful, or precious as the female form? This is a theme I've been interested in exploring - capturing the power and emotion and movement of the human spirit with paint. We'll see what happens with this in the future, (there are so many things I want to paint!) but it will definitely be with my own models and photos. Still, this was a very enjoyable piece for me. The title is taken from from Jewel Mathieson's incredibly powerful poem, We Have Come to Be Danced:

We have come to be danced

not the pretty dance

not the pretty pretty, pick me, pick me dance

but the claw our way back into the belly

of the sacred, sensual animal dance

the unhinged, unplugged, cat is out of its box dance

the holding the precious moment in the palms

of our hands and feet dance

We have come to be danced

not the jiffy booby, shake your booty for him dance

but the wring the sadness from our skin dance

the blow the chip off our shoulder dance

the slap the apology from our posture dance

We have come to be danced

not the monkey see, monkey do dance

one, two dance like you

one two three, dance like me dance

but the grave robber, tomb stalker

tearing scabs & scars open dance

the rub the rhythm raw against our souls dance

WE have come to be danced

not the nice invisible, self conscious shuffle

but the matted hair flying, voodoo mama

shaman shakin’ ancient bones dance

the strip us from our casings, return our wings

sharpen our claws & tongues dance

the shed dead cells and slip into

the luminous skin of love dance

We have come to be danced

not the hold our breath and wallow in the shallow end of the floor dance

but the meeting of the trinity: the body, breath & beat dance

the shout hallelujah from the top of our thighs dance

the mother may I?

yes you may take 10 giant leaps dance

the Olly Olly Oxen Free Free Free dance

the everyone can come to our heaven dance

We have come to be danced

where the kingdom’s collide

in the cathedral of flesh

to burn back into the light

to unravel, to play, to fly, to pray

to root in skin sanctuary

We have come to be danced

WE HAVE COME

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 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 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 142

To Dye For, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

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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 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!

Day 137

Buckets, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

I know I'll be painting subjects that are new to me at the workshop I'm taking next week, so I decided to continue my warm up with another beach scene, this time outside of my comfort zone (no dogs!) Like yesterday, this too was painted from a Wet Canvas reference image library photo, since I don't have any photos like this of my own yet. I was drawn to the primary colors of the buckets and blue suit, and the action of the girls. I think the water looks a little better in this one than in yesterdays.

Day 128

Steve Reclining, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

40 minute pose at the figure drawing group. Not as inspiring a pose as the first time I painted Steve (or as my friend calls him, "Socrates"), but he is just plain fun to draw or paint regardless. 

Day 116

Sage, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

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Painted from life at the figure drawing group yesterday. This gentleman had the most amazing face! To be honest, I'd rather paint a face like this than a beautiful young girl any day. So much character and so many stories in every line and fold. The long pose was extended to an hour - a whole blessed hour!! I was in heaven.

Day 111

Seated Nude, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

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Another 40 minute pose at the figure drawing group. I love it when the long pose is seated, rather than reclining, although it's more difficult for the model to hold. Once again, I would have loved to have had more time, but I feel like I got a lot done in the 40 minutes, and I do like the loose, sketchy feel of this one. 

Day 108

Dance, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

Click for auction page.

I cannot tell you how much fun this was to paint. I was taking photos at a renaissance festival at a local winery a few years ago, with every intention of using them for paintings, and got busy with other projects and sort of forgot about them. Can you believe the photos sat in a file untouched this long? Me neither! Especially when I loved everything about the dance photos I got that day. The wonderful thing about these daily paintings is looking for new subjects, and going through files of my reference photos that I had set aside to paint "someday." Needless to say, I'm finding lots of good ones!

I'm trying something new with this painting - this is my first time using the auction feature on the Daily Paintworks site. Good luck to all who bid.

Day 107

TG in Repose, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

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Another 40 minute pose at the figure drawing group. TG is one of my favorite models - he can hold a pose like a statue. This is the first time he's modeled since I started bringing my oils, and I was happy for a change of skin color to paint. I concentrated mainly on the skin tones and capturing all the colors I saw - everything from blues and purples, to golds and even tangerine. TG has beautiful skin, and under the warm lighting, it just glows. 

Day 106

Jason at the Wheel, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

NFS

This painting was a labor of love. My husband is a part time potter, and our home is filled with his beautiful creations. I don't appreciate anyone else in this world more than my husband - he is my number one fan and his support through the years has been unwavering. It's because of him that I can spend my days painting. If I need something, he can usually build it for me. We love the same movies. He makes me laugh more than anyone. He makes dinner if I'm working late. He's my best friend, and I adore him.