Mikaila

Mikaila, 9"x12", Oil

This is the third painting I have done of my oldest grand daughter, Mikaila. They say painting people you know is the hardest thing of all and I admit to really struggling with this one. Actually, every painting I have done of her has been a struggle so, it must be true. When you don't know your model, all you can paint is what you see. When you know your model very well, you can't help but try to paint not only what you see but, who they are. It may be even harder when the artist is the grandmother who still thinks of her as a little girl, but whose eyes now are seeing a beautiful young woman. Bittersweet. Bittersweet indeed.

Country Road

Country Road, 8"x10", oil
Sometimes giving a painting a title is the hardest part. Nothing I thought about seemed to fit so,  I showed it to my husband and asked what first came to mind. He answered, "a country road" so,  Country Road it is. For now, anyway.
(Available for purchase at Cactus Jack's )

Sunlit Canyon

Sunlit Canyon, 8"x10", oil
(Available for purchase at Cactus Jack's)

Freudenburg Farm

Freudenburg Farm, 8"x10", oil, SOLD
This is a scene very near where I live. It never fails to capture my eye, no matter the time of day. This was an early morning scene so, the lighting was still a little blue.  I have more paintings planned that will reflect how it looks at different times of day.

Early Texas Spring

Early Texas Spring, 8"x10", oil
Fellow artist Bonny White and her husband, Roy, recently hosted a paint out for the Texas Paint Slingers.  The fields were full of very bright and wonderfully fragrant wildflowers, which just glowed when the sun came out.  Not only did the Whites kindly offer us the run of their ranch, they fed us some pretty darn good eats.  Thank you Bonny and Roy for a great day!
(Available for purchase at Cactus Jack's)

Upcoming Class Announcment

 

Join Gaye Sekula for this intense and fun 6-week oil painting course for beginners. Her first session was so popular, we had to set up another! (Note that the classes meet in the morning.)
ONLY 5 SEATS OPEN!

Meets: Mondays, 9:30-Noon starting March 12
List Price: $135, plus supplies from a list (supply list given at registration)
If you are interested in signing up or have questions about any of these classes, send an email to Linda Jacobson at linda@casadelinda.com or call  Linda at 830-624-5302.

Tradition

This painting has a very special and personal meaning for me. It is of a priest in Eastern Europe and is entitled Tradition.
 6"x8", original, oil on board

Figure Sketch #12

The twelfth and final one of this series. It is also my very favorite. 6"x8"

Figure Sketch #11

The eleventh in the series. 6"x8"

Figure Sketch #10

The tenth in the series. 6"x 8"

Figure Study #9

The ninth in the series. This was a lot of fun to paint. It almost painted itself, which is always nice! 6"x8"

Figure Sketch #8

The eighth in the series. I like this one a lot. I am very happy with it over all. 6"x8"

Figure Sketch #7

The seventh in the series. I really wanted to go back into this one and work on it more but felt it would be cheating. The idea is to keep these to 20 to 30 minutes. 6"x8"

Figure Sketch #6

The sixth in the series and one of my favorites. 6"x8"

Figure Sketch #5

The fifth in the series. The little studies are challenging but also a lot of fun. 6"x8"

Figure Sketch #4

The fourth in the series and a slightly different palette. 6"x8"

Figure Sketch #3

The third in the series and a much warmer palette. 6"x8"

Figure Sketch #2

This is the second in the series and was done in far less time than the first.  I wanted to try a higher key.  6"x8"

Gallery Guide West

I am very honored to have had my painting featured in this month's issue of Gallery Guide West. The ad is for the New Braunfels Art League, an art organization that has been very close to  my heart for many years. It is not only a wonderful gallery but a teaching center, which is abuzz just about any day of the year.

Workshops for 2012 include award winning artists such as Deborah Paris, Myra Knapp, Kim Casebeer and Qiang Huang to name but a few. Please check the NBAL website to see who else is on the schedule. And be sure to check back often as workshops are being added on a regular basis.

Goals; it's that time again!

It is that time of year again; the time for setting goals for the year ahead. It is also time for evaluating the progress of the goals that were set for this year. I am very pleased to report that all but one have been achieved and the final one is on schedule for completion before the year is out. I am equally pleased to have found that, as a result of the goals that have been met, more opportunities have presented themselves.

Below is an excerpt of a post I made around this time last year. I encourage you to give it a try. Be sure to write down your goals and keep them where you can refer to them throughout the year. Doing so will greatly help keep you on track. It’s the first step in that thousand mile journey that makes and keeps you accountable to yourself.

Some suggest sharing your goals with someone who will keep you accountable. Others believe it is better to keep them to yourself to avoid the naysayers. You are the only one who knows which approach is best for you but, whichever you choose, write your goals down. Even if you have a support group, you are ultimately accountable only to yourself and your list will help you do just that. There is something almost magical about it, too! Don’t believe me? I challenge you to try it and report back to me a year from now. I’m telling you, it’s magic!

Here is the excerpt from one year ago:

S.M.A.R.T.

Make sure that your goals are:

S-specific
M-measurable
A-attainable
R-realistic
T-timely

It is a wonderful and wise way to set and accomplish your goals. Write them out and review them periodically throughout the year to keep yourself on track. Being able to check them off your list will create even more momentum.

Now, go forth and set your goals!

Gaye

"Jakob"

I just happened to be at the gallery the day "Jakob" found a new home and had the honor of meeting the person who purchased it. It was nice to be able to tell her the story behind the painting.

ARToberfest Award

Please accept my apology for taking so long to let you know which painting won an award in the ARToberfest Regional Juried Exhibit. It was, as I had hoped, the portrait of my husband. It is entitled "Jakob" in the exhibit, which is his middle name in Polish.
Although a third generation Texan, he is 100% Polish. Our ancestors came to Texas in the mid 1850's. About 15 years ago, we discovered that our ancestors lived within miles of each other and even attended the same church. We felt it was a sign that we had been destined to be together!
The cap he is wearing in this portrait is one we bought while in Poland. I think he looks so dapper! To me, this portrait embodies all that I feel about him and our common Polish heritage. I love them both beyond words! Thanks for allowing me to share a little of our history.
Oops, I almost forgot to mention that it took Honorable Mention in the Oil/Acrylic category.

ARToberfest

You are invited!

Artoberfest is now open and on exhibit at the Art League in New Braunfels, Texas. This is an annual, juried show held each October. The reception is Friday, October 7 from 5pm to 8pm and is open to the public. Awards will be announced at 6:30pm.

I am so excited to share that I have won an award! Unfortunately, I will have to wait until the awards ceremony to find out which painting and which award. It is either for painting from the Medina paint out and the portrait of my husband, which is entitled Jakob. Needless to say, I am on pins and needles! I hope you can attend.

Meanwhile, the show is open and can be viewed during regular business hours which are Monday - Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from Noon until 5pm. If you can't make the reception, please do try to see the exhibit.

Paint Out in Medina

This is from a paint out with the Texas Paint Slingers last fall. It was on a ranch near Medina, Texas. Much thanks to Susan Tracy for allowing us to come out and paint her corner of heaven. 6"x8", original, oil on panel

Big Stuff

This painting will also be in the upcoming ASBA show being held at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas. If there is a more elegant breed of cattle than the Brahman, I don't know what it is! I love these gorgeous animals!


6"x"6, original, oil on linen

Firstborn

This is "Firstborn" and will be in the upcoming ASBA show, which will be held at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas. The exhibit will held October 22 and will run through December 31. Come visit historic Gruene and Cactus Jack's!

6"x8", original, oil on linen

Plein Air at Warbler Woods

This was painted at Warbler Woods, just outside of San Antonio. What a peaceful and beautiful wild bird sanctuary! I must confess that I have now been bitten by the bird watching bug. So many interests, so little time!!!
6"x8", original, oil on linen

Plein Air at Live Oak City Park Lake

Several of the Texas Paint Slingers went to Live Oak City Park last week. There was a threat of rain but it did not keep us away. We've been needing rain so badly I think we would have happily painted while dancing in it!
It was overcast, making the light flat but, the air was cool. It was so nice getting back outside after our long, hot summer!
8"x6", original, oil on linen

Oil Portrait

I painted this portrait of my husband in pastels in April. Here it is again in oils. This painting looks much more like him. He is very pleased so that makes me even happier. He was so patient when I asked him to pose for a photo shoot. This was my favorite of the day.
5"x7", original, oil on linen SOLD

Demo and Update on Classes

There is one slot remaining for Beginner Oils and a couple for Intermediate Oils at Oasis in San Antonio, Texas. Registration opened just one week ago so I am very excited at the response!

I am also offering afternoon or evening classes in both oil and watercolor at Casa de Linda in New Braunfels. Please contact Linda Jacobson for available slots.

Also, Casa de Linda is celebrating their one year anniversary this Saturday, September 10, from 10am to 3pm. You are invited to come and share in the celebration. There will be refreshments, art, live demos and coupons off of select art supplies and class registration! I will be giving a demo in oils from 11am to 1pm. Please come by and say hello.

See you soon!
Gaye

Fundraiser for Carol Marine

As you all probably know by now, Texas is in the worst drought since the 50's and is experiencing the worst fires ever on record. I wanted to wait until Carol Marine posted an update herself, as rumors have a way if running rampant. Sadly, her post today verified that she and David lost their home in the Bastrop fire, which is still zero percent contained. I am posting a link that further explains what all has happened, a video is included.
Please click here, Fundraiser for Carol and David Marine, if you would like to help them get back on their feet.

Announcing New Classes!

Hello Friends!

I am very happy to announce that I will be offering several classes this fall.

Beginning in October, I will be teaching an introductory class for both oil and watercolor at Casa de Linda in New Braunfels, Texas. Both classes will be four weeks long and have been designed to offer information that will shave years off of the learning curve. Each class is being offered as an afternoon or an evening class for your convenience. Click here for the class schedule, as well as information on how to register. Please tell your friends!

For my San Antonio friends, I will be teaching Beginner and Intermediate Oil Painting classes at Oasis in San Antonio, beginning October 14. If you haven't painted in a while or feel that you have missed some key information, this class is for you. Those wishing to repeat the beginner class are welcome to do so and, if you haven't taken a class from me before, I strongly recommend starting with the beginner class. Registration begins August 31. Please register right away as the last classes filled quickly. To register, click here.

Lastly, I would like to remind you to visit my website: gayesekula.com and invite you to sign up for my newsletter while there. I promise you will not be bombarded with emails.

Thank you for following my blog. Please feel free to post any comments you may have. I love hearing from you.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the fall!

Artfully yours,
Gaye Sekula

Cutie Pie

A couple of weekends ago we went to a birthday party for my niece's son, Josiah. It was held at the playground at Zilker Park in Austin. There were kids on swings, slides, kids in wagons....kids, kids everywhere! I took almost 200 photos that day.

'Cutie Pie' is the result of the inspiration of that day. There WILL be more!!!

6"x6", original, oil on linen SOLD

Rose

I am having so much fun doing these small portraits. I've been interested in portraits and figures for a while but using such vibrant colors is a new thing for me. I will probably eventually tone things back down a bit and start painting in more realistic colors but, for now, I am having a blast!

6"x6", oil on linen

Day Dreaming

I am quite fond of this one and learned a lot painting her. Instead of intense shadows, planes were depicted more by temperature changes and varying colors. I love the soft dreaminess and romantic feel. It summarizes what impressionism is to me.

6"x6", oil on linen, private collection

Pensive

More and more I am finding myself drawn, no pun intended, to painting portraits and figures. Capturing a person's emotions on canvas, or at least trying to, is such a rewarding challenge.

I have been following Karin Jurick's blog for quite some time now and have loved her series called "Mug Shots". Another artist I have been watching for several years is Kim Roberti. Both paint quite small and yet their paintings are very dynamic. So, inspired by both, I have decided to try my hand at some of my own. Learning is the objective.

I haven't settled on which title best fits this painting. She is obviously feeling some emotion quite intensely. Naming a painting is a very important consideration. In a word or two, it tells a short story that can either create a positive or negative reaction in the viewer.

I am curious, what emotion do you think she is feeling?

6"x6", oil on linen

The Valentine Rose Revisited

Several months ago I painted a rose in response to the Daily Paintworks Challenge presented by Qiang Huang. Soon after posting it on my blog, I received an email from Mike Hasler of Wooden Knot Art. To make a long story short, he bought the painting. Yesterday he sent this photo of the painting in the frame he custom made just for it. Please take a close look at the craftsmanship. Notice how he carved a stem that transitions perfectly into the stem of the rose. And the buds, the thorns, the leaves...I just love it! He says he found out that he wasn't a frame maker but, I think it is absolutely beautiful!

"Patience"

I am still walking on clouds since the workshop with master, Zhaoming Wu. I wish I were more articulate so that I could better share how profound and life changing that workshop was for me. If I ever find the words to express it, I promise to share them with you.

This is the first painting I have done since the workshop. Although I am pleased with the result, I sure do miss painting from life. It is entitled "Patience".

9"x12", oil on linen

Workshop Painting #4

This was the last pose of Zhaoming Wu's workshop. As usual, numbers were drawn and we all took our places. As luck would have it, I chose the worst possible spot. No, really. It was the worst spot! I determined that it was a learning experience and that I just had to make do. Zhaoming asked if I wanted to move since several of our group left earlier in the day. So, move I did but, it took forever to get started because I knew we had precious little time remaining. I wiped the drawing off four times. I just couldn't let my last painting be the worst and decided better no painting than a bad one. Once we returned from break we had a little over 2 hours to paint. So, as you can see, it needed more refining but, I will leave it as is. A workshop is a place to learn and, over all, I am very pleased with the result.

This sweet model is Amy, the daughter of one of the other artists in the workshop. She did a great job!

11"x14", oil, not for sale

Workshop Painting #3

We had two models each day of the workshop. To keep things orderly, we were divided into groups A and B and then were assigned individual numbers. Whichever letter we were initially assigned stayed the same throughout the workshop but, the numbers were drawn daily to decide where we would be positioned around each model. Sometimes the draw was lucky and sometimes not so lucky but, it was a very fair system.

For this model, I could not have been more pleased. I was so happy that she was going to be our group's model for the day and, when I drew this particular spot, I was over the moon! This was one of those days when everything falls into place and the painting almost paints itself. This beautiful model is Michele.

11"x 14", oil, private collection

Workshop Painting #2

This is the second painting I did in Zhaoming Wu's workshop. No, you didn't miss the first one. It is not fit to see the light of day.

We were told to bring five canvases, one for each day of the workshop, and, depending on the lecture, we had 1/2 a day to a full day to work on a pose. Most important was to get the gesture correct. If not, the painting had no chance of success. I feel I captured the model's gesture, thanks to many weeks of gestural life drawing classes. Which, I must add, was time and money well spent.

You can see much of the underpainting still showing through. The combination of too much medium and a slippery oil primed canvas made painting quite a challenge. Because time was of the essence, the medium did not dry enough to keep the painting from getting a bit muddy. One lesson learned, use less medium on an oil primed canvas!

Over all, I was very pleased with how the painting came out and determined to do better on the next one. Stay tuned. I think you will agree that much progress was made on the ones that follow.

11"x14", oil, not for sale

Workshop with Zhaoming Wu

There are no words to describe how honored I feel to have been able to study with modern master, Zhaoming Wu. Many thanks to Qiang Huang for coordinating this workshop and to his wife, Song, for helping everything run so smoothly. There are so many things I would like to share but simply cannot find the words. It was a week in artist Heaven, to say the least.

In the next few days I will share some of my paintings from the workshop. Meanwhile, please enjoy this one by the Master, Zhaoming Wu!

Pastel Portrait

Pastels have long been luring me. I have had all the supplies needed to delve into them for years and, for as many years, they have seemingly been mocking me from their boxes. Well, I feel I have silenced their mocking once and for all. Not that I don't have much more to learn about this medium but, I am no longer intimidated by them! (A personal triumph-woo hoo!)

This is a portrait of my husband, wearing the cap he wore when we lived in Poland. I love the way he looks in it and the memories it evokes-the memories of being "home". But that's a tale for another time and place.

6"x 8", pastel

Two from Life Drawing Class

I feel I am finally starting to get it and it's only taken 42 class hours! Not that I am really a slow learner. It's just that I can try so hard that it creates a mental block sometimes. The good thing is, once I break through, I usually start making great strides so, I am encouraged.

Here are two, the last two , from last week's class.