ROBERT BISSETT - Recent Paintings
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Photo of the Day

Rhododendrons in the yard this morning.
Conditions must be right this year...
Cold and damp?
Never have seen them like this!

The painting process...

1. Idea...Inspiration
2. Reference...memory, sketch, paint, photo
3. Work...compose, layout, block in, structure
4. Play...adjust, imagine, invent, create, inspire

New Painting

Robert Bissett Featured Artist

I'm being featured on
International Gallery News!

Thanks!

Doodles from today...

Quote of the Day

““A PAINTING IS NOT ABOUT AN EXPERIENCE, IT IS AN EXPERIENCE.” – MARK ROTHKO

Quote of the Day

“Fellow artists...in order to quicken the spirit of invention, stare fixedly at the stains and discolorations on old walls, until you discover within divine landscapes, battles, strange figures in violent action, expression of faces, and an infinity of things.”  Leonardo Da Vinci’s Treatise on Painting

This idea is discussed in Real Art Real Easy, link above.

Oil Workshop - Day 2

The second day of the two day oil painting workshop was today, 10-2. All participants learned a lot and made real progress. It was a congenial group, all with some experience. There was discussion about continuing the lessons if enough are interested. Contact Lizzy at Arts Alliance. Special thanks to Loi who assisted, back by the window.

A Summary of the Workshop

Coming in July to Arts Alliance in Sandpoint, Idaho...

Portrait Workshop...July 10

Charcoal Drawing...July 17

Journaling in Watercolor...July 24

I've begun a new project...a demo to show one way that
can be used to paint a portrait. I recorded part of the movie
'The Outlaw Josey Wales' to DVD a while ago. Yesterday I was viewing
it and came upon a nice shot of Clint Eastwood which could be made
into a portrait. Here is the frame as it was in the movie...

I think it would be better with sky rather than rocks in the background,
so on the computer I use the freehand select tool to roughly select the 
background area. Then I fill it with a blue gradation...

Now you can really see Clint! Next, I add a little breathing
room at the top and apply a Gaussian blur...

...and this is what I will use
to begin the painting. Why? Because all detail is eliminated
and it is simplified. I can't get fixated on features. All I see
is vague shapes as though you were squinting.

I add a new layer over the blurred image and draw in the main shapes.
I add another layer between the blurred image and the line
drawing and fill it with white. I print it out at the right
size for a 16x20" canvas.

Now I leave the computer and tape these two 11x17" sheets together.
Then, I tape them to the canvas at the top.

To transfer the drawing to the canvas I will use a sheet of 9x12"
tracing paper rubbed with a stick of sanguine. I place this
sheet face down under the printed drawing and
on the canvas. Moving the sheet as needed, I
trace over the lines with the wood handled
embossing tool seen above. A ball
point pen works, too.

The canvas has a textured coat of gesso tinted a middle gray. I had
to press hard and use a scribbling technique to make the
lines visible on this surface. A smooth white surface
would be much easier. Then, I go over the lines
with a brown Color Sharp.

My plan is to use a Zorn palette of oil colors. Anders Zorn favored
a limited palette of Yellow Ochre, Cad. Red Medium,
Ivory Black and white. The result will be a
tonalist painting.

Partly done with the block in.

Block in completed. Some edges are too sharp.
I may go back tonight and do some blending.

One more stage for tonight and that's it...

Stay tuned...

Edit, Jun 2, 2010...

Cllint
16x20"
Oil on canvas
Oringinal...$2000

Prefer a print?

Check the ebay link below
to see which paintings are currently on auction
and with any luck can be acquired at
Yard Sale Prices!

"Typically, I stop looking at the photo - or laptop screen or, if outdoors, the real landscape - about half-way through the painting process. I reach a point where I begin to respond to the painting, and not to the reference photo. It's a great feeling when I get to this happy place in the studio, because then I know I'll end up with a good painting." By Michael Chesley Johnson to A Plein Air Painter's Blog

How important is that concept! Very.
This is the reason I ask my workshops
to paint from memory. You need to get the feel of painting without
training wheels. It's a feeling of freedom. Making the switch halfway
through is fine. It is possible to start from the beginning with a free
approach to the subject. If you never let go of your reference I can
guarantee a ho hum painting at best. Don't try to copy nature
or a photo. Your purpose as an artist is to make a good
painting and that happens when you respond to
what you see developing on the canvas and
direct the whole process.

If you say to yourself: 'I will include
these few objects/shapes; I will use this color scheme; I will
use this value scheme; I will use this style' your chances are much better.
Creativity lies there.

For a few minutes it really came down!
Our usual small hail...pea sized.

Check the ebay link below
to see which paintings are currently on auction
and with any luck can be acquired at
Yard Sale Prices!

The switch was made moments ago!!!

Click on the 'Home' link above to see the new look.

Bright   Light   Springtime

The apple tree in our yard is going crazy this year.
Loaded with blossoms. I waited for the wind to stop
around sunset. With the sun behind clouds the light was
very soft and uniform.

Check the ebay link below
to see which paintings are currently on auction
and with any luck can be acquired at
Yard Sale Prices!

Check the ebay link below
to see which paintings are currently on auction
and with any luck can be acquired at
Yard Sale Prices!

Check the ebay link below
to see which paintings are currently on auction
and with any luck can be acquired at
Yard Sale Prices!

Check the ebay link below
to see which paintings are currently on auction
and with any luck can be acquired at
Yard Sale Prices!

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