Betsey Nelson - Taylor Study

Betsey Nelson - Taylor Study 10x8 oil NFS

This shows the two stages in trying to work out a painting that was commissioned.

The first stage was done at the end of an afternoon of work. I needed to get the gesture of the subject right before I committed to the pose. Having realized this goal i stopped work and decided to see how i felt about it the next day.

The next day i decided it was good enough to continue add some features and work out some color/values.

Again i felt i was on the right path so not needing any more information i stopped work on the study and will now work on the actual piece.

Michael Chesley Johnson - Sketching Surfaces

Yesterday was my day to clean up all my oil gear. After this week's workshop, which is a plein air pastel class for the Sedona Art Center, Trina and I hit the road. I won't have the opportunity to paint in oil for another week or so. Both brushes and palette needed to be made ready for a week of storage and car travel.

Because I didn't want to throw away the bits of paint that were left on my palette, I decided to play with Judson's "Cartón Board." Last week, I had a student give me a couple of small samples. Here's what Judson says about the board:

"Toulouse-Lautrec and Vuillard used tan card stock for oil painting. This thin resin-sized card stock is far more permanent than that used by the famous painters of past centuries. Great undercolor for oil paintings."

I doubt the board is archival, but it's great if you just want to do some quick sketching. You can secure it with a few pushpins to a sheet of corrugated cardboard. The board is very absorbent, making it perfect for oilier paints.

We had a big windstorm yesterday - 55 mph gusts - but I found a sheltered nook to do the below sketch in.



"Stormy Villa"
6x6, oil

Michael Chesley Johnson - www.MichaelChesleyJohnson.com

PS Don't forget my art sale, Thursday and Friday (March 26 & 27), 2-5 pm at the Arts Center!

Betsey Nelson - Boat Study Plein Air

Betsey Nelson - Boat Study Plein Air 8x10 oil on panel $460
This study along with a photograph gives me enough information to do a studio painting. The studio painting would be a different size and having all this information would allow me to play with the painting and create another painting. I find I am unable to just create a larger version of the original I keep asking myself what's the point? But to take the information and create a new painting would challenge and interest me.