Workshop with kids - selfie

Had a chance to work with group of wonderful kids ( 6 to 10 years old). I decided to give them difficult subject - to paint self-portrait , and we did an exhibition after.
It was very interesting process of thinking and taking decisions.
" I don't want to draw nose ! "
" May I draw myself in hood ? "
" I want it black and white!" 
" I don't want to draw portrait . I'd better will draw an apple"
" I don't need anyone teaching me to draw. I know to draw perfectly"
" Selfie - it's painting of inside"

They were twenty and they kept me full time busy. Too busy to take photos of them  - and I bet there were wonderful shot if I'd be able to do. However, I did few.
"How I make brown color?"
( Coming to me for help ) "Can you please to draw my nose ? But I want it in shape of  L ! "
I found that many kids has kind of complicated relations with their noses and ears. Hmmm... it's interesting why that ? These parts seem not important to them.

 As we started our workshop , the girls immediately separated into the "Group of Ladies Only" and only one little boy was allowed to stay in their matriarchal community . Probably he was a little bro of one of those Amazonas.

This boy in green (on the photo below) had no patience to listen and no interest to participate. Of course he was allowed to manage on his own. I was so fully busy with other 19 kids that didn't mention him drawing aside. When we finished our workshop and I collected their paintings. In the way back I found one more painting on the ground. It was very expressive and colorful and I took it with me. At my return children were watching movie and only the boy in green was playing alone. He has seen me coming with the painting in my hands and said:
"It's my painting, but I confused the direction ( was asked to do it horizontal) , so I threw it away."
"Never mind" - I said. "It's very expressive and I like it"
"I look here as a monkey" - he said
"No, not at all. It needs a little fixation and it can be wonderful work" - and I showed him how to fix some minor problem there. Suddenly he got a mood to fix it himself and to add some more details.

I was observing with interest - he really was deeply into it ! 

The green green grass of home

Oil on canvas 
47 x 40 cm.
© VANESSA STASHINSKI 2015

Plein Air in Tel Hadid (Israel)

Tel Hadid - it's the hill in countryside , all covered with different kinds of wild greenery . There are almond-trees, olives, cactus and enormous amount of wild flowers in spring. Wavy landscape and central location makes the place attractive for hikers, bikers, scouts and of course for plein air artists. The place is relatively small but it's "stuffed" with spectacular views.

THE BLOSSOM - 20-05-2014, Tuesday

THE BLOSSOM - 18-05-2014, Sunday

Oil on canvas 
40 x 28 cm.
© ANDRE STASHINSKI 2014

"THE BLOSSOM" - 17-05-2014, Saturday

Afternoon with family

"Afternoon with family"

Oil on stretched canvas, 45 x 30 cm.
© VANESSA STASHINSKI 2014

🔴 SOLD

"THE BLOSSOM" - "Afternoon with family" - work in process

From Vanessa

So, here is a result of the 1st day .
It's almost done and only need some work on trees at the left side.

Someone passed there, when I was painting, and she said me : "Don't add anything, it's perfect!". But I felt I have to . So, after the second day of "completing the mission" it looked alike this  (below) >

Actually, I did some minor changes after it, again , thinking that it's done.
Asked my friend Jose (Jose Salvaggio - great plein air painter) for a feedback. He said "Good work, I like it, only would bright the sky". I planned to do it in the studio, but suddenly changed my plans and went back to the location (what can be better?).
So,  there are 3rd day changes .

Picture is nice indeed , but I'm a bit disappointed - it should not take 3 days of work and, I think, that the simplicity and light movement of the first step (visible in the earlier post) has gone. Need to let to oil to dry and then, after colors will get "settled", to see it again.
Cheers,
Vanessa

"THE BLOSSOM" - "Afternoon with family" - DAY 1

From Vanessa

I has begun a new painting today - not a big one, only about 45 cm at the big side. Actually it gone pretty well and I almost finished it in one day. There are some photos below that shows how it was. Hopefully I will finish (with no spoiling it !) tomorrow morning and than publish the result online. 

 

 

;-) don't show you the result, just peeping. Wait till tomorrow !

"THE BLOSSOM" - SUNDAY, 11-05-2014

From Vanessa

I didn't planned to paint today, but morning was too good to miss. So, I grabbed the easel and run to catch the blossom.

I decided to work today with limited palette (less then 10 colors, with no use of some basic, alike: red, orange and black) + single-brush, and I hoped to make it light and airy.

From the first minutes of work I considered it once again : I do NOT like this brand ("Georgian")! Colors have not enough pigment, they can't cover, they are not flexible and mix bad. White is especially annoying: thick and not elastic, hard to work with ! Please remember me do NOT buy them again ever !

Anyway, I managed it in semitransparent way,
trying to go on and keep it bright.

and here leg of my easel folded and all the stuff, include painting & palette with colors, ruined. 

OMG... But well, it was just a little damage, could be worse. 

I was so busy , fighting with bad-quality materials, that didn't took more photos of process. Just believe my confession, that this painting switched to another "direction" couple of times, and , at least twice I thought that "It's done", but didn't actually stopped painting...

Oil on canvas 
40 x 28 cm.
© VANESSA STASHINSKI 2014

Here how it comes, finally. 

Will be glad to receive your feedback, folks.

Greetings, 

Your Vanessa

Purple Joy

 "Purple joy"
Oil on canvas.
Size: 40 x 25 cm
© VANESSA STASHINSKI 2014

Painting was almost ready when group of kids came inside "my landscape". They were running around and playing. They were speedy but I was quicker ! I painted them "inside" :-)
So, here it is.

"THE BLOSSOM" - DAY 5

Oil on canvas.
Size: 40 x 25 cm
© ANDRE STASHINSKI 2014

"THE BLOSSOM" - DAY 4

Didn't plan it so prolonged, but it happen. 

So, we continue working on it. 

Here how it looks at 4th day of work.

Vanessa

no, not satisfied  :-/ Gotta work

Andre

Almost there. In process...

"THE BLOSSOM" - DAY 3

PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP

The 3rd day under Jacaranda Trees.
Last week was really crazy weather. First it got hot alike in oven, then switched into heavy rain, and, finally, today we awoke to pleasant warm day with no "special effects". 
We hoped to finish our paintings today, but didn't . So, we'll be tomorrow in same place, same hour. 
See you tomorrow in Park David (Ramat Gan) at 9am.
Cheers,
V&A

Andre

Vanessa

Worked on the same painting today and hope to finish it tomorrow. When light changed to noon I decided to paint small and sketchy painting. So I did (the photo below). 

But I wasn't completely satisfied with it and , when returned home, tried to fix a bit ...  and of course spoiled the picture. Once upon a time my dear teacher I. Glazova used to tell : " If you have a good piece in your work - do not touch it ! Keep it as it is". But sometimes I remember her words too late. Well, never mind. Tomorrow I will be there once again and could to fix this bad "fixation". Restless hands.