Painting Demonstration: Corn at the Window: Marie Antoinette (Let Them Eat Corn)

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

New Painting in process- Marie Antoinette as Corn at her window

So I am thinking now of Marie Antoinette as corn. She stands, aloof and haughty at her window and surveys the rows of corn growing outside. She is indoors, living a luxurious life whilst the rest of the corn is sweating it out in the misquitoed humidity. The start of this painting is shown above on my studio easel.

I began this oil painting by toning my 40"x30" canvas with a wash of yellow ocher (see drips of underpainting showing). I love to have a washy, drippy underpainting- besides covering the white of the bare canvas, it creates an abstract start to the painting.

I have laid out the landscape through the window and have a good start on the distant clouds and sky. I like that a bit of the underpainting is showing in the clouds- plan to leave that as-is. Have used the same dark color (dioxadine purple mixed with cad orange) to make her hair and the windowframe. Will use this same color to unify her hair with the window as one compositional element.

Next step is to get back to HyVee for another ear of sweet corn- hard to find this time of year! They did have some shipped in earlier - it gets old quickly under the studio spotlight... I will continue painting this picture and show progress in future posts.

Thanks for a Great Turnout at the Light, Energy, and Color Exhibit!

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

Thank you all for such a wonderful turnout at our exhibit "Light, Energy and Color" held at the Lowe Center in Marion, Iowa sponsored by the Marion Arts Council. The exhibit runs until July 16, 2010. It was great to hear fellow artists Paul Monska and Abby Jones explain how they made their art and thoughts behind it at the reception. I really liked Paul's Minimalist paintings of the iconic Cedar Rapids smokestack and Alliant Energy building- and Abby's Abstract Expressionism/Primitivism paintings - how she goes into a meditative state and then goes to town, getting paint on walls, floor, etc in the process.

"Self Portrait in Corn" 24" x30" Oil on Canvas copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

"Corn IV" 24" x36" Oil on Canvas copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

I have received quite a few positive comments on my Corn Series- especially "Rapunzel", "Addonis", and "Self Portrait in Corn".  I am thinking about the corn as people- and trying to show their emotions through the paint. Since I don't do any nude paintings of people, personifying people through corn is a way to be naughty through paint, but still be conservative.

In "Corn III: Attraction", for example, the man stands behind her, she is dripping in butter. 
If you look closely at each pair of kernels in my corn series (especially evident on "Corn IV", shown above), the corn is painted in a way which looks like pairs of well toned men's bottoms. Scandalous- yes. More of the Corn series can be seen on my website .  Will be starting on another corn painting soon.

Art In Action Event a Success

by Dena Tollefson

Thanks to everyone who made the outdoor event "Art In Action" at Catiri's Art Oasis a success. Ithiel Catiri put a tent up for me which provided shade- made a huge difference and allowed me to paint the whole day for the demonstration. Met hundreds of people who walked by to see the demo, and got a good start on a new 24" x 12" tulip painting which will go into their July exhibit. It was a good day.

Painting Demonstration- Art in Action @ Catiri's Art Oasis

by Dena Tollefson
http:/www.denatollefson.com

"Daisy VIII" 4"x6" Oil on Canvas,  Private Collection. Copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson  

I will be doing a painting demonstration of my Daubism pointillism oil painting technique at Catiri's Art Oasis in Amana this Saturday, May 29th. I will be meeting people and showing how I make my daisy series paintings-  Come on out for the fun-  this is part of Catiri's annual Art In Action event where there will be jewelry making, wheel pottery, painting and glass making demonstrations. Event is 10AM-5PM. If I am not at Catiri's at the moment, I will likely be found eating a cookie at the Amana Bakery 2 shops over :)

Catiris Art Oasis

4513 220th Trail
Amana, Iowa 52203
PHONE: (319) 622-3969

I hope to see you there!

"Energy, Light and Color" Exhibit

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

Abby Jones, Paul Monska and Dena Tollefson will be exibiting over 50 paintings in a juried 3-person show entitled "Energy, Light and Color" at the Lowe Center for the Arts in Marion sponsored by the Marion Arts Council. Reception is June 3, 2010 6:00-7:30PM which is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. You are invited!!

The three of us will be giving an art talk at this reception to explain intentions behind the paintings. I am exhibiting my Corn Series and Abstract Series. Last week I wrote last week about the Corn Series- this week I'll write about the Abstracts... 

"The Last Week" 28"x22" Acrylic on Canvas copyright 2009 Dena Tollefson

"Noah's Ark, Gypsy" 40"x30" Acrylic on Canvas copyright 2005 Dena Tollefson

"Sin" 20"x16" Acrylic on Canvas copyright 2005 Dena Tollefson

"Mountain Sunrise, The Flight" 18"x24" Acryic on Canvas copyright 2009 Dena Tollefson

These Abstract paintings are all about symbolism with a goal of strong composition.  I first determine a theme or symbol for the painting and then develop a pencil or pen sketch to work out a composition of overlapping and tangential shapes which support the idea. I then lay out this plan with a thin layer of paint. The photos shown here are acrylic paintings, this approach is the same whether I am using acrylic or oil paint. I then continue building up layers by glazing color until the painting is complete.

My goal is to have connections between the small elements in the painting but have them read as a whole shape with a color balance across the painting. One should be able to divide the canvas in quarters and have balance and a sense of harmony in all quadrants. I use a lot of black and white with strong contrasts in these paintings to increased drama.

Inspired by a Teacher

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

I dropped off 27 paintings on Saturday to the Lowe Center for the Arts in preparation for an opening on June 3rd... There was a wonderful woman there working on a grant who was very helpful. When I heard her name, I wondered if it could be the same person who was such a positive influence on me as a child- I was delighted to find out this was Mrs Renfer, my beloved 5th grade art teacher!  (Mind you, I am now 44 years old- this was a long time ago). Mrs Renfer is an appointed member of the Marion Arts Council and volunteers at the Lowe Center. What a neat blast from the past!

Thank you, Mrs Renfer, for the positive, creative energy you have bestowed on your students. I am grateful to you.

The Corn Series Exhibit

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

I am preparing for an exhibit for the Marion Arts Council at the Lowe Center for the Arts. The exhibit features Iowa artists Paul Monska, Abby Jones and Dena Tollefson, running from May 22-July 26th 2010.  An artist's reception with art talk from Paul, Abby and Dena, open to the public, runs 6PM-7:30PM on June 3, 2010. I hope to see you there!

Our exhibit is titled "Energy, Light and Color". I will be showing 25 pieces from my Abstracts Series and Corn Series. I'll talk in this post about the Corn Series. Next post will describe intentions behind the Abstracts Series.

"Corn III: Attraction" Original Oil on Canvas 24"x30" Copyright 2008 Dena Tollefson

The Corn Series focuses on corn as people: what would they be like if they were really human? How would human emotions be carried out by the corn?  I have had a lot of fun doing these paintings. There are 9 of them in all, 7 done as smooth botanicals, 2 done in my Daubism (pointillism) style.

"Rapunzel" Original Oil on Canvas 48"x24" Copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

"Addonis" Original Oil on Canvas 24"x30" Copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

On these smooth paintings, I am focusing on the curve of each kernel- how the light hits it, how each one is unique and how they sit next to one another. On the Daubism paintings of corn, I focus more on the color play and work to build up a texture following the contours of each kernel, the corn silk, the husk.

"Leonardo" Original Oil on Canvas 22" X 28" Copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

Did you know? Facts about Dragonflies

by Dena Tollefson

Did you know...
The dragonfly can fly up to 30 mph. That is speeding in some neighborhoods! They can even fly backwards.

Did you know...
Dragonflies represent light and joy in the Japanese culture. They represent dear departed ones to some Native Americans. Some people think you will have good luck or hear an excellent  message from far away if a dragonfly lands on you.

Did you know...
Urban legend says a dragonfly lives only one day. This is not true- a dragonfly lives 4 months or longer, some several years. They start out as an egg laid near the water. They hatch into a little larva and spend most of their life in this larva stage where they gobble up mosquito larva and other such tasties. They are hunted by fish and frogs during this time. While underwater, they swim and have gills. Now large and mature, they leave the water, stake claim to a reed or stick, and form a casing. The dragonfly then goes into  the process a butterfly or moth goes through when they transition from larva to adult form... they metamorphasize into their final stage- a beautiful dragonfly.

Did you know...
Dragonflies don't live up to their scary name.  They don't try to bite or sting humans- but watch out if you are an insect!

Click here to learn more about dragonflies http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/faq.html

Dragonfly Series

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

I am doing a series of pointillism (Daubism) paintings on dragonflies- the subject below is Libellula pulchella, commonly known as the Twelve Spotted Skimmer Dragonfly. It is found all throughout the continental United States as well as southern Canada. As a chiId, I had a specimen of this dragonfly in my insect collection- I was always facinated by its strikingly bold wing markings. If you look closely, you will find 4 Libellula pulchellas in this painting.

"Dragonfly Symphony" Oil on Canvas 30"x 40" copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

The 12 Spotted Skimmer has fragile wings and a strong body. It is found in ponds and other wet areas, eating small flying insects - such as those nasty mosquitoes! Click here to learn more about this dragonfly.

What's in the Paint?

by Dena Tollefson

Question- Why is the oil paint on your canvas so thick - almost like peanut butter? How long will one of your paintings last?

Cymbidium Orchid III 30"x24" Oil on Canvas 2004 Copyright Dena Tollefson

Private Collection

Answer- The paint is thick because I use artist's grade artist's paint. By using the best materials available, my paintings will last for generations.

Paints come in different types- here are some examples

• Artist's Grade (also known as Professional Grade) Artist's Paint
• Student's Grade Artist's Paint
• House Paint

Artist's oil paint is much different than house paint.  

Artist's Grade (also known as Professional Grade) paint consists of a vehicle/binder (usually linseed oil) + pigment (very concentrated ground up color). This concentration of linseed oil plus pigment is very thick and viscous. Since the mixture is only oil + pigment only with no fillers, etc, the mixture comes out of the tube like tootpaste or peanut butter. It is very long lasting and enables the artist to create work which will last centuries. This same mixture of oil + pigment has been used by artists through the centuries and has stood the test of time.

Student grade paint is similar in composition to Artist's grade(vehicle/binder + pigment), but it has a lower concentration of pigment, therefore may not provide the color intensity and tinting strength that artist's grade paint does. I use only Artist's Grade paint as it helps me get the color strength I need.

Interior house paint consists of a vehicle/binder +filler + pigment + water. Adding the filler and water dilutes the tinting strength of the paint and affects its long term permanence. When you paint a wall in your house, you will expect the color to fade over the years. Paintings made with Artist's Paint do not experience this type of fading

House paint is an option for some painters- in fact the late painter Jackson Pollock used standard enamel house paint and sometimes car paint for his famous "Drip" paintings. The concern with using this paint is that it is not intended to last for hundreds (or even thousands of years) as artist's paint is. Conservation is being done to protect many Jackson Pollock paintings so they do not deteriorate before their time.