J  a  n   H  a  r  t 's

 

HartNews©

Volume 06 Issue 3 

S u m m e r , 2 0 0 6
 

 

Summer, 2006

Hello, Everyone!

Summer is here in New Mexico - and while we brace for fires when gusts of wind blow through, we tend to our gardens, enjoy the long warm days and hope for some rain!

 

 

Welcome to HartNews, Volume 06, Issue 3!


So...What is HartNews? HartNews is my attempt to write about life and watercolor from where I see it. As a teacher, I enjoy passing on some of the things I think about or do in watercolor. As a fellow human, I wish to pass on some of the things that inspire me - or make me laugh!. I've included you in this issue - you who are painters, friends, former guests and/or family - some of you without your expressed permission. So…please reply and ask to be removed from this mailing list if you'd rather not get HartNews editions - or just delete me! Originally, I intended to make HartNews a monthly event. Now, more realistically, I see it as a quarterly or bi-annual publication. If you have something you'd like add or say, just email me! and please feel free to pass this on to your friends... If you'd like to see the back issues - just check the Archives above - more demos, etc. - and don't forget to Bookmark this issue!

News Flash!

Finally, after saying I would - for years, I now am! I'm writing my first book! On Color & Pigments!

 
One day last fall the phone rang and opened an opportunity to a dream I had nearly abandoned. Debra Kehoe from Daniel Smith Art supplies called to say that she had been contacted by Quarto Books in London asking for an artist who loved pigments and color and was hopefully a teacher/writer. My name came up. Before I went in for my life restoring back surgery in December, I made plans with the book creators to do a 3 page spread on various color/pigment subjects. As I recovered, I worked as much as I could. The Quarto folks put together the spreads and then showed them to potential publishers at various Art Expos in the U.S. and Abroad. Foster White, a venerable art book publisher we all know is going to publish the book entitled Watercolor Artist's Guide to Exceptional Color to be released January, 2008. We have completed the contract negotiations and the Quartus team is in place, ready to help me by doing the layouts, design and contact work. I am to research, write and paint! I'll keep you posted! I'm very excited.
    The Cat study above was done with an analogous color scheme and will be included in the book. The Cat Study below was done with a Tetradic color scheme. For more information on that scheme, go the the Demo below.

Quote of the Season

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944)

"Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul."

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), modern Russian painter, one of the first creators of pure abstraction in modern painting and founder of Der Blaue Reiter.

 

 

  
 
Artist Profile

Meet Jonathan Owens, Fine Artist

He paints in pastels and uses only his fingers to push the pigment, to soften the edge, to blend the colors. His passion is found in using both color and light to express his subject. Sometimes the light comes from within as well as from an external source. Color, too seems to come through the subject and then is changed in light. This is all explained by Jonathan as part of his most joyful process. Take a look for yourself to see what he paints and loves. And - he is my son. Jonathan's Website: http://www.jonathandowens.com/

  
 
"Sky Light"
 
"Before Sunset"
Workshops Coming up!

Because of my book, I've cancelled some workshops so I'll have plenty of time to write and paint. This summer and fall I have 2 here and 2 elsewhere.

•

 
 
 

A New Giclee Print available now...

 

Ghost Ranch Spring, 15" x 20", ready to frame.

 

Here is a preview of my latest professionally printed, numbered and signed, lightfast giclee print on archival watercolor paper. It's cost is $175 if you live outside NM. Just click on my name for an email link to order.

Jan

 

 

Also available, Junkyard Beauty

A Road Most Traveled

3 day Workshop @ Ranchito San Pedro

August 25,26,27 "Everything you Need to Know about the Watercolor Process" (7 spaces available)

This is a workshop designed to show a step by step process to understand, begin, work through and finish a watercolor painting.

 
  Demo Discussion. What is a tetradic color scheme?
 
A Tetradic color scheme consists of 2 pairs of complements separated by one or two colors on the color wheel. I selected the Tetrad of Q. Sienna and complement Cobalt Blue together with Q. Magenta and complement Ultramarine Turquoise - all by Daniel Smith. Then I did two iris paintings - one pushed towards the cools and the other toward the warms. In the first one I used very little orange and in the second, very little blue. And hey - there is a lot more to color and color relationships! Come to a workshop and find the joy!
 
 

1 Week Workshop @ Ranchito San Pedro

October 6 - 13, "On the Trail of O'Keeffe - Painting the Colors of Fall"

(5 spaces available)
(for complete info click here)
 
Left to right: Top- Quinacridone Sienna, Cobalt Blue; Bottom: Quinacridone Magenta, Ultramarine Turquoise
 
 

Weekend Workshop in Flagstaff, Arizona

August 4,5,6 "Painting Powerful Landscapes"

Please click here for more information
 

What is Going on @ Ranchito San Pedro?

It is warm and everybody here is either playing or sleeping!

 
     
 

I walked in and found Sage & Flash swinging and flapping on a perch! They were having such fun! I clicked a few shots and laughed.

That stopped them fast.

     
 
Then I took a look out into the backyard - the Dog Yard. Livvie and Seurat were playing as they do probably 50 % of the the time. The rest of the time they sleep and eat. What a life!
 
 
   

A look out my window to the Bird & Cat Yard - found the pigeons - playing in the water and enjoying the sunshine!

And then I went out to check on the baby chicks! They sleep a lot!

 
 
     
         

 

It took Carol and me 5 Tuesdays to build the chicken pen & hen house (next to the pigeon loft). We used all recycled materials and the now "teen chicks" love it! They even have their own tree!

 
 
   
 
             
 
 

Waterworks 2006 Watercolor Workshop in Seattle, Washington

October 23 - 27

I will be jurying the Members Show and teaching a 5 day workshop as part of Waterworks 2006, NWWS.

For more information please contact Espi Grundy here
   
 

Costa Rica! Exotic Painting Adventure in Costa Rica!

February 11 - 25, 2007

We have a great itinerary - for painting, playing and adventure! 12 max. (7 spaces available plus 2 non-painting spouse spaces)

For Sign up or Questions, Email Jan here

To see the itinerary, click here.

 

 

Imagine this place - where the earth is a stage set for the sky. In the Land of Enchantment, your cabin will include the bluest skies, the pigeons flying above- and maybe a thunderhead along with an outrageous sunset.
 

Ranchito San Pedro

A special place to come for a visit, a workshop, to explore and /or to paint!

Check out all the details by clicking here.

Just fly into Albuquerque, rent a gas economy car - & in 1 1/2 hours you are here, and surrounded by all the places you want to see -minutes away! Santa Fe is just 18 miles down the highway!

15% off if you mention HartNews!

Last but not Least....

a BIG EVENT

 

Many of you know that I got Hoppy, my beautiful Halflinger mare nearly a year ago -and was unable to ride her because of my back. The amazing surgery in December made me dare to hope that this day would come. It did. I was able to actually use my still recovering legs to not only get on, but to enjoy a short ride on this sweetest horse. Note her braided forelock and slight smile. She even got down on all 4 knees to let me get off. Well - Carol says she was really thinking about rolling in the dirt - ...

Anyway - I feel great!