Thursday, December 30, 2010

Speaking the Lingo

Hey Sons! So I've got a question, and I asked MBK, and he suggested I post this here too! So here's a direct quote:


 "...the real question I want to ask is more of a general question...about stylistic language with all subject matters. I have a certain way of drawing people, and those are the most important things to me in a piece..but how do you go about creating a language of drawing a building? Or a still-life? How do you match that stylistically with your figures? I ask because for a very long time now, I've wanted to paint a new still life, or go to an old, creaky house or barn and just draw it on site. But how do you find a style for that?

I think I'm asking you because you have a way of using line that can relate your illustrations to your still life's to your portraits, and so on. So how did you find that? How do you get inspired to bring all of those different subject matters into one definitive style of drawing/painting/conceptualizing?

Just something I'm really puzzled on. I've been thinking about it alot, but wasn't sure how to word the questions. Now I think I got it down : )
I hope your holidays have been fun!"

And I hope the holidays have been fun for you all too! <3

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

A place for conversation

So the house is booked for the SOT 2011 trip. As always I like to keep my cards close to my chest but suffice to say there will be a LOT of space this year. Space at the dinner table. Hopefully no broken chairs, and at least an acre each to be alone in should there be any arguments. But there wont be. Just lobster. And crab.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas one and all. I'm up to my eyeballs with wrapping and noise here at Kennedy Acres. Hope you all have a great Christmas. And for those of you coming back to the Academy in January....try to get some rest and peace. This last semester was REALLY busy but I saw some REALLY wonderful work. Love to you and yours, God Save the Queen,  MBK

Friday, December 10, 2010

Sons of Turner Website

Well its nearly the end of the Fall Semester and Christmas is coming fast.  So much to do; so little time yet today it has been very hard to concentrate at the studio and so I began a website just to see if I could.
http://web.me.com/mbkri/Site/Sons_Of_Turner.html
Now I dont know what to do with it except post photos from the last couple of trips.
Ideas?
It ought to link seamlessly with the blog.
I dont think anyone but me will be able to upload content to it, so thats not good.
I'm going to watch the bucket list tonight with a blanket on the couch.

Monday, November 29, 2010

maine update


  1. spots on trip going fast
  2. only three places left
  3. money starting to come in (thanks D)
  4. money starting to go out
  5. there's one of two major public collections of Andrew Wyeth in Maine
  6. and a ton of Winslow Homer Illustrations and paintings
  7. sea kayaking is really really cool
  8. Jay Jones is back
  9. I dont know how to undo highlighting of text and I cant match the background colour to the blog's page colour 
  10. I am more and more certain that drawing and painting are inseperable parts of the same creative yearning.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Find the SOT

Well, there's an O and a T at least.  With regard to the inclusion of SOT symbols in my painitngs......
 I'm a bit wary of the secret club aspect of the thing. Sounds a bit like joining the Masons, devil worship, sworn to secrecy and a comitment to find the holy Grail.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

"The Golden Palm-ers"

I was just reading about a group of students from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. They got together for sketch groups, field trips to movies and museums, and art-themed potlucks. Members included some very famous (and infamous) artists (see article). They called themselves the GP-ers after the apartment building they shared


Seeing any parallels, hmmmmm?


Anyway, after they graduated, members would hide the initials "GP" in their professional work. Sort of an inside joke...

I'd like to propose that, at some point in our various careers, we each hide "S.O.T." somewhere in our artwork.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Maine - A Taste of What's to Come

Monhegan
Monhegan is a small, rocky Island ten miles from the nearest mainland and scarcely a square mile in area. It is accessible only by boat and there are no cars or paved roads on the Island. Since long before the explorer John Smith visited it in 1614 it was known to Native Americans as a prime fishing area, and today its economy is still ruled by those who make their living from the sea by fishing and lobstering.
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Windjammer Sailing
Set sail on a tall ship cruise and experience the coast of Maine’s scenic beauty from the sea. Choose from 12 owner-operated Maine Windjammer Association ships to enjoy magnificent sailing.
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Rafting Kennebec
Kennebec River whitewater rafting trips are not like other Maine rafting trips! When you go Kennebec River rafting, you'll enter a beautiful gorge, view beautiful scenery, and experience the big rapids only a big gradient river can generate - this is what makes the Kennebec River so exciting!  That guy in the back of the raft is about to die.
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Casco Bay
Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth. The city of Portland sits along its southern edge. The islands in the bay are also called the Calendar Islands, based on the popular myth there are 365 of them.
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Southern Maine Beaches
Breathtaking coastal scenery, broad beaches of pure white sand, and quaint, picturesque New England villages mark the Southern Maine Coast.
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Acadia National Park
People have been drawn to the rugged coast of Maine throughout history. Awed by its beauty and diversity, early 20th-century visionaries donated the land that became Acadia National Park. The park is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast. Today visitors come to Acadia to hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads, or relax and enjoy the scenery.
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Appalachian Trail
Lakes, streams, and bogs abound. While that makes moose and loons common sights, it also makes for muddy tread way and many fords of mountain streams.
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Mount Katahdin
Mount Katahdin is the highest mountain in Maine. Named Katahdin by the Penobscot Indians, the term means, "The Greatest Mountain." Katahdin is the centerpiece of Baxter State Park a steep, tall mountain formed from underground magma.
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York Village
Old York (or York Village) is the historic town center, settled by Europeans in 1624. Old York received a royal charter in 1639, the first English town in the country to have this privilege.
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Camden
Voted the prettiest in Maine in 2009, Camden harbor's mix of working and pleasure craft includes a fleet of windjammer schooners, which began operating tourist cruises in 1936.
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Blue Hill
It’s rich with New England history, antiques, crafts, fine restaurants, inns, and art galleries, and an important summer cultural life.
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Northeast Harbor
Over the years Northeast Harbor has become famous as much for its summertime residents as it has for its beautiful and protected harbor full of exclusive yachts and sailing vessels.
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Eastport
Eastport is a small city consisting entirely of islands.
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York Beach
York Maine has something for everyone, a famous lighthouse, fabulous sand beaches, boating, historical museums and Maine’s largest zoo.
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Old Orchard Beach
The town is a popular summer beach destination. The seaside amusement park Palace Playland is located in Old Orchard Beach.
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Mount Desert Island
This is the largest island off the coast of Maine. Mount Desert Island is a glacier-formed island in the Atlantic Ocean off the northern coast of Maine.
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Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships.
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Kennebunkport
Settled in the 1600's and a long time ship building mecca, the river banks saw five-masted ships and schooners making their way down the river on their way to the sea. Sea captains built fine mansions, many of which are preserved today as lovely inns with antique charm.
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Merchants Row
An archipelago of 30 or 40 islands lies between Deer Isle and Isle au Haut. Merchants Row is unsurpassed for beauty anywhere in Maine. The islands are all darkly wooded and fringed with white and pink sloping granite shores. Tight passages wind between them, and harbors are everywhere.
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Moose Safari
See Moose, Deer, Bear, Eagles, and Osprey in their natural habitat. Oh my god.
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

I’m heading to the north eastern coast of these here United States next May. Going to find me some small harbour towns, lobster pots, shrimp boats, rocky coastline, pine forests, New England architecture, clam chowder and blueberry Jam. Maine to be precise.


I have a house for two weeks that will sleep 9 of which I am one so II have space for 8 sons for each week. Thats 16 spots available. Maybe I’m going on my own? As always the offer goes out to Sons of Turner before I start asking this year’s crop of juniors and seniors at the Academy. So how about it?


cost $950 including airfare, accommodation, breakfasts, dinners, car hire and gas

dates may 9-16 or 16-23 leaving after bfa show and home in time for graduation


Thursday, November 11, 2010

New Flesh Tone Recipe

Throw out your Chinese Orange, because there's a new flesh tone in town!


This evening, I was experimenting a new watercolor pallet at an open model session. I was trying to figure out how to express the chiaroscuro lighting in the Florence Academy studio.


Here's how it turned out:

The Deep Flesh Tone was created using a mixture of Dragon's Blood and Indigo.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

If Anyone Is Looking For A Show Opportunity:

Call for Art! All Mediums accepted!

5th Annual Emerging Artists Winter Exhibit

Opening January 7th – January 25th

1st show (more TBA)

Morpho Gallery is accepting images via JPEG format or CD discs to be juried for this upcoming no commission exhibitions.

We charge a one-time $25 Jury fee (per piece) ONLY IF YOU ARE accepted into the show.

Art over 36 inches will be $35, over 48 inches $45

Fees must be paid when dropping off work.

WE will be having several shows- Dates will be announced

.

To submit-

Email images to morphogallery@gmail.com

Specify: emerging artist exhibit in subject line

Include:

1-Title- Media-Price-Dimensions

Contact information

2-Email address-phone number-web site

3-Number of pieces of art you are paying to exhibit

If you have a web site, please specify which images you are submitting-which are available- Please don’t just email us your web address-we will NOT respond

We need images by December 18th to be considered in this event.

You will be notified which piece(s) will be exhibited

We will notify you when to deliver your art

Please no phone calls- any questions please email us morphogallery@gmail.com

Monday, November 8, 2010

Something to Keep in Mind for Our Next Adventure...

So back in Savannah, I found it difficult to paint everything I wanted to record. I felt like I didn't have enough time. One artist's suggestion: "paint smaller." It reminded me of MBK's last post.

Any SOT members have any additional tips of ways to paint more efficently?

Here's a quick color study of the side of a church I did while waiting for a pizza in Venice. I think it took about 20-30 minutes to paint, maybe? Probably should get some better quality paper and work a bit smaller...

Monday, November 1, 2010

Synagogue


I started this in Savannah and just finished it last night. It's kind of different for me, I'm not really happy with it but I'm glad I finished it. It helped me figure out how I'm going to paint an Italian themed mural this week.

I think more paintings of architecture shall be emerging soon. So far I only have 2!

New banner maybe?

Hi everyone!
I wanted to make a contribution to the blog since I haven't yet, and decided that I could make a nice spiffy banner. So I whipped one up. And I'd like to take it to a vote and see if it suits everyone fine, or if anyone would like to make a better one then have at it. Well... here it is! Hope you like it.


Hope everyone's Halloween was fun!
-Katie

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Costume Craziness!!!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

Folks have been asking me if I’m missing the costume shenanigans back home. And as it turns out, I don’t have to. Apparently at the end of October, the city of Lucca hosts a giant comic and games festival, which can mean only one thing… Cosplay.

Cosplay-- short for Costume Play-- is a sort of fashion hobby that is quickly gaining popularity throughout the world. The basic idea is you dress up as your favorite character from any visual media. Characters can be taken from comics/manga, anime/cartoons, movies, videogames, blog memes, and, in some cases, famous pieces of artwork/illustration (ie Rosie the Riveter, or Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring).

Here are a couple of examples of some Italian Cosplayers :
 



So why write about it on the Son’s of Turner Blog? Personally, I think Cosplay is an example of the new emerging impact that art is has on the general population. People are hungry for new stories, places, and characters in which they can emotionally connect with. And, I believe, as artists and illustrators, it’s our responsibility to deliver.

Okay, discussion time, write a comment and tell me what you think. How do you feel about Cosplay? Motivational? Inspirational? Or just creepy? If you saw someone walking around dressed up as a figure you’ve painted, how would you feel?

Well, I think while I wait for you’re replies, I’m going to have a cup of tea.


Ciao for now!
-- Lucas

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Ever After Frock Halloween Grosgrain Giveaway

Check out this awesome giveaway on one of my favorite sewing blogs: Grosgrain! Kathleen is a talented designer/seamstress and she makes the most lovely girly playful frocks. She makes blog reading superfun :)


The Ever After Frock Halloween Grosgrain Giveaway

Sunday, October 17, 2010

American Watercolol Society

In case anyone else wants to enter the AWS prospectus is here and the deadline is November 15th. Also, if anyone is interested if you become a sustaining associate memeber and pay the dues (before Sept. 30th I think) the entry for the show is "free."

$40,000 cash and prizes.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Website Links

I added the link roll to the right of all the contributor's personal websites. I know there are more so if your name is not on there let me know. I just went to Kristen's blog and got the links from there. You could just leave a comment with the link to your blog/website and I will add it in a week or so to give people time. If you know anyone else's that I missed you can add that too.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Some sneak peaks



Here are two projects I'm currently working on:

The first is a color study/mock up for a food illustration done in the style of a magazine advertisement. Custom type faces and logo's are under development for that piece. Should be a fun one to paint as it will be a bit of a departure from my usual approach.

The next is a snippet of a painting for editorial illustration. The painting is based on a cliché; when more is revealed, see if you can guess which one...

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

The female figure







I did these at Palette and Chisel when they had their 7 hr long marathon on labor day. I have plenty more but these are  the ones I enjoy the most. Thinking of doing a series of female paintings. We will see what I come up with. I felt alive drawing that day as well as being among those that love to do the same thing.