Sunday, September 16, 2018

One South Mississippi Artist's Journey


By guest artist Karen Bennett of Kokomo, MS
Karen- Honorable Mention, SMAA WCU Show, 2018
My Journey with art started about 13 years ago when I walked into an Artist’s studio and ‘Felt’ the flowing water and gentle breeze from the canvas on her easel. Art is not only in the ‘Eye of the Beholder’ but also the ‘Emotion of the Soul’—Karen Bennett.
I have to do this!” was my thought. From that day forward I have sat under many teachers from across the nation to learn and grow as an artist. 
Light in Darkness, 2017 SMAA, WCU Show

The expression of the soul on canvas is such an emotional and beautiful thing. To call myself an ‘Artist’ is quite a humbling title; for my visual art journey began later in life. The more I learn, the more I learn what I do not know. But the journey is worth it!
Plein Air Photo, courtesy of Cooper French

After years of studio painting, I attended a workshop and learned about Plein Air painting. That was such an awe inspiring moment. To me plein air painting was like standing next to the Great Artist in His house (landscape); soaking in the beauty all around. To attempt to paint on canvas what I see around me is such an awesome privilege. I feel His presence all around. Plein Air painting on vacations is a great way to document my adventures and the beauty of our nation.
Summer Sunset in Cedars Show, 2017
In January, 2017 I signed up for the Strada Easel 31 day ‘Painting from Life’ challenge to paint something (still life, figure or plein air, if weather permitted) from life, every day for 31 days. At the end of the month, everyone that participated everyday would have their name in a drawing for a Strada easel. I really wanted a strada easel and knew that painting everyday would be a great opportunity for growth, so I signed up. I made a commitment to myself to paint plein air everyday, no matter the weather. I figured a few cold days, but nothing bad; this is South Mississippi, we wear t’shirts at Christmas.

I was in for some extreme challenges. 
2017 Plein Air Strada Art Challenge
We had some of the coldest days, stormy days with tornadoes in our neighboring city, Icy days, windy days, rainy days and a few sunny days. What a challenge I signed up for, willingly. This turned out to be a great challenge with great rewards. Yes, rewards, plural. 
The perseverance to get outdoors everyday, no matter the weather and find a subject to paint took planning and organization. I ‘had’ to plan and prepare meals, watch the weather forecast, organize and schedule appointments and activity to allow ‘paint time’.

At first, my husband said ‘you’re crazy painting in this kind of weather’, then he started helping me find locations around the farm and community to paint and helping me watch the weather forecasts and then by the end of the month he stood at the door watching me paint the hay in the pasture and told me when I came inside “I’m proud of you and your dedication to this challenge and I want you to order that easel, you deserve it with all the hard work you’ve done to see it through.” 
Karen with husband Danny

Hearing him say how proud he was of me for following through no matter what, was a Bonus I had not expected, regardless of getting a new easel! I didn’t win the easel, but did order it a few months later, with his insistence. 


Plein Air Art in Oddfellows Gallery Hattiesburg Photo credits to Oddfellows.
But the reward was more than the easel. It was time with the Creator, painting his creation, family & friends cheering me on, surprising myself when I made it through everyday no matter the weather; it was Growth in all aspects. Some of the paintings turned out ok, some were not so good and some were pretty nice. One of the January paintings,  “Light in the Darkness” was juried into the 2017 South MS Art Assn. William Carey University show in Hattiesburg, MS. and another one “The Hay Patch” won 2nd place at the South MS Art Assn. Christmas show, 2017. And I also sold a few. 
2nd place 2017 SMAA Christmas Show

Thanks for allowing me to share part of my journey and my hope is that it has encouraged you to persevere and find that inspiration in your soul. I’m still growing & learning while presently considering the next monthly challenge. Stay tuned…..
2018 New Art Studio 


Bio….
Karen is married to her wonderful husband, Danny. They operate their third generation family Dairy Farm in South Mississippi, where she gets most of her inspiration for her paintings. She also enjoys traveling with Danny across the nation while plein air painting their adventures. She has studied under many renowned artists from across the nation. Galleries representing Karen’s art are: Oddfellows Gallery in Hattiesburg, MS, Artwistic Revolution Art Gallery in Columbia, MS and Gulf South Art Gallery in McComb, MS. She is also a member of local and national Art associations.

Karen invites you to follow her Art Journey on Facebook at Karen Bennett Art, Instagram at Karen Bennett Art and her Website at www.karenbennettart.com

A big thanks to Karen Bennett for her story!

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Follow this blog about Mississippi plein air artists. In the coming weeks, this site will be publishing contributed articles by painters from the state of Mississippi. 

 

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Monday, September 3, 2018

OPA 14th Annual Great Paint out Hosted by Mississippi Plein Air Painters

Guest Blog posting by :
Hi Artists,

A Great opportunity is coming up to paint with artists from all over the United States! The National Oil Painters of America paint out is a FREE EVENT! It is OPEN to ALL painters of every medium.

Plein Air Paint Outs have been a tradition at Oil Painters of American since 2005. Paint Outs have experienced rave reviews from members and nonmembers alike who enjoy the many benefits that paint out participation has to offer. OPA Paint Outs give our members an opportunity to network and socialize with other artists in a plein air setting. Enjoy the beautiful vistas that our members have selected for you to paint. 

And it is happening in OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI!




Centered around Oxford Square, there will be a full day of plein air painting (see schedule  below)----SATURDAY OCTOBER 27th, ending with an open studio tour and farewell reception at internationally known artist, Jere Allen’s 4-6pm.



  • The Mississippi Plein Air Painters are the hosts, and will be serving a complementary lunch. 
  • The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council is providing closing snacks and drinks. 
  • Visit Oxford is providing registration packets with discounts to shops and restaurants. Hotels are offering discounted rooms for the weekend.


The MPAP welcoming committee has been working hard to make this a wonderful event!
 Even though the event is FREE, you are asked to register so that they can plan for your attendance! 

Just follow the links below to register and additional information will be provided. 



Registration:
We ask that you register to help us plan for your attendance.
PLEASE follow the link below (or paste in your browser)

  To register on this site follow the links like you are when checking out when shopping. Remember it's "FREE" but you must add it to the "cart" like shopping online. Click NEXT and proceed to checkout.
Process: 
  1.  Login, create a new account- or continue as a GUEST! 
  2. Proceed by clicking "NEXT" until you are are registered. That's it!


Schedule
Saturday, October 27, 2018 
9-10 a.m.         Sign in; pick up map & additional information packets
10-12 p.m.      Morning Paint Out-- around the Courthouse Square
12-1 p.m.         Complimentary Lunch @ First Baptist Church Family Center
1:30-3:30 p.m. Afternoon Paint Out
4-6 p.m.          Open studio and farewell reception at  Jere Allen's Studio 
6 p.m.   Dinner on your own. (List of restaurants provided at registration)
Linda Peters
Mississippi  Host, OPA  2018 14th Annual Great American Paint Out
President,  Mississippi Plein Air Painters

Please join us for this great paint out!  And feel free to forward to others painters who would be interested in coming.

Lodging: 

 Use Code "Oil Painters of America" for a two-night stay hotel discount at



For more information email nmspleinairpainters@gmail.com.


Hosted by Mississippi Plein Air Painters. Follow us on Facebook.

*Rain date: Sunday, October 28th

A big thanks to The Mississippi Plein Air Painters hosting this event!

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Follow this blog about Mississippi plein air artists sponsored and hosted by Dot Courson Studio and Courson Workshops. 

 This site promotes and publishes contributed articles submitted by artists from the state of Mississippi who follow this blog and paint in plein air and studio in Mississippi. 

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Sunday, August 26, 2018

Mississippi Plein Air Painting

By Guest artist Benny Melton of Yazoo City, MS

Benny plein air painting.  © 2014|Benny Melton


Plein air painting in Mississippi is like recording a pictorial narrative. Successful paintings are like interesting conversations, they invite engagement.  Sometimes the more simple conversations tell the best story.
Angel of Repose

I recently graduated from college with an M.F.A in Painting (University of Mississippi 2014). It was an extraordinary experience for me as a non-traditional student and I relished every minute of it. 

About the time of my highly anticipated first summer break I was informed that I would be required to attend an Intercession Class on Plein Air Painting. Well, I thought, there goes the summer! Instead, I learned many practical things about becoming a professional artist.
University of Mississippi ©|Benny Melton

Each year my painting professor invites colleagues to come to Mississippi to help teach a Plein air Painting class. Yes, Mississippi... the lush and green rolling hills of North Central Mississippi. These professional artists have studied and taught at some of the best art schools in the U.S. and they wanted to come here to teach and paint and learn about Mississippi.
Cole's Bluff, Sardis, MS © |Benny Melton

We started each day looking at the work of contemporary and historical painters in slide presentations and then went to paint the local parks, farms, a large reservoir, town square and other locations. Every student had a similar paint palette and easel to use in the field. 

The instructors did demonstrations to get us all heading in the right direction. We would stop for lunch to gather and critique the mornings’ work. After lunch we returned to painting and painted until late afternoon. The next morning we would meet in the class room for another short critique and lecture and announce the next painting destination.
Spillway © |Benny Melton 


This continued for 5-days and then we selected work to display in a “fresh paint” show on the square in downtown Oxford. Paintings were actually still in the process of drying. Undergraduate students, graduate students and instructors displayed their work together and the stories were outstanding.

I graduated in the spring of 2014 and with the momentum of 3-summers worth of Mississippi Plein Air Intercessions my wife and I hit the road for a two-week residency program at Lakeside Labs in Okoboji, Iowa. 
Add caption
The plein air skills learned in Mississippi were put to use about 1000 miles away. Here are my works:
Iowa-Minnesota State Line
Lakeside Okoboji, Iowa 2014 
Iowa
Little Miller's Bay Oil on Panel 8x8
Prairie Stream
Twin Forks Prairie


Benny has a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Mississippi and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Belhaven College in Jackson, MS. He was employed in Chemical Manufacturing for many years in Yazoo City, Mississippi and Sioux City, Iowa. His artwork can be seen in various venues in and around Oxford including Provisions Oxford and Oxford Treehouse Gallery and View Gallery and in Jackson, MS


Born in South Dakota and raised in Mississippi Benny enjoys the influence of both the Mississippi Delta, the plains of South Dakota and the farmlands of Iowa.
He lives in Yazoo City, MS and works for CF Industries, Inc. as the Training Coordinator for the Yazoo City Manufacturing facility.
Benny taught painting classes at Ole Miss in the fall of 2014 and drawing at Memphis College of Art in the spring of 2015. He taught Art for one year at Yazoo City High School before returning to chemical manufacturing in June of 2016.
He enjoys painting people in the landscape and his current work focuses on landscapes and the working people of Mississippi and the Midwest.
Website: www.meltonart.net

A big thanks to Benny Melton for his story!

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Follow this blog about Mississippi plein air artists. In the coming weeks, this site will be publishing contributed articles by painters from the state of Mississippi. 

 


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Sunday, August 12, 2018

The Road to Becoming a Plein Air Artist

By Guest Art Blogger Sue Kirkpatrick, Arab, Alabama (former resident of Iuka, Mississippi)

Sue Kirkpatrick.
(All images on this post ©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack unless noted otherwise)


I was solidly bitten by the art bug so now I have a bad case of passion for painting!!! Oil painting in particular. I have pursued oil painting by attending many workshops, buying art books, and buying more and more art supplies!
One of Marc Hanson's workshops at Courson Workshops in Pontotoc, MS
Painted/sketched this in Zhaoming Wu's workshop in Huntsville sponsored by Protege Atelier.

What I've discovered is that being an artist is a struggle in many ways. Actually, I got a late start-I was past middle age when most people start slowing down. A late start with a 90 degree learning curve would cause most people to question maybe not for me:
I had only taken two art courses in college, I was not at all comfortable with art language, and I had no intelligent art painting skills.

One of my favorite quotes:
"I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.
  
Vincent Van Gogh




Kim English at Courson Workshops in Pontotoc, MS.  

I started going to art workshops. I found that every time I went to an art workshop my art painting skills improved and I started to learn some art language. Like I learned the word “Value” was a pretty important word in the art world. So I started trying to learn about value and the value scale and how to use correct values in painting. Did I say I being an artist is a struggle!

Here are a few photos of my paintings and photos from some workshops that I have been privileged to go to.

©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack

Reference photo credit :Steve West.
Painting ©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack

©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack

©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack

©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack

©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack

I'm still working on using correct value in my painting. I know I will continue to work on correct value skills until I die!!! Then value leads to color harmony, and to colors in your palette, then to limited palette, to composition, and to design!  And on an on and on! Van Gogh  was so right...
©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack


©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack

©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack


Then there are the artist, the past master painters, the living master painters, and all the really good painters in between!!!
©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack Sue painted this in Morgan Samuel Price's workshop in Dolonaga, GA at Anita Elder's.
As I went to workshop after workshop I also became acquainted with some of the most amazing people who were working to do the same thing I was doing, struggling to be an artist.
So many of these wonderful people were really already great artists who helped me tremendously!! And I am grateful for the help they gave me.


Sue's painting at the member's show, Shoals Art Guild took Best in Show
©2018|Sue Kirkpatrack
Sue Kirkpatrick is a retired teacher who lived in the lovely and historical village of Iuka, MS from 1998-2002. She attended the "W" in Columbus, MS her freshman year in college. After retiring as an educator she and husband, Terrell, now live in Arab, AL.
Sue began her artist journey by painting watercolor portraits while living in Iuka, MS.
Sue is now a pursuing oil painting by studying and attending plein air, figurative, and portrait workshops. She has studied with Kim English, Quang Ho, Jason Saunders, Marc Hanson, Morgan Samuel Price, Stapleton Kearns, and Zhaoming Wu among others. Sue paints most every day. Visit her website at: suekirkpatrickart.com


A big thanks to Sue Kirkpatrick for her story!


Follow this blog about Mississippi artists. In the coming weeks, this site will be publishing contributed articles by several plein air painters from the state of Mississippi. 

Contact Dot Courson at artist@dotcourson.com to find out how to contribute. 



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The Gut Punch of Beauty- by Jerrod Partridge

By guest blogger, artist Jerrod Partridge of Ocean Springs, MS

Jerrod Partridge on a balcony in Florence. All images ©|Jerrod Partridge


Recently, I was sketching on one of the overlooks at the medieval Italian town of San Gimignano.  As I was translating the vastness of the scene with pen and ink I began to notice a universal language coming from the diverse group of passers by.
People walked the incline of cobble street that’s only about eight feet wide, with arches overhead and architecture on either side exposing hundreds of years of history, and came to a sudden opening in the buildings which exposes one of the most stunning vistas Tuscany has to offer.  It is a stunning patchwork quilt of the iconic elements of the area; vineyards, olive groves, Italian Cypress, and ancient buildings with terracotta rooftops.  The response to this view was usually not “wow” or “ooh” or “aah”, but a noise that started with an “m” sound and ended with a short burst of air through the nose.  It’s the same noise made when you’re hit in the stomach.  So I’m calling this universal language the gut punch of beauty. 
Image ©2018|Jerrod Partridge

My wife, Jessie and I have had the pleasure of leading people on trips to Tuscany for the past six years.  The primary focus of these trips is to have a meaningful and memorable experience with the people, places, environment, and cuisine of Tuscany and to do that through the art making processes of drawing and painting.  We call these Visual Explorations.

Walnut ink drawing of San Gimignano view. Image ©2018|Jerrod Partridge

While not everyone on our trips consider themselves “artists”, we encourage them to use a pencil, pen or paint to really see their surroundings.  When you sit in a spot for 30 minutes to 2 hours recording your observations you have a far deeper experience with the place than quickly walking by and snapping a few photos.  (side note - Serious photographers incorporate the same slow, thoughtful and measured response to a scene as a person drawing or painting. )  But whether or not you get a “good” drawing from the experience is not the main point.  It does feel good to achieve that, but the main point is the experience.  
Fattoria and tower at Spannocchia Oil 9x12. Image ©2018|Jerrod Partridge


So it was on our most recent Visual Explorations trips where I observed this universal language in San Gimignano.  I have specific memories when I’ve had a gut punch response to things.  The Sistine Chapel at The Vatican is one, and John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Lady Agnew in Scotland is another.  I remember these vividly because the gut punch of beauty leaves a scar.
Walnut ink drawing of San Gimignano Gate 5x7  ©2018|Jerrod Partridge

As artists we can only hope to one day create something which causes this reaction from someone.   But in the meantime we show off the scars left from these experiences by doing a drawing, organizing a painting, writing a story, or composing music.  We keep swinging and one day we may just land a solid hit.

About Jerrod

Jerrod is a full-time studio artist in Ocean Springs, MS.  He currently has a solo exhibition at Southside Gallery in Oxford, MS which will be on view through September 8.  

You can see photos from all of his past Visual Explorations trips on his recently redesigned website http://www.jerrodpartridge.com/visual-exploration.  And if you're interested in experiencing Tuscany in a medieval castle on a working organic farm with lessons in drawing, painting, and traditional cooking, their 2019 trip is scheduled for July 19-26.  Contact him at painterjerrod@gmail.com for more info.   


A big thanks to Jerrod Partridge for his story!

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Follow this blog about Mississippi artists. In the coming weeks, this site will be publishing contributed articles by several plein air painters from the state of Mississippi. 

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Monday, August 6, 2018

An Essay on Plein air and Studio Work

by guest blogger Curtis Jaunsen of Ocean Springs, MS

Plein Air East Beach, Morning 8x10 by Curtis Jaunsen

One of the things I’ve read about in art marketing essays is that the artist benefits from having a consistent “look” or style to their work. According to this theory, consistent work is easier for the potential collector to connect with, particularly if it is different enough from other artists work that it stands out just by that virtue.

Lemons and Vase 18x18 by Curtis Jaunsen
                I don’t dispute this, it’s something I’ve been trying to be a little more careful about with my work, its just something that I haven’t really achieved yet. I paint inside my studio probably around 75 percent of my working time and outside, ‘en plein air”, the other 25 percent.

Studio Painting, Ocean Springs Sunset 24x36 by Curtis Jaunsen

 I probably paint an even number of landscapes and still lifes with an occasional portrait when the spirit moves me. When I first started out though it was almost exclusively still lifes and then always painted in the slow and careful method I learned from the Florence Academy of Art. In those paintings the subject was light and how it revealed the objects and surroundings in my still life setup. My sole focus was on capturing the atmosphere that gave it all a sense of life. 


A couple things happened over the last few years to change my approach. One was that when I went outside to paint I discovered slow and careful doesn’t really work. The light conditions change too quickly and the artist is almost required to be bold. The other was that after painting a few hundred still lifes in a classical, traditional manner the whole process started to feel repetitive and boring. 

Bowl with Lemons, 9x12 by Curtis Jaunsen
Studio Painting, Coast Harbor, 16x20 by Curtis Jaunsen
Now I have an almost two separate approaches when working. When I’m outside or when I’m inside painting something that I feel needs a more direct treatment I try to paint with the concern being accuracy. I look for the subtleties that require a bit of careful observation but then I try to put it on canvas pretty much as seen with little concern for paint handling, just straight forward brush on canvas. Hopefully these paintings have emotional content but if so probably more from the observation of the scene and less the painting process if that makes sense.
              
When I’m inside my studio however the rules are different. Whether it’s a landscape or still life being painted, I am still looking for subtleties, still looking to create a sense of close observation. I start off my painting as before, carefully drawing and establishing the accurate values and colors, but rather than refine and continue this process, while the paint is still wet, I like to use a variety of methods to move it around, blending objects into the background and vice versa. The process becomes a lot more important, making the paint and how its pushed around as important as the scene being rendered. In the studio I use several different palette knives, a large scraper, a few different putty knives, tissues and paper towels and of course different brushes to put paint down and move it around. 

Glass Vase and Lemons 16x20 by Curtis Jaunsen
During the process I’m looking at the canvas more and the subject less. I can push it into a more realized rendering of the subject or a more abstracted direction. Which direction I go while painting is determined by what I’m seeing on the canvas and whether I think it’s working or not. This open ended process makes the final painting more of a discovery than something predetermined. The best result is one where both the scene and the painted surface look fully observed, meaning you can tell the artist really understood the shifts of light, the gesture of the forms in the scene being painted and the paint itself.


Plein Air- Biloxi Harbor 9x12 by Curtis Jaunsen
One thing I think I’m going to try in the future is bringing some of the studio methods outside. Its good to keep trying new things and maybe that can lead to more consistency.


               Curtis Jaunsen is a Mississippi artist who lives on the Gulf Coast. Formerly an architect practicing in Atlanta, Curtis moved with his family to Mississippi almost twenty years ago to be closer to his wife’s extended family. He began his life as artist by first studying classical painting at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. Since 2005 Curtis has been painting portraits, still lifes and landscapes, outside or in his studio in Ocean Springs, MS.



Curtis’s plein air paintings are available at the Pink Rooster Gallery in downtown Ocean Springs. His studio work, including portraits, landscapes and still lifes can be see at the Carol Robinson Gallery on Magazine Street in New Orleans. He will be having a solo show at Carol’s gallery this September 8th. Additionally his work can be seen online at curtisjaunsenart.com. A link to his facebook and Instagram pages can be found on his website.

A big thanks to Curtis Jaunsen for his story!



Follow this blog about Mississippi artists... In the coming weeks, this site will be publishing works by several plein air painters from around Mississippi. 

Contact Dot Courson at artist@dotcourson.com to find out how to contribute. 


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