Art Review - "Spanish Fishermen" by Frank Brangwyn

For today's #MuseumTourTuesday, I'd like to share a stunning piece by Welsh artist Frank Brangwyn from the current exhibit, "Beyond the Sea: Impressionism and Modern Painting in Europe" at the Telfair Museums. This is a piece that I had never seen before, so it was quite a thrill.

I'm a huge fan of Brangwyn's intricate mural work, but in a smaller piece like this one, his simplification of brushwork shines through. Everything makes perfect sense with a solidity to the forms, and yet nothing is rendered. And then there is the control of color, with the warmer yellows and dashes of bright reds holding the viewer's attention to the center of the canvas. What an amazing piece!

Born in Bruges, Belgium in 1867, his family returned to the United Kingdom in 1874, where his father established a successful design practice. In his early teens, Brangwyn apprenticed with famed British textile designer William Morris. He won his first gold medal from the Paris Salon at the age of 24, and became known for large murals. It's estimated that he produced over 12,000 works.

Kimberly and I first visited the Telfair a few years ago, and I was pleased to return to teach a workshop there last month. We were once again amazed by the quality of the collection, with a number of pieces on view that we hadn't seen before. I'll be sharing more in upcoming posts.

 

"Spanish Fishermen" • Frank Brangwyn • Oil on Canvas • 40.5" x 50" • 1895

Photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Portrait Study - Open Model Session

 I was able to make it to a Coppini Academy open model session last Wednesday. I always find it relaxing to paint from the live model, because there are no distractions. The dramatic backlighting made things interesting, with rich color and deep contrasts.

“Portrait Study” • Oil on Panel • 12" x 16” • 1.5 Hours

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts. 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

September 2022 Art Newsletter - The Secret To Painting ... There Are No Secrets

Want to know the “secret” to painting? There isn’t one.

Truly learning to paint means learning to paint anything. No gimmicks for creating specific things, no shortcuts, just smart practice. Sign up now for my latest art newsletter on why chasing so-called “secrets” won’t help you achieve your full potential as an artist, and can even hinder your progress: 

 

http://bit.ly/PSFA-Newsletter-Sign-up

“Light Dancing At the Clapp Barn” • Oil on Panel • 16” x 20” • Private Collection

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Review - "Gassed" by John Singer Sargent

For today's #MuseumTourTuesday, I'd like to revisit a piece by John Singer Sargent that I was lucky enough to view in person back in 2018 during a visit to Kansas City. This painting was on loan to the National World War I Memorial from the Imperial War Museum London, and was absolutely stunning in person.

The painting is over 20 feet in width, and having only viewed the piece in small print reproductions, I was knocked out by all of the elements that I never noticed before, such as the soccer game taking place behind the main figures, and numerous biplanes flying throughout the sky.

Through the use of temperature changes in the figures (and the ropes to the right), Sargent suggests that there are a number of tents to our right, and only a shaft of light shines through and illuminates the scene. In the background, however, the soccer game is in full sunlight.

Also, nowhere in the painting are we confronted with the eyes of any of the figures. I get the sense that Sargent was conveying the public blindness to the true horror of the war. The injured are moved into the shadows, while the rest go about their normal routine.

"Gassed" • John Singer Sargent • Oil on Canvas • 7'7" x 20'1" • 1918-1919

Photo by Saunders Fine Arts

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

In Progress - Western Art Portrait Painting

Here's one last in progress detail from a large figurative piece that I’ve been working on. This section is currently just a quick block in, but the forms are all beginning to work. I look forward to sharing the completed piece soon.

In Progress • Oil on Linen • 36" x 60"

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Throwback Thursday - "Pumpkin Study"

As it's the first day of fall and #ThrowbackThursday, here's a study of a pumpkin that I painted way back in 1991. This piece was featured in the Society Of Illustrators Annual Exhibition the following year. Despite entering a number of more elaborate paintings, the judges were more drawn to this piece. Often it's simplicity that works best.

This was created during a class at the Kansas City Art Institute. Every Friday, the class lasted from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., but students were told they could start their weekends early if they finished their paintings. This was painted over an older work, which is the reason for the horizontal paint drips from the older piece, and I started my weekend that day around 10 a.m.

"Pumpkin Study" • Oil on Canvas • 10" x 12" • 1991

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Review - "River Backwater (Pond)" by Isaac Levitan

Last week, I shared a piece by Winslow Homer featuring rich and exaggerated greens, so for this week's #MuseumTourTuesday let's take a look at how even more sophisticated and realistic greens can have just as much of a dramatic impact.

In this piece by Isaac Levitan, the artist uses drastic value changes to capture the mood and mystery of the scene. While there is a subtle color temperature change happening, the piece relies on a much more realistic portrayal of the greens inherent to the subject. This painting is in the collection of the Plyos State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve in Russia.

Born in 1860 in what is now Lithuania, Levitan's family relocated to Moscow when he was 10 years old. At 13, he enrolled in the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Levitan became devoted to capturing the landscape, rarely painting other subjects. His closest friend was Russian writer Anton Chekhov, whom he met through an association with Anton's brother, also a student at the School of Painting.

"River Backwater (Pond)" • Isaac Ilyich Levitan • Oil on Cardboard • 19.5 × 30cm • 1898

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Still Life Demonstration - Day Three - Telfair Museums Painting Workshop

My still life demonstration this morning on the last day of my painting workshop at the Telfair Museums Jepson Center for the Arts.

“Cake and Coffee Study” • Oil on Linen • 10” x 12” • 1.5 Hours  • SOLD

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Floral Demonstration Painting - Day Two - Telfair Museums Still Life Painting Workshop

My floral demonstration from life this morning on day two of my painting workshop at the Telfair Museums Jepson Center.

“Sunflowers Study” • Oil on Linen • 12” x 12” • 1.5 Hours  • SOLD

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Demonstration Painting - Day One - Telfair Museums Still Life Painting Workshop

My still life demonstration this morning on day one of my painting workshop at the Telfair Museums Jepson Center.

“Art Studio Still Life Study” • Oil on Linen • 12” x 16” • 1.5 Hours  • SOLD

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Review - "Apple Picking" by Winslow Homer

This week's #MuseumTourTuesday features my favorite painting by American artist Winslow Homer. I was able to view this piece at the Terra Museum of American Art in Chicago, before its closure in 2004. The piece remains a part of the Terra Foundation for American Art's collection, but is currently part of a long-term loan to the Art Institute of Chicago. I do not know if the piece is currently on display.

I learned a lot about greens from this piece. Variety is the key. In every area of the painting, there is a beautiful collection of greens from warm to cool, dark to light, and bright to muted. Even more interesting is that what our brain often perceives as green is not actually green at all. Notice that many of the brightest leaves and grasses are often painted with yellows, or even powder blues in the foreground shadows. Context is everything.

 

"Apple Picking" • Winslow Homer • Watercolor • 7" × 8.3" • 1878

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.