Art Review - "Nasturiums" by Nicolai Fechin

While we are reaching the end of the winter season and it's a beautiful 80 degrees here in San Antonio, I recognize that much of the rest of the country is still facing severe winter weather. So for today's #MuseumTourTuesday, here are some summer flowers to brighten everyone's week.

This painting by Nicolai Fechin was on display during our last visit to the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House. Like all of Fechin's work, the piece goes beyond a simple representation of the subject, and the paint becomes a character unto itself. The texture becomes almost overwhelming, and it's difficult to tell where one flower ends and another begins, but a few carefully placed elements make all of them believable. Notice for instance that dark center of the orange flower near the center of the painting (shown in the detail), giving it more depth than any of the others. This translates its sense of form throughout the painting. There's never any need to render everything.

"Nasturtiums" • Nicolai Fechin • Oil on Canvas • ca. 1940 • 16" x 20"

"Nasturtiums" Detail • Nicolai Fechin • Oil on Canvas • ca. 1940 • 16" x 20"

 

Photos by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2023. 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 II - Plein Air Southwest

Artist friends, my May plein air painting workshop for Plein Air Southwest sold out so fast that we have added a second class, and it is already half full, so click on the link below to sign up while there are still some spots left.

https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Galveston-Workshop-II

Join me May 15th - 17th in Galveston, Texas to explore the essential techniques for painting from direct observation, en plein air. 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.

Each day begins 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.

“Fire Water, Jacks Point” • Oil on linen • 18” x 24" • Private Collection

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2023. 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

We had an excellent model at last night's open session at the Coppini Academy of Fine Art. Although I focused only on his head, Jack held an extremely difficult standing pose, and the tension translated to his neck and head. The setup also featured an interesting double lighting choice, cool from the front and warm from the back, which added dimension to the form.

“Study of Jack” • Oil on Panel • 16" x 20” • 90 Minutes

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2023. 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 - "Brooklyn Bridge in Winter" by Childe Hassam

Today's #MuseumTourTuesday is about more than just a great piece in the Telfair Museums collection, but also what conditions inspire artists to create.

A new study posits that the Industrial Revolution's effect on the environment directly influenced the look of Impressionist paintings. Much of the study is focused on the works of Turner and Monet. Aerosols in polluted air reflected light in such a way that they inspired both the colors and the softer edges within the artists' work.

Born in 1859, Frederick Childe Hassam began his career as a freelance illustrator. During a trip to Europe in 1883, the artist was introduced to the work of Turner. Later, he was heavily influenced by the French Impressionists, although he had no direct connection to them. While he did study in Paris for a time and even rented the former studio of Renoir, he returned to the U.S. and became part of a group of American Impressionists know as "The Ten," including John Henry Twachtman and J. Alden Weir. Hassam's paintings of New York City, like the one pictured here, take on a look very similar to that of Monet.

"Brooklyn Bridge in Winter" • Childe Hassam • Oil on Canvas
• 30" x 34.1875" • 1904

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2023. 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.

Western Painting - "The Drovers"

I'm excited to share my latest painting, my largest and most ambitious to date. This piece was inspired by a visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards. I had originally intended to paint the figures in separate paintings, but I found it made more sense to celebrate their teamwork in a single piece.

This one was a tough one for me, and I'll share those challenges and the process in an upcoming newsletter post.

"The Drovers" • Oil on Linen • 60" x 36" • Available at www.PatrickSaunders.com

Painting and reference photos by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2023. 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 - "Rehearsal of the Pasdeloup Orchestra at the Cirque d'Hiver" by John Singer Sargent

Today's #MuseumTourTuesday is all about the inspiration that great works of art can provide for our own paintings.

I was asked to live paint a wedding this month, which is something I had never considered in the past. I needed some serious inspiration, and what came to mind for me was this piece by John Singer Sargent at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

My concern for the wedding was how to capture the energy and movement of the many guests. This painting provided me with a great approach. Here, Sargent groups the figures of the orchestra into larger shapes. Notice how many of the background figures are simply dashed off blobs of dark value with a few bits of highlights. Just enough to tell us what's there, without any details. Only the figures in the foreground are developed, and they do all the heavy lifting.

When in doubt, always turn to the masters. 

"Rehearsal of the Pasdeloup Orchestra at the Cirque d'Hiver" • John Singer Sargent
• Oil on Canvas • About 1879-80 • 22.5" x 18.125"

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2023. 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

Here is my study from last night's open model session at the Coppini Academy. The serape used as a backdrop added both interesting color and design elements. It was a nice contrast between the graphic lines of the blanket and the organic forms of the head and body.

“Study of Andy” • Oil on Panel • 18" x 24” • 90 Minutes

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2023. 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 - "Street Scene, Tangiers" & "Gateway, Tangier" by Henry Ossawa Tanner

About 25 years ago, I was fortunate to view a retrospective on the work of African American artist Henry Ossawa Tanner at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art that profoundly affected my thoughts on painting. I had never before seen a collection of work that so perfectly captured the effects of light.

The paintings are often thickly painted, possibly with a palette knife at times, and yet they never fall prey to the gimmicky characteristics of so many other palette knife paintings. The paint holds character, without the flourish of fancy bravura brushwork.

Light passes through these thick layers of often transparent oils, creating a glow that must be viewed in person. Tanner's range is evident in the way he captures light through the use of value contrast (see the first image) or color temperature contrast (second image), or often a combination of both. This is one artist's work where I can truly say that it is almost impossible to capture the feeling of the paintings in reproductions. You really have to see them for yourself in person.

Tanner's mother escaped from slavery in Virginia via the Underground Railroad, and his father was a friend of Frederick Douglass. Tanner initially studied with Thomas Eakins at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, before moving to Paris in 1891 to study at the Academie Julian. His painting "Resurrection of Lazarus" was purchased by the French government after winning the third-place medal at the 1897 Salon. He went on to paint images of the first World War while working for the Red Cross Public Information Department, and was made a knight of the Legion of Honour by the French state. His work clearly influenced a generation of artists who followed, including Norman Rockwell, who created illustrations derivative of some of Tanner's paintings.

"Street Scene, Tangiers" • Henry Ossawa Tanner • Oil on Canvas
• c. 1910 • 23 1/4" x 26 1/2" • Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

"Gateway, Tangier" • Henry Ossawa Tanner • Oil on Canvas • c. 1912
• 18 7/16" x 15 5/16" • Collection of the St. Louis Art Museum

Painting photos by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2023. 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.

Filling Fast - Summit Art Plein Air Festival Plein Air Painting Workshop II

Artist friends, the second plein air painting workshop that I just opened for the Summit Art Plein Air Festival is filling fast, so sign up now to secure your spot: 

 

https://bit.ly/patrick-saunders-workshop-kansas-city-II

Join me June 9th - 11th in Kansas City to explore the essential techniques for painting from direct observation, en plein air. 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.

Each day begins 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.

“Like Stained Glass” • Oil on Canvas • 19” x 28" • Private Collection

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2023. 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 - "Path to Honolua Bay"

 In the face of freezing rain and frequent power outages here in San Antonio, it's a good time to reflect on some of the warm places I've painted in the past. This piece is from Maui.

To reach Honolua Bay, Kimberly and I had to walk through a beautiful forest where the dappled light amongst the trees appealed to me more than the destination of the bay. I was soon joined by roosters, hens and chicks, who all have free reign throughout the island.

This piece won the Makana Aloha Foundation Award at the 2018 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational.

"Path to Honolua Bay" • Oil on Linen • 16" x 20" • Private Collection

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.