Christmas Balls

Loved the colors of these leftover decorations - well, semi leftover.  I pirated them for a few hours.  Limited palette:  Scarlet Lake, Cad Yellow Pale, Ultramarine Blue + white.

Haleakala above Grandma's Cafe

There was a picture that I've been saving to finish on location across from Grandma's Coffee House in Kula.  Well I totally ruined it, but with about 45 min left I turned around and painted this one.

Rainbow Shower Tree on Baldwin Ave, Makawao

I began this on location and finished it in my studio.  It looks harsh here - both the jpeg on my computer and the original, of course, are softer - less contrast.

Finished.... Iao Bridge Painting

Finished this little painting some time ago, but forgot to post it. 

Save Your Paint Puddles - Easy easy easy...

Get a cheap glass flat-bottom casserole or baking dish and put your Oil paint puddles and mixtures in it with a painting knife at the end of a paint session.  (Note - this will not work with acrylics or water miscible oils either!)  Cover with water until next time.  Will keep my paint fresh for weeks - minimizes waste.

This is so quick and easy - takes all of 5 minutes and then you can scrape down your palette and clean it up for a fresh start the next day.

I put the paint out about 20 min before I start - while I make a cup of tea - and by the time I begin any water drips left are irrelevant.  I wipe out my pyrex baking dish with a paper towel and a little Gamsol and that's ready to go again too.  This dish is dedicated solely for this purpose.  I Never clean it out and bake in it - just think that's not the best idea.

Another note:  Though it's not necessary if you don't have animals, I cover mine with a piece of aluminum foil to keep our cat from drinking the water.

Model Study

Quick model sketch - color/light study from last week.

Drawing and Works in Progress

Since the end of September I've been drawing as much as possible, some figure work, making silver and copper points for clients and painting on a few larger pieces.

Which Color are These Boards?

Is the "local" color the one on the right or the left??  It's the same paint in the bucket!  One of the panels is facing an outside window and the other faces the rest of the room.  I actually thought I'd missed painting a section.

So much for local color!  This type of contrast I think is more evident in subtle colors than in the primaries - but still - we need to really look, observe and compare - not just glance and assume.

One could almost say there's no such thing as a true local color.

Your thoughts??

Paint pretty -

Rain Drenched Iao

Finished! -   Even though 2 painting sessions were done on location, enough tweaking was done in the studio to disqualify it as a plein air piece.  That means only 5% is enough to make it ineligible to be plein air.

It was pouring rain both mornings.  Loved it!

30/30 - Last Day - Plein Air Study, Kihei

So- that went fast.  Hard to believe it's the last day of the 30 day challenge.  It's been a terrifically energizing and useful tool to gain ground in the areas I listed as my goals on day one:

Focus on Value Structure

Refresh Drawing Skills

Improve Composition Structure

Reestablish a sensitivity dulled by 15 years of scenic work

Cement working routine after hiatus 

Generate New Ideas

The two things that meant the most to me - though I was conscious of all of them as I worked - were enjoying more of a sense of play with these little studies which loosened me up to new ideas and possibilities and also reestablishing a solid working routine!  

Tomorrow - Shower trees on Baldwin Ave en plein air!  Can't wait!....

Paint pretty -

Day 29 of 30 - In a Cloud

Work in progress - underpainting and drawing structure for this view of a wonderful "orange" eucalyptus grove on the side of Haleakala mountain.

Day 28 of 30 - Iao Tile Bridge

So this is the last few days of the 30 in 30 challenge.  I'm spending them finishing up a few paintings that mean something to me that have been sitting around for a while - tying up some loose ends so I can get back to a couple of series I'm working on painting larger as well.  Very excited...

Paint Pretty -

Day 27 - From Honua Kai

Plein air study done with Procreate on my iPad this afternoon at Honua Kai.

24/30 - Hiking Buddies

My dear friend Debra - the one that brings me all the avocados :)   - with her charges on the road above the Lavender Fields; one of our favorite hikes.

Today's limited palette:  Transparent Red Oxide, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue & White

26/30 Playin' in the Paint

Just playing in the paint this evening - fun...  Limited Palette: Permanent Rose, Cad Lemon, Cobalt Blue.

September 25th - Iao Evening

Iao Valley this evening as we were coming home.  Limited palette:  Flesh Ochre, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue.

23/30 - Such as it is...

Just one of those days with too much to do and the unexpected popping up - but did paint.  Phew...  can see things from here I may change. - Okay - done now...
 Too tired to think about it.....  Oh - random limited palette was cad red light, cad yellow light, ultramarine blue.

September 22 - Local Avos

My dear, sweet, strong, independent, funny, energetic friend Debra brings me avocados!  Is she not just the best?!?!?!?!

Limited Palette:  Transparent Maroon, Cad Lemon, Old Delft Blue and white.

21/30 Rain Drenched Iao Valley

Almost no time for painting today (football, groceries, etc...) - so worked on finishing up this painting of the Iao Valley.  Still not finished, but close.  Also ran out of panels and so prepped 10 more.

Day 20 - Silver Spoon

Today's limited palette was Winsor Orange, Yellow Brown, and Ultramarine Violet.

19/30 - Poko Place

My street - looking up Haleakala Mountain - painted with limited palette:  Tera Rosa, Yellow Ochre, and Bright Violet with white.  Dark, heavy rain clouds were spilling over and rolling down Haleakala mountain behind the trees in the setting sun.

Love Limited Palettes!

Paint Pretty -

September 18th - Paia Bay Cloud Study

So - because all of the studies are too wet to scan, today's post for day 18 is a cloud study done on Baldwin Beach, Paia in water soluble pencil and Daniel Smith Primatek watercolors.  Gorgeous morning!  There were other artists out painting there as well - so cool.  Their paintings were wonderful...

Paint pretty -

September 17th - Hui View

So this pic is an edit to the post - and while it's a bit better than the first it still looks absurd on this platform... Ugh....  Looks great on my computer in Adobe Bridge???  What the heck?  

Anyway - I did this from two sessions on location at the Hui No'eau and then finished with a few tweaks in studio, so don't feel I can truly call it plein air.

So - the study I did for today with the limited palette was way to wet to scan and the colors were just uber awful as an iPhone pic.  This one above I just finished also, and the colors are also Waaaaay off! iPhones just don't see pigments well.  - Much too intense on my monitor.  Will have a better pic of this one soon as well.

As soon as today's study is dry enough I'll scan it and you'll see why the phone camera couldn't "see" it.  The limited palette was Tera Rosa, Yellow Ochre Pale, and Bright Violet - Yikes... Stay Tuned.

Paint Pretty -

Day 16 - Melaleuca Study

So I decided to go off the reservation on one of my goals.  Instead of monochrome studies I'm going to finish the month with limited palette triads plus white.

I have 3 bags labeled red, yellow, blue.  In each bag are slips of paper with all the names of the corresponding pigments I have for that color.  Each day I reach into each bag and pull one slip out - then paint my day's study with that triad and white.  Fun!

This was a Super quick study of a Melaleuka tree in the neighborhood.

Paint pretty -

Day 15 - Starfruit on My Palette

I actually painted a ceiling today - but thought that wouldn't make for a very interesting post - so sketched this oil study of a funky star fruit...

Paint Pretty...

September 13th - Haleakala Dusk

This was painted after a wonderful hike up the twisty, turn-y road behind Ali'i Lavender Farm on the side of Haleakala mountain.   The base color is a tube black mixed with browns and a little red.

Paint Pretty -

September 12th - Cloud Study

Day 12   -Been doing cloud studies for days...  wiped most of them.  Fluffy white water vapor is kicking my patootie!  Ugh.....  Will persevere!!!

Paint pretty -

September 11th - Cloud Study

Another cloud study looking out toward Kahakaloa from Sprecklesville Beach.  Beautiful day and wonderful cumulous clouds.

September 10th - Sprecklesville Cotton Balls

Not lovin' this one.  Decided to do a bunch of cloud studies as they are incredibly prevalent and always present here.  More to follow -

Paint Pretty -

September 9th - Yes, we have no Bananas... :)

Devoured - every last one!

Just finished this very quick study - the paint is out-of-the-tube wet - but didn't want to miss a 30 in 30 day.  Tomorrow we'll be on Oahu all day so will make a proper scan when we get back and post it.   Both Liquin and a great mixture of stand oil and orange oil in equal parts (mmmmm...smells so good), allows for scanning of a study in a couple of hours generally -

Paint pretty -

Okay - much better pic...

September 8th - Makawao Logs

Day 8 - Painted in the Makawao Forest Preserve.  A cool, cloudy afternoon.  Very peaceful...  Used a purple/black mix for the base of this monochrome study.  Got out my little Guerrilla 5 x 7 hiking box and did most of it with a paint knife.  The 6 x 6 format doesn't fit in the box very well, but it works and I have a fantastic painting holder by Raymar that is so light to throw over my shoulder with the paint box.

Paint pretty -

September 7th - Baldwin Ave Shower Trees

Day 7/30 - Yay!  What a glorious, clear, sunny morning - wow!  Need to go back and paint these in full color - so incredible.  The paint was too wet to scan - so a phone pic will have to suffice today.

Paint pretty -

Makawao Bike Ramp

Chromatic black with purple mixed in is the base color for this study.  Began with a palette knife but finished with a brush.  Loved working with the knife, but it was a bit out of my comfort zone.  Just needed to finish it up and move on - thus a bit of brush...

Paint Pretty -

September 5th - Banana Spiral

These are apple bananas that grew in our backyard.  We let them ripen as much as possible on the tree - they are tangy and incredibly delicious. 

I'm using dark colors I don't generally put on my palette any more.  It's fun to use different hues and stay monochromatic while using up paint that was just sitting there.

These were painted from life - in my kitchen.  They're all gone already!

September 4th - West Maui Wind Generators

Day 4/30  Painted from a beach trail in Kihei, Maui.  Tomorrow - a still life...

September 3rd - Molokini

Okay - Day 3  This is great - but am already getting claustrophobic on these small panels.  Will continue on with this theme, but gotta stretch this idea....

Paint Pretty -

September 2nd - Ma'alaea Harbor

Day 2 of the 30 in 30 challenge.  Really fun!

Tried posting from the road today via my iPad as it's been a very busy day, but that just wasn't going to happen - just couldn't get enough signal (tough on Maui anyway) - even in hot spots, etc...  There must be a way - will persist!

Hasta mañana -

Paint pretty -

PS - Wow - I have to say I'm shocked at the harshness of the pic above.  It looks much better on Adobe Bridge on my computer and not too bad on my shop site - Hopperpaintings.com.  It is exactly the same file used on all sites.  Guess it's the way each site extrapolates the digital information - Yeesh....   Anyway - the original is much softer - far less contrast in the background - a far more cohesive image.  Just don't have time to color adjust for each site.

Day 1 -

My Theme for Leslie Saeta's September 2014 30 paintings in 30 days challenge is small monochromatic paintings - the purpose of which for me is:

Focus on Value Structure

Refresh Drawing Skills

Improve Composition Structure

Reestablish a sensitivity dulled by 15 years of scenic work

Cement working routine after hiatus 

Generate New Ideas

You can find this painting on my Website or my Shop.  As Always - Thank You very much for taking the time too look -

Paint Pretty...

Theme Decided for 30 Paintings in 30 Days -

Joining Leslie Saeta's  group of 600+ other painters signed up for creating 30 paintings in 30 days beginning September 1st.

My Theme?... Small black and white and monochrome painted studies to reinforce my ability to see values, improve compositions and cheer up my drawing skills which have been sorely neglected and suffering these last 3 or 4 months.

All paintings will be posted on Leslie's blog - of course will put mine up here too...

Stay tuned and paint pretty -

JoanneHopper.com

Back to it....and so much going on!

Family matters have kept me from posting for a while - nothing too serious.  Everyone is healthy and happy. Sometimes kids (aka our pineapples as we affectionately call them), just need extra time.

We also just got back from a wonderful trip to Chicago. We met with family and friends and got to see some phenomenal art - both at the Art Institute of Chicago and in some classy galleries in Scottsdale AR on our way back through to Maui. What an inspirational thrill!

So - my time waiting and traveling has not been wasted!  I've actually been painting quite a bit and have about a dozen new paintings that will be forthcoming in the next few months.

Reading has been hugely important these last few months as well.  Everything from Henri to Hensche to Hawthorn, Mary White (love her and her work), Ruskin and a wonderful book by Ryan Holiday called "The Obstacle is the Way".  Been reacquainted too with Hans Hoffmann's amazing vibrant paintings and Hockney's work - and many others...

Procreate - a fantastic iPad app - has also been a surprising inspiration.  I'm not crazy about computer art and have tried several other drawing/painting programs and hated them.  Procreate is entirely different. Easy to use and customize. It's been a lot of fun to learn and experiment with.  ...more to come on Procreate. 

Leslie Saeta's "Artists Helping Artists" podcast has also been a great companion on long drives and times of waiting.  I've signed up for her 30 in 30 event for September and will post more about that soon. I have a theme and a goal and will be posting those pictures every day. 

Metal point drawings and tool production are still, and always, in the works.

The pic above? - Bill had an easel sent from a Dick Blick art store in Chicago for me - what a wonderful man!!!  Amazingly it arrived home before we did.  So I've rearranged my studio space a bit and can now work on much bigger pieces - Yay!

Great to be back to work!

Paint Pretty -

JoanneHopper.com

Heading to Chicago...

We are headed to the Chicago area to visit family and friends etc.   All point orders will be filled when I return, beginning again on August 20th.  Sorry for any inconvenience - please do contact me if you have questions.  Will be online and checking my mail as usual - 

Hope you're all drawing and painting lots!  And to all who have ordered points from me - again - a most Heart Felt Mahalo! (Thank You!)

Platinum Drawing Point

16 Gauge Platinum

I'm now producing 16 gauge, dead soft platinum drawing points.  The point styles are the same, conical, slanted or chisel.  The above photo gives you an idea of the size difference between my chunky 4 gauge points and the size 16 wire.

These points are 2 inches long.  My own experience with the line quality is that it is approximately equivalent to a 2H pencil.  The line will also stay a soft gray as platinum does not tarnish.  I really like it for beginning a drawing as it is so light and soft that I can search out forms without committing to a heavier dark line with silver or copper.  I'm also loving it for luminous lighter shadow areas.

Please don't hesitate to email me if you are interested.  Unless you are a die-hard metal point artist, the price is prohibitive for such a soft light line.  Turn-around time will be between one and two weeks on these points; as always I'll keep you posted on the details of your order as it progresses.

Happy drawing -

Painting at Hui Again

Another great Wednesday with the Maui Plein Air Painters.  A budding group of thespians from Seabury Hall were practicing Shakespeare nearby  - soo much fun!  They were really good too.  Will be heading back to the Hui to finish this one asap.

My Own Metal Points...

These are the points I use on a regular basis.  The DS stands for dead soft.  Pretty Platinum is a new addition to the family.  Loving the soft gray it makes  - that one will stay gray as the rest oxidize.

Layering the different metals, adding another layer of ground and then layering the metals again produces wonderful subtle color differences - pretty amazing really.

There's another post coming on platinum...  will be adding it to my inventory soon.

Several paintings in studio waiting to be finished - as soon as we're over the flu - which feels like the plague about now.  Ugh... on the mend!

Catching Up...

It's been a while - so here's what I've been up to...

This post is coming from my studio.  We've had literally weeks of rain - all over Maui.  Usually we can drive to the west side and get out of the weather, but not lately.  

The painting on my easel above was painted in the Iao valley in the Pouring rain!  It was absolutely glorious!  There was an overhang on an old building that afforded plenty of space to stay dry.  Lots of visitors stopped in for a brief respite from the constant deluge.  As usual - I met so many wonderful people from all over the world.  Will be heading back up to the valley to finish this pic soon.

Also in the studio - a 20 x 28 Jacaranda blossom watercolor in the works. The drawing took two days.  Can't wait to get to the painting...

When I have a few minutes between things at home I continue my metal point series of drawings. I recently added a beautiful piece of platinum to my metal point tool set.  It's a bit cooler color than the gold point and adds a gorgeous soft grey that will stay that way as the other metals oxidize.

With the end of the school year imminent here as well, much time has also been spent recently with our pineapples (aka kids) - school events, projects, summer plans, class parties, swimming and hiking.....

Next Wednesday the Maui plein air painters will be painting at the Hui No'eau on Baldwin in Makawao. Come paint with us!

Paint pretty- 

Diamond Island, Lake George, NY Remake -

This is a remake of sorts from a very unsuccessful plein air piece from many years ago.  It's Diamond Island, Lake George, NY,  a site the kids and I Love - lots of great memories!  The painting is a bit quirky, but it does the job for us.

Kahili Golf Course, Maui

We got in a bit of trouble for setting up to paint here - even though we'd asked for permission first.  They were concerned about the liability of one of us getting hit by a ball.  However they were kind enough to let us stay and finish what we'd started.  This is 9 x 12.

Iao Bridge

I painted this primarily on location in the Iao Valley, Maui, Hawaii, but finished it in the studio as we had a couple of weeks of heavy rain and my sweet pineapples (kids) also had spring break.  So when a significant portion is painted in studio, I consider it a studio piece.  For a piece to be plein air - for me - less than 5% can be studio work.  This one was - maybe - 15 - 20 % studio work.

Mary

This is a 20 min oil sketch of a new plein air friend, Mary.  We had a Wonderful 6 weeks of painting every Wednesday - but alas - she has to go back to the mainland on Thursday.  We'll miss you very very much miss Mary!!!  ...until next year when you come back!

btw -Very disappointed in the scan of this sketch.  May try a photo instead??     Ok - photo is better

Thanks for visiting -