June's Virtual Paint Out - California's Napa Valley

The Napa Valley is located northeast of San Francisco and is considered to be one of the top Viticultural (wine growing) regions in the United States.

Napa Valley Winery, 9x12, oil

The early settlers primarily raised cattle, grain and fruit crops. By the late 1800’s there were more than 140 wineries in the area. Several of the original wineries are still in operation.

With the great silver rush in 1858 miners flocked to the region. While gold was being prospected in other areas of the state, Napa County became a center for silver and quicksilver mining.

Viticulture in the Napa Valley suffered a setback with Prohibition in 1920, compounded by an insect infestation which killed many of the vines throughout the valley. These two events caused many wineries to shut down and stalled the growth of the wine industry for years. But for some farmers, Prohibition offered a unique opportunity for growing and shipping grapes to home winemakers across the country. When Prohibition ended in 1933, this new industry suffered when the price of grapes fell to below $24 per ton. Thankfully during these years the resourceful farmers had planted over 500,000 fruit and nut trees in the valley and this helped to soften the blows to the agricultural economy.

The years following WWII saw a growth in businesses related to agriculture, cattle and tourism with wine grapes again becoming the primary focus. Today the Napa Valley is home to over four hundred wineries and is visited by approximately five million people each year. 

I always enjoy reading a bit about our destinations. It's a fascinating world. I wonder where artist, Bill Guffy, will send us in July? Only two more days to wait! Join us, new members are always welcome. 

Thanks for visiting,

Celene

This painting is available in my Ebay Store.

To see all my paintings from all of our virtual destinations - Virtual Paint-Out.

www.CeleneFarris.com

Belted Galloways

The Belted Galloways at The Aldermere Farm in Rockport, Maine, is my second painting for this month's Virtual Paint Out trip along mid coast Maine.

A view of The Aldermere Farm with Lily Pond in the background.

Belted Galloways, 9x12, oil SOLD

A bit of history -
The Belted Galloway is a breed of heritage beef cattle originating from Galloway, in SW Scotland. The exact origin of the breed is unclear although it is thought that the white belt distinguishes these cattle from the native black Galloway cattle. Belted Galloways were imported to North America beginning in the 1940s and the Belted Galloway Society in the United States was founded in 1951. The breed is slowly increasing in numbers in North America and globally.

Belted Galloways are primarily raised for their quality beef and are known for their gentle temperament and striking appearance. In the United States, Belted Galloways are often nicknamed Oreo Cookie Cows because their color pattern is reminiscent of an Oreo cookie.

The Aldermere Farm, located just south of Camden, in Rockport, Maine, was established in 1953 by Albert Chatfield Jr. who later bequeathed it to the Maine Coast Heritage Trust in 1999. The Aldermere Farm preserves the oldest continuously operated herd of Belted Galloways in the United States.

The farm is a member of The Belted Galloway Society which is committed to promoting this special breed of cattle and preserving the purity of the breed by maintaining pedigree records and data, also providing official information relative to the breed and the society’s guidelines.

One of the problems with Google Street Maps is that the areas covered usually are the main roads and cities. There is limited coverage of the small towns, rural roads and secluded areas that I love to paint. I was pleased that the road to this farm was included. 

The Virtual Paint Out is great fun and I enjoy riding the roads and exploring new locations without getting in my car. Tomorrow starts a new adventure. I wonder where Bill Guffy will send us!

Thanks for visiting,

Celene


This painting was available in my Ebay Store.

To see all my paintings from our Virtual Paint-Out tours, please click here.

www.CeleneFarris.com

May's Virtual Paint Out - Maine

This month our Virtual Paint Out Group is traveling to the Maine Coast. Using Google Street Maps we start on Route 1 in Rockland, Maine and travel down-east to the small coastal town of Milbridge. There are many islands in our assigned destination, but unfortunately only a few are covered by Google Street Maps. One island, Mount Desert Island, home to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park is covered. I'm looking forward to this month's painting trip.

Acadia National Park, 9x12. oil

This painting is available in my Ebay Store.

To see all my available paintings from our Virtual Paint-Out tours, please click here.

Thanks for visiting,
Celene

The Virtual Paint Out

www.CeleneFarris.com

Fixing a Broken Painting

I received this interesting question. “How can I fix a painting that isn’t working? I’ve tried everything, but it just gets worse.”

My thought is, "maybe you can't."

When I have a painting that doesn’t work, I step away for a few minutes and return with an objective eye. For me, the problem is usually the composition or subject matter. If the basic structure of the painting is wrong, no amount of fiddling will correct it. If I’m not excited by the subject matter, I know it will be a battle all the way and I will probably lose. My solution is to admit to myself that this painting will never work and that I need to wipe it off. If I can’t remove enough paint and think the remnants will bother me, I can either throw it out or repaint the entire canvas with a tone that I can work with.

It’s empowering to wipe out a failed painting and start over. Without a new beginning, no amount of fiddling or reworking will succeed. When a painting is working you can feel it. You are in “The Zone”. If the spell is broken by distractions, stop and take a break. Some days painting is easy, other days it is a struggle. I don’t have as much time for painting as I would like, so I’m not going to waste my time on a compromised painting.

If you feel that your painting isn’t working, analyze it for composition, drawing, perspective, tones, colors, mood and all the many components that make up a good painting. Be honest with yourself. Admit that the painting isn’t working and try to figure out why. If you continue to overwork a bad start you will be frustrated and the results will be stiff and unsatisfactory because the basic problems are still there. So have the courage to wipe off your canvas and start fresh.

When composing a painting, it’s not enough to just copy what is before you. A camera does that. You are an artist and should impart a bit of yourself and your emotions into each painting.

Failed paintings are necessary for growth. How can we improve without making mistakes? Learn from them. Accept them as part of the process and don’t let them overwhelm you.  

Another thought. If you have a recurring problem, try to find the solution in your art books or ask an artist friend for advice. I'll often ask my husband for his honest opinion and he often points out things that I didn't notice.

If all else fails, it's a great satisfaction to throw the failed painting in the trash. Out of sight - out of mind. Grab a cup of coffee and start over.

Happy painting.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Little Bird's Surprise

I love canaries and there's always been one in my home. They are charming but delicate little birds and when they get sick, the outlook isn't always good. Last spring I bought a new young bird and after a few months I noticed that he was sick with air sac mites. I went on-line and found an expert to help. I treated him and after quite awhile he improved and finally was completely healed. But he never sang. My on-line adviser said that if his air sacs were damaged it might take some time before he could sing.

He's a great little bird, happy and friendly. I have a small radio next to his cage and he listens to classical music all day. I have even played cd's of canary singing to encourage him. He would listen intently, chirp and dance about.

Yesterday he seemed uncomfortable and sat around looking miserable. Oh no, I thought. He's getting sick again. That evening when I covered his cage for the night I wondered if he would still be alive in the morning.

This morning when I uncovered him, I found him alert and cheerful. And what a surprise on the bottom of his cage.  He....she.... had laid an egg - just in time for Mother's Day. 

And since only male canaries sing I will have to be content with this sweet little girl who just chirps. She is much happier today. It'll be interesting to see how many eggs she lays. They are quite large for such a little bird. No wonder she was so miserable yesterday. Happy Mother's Day, little bird.

Happy Mother's Day to all the ladies in your world,
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Fibonacci, Phi and Art

If you enjoy math, geometry, mystery and science, this subject might interest you. It is too complex for a simple blog post. Here are some highlights and I will include links if you find this subject as intriguing as I did. Enjoy.

Phi, also known as The Golden Ratio or Divine Proportion, Golden Section, Golden Mean, is represented by the number 1.61803399. The digits can go on forever without repeating. We will simplify it to 1.618. 

The Fibonacci Sequence is nature's numbering series and provides another way to derive Phi mathematically. The sequence of numbers is quite simple. Starting with 0 and 1, each new number in the sequence is simply the sum of the two before it, 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, etc. The approximate ratio of each successive pair of numbers in the sequence is 1.618 or Phi. (Example: 5 divided by 3 = 1.666.) As you go further into the sequence and more digits are added, the ratio gets closer to the exact figure of Phi.

Both The Fibonacci Sequence and Phi represent the same number, 1.618, therefore they are inseparable. When Phi is mentioned, know that The Fibonacci Sequence is also there. 

Why were the early Greek and Renaissance artists, scientists, architects, musicians and astronomers so fascinated by this number? Why did Dan Brown use Phi as a plot element in his novel, The Da Vinci Code? Why do we still use Phi today?

“Phi creates a sense of balance, harmony and beauty in the designs we find throughout our natural world and the universe thereby creating a sense of harmonic relationships and spiritual connections.”  Since ancient times, man has applied both Phi and The Fibonacci Sequence consciously and unconsciously to achieve balance, harmony and beauty in art, music, architecture, design and religion.

The influence of Phi may be seen in the works of the early artists such as Da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli and Seurat, right up to present day artists. Musical scales and compositions and the dimensions of musical instruments, such as the violin, all show the influence of Phi. Architecture, such as the Notre Dame in Paris and the Greek and Roman Temples are another example. Industry uses Phi in the design of their logos and products, such as cars and fashion. In medicine, Phi is used as a guide in both facial plastic surgery and cosmetic dentistry.

The Fibonacci Sequence and the influence of Phi appear everywhere. In nature they are is seen in the leaf and petal arrangement in plants and flowers, the bracts of a pinecone, the scales of a pineapple, the arrangement of seeds in a sunflower. Many insects and animal dimensions are based on Phi, such as the spirals of seashells, the body sections of ants and other insects, wing dimensions, etc. Even in the arrangement of the bones of our hands and the spirals of human DNA. Astronomers have found Phi and the Golden Ratio relationships in our solar system and the universe.

We didn’t invent Phi or The Fibonacci Sequence. It was always there. It is as old as the universe. Some Theologians believe that Phi is linked to the Creation. 

Pretty interesting reading.

Two related topics that you might find interesting:

The Golden Rectangle – the most pleasing rectangle with sides having a ratio of 1.618. (Phi again).

Rebatment – the two squares within a rectangle and its importance in composition and the formation of the Fibonacci Spiral.

And the links:

http://www.goldennumber.net/

                  

http://emptyeasel.com/2009/01/20/a-guide-to-the-golden-ratio-aka-golden-section-or-golden-mean-for-artists/

http://emptyeasel.com/2009/01/27/how-to-use-rabatment-in-your-compositions/

Thanks for visiting.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

April's Virtual Paint Out - Sri Lanka

This month we visit, via our computers, Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon). A small tropical island slightly larger than W. Virginia, located south of India in the Indian Ocean and home to over 22 million people. A land of rain-forests, rolling plains, lush farmland and beautiful sandy beaches. The climate is tropical with abundant rainfall and fairly constant temperatures ranging between 60 and 90 degrees year round.

Mirissa, Sri Lanka, 9x12, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Virtual Paint Out.

Thanks for visiting,
Celene

To see all my paintings from our Virtual Paint-Out tours, please click here.

www.CeleneFarris.com