Public Art in Upper Arlington OH

“Fall Blooms,”  oil painting from Abstract Blooms series  2017

I am so happy to be one of ten local juried artists whose works are being used in wrapping utility boxes in Upper Arlington. All over the world this project is taking place to reduce graffiti and bring art to neighborhoods. My oil painting “Fall Blooms” is displayed as a cling art poster on a utility box on Tremont Road on the North corner of Tremont Elementary School. The original painting is displayed with the works of other artists in the Municipal Services Center Concourse Gallery at 3600 Tremont Road.

Plein Air Painting in San Miguel de Allende Mexico 3-12 to 3-19 2017

Since I started painting almost 4 years ago, I have wanted to take classes from Joe Lombardo. I love his landscape paintings which are beautifully constructed and warmly-colored. He has a reputation as a great teacher. I was particularly interested in his use of color and looked forward to hearing his ideas. How lucky I was to have a week watching him paint and getting his landscape painting instruction and guidance in the beautiful Mexican City of San Miguel where there is something beautiful to paint in every direction. It is an art lover’s city with many art galleries, majestic churches, noisy festivals, rooftop bars (saw a few) and colorful old buildings.

Truthfully, I am not fond of painting outdoors which requires schlepping a lot of equipment; where it is usually too hot or too cold, or even worse…windy, with paints and canvasses ending up on the ground and my sun hat sailing off in the distance. The panels are small – like 8×10”. I paint on as big a canvas as will fit in my car. I had only done landscape painting twice before and gave away my equipment. It wasn’t any easier in San Miguel. Real landscape painters know how to position themselves so they are always in the shade. Not I. I ended up in the sun every time. While it was cold at night in this mountain desert climate, the noon sun was hot. The last few warm drops of water in my water bottle were not satisfying. Real landscape painters have lightweight equipment. Not I. I hoisted almost 20 pounds of my new foolishly bought equipment to walk up and down narrow hilly cobblestone streets. I sometimes took a cab. At 2-3$ a ride, I didn’t feel guilty.

Joe Lombardo talks as he paints. I loved to hear him think through his painting. His explanations of color harmony and working with a limited palette are helpful. I finally understood working with a limited tetrad palette. We did our own paintings using that palette. He talked about value studies, perspective, and painting architecture. He gave us a variety of environments besides the city to paint like a cactus park, El Charco, and La Gruta Hot Springs. This past year I changed from painting exclusively in acrylics to painting in oils. Still learning. I struggled to paint without medium, using quick strokes and leaving spaces rather than my usual process of drawing, value study, toning, underpainting and blending paint. I came to struggle and I did. But it was a useful and enlightening struggle. I told Joe, “You can teach an old dog new tricks. It takes a little longer.”


 

Oil paintings in Concourse Gallery, Upper Arlington

grandma painting 2016Two of my oil paintings, “Grandma Sarah’s Mums” and “Koi Garden,” are in the Biennial Exhibit at the Concourse Gallery in the City Administration Building in Upper Arlington, OH. The exhibit runs from July 1 to August 16th, 2016. A reception will be held July 14, 5-7 pm.

My perfect day includes art

I like waking up and remembering something from my sleep which helps me solve a problem in a painting I am working on. I especially love my human figure painting class which involves me intensely as I try to capture the form and spirit of the model.  When the class ends, I am completely relaxed.   I always have physical activity in my day, walking a few miles or doing workout classes.  Ending my perfect day is a glass of wine and a lovely dinner prepared by my husband who is an excellent chef.

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