tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26647473654754224912011-11-27T18:12:20.326-06:00Drawing and painting, words of wisdom by fellow and classic artists, Lundin workshop info, more ...Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.comBlogger361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-61032645457437963192011-07-08T09:51:00.000-05:002011-07-08T09:51:05.888-05:00

Leonardo da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks From Leonard on Painting: "Of the ten function of the eye, all appertaining to painting Painting embraces all the ten functions of the eye; that is to say, darkness, light, body and colour, shape and location, distance and closeness, motions and rest. My little work will comprise an inter-weaving of these functions, reminding the painter of the rules and

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-39300176755861492172011-07-08T08:49:00.000-05:002011-07-08T08:49:11.957-05:00

Waiting   Waiting ... for someone, for a light, for summer. I don't smoke anymore; haven't for 35 years. But I sometimes paint paintings of people smoking. If women, they are glamorous because I grew up in an era where smoking wasn't unhealthy — it was, well, smokin'. This painting is small, mixed media — watercolor, acrylic, gouache, Caran d'arche crayon — another prep painting for the big

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-14628567349980185682010-11-17T10:36:00.000-06:002010-11-17T10:36:03.673-06:00

For those of you who follow my blog, you'll notice an absence of the Facebook icon which linked new postings to my former Facebook Artist-Instructor wall. Yesterday, a Facebook bug disabled sites/walls/pages of thousands of Facebook users. My Artist-Instructor page was one of those sites/walls/pages. Will it be reinstated? If you click on the enclosure link, you can read an article about the

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-3788767328746784652010-11-17T10:29:00.000-06:002010-11-17T10:29:21.049-06:00

Ink and wash painting. I like to do several color sketches before tackling larger work. I'm excited to work on a half sheet (approximately 15 x 22 inches in size). One friend who had seen this said she sensed an Oriental influence. I think all of us are inspired by the beautiful calligraphy of, and ink and wash paintings done by classic and contemporary Asian artists.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-80629618952634590282010-11-12T07:54:00.000-06:002010-11-12T07:54:51.800-06:00

Lundin Demo No. 4 — Three colors plus ink, wax resist, on Arches 140 lb. rough paper Lundin Demo No. 2 — Painted wet-on-wet, three colors, calligraphic marks for trees and leaves Yesterday marked the last of four classes I taught at the Range Art Center in Hibbing, MN, employing ink and wash/line and wash. The two images above include Demo Paintings No. 4 (yesterday) and No. 2 (second class).

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-22425761784147743322010-10-27T16:18:00.000-05:002010-10-27T16:18:42.562-05:00

Girl No. 2 — collage, acrylic, and gouache. While leafing through an old magazine I found — in my collage box, which features a myriad of "stuff" — a photo of a woman who intrigued me. She seemed like a thinker so I gave her a direct gaze; the wind was blowing outside (still is); my fireplace came on (only happens on cold, cold days). It felt like winter to me. Early this morning, I did a

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-54664661951998445052010-10-26T10:36:00.000-05:002010-10-26T10:36:43.962-05:00

Every so often, I like to bump myself out of my comfort zone. This week, my aim is to do one collage (small) each day. "She" (above) does not yet have a title. It would be fun to hear from blog followers and art lovers. My beginning and process: On Sunday, I dug out old, failed paintings, which I covered with coats of white gesso (acrylic), then set to dry. My studio floor was covered with

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-10458989766527612542010-10-14T07:57:00.000-05:002010-10-14T07:57:25.375-05:00

While preparing to teach my watercolor workshop (People — Heads, Features, & Faces which starts to tomorrow at the Duluth Art Institute), I've done many watercolor studies and color sketches of men and women of all ages. I love Greek sculpture and while researching, I fell in love with the strength, beauty, and dignity of Artemis, the Hellenic goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness,

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-88717118187528635032010-10-12T12:40:00.001-05:002010-10-13T11:29:29.840-05:00

Color sketch of The Girl Step 1: I drew a head shape, penciled in eye sockets, tip of nose, and line of mouth. I wet the paper (student grade, purchased for my grandchildren) and dropped in a wash of pale yellow, red, blue, and tipped my paper, adding water to encourage flow and melding of color. After this dried, I wet areas in shadow (light coming from our left, top) and dropped in yellow,

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-48838872762091017832010-10-11T17:36:00.000-05:002010-10-11T17:36:28.999-05:00

I'm looking forward to teaching the Watercolor Portrait Workshop — Heads, Features, and Faces — at the Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN. The three-day workshop starts this Friday, October 15, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Painters of all levels are welcome to attend. For information, log onto — www.lundinart.com. To register, phone Shannon at the Duluth Art Institute, (218) 723-1310. The image above is a

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-35128583513254818312010-09-03T10:11:00.001-05:002010-09-03T10:44:11.971-05:00

Baby skin is like rose petals, a baby mouth like a bud, hair, feathery wisps. Babies are a joy to paint and require a tender touch. I will install a "how to" on my website.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-82243733743967113562010-07-30T16:18:00.001-05:002010-07-30T16:22:31.220-05:00

Color study — girl of the day — inspired by a hair model in Real Simple magazine. When playing with color and shape, experimenting with method, I like working from images of people I don't know. It helps to reduce variables when I don't need to think about whether or not my drawing/painting looks like Gloria or Keith or Grandma, etc. While working on this color sketch, I thought about position/

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-320984896096274822010-07-28T12:51:00.001-05:002010-07-28T12:53:29.621-05:00

I'm teaching a three-day watercolor portrait workshop — Heads, Features, and Faces — at the Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN, Friday-Sunday, October 15-17, 2010, 9 AM - 4 PM. To register, please contact the DAI. For more information, email me or post your query below (thank you). Look forward to painting with you at the workshop.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-58547783524800513322010-06-02T09:24:00.000-05:002010-06-02T09:24:34.516-05:00

I like to explore a new subject by doing sketches and studies. My first approach is somewhat academic: analysis of line, shape, color, and value. Tomorrow (or later today) I'll break up the (iris) shape and reorganize it and see what happens.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-88883253660566442322010-05-04T13:37:00.000-05:002010-05-04T13:37:57.666-05:00

Fellow artists are invited to enter artwork in the upcoming Dylan Days Art Exhibition 2010, May 27-30, at Zimmy's in downtown Hibbing, MN. All media are welcome. Basic criteria: work inspired by the life and lyrics of Bob Dylan. For more information and entry form, log onto www.dylandays.com.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-25492167246802892312010-04-21T07:33:00.000-05:002010-04-21T07:33:49.009-05:00

I was delighted to read (once again, in Vogue magazine's May issue) that Breton fisherman's shirts (striped shirts) are "in" again. Years ago, I bought a nautical styled tee which I will enjoy wearing this summer. The illustration (above) features several design principles -- harmony, repetition, contrast. My aim was to achieve repetition with variation, which, according to Maitland Graves (dec.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-40976100239125213252010-04-20T08:22:00.005-05:002010-04-20T12:03:11.537-05:00

I like to draw and paint people -- women, men, old and young; children. Yesterday I flipped over an unsuccessful painting (yes, there are many!) and sketched the outline of a woman with red hair. I applied initial light-valued washes. Next, I applied mid-light washes, using same colors. Finally added mid-value color, more detail. Is the painting finished? Stephen Quiller says that it's

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-83317870454444444452010-04-19T11:40:00.000-05:002010-04-19T11:40:46.486-05:00

Reading Vogue Magazine, inspired by silhouettes of the 60s and large floral patterns.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-6365943373404403402010-04-18T08:21:00.000-05:002010-04-18T08:21:13.323-05:00

"The Tulip was originally a wild flower, growing in Central Asia. It was first cultivated by the Turks as early as 1000 AD, The flower was introduced in Western Europe and the Netherlands in the 17th century by Carolus Clusius, a famous biologist from Vienna...In the beginning of the 17th century, the tulip was starting to be used as a garden decoration in addition to its medicinal use." Read

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-86066136970030977132010-04-16T13:07:00.000-05:002010-04-16T13:07:26.129-05:00

Just downloaded Painter 11 along updated drivers for my Wacom drawing tablet. Decided to draw the coffee mug that sits on my drawing table and is never far from reach. Saved the Painter file as a "Gif" to see what would happen. I like the division of color shapes behind the mug. Using Painter 11 ... I feel like (the proverbial) kid in a candy store!

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-53232629145277361412010-04-13T07:49:00.001-05:002010-04-13T09:33:13.216-05:00

Watercolor painting titled "Sauna Girl," was inspired by our granddaughter Francie, after she had taken a sauna. She wore a fluffy towel on her head and had donned her Aunt Riitta's plush robe which matched her eyes. Her cheeks were like apples. This is the painting that was accepted into the 2010 Arizona Aqueous Exhibition at the Tubac Center of the Arts in Tubac Arizona, exhibit juried by

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-79824684116810439162010-01-11T07:36:00.000-06:002010-01-11T07:36:35.536-06:00

My painting titled Sauna Girl (watercolor and gouache on D'Arches 140 lb. Cold Press) has been accepted into the annual Arizona Aqueous Exhibition at the Tubac Center of the Arts (click title of blog entry to visit Tubac Arts). Very exciting news for this humble painter. Arizona Aqueous XXIVFebruary 19, 2010 - March 21, 2010In its twenty fourth year, the focus of Arizona Aqueous is the

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-71481361722476421742009-12-11T15:57:00.000-06:002009-12-11T15:57:09.790-06:00

Endless variety in posing is possible. People stand up, kneel or crouch, sit or lie down; but there are a thousand ways of doing these things. It is surprising, for example, to observe how many ways there are in which to stand up. ~Andrew Loomis I liked the quiet, reserved, confident manner of this young man. Almost shy; not quite. My reference was a catalog photo. But I found myself thinking of

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-35874267939391139372009-12-09T08:46:00.001-06:002009-12-09T08:49:33.148-06:00

The lace on a woman's wrist is an entirely different thing from lace in a shop. In the shop it is a piece of workmanship, on her hand it is the accentuation of her gentleness of character and refinement. ~Robert Henri Lacey anklets are different from lace on a woman's wrist. Note: Sketches such as these, inspired by photos found in magazines and catalogs, are for learning purposes only; not

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-13277415180114864962009-11-18T07:22:00.000-06:002009-11-18T07:22:25.017-06:00

Frank Webb, in his book titled Watercolor Energies, writes: As you draw and paint, guideposts which point to progress are contradictory, and the road is strewn with obstacles and distractions. It is essential to bulldoze these obstacles or to find a way around them. Painting, being a solitary journey, is crucial to sustain morale . . .  Frank urges the artist forward, to rely upon his/her own

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-46665953181660531432009-11-17T09:41:00.000-06:002009-11-17T09:41:23.426-06:00

Cookie was one of my dearest friends. I've sketched her several times, never quite capturing her élan. Edgar A. Whitney, my favorite instructor of watercolor and design, wrote: "Think of your drawing as an ideograph. What is in your mind and heart will be recorded; paint with compassion in your heart. Placing a highlight accurately is as important to drawing as the outline. . ." Any subject

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-51849855483820006372009-11-16T16:04:00.000-06:002009-11-16T16:04:53.890-06:00

Re-drew The JMan using my Wacom tablet.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-89618898413299562672009-11-16T08:38:00.000-06:002009-11-16T08:38:48.897-06:00

I just finalized a layered drawing/painting of Jerry, which I planned to post in layers, illustrating the process. As I saved the finished drawing (last layer), my Painter application shut down, quit; my final drawing was gone. As I shake my head, I think of what renowned painter Eliot O'Hara said, [If a painting doesn't turn out -- or in my case, evaporated and disappeared -- remember:] "What

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-84773769554587322042009-11-14T11:14:00.001-06:002009-11-21T12:31:51.856-06:00

Differing textures intensify each other. Whether it is the texture of a medium itself, of a material, or of a decorative pattern, textures, in opposing and enhancing each other, produce visual contrasts that can play important organizational and expressive roles. ~ Nathan Goldstein Me: I painted the background using watercolor - transparent, translucent, and opaque pigments. After this dried,

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-14313616299257983772009-11-13T08:18:00.001-06:002009-11-13T08:35:25.321-06:00

Harley's Law: 1. A painting should have a dominant color that is readily evident. 2. Complementary color may be introduced, occupying much smaller space. . . 3. Discord colors . . . may be added, sparingly. . . ~ Harley Brown (from his book titled Harley Brown's Eternal Truths for Every Artist) Me: All rules are open to interpretation. I was trying out various features of "Painter" (

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-61178887330350686902009-11-12T08:35:00.000-06:002009-11-12T08:35:45.202-06:00

The digital drawing of Mrs. Miniver was inspired by an ad in Vogue magazine. I've always been captivated by fashion of the 40s.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-31827872214747127262009-11-12T08:32:00.000-06:002009-11-12T08:32:01.428-06:00

Often, when drawing and painting people, and craving inspiration, I read a paragraph or two of writings by Robert Henri. When later you come to the painting of the features of the face, consider well the feature's part in relation to the idea you have to express. It will not be so much a question of painting that nose as it will be painting the expression of that nose. All the feature are

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-395249988238174502009-11-10T16:05:00.000-06:002009-11-10T16:05:34.557-06:00

Thinking about feet.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-28906803389075175582009-11-10T10:33:00.002-06:002009-11-10T10:38:46.434-06:00

There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom. If one could but recall his vision by some sort of sign. It was in this hope that the arts were invented. Sign-posts on the way to what may be. Sign-posts toward greater knowledge.~ Robert Henri, The Art

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-46255879456513800442009-09-30T15:34:00.003-05:002009-09-30T15:42:46.871-05:00

My four-session class on SHAPE & COLOR begins on October 9, 2009, at the Range Creative Art Center. To register or for more info, log onto www.lundinart.com, click on workshops.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664747365475422491.post-87999190903103953932008-09-22T15:21:00.004-05:002008-09-22T15:23:41.213-05:00

A pink leather trench coat. Oh, to own it.

Louise Laakso Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12278351498084877411noreply@blogger.com0