The Party Continues....

Ok Kids,

More gossip on Turks and Caicos.  Absolutely hands down some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever visited.  It rivals some in Koh Samui and Bali. I really loved the bougainvillea in bloom, the pathways, and white sandy beaches.  

Unbelievable!  But true:)

We had an Oscar party, thanks Susie, and a Mardi Gras party, thanks Cof, and a fantastic time before, after and in between. 

I would try to find a shady spot and paint in the a.m.  Sometimes I even had company! Thanks Deb:)

 I have to say that I’m really loving these water soluble oil paints when I travel.  Maybe it’s because I don’t use the transparent underpainting and just go in thicker sooner, cutting out a step, and the brushes are easy to clean so the paint seems to stay fresh.  Normally I’m not much of a cleaner and make myself feel better by saying that the residual color left on the brush helps me ‘create harmony’ :). I might add that I feel using too much turp really muddies things up, for better or worse.  It would be better if I remembered to use one brush for one color or value, but I don’t.  Hence the benefit of the water clean up. Easy peasy.

 Just sayin’.

 (Keeping it simple.)

Here are some of my efforts.

More info on these plein air paintings here.

Right around the corner: Plein Air Convention 2017

#PACE17

#pleinairconvention

#pleinair

@ericrhoads

If you haven't done so and would be so kind, I'd love for you to nominate me for the first ever Plein Air Wars!

Please go to https://pleinairwars.com/get-started

scroll down and nominate

Bruce Bingham

Thanks in advance for your help!

Thanks for following along!

Turk and Caicos- low down on the hoe down

Turks and Caicos Girl Party!

This is a vaycay that’s hard to let go of.  I think the frozen mojito at lunch put me in sort of island coma that let everything stressful in my life just sail away..  I was born on a beach and actually spent most of my time crabbing, clamming, and building elaborate cities in the sand. OH, and did I mention I was a mermaid, when I wasn’t being a cowboy or an Indian, sorry,Native American, and I do mean that with respect.  They got a bad deal.

There’s nothing like ‘island time’, hot sand and cool water, to put you in your happy place.  Good friends reconnecting, kayaking, snorkeling, and biking.  I’m also proud to announce that we got security called on us 3, yes 3 TIMES for having too much fun.  I know!  Thanks!

I don’t usually blah blah so much but I did want to mention that in spite of all the partying, I managed to paint a little bit.  I’ll break up all the gossip over a few posts, because I’ll have more to tell you about when I get back from the American Impressionist Show in Costa Mesa, CA, this weekend.

 More about painting and water soluble oils tomorrow....

Special thanks to my pal Mary Hall who I have been friends with my entire life for her efforts in doing a lot of the heavy planning.  I so proud of the entire group for making the effort to go. While we often go our separate ways due to circumstances, the most wonderful friendships are those where you can just pick right up where you left off  like you never missed a beat.  These friendships and experiences become jewels woven into the fabric of who you are. Treasures.

Right around the corner: Plein Air Convention 2017

#PACE17

#pleinairconvention

#pleinair

@ericrhoads

If you haven't done so and would be so kind, I'd love for you to nominate me for the first ever Plein Air Wars!

Please go to https://pleinairwars.com/get-started

scroll down and nominate

Bruce Bingham

Thanks in advance for your help!

Austin Pets Alive

Sunday evening I did a demo at the Austin Pets Alive's annual fund raiser.

It's a wonderful cause.

I painted a pet portrait while I was there and people bought tickets for the drawing to win a portrait of their own pet.

It was lots of fun and we were able to raise 600$ to help.

Thank you to all the people who bought drawing tickets prior to the event and also during the party.

A special thank you to all the many volunteers who make this organization great by donating so much time and energy to care for these animals.

Congratulations to Daniel and Brandi Cordova who one a pet portrait

to be done of their own pet!

And- if you haven't done this already....
I could use your help getting nominated for the first ever

The more votes you get the better the chance of getting selected to be on a team.

Girls vs Boys at the Plein Air Convention- PACE 2017

30 minutes of off handed paint slinging fun!

Please go to this link, scroll down, nominate and submit:

Bruce Bingham

http://pleinairconvention.com/plein-air-wars/

Thanks in advance for your help!

Sedona Art Prize and a little help from my friends

Blocked In Cuba

16 x 20 oil

Sedona Art Prize Finalist January 2017

I was absolutely thrilled to be named a finalist in the Sedona Art Prize

January 2017 competition by judge Robert Burridge!

Congratulations to all the other finalists.

His comments were:

 " I want this car! This painting just kept saying, "Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!" And I just smiled. Its brazen attitude and in-your-face color kept my attention."

You can see all of the finalists by visiting here:

http://www.sedonaartprize.com/about-sedona-art-prize/finalist-paintings/finalist-paintings-january-2017

On another note:

I could use your help please in getting nominated for the first ever:

The more votes you get the better the chance of getting selected to be on a team.

Girls vs Boys at the Plein Air Convention- PACE 2017

30 minutes of off handed paint slinging fun!

Please go to this link, scroll down, nominate and submit:

Bruce Bingham

http://pleinairconvention.com/plein-air-wars/

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cuban Perspectives and Drawing for Pet Portrait

This time last February I was in Cuba

painting with close to 100 other artists.

The weathered patina of the once elegant Cuba is

still effecting my paintings.

Havana was filled with secret inner courtyards, not unlike Barcelona,

Except in much worse condition.

About the painting process:

This turned out to be an interesting exercise in two point perspective.

More than that the tiles on the floor had a perspective all of their own.

Not only do the have to get larger as they move toward you,

they also have a trapezoid shape that fans out at an angle

Like a fan as it comes forward.

Value in painting is relative to what's around it.  So the dark square in the light is

the same value as the light square in the dark.

I know, but it's true.

On top of that there is a shadow thrown by the pillar which I made happen partially by a glaze and

by over painting the lighter squares (in the darker shadowed area) with

the same value as the dark squares in the light.  What? Yep.

I hope that was clearer than mud....
Thanks for following along.

Still time to enter or a chance to win a pet portrait!
www.brucebingham.com

Thanks for following along!

January Card WINNERS Announced

Drum roll please.....

And the WINNERS are:

Jane Lauby

Ellen Lasseter

Myrrh Haslam

Sandy Wagner

and

Stephanie Scott

Thanks to everyone that played along.

For the pet lovers out there:

Next weekend I'll be giving a demo at the Austin Pets Alive

No Kill Party.

If you would like to win a 12 x 12 inch portrait of your own pet,

complete with a frame you can buy a $10 ticket at

www.brucebingham.com

All proceeds got to the charity.

I'll throw your name in the dog bowl and you don't have to be present to win.

Drawing will be held on 

February 19th.

Good luck!

If you're in the Austin area, come join the fun!

Thanks for following along:)

Austin Pets Alive Demo by Bruce Bingham

Glow

oil 6x8

available

A large amount of my studio time is spent practicing.

That's when I'm trying to focus on one or two 

techniques and just experiment.

I have no expectations on whether the painting will turn out well or not.

Most often when I don't worry about it and just enjoy the

process I'm much happier with the result.

In this painting, Glow, I was working on value compression

and variety of mark making.

This is what I think is fun;)

Here is a chance to win a 12 x 12 portrait of your pet!

I'll be doing a demo at the event on February 19th

if you're in the Austin area and can join us.

Otherwise you can purchase $10 tickets for the drawing

and your chance to win a painting of your pet.

click here or go to

www.brucebingham.com

All proceeds go to Austin Pets Alive.

Thanks in advance for your support!