RACA BENEFIT SALE

As many know, our current economy has seriously impacted support for the arts. Many community Arts organizations are being eliminated from Community funding processes and have to now rely on extra-ordinary efforts of arts minded community citizens. So is the fate of our local Community Arts organization, the Rome Area Council for the Arts (RACA). To that end several local artists have donated works for a "Clothesline Art Sale" to begin November 27, 2009 at RACA on Broad Street in Rome, GA. ALL PROCEEDS will go to help defray costs at RACA. I am donating several signed lithographs of the Berry College Waterwheel (see earlier posts) and the above two works (Japanese Pagoda, San Francisco and Purple Robe). ALL WORKS WILL BE SOLD for FIFTY DOLLARS or Less. These two pieces are oil on acrylic/canvas and have 24" as the minimum measurement for each piece. (c) C. Gregory Price 2007. If you are in the Rome area, or you are interested in either work, please email Rebecca Koontz at rkoontz@romearts.org If you want the work shipped, I am sure the staff at RACA can do so at a reasonable cost and probably get it to you in time for Christmas!! THANKS for your support of the arts. GREG PRICE.

Knock-Out Roses

This little 8x10 oil on canvas board is a quick plein air study of the Knock-Out rose bush outside my Law Office. (c) 2009 C. Gregory Price

CLASS ASSIGNMENT

The Rome Art Coterie organized a lecture and critique by Professor Brian Barr of Georgia Highlands College. He lectured the group on the history, and techniques of the Impressionists and how Impressionism merged into Cubism. We were asked to prepare a piece using what we thought were impressionists techniques. This Gondolier (OIL on canvas 11x14) is my effort.
(c) 2009 C. Gregory Price.

WORKSHOP PAINTING

"LYNN--NOT LEAH" (c) C. Gregory Price 2009

As many of you know from my previous posts, Leah Hopkins Henry a very well known and well respected Portrait Artist from Atlanta did a workshop for the Rome Art Coterie Members here in Rome, GA. I attended the first session on still life and looked forward to the second session in October of portrait work. We had a great crowd with many in attendance. Leah brought her TWIN sister Lynn to model for us. She did a quick sketch of Lynn in oil for about an hour and one half and lectured and answered our questions. Afterward for the last hour she let us either paint from a picture we brought or to paint from life using Lynn as the model. I chose to try from life. This is the cell phone picture I took of Lynn from my station.



Honestly, my first color sketch was a little off on proportion, specifically in the forehead and jaw line,... plus I was not very pleased with the choices of skin tones I made using my pastels. So, I took my pastel quick sketch home and set out to redo the portrait. I also decided to change over and try an oil painting of this attractive lady, probably because I had become totally fascinated with Ms. Henry's method of oil work and enjoyed her methodology of paint application. I generally don't do oils, but I wanted to try and apply some of the lessons that Leah had given us. Anyway,....this is the result.

The portrait above of LYNN is just to a point where I may or may not be finished. It is certainly not as good as Ms. Henry's portrait of her sister. Leah's awesome finished work of her sister Lynn can be see at her informative blog ...here: (leahhopkinshenry.blogspot.com).

My attempt at LYNN's portrait is still wet and I am very, very interested in getting critiques and honest criticism/suggestions. Please post or email me at gregpriceart@yahoo.com

The Japanese Bridge

When my wife and I went on an Anniversary trip to San Francisco many years ago, we became enchanted by the Oriental Garden there. This is an acrylic piece I did from a photo. I really enjoyed how the light dappled the bridge and the walkway. I really like the half-moon design of this oriental fixture!!

RETURN TO STILL LIFE

After Leah Hopkins Henry's still life class, I remembered that I had in fact tried some still life's earlier. Above is one of the bay window in my kitchen at my former house with several of my orchid plants. This is acrylic. I still have issues with tonal transitions and modeling form in acrylic. I just don't like the mess and clean up of oils. Maybe I'll try some water soluble oils. Anyone have any experience or suggestions as to water soluble oils?(copyright C. Gregory Price)

IMAGES FROM LEAH HOPKINS HENRY SEMINAR

I took a few shots of the group participating in the Leah Hopkins Henry seminar including the still life set-up that we used for the class. Thought you might like to see them!!!!

LEAH HOPKINS HENRY SEMINAR

I just attended an evening seminar with Leah Hopkins Henry a noted Atlanta and Southeastern portraitist/painter. It was a brief seminar on staging, blocking in and formating still life's. She is a very skillful and interesting artist, originally from Rome, GA who gave very specific but usable tutelage. The pastel here is my first ever attempt at a quick sketch-in still life in pastels. For a one hour effort, it is interesting for several reasons, if not for the most important one, i.e. it has shown me that there is fun to be had in setting up and sketching a still life! Not marketable, but a good way to train the eye. (image copyright 2009 C. Gregory Price)

Hand Study

I needed to have something to show for the upcoming Rome Art Coterie Art Exhibit at the RACA Gallery in Rome, GA, so this weekend I finished a hand study in pastel. Didn't realize how hard it was to draw a hand, since I had been focusing recently on mug shots. Anyway, what do you think? Note: Copyright 2009 C. Gregory Price --all images this blog copyright C. Gregory Price

RECENT WORK

A friend of mine, Ann has these two adorable grandkids. Here is my effort to do graphite portrait sketches of them. I did these on gessoed canvas panels. When I finish they are somewhat light in contrast, stark in sharpness and fragile, i.e. graphite smears. However, when sprayed with Prismacolor Final Fixative the sharpness develops a softer and darker more pleasing tone and the work is thus also somewhat protected from the elements.

Back in the Saddle Again

Well, I hate to admit but with the complications of running my law office and expanding my duties on the Juvenile Court Bench, I have not endeavored to create any works until just recently. But, I am now back in the saddle, although with not quite acceptable results. I have discovered that working in pastels in low light is like trying to paint blind. I need a daylight(tm) lamp!!! Anyway, here is the effort. It is my brother-in-law, Gary who is the Chief Deputy Clerk for the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Pastel, copyright C.Gregory Price 2009.

Miscellaneous

MISCELLANEOUS

In preparation for some new work to submit to the Rome Art Coterie Gallery Show at the Rome Area Council for the Arts (to begin in September), I was going through some archived items and found several works that might be of interest: (note--if you are interested in purchasing any of these items, please send me a post. GREG (all work copyright C. Gregory Price 2008/2009-all rights reserved).