The Painter A painting newsletter from Christopher Leeper SJ ae pn t- efmeb b e r 2 20 01 155
The Painter s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5 Yes, I am still doing a newsletter! People have been asking this question. I have just been very busy and haven t been able to devote the time needed to do the newsletter. This issue will be more paintings than writing. Next issue I hope to have more articles. Happy painting! Chris Workshops October 12-15, Watercolor Landscape The Toledo Artists Club Toledo, OH Register online at: www.toledoartistclub.com October 29-31, Watercolor Landscape Tryon Painters and Sculptors Tryon, NC Christine Mariotti, Workshop coordinator mariottichristine21@gmail.com November 7-8, Oil Landscape ARTWORKS around town Wheeling, WV gregory.siegwart@gmail.com Exhibitions Currently showing at lobby of 303 Marconi Place in Downtown, Columbus, OH. Opening November 6, 2015 Artworks Around Town Wheeling, WV October 8 - December. 3, 2015 97 Miles: Recent Work from Six YSU Artists Wheeling Jesuit University Wheeling, WV Shadow Dance (detail above) was selected for the Ohio Watercolor Society, Watercolor Ohio 2015 exhibition at Middletown Arts Center, Middletown, OH September 18-October 24, 2015 2 Studio Classes OIL (openings available on an every two-week staggered schedule)) Tuesday: 10 am - 1 pm: (fee - $35 per student/per class) Max of 5 students This will be an ongoing class. Watercolor (2 openings available) Thursday: 10 am - 1 pm: (fee - $35 per student/per class) Max of 5 students This will be an ongoing class. I am scheduling evening classes 6:30-8:30 M-TH. Classes must be confirmed by an email or a phone call.
Artist Residency Highland Sanctuary The highlight of the summer was participating in an artist residency program in late June. The location was the Highland Nature Sanctuary a 2,200 acre hiking and nature preserve in Highland County, Ohio. It is located in the heart of the scenic Rocky Fork Gorge which includes the area known by many as 7 Caves. The goal of the residency was to bring attention to the unique biodiversity and variety of wild lands that make up the Highland Sanctuary. There were 5 artists selected; Deborah Dawson, Doreen St. John, Bridgette Turner, Robin Roberts and myself. The residency was over 3 weeks. Deborah was there for all three weeks. Doreen and Bridgette did two weeks and Robin and I were there for the last week. We stayed in a rustic 100 year old hunting lodge called Beechcliff. In all, we completed nearly 100 paintings. The residency culminated with an exhibition at the Appalachian Forest Museum in Bainbridge, Ohio. The weather was rainy and very hot and humid earlier in the residency. Robin and I experienced the heat and humidity and some rain and storms but fortunately we also had some gorgeous weather to paint in. I made the mistake of bringing watercolors. I struggled with the humidity and rain. Washes refused to dry! I fortunately had my acrylics along and they worked much better. However, they were even slow to dry and I would often take walks between layers of paint. I completed 18 paintings. I am featuring my favorites here. There are plans to create a book highlighting our experiences and artwork. Look for information about the book in future issues of this newsletter. Beaver Pond, 16x20, acrylic on canvas on board 3
In the Gorge, 18x24, Acrylic on Ray-Mar panel Barrett s Rim, 15x22 watercolor and acrylic on 140. lb. Arches cold-pressed paper 4
5 Milkweed, 12x16 Acrylic on Ray-Mar panel
Path to Barrett s Rim, 16x20, acrylic on canvas on board 6 Etawah Steps, 11x15, acrylic on Arches hot-pressed paper
Rocky Fork, 18x24, Acrylic on Ray-Mar panel Reflections, 9x12, Acrylic on Ray-Mar panel 7
Sunlight and Falling Water, 18x24, Acrylic on Ray-Mar panel 8
Hillside Light, 12x16, Acrylic on Ray-Mar panel Meadow at Tes Farm, 9x12, Acrylic on Ray-Mar panel 9
Trees and Rocks at Rocky Fork, 15x22, acrylic on Arches hot-pressed Tree Patterns, 22x15, watercolor on Fabriano 140 lb. cold-pressed paper 10
Rain Song, 15x22, watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. cold-pressed paper This is the purest plein air painting I have ever done. I set up above the Rocky Fork Gorge in the early morning hours. I knew it was going to rain but had my large umbrella and was under a substantial tree canopy. Things went along just fine for the first half-hour or so. The rain started lightly then kept getting stronger and stronger. Eventually, my umbrella gave out and I gave up. I loaded my gear and hiked back to the van. When I returned to the cabin I set the easel with painting on the porch and went inside to change. When I came back outside and looked at my painting, I was pleasantly surprised. The straight lines are from the painting resting face down against the easel as I carried it out of the woods. I decided to not touch it. I felt like it was a gift given to me by the Sanctuary. 11
New Work Mountain Stream Mountain Stream, Oil on linen, 18x24 This little stream was painted from a photo taken in North Carolina. I parked along a road and scrambled down a hill to get the photo. It was worth the effort. 12
New Work Scarlet and Shade In my workshops I stress the importance of having a good working drawing. This drawing took me about 3 hours to complete. 13
Darker value shapes were painted directly. The lights were more delicately painted allowing me room to adjust value and color as I worked. Warm underpainting and early color variety is a big part of my watercolor process. 14
15 Scarlet and Shade, 22x30, Watercolor on Arches, 300 lb. cold-pressed paper
New Work Plein air Dried Out Farm, 12x16, Oil on canvas Tractor at Zedaker s, 15x22, watercolor on Arches HP 140 lb. paper. 16 Bears Den Cabin, 12x16, Oil on canvas
Class and Workshop Demos View from the Road - Ohio Farm, 16x20, Oil on canvas 17
Class and Workshop Demos Untitled, 9x12, Oil on canvas Mill Creek Gorge, 15x22, watercolor on 140 lb. Fabriano cold-pressed paper 18
Cows at the Fair, 11x15, watercolor on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed paper Plein air painting Old Trees at Tes Farm, 15x22, watercolor on 300 lb.kilimanjaro cold-pressed paper 19
Class and Workshop Demos Watercolor Workshop Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, Lancaster, OH Untitled, 15x22, watercolor on 300 lb. Arches cold-pressed paper Untitled, 15x22, watercolor on 300 lb. Fabriano cold-pressed paper 20 Untitled, 15x22, watercolor on 300 lb. Kilimanjaro cold-pressed paper
Workshops in my studio Workshops for six people or less. Topics can include oils, acrylics, watercolor or drawing. They can be scheduled in 2 or 3 day sessions, 9-5 each day. Classes must be scheduled well in advance. These workshops include demos, handouts and lots of one-on-one attention. I try to provide plenty of information in a short amount of time. I can shape the workshop to the group s needs. You can bring your own reference or we can work together on the same subject. The workshop can also be focused to learn a specific technique or concept. Weather-permitting, these sessions can include plein air painting. There is a new Hampton Inn just five miles from the studio and many nearby restaurants and shopping venues. Your workshop can also be combined with a visit to the Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio and/or a visit to beautiful Mill Creek Park. I have taken many workshops over the years and you have been the most helpful. I learned more in three days than I have in the past 20 years. Plus, it was so much fun! Fees: 1-2 students: 2 day class: $400 per student / 3-day class: $600 per student 3 students 2-day class: $275 per student / 3-day class: $400 per student 4 students: 2-day class: $200 per student / 3-day class: $300 per student 5-6 students: 2-day class: $150 per student / 3-day class: $250 per student Call or email me if you have any questions or to schedule a workshop Christopher Leeper Studio 4411 mellinger road / Canfi eld, OH 44406 330-793-5470 leepart@zoominternet.net www.christopherleeper.com 21