Plein Air Landscape Painting - "Trails of Jupiter"

It's been a few years since I've been able to visit one of my favorite tranquil spots, Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound, Florida. I couldn't resist getting in a bit of plein air painting this week. I've always loved the way the palm trees meld together into a protective canopy, creating a beautiful pattern of dappled light.

 

"Trails of Jupiter" • Oil on Linen • 16" x 20" • Available at www.PatrickSaunders.com

 

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.

Art Review - "Pueblo Woman of Taos"

Today's #MuseumTourTuesday's post features a painting by a Saint Louis born artist, Oscar Edmund Berninghaus, at the Albuquerque Museum.

Like a number of his contemporaries, Berninghaus began his career as an illustrator, before traveling to the Southwest and finding himself captivated by the landscape and culture. In 1915 he became a founding member of the Taos Society of Artists. He split his time between Taos and St. Louis, until making a permanent move to New Mexico in his early 50s.

This painting shows the influence of Berninghaus' illustration and lithography background. While the piece is filled with interesting paint textures and exciting brushwork, the design is far more important to the strength of the painting. Notice the solidity of the shapes throughout the piece. Even if all of the textural qualities of the paint were to be removed, the flat shapes would still clearly convey the composition.

"Pueblo Woman of Taos" • Oscar E. Berninghaus • 1925 • Oil on Canvas

Painting photos 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.

Painting Workshop - Conroe Art League

Texas artist friends, I’m pleased to announce that I will be teaching my first painting workshop at the Conroe Art League next fall.

Click here for more information, and to register:

https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Conroe-Workshop

 

Join me November 4th - 6th in Conroe, TX to explore the essential techniques for painting from direct observation. I can teach you 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. Artists will learn about composition, value, texture, color temperature and accuracy in paint application.

 

Each day will begin with a short lecture and full demonstration, followed by one-on-one instruction. My class is highly tailored for each individual, so beginners as well as experienced painters are welcome. I will demonstrate in oil paint, but artists are welcome to use acrylic and pastels.

 

“Of Earth And Sky” • Oil on Linen • 30” x 60” • Private Collection

Strength In Numbers” • Oil on Linen • 15” x 30”• Available at www.PatrickSaunders.com

“Orange Tabby Cat Study” • Oil on Linen • 12” x 16"
• Available at www.PatrickSaunders.com

 

 

© 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 Still Life Painting - "Nest"

My latest painting is a floral/still life that is a bit larger than normal for me.

Due to the pandemic, Kimberly and I spent more time in one place than we have in a number of years, and we actually enjoyed nesting a bit, so to speak, in my temporary studio space. This piece is not only representative of that feeling of home, but also a kind of closure on our months of quarantine. Now that we're back to traveling and making art, home is wherever we are.

"Nest" • Oil on linen • 24" x 30" • Available at www.PatrickSaunders.com

Painting and reference photos 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.

Art Review - Henriette Wyeth Hurd and Andrew Wyeth

Kimberly and I recently visited the Albuquerque Museum, where we were able to view paintings by Andrew Wyeth and Henriette Wyeth Hurd, his sister.

Henriette was the eldest of famed illustrator N.C. Wyeth's five children, and Andrew was the youngest. Carolyn Wyeth, N.C's second child was also an accomplished painter and teacher, taking on Jaime Wyeth, Andrew's son, as one of her students. The artistic connections in the family don't stop there.

N.C. Wyeth's apprentice, Peter Hurd, not only taught Andrew to work in egg tempura, but went on to marry Henriette in 1929.

Due to contracting polio at the age of 3, Henriette drew with her left hand and painted with her right. A child prodigy, she enrolled in the Normal Arts School in Boston at the age of 13 and entered the Boston Museum of Art Academy the following year. By the age of 16, she was a well known portrait artist.

Henriette purchased the frame holding the painting in the next tweet during a trip to Spain in 1959, but struggled to find an appropriate painting for it until almost 20 years later.

The sitter is her grandson David, and the artist felt that the elaborate German music box behind him connected to the intricacies of the frame.

“Music Box” • Henriette Wyeth Hurd • Oil on Canvas • 1976

While Henriette left her family’s home in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania and relocated to Roswell, New Mexico to be with her husband Peter, Andrew remained in New England.

Karl Kuerner and his wife Anna owned the neighboring farm in Chadds Ford, which became a central subject of Andrew’s work. The farm is now a National Historic Landmark based on its association with Wyeth. Karl’s son, Karl J., studied with both Carolyn Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth, becoming a successful artist in his own right.

“Karl” • Andrew Wyeth • Egg Tempera on Panel • 1948

Painting photos 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.

March 2022 Art Newsletter - Five Keys To Painting Flowers

I’ve written several newsletters on how to paint flowers, and this month, I build on those past posts with even more detailed information on how to approach the challenge of florals.

Sign up for my latest newsletter to learn five important keys to painting flowers: http://bit.ly/PSFA-Newsletter-Sign-up

 

“Burst” • 6” x 8” • Oil on Panel • 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.

Throwback Thursday Floral Painting - Daffodils

Happy St. Paddy's Day everyone! Here's one from way back in 2014.

 

"Amongst the Green" • Oil on Canvas • 12" x 16" • Private Collection

Reference and painting photos 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.

Art Review - "Pastor de Cabras, Neo Mexicano" by W. Herbert Dunton

A few weeks ago, I shared a painting from early in W. Herbert Dunton's illustration career. For today's #MuseumTourTuesday, I'd like to share a much more refined and stylized work by the very same artist at the Albuquerque Museum.

"Pastor de Cabras, Neo Mexicano (New Mexican Goatherder)" • W. Herbert Dunton
• Oil on Canvas • 1926

What initially strikes me about this piece is the theatrical lighting of the scene. As the central element, the boy emerges from the shadows to be mostly bathed in light, while the goats and the dog are only partially revealed. Other than a few small areas revealing livestock, the background is also subdued in shadow.

"Pastor de Cabras, Neo Mexicano (New Mexican Goatherder)” Detail
 • W. Herbert Dunton • Oil on Canvas • 1926

Notice the careful control of the brushwork in the dog’s coat. The strokes mostly follow the forms, creating an extremely stylized effect.

"Pastor de Cabras, Neo Mexicano (New Mexican Goatherder)” Detail
 • W. Herbert Dunton • Oil on Canvas • 1926

The goats are similarly stylized, with outlines adding to the sense of form in the head and horns.

 

Dunton’s mastery of illustration technique continues to influence his work even at this late stage of his career. Notice how he uses dabs of thicker paint to call attention to specific elements, such as the highlight on the boy’s nose. Also of note, the rich red reflected color in in the face near the ear, adding more form to the head.

"Pastor de Cabras, Neo Mexicano (New Mexican Goatherder)” Detail
 • W. Herbert Dunton • Oil on Canvas • 1926

Painting photos 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.

Floral Painting - "Falling Stars"

With spring less than a month away, here's my latest floral painting for an upcoming show.

Daffodils can be more challenging to paint than you might think. With their thin and delicate petals, it's important to get those values just right, or they will look heavy.

 

"Falling Stars" • Oil on Linen • 14" x 18"

Reference and painting photos 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.

Pet Portrait Demonstration - Day Three - Sky Ranch Painting Workshop II

My pet portrait demonstration this morning on the last day of my second painting workshop at Sky Ranch Studio. Kimberly photographed this husky at an animal shelter years ago.

 

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

© 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 Painting Demonstration - Day Two - Sky Ranch Studio Painting Workshop II

My floral demonstration painting from life this morning on day two of my second painting workshop at the Sky Ranch Studio. These sunflowers at the Petaluma Market caught my eye earlier this week, so I picked some up on the way to class.

 

"Sunflowers Study" • 9" x 12" • Oil on Linen • 1.5 Hours

© 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.

Seascape Demonstration Painting - Day One - Sky Ranch Studio Painting Workshop II

My demonstration painting of Spud Point Marina from a photograph this morning on day one of my second painting workshop at the Sky Ranch Studio.

Kimberly and I took a nice drive to Bodega Bay, California yesterday to pick up some Spud Point Crab Co. clam chowder. It’s great to be back in northern California again, re-visiting our favorite spots and just enjoying the smell of the trees and the ocean air.

“Spud Point Marina Study” • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 1.5 Hours

© 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 - Okeksandr Murashko

Today's #MuseumTourTuesday features works by Ukrainian artist Oleksandr Murashko. These paintings are located at the Kyiv National Museum of Russian Art, along with the largest collection of Russian artworks outside of St. Petersburg and Moscow, and all are in jeopardy.

 

Born in Kyiv in 1875, Murashko became a student of famed Russian artist Ilya Repin. He went on to international success, exhibiting throughout Europe and winning the gold medal at the 1909 Munich Exposition.

 

Sadly, Murashko was murdered in 1919, when armed men confronted him and his wife on their way home. His body was found shortly afterwards, and the circumstances of his death remain a mystery.

 

“Portrait of a Young Man” • Oleksandr Murashko  • Oil on Canvas

 

“Head of an Old Man” • Oleksandr Murashko • 35” x 29.5” • Oil on Canvas

“Behind the Hoop” • Oleksandr Murashko • Oil on Canvas

© 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.

Pet Portrait Demonstration - Day Three - Sky Ranch Studio Painting Workshop

My pet portrait demonstration Sunday morning on the last day of my first painting workshop at Sky Ranch Studio. I do love painting pets - by far my favorite subject.

"Rescue Dog Study" • 16" x 20" • Oil on Linen • 1.5 Hours

 

© 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 - Sky Ranch Studio Painting Workshop I

My floral demonstration painting from life this morning on day two of my first painting workshop at the Sky Ranch Studio.

As with yesterday's demo, I didn't get very far today because the artists in this class ask a lot of really great questions as I paint. It's an absolute pleasure to work with such inquiring, hard-working painters.

 

"Pink Roses Study" • 12" x 12" • Oil on Linen • 1.5 Hours

© 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.

Landscape Demonstration Painting - Day One - Sky Ranch Studio Painting Workshop I

My landscape demonstration painting from a photograph this morning on day one of my first painting workshop at the Sky Ranch Studio.

Kimberly and I spent a beautiful morning at Muir Woods National Monument yesterday that inspired my choice for a demo subject today.

"Cathedral Study" • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 1.5 Hours

© 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.

Select 50 - Portrait Society of America 2022 International Portrait Competition

I’m honored that this entry into the 2022 International Portrait Competition was chosen by the Portrait Society of America for their “Select 50” group.

“Dama De Rojo” • 15” x 30” • Oil on Linen

 

© 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 - "Moose Near Long Lake" by Carl Rungius

Today's #MuseumTourTuesday is a piece by wildlife artist Carl Rungius at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas.

Born in Germany in 1869, Rungius spent much of his free time sketching animals at the Berlin Zoo. At the age of 27, he immigrated to the United States and focused on landscape and wildlife paintings. He became known as the first career wildlife artist in North America.

This piece clearly shows Rungius' love for both wildlife and the landscape. While the animals are beautifully painted, just as much attention is given to the surrounding landscape, with its atmospheric qualities. The paint textures that Rungius achieved in his work have become a standard for other wildlife artists who have since followed.

"Moose Near Long Lake" • Carl Rungius • Oil on Canvas
• 29" x 44" • 1905

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.