The Big Move; Packing it Up.

At work in the my current studio on East Hennipen Ave.

It’s been a quiet week here on the blog, I know.  I’m very excited to report that I have been packing up my studio in preparation for the big move…  I’ll be picking up my current space, and moving it further into NE Minneapolis. 

The space that I’m leaving has been good to me since moving in 3 years ago.   The exciting part, is that I think the new space is going to be even better.  I’ll have big new windows on the north and west walls letting in a ton of natural light.  This will also be the first time since I left art school at The Atelier that I will have  a studio with hard wood floors. 

Check back again for pictures for the new space!

Interstate State Park

Interstate State Park, 6x8

This painting is from a spot high up top of the cliffs over looking the St.Croix River.  The river forms the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin.  This particular spot is on the Minnesota side of the river just south of the town of Taylors Falls.  It was a wonderful autumn day with a bright, yet overcast sky.

The Temperance River

The Temperance River, 12×12

This is the first time I have ever painted a waterfall.  It was such a great early fall day when we were on the rocks over looking the upper falls on the Temperance River, near Lake Superior.  One of the most fascinating things about paint this piece, was attempting to capture the feeling of light streaming in between the tree and rocks.  With so much of the river and rocks covered in cool blue shadows, the warm sun light really stood out on the foaming water as it flowed  over the rocks, heading down stream.

My Father the Model.

Oil sketch of my Dad, 12x12

For anyone that has seen my work before, the man in the above oil sketch may look familiar… it’s my Dad.  The new session of my Thursday night portrait class is up and running.  The only problem that we ran into, was a previous commitment from our usual model for Thursday, September 25th.  That left me with a class of eager portrait painters, and no one to paint. 

As I have done many times in the past, I turned to my dad for help. And as he has done many times in the past, he was happy to lend a hand, or in this case, a head.  I suppose it is possible that I am a bit biased, but he one of the best models that I have worked with!

portrait class, painters in action.portrait clss, painters in action

Back to School

Drawing class at The Atelier

After a great summer break, my weekly portrait class has begun again at The Atelier in Minneapolis.  After our first night, last night, I think this is going to be a really great group to work with. I’m lucky as a teacher to have several returning student.  It’s always nice to think that people take a class from you, learned something, and had a good enough time along the way to want to do it again.

My portrait class runs for 15 weeks in the main figure room at The Atelier.  For anyone interested, I do have a couple of spots left.

Cast drawing

The images above were discovered in The Atelier archives.  They feature a much younger Jeffrey Smith as a first year student at The Atelier way back in 1999.

Como Park Pines

Como Park Pines, 8×10″, oil on panel, Jeffrey Smith

Please click here for purchase information on this painting.

This painting was done en plein air.  That is the fancy way of saying that it was painted on location outside, in plain air.  Painting on location can be quite difficult; the light changes, there’s bugs, you have to hike around with your gear…. Then there are times like this!  I had such a great time standing amongst the pine trees in the St.Paul Minnesota park!!  It was a beautiful day in august when I painted the above scene.  If you look close at the bottom of the painting, you can see the under-painting.  For this one, I used English Red, brushed on with a lot of Gamsol, and then rubbed off with a Viva paper towel.

Rock Wall

Rock Wall, 6x12

Today’s post, also started life as a plein air sketch.  It was done on a square panel.  I questioned when I looked at it, “Do I really need all of this going on?” The top portion featured a pine and birch forest with perhaps too much detail…

Back in Minneapolis, and back in the studio, I decided I was really just interested in the rocks. I selected a new panel, and began repainting. 

The above image is the result.  Much like The Rocks from last week, there is something so wonderful about being able to make paint look solid and heavy.

Late Afternoong Light

Late Afternoon Light, 12x12

 Today’s post is a pastel painting done on a homemade panel.  I started with a sheet of Gatorboard.  I toned it with Golden Liquid acrylic in a Payne’s gray.  Next, a layer of  pumice gel is applied with a 2″ brush.  The great thing with these panels, is the texture left behind.  The peaks and valleys from the pumice gel allows the tone underneath to show through when a stick of pastel is drawn across.  These spots of color gives a nice vibration to the painting.

detail

Late Afternoon Light, detail