More paper, from memory

Small Works on Paper

One Month, Three Shows!

To say that the last month has been busy would be an understatement. I might have mentioned this in a previous post, but back in December when the plans were being laid for this year's show season, it seemed so very far away. But time has a way of slipping by so quickly and before I knew it the craziness of my best laid plan was upon me. Three openings within a month's time is an ambitious plan and literally the culmination of the last nine month's work in the studio. Its all but a distant memory now. Thanks to everyone who attended the openings and a double thank you to those of you who purchased a painting (or two, Diane!). The studio looks a little forlorn and empty without all the work hanging around. All the more reason to get back to work.

Solo Show - Tvedten Fine Art, Harbor Springs MI, July 21st, 2011



 

Solo Show - Center Gallery, Glen Arbor MI, July 28, 2011 






Viewpoints Group Landscape Show- Waterstreet Gallery, Douglas MI, Aug 13, 2011

Dockside

"In the Middle of Things"

 

I can't believe its the middle of July. Time certainly seems to be moving at an accelerated pace. It seemed like I had all the time in the world back in December when the July show details were being hammered out. But its the middle of July and the show at Tvedten Fine Art in Harbor Springs opens this Thursday (July 21) and the show in Glen Arbor at the Center Gallery opens the 29th. And it seems like its been forever since I've made any paintings! O.k., well its been probably a week. But framing, naming, cataloging, packing and transportation all have to be done too. The two paintings I am posting tonight are part of the 27 new works I'll be showing at Tvedten. 

The first painting is 36x36, titled "If Only".

The second is 48x24, titled "In the Middle of Things".

Plein Aire Workshop in Cross Village

There are a few spots left for this workshop at Three Pines Studio in Cross Village Michigan.
See the full list of events/workshops at

http://www.threepinesstudio.com

Intro to Plein Air Painting with Margo Burian (2-Day)
When the great outdoors is your studio, the possibilities are endless. This
class is designed to be an introduction to plein air painting for beginning
and intermediate oil painters. We will be working in and around Cross
Village. (In case of rain, class to be held at Three Pines.)
The Art of Observation: Discussion on setting up your “mobile studio”.
Discussions about what constitutes good composition in landscape painting.
Discussion/Demo on light/shadow/temperature. Practical exercises in the
field to help the student quickly identify strong compositions for painting,
as well as define light and shadow.
Capturing the Essence: We’ll be working on the “quick start”. Timed mass
painting exercises. Discussion/practical application on how mass shapes the
foundation of a painting.
Friday, August 12 & Saturday, August 13, 9 am-4 pm
Brown Bag Lunches
Workshop Fee: $195 Materials list available with registration.
Artist/Instructor: Margo Burian, fine artist

Summer - Full Steam Ahead

Memorial Day weekend - hard to believe we are at the "gateway to summer" already. In some ways I feel like spring just got going, though as I look back over the last few months they were incredibly full. Thought I'd do a little updating on what's been happening before the "gateway to fall" sneaks up on me.

In March I got the good news that I have been selected for one of the Artist-In-Residencies at the Forest Hills Fine Art Center for the 2012-2013 season. As of this posting the dates haven't been determined yet, but am really excited to be part of this program. My work will be on display at the Fine Art Center for about a month and as part of the program I will be doing a teaching component for the Forest Hills Public Schools.
www.fhfineartscenter.com/ArtsEducation.html

At the end of April, I was invited to be part of the Art In Bloom Event at the Grand Rapids Art Museum for an afternoon of plein aire painting in the museum, along with three other artists. At the end of the afternoon our paintings were donated to the museum for a silent auction benefitting the GRAM's education department. This was the first time the GRAM had hosted the event with artists working within the museum and it was fabulous to be painting just around the corner from my favorite painting in the GRAM - Diebenkorn's Ingleside.

Continuing with the theme - literally and figuratively. After the Art in Bloom Event, I went back to the Studio and made a couple of paintings based on the Floral arrangement I used at the GRAM. One of the paintings was submitted to the Festival Regional Arts Competition, where it won the Van Maarseveen/Timermanis Award.



The middle of the month of May brought with it a trip to Cross Village for a workshop with Abstract Painter Ken Kewley. Ken is an amazingly rare and gifted individual. Spending time with him is a bit like spending time with a zen master of color and abstraction. Fortunately for me, right after the workshop I was able to head directly for Glen Arbor for a week where I could assimilate some of the information/ideas Ken presented. Not much time was spent making finished art this trip, but lots of drawing and color notes. It was a beautiful time to be up north. The orchards, forsythias and the trillium were just waking up so the landscape was full on with color.

Enough catching up for now - the Farmer's Market and the studio are calling....

The 30/30 Project

Am posting just a few images from a project I am working on right now called the 30/30 Project. My friend Jason and I were emailing some images back and forth and discussing the work of some painters who do a painting daily and then post the work. As, (more appropriately IF) anyone who reads this blog knows I am a pretty sporadic poster, so that would be pretty much setting myself up for failure. But I am pretty much a daily painter. It occurred to me that it would be interesting to commit to do 30 paintings in 30 days related to a singular theme and size. Somehow I managed to talk my friend Jason into this little project as well. So we are two weeks into it - I have 14 10x10 floral still life paintings completed. We are half way through and I've even managed to post something! It's a miracle.

Oil Painting Classes at the Studio

The January session of Oil painting class at my Studio wraps up next Tuesday night. My current group, for the most part are all aspiring oil painters and every time we get together I am reminded of why I started painting in the first place. Its just...FUN! Its been my intention to not only share my enthusiasm for the process of painting but also to share the knowledge thats been shared with me. I've had the good fortune to have some really great teachers myself - first and foremost Stuart Shils. There have been others; Stephen Duren, Melanie Parke, and Richard Kooyman. Each one of these people have helped shaped my artistic vision in one fashion or another and enthused, ignited my desire to not only make art, but to teach as well.
The next session starts February 8th and runs for 4 consecutive Tuesday nights from 6:30-9:30. The March session will begin on the 8th as well and run through March 29. Classes are structured so that they may be taken as a continuum or single session.
I may have a spot or two open so if you'd like further detail, post in the comments section and I will respond promptly.

Why, Hello World

The love affair with having a studio space downtown continues. Having the space to create work without distraction from creatures/phones/internet has been glorious. It also has initiated a couple of exciting, but unanticipated changes to my nature and the work at hand. I have become more organized. O.k., not so much so that I dusted off my Franklin planner. That thing hasn't seen the light of day in years. But, there is something to be said for actually having to leave the house every day. And having to have your act together to do so. Long gone now are the "working in my pajama days". After 10 years of having the studio at home, being back out in the world has really re-inspired me and facilitated a shift in some of the imagery that I am interested in making.