Sue Flanagan’s Website

Thank goodness that the days are getting longer and the snow is melting! It is time for some plein air painting.

I have started a series of pastel paintings of a nearby field next to a bike path. I took several photos of the process. Since there was a lot of green in this summer scene, I did an underpainting with orange and red gouache. I used U Art paper for my support. You can see quite a bit of the underpainting in the first photo. The next two photos show the progression where I started to build up the soft pastel from the background to the foreground. The underpainting continues to show through even in the final painting. The fourth picture is the final painting which is 12 x 16 inches. Click on the image to enlarge.

The painting was hinged with tape to a backing board. Then it was framed with a gold wood frame using clear spacers between the glass and the painting.

I just finished taking a class in Photoshop Elements at the LaGrange Art League. Sarah Rehmer was the instructor. I took the class so that I could fine tune the photos of my art. However, I have found it to be another creative outlet. It is easy to spend hours playing with this program. It is a lot of fun but the learning curve is high-at least for me. Here are two examples of what I did.

The first piece is the result of creating shapes, filling the shapes and using the other tools to modify on a blank canvas. The second piece is from a photo the instructor gave us. This one included selecting, moving, resizing and then using filters to obtain the final image. It will be in the LaGrange Art League Student show. All of the students were to start with this same photo and create something from it using the skills we learned. I’m sure there will be a quite a variety!

Peace,
Sue Flanagan

I have decided that I have at least two personalities when it comes to art. I think the second personality is called Suzy. Every once in awhile, I depart from my representational work and have to work an abstract piece. Here is my departure from representational pastel art. Click on the image to make it larger.

The first one is called “Faith” and I had a clear idea of a theme and design when I started it. The theme is clear from the title. Strong value contrast was used to lead your eye around the painting and a pop of red color brings you to the focal area. I call the second one “No Decision” because I just kept adding paper and acrylic media until I was happy with the look. The center of interest changed many times. I like the 3D nature of this piece.

Patricia Kellner is an artist that was in the Paul Murray workshop in Taos with me. She recently sent me a few photos of me painting en plein air with the group. I am using a great umbrella that she designed. Go to her web site at www.BestBrella.com for more information. The scenery near Taos is fantastic. Don’t you agree?

Be creative and enjoy.
Sue Flanagan

Well, the PAPC-SW has not been painting but I did get myself out to the Morton Arboretum. Most of our country is in the deep freeze and the Chicago area is no different. However, we have had some beautiful days with snow and sunshine. So, I packed up my gear and donned my winter clothes. I have a couple of layers of clothing under an old ski jacket and ski pants. I put on hiking socks, chemical toe warmers and boots. I have wool gloves that have the fingertips removed and that have a flap that I periodically put over the fingers to warm them up. I will spare you a picture of this get up and just show you the beautiful scene that I chose to paint. Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

Here is my easel set up. The plastic sack is a bunch of newspapers to give me another barrier between the snow and my boots. I have to admit, I was still very cold and decided that I just need new boots. I have used my backpack to anchor the easel in case it becomes windy. Thank goodness it never did.

I am not happy with what I did on the spot but maybe it can be salvaged back in the studio. My fingers were just too stiff to accomplish very much. I’m glad I did it and I did buy new boots.

Here are a few more photos of the beautiful landscape at the Morton Arboretum.

I hope you have had a good start to the new year!
Peace,
Sue

How did I miss November? The year is quickly coming to an end. A couple of weeks ago, Rita Rogan, invited several artists to her home. We created abstract paintings on material that will become curtains for one of her large windows in her home. Joyce Leas provided the structure for the panels and the rest of us splashed, poured, stamped and stroked paint of primary colors. We called it our Jackson Pollock moment. We took a break and had some great chili and other snacks. Here are the results of this fun afternoon.

Back to pastel, I decided to do something that I have been meaning to do for awhile. I painted a still life with white on white with white. I used a statue that I bought in an antique shop. I liked the graceful curves of this statue. I placed it on top of a white napkin with three white rosebuds in a small glass bowl next to it. Here is the outcome.

This was a very good exercise. It requires close observation of color, color temperature, and value. I like the painting. I am currently working on another still life of white objects. However, this one has been more challenging and the frustration level is high.

So, what about plein air painting? It is currently about 25 degrees outside and it is a very gray day. This is the time of year when I find little motivation for plein air painting. It is difficult to find beauty in the barren trees and fields and the wind chill can be brutal. However, I did go to the Morton Arboretum a couple of weeks ago and will return when there is a nice snowfall. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and hope that you have a blessed Christmas.
Sue Flanagan

On Oct. 10th, I went to a plein air event with the Plein Air Painters of Chicago-SW. We had an opportunity to paint outdoors at Ida’s Nursery in Lemont. Here is a picture of the beautiful scenery at Ida’s.

As you can see, the morning was beautiful. Ida’s staff could not have been nicer or more helpful. They provided hot coffee and pastries in the morning and a hot lunch. There were two fires going to keep us warm. The staff helped to unload and set up our equipment. We were allowed to put up displays with our art work for sale. Here are more photos of artists and their set ups.

I was busy visiting with other artists and visitors to the nursery. I started a pastel painting  of potted plants. However, I wasn’t paying attention to the gradual change in weather. I have learned to anchor my easel but I had framed paintings displayed on a table next to me. A gust of wind sent them airborne. Broken glass and a ruined frame was the result. That was the end of my day. I cleaned up and went home. I’m still grateful to Ida’s for the opportunity. Next weekend, the PAPC-SW will be out to paint again. The forecast is for more wind. I will be more careful.

Until next time, happy painting.
Sue

I recently had a great opportunity to go to a plein air workshop that was sponsored by the Taos Art School. Paul Murray PSA was the instructor for this plein air pastel workshop. This part of the country is absolutely beautiful and so different from the Midwest of the United States. Here are some of the sites that I painted. Click on a picture to make it larger.

Taos is an amazing art community. I spent a whole day leisurely going through galleries. I saw an annual art show at the convention center. I saw a “Quick Draw” where a group of artists create art in a variety of media and the works are sold at auction afterward.Workshops are so much fun. I see new parts of the country and I meet other artists who are passionate about art. Here are some pictures of the group.

Here are some pictures of our first day at St. Francis church. Paul is giving me some pointers and he demonstrated.

At the end of the week, Paul critiqued our work. The last picture is of Paul and his paintings of the week.

To see some of the paintings I did in this workshop, go to my plein air gallery. To see Paul Murray’s work, go to www.murrayfineart.com.

Last month I was commissioned to do a pastel painting. It was to be a 16 x 20 in. field of flowers. The flowers were to be primarily yellow. Providentially, there was a nearby field of wild flowers in bloom at the time. So, I took pictures of the field and similar pictures at the Morton Arboretum. I have painted in both of these locations before. From these photos, I did a preliminary 11 x 14 in. color study since I knew that color was a very important element to the client. From the client’s feedback, I learned that she did not want cool colors of pink or purple and that I had too much green, especially cool greens. The client wanted a very warm painting.

I planned another larger quick sketch for myself using rye grass and Queen Ann’s Lace with yellow cone flowers and yellow showy Black Eyed Susans. I have photographed the process. I taped a white sanded paper on foam core. Here is the underpainting of pastel that was then painted with Gamsol odorless mineral spirits. Click on the image to enlargen.

I was pleased with the underpainting because it had the golden look that the client wanted. So, I wanted it to show through as I layered pastel on top of it. I then started working on background flowers that were in the distance and then those that would be underneath the main flowers.

I wanted the yellow cone flowers to the right to be the closest and the focal point. The color in these phots is more green which is a product of my limited photography skills and lack of consistency in photographing the steps.

At this point I had to look at the painting over several days. I decided that I had to add more white flowers (daisies) because the Queen Ann’s Lace was not enough to break up the mass of yellow. Here is the final picture of the painting.

There is always apprehension when a commission is completed. Is this what the client wanted? Did I understand her vision? This is what she wrote, “Words can not express my appreciation for the beautiful painting you created for me. You were able to conceptualize and create my vision and put it to canvas. The vibrant colors along with the beautiful creation of flowers is breathtaking. It will be a wonderful addition to our home. My sincere thanks. Carol”

Here are a few of my recent plein air paintings. The weather in the midwest United States has been wonderful this summer! It has been around 80 degrees, partly cloudy and with light breezes. For me this is the perfect weather to paint outdoors or “en plein air.” I have minimized my equipment so that I can carry everything without the need of my luggage carrier. I even managed to finish a painting that I started last summer at the Felt Mansion in Michigan.

I also just finished a small preliminary painting for a commission. Once the client approves this, I will paint the final painting which will be a 16 x 20 in. pastel. I won a 2nd place ribbon at the LaGrange Art League and next month I will be in the Alliance of Fine Art, Best of the Best show.

Enjoy your summer,
Sue

The Vogt Visual Art Center in Tinley Park, Illinois had a fine art fair on the grounds in June. Local artists using all media  including watercolor, acrylic, glass, pastel, oil, and photography displayed their work. I decided to display small pastel paintings. Here are some photos of the process of setting up.

It was a hot day but it was dry and there was only a gentle breeze. I brought my easel to do a pastel demonstration of a few strawberries that I brought for lunch.

I met a lot of nice customers and fellow artists. It was a very nice day. I hope your summer has been pleasant.
Sue Flanagan

Yesterday, May 23, 09, the Plein Air Painters Chicago-Southwest (PAPC-SW) painted at a new location for us. We went to Cantigny in Wheaton, Illinois. Cantigny has acres of gorgeous manicured gardens. It is also a war memorial. There is a visitor’s center, a restaurant, coffee bar, museum and golf course. This is all part of the Col. Robert R. McCormick foundation. We were welcomed by the staff. This was a nice place to be on a Memorial Day weekend.

Every where you looked there was a scene worthy of a painting. Our group tried to capture the beauty of the gardens. We met at 8:30 a.m. and reconvened outside the visitor’s center for a critique at 12:30. Here is the scene that I chose. It was a nice composition and I purposely wanted to challenge myself in two areas. There was a lot of information in this scene so I had to work on simplifying. I also had to work on perspective. My view finder helped with this.

Here is a picture of me painting the scene and the result of my efforts. There are some adjustments I have to make. However, I think I have good information from this study and the photo to make a nice studio painting.

Our critique is mostly a group problem solving session. It is so interesting to see what other scenes were painted and the different styles. Artists worked in watercolor, acrylic, oil and pastel. Here are some photos of the group and our paintings.

It was about 70 degrees and sunny with a light breeze. The weather and company could not be better. We agreed that it all made for some “happy” paintings. Yes, plein air painting does not get any better than this!

Sue Flanagan