Art Review - "Birches" by Nicolai Fechin

Today's #MuseumTourTuesday painting has been top of mind for me a lot lately. While I admire most of Nicolai Fechin's paintings, there's something about the simplicity of this one that keeps me coming back to it.

Kimberly and I saw this piece on display at the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House back in 2018. Painted on a piece of unstretched canvas, the piece is so simple, and yet has so much depth. Fechin was unconcerned with covering every bit of his surface. The raw canvas shows through on the edges of the trees. The colors are rich and deep, creating a peaceful and inviting mood.

"Birches [Aspens]" • Nicolai Fechin • Oil on Canvas • 14.5" x 9.5" • Before 1923

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.

Plein Air Study - "Grey Forest Gate"

Here's a quick plein air study from yesterday, painted in Grey Forest, Texas. I was drawn to both the purple door and the iconic "lone star" on the front gate. Very Texas. I didn't begin this one until 10 a.m., and learned my lesson. It's always a good idea to start at dawn in this kind of heat.

"Grey Forest Gate" • Oil on Linen • 12" x 12" • 2 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.

Floral Painting - "Gift of the Great Spirit"

If you've visited Texas in the spring, you've seen these wildflowers blooming everywhere. They are a delicate and challenging flower to paint. While researching bluebonnets, I discovered this Native American legend.

When the Comanche people faced a terrible drought, the shaman announced that this was punishment for taking from the land without giving back. They would need to offer a sacrifice of their greatest possessions in order to appease the Great Spirit. While all others hesitated, one young girl, She-Who-Is-Alone, stepped forward to sacrifice her only possession, a doll given to her by her mother, who had perished in the famine. In return for her bravery, the rains fell and a great field of bluebonnets appeared.

"Gift of the Great Spirit" • Oil on Linen • 12" x 16"
• Available at www.PatrickSaunders.com

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 - "Railroad" by Bernie Fuchs

During a visit to the Booth Western Art Museum earlier this month, I was surprised to find a piece by Bernie Fuchs. Arguably the greatest mid-century illustrator, Fuchs influenced an entire generation of artists. He was constantly reinventing his work, pioneering new techniques and staying well ahead of an army of imitators.

While the piece below is undated, my guess is that it was painted some time around 1980, as the technique is very similar to the artist's work at that time. The museum lists the medium as acrylic, but I believe that it may actually be oil. Fuchs specialized in a technique known as "oil wash lift out." This method of working started with a drawing in charcoal or pencil that was then washed over with thinned oil color. The lights were then wiped away with a cloth, brush or even an eraser. The sky and the faces of the figures in the piece have the clear characteristics of oil paint when using this method of working, and it would have been difficult to achieve this look with acrylic paint. I learned this technique in art school while studying with Mark English. Thanks to Mark, Kimberly and I were lucky enough to be introduced to Fuchs while living in New York.

"Railroad" • Acrylic on Canvas • Undated

© 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.

SOLD - "Strength In Numbers" Floral Painting

My thanks to the Peninsula Gallery for sending this floral painting home with a new collector.

I really enjoyed going larger with these tulips, because as a group they interact with each other and the surrounding greenery to create something very exciting.

"Strength In Numbers" • Oil on Linen • 15" x 30" • 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.

Portrait Study - Open Model Session

I always enjoy painting with the Coppini Academy of Fine Art's Friday morning open model portrait group. This study feels a bit more formal due to the model's jacket.

"Dana, Portrait Study" • Oil on Linen • 12" x 16" • 2 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.

Portrait Study - Open Model Session

Last night's portrait study at the Coppini Academy of Fine Art open model session featured a more colorful patterned background that grabbed my attention. I was initially concerned that it would prove too busy, but I ultimately enjoyed the combination of the abstract and the realistic.

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

"Billy, Portrait Study" • Oil on Linen • 12" x 16" • 2 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 - "Val d'Aosta" by John Singer Sargent

For this week's #MuseumTourTuesday, I'm going back to one that I haven't seen in awhile, but it's a personal favorite of all the paintings I have ever seen in person. This piece by John Singer Sargent is part of the Brooklyn Museum's permanent collection, although it is not currently on display. I still remember the first time that Kimberly and I visited the museum back in 2009, and this painting took our breath away.

At first glance, it is almost abstract, but once you begin to focus on the piece, you clearly begin to distinguish the rocks above the water versus those below. The blue of the sky reflects off of the top of the water in the upper right, while the warm refracted light of the sun shimmers on the stones at the bottom of the pool. I especially love that it's a painting requiring viewer exploration, as it takes a few minutes to even notice the fish floating in the middle of the pond, amid all of the textural qualities of the image.

Also of note, the painting is unsigned. 

"Val d'Aosta (A Stream over Rocks; Stream in Val d'Aosta)" • John Singer Sargent
• Oil on Canvas • 21 5/8 x 27 1/2 in. • 1907-1908

© 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.

May 2022 Art Newsletter - Drawing To The Last Stroke

Portraits of people or animals require solid drawing in order to capture a likeness, but there's no reason to separate drawing and painting into two different skills.

Sign up for my latest art newsletter for a step by step demonstration on how to use drawing during the entire painting process: 

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

 

"Green Eyes" • Oil on Linen • 6” x 8” • 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.

Portrait Study - Open Model Session

Last night's portrait study at a Coppini Academy of Fine Art open model session. This one recycles an older linen board, thus the unexpected textural effects from the previous painting beneath.

"Ashlyn, Portrait Study" • Oil on Linen • 12" x 16" • 2 Highly Interrupted 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.

Art Review - "Kansas City, Vew from Penn Valley Park by Wilbur Niewald

Today's #MuseumTourTuesday post pays homage to the great Wilbur Niewald, who passed away April 30th at the age of 97.

Wilbur was a plein air painter long before it became trendy, and could often be found painting from direct observation around the Kansas City area. His work is a part of numerous collections across the United States, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Born in KC, Niewald received both a BFA and an MFA from the Kansas City Art Institute, and went on to join the faculty. He retired as Professor Emeritus of Painting in 1992.

I was fortunate to have studied with him, and I consider his approach to drawing and painting a major influence on my own work. Wilbur was committed to capturing the scene before him accurately, and would return to the same location for multiple sessions. There's a confidence in his work, whether it's a landscape, still life or a portrait. Each stroke is applied with a clear intention, giving his paintings a solid sense of structure.

I am certain that Wilbur will never be forgotten by the countless students he influenced during his decades as a teacher.

"Kansas City, View from Penn Valley Park" • Oil on Canvas • 29" x 36"
• 1989 • Collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

© 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 Painting Workshop - Telfair Museums Jepson Center for the Arts

Georgia artist friends, I’m very pleased to announce that I will be teaching a still life painting workshop this fall at the Telfair Museum’s Jepson Center for the Arts.

Class size is limited, so click here for more information, and to sign up: https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Telfair-Workshop

Join me September 16th - 18th in Savannah to learn about choosing a subject, composition, values, color temperature, simplification, how to start, and when to stop. The painted still life tells a story through the composition and the elements represented, requiring a balance of spontaneity and accuracy, making it a perfect subject to practice adding energy and excitement to all your paintings.

Each day will include a full demonstration, followed by opportunities to create multiple paintings, with frequent one-on-one instruction. We will work from both photos and still life set-ups in the studio. My classes are highly tailored for each individual, so beginners as well as advanced artists are welcome.

 

© 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 Three - Booth Art Academy Painting Workshop II

My floral demonstration painting from life this morning on the last day of my second painting workshop this year at the Booth Art Academy. I painted these daisies in order to demonstrate how to work with whites.

 

“Daisies Study” Floral Demo • 9" x 12" • Oil on Linen • 2 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 - Booth Art Academy Painting Workshop II

My thanks to Lucy for bringing in beautiful pink peonies for my floral demonstration from life this morning on day two of my second painting workshop at the Booth Art Academy.

“Peonies Study” Floral Demo • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 2 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 Painting Demonstration - Day One - Booth Art Academy Painting Workshop II

My floral demonstration painting from a photograph this morning on day one of my second painting workshop at the Booth Art Academy.

 

“Rose Study” Floral Demo • 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.

Pet Portrait Demonstration - Day Three - Booth Art Academy Painting Workshop I

My pet portrait demonstration painting from a photograph this morning on the last day of my first painting workshop this year at the Booth Art Academy.

This is the second demo, from a different photo, that I’ve done of this rescue husky. I just love his expressive face, and those eyes.

 

“Perry Study” • Pet Portrait Demo • 14" x 18" • Oil on Linen • 2 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 - "Ramón Subercaseaux in a Gondola" by John Singer Sargent

Today's #MuseumTourTuesday post features a painting by John Singer Sargent. While this piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's permanent collection, it is not currently on display. Kimberly and I were lucky enough to see it in a show at the Telfair Museums in 2019.

At first glance I mistook the painting as somewhat dashed off and satirical, but the more one looks, the more you can see that Sargent truly captured a fleeting moment perfectly. The warm shadows within the shaded gondola are dramatically contrasted by the cool light of the midday sun on the water, canal structures and the secondary gondola in the background.

 

There is such a sense of movement to the painting, not only from the varying thick and thin passages of paint, but the way Ramón’s hand appears to be a blur as he rapidly sketches an image of Sargent in return, all the while fixing his gaze directly at Sargent, and us, the viewers, as well.

 

“Ramón Subercaseaux in a Gondola” • John Singer Sargent • Oil on Canvas
• 47 x 63 cm • 1880

 

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.

Floral Demonstration Painting - Day Two - Booth Art Academy Painting Workshop I

My floral demonstration painting from life this morning on day two of my first painting workshop this year at the Booth Art Academy.

“Gerbera Daisies Study” Floral Demo • 12" x 12" • Oil on Linen • 2 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.

Landscape Demonstration Painting - Day One - Booth Art Academy Painting Workshop I

My landscape demonstration painting from a photograph this morning on day one of my first painting workshop this year at the Booth Art Academy.

Kimberly photographed the evening light on these trees in Newnan while we were there for my Newnan ArtRez residency, and I've been meaning to paint them ever since.

 

"Newnan Sunset" Landscape Demo • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 2 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.