Camargue Fantasy

It's been 6 months since I painted for the first time on my iPhone. I stopped after 3 weeks because I noticed the potentially deleterious effects to my eyes from looking at the screen and my hands and arms hurting from working on the itty bitty keyboard. I had a shock when I printed out my creations on my printer and they were grainy looking. A trip to a professional resulted in no better quality than my home printer. I found out from the clerk at Marin Photo that this is the problem with computer art! The quality is dependent on the initial resolution of the picture. iPhone apps are lacking in resolution. So, that being said, I left my goal of making a "painting-a-day" and took an oil painting class with Chester Arnold at IVC. But, as quandaries go, I love the paintings I make on my iPhone, so I decided to revisit the technology to see how I can take advantage of the App painting program called Brushes. With another Apps program called Mega Draw, I can create my own E greeting cards from my own oil paintings!

As things go, a little time for ideas in the incubator is sometimes all you need to inspire you to the next level of your art. Take the time to listen to your little/big Voice within and honor what it's telling you. All is not lost when things don't work out as you initially hoped they might. Come back and revisit what you've learned in a knew configuration and see what "shakes" out. Check out Mega Draw, and see how easily your "mistakes" are a thing of the past with a simple shake of your device.

Happy drawing and painting!

Elise

Make your own E greeting cards!

New Logo with Color

New Logo

Gearing Up to Paint Large

I went over to Utrecht in Berkeley to pick up a large canvas to paint a larger rendition of "The Last Run" for my solo show in December. This is my first large canvas, 36" x 48, and I'm looking forward to painting it with real oil paint. I've been painting with water-soluble oil paint, but then my friend Anne turned me on to hand-made oil paints by Williamsburg and the quality of the paints is amazing. So, I'll be making another trip over to Utrecht to get some of them.

"Neptune's Horses", oil, 8" x 10"

There is nothing more magical than white horses running together on the beach!

Fury, oil, 8" x 10"

When I'm feeling ancy, I pick up my paintbrush and create works of art, living my dream to the fullest. I'm still drawing inspiration from the wonderful compositions of Equine photographer, Gabrielle Boiselle.

"Peace", oil, 6" x 8"

As a lover of horses, I have a hard time choosing my favorite breed. I love wild horses and the Camargue figures highly on my list. But, when it comes to pure Grace, I have to go with the Spanish Andalusian Horse. In my painting "Peace", I capture this Spirit of the Horse, after the photography by Gabrielle Boiselle.

"The Last Run", oil, 6" x 8"

Ever since I was a kid, I cringed when I read stories of how the mustang, America's wild horse brought to America by the Spanish in the 1500's, was used for pet food and glue. Now, through the mustang, I have found the vehicle to express my concern for conservation and preservation of our natural resources. In the National Geographic article, "Spirit of the West", Melissa Farlow captures the plight of the mustang, through carefully placed "underground" cameras. I am now painting "surreal" images of mustangs, and preparing my first large-scale canvas, with a larger version of my painting, "The Last Run".

"The Last Run"

Ever since I was a kid, I cringed when I read stories of how the mustang, America's wild horse brought to America by the Spanish in the 1500's, was used for pet food and glue. Now, through the mustang, I have found the vehicle to express my concern for conservation and preservation of our natural resources. In the National Geographic article, "Spirit of the West", Melissa Farlow captures the plight of the mustang, through carefully placed "underground" cameras. I am now painting "surreal" images of mustangs, and preparing my first large-scale canvas, with a larger version of my painting, "The Last Run".

"Falling From Heaven" well-recieved

I sent my painting, "Falling From Heaven", to my cousin Sharon for her birthday. She received it in time and loves it. Now, she would like another one to go with it. I asked her if she wants a diptych, but she didn't know what I was talking about. She also wasn't sure what the horse in the painting was doing, but when I told her he was rolling on his back, she agreed that it looks like that.

Paintings on View at 2nd Fridays ArtWalk in San Rafael

Spirit in the Clouds, acrylic, 11" x 14"


Rearing Dapple Grey, acrylic, 12" x 12"


Spirit, acrylic, 11" x 14"

Acrylic and oil paintings will be on view at Artworks Downtown in San Rafael, this Friday, July 9 from 6 to 8 PM.

Hi Ho Silver, Silverpoint Drawing

"Hi Ho Silver", silverpoint drawing, 11" x 14"

Last semester, while taking Materials and Techniques, with Chester Arnold, I learned about an ancient drawing technique called silverpoint or metalpoint, where the artist makes marks with a piece of metal wire onto a gessoed clayboard. I loved the concept of being able to make marks with a piece of metal wire, so I created the piece, "Hi Ho Silver" for the Marin County Fair. Since I was a little girl, I always got excited when our horses would rear up on their hind legs. The title reminds one of the famous Lone Ranger, who shouted to his loyal white steed named Silver, "Hi Ho Silver away", but I got my inspiration for the title from a play on words on the media silverpoint.

Last day of 17th Annual Italian Street Painting Festival

Four days after the Festival, I was able to walk normally again! Seriously folks -- it is an incredible experience to be so close to the ground for two days in grueling 90 degree plus heat, "painting" my beloved Equus with chalk pastels -- but, it is physically, mentally and emotionally challenging. However, having never been one to shirk from a challenge, when I heard on Thursday from Suzanne, the Director of the Youth in Arts Program, that I would be painting in the Festival on Saturday, I had a few days to prepare for the event. Using my Feldenkrais skills and meditation, I visioned the entire process from laying out the grid lines, to sketching and finally painting "Camargue Dream", with the chalk pastels in 90 degree heat. When I was exhausted and didn't know how I would be able to make another mark on the ground, I drew on the picture in my mind of pulling myself up by the bootstraps and trudging up the mountain. I knew that I would succeed.

In the morning, I gathered up all of my tools -- brushes and rags for blending, a piece of string to create a chalkline, pieces of felt for blending, a sun hat and sun screen, and plenty of water and a small cooler for snacks to get me through the day -- and I arrived in time for Ole Man Summer to be shining in all of his glory from the East Bay. Covered from head to toe and slathered with 70 Sunscreen, I managed to avoid the inevitable sunburns I got as a kid. Moreover, I developed a real appreciation for the nutrient that sustained me - WATER - throughout the day! Half way through the 2nd day, I started to get a feel for handling the chalk pastels on the asphalt, to the point that I really enjoyed the process of scratching and blending the luxurious media on the ground.

There were so many incredible moments, but the "highlight" of my day at the Festival, was when I had a sudden urge to stand up after painting for 2 hours and right behind me, watching me "paint", stood my Sponsor, Mr. Chris Dempsy, and his children John and Kate. They just "happened" to be standing there when I dragged my stiff body from the abstract images unfolding before my eyes. By this time, I was so full of emotion that I nearly burst into tears because it really is a GIFT to be part of such an incredible event, and Mr. Dempsy's generous GIFT made it possible for me to participate this year, when there were more Sponsors than Artists. Spirit is so GENEROUS!!!

Now that its over, people tell me that they enjoyed seeing my horses at the Festival and ask me, "Will you do it again?" They know its grueling and bolster my confidence when I say, "YES". In fact, on our way home from the Festival, dirty from head to toe with chalk pastel dust, I told my husband, "I just loved painting on the street. I'm going to practice on the street in front of our home." I definitely "heard" him whince at the meer thought, but he didn't object to my aspirations to practice over the year, so I'll be well prepared and ready for the 18th Annual Italian Street Painting Festival next year!

"In the Dust" in San Rafael

Well folks,

The day has arrived! I've been working hard to prepare myself for what I expect will be a fun, but very challenging day, sitting on asphalt and "painting" with pastels. I've decided to reproduce my beloved painting "Camargue Dream", 2010, after a photo called "Galloping Horses" I saw on the internet. I prepared my grid and placed it in a protective plastic sleeve because by the end of the day, I can image that it will be pretty dirty. I designed some lovely business cards with a cropped version of my painting, "Camargue Dream", in hopes that I'll get a commission or two to paint equine portraiture. I've packed my cooler with plenty of water and a healthy lunch. My art basket is full of supplies including extra large Sennelier pastels, which I picked up at the Mill Valley Art Store going-out-of-business-sale, bristle brushes, paper towels, gloves for smudging and blending chalks, Handiwipes to clean my hands, a large-brimmed sunhat and UV ray-buster sunscreen, and plenty of layers of clothing for conditions that can quickly change from egg-beater hot to "Old Man of the North" chills in the hills of San Rafael. Music will be provided by my friend Adrian Quince, so I'll leave my earphones at home. I'll have my 5 megapixel camera ready to capture the happy moments through the day. More tomorrow.

Italian Street Painting Festival, June 12 and 13

"Camargue Dream", portrait-style, soon to be reproduced on asphalt with pastels, 4' x 6'

Oh, Happy Day!

Suzanne Joyal, the Director of the Artists in Schools, in San Rafael, called to ask me to participate this year in the Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival in San Rafael. I'll be painting a picture on the street of camargue ponies, with chalk pastels, under a wide brimmed sunhat and plenty of sunscreen. Stay tuned for the videos and photos my husband Georg will take to mark the occassion. See you there, June 12 and 13 from 11: Am to 5:00 PM.

Elise

Watercolor Painting of Horses

"American Indian Ponies", watercolor painting, 28" x 30"

I've resumed painting with watercolors. One of the best ways to work is to wet the entire sheet of paper (Arches coldpress), then lay it flat on a piece of plexiglass, and paint until the paper is dry. I have a spray bottle near by if the painting is getting too dry. I love the variety of wet to dry techniques that are possible when working in this manner.

Fwd: elisecheval sent you 'Horses by Elise Cheval' on PhotoPeach

Check out the video of my artworks created in 2010

http://photopeach.com/album/10fprq6?invitecode=a822ff509f

Artwork submitted to Surface/Tension: h2o Show

"Equisetum hyemale", monprint, ink on YUPO paper, 22" x 28"

"Ripple 1", monoprint, ink on YUPO paper, 12" x 18"

"Ripple 2", monoprint, ink on YUPO paper, 18" x 12"

I submitted these monoprints to the Surface/Tension: h2o Show at ICB, juried by Donna Seagar, which will be hanging at ICB through June.

(I first discovered YUPO paper when I created my artbook, "Return to Oz", which was shown last month in the "Elements" Show at OHCA.) YUPO "paper" is plastic that performs like Hot Press watercolor paper. Water-based printing ink travels on the surface of YUPO paper and yields many different effects, including "phases" of water that register like "steam", "mist" and "ripples". YUPO is the perfect support for wet and dry media as seen in my artbook.

Art work hanging at O'Hanlon Center for the Arts

My painting, "Fire Spirit" will be on view at the O'Hanlon Center for the Arts show, "Memory and Transitions", through May. Please come to the Roundtable discussion on Tuesday at 4:00 PM to hear the artists talk about their work. Go to www.OhanlonCenter.org for parking information.