Model in the Studio

Model in the Studio, Orange Burst. 2018. Pastel & Vine Charcoal. 8.25" x 9.25". Casey Klahn.

Mallory is posing in front of her own framed likeness, titled Orange Burst. 

Studio Tour

This video was made for Instagram, so I'm running to get it all in! I like Blogger much better, but when in Rome...

Studio News, Ruth Andre, Videos, and Merry Christmas!

This Christmas card to you was waiting for the right day to post, and today is it.  Merry Christmas and happy holidays to my readers!   

A holiday greeting: Christmas colors of my barn's interior.  Appropriate for the birth of the Savior, who was placed in the crib, or the trough where the animals fed.

I've been meaning to make another painting of the barn interior, but artist Ruth Andre, of Sutter Creek, California, beat me to it.  It will influence me next time, no doubt, as I am amazed at the accuracy of feeling, texture and effect she achieves. Thanks for doing this strong abstract, Ruth!

Casey's Barn 

6" x 6"

oil on canvas 

Ruth Andre

Many new artworks have been posted here over the past month, and since we took those photos, I have been in the studio daily creating more works of all sizes.  In other studio news, I have been fielding lots of workshop requests, and will be forced to do some administrative work to sort all of the paperwork out, and will be planning for these.  

The subject of Elements of Art has been the hot topic at my other blog, Pastel Workshop.  I haven't finished all of the posts, yet, but did post When Artists Unify this past week.  Thanks to my readers for the nice reception of this article, and since the series has been so well received  I am thinking about making it into a book.  It will be available in ebook form (if I can crack the code on that task) and I am looking around for the right publishing choice for the proposed hard copy.  What do you suggest?

The following video is my list of the elements of art and the dynamics of design.  In more studio news, there is an interview or studio session video in the plans for me at a professional film studio.  More on that as events progress.

I also found this following longer version of Matisse in his studio, filmed in 1946.  He lived near Nice, and it was the Hollywood of France.  His models were typically actresses and extras from that industry, and so the production of this film short was inevitable.  I wish it were longer.

A Painting Day, Ruth Andre.
Matisse film from Christie's.

Vlog Post - Studio Session Video

See this video at You Tube and select the HD feature.

Progressive Post - An Exciting Online Event Today!

Shadow River Framed

This is a photo of the large (11" x 19") pastel I posted yesterday, in the frame.  It is available (inquire here) for $1,400. Shipping and tax extra.

Today, I will be posting all of the medium and large-sized framed pieces that are available through my studio.  Sort of a progressive post, so stay tuned.  I will update this very post, and as that gets longer, I will add posts. This may produce new listings for the same post on your feeds, and for that, I apologize.  But, it sounds like too much fun to avoid.

Tomorrow and thereafter, I will post more small works that are available.  The previously available works, starting at $75, are posted as follows:

Neutral Corner.

Spokane Valley.

Violet & Green Dusk and Folded Pine.

Inventory is a Never-Ending Task

Inventory is a Never-Ending Task

Don't get me wrong.  I am blessed to have a big studio, with several rooms and lots of organizational space.  But it isn't perfect, yet.  I very much need one of those framed artwork organizers, so I can access what I have when needed.

There is an upcoming exhibit in Spokane (more on that later) and I am having a grand time framing small works to fill out the display of pastels that will be shown.  If I can get organized really well, I may open up the sale to include my readers here at The Colorist.  No promises, but it would be nice to sell a few before they even get to the framing stage, as I probably have more than I need for this show.  

One recurring problem for me is to discover framed works that never got photographed.  It is possible to get a picture through the glass, and I may have to resort to that for two of my works that I found today.  The photo shown is of a pastel titled, "Public Works Road."  It is of an actual place, rather than the imagination.  But, no record of it exists!  

In all of my spare time ;) I may get these formally recorded and posted here soon.  I am certainly feeling the holidays coming on, with fresh snow on the ground.  Look for snow pics soon, too.

Cheers!

Studio Panorama Images

###

360 of the studio kitchen, May 8th., 2011.

360 of the studio - May 8th., 2011.

A clear day, looking north.  This is news.

Yesterday I had visitors to the studio, and so this morning was a perfect opportunity to get some panoramic images with a handy app. I downloaded.  These aren't perfect, but they are way faster and easier than using Photoshop!

One thing I got out of a fun studio visit was that I should begin that lesson plan I've been procrastinating on:  How to Art Blog.  I have a classroom in the Seattle area to present it, but it is hard to nail myself to the desk when the easel beckons.  If I start now, I can make the How To into a series for the blog, and then I'll have my lesson plan.  Two birds; one stone.

My studio is at our farmstead in eastern Washington, near Davenport.  Simple, big and humble would be a good description of my space.  Easy to work in and well organized for the task of making pastel landscapes.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone.

Studio Pictures in May

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The studio has had my close attention for the past several weeks.  Time to remove a few layers of dust, and go back at it.  This year, my pastels are a little bigger, and my output is up.  One thing that has helped my "go big" has been to not be too enamored with an image being a "full sheet."  Full sheet means a standard size sheet of artist's paper, and many people relate that to sheets of watercolor paper.  About 19" x 25" or sometimes a bit bigger.


Subjects for me this year are the Hoquiam River, fields and prairies in my region of eastern Washington, and I am returning to the deep forest images that I used to do a number of years ago, only with an updated vision.


Please enjoy these studio snapshots taken with my new iPhone (more on how that effects the studio life later).  

Studio Dreams

My studio, pictured in the third frame from the right.

Studio Interior - easel and walls.

 Snow and my studio back door.  Gotta get those skirts on.

Studio Interior - north light and palette, easels.

When I googled artist's studio photos, it instantly struck me what were authentic and well-worked in studios.  Some were beautiful, and others cozy.  I dream of a studio that is big and busy.


Willem de Kooning and his studio in the Springs, Long Island.


The Parrish Art Museum.
Getty Images.
flikr.









Russel Chatham in his Livingston, Montana studio.  I follow his work.
h/t Loriann Signori.




The following link offers my sage advice on how to run your studio.  Spoiler:  don't be like Eric Satie.
Ten Life or Death Studio Tips, The Colorist.


I want to do a post on ten more tips.  Stay tuned.


I found this review of artist's studios at a blog named minutia: Artist's Studios.  My fave was Sigmar Polke's studio in Cologne, Germany.  I noticed he goes months without visitors - shades of Satie!


My studio dream is to build a big box connecting the north end of my current structure with high ceilings, north light and a deck.  I want limited or no windows to the south and west.  The trailer part will be office, framing and storage, which are tasks that are now done there in addition to being my studio.


I'm not complaining, though.  Many artists would be happy to have the space, and locale, of my wonderful studio.

The Wall

A New Section of Drywall

The Wall.

Here is a short update on my studio activities.  Last week was spent less on making art, and more on remodeling the west wall of my main studio space.  When I first occupied my studio, I replaced the floor boards and added vinyl linoleum.  Out went the green shag carpet.  But, I decided that the 1970's era wood paneling was okay for the time being, since it had a neutral color, at least. 

Adding one wall of drywall has been on my to-do list since then.  Since people are threatening to visit my studio in the near future, I made the effort to "git er done."  Of course, I choose the week I caught the flu, with body aches, to hang and paint drywall.  Live and learn.

At the same time as this minor remodel, I took an inventory of my work to be framed.  Right now I have about 41 pastels that I may frame.  But, if I know me, there will be some brutal culling before they make it to the framing stage.  On the other hand, I also rescued a couple of almost thrown out pieces. 

Wildlife Run By.

One of these days, I am going to post about the wildlife that roam past my studio in the country.  Last week I saw a wolf.  I have twice before thought that I'd seen wolves, but this time I had the binoculars and there was no mistaking it.  


See a wildlife painting that I did at my blog Pastel.

Update - Update

You are owed another update of my studio activities. First, pour yourself a cup of coffee.



The studio is a buzz with framing for my upcoming show in California, the Sausalito Art Festival. I'm a little unsure of the number, but I may have around 35 - 40 originals for my upcoming exhibitions.



Have another cup? Dark roast, I hope. For some unknown reason my statistics at The Colorist have gone ballistic. Almost quadrupled on the best days. Much of this uptick is hits to this page. I cannot figure it out.

Other recent posts include 100 Things I Love About Art, and When Bloggers Meet.



Daily posting of miniature pastels, as well as an occasional medium sized work, is now going on at The Colorist Daily. This is the time to buy a small work under $100.



My search for gallery space and exhibitions may be yielding some fruit soon. I'll keep you posted when dates are firmed up. The Hoquiam River exhibition is penciled in for September 2011.



On the easels, I am developing my voice as a figure artist by studying the masters. Da Vinci and Degas are my current muses. I often post those at Pastel, but you may see some here, soon.

Two books I am reading are: Master Class in Figure Drawing and Degas, By Himself. Hale's classic instruction in Master Class has me drawing various parts of anatomy an area at a time. I am learning more stuff about the rib cage than I ever thought existed. My Nurse Practitioner wife brought home a medical anatomy book as reference material, too.




I continue to thrill at the works of Edgar Degas. His familiarity with proportion and anatomy are only the beginning. I never realized how much he departs from the real before. All because his gestures, forms and movement are so believable. The book - mine is published by Barnes & Noble Books - is richly illustrated, has a woven binding and nice, heavyweight paper. Lovely.

Edgar Degas
Dancer

Finally, in the subject of figures, our blogger friend Astrid Volquardsen, has posted one of her recent figure paintings: Eva in the Bath. Well worth your look.

Overdoing It

Studio Life

Overdoing It

Artists always want to know when a painting is finished.  A questioner once asked Wolf Kahn when he considers his painting finished.  Kahn said, "When it is no longer a royal pain in the ass to me."  Intuitive art is often a process of painting oneself into trouble, and finding the way out again.

I wrote recently about reclaiming sanded paper.  I have been taking used paper from my "failed paintings" pile and re-working the images.  The great thing I have discovered is that when I start out with a ghost image, I begin the process already in trouble!

Free Blog

I'm still blogging, and while I'm at it the studio has been in full fiddle.  Above is a studio on-the-easel image, and I want to begin posting from my sketchbook, as well.  Here is the first of these.

Paper Work

How do I reload elements on here?

There is nothing like finding all of those paper work projects of yours need to be done all of a sudden! Having PS Elements quit working provides some extra challenges, too. I blame my old PC. Thanks for checking back on me, and I'll be out of the administrative hole I'm in soon enough, with more news and studio stories.

Hint: I'm hanging an exhibit in the Seattle area next weekend! Stay tuned.

I haven't forgotten about my Paint for the Prize series, either. You will see the post on Content here very soon.

Coffee Update

You are owed an update of my studio activities. First, pour yourself a cup of coffee.



The studio sits all a mess after my return from Sausalito, California. Since my two children are, for the first time, full time in grade school, I have time on my hands. What am I doing with that time? Catching up on the home with cleaning, reorganizing and general Daddy duty. The impact of a large art fair is not limited to the 3 days of the event!



Another cup? You drink fast, huh? I promised you a post about how to paint for a first prize, and it is in the hopper. Soon, dear reader. Let's just say the basics are focus, content and heavy doses of self critique.



Meanwhile, I have posted an interview with Stephanie Smith, of the U.K., whose new floral pastel works are very great and worth your look. See this interview at my other blog, Pastel.



New interest in me teaching some pastel classes is causing me to push that forward. I hope to teach one locally, soon. Then, I'll organize for a class that I can take on the road. Do you have an art society or pastel society and want to know my methods for making intuitive pastel landscapes? Contact me and we can talk.

Thanks to my readers for the wonderful comments on this post.

Refreshing the River - Studio News

Pour Yourself a Cup of Joe.

Studio News.

After creating possibly my largest series of works done at one time, The River Series, I am hitting the reset button. One series that is helping me recharge has been some tiny still life works. Apples with strong compositions and color notes.

These still life works are going to be my studies for my next few River works. One big change will be the aspect will run vertically instead of (landscape aspect) horizontally. The strength of composition and color in these apple works is giving me inspiration to revive the river.

Since we aim to provide the best quality photos of my art, Lorie and I wait until dark to do our photo sessions in the studio. Finding the time for that, now that the sun sets later, is especially hard. The children are in their final week at grade school before the break, and family needs are making it hard to get to this task. So, with your kind patience, I will tease you with the promise of about 10-13 new artworks to be posted soon. The actual number depends on the axe man.

The family will be on the coast for a beach vacation next week, and I have high hopes of revisiting my Hoquiam River Series. The series is based more on actual observation than most of my work, and so the long road trip is necessary. Other plein air work will be enjoyed also on the nearby Oregon coast.

Pour It Quick. We Have Work To Do.


Random News.

Washington State is known for its wonderful wine crop. Rumor has it that us older men can now enjoy the newest variety of red without the wakeful downsides.
Pinot More.

What's Next?

Preview.

Sorry - couldn't resist that. Tomorrow I will post my lessons learned regarding this past month of daily posting.

Twitter-Pation. Social Networking and an Online Poll

Pastels in a Box
Photo: Casey Klahn

In a surprise to myself, I have to say that I am really liking Twitter. Social networking sights are low on my radar, but I got talked into following Twitter and the pool of acquaintances one makes there is bigger than at Blogger. It must be because the commitment required for art blogging is significant, but Twit-ting is easy as pie.

Here are some great artists and others whom I have "met" on Twitter.

Diego Sierro at Diego Sierro.
Liz Massey at Write Livelihood.
Alissa Fereday at Fearlessartz.
Jennifer Robin at Robin's Woods.

Not to be left behind, Twitter has a blog.

To follow me on Twitter, go here. CUL8R.

Online Poll. Did you notice that I am trying a stretch template for The Colorist? I am evaluating whether stretch makes text more readable, but don't want to diminish the graphic content of my artist blog. Turns out that the images are the same physical size, but relationships of text, negative space and images are different. Please take the poll at the top right, and choose "New Stretch is Better," "Old Style with Neg. Space Much Better," "Unsure" or "Whatever! Blog On!" A quick look at my peerage shows that most artist bloggers are using the basic layout template, which provides healthy negative space at the left and right margins of the page.

Administrative Artist. My administrative tail is getting too long, and so I will need some time at the desk soon. To complicate matters, two articles will need to be written for purposes other than The Colorist. For you writers out there, look at it this way: go draw two illustrations for your next articles. Now you know how I feel. I should have listened to the Art Business Coach, Alyson Stanfield, and had these ready and on file for when the opportunity arose. Live and learn. Maybe I'd better write four, so I have two to spare! On the bright side, I can write one article as a presentation for a gallery talk - two birds with one stone.

AFN (That is all for now).

Watching the River Flow

River Pilings, Hoquiam
@ 4" x 3"
Graphite
Casey Klahn

The river of my studio life flows on. Thanks for stopping here to watch the progress.

Brian McGurgan has provided us with a review of his visit to the current exhibit at the Ameringer-Yohe Gallery in Manhattan: Wolf Kahn, Toward the Larger View: A Painter’s Process. I found the following quote inspirational: "...color and tone are pushed to their extreme," Wolf Kahn. Note the pdf catalog at the gallery web site. A feast for the heart and the eyes.

Color and tone are
pushed to their extreme,
Wolf Kahn


That WK quote about his recent work is like balm to me. I struggle with the blown-out look of extreme value ranges, but still go there like a moth to the flame. Such is the attraction of pure color in all of it's permutations.

National Day of Prayer. My prayer is to be looser in my art, at the same time as my technique is improving. My God is certainly the God of paradoxes, and so I have faith that He'll answer my prayer!

Incidentally, Twitter Casey Klahn is here.

Watching the River Flow

Colorado Front Range & Studio News

Colorado Front Range
Ink
1" x 10"
Casey Klahn

This mountain image will become the banner over the memorial stone that I am designing for the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. Below the mountains, which will be in raised relief on bronze, will be the header: WORLD WAR II TENTH MOUNTAIN DIVISION, UNITED STATES ARMY.

My previous entries of this project are here and here.

When you hail from a mountain state like Washington, it is important that you don't just throw up mountains that look like your own area! I wanted to be sure to get the look accurate to the Colorado Front Range, which is where the memorial will be placed. Maybe only a climber would notice, but it was one more thing in the process of creating this granite and bronze memorial.

So much for my foray into the world of illustration. I see that commercial art has much more to it than one may think. Research into the actual look of things is troublesome and time consuming. For my WW II climber, I happened to have an original US Army alpine rucksack in my studio, and I made my wife pose wearing it in the same aspect that my climber would be adopting. I also posed a mannequin to back up the image. I had to look up the M1 Garand rifle to be really sure of the authentic look. The helmet is another bugaboo, which can be difficult to get right because of it's cast three dimensional shape (and its iconic status). Luckily, when I served in the infantry, we still wore the old WW II style helmet, and so the look is well impressed on my mind. But, I still got photo references to be sure. Then, let's not forget the actual climbing moves. It helps to have been there and done that, since photos and images of rock climbers can often look so foreign to the eye that sometimes it's hard to tell which way is up.

Now I have new respect for guys like Milton Caniff (one of my favorite cartoonists), whose studio can be seen via Gurney Journey. I grew up reading his Sunday strip about Steve Canyon, who always got around in a jeep or a C-47 airplane. And, they always looked correct.

Back to fine art, which is my actual day job. Since we cannot take pictures until night in the studio, finding the evening time to get photos of all my new work has been challenging. By the time we get the kids to bed, often the mommy and the daddy are too pooped to make the long trek across the yard to the studio!

Here is a sneak peek at my studio activities during this busy time. New river landscapes are on the left, and the famous rucksack and climber image are below and to the right.

Messy, Messy, Messy Studio

P.S. Just got the Twitter news (thanks, Alyson) that today is National Cartoonist Day. How about that?

Goodbye, Snow!

Primitive Road Thaw
10.5" x 15"
Pastel
Casey Klahn

Hello, Spring!

This year I am doing landscapes. That's one big change for me. Also, for the very observant, my other big change is the landscape format versus the "portrait" format. Longer, instead of taller, rectangles.

Time marches on, you know.

Some news:

After several years (ten?) of doing art fairs at the pace of about four to seven a summer, I have cut back to only one for this summer. I knew my health issues and operations over the past three years were slowing me down, and that I wouldn't be making enough art to be at several shows. And, the physical requirements of doing art fairs are significant, too.

This year, I am accepted into what is, for me, the ultimate great art fair, the Sausalito Art Festival. I have visited the fair, but until now haven't gotten "in." Peer juried, this event features artists from all over the country, and from foreign countries such as Japan, Israel, Hungary, the UK, Turkey and France. It takes place about Labor Day weekend, and Sausalito is in the San Fransisco bay area.

I did participate in another art fair in Marin County, which also provided me an introduction to the Barefoot Art Gallery in Mill Valley, where I had one of my solo shows. I love the area, and am looking forward to the event at sunny, bay side Sausalito. Where did my tuxedo go, and does it still fit me?

Is there anyone in the Marin area that wants to heft my gear and/or sell art with me in the booth? Probably my wife Lorie will be with me, but the extra help is always good to have.

Back to work for me...

A Messy Studio is a Happy Studio
Casey Klahn