Jazz & Painting

I watched a wonderful Ken Burns series on Public Television called “Jazz”.  The similarities between music and painting were striking and worth thinking about.

Jazz is a combination of many musical styles. It’s distinctive sound ranges from smooth, classic jazz all the way to extreme jazz. The jazz musician takes an ordinary melody and transforms it into a new sound. Some musicians push it even further until the music resembles an abstract painting. It is music that we can feel, as well as hear. Music with a soul. 

In painting, a good artist can take the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. I've heard it called "the wow factor".

The elements of jazz, like a painting style, are difficult to define. One key element is Improvisation. Improvisation is a part of our everyday life, our inner being, influencing how we live, how we dress and speak, what we do and how we act. And it is constantly evolving. 

The dictionary defines Improvisation as - “Creativity; spontaneous or unplanned changes; the ability to create something personal; a unique process of expression”.

In the movie, “The Glenn Miller Story,” Miller (played by James Stewart) was an unsuccessful and struggling bandleader. Out of desperation, he came up with the idea to modify the reed section of his band by altering the sound pitch. Success! His distinctive new sound was born. He said,” A band ought to have a sound all its own. It ought to have personality.” 

The traits these successful musicians all had in common were hard work, dedication, a love of music and a determination to find their own voice. We all start as beginners producing the technically correct but stiff painting or music. Somewhere along the line, our inner muse awakens and we begin to feel the freedom of self-expression. Our paintings begin to have “a personality and a sound all its own” - and how far we take it is up to us. 

As Duke Ellington said, “It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing.”

Can you put the "swing" into your paintings?

Happy painting,

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com 

My eBay Store 

www.facebook.com/CeleneFarris.MaineArtist

My new website!

 I have finally finished updating my website. It was long over due.

After many long hours and numerous calls to our son, Mike, for assistance - I can finally call it finished. Now I can get back to painting!

I hope you will take a look at it. Thank you!

Celene

My eBay Store -  eBay Store Celene Farris

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com

My Facebook Page -  Facebook Celene Farris, Maine Artist

Email me - mail@CeleneFarris.com

A Pretty Penny

This is the litter of Golden Retriever puppies born May 3, 2024.

And here is our Miss Penny on July 1, 2024.

 Needless to say - she is adorable.

In my spare time I have been working on my website. It was long neglected and in need of a serious revamping. I'm making major changes, off line for now, so the changes won't show until I make them active. For now the old version is still up. Hopefully it will be done in a week or so.

Update - My new website is now up and running.... I hope you will take a look!

Happy painting!      

Celene 

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com

My eBay Store -  eBay Store Celene Farris

My Facebook Page -  Facebook Celene Farris, Maine Artist

Email me - mail@CeleneFarris.com

Goodbye Ginger Dog

Last month we lost our 10 year old dog, Ginger. We buried her beneath the dog tree in our back yard. Five dogs now sleep beneath that old pine tree - an Irish Setter, two English Setters and now, two Golden Retrievers.

"No more dogs" we said. "It is too hard when we lose them!" 

But we have always had a dog. The house is too quiet. There is an empty space in our house and in our hearts. Her toys are still in the corner. We automatically look for her. Is that her scratching at the door?

"No" we said. "We are too old to have another dog. All the work, the chewing, the training, etc, etc... No more dogs!"

Then, a few days later, our son stopped in and told us about a new litter of Golden Retriever pups at a local farm. Our first response was no, but the seed was planted... By the next day, after seriously talking it over and knowing in our hearts that we needed another dog, I called the farm.

We are now waiting on a new Golden puppy. She will be ready to come home with us on July 1st.  

Rest well, Ginger Dog. We will always miss you.

Pirate's Cove, 5x7, oil

I don't know why I enjoy pirate paintings - but I do... 

I just finished this little painting. Now it has to dry, be varnished, then it will go into my eBay Store.

Whatever subject you choose, you will enjoy the painting process if it makes you smile. Pick something that you enjoy! 

Spring is coming, the red wing blackbirds are back. That's good for a smile, too....

Happy painting.

Pirate's Cove 5x7 oil SOLD

Celene

www.facebook.com/CeleneFarris.MaineArtist

www.CeleneFarris.com

My Ebay Store

A Very Special Valentine Story

Valentine's Day seems the perfect day to share this moving story...

I received this very special email on 3-27-2023.

Hello Ms. Farris,

My name is Richard Scovel. I reside in Wakefield Massachusetts but have vacationed in the Belgrade & Lake St. George areas for close to 40 years so I know the Belfast area very well. You have an amazing talent. 

This past September my wife Carole gave me a framed print named Bird Watchers which I believe is one of your works and I must say as soon as I saw it I instantly fell in love with it as my wife's hobby was feeding birds on an industrial scale, and in addition we are hooked on Brittany Spaniels of which we have had 4 of them over the years. First was Jimmy, then Sophie, then Morey and finally Max whom I have now... Sadly my wife passed away early in the morning on the day after Christmas and I am hoping that I can have the image of your print put on the grave stone which I will soon be purchasing. I see many grave stones at our local cemetery that have all kinds of color images added to them and since my wife was buried with Sophie and Morey's ashes, the print would be a beautiful touch and she would be so happy to know it was on the stone... 

I really don't want to take the framed print she gave me apart so I can submit the image to the engravers, so my question to you is could I possibly purchase another one of them from you ? The size is small, probably about 5" X 7" and I'm sure that would be a good example to go by, however I may opt for the image on the stone to be a bit larger than that. I have no idea where she actually purchased the print so I figured I'd start at the source. Please get back to me when you have the chance and let me know what you think... Also, photos attached, 2 showing your framed print and another one of a color image of a willow tree which is close to my wife's grave as an example of a color image on stone... 

Very best regards, Rick Scovel

Dear Richard,
I am so very sorry to hear about your wife. What a sad time for you all.

I do have copies of the print - The Bird Watchers. I will be very honored to have my work on your wife's memorial stone. If you send me your address I will mail them to you. They will be my gift in your wife's memory. Thank you for this honor.

Celene 

On 12/24/2023 7:02 AM, Rick Scovel wrote:

Hello Ms. Farris,
I'm sorry it took so long but good things do take time, anyway, the grave stone is finally finished and was installed at the cemetery a few days ago. My wife Carole was very patriotic and as soon as I saw the stone on display the decision was made! Also, if you ever want to put the images on your website or your facebook page please feel free to do so, Carole would be honored...

Initially I wanted your image to be etched in to the stone but unfortunately that method did not capture the beauty of your painting so a porcelain image of your artwork was created instead which captured the image perfectly. Due to the design of the stone and not having ample room on the front, it is on the back side but it really finished off the stone perfectly and I can't thank you enough.

Thanks again for supplying the print, this result would not have been achieved without your talent and your kindness. Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year!

Very best regards, Richard Scovel

Underpaintings

The reasons for an underpainting. 

Trying to juggle shapes, values, composition and color all at once often result in frustration, muddy colors and unsuccessful paintings. Breaking the painting process into two distinct parts will greatly simplifiy the process.

A painting can be broken down into two basic steps - 

1.  The Foundation (underpainting)- establishing the composition, shapes and values. This is done as a monochromatic underpainting, creating the structure of your painting. In this step you can easily add, subtract and move objects around. Here you also establish your value pattern.

 

 

2.  Color - To the finished, dried and correct underpainting you now only have to worry about adding color with all its subtle nuances and complications.

The underpainting is done in either thin oil washes or in black and white acrylic. If I am outside painting I do an underpainting in thin oil washes that will dry quickly in the outside air. In my studio I prefer black and white acrylic. Acrylic, a water based paint, dries quickly, covers well, is easy to work with, and has no odor.

I ask my students to think of baking a cake. You cannot frost the cake until it is baked. And if the cake doesn't have good ingredients, no amount of frosting will make it better.

In painting, if you don't have a strong foundation, no amount of color will make the painting better.

So break the painting process into two steps. First create a strong, correct foundation (underpainting) of shapes, values and placement. (Your cake)

Now you can concentrate on adding color, with all it subtle nuances. (The frosting)

This is such a logical way to paint. Painting is difficult - so why not try to simplify the process a bit by breaking it into steps? 

Below is my black & white acrylic underpainting. I worked on it, making changes and adjustments until I was satisfied. The second picture shows the beginning stages of adding the colors.

The Blue Bottle - black & white acrylic underpainting.
The composition, shapes and values are established.

Now I can begin to add the color in oil paint.

Something to think about. Give it a try. 

Your questions and comments are always welcomed. Happy painting!

Celene

www.facebook.com/CeleneFarris.MaineArtist

www.CeleneFarris.com

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