Rubber Duck Artworks

Even MORE layers, giggles, and "holy crap this is awesome!"

2013-05-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce the completion of this little experiment and even more tickled to announce it wildly successful! Sure I'm a little sad it is seemingly over so soon, but hey, that just means the inspiration is still here and I'm still ready to paint!

Here's a breakdown of the final phases:

Let's start with the background. I glazed a layer of Ultramarine Blue and Prussian blue mixed. Of course, with the Yellow Ochre from before, I made a very nice shade of green. (but but, I want bluuuueeee!!) No worries, I'm not done yet. I brought in Titanium white to the areas I wanted lighter that had gotten too dark from my indecision.

This is when I noticed my dust problem. I'm not sure what the Old Masters would have done about the dust, but I know it was giving me grief. In an attemptto hide it, I dabbed the still wet blue with a lint -free cloth. Bam! Cool texture. I'll definitely remember this!

The coat saw another layer of Ivory Black and Titanium white. Just building volume without attracting a lot of attention with colors.

The skin tones is where this is getting fun... (Getting fun? Haha, this has BEEN fun!!) Along with the Yellow Ochre/Cadmium Red/Titanium White mixture I'd been using all along, I added Burnt Umber, Payne's Gray, Ultramarine Blue, and some Lavender. My goal in this sitting is to create the most realistic skin tone possible, and while I'm at it, really nail down the details. I also painted the flesh tone over where his eyebrows are and the very short hairs on the side of his head. Because you can see the skin through his hair, I thought it best to paint it along with all the other skin. This way there wouldn't be a weird line. The only problem was he look WAY too weird without eyebrows! So I painted those back on.

A little more details added to the phone and the board is covered with wet paint.

Aaaaand it's time for the paint to dry again. *sigh*

My fifth sitting with this piece everything really falls into place. I went over his coat again, and made the highlights a bit brighter than I want in the final painting. This is so I can glaze lots of black over them and I won't lose them later. I went over his face one more time and fine-tuned all the details, using Ivory Black and Burnt Umber on a tiny brush. I also painted in his hair. It's getting so close!

In the final (bittersweet) sitting, I glazed Ivory Black over the background and coat, adjusted the hairline above his ears, finished the phone, and painted in the buttons. Threw on some highlights on the far side of the coat, and that's it. Just like that I'm done.

I am so totally pleased with this experiment that I will most definitely continue painting with what I have learned. For starters, painting on a gessoed hard board is amazing. I didn't once fight with the surface and could devote all of my attention to creativity. Add to that the longevity I have added to each piece, I see no reason to paint on canvas ever again. (A little too dramatic maybe?)

I am torn on the drawing and preparation involved in a piece. This is probably an old dog hesitant to learn a new trick, or maybe I just lack the confidence in my skill to just start creating talking. I have always planned planned planned. To sit down at a blank board and just start is terrifying, and also liberating at the same time. Like swinging on a trapeze without a net. Well okay, I can't fall to my death while painting... but you get my point.

Welp, that's all for now. We'll end here on this being wildly successful and until next time, keep those creative juices flowing!!

Layers, Giggles, and Waiting. I hate waiting.

2013-04-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

Here it's been a couple weeks and my lack of sleep just might be getting the best of me. (I may have made a phone call from the calculator.) I can't help it though, the creative bug has bitten me and I'm in full blown reaction.

Portrait of Paul. Phase 1, Burnt Sienna and Ivory Black
underpainting. © 2013 Maranda Schemanski

Since I last updated, I have been busy with layers of paint creating form and volume in my experimental piece.

I started this one with a preliminary layer of Burnt Sienna and Ivory Black, then added his cell phone to the bottom right corner to give balance to the entire piece. Without it, there was a little too much negative space down there and the eye easily trailed off the image.

I cannot begin to tell you the beauty of painting on a gessoed and sanded surface. In all my time painting on canvas, I never felt the technique I was using (with the the washing and glazing with linseed oil) ever found the perfect consistency. I always felt I struggled so much with the mechanics of the paint itself that sometimes the image I was creating lost some to the shortfalls in my medium. Painting is not so with the hard board. I could use a little to a lot of oil and still have no struggles with pooling, running, or clumping.

Pleased with this start, I stepped back and decided this was going to be awesome.

Then the hardest 3 days of my life happened.

I had to wait for the paint to dry.

Agony.

Fortunately, I have a few other art projects to keep me busy while I wait... and there's all the house work too. Lucky me!

The second layer of paint found me working more detail into his face, more volume into his coat, and

another layer on the background, while finding the proper placement for eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. I also added a layer of Yellow Ochre to the background and a layer of Ivory Black to his coat. I have not yet added other colors. I'm focused on finding my form.

My palette for the second layer of paint. Was everyone who got married in the 80's given a blue Corell dish set, standard issue? Thanks, mom, for the plate. :)

Some of my brushes.

Portrait of Paul. Phase 2; Second layering of paint.
© 2013 Maranda Schemanski

Again, the agony of waiting for paint to dry..... killing me slowly.....

......

The third sitting brought in Titanium White and Payne's Grey. The goal for the next few steps of layering will be a battle between bringing up the highlights and darkening she shadows. This process will create an illusion of a three dimensional object sitting in front of the viewer, as opposed to the two dimensional board that is actually there. I'm still using the Yellow Ochre/Cadmium Red combo as in the previous layer, adding the Payne's Grey to cool and dirty the shadows. I'm being stingy on the Grey so far because I'm finding form at this point and not making the colors.

My Palette for Phase 2, flesh tones.

After a little discussion with my model, we settled on a blue toned background. (Blue symbolizes strength.) Of course, we decided this after a layer of Terra Verte Green went down. But that's okay, easy to change the colors.

Portrait of Paul. Phase 3, Addition of Titanium White to draw out highlights and create volume.
© 2013 Maranda Schemanski

And with that, you are all caught up.

Do you think the paint is dry yet?

Inspiration, Epiphanies, and Insights

2013-04-05T11:09:00.003-07:00

March 28th, 2013

Upon arriving to the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) for a recent show (The Treasures of Kenwood House, London), I found the majority of the exhibit being works from English painters. Included in the exhibit was Rembrandt's "Portrait Of An Artist." (Yes, I know, Rembrandt is Dutch and technically didn't fit into the crowd, but who was I to tell them to take it down? I sat on the bench and stared at it in awe like everyone else.) I was unprepared for the impact this venture was about to bring.

"Portrait Of An Artist" -Rembrandt, painted c. 1665–69

This wasn't the first time I viewed Rembrandt's originals; it was the third. While each time I've reveled in the privilege of seeing his masterpieces, none has had such an impact of the third viewing.

The first time was several years ago at the Portland Art Museum (PAM). Haha, SAM and PAM.....

The trip to PAM certainly changed my entire attitude about art and how I saw it. I always knew I wanted to paint like the Old Masters, and I've tried to learn as much as I could through books, online images, and the never-ending pit of knowledge that is my mother. (Not to mention she's the inspiration for my love of art.) But, nothing can prepare a person for standing face to face with (in my opinion) one of the greatest artists of all time.

The second time I saw Old Master originals was in the National Gallery in Washington, DC. What was so impacting in that gallery was the vast quantity of works. I was able to walk through art history and see first hand the discoveries made by the greatest artists who ever lived.

And yet, after all of that, I still felt something lacking in paintings I create.

Sitting in awe of Rembrandt at SAM, I decided to pull up one of my own pieces (on my nifty new iPad) and actually put it side-by-side with the "Portrait Of An Artist." That's when I saw it; the one thing I was missing. It was so simple. How I never saw it before I'll never know. I was missing black. Yes, black. All my life I've heard so many artists and teachers tell me how to keep my paintings pure, I must never use black. Ever.

So I never did. I mean, sure, if I were painting something that actually was black, I would pull out Ivory Black, but only with an immense sense of guilt that I was betraying some unwritten code. (Which is another thing, I don't get my attitude here. I mean, I was standing in front of a Titian in the Washington Gallery and I SAW the dirtied colors; the "real life" essence he put in his work that changed art forever.)

Nonetheless, there I was, sitting in the gallery with my mom and sister, having an epiphany of epic proportions.

It just so happened that upon my return home, I had a modeling session scheduled for a portrait idea, with my inspiration being the old famous photo of Humphrey Bogart in a trench coat. My friend (and now star model) has a coat I saw as perfect for the "feel" I wanted to capture.

I was still unaware of the connection this art show and my friend turned model shared.

As I began pouring over my reference photos and brainstorming the perfect pose, I settled on a position and began drawing. I'm sure I will paint this one; I love the idea so much.

Then another artsy friend came over to see what had me so excited and losing sleep. I showed her my reference photos, my inspiration photo, and we discussed technique, lighting, positioning, and all the things that go into a masterpiece. Then I showed her the "Self Portrait As Apostle Paul" and she had one little thought...

A little work in Photoshop, some sketching on vellum, a little mock-up, and her idea came to life. I. Was. Stunned. This was the culmination of everything I've absorbed over the last several years brought to life in one afternoon.

"Self Portrait As The Apostle Paul"
- Rembrandt, painted c. 166

I knew that I had to abandon the modern conveniences and take this on like the production art as it used to be. I bought a hard board, gesso, and sandpaper. I spent a day prepping, sanding layer after layer of gesso until my board was as smooth as eggshells. Perfect.

Usually, before I paint anything, I painstakingly draw everything exactly how I want it, transfer that to canvas (using some very cool technological methods) and only then start painting. This time, that just felt wrong. I penciled on a few key points for proper placement, then grabbed my brush, took a deep breath, and began.

This changes everything.

It's been a year? Already?

2013-01-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here, January 11th, wondering where the year went. I resolved to clean off that drawing board last year and it seems that was a far bigger task than I was ready to undertake. Add to that a hectic summer job that took up everyday, well, I didn't get nearly as much done as I would have liked. That's okay. I made progress, and that's better than nothing.

The latest painting to make it off the "drawing board" is of my friend Hailey. I call this one "Sugar & Spice"

"Sugar & Spice" © 2013 Maranda Schemanski. All rights reserved.

Until next time! Happy painting!

First finished Drawing Board piece.

2012-02-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Today I mark one of the old paintings off the list. This piece, titled "Twilight Sweet Peas" has been an image I have wanted to create for several years. The tiny pink sweet peas that pop up all over Southern Oregon in late spring always bring a smile. These peas were photographed late one evening while on a walk around the neighborhood. Enjoy!

Happy painting!

The First Batch of The Drawing Board

2012-01-31T10:14:00.000-08:00

What I'm posting today is the first batch of unfinished paintings on the drawing board. Each one of the paintings today I created at a spark of inspiration. These are not planned out, drawn out, or in any other way thought through. These are the kinds of images that get me into trouble. What I'm hoping to decide with each of these is 1) are they laid out correctly? 2) is the composition strong? 3) do I still have the creative spark strong enough to finish it?

This is an image from my trips to Wildlife Images in Grants Pass, Oregon. This is a bard owl named Opal. what I was going for in this image was an owl possibly hunting in the twilight of the evening. So far, I like this one, and I think I'll be continuing to work on it. (Plus my sister said I have to, so there you go.)

This is another image from a Wildlife Images animal - Clark the Cougar. This piece, I believe, is too flawed anatomically that this one will be recycled.

I'm not entirely sure what inspired this one, but it's cute... so I plan on finishing.

Here is a sporadically inspired city painting, which is never a good idea. All buildings and straight line NEED TO BE PLANNED AHEAD!! That being said, I'll try to finish this one.

Here's a fun one. Inspired by the antics of my son. This painting, however, has been giving me fits since I started it a couple years ago. Yet for some reason, I am compelled to finish.

Nude in a garden. I've been requested to finish this one as well, so there you go.

Another one of my son. He's throwing a rock onto a little creek. I don't know about this one. I think I'll set it towards the back of the pile and think about it later.

There is the start to the paintings I've found laying around the studio. But don't worry.. there are many more.

Until next time! Happy painting!

Resolutions of a Creative Mind.

2012-01-30T11:47:00.000-08:00

Today I'm going to cover the irritating topic of New Year's Resolutions. Those pesky promises to yourself that have a general tendency to go in one month and out the other. I know the popular ideas for resolutions are "eat healthier" or "exercise more" or "work smarter not harder". Well this year I've decided to take this challenge from a slightly different angle. What I see as a problem for resolutions is they are just a band-aid. A band-aid over habits we've spent years forming. I'd say it's time to form some new habit and less "oops I fell off the wagons."

I've also decided that the tired old fitness and health resolution isn't my thing. Yes, I will work everyday to make healthy choices, but that's not what I want my (failed) resolution to be. This year, I've decided to take a look at my art and resolve to make it front and center in life. To make it something I actively do, instead of passively ponder.

This, however, is too vague a concept to hit the ground running with. What I need are specific goals I can reach, and that can build on one another to reach a big goal. No, not a big goal, a DREAM!

I'll start out with listing a few goals I know I have:

• Create at least 2 new paintings a month. (Thus building a body of work in which to share in shows.)
• Create actual income using my art and artistic skills. (Enough so that I can consider "art" as my job)
• Inspire others to appreciate art (not just art, but understand art)
• Create a network of like-minded artists to share ideas with, and to inspire one another.
• Inspire others to take up a passion for art.
• Learn how to teach art and figure out how to offer classes online.

With a few goals in mind (and I'll be updating this list on a regular basis) I need to find a starting point. At first I struggled with this. Then it became so obvious. What does each artist start their masterpiece with? A blank canvas of course. I looked around my creative space only to see a big mess. Papers everywhere, photos unorganized, drawings in paper pads on shelves, and ideas started on all sizes of canvases.

This won't do.

I painted my walls a pretty shade of lavender, hung up a wire to clip drawings and ideas to and gathered up everything started, but not finished. My first goal is clear. CLEAN OFF THAT DRAWING BOARD! I can't bring any new ideas to the party until I clean out the old clutter. So for the month of February, I'm taking a look at each "old" piece (some are not actually that old, while others are very old) and decided to keep and finish, or I'm over it and reuse the canvas.

I also need to structure art time so it's not so sporadic and it gets done. I know everyday is a bit of a stretch for me, and I'll quickly fail, so I'm going to paint at least three times a week. (Which is open to increasing!) I'm going to treat my art like a job, and take it seriously!

See you next time with something finished and off the drawing board!

"Early To Rise"

2010-07-17T20:09:00.000-07:00

I've decided to take a moment, and share each of my pieces with you so that you may get to know them better. Each painting is a part of the world the way I see. Someone I knew, something I saw, or something I think. All of what I paint I find beautiful in some way. With these Hot Air Balloons, the beauty is obvious.

Color is what draws me to this scene. The brilliant colors of these balloon is quite unnatural, and therefore must be explored. Beyond the vibrant colors of these balloons, the shear size of them brought me to attention. Not only did I want to capture the utter beauty of the designs, but somehow capture their enormous size in a painting.

The composition was going to be key for this. Having some of the balloons partially inflated on the ground, while others were ready to disembark the earth, would give the viewer a range of understanding of how these balloons came to be suspended in the sky. I also felt the need to "scale" them against something. Naturally, they could be scaled against the people that wrangled them, they could also be scaled against the awestruck onlooker. As you can see one couple posing for a picture in front of a sea of color. Also trucks and distant trees give to the illusion of grandeur.

I am quite pleased with this painting, felling as though I have captured all I wanted to. The morning these balloons neighbored my house is a morning I shall not soon forget.

~Maranda

You gotta head out sometimes!

2010-06-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

Meandering Along the Southern Oregon Coast

A big part of being an artist, in my mind, is the ability to head out into the field, and practice your skills en plein aire. Something I find challenging, relaxing, adventuresome, and just plain fun. My main trips to the great outdoors are to the Oregon Coast. Dramatic jetting rocks, blue waters, shining sun, and hiking trails; all these elements create a weekend to be enjoyed. My medium of choice is watercolor. Easy to pack, lightweight, fast drying, watercolor is the perfect medium to drag with you on a hike.

The above painting is from a tall bluff at Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, Oregon. A favorite among Oregonians, a sunny day at this park is well worth the drive.

This painting is from the bluff known as Otter Point, a few miles north of Gold Beach, Oregon. A small hike to the tip of this bluff, and a look south is this scene. But beware, the wind really blows out there!

To get to this view, I climbed down the north side of Otter Point, and settled on a rock in a very warm little cove. This place was tranquil, and I plan on returning soon.

Another scene from the overlook of a bluff. The immediate cove is Cape Sebastian, then Meyer Creek flows into the ocean, followed by a long beach, then Pistol River flows into the ocean on the far side of this view. Hwy 101 drops down from the ocean mountains to follow the beach in the amazing location between Brookings and Gold Beach, Oregon. This beach is another favorite spot. However, if you plan on hiking the Pacific Coast Trail from this overlook, it's a steep trail down to the beach, and quite an extraneous hike!

This final painting is from the Thomas Creek Bridge Lookout, north of Brookings, Oregon. The Thomas Creek Bridge is the highest bridge in Oregon at 345 feet from sea level. Another beautiful spot, and I enjoy the contrast of lush green foliage, and this wind-battered tree.

A great tool in any adventure outdoors is a guide. A great one for the Southern Oregon coast is 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Oregon Coast & Coast Range (Oregon 100 Hikes)

Another Trip To A Local Park

Another place I enjoy a visit is Litha Park in Ashland, Oregon. Meticulously manicured gardens, and a trickling picturesque creek create gentle and beautiful views. Visit the Wikipedia page for the history.

Upper Lithia Park is a quieter area, away from the playing kids, hustling downtown, and Shakespeare festival. This little spot by the creek was bursting with plants. The challenge with painting this subject on the spot is capturing all the detail of the plant life quickly. I don't want to paint every leaf, but I still want to viewer to understand those leaves are there. Impressions are key to this subject. However, once I've finished with this session, I will take a photo, and once back in the studio, this study can lend some perspective to a final piece that I may have missed just in a photo reference.

Here I've abandoned the paint for pencils. In the lower park there is an open spot of grass that is a popular stop to sit back and enjoy the park. With live figure drawing, I cannot seem to apply watercolor fast enough to capture people who don't know to hold still. But hey, pencil is great, too!

So give a painting excursion a try....

"George Washington Prays For America - 2009"

2010-05-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

The inspiration for this piece comes from an art show prospectus. In late 2009, an art show was announced showcasing artwork depicting American ideals. What makes America great.

Of course I was excited about this project, and immediately began to think of American subjects. Innovation, diversity, perseverance, and dedication are interwoven into American culture. I, however, find myself wondering what historical events brought us to greatness in such short historical order. The accomplishments of the group of people known as Americans are vast. Where did this immense sense of pride come from? This contemplation lead me to begin to research my country’s heritage.

One individual that I seem to have gravitated towards is George Washington, well known as the Father of America. He reluctantly served our emerging country. What I glean from this is his inability to be corrupted by politics, monetary gain, special interest, and falling victim to “getting ahead” by selling out even the tiniest amount of one’s moral self. Mr. Washington led the continental army with integrity I have not yet heard of, and something any and every person should aspire to maintain in their own character. Perhaps something more common to the early American than modern Americans. The honor and integrity in which he led these men, commanded respect and honest to goodness love, led this country into a leading role in history.

What I decided to showcase in my piece is the quiet faith a person must possess and the unabridged love for a country and a people so diverse to warrant dedicating your life to the assurance of success. After failures, hardships, tragedies, triumphs and glory, Mr. Washington not only ensured this country's place as an independent entity in the world, but he returned once more to lead this country in the right direction after retiring to his quiet home.

In my day, my country is once again under attack. This attack isn’t with muskets, canons, or Red Coats. Not bombs, nuclear weaponry, or even terrorists' makeshift plane-bombs, although those things have put us in danger. What I’m referring to is a Progressive movement slowly chipping away at the freedom both you and I enjoy. Each day I hear of another event that takes a little piece of freedom and turns it into a government “program”. The movement has been working on this since the early 1900’s, and they are at the final push to transform America. We are told that America is undergoing a “fundamental transformation”. Into what I wonder? The founding of this country created a document of rights and rules that have created a free country the world has never seen. I believe every American should not only read the Bill of Rights, Constitution and Declaration of Independence, do not believe what anyone says is in it, but know for yourself what Mr. Washington, Mr. Ben Franklin, Mr. Sam Adams, and Mr. John Adams among others would fight so hard to create. Know our history, know our founders. If you truly believe in America and what she is, stand up for our country. Knowledge from the original source is the greatest asset for maintaining our freedom.

In my painting, Mr. Washington sits on some steps, could be the capitol, a memorial somewhere, or a town hall in your town, quietly praying for this nation his own blood, sweat and tears created. I imagined for a moment, what if Mr. Washington were alive today, how would he feel about our management this country. Would he be proud of you or me for our service to this great nation. Or would he be ashamed of our disassociation with American Ideals, our lethargic attitude towards freedom. American dedication to values; faith, honor, hope, truth, integrity, and charity is what made us. Mr. Washington would be praying for us indeed.

That is what I believe Mr. Washington would pray for. What do you believe he would pray for?

Recommended reads: "The Real George Washington (American Classic Series)", "The 5000 Year Leap" "Rise To Rebellion"
“The Glorious Cause" "Glenn's Becks Common Sense" "The Constitution Of The United States, with the Bill of Rights, and All of The Amendments"

I will continue to read and research our American history and keep you all posted!

A Critique Of Another Kind

2010-05-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

As probably most of you know, I come from a line of artists. My mother, Olivia Schemanski, is an artist, and her father before her also an artist. Not surprisingly my son shows great promise of artistic talent. What he does with that is his choice of course. So in the new age of computers and blogs, I've attempted to create a place where art, technique and inspiration can be discussed.

"The word critic comes from the Greek κριτικός (kritikós), "able to discern"^[1], which in turn derives from the word κριτής (krités), meaning a person who offers reasoned judgment or analysis, value judgment, interpretation, or observation^[2]. The term can be used to describe an adherent of a position disagreeing with or opposing the object of criticism." - From Wikipedia

Another major piece of the artistic, and really any aspect of anything creative is an ample supply of criticism. I know, I know, who wants to hear about the "bad" points of anything you've worked so hard to create. Without some constructive thoughts, our potential cannot be reached. Proper criticism holds the key to advance our works far beyond what we can accomplish in our studio.

Well, let me introduce you to Critical Round-Up. A modern critical blog about not only art, but that which is creative and inspires us to be. Check out this informative blog, become a follower, and put in your two cents.... heck, you should leave a quarters worth!

Till next time.....

Greeting and Salutations!

2010-01-08T13:03:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the page for Rubber Duck Artworks! I hope you check back regularly for updates!