Hope's Flowers

Painted an outdoor still life with my painting buddy Hope Cunningham whose gardens are gorgeous. The light changed so rapidly I had to finish the painting in the studio. I'm not sure about the bright blue background, but it would be impossible to change at this point. I really like the orange and peel.
Thanks Hope, you are always so much fun!

Hope's Roses

12x13, oil on linen

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Spring Open Studio Tour

Please join me for the Tucson Spring Open Studio Tour this weekend, April 16 and 17 from 11-5. I will also be exhibiting beautiful work by my students and my husband David Johnson Vandenberg. 

Located at  Studio 2405, 2405 N castro, one block west of Stone, just north of Grant.

Night Blooming Cereus, 15x14, oil

Cup with Daffs, 8x6, oil on linen

Cup with Orange Wedges, 15x5, oil on linen

Cup with Oranges, 8x10, oil on linen

Iris, 30x60, oil on canvas

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Nikki Westra Show at Temple of Music and Art

My Friend Nikki Westra is showing her unusal and thought-provoking collages at the Etherton Temple Gallery at the Temple of Music and Art (330 South Scott Avenue). The opening is tonight from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. View the Press Release. See the show online.
The show runs through November 23rd.

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American Women Artists National Juried Show

This painting has been accepted into the American Women Artists national juried exhibition to be held at Southwest Gallery in Dallas, Texas, October 9 - November 9, 2010.

Torch Cactus
30x24, oil on masonite

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Langnickel Royal Sable Brushes

If you are tired of seeing "out of stock" from your favorite online art supplier when you try to order Langnickel Royal Sable brushes, especially the 5590 series, I have found a  great supplier ---Hofcraft.

Always in stock and always give a 10% discount. Shipping is free with orders over $200, but the discount pays for your shipping. Ships USPS Priority, and each time they have arrived three days after my order.

These brushes are economically priced and work beautifully for applying wet on wet paint. Hey, Richard Schmid says he couldn't paint without them!

I receive no income or perk for this post---just good news to pass on.
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Plein Air Paintings from Miracle Mile Historic Tour and Festival

I really had a fabulous time painting, so much so I wondered why I don't do plein air more often. The following is a painting I  had at the event that sold. The next two paintings I did for the show.

Here are two of Bob's three paintings. Wow,  I LOVE the brushwork.

This one is the Copper Cactus Motel by Hope Cunningham--tough angles very well done.

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2010 Miracle Mile Historical Tour and Plein Air Art Event

Despite the unusual cold and cloudy weather, I've been "painting the strip" along with my friends Robert Goldman and Hope Cunningham the last few days, as part of the Historical Miracle Mile Tour and Festival's Plein Air Event. Our paintings are due tomorrow and my friend Phil Starke will be judging.
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Tucson Museum of Art CRUSH Benefit--SOLD

The annual  Tucson Museum of Art CRUSH pARTy "Under the Stars" Silent Auction is this Friday from 6-9. Lots of incredible juried art to bid on and 65 wines to taste---sounds like a good time to me.

My donation is a 9x12 oil painting on masonite of a scene from Tucson's Barrio Viejo.

sold

  April 9, 2010, 6-9pm
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Daniel Keys-A Painter to Watch

At a local women's art get-together this last week, a friend gave me a copy of the recent Art of the West issue featuring Daniel Keys. He is definitely worth checking out. BTW, he is only 24. God has surely blessed this young man.

Daniel Keys' website
Daniel Keys' Blog

The blog allows you to click and enlarge most of the paintings so you can really see the brushwork.

Hydrangeas and Peaches
Daniel Keys

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When the painting isn't working

Ever sit down to paint, and it comes so easy you can't believe it? I wish that happened every time I paint, but those sessions seem to be the exception rather than the norm. And, when a painting isn't working, the only thing to do is wipe it out. Prolonging the inevitable is torture, and trying to fix  a painting gone wrong isn't gonna make it any better, ever.

I tell myself that the process is more important than the outcome, that I learn something every time I paint, and I paint everyday. Even after all the years I've painted, I know that progress is a life-long journey and the longer one paints, the steeper and slower the learning curve.

Humans, well animals too, respond to intermittent, positive reinforcement. This is why a trip to Vegas can wipe out your checking account. So, the times when painting is HARD and doesn't come easily, we persevere because of the times when it does work.

I also know that if I don't paint everyday, I'm not going to get better. Don't beat yourself up if a painting isn't working. Know that the subconscious remembers everything and that knowledge and experience will work for you in the next one.

I would love to know what other painters feel about this topic.
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Art Opening for my husband David Johson Vandenberg

The opening for David's show is Thursday evening at Tansey Gallery(formerly Mountain Shadow Gallery) from 5-7:30. New work by our long-time friend Doug Shelton will also be showing.

For more information about the gallery and its location go to  Tansey Gallery.
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Art Classes Starting in January

It's the New Year and a good time to finally learn to draw or paint.

Classes are forming now in Beginning Drawing, Beginning and Intermediate Oil Painting.

For lots more info click here.

brendasemanick.com/january_classes.html
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Open Studio Tour Nov 14th and 15

Come see me during the Open Studio Tour this weekend. For information about the tour go to http://www.tucsonopenstudios.com/ost/index.html.
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David's First Sculpture

After David met renowned sculptor Merlin Cohen and visited his studio, he couldn't wait to start carving himself. This is his first sculpture, made from alabaster. It measures 10x8x12. Click here to see larger images.


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Grijalva Park Dedication

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Grijalva Park Update

The painting of the figures for the poles is complete and they will be attached tomorrow morning. I tried to keep with a complementary color for the base/cap, and the plan is to pair the cap color with a pole of analogous color.
The only way to work outside in Tucson is to start by at least 6:00 am, so I've become a morning person again.








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Grijalva Park Update

Jerry Castillo went back to Austin, Texas to work on a commission, so I've been working with Ben Olmstead to finish up the steel pieces. Now I have to paint. It was a learning experience painting the poles, so I feel a little more confident about painting.

The caps under the smaller figures will be plug-welded to the larger posts which will mean I will need to paint those on site.

Showing below are three of the six larger pieces that will be bracketed to light poles. The children will go by the playground, the runners on the walking track and last by the ramada-I just had to put the ant in.
























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Grijalva Park Update

Today was painting day for the steel posts. These puppies are eleven feet long and weigh 100 pounds each. Notice the picture of Jerry carrying one of the ten posts to the saw horses. I don't know how he did it!!

We began with wiping each one down liberally with mineral spirits followed by an application of metal primer. We are using Rust Stop oil-based paints, used primarily by sign painters. This paint has a reputation for long-lasting color which is
important in this Tucson sun.

The colors of the posts follow a modified color spectrum. The community wanted bright colors and they're gonna get it. I will be doing another application of paint over the next few days. I was pretty wiped out physically today; the temperature read just above the 90 degree point---whew!
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Grijalva Park

I recently experienced wiping out every painting I have done for several weeks. Needless to say, I welcomed the diversion of giving my attention to the public art for the new Grijalva Park in the Midvale neighborhood here in Tucson.

This is a view of the park as it is now, from the recently poured skateboard park.


I am fortunate to be working with Jerry Castillo, who is doing the plasma cutting of the steel figures.





















Everything will be painted in bright colors. This is one of ten figures that will be on top of 8 foot steel posts separating the park from the adjacent Grijalva Elementary School.


In addition, there will be six large pieces that will be attached to light poles for signage: basketball and volleyball courts, skateboard park, ramada, playground and walking trail.

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Teaching and Lovin' It

I just finished a six-week session with beginning oil painting students and I think you will be as amazed as me when you see their progress. Please take a moment and look at the slide-shows.

This week promises to be a busy one. The live auction for the guitars for the Tucson Symphony is Saturday evening at the Star Pass Resort, and I still don't know what I'm going to wear;-) I scraped out almost all of the small paintings I did last week; maybe I was being hypercritical. Painting is an isolated experience that demands full attention and incredible discipline. When I was becoming unusually frustrated, I found myself doing really stupid things I knew I shouldn't do, and of course it was downhill from there.

I prefer to acknowledge these episodes as learning experiences. Tomorrow is another day, and also the chance to do a good painting.
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