January 2020 Art Newsletter - Labels and Limitations

People will always want to label your art.

It's understandable, but don't let categories define you.

Read my latest art newsletter to learn why labeling and categorizing your own work can box you into a corner.

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.

Cat Portrait Painting - "Green Eyes"

Ken was a great studio cat. He often lingered around the easel as I painted, offering words of wisdom in some language that I could never understand.

Whenever I struggled with a painting, I thankfully had him to vent my frustrations to verbally, and he would usually talk right back at me. I like to think that he was completely supportive and always in agreement.

 

I miss his critiques.

 

                "Green Eyes" • Oil on linen • 6" x 8" • Available at www.PatrickSaunders.com

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.

Art Review - "Minnay" by Edouard Manet - Drouot Auction House, Paris, France

It's #MuseumTourTuesday, and today's featured painting is a previously unseen work by Édouard Manet.

This energetic dog portrait was dashed off in under 20 minutes as a present for Marguerite Lathuille, during the time in which she posed for her own portrait by Manet. The painting has remained in the possession of the Lathuille family for 140 years, and will go up for auction on February 26th.

 

And what a fun portrait it is! Despite its minimalism of color and detail, it still captures the character and movement of this tiny Griffon, called Minnay, who is in dire need of a haircut. This dog is 

straight out of a Hanna Barbera cartoon! It's a perfect example of how much can be stated with a few well placed brushstrokes.

 

It can be yours for an expected auction price of at least $267,000.

 

"Minnay" • Édouard Manet • Oil on Canvas • 32.5cm x 24.5cm • 1879 

 

A special thanks to my lovely wife, Kimberly, for bringing this joyous piece to my attention.

 

© 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.

2021 Plein Air Painting Workshop - Dowtown Driggs' Driggs Digs Plein Air - Driggs, Idaho

I’m honored to be asked back to judge the Downtown Driggs Driggs Plein Air event again this year, and to teach a workshop during the event.

In the spirit of positive thinking that by late summer we will be able to safely paint together again outdoors, registration for my two-day plein air workshop in Driggs, Idaho July 25th - 26th is now open.

 

Click here to for more information and to sign up:


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

 

Artist friends, if you would like to paint plein air with me, this is your opportunity. I can teach you to paint any subject, from the most simple to complex, with one approach. This workshop is open to beginners as well as more advanced artists. If you're a beginner, I can get you started, and if you are an experienced painter, I can take you to the next level. Acrylic and pastel artists are also welcome.

I can’t wait to teach in person workshops again!

“Cornet Creek” • Oil on Board • 12”x16" • Private Collection



© 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.

SOLD - "Eclipse" Orange Rose Floral Painting

I'm happy to announce that this piece is off to a new collector! Time to paint more roses.

There's not much that can match the beauty of a backlit rose. It's more than that bright rim of light on the edges, but also the intensity of color as the sun shines through the translucent petals.

 

                                      "Eclipse" • Oil on Canvas • 6"x8" • 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.

Art Review - "A Warm Day" by Anatoli P. Levitin - Russian State Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia

For today's #MuseumTourTuesday, I'd like to share a painting by Russian artist Anatoli Levitin, as well as its corresponding sketch. It's so interesting to see how the piece evolved from the initial concept to the final piece, and I absolutely love both paintings.

 

First, take a look at the sketch.

 

While the painting lacks any detail at all, there is a wonderful sense of light. Thanks to the saturated color in the figure and the blown out sky beyond, you can almost feel the warmth from the sun, but her relaxed pose suggests a cool breeze through the open window.

The story is very simple, a woman taking a break from her cleaning duties to enjoy a moment of respite. I get the sense that this is a private moment, and we are simply voyeurs.

I can't find information regarding the size, but my guess tells me that it is not extremely large. I also don't know where the painting currently resides.

 

Now for the more formal work.

 

"A Warm Day" • Anatoli P. Levitin • Oil on Canvas • 75" x 48" • 1957 • State Russian Museum 

 
Levitin makes an interesting cropping change by not showing the entire window. This changes our interaction with the girl. We are closer now, and have a more personal connection.

She has removed her shoes and smock, giving her an even more relaxed appearance. Unlike the sketch, her face is turned towards the outdoor scene, and the buildings have been moved below her eye level. This makes the painting more aspirational. While she enjoys the break, she also shows interest in what is beyond the window and her cleaning duties.

 

© 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.

Urban Studio Painting - In Progress

I'm just getting started on a new urban painting this week. There's a lot to piece together in this one, and I have a long way to go.

Detail of an in progress piece • Oil on linen • 20" x 30"

 

© 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.

Throwback Thursday - "Lounge At the Jefferson" for Plein Air Richmond 2018

#ThrowbackThursday to a time when I could not just paint in public, but even indoors.

This is a small lounge inside the Jefferson Hotel Richmond, painted on a rainy day during the 2018 Plein Air Richmond event. Yes, it looks deserted in the photo, but I had a number of members of the hotel staff behind me as I painted.

I really miss chatting with others while I work, as they always have interesting stories to share about the histories of the places I'm capturing. In this case, it was all about the alligators which once lived in the Jefferson's Palm Court in the early 20th Century.

"Lounge At the Jefferson" • Oil on Linen • 16"x20" • Private Collection

 

I took this photo when I was almost finished at about two hours in. I had a very poor lighting system at the time, cobbled together with an orchestra light and a few book lights.

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.

Art Review - "Logging in Vermont" by Aldro Thompson Hibbard

My recent #museumtourtuesday posts depicting snow scenes seem to have triggered a rare snow event down here in Texas. Here's one more ...

Today it's a painting by Aldro T. Hibbard. Look at the way Hibbard lays down the paint in short, decisive strokes, refining them only in the focal area of the two horses. This technique not only defines the focus, but adds energy, spontaneity and movement to the piece.

 

Born in Falmouth, Massachusetts, Hibbard eventually settled in Rockport, Massachusetts, forming the Rockport Art Association & Museum with a number of other artists. There, he influenced one of my other favorite artists, Emile Gruppe.

 

"Logging in Vermont" • Aldro Thompson Hibbard • Oil on Canvas • 32.5" x 40.38"

© 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.

"War Dancer" on the Cover of Southwest Art Magazine December/January 2020/2021 Issue

I haven't posted for a few days due to all of the tumult, but on Monday Kimberly made a quick masked dash into a Barnes & Noble to see and photograph my second Southwest Art Magazine cover for me.

I spent hours in book stores when I was younger paging through art magazines, so it's thrilling to see my own work on the shelf amongst that of so many other artists that I admire. Trying to focus on the positive, especially right now.

 

 

© 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 - "Winter in Ponte Campovasto Switzerland" by Peder Monsted

For today's #museumtourtuesday, a piece by Danish painter Peder Mork Monsted.

Mønsted's winter landscapes fascinate me with his ability to capture the day after a winter storm. The snow is melting, and figures are moving through it, or their footprints show that they have recently passed through the landscape. One can look at his paintings and feel the coolness of the frozen landscape, yet there's also the sense of the warm sunlight at the very same time. This creates a wonderfully complex scene of mixed emotions.

 

I am always filled with hope when viewing his paintings. We're through the storm, and it's time to move forward.

 

"Winter in Ponte Campovasto Switzerland" • Peder Mønsted • Oil • 1914

© 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 - "Colliding"

Here’s my first painting of the year.

Maybe it’s the sci-fi nerd in me that always thinks of galaxies coming together when I see a tight group of gerbera daisies. I guess that’s appropriate for the new year, as they’ll soon explode outwards and create something new. 

 

Gerbera daisies are also one of the floral subjects that I find most challenging, so I’m facing the new year head on with this one.

 

“Colliding” • Oil on Linen • 9” x 12” • 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.