New paintings

A few new paintings sent off to Gallery Russia for the winter.

 "Kasia's Bluebells" I worked on this one for my video demonstration. Which by the way I am still working on. So sad that its taking a while to finish up. 

 "Mama's little girl" I really enjoyed painting this one. Love the dark/light pattern and color harmony.

"Bearded Man" This one was done in an open studio session. I think one of the funnest things to paint is men with beards. The contract of very dynamic and bold features along with the soft flowing edges of the beard, just works. One of my favorites for sure.

Lasting Impressions Hurricane Relief Art Sale

This event has been organized to assist the communities of Schoharie Valley in upstate New York, which were devastated this past August by flooding from Hurricane Irene. New York artist Jon Sastko witnessed this great need first-hand, and with the help of many, has put together this online art sale and its proceeds will benefit Hurricane Irene flood victims from Jon's community in Schoharie Valley, New York.

Visit www.lastingimpressionssale.com for more information and to view the wonderful works being made available.  Participating artists include Daniel Keys, Kathy Anderson, Marci Oleszkiewicz, Taaron Parsons, Eric Suchowesky, and Brian Jekel, to name just a few.

New paintings submitted to the Waterhouse Gallery's Great American Figurative show opening November 19th.

10x8 Pink Shawl

24x18 Yellow and Green

Painting and Golf, the similarities are astounding

You may think I am reading much more then I am painting because of these book posts but believe me I am painting. I squeeze in the books just before going to bed. So hear is another one I highly recommend.

Golfs Sacred Journey ( seven days in Utopia) You may or may not have heard that they have recently come out with a movie about this book. It was hearing about the movie that inspired me writing about the book. I purchased this book some time ago for my Husband ( then fiance) for his birthday. He loves golf and is very good at it. He began teaching me golf when we were just dating, I remember him telling me how it is so much a mind game, how much you have to stay focused. Even then I saw parallels to painting but it wasn't until I read this book that I was convinced.  In a nutshell this book is about a professional golfer who on a very important tournament pretty much failed miserable, from one bad shot it snowballed to a complete disaster, his nerves, emotion, mind got the best of him. He leaves the course ready to quit golf and drives out in the country stumbling upon a make shift golf course owned by an old man who was once himself a professional golfer. This is Utopia and the old man, Johnnie, becomes his teacher, counselor, mentor for seven days in Utopia as he learns about vision, confidence, focus, emotions, and trust. He is stripped down, broken and humbled as he is faced with his fears, doubts, pride and failures. Early in the book the young golfer recognized that he had traded Unconditional love for the love of his pet dog and the conditional love of his performance on the golf course. His life was out of control.  In the book, his teacher, Johnnie  gives him lessons each day in a most unconventional way, the lessons are not only about Golf but about life.  There are lessons about Conviction, Faith, Emotional control, Vision, Truth, Trust and many others.

I just found it so interesting, maybe because I am a painter that I apply everything to painting, but I do believe there are parallels in the emotional control, the trust, the conviction of what I am doing as I paint and to not let a random response from a viewer throw me off of my game. Of course as a painter I found Chapter 5 the most exciting to read because the mentor Johnnie actually uses painting to help teach the young man a lesson in golf. In this lesson he introduced the acronym S.F.T See it, Feel it, Trust it to help him get his game back. "We must paint the shot with our eyes first, before our body can produce it accurately.." As painters we too need to first see the finished painting in our mind before we can reproduce it with our hands.

Though the book is about Golf and for me I see the parallel of playing golf and painting, there is a much deeper thing going on in this book, and that is the state of this professional golfer's soul. Early on in the book this young man recognized that he had traded unconditional love for the love of his pet dog and the conditional love of his performance on the golf course. His life was out of control.  By the end of the book Johnnie is able to speak truth into his life "you have been controlled by your performance in life and the opinions of other. You have lost sight of what it means to live a life of significance. You see, success is a destination while significance is an eternal calling. " Amen to that.

Step by Step Process of "Weighing the Oranges" 10x8

Step 1. I blocked in an abstract color wash.

Step 2. I began to add thick layers of paint,  leaving some of the original color wash showing through.

Step 3. In this stage I begin to focus in on areas to finish.

Close up of face and hands, the center of interest.

Finished painting. Some areas have been worked on to a more "finished look" while others maintain the original abstract wash.

Art & Fear part 2

Just finished the book Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland. Great read for sure and I highly recommend picking up your own copy.  I doubt it will be a book you read and put back on your shelf never to be read again. I underlined way too many things to never find it useful again. It is weird to read a book and feel as if the writer is looking within you and saying exactly what is going on inside. I laughed out loud several times because I was reading about myself, about the exact things that go on inside me and it was describing my very actions. The writers got a lot of things right on, and I must say it was quit comforting to realize that  I am not the only one to have doubts and fears in my work. One of the main points of the book was attempting to answer the question as to why so many artists quit making art. It was scary to see some of the reasons stemming from fear yet it also turned the heat up for me to keep pressing on, to not give way to fear and work hard despite my cycles of drought.

Just a few quotes from the book.

"All that you do will inevitably be flavored with uncertainty- uncertainty about what you have to say, about whether the materials are right, about whether the pieces should be long or short, indeed about whether you'll ever be satisfied with anything you make." pg 19

"The truth is that the piece of art which seems so profoundly right in its finished state may earlier have been only inches or seconds away from total collapse." pg 19

"Artists get better by sharpening their skills or by acquiring new ones; they get better by learning to work. and by learning from their work. They commit themselves to the work of their heart, and act upon that commitment." pg 28

"If you think good work is somehow synonymous with perfect work, you are headed for big trouble." pg 29

"Most people stop making art when they stop being students." pg 85

"Simply put art that deals with ideas is more interesting then art that deals with technique." pg

Art & Fear: part 1

      I recently heard about this book while I was at the OPA conference in Coer DeAlane. The title intrigued me as I often find the issue of fear creeping in myself when I'm beginning a new work or suffering in what I call my artist funk. I've also found myself talking to my students about their fears while trying to learn. Fear is an issue for all of us as human beings but it is apparent that it impacts us as artists far to powerfully and consistently in our creative journey. Fear gets in our way, keeping us stagnant and often even pulling us down. It keeps us from pressing forward and taking risks, experimenting, trying new things.  Fear lies to us, seducing us to be content in where we are, that its too risky to take that next step forward, that nothing good can come from it and in fact, certain failure is imminent. Fear, my arch enemy will not get the best of me. By the strength that comes from above I will have victory.

So I decided to order this book "Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils ( and Rewards) of Artmaking" by David Bayles.  I have only read through the introduction, it is not a long book but I don't think it is one of those books you can just speed through and check it off your list. A slow read with lots of underlining seems necessary. I am curious as to what the author has to say about faith, the opposite of fear, playing an important roll in the creative journey, we shall see. 

Honorable mention from OPA Online Showcase

Honorable Mention
Award Sponsor: Oil Painters of America
Award Judge: Ken Spencer
A Polish Christmas
by Marci Oleszkiewicz
Oil 12 x 24
Summer 2011

Trailer for Upcoming Video Demonstration "Kasia's Bluebells"

 

Hope you enjoy this short preview of my video demonstration coming soon. 

Stay tuned for further information posted here and on my website www.marcioleszkiewicz.com

Summer art camp 2011

Drawing stages of our Mural

My first summer art camp took place this week. It was a trial run for future events and we had such a blast. We had sessions on basics of drawing, painting with watercolor and acrylic, mural painting and some more crafty projects like painting rocks ( the kids loved that one) Looking forward to next years more in depth 5 day camp.

Giving Back

 I came across an old post of mine from some time ago and wanted to share it again as I find my self in this place of gratitude once again.

What can you give a person who has given you so much. How can you ever repay someone who has offered and shared so much.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. As an art student I've found myself having next to nothing at times, trying to get a good art education, trying to have time to paint and draw, needing money to eat and sleep and stay alive. The old cliche the "Starving Artists" has not been too far from the truth. However, I found myself in the tutalidge of some very generous artists/instructors who have made and continue to make this journey a little easier.

One instructor in particular, teaching so generously, the tools of a good painter. They were like little jewels, treasures that I now see how valuable they really are. So I thought, How in the world can I ever give back, how can I repay such a person who gave and continues to give without really getting much in return. I realized that the only thing I can give back is to be the best painter I can be. To work hard, to show that all that effort did not go in vain. So the journey continues and I paint, pressing on, taking every opportunity to learn more and grow, and to pass on these jewels to others so that they might also share in this treasure.

As a thought about this further what became so obvious to me was that this is exactly what my Father in Heaven has given me. He has given me His Son, who died on the cross for my sins so that I can be with Him in heaven for all eternity. There is no way I could ever give back in equality for that. There is nothing on this earth that could match this Grace. So all that is left for me to do is to become more of who God created me to be, to be more like Him, to know Him more, to hunger and thirst after righteousness, out of thanksgiving giving him the glory and sharing the good news to others.

So I press on towards the finish line, that I might hear "Well done my good and faithful servant"

OPA event 2011

Just a few photos of the Oil Painter's of America National show. What a great event and so much fun meeting other artists. So great to get out of the studio and spend time with so many great artists. Looking forward to next year.

Art in Motion. Before the event began many artists cam early to paint out doors and to paint from the model in this session of art in motion. Looked like so much fun I wished I had brought my paints with me this time.

Charles Movalli's lecture

Works by Charles Movalli

Ken Cadwallader introducing Signature member Ned Mueller before is fantastic slide presentation of his work.

The American Art Collector Sponsored Boat cruise.

Painting Demonstration by Craig Zuger

Add caption

OPA National show Weekend

This afternoon I arrived in Coeur d'Alane, ID for the Oil Painters of America's National show weekend. I am so excited, this is going to be a great event. I have never been to the North West and the scenery here is amazing. I will post pictures of the event beginning tomorrow. Looking forward to meeting some new artists and catching up with long time friends. One of the highlights of this weekend will be the Demonstration by Scott Christensen on Friday morning.

Bo Zhang Workshop

I took a drawing workshop from Bo Zhang a few weeks ago.  Below is a quick sketch and final 3 hour drawing from the first day of the workshop. There is something so beautiful in a simple charcoal drawing. To not have to think about color, temperature, paint application .. etc, can sometimes be so freeing and energizing.  What a treat to get back to the basics and be reminded of some of the foundational and powerful aspects of art.

recent events since last posted

 Greenhouse Gallery Salon International.

I was soo excited to make it into the Salon International show again this year.

 My painting for this years show was
 Reclining 8x24

Gallery Russia Solo Show.

My third annual solo show was an amazing event. It was so great to see the many months of hard work hanging beautifully on the walls. Thanks to everyone for your support in coming out to the opening night. I am already working on next years show.

A sample of the show:
Anticipation
Boy in Vest
A Polish Christmas
Joelle's Wild Flowers
Evalina

Waterhouse Gallery Great American Figurative Show.

I was finally able to fly out and go to the opening weekend. What a great time meeting so many wonderful artists. Hope to make it to next years event too.

my paintings from this year:
 A Cool Touch 8x6
Sensitive Beauty 14x11
Wind 18x14