Pet Portrait - "Dignan"

This is Dignan. He was one of our rescue cats, named for a character in the 1996 Wes Anderson film "Bottle Rocket". Like the character, Dignan was somewhat eccentric, which was understandable, as we found him and his sister in a Kansas City dumpster.

He spent a lot of his time sneaking around our home, hiding under anything and everything. We'd often catch glimpses of him peering out at us from above or below. That's not to say he didn't want to be close to us. He was just a natural hunter, and we were the only thing around to hunt! He was a good snuggler when he did decide to relax. I miss that sweet little face.

 

"Dignan" • Oil on canvas • 16" x 30" • Private Collection

 

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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.

Cityscape Painting - "West on Pell" - Manhattan, New York

Biking around Manhattan is both exhilarating and terrifying. The sensory explosion of sights and sounds can be somewhat disconcerting. After a near death experience involving the sudden appearance of a cab door, Kimberly and I limited our bike excursions to Sunday mornings. It's just one of the many things I miss about New York.

Here's my latest painting, an attempt at capturing a wonderful memory of our time spent living in the city.

 

"West On Pell" • Oil on Linen • 20" x 30"  • Available at www.PatrickSaunders.com

Reference and painting photos by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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 - "Mary" by Gertrude Fiske - The Davis Museum at Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA

It's #museumtourtuesday, and here's a painting from a collection that I have yet to visit in person, the Davis Museum at Wellesley College.

Gertrude Fiske studied with another favorite painter of mine, Frank W. Benson, but her work stands strong on its own. She went on to co-found The Guild of Boston Artists in 1914.

I love the overlapping patterns in this painting. The contrast between the rigid check pattern of the dress and the more organic pattern of the wallpaper adds a lot of movement and interest to the piece. And then, there's the simplicity with which the hands are rendered. Notice how the darks all run together into a single shape, and it is the light areas which support the form.

 

"Mary" • Gertrude Fiske • Oil on canvas • 40 1/8" x 30 1/4" • ca. 1920

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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.

ONLY THREE SPOTS LEFT - Painting Workshop - The Galleries at Heartland Art Club, Saint Louis, Missouri

Midwestern artist friends, my spring painting workshop at The Galleries at Heartland Art Club only has three spots left, so register now to secure your spot.

Click here for more information, and to register:
https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-St-Louis-Painting-Workshop

Join me May 20th - 22nd in Saint Louis, Missouri to explore the essential techniques for painting from direct observation and photography. Learn to paint any subject, from the most simple to complex, with one approach. I will demonstrate the process of simplifying the subject and moving to finish as rapidly as possible in order to add more energy and excitement to your painting.

Each day will begin with a short lecture and full demonstration, followed by one-on-one instruction with students. My class is highly tailored for each participant, and beginners as well as advanced artists are welcome.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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.

March 2021 Art Newsletter - Break It To Make It - Using Broken Color

One way to add more energy and vibration into your paintings is through the use of broken color.

Sign up for my latest newsletter to learn more about ways to achieve this effect:

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

 

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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 - "Dorothea in the Woods" by Cecilia Beaux - Whitney Museum of Art, New York

For this #museumtourtuesday, I'm featuring a painting that I haven't seen in person yet, but I'll get the chance to soon.

I'm a big fan of Cecilia Beaux's work, and this piece is not only a great composition, but has a wonderful subtlety of value control. While Kimberly and I have been to the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York numerous times, this piece was not on display during our visits. 

 

I was excited to learn recently that it will be part of an upcoming exhibition at the San Antonio Museum of Art this summer.

 

"Dorothea in the Woods" • Cecilia Beaux • Oil on canvas • 53 1/4" x 40 1/4" • 1897

• Collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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.

Plein Air Painting Workshop - Driggs Digs Plein Air, Driggs, Idaho

West Coast artist friends, my painting workshop this July at Driggs Digs Plein Air, which I'm honored to be judging again this year, is sold out.

Click on the link below if you would like to join the wait list for this plein air workshop.

 

http://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Driggs-Plein-Air-Workshop-2021

 

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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 Painting - Lighthouse ArtCenter Plein Air Festival

Sometimes your subject just seems like it's staring right back at you. I must admit that I blinked first. This one is a plein air piece, painted on a warm, sunny tail of a winter day.

 

"Keeping An Eye On Things" • Oil on linen • 9" x 12" • JUST SOLD at Lighthouse ArtCenter

 

Check out all of my work at the 8th Annual Lighthouse ArtCenter Plein Air Festival. Since the event is virtual as well as in person this year, Lighthouse has a virtual catalog and online store (link below) where collectors can learn more about all of the art for sale at the festival.

https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Lighthouse-Plein-Air-Paintings

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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 - "Bad Housekeeping" by Eve Mansdorf

Here is another one of my favorite contemporary painters for today's #museumtourtuesday, Eve Mansdorf.

 

Mansdorf's observational approach to painting produces compositions that I find incredibly compelling. The work has a wonderful dimensional depth, and while every element is solidly painted, nothing feels overwrought or separate from the whole. There is a richness of detail, without any careful rendering.

 

Eve Mansdorf is currently an Associate Professor of Painting at Indiana University. You can find many more excellent examples of her paintings online.

 

"Bad Housekeeping" • Eve Mansdorf • Oil on linen • 58" x 72"

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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.

Plein Air Floral Study - 8th Annual Lighthouse ArtCenter Plein Air Festival

My latest plein air floral study is now available at the 8th Annual Lighthouse ArtCenter Plein Air Festival.

"Yellow Daisies" • Oil on Linen • 9"x12"

• https://lighthouse-artcenter.myshopify.com/products/yellow-daisies

 

Since the event is virtual as well as in person this year, Lighthouse has a virtual catalog and online store (link above) where collectors can learn more about this piece, and all of the art for sale at the festival.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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 Painting Workshop - Booth Western Art Museum's Booth Art Academy, Cartersville, Georgia

Georgia artist friends, my floral painting workshop at the Booth Western Art Museum's Booth Art Academy May 5th - 7th has sold out, but if you would like to sign up for the wait list, click on the link below:

http://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Booth-Museum-Floral-Workshop-2021

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. 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.