Abstracted Play in Oil and Cold Wax: August 2019

What a wild week. Twelve women artists came together to take my Abstracted Play in Oil and Cold Wax workshop at the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. Some had taken my class previously, a few had learned from other instructors, and quite a few had never worked with oil paint or cold wax, and one was new to painting. There was some gnashing of teeth, lots of laughter, a little whining, a smidgeon of frustration, and in the end, happiness with their success and the beauty of their pieces.

I did demos every morning and afternoon . . .

The women then worked on their own pieces, working in multiples so they had lots of pieces to work on at various stages of the process.

One thing I loved seeing was the camaraderie of how the women supported each other and worked together.

I gave my Artist Talk on Saturday after lunch (they all showed up for my talk, although this photo makes it look like no one did!).

On our last day, we worked in the morning and then in the afternoon cleaned up our supplies, spread out our body of work, and did a walkabout, sharing the highlights of the week.

Here is an assortment of the work created during the week, in no particular order, some on boards, some on Arches Oil Paper, some large and some small:

It was a really fun week.

PS This was the second time I got to teach at Sitka this summer. In June, there was an opening and I was able to slip in a bonus version of this workshop, which I blogged about earlier.

Daily Art Practice: Visual Painting Journal – Mid Summer Paintings

200th Painting!
July 19, 2019
Dayna J. Collins

Daily painting is still happening in my studio (and sometimes when I’m on the road and not at home). One time I forgot to take my painting journal with me, so I painted on little pieces of watercolor paper I had available and then taped the pieces into my journal, a couple of make do entries (you’ll see them below). Here are some selected pages since my last post on May 28.

May 30, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
June 5, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
June 7, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
June 12, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
June 13, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
June 14, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
June 22, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
June 23, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 8, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 13, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 15, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 20, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 21, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 23, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 26, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 27, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 28, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 29, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
July 31, 2019
Dayna J. Collins

 

Salvage Collage: A Sort of Magic – Opening Reception

The opening reception for my show (with ceramic artist Michelle Gallagher) at Guardino Gallery, was on Thursday, July 25. It was a warm evening and lots of people were out enjoying art and the festivities of Last Thursday on Alberta.

The official photos:

Michelle Gallagher, Donna Guardino, and me

The unofficial photos:

Friends!
Alea and me
Howard chats with Stacey and Fred
Greg Carrigan catching up with friends
Howard and Donna watch the festivities of Last Thursday on Alberta
With my daughter Amy
Stan and Bobbie
Grandson Major ponders the art
Howard and Steph

Thank you to everyone who came out for the opening and for those who have been visiting since the show opened.

Abstracted Play in Oil and Cold Wax: June 2019

I’m a tad tardy in sharing about my June class at Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, but it has been fun looking through all of the photos a month later. This class was special because Sitka had a last minute workshop cancellation and I was asked to teach an additional session of my Abstracted Play in Oil and Cold Wax (my August class filled quickly and had a long waiting list).

Sitka is located on the Oregon Coast at Cascade Head (between Lincoln City and Neskowin). I got to stay in Gray House, a cabin located just a short walk up from Boyden Studio, where my class was held.

Gray House

I love the process of preparing to teach – walking the grounds, the lesson planning, and getting the studio set up.

Boyden Studio

Once class got started, it was a whirlwind of activity. I started each morning with a warm up exercise, and then moved into teaching techniques. Students were given lots of time to practice and play – and they all jumped in with a fearless enthusiasm.

 

This routine was repeated for four days and it was a blur of heightened energy, creativity, and beautiful results.

 

On the fourth day, we worked in the morning, and then cleaned up in preparation for our sharing and wrap up.

 

During our class, I did warm ups along with students and also illustrated how working in a visual journal can be great inspiration for creating paintings.

I’m already excited for my next class, August 22-25.

Daily Art Practice: Visual Painting Journal – Newest Pages

I started doing a daily painting in my visual journal on January 1st and believe it or not, I’ve stuck with it. I got a little behind over the past couple of weeks, but I’ve been slowly doubling down on my daily paintings and I’m almost caught up. I did my first post about this project on January 25 and then an update on March 27. In both of my previous posts, I shared a selection of daily paintings from my journals (I’m on journal number 3). I figured it was time I did another update and share more paintings. Going through the pages of my journals, I am reminded why I’m incorporating this practice into my daily schedule: 1) It gets me into the studio, and 2) I’m experimenting with composition, colors, and ideas. All very good things.

March 25, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 1, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 3, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 4, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 7, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
100th Painting!
April 10, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 17, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 20, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 21, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 22, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 23, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 27, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
April 29, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
May 1, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
May 3, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
May 5, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
May 9, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
May 10, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
May 15, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
May 16, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
May 18, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
May 21, 2019
Dayna J. Collins
May 25, 2019
Dayna J. Collins

Nature’s Rhythm: Featuring Barbara Bassett & Dayna Collins

Last November, I was invited by Barbara Bassett to do a show with her at her gallery, Barbara Basset Art Gallery, located at Pudding River Wine Cellars. I’ve long admired Barbara’s work and love the setting of her gallery, so I said yes.

 

We got together several months ago to plan for our show and come up with a title; we both liked Nature’s Rhythm, as it gave us freedom to create in our own styles.

I wrote a quick blurb about my pieces:

Color is an overriding theme in Dayna’s work. Whether she is painting abstract landscapes or creating more nonrepresentational work, color always finds its way into her paintings, mimicking or exaggerating nature’s wild palette. 

We hung our show last week with the help of Sean, the owner and winemaker at Pudding River Wine Cellars.

Barbara worked big, I did a series of 12×12 inch pieces.

We got the show hung quickly, and then we did a timed selfie.

Some of the pieces I will have in the show:

“The Thread of a Path,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, 12×12 inches.
“Spellbound By Thoughts,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, 12×12 inches.
“Grateful For the Silence of the River,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, 12×12 inches.
“A River of Gratitude,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, 12×12 inches.
“A Silver Curtain of Rain,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, 12×12 inches.
“The Hum of Mosquitoes,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, 12×12 inches.
“A Pulsing Wave of Gratitude,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, 12×12 inches.
“The Light Glimmers On,” plaster, oil, and cold wax, 12×12 inches.

The opening reception is Wednesday, May 22, 4:00 – 6:00 pm. The Pudding River Wine Cellars and Barbara Bassett Art Gallery are just a ten-minute drive from from Silverton and 15-minutes from Salem, through the beautiful countryside. The show will be up for several months, so if you can’t make the opening, take a short drive and visit this beautiful winery and gallery.