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Jan's Adventure 
J a n   H a r t 's

HartNews©

Volume 08 Issue 3

 
F a l l , 2 0 0 8
 

     

Welcome to HartNews, Volume 08, 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!

Paint swatch - Manganese Violet PV 16

   

 

Manganese Violet (PV 16) is a single pigment paint - very lightfast, semitransparent, lightly staining, dark valued, dull purple pigment that is consistent across paint manufacturers. Daniel Smith manganese violet isw slightly bluer and lighter valued than other brands. Winsor Newton names it permanent mauve. MaimeriBlu mineral violet is more opaque and DaVinci also has a manganese violet. This paint is attractive both in full strength and wash applications, but for the most characteristic color appearance it must be applied with confident, juicy brushstrokes and left to dry without fussing or retouching. I like to use it to create subtle textures in florals and shadows.

 

  

Getting Ready to Go....

Last issue I told you that son, Tim and I were off in July to see the little house I purchased in Costa Rica. We had a marvelous time and I was reminded about this place, this simple little structure with the million dollar view. Tim and I planted a lipstick palm in the southwest corner of the yard - that seems to be the origin of the house exterior. As an artist - I LOVE the colors and they are staying!

My moving date is December 23. All of my family will be going with me to get me settled. Mike, who is moving next week to Berkeley, Tim and wife, Shelby and Jay and girlfriend, Alethea. I'm hoping that my animal family of 4 parrots and 2 dogs will be joining me at the same time. That is in the hands of Angela, a Pet Transport Specialist....


The view down over San Isidro de El General in the morning. Lipstick palm. My Tico house.
and I am On Schedule for doing all the things that must be done before I go...
  • Estate/Moving Sale. A couple weekends ago, with the help of my sons and many dear friends we sold nearly everything I owned in the house, studio, Casita #1 and garage. It was HUGE. I was warned that the economy wouldn't bring people out - but the great prices certainly did. Those that came on Saturday came back on Sunday when we dropped the prices 1/2. I made enough to make sure that my animal family gets to my new home. I now live in an empty Zen house that echoes. And I am feeling freer!
  • Sorting and Packing. After 15 years here I was still carrying around lecture notes from teaching H.S. biology (before DNA was discovered) and high school yearbooks. I've dumped it all. With the little 700 sf Tico house, I must be strict with myself. I'm on the plan to pack one box a day and be ready to send everything by Thanksgiving or shortly after. Whew. What am I taking?
  • my bed & linens
  • small 50's table and 2 chairs
  • a couple of lamps
  • clothes
  • some dishes (Fiesta Ware), and other colorful oddities, coffee pot
  • electric ice maker (I know. A luxury)
  • electric tools and hand tools
  • 2 folding tables
  • some easels, folding
  • lots of painting supplies and artwork
  • several paintings by myself and others
  • books - art and others
  • fainting couch (it makes me laugh and - I might just faint)

.

  • Prepare for a Simple Lifestyle. This is the one I am not sure how to prepare for. Initially my life in Costa Rica will be very very simple. The little house has no horizontal surface except the floor and toilet seat. No shelves. No counters. No kitchen. Nada. I purchased some power tools to take and I may be building shelves once again, which I did when I was in my 30's... Also, I've got breakfast down pat - just three fruits cut up in pieces and on a single beautiful plate that I rinse off in cold water and put back on the shelf for the next day. That is Tico style! No hot water for washing dishes. Just some on demand hot water in the shower. I won't be taking a TV but I'll be able to write on my computer and listen to music from I Tunes. And I'll have books and my paints. I'll invent as I go..the Tico way. And I'll be learning Spanish through complete emersion. No one around me speaks English. My friend and neighbor, Anita - who sold me the house says she'll teach me spanish, sweep my floors and paint my toe nails if I teach her to paint. Tico bartering is the way! And when you see me again, be sure to notice my toe nails.
  • How Will I Keep in Touch? I do not plan to disappear. I will love having correspondence with you and will work very hard to set up my computer as soon as possible. First I will have my lap top which I can take to the wonderful cafe in town with WiFi. Also I will periodically add comments to my existing website, which I will keep going from the U.S. until I can successfully change servers in Costa Rica. So - if you want to stay in touch, I do and will.

So - all you have to do when you want to be in touch or find out what's going on in Costa Rica with Jan is ............. go to.....

janhart.com

I'll have my address, phone number and email address on my website home page just as soon as I know each.

 

In this Issue:

Please click where you'd like to go..

Getting Ready to Go...to Costa Rica

Paint Swatch. Each issue will include a pigment swatch and information on the pigment(s

Jan's Workshops Ahead for 2009

Costa Rica Workshop - January 30 -February 8, 2009

A Note from Rebecca on the Osa Penninsula..

Book Update

Artist Spotlight  
meet Hal Wilson

Emil Nolde, German Expressionist

Some Win-Win Ideas for Projects to help Jan - in Costa Rica

Hot off the Press! Jan's new Giclee prints!

 

  

 

Jan's Workshops Ahead for 2009

January 30 - February 8 Osa Penninsula, Costa Rica For more information, email Jan here

•••••

March 5, 6, 7, 8
Florida Keys 
For more information, 
please email Diane 
Middlesworth here
•••••

May 29, 30, June 1, 2 Seattle, Washington more information, please email Cheryl Long here

•

June 5, 6, 7, 8 
Daniel Smith, 
Seattle

For more information, please email Jan here

•••••

October ___

Southern California

For more information, please email Jan here and maybe I'll have some by then!

 

 

In the meantime, I am planning workshops for 2009.

Please take a look left!

 

  

There's still space for 2 more painters!

Costa Rica Workshop

January 30 - February 8, 2009

There are 2 spaces left for a really wonderful workshop adventure in a most memorable place! You will have never seen or lived in a place like this! Sombra de la Lapa (Shade of the Macaw) is a placed created by two special artists on the Osa Penninsula that National Geographic Magazine terms "the most biologically intense place on the planet" In one 24 hour period I saw toucans, macaws, monkeys, butterflies galore and too many hummingbirds to count and the most beautiful flowers! Come with me to paint them. My son, Jonathan will be helping to teach using watercolor and oils and artist, host Mike Cranford will contribute in acrylics! So - the medium isn't important! Your eyes and excitement are! Maximum number of participants = 12. $2550, 9 days, all demos, instruction, meals & transportation & some great adventures once you are in Costa Rica except 2 meals (1 at beginning & 1 at end).

and - take a look at our accommodations and the brand new treehouse - now finished!

 

Here is the main house - so open that toucans have flown through!

   
   

Here is Mike & Rebecca's elegant, world class treehouse that is with but not attached to the 80 year old guanacaste tree! Imagine sleeping 40 ft up in a tree!

Click here to see the exciting building of the Treehouse on U-Tube.

 

  

The resident pair of Scarlet Macaws fly overhead while the toucans kiss.

 

Some of the colors that we'll be painting - besides greens......better bring Opera along!

 

We will be painting on the ground and from the treehouse. Some of us will even sleep high in the trees! It is now a finished 7 level structure that never impinges on the guanacaste tree it surrounds. There are no screws or nails in the structure and it was all built from scavenged downed wood from the rainforest. It is truly a miraculous man made structure in harmony with nature.

 

just in case you ever wondered how you get major appliances home when you live on the Osa Penninsula ...

 

here's how...

 

Rebecca, the appliances and the pongo

a note from Rebecca......

In case you haven’t been here before… here is how we get appliances home after we buy them across the Golfo Dulce!  This boat I am in is called a “ponga”- a very small boat that is slightly unstable on choppy waters!  
 
There is a duty free shopping area, where from here, we go to buy appliances.  But it is not as simple as you think.  It is the only place I have ever heard of where there are things for sale- BUT, you can’t buy them.  At least not that day!  To encourage overnight stays, the government allows each person in Costa Rica (resident or tourist) a card which allows you to buy up to $500 in goods every 6 months, tax free.  You give your ID (passport in our case) to get the card & then go pick out what you want, then you cannot buy it until the next day.  So you either spend the night OR you can buy someone else’s card!  There is a whole industry of Ticos over there who sell their cards every 6 months.  There are brokers who will get the people for you (yes they have to show up in person & follow you around while you are buying items!).  If you want to buy something over $500 (as most fridges are these days!), you have to get a married couple - nope 2 cards is not good- they must have the same last name!  It is a trip!!  To buy more than $1000 worth you get another person & buy their card too!  It is really a trip.  It is fast paced too. These people do not have fun following us around so they want to get out of there as quickly as possible.  So after you buy your stuff, you then pay another person to watch it so you can continue shopping & let the poor soul, whose card you just bought, get out of there!!  
 
Well we got the last of our appliances for the tree house! We will be power washing it this weekend, finishing all the wood after it dries AND then we can move everything in.  Right now we have a king mattress, 3 queens & all kinds of furnishings sitting between our house & the shop just awaiting their final homes!  We’re hoping to spend our first night up there by next weekend (not this one).  I’ll let you know.
 
Rebecca Amelia


PS.  BTW – there’s also a microwave oven, 2 blenders, 2 toasters, 4 fans & a set of plastic dishes in that ponga- plus Mike & me & the driver!! And a partridge in a pear tree.  Crazy huh! Pura Vida!
 

FOR SALE

2005 Suburu Outback 2.5 Ltd with Turbo and loaded with all the good things, automatic & in near perfect condition! Never a problem with this car. Only 41,000 miles

$14,800 OBO

(listed as $18,000 Kelley Blue Book value to private party)

I wouldn't be selling the best car I've ever had if I wasn't moving to Costa Rica. And I really must sell it so I can get an older car in Costa Rica.

Make an offer here and maybe I could drive it half way to you! I'm very serious!

   

Update - My book is now available in French, Italian and German. I'm hoping Spanish soon.

The Watercolor Artist's Guide to Exceptional Color

I still sell signed copies from my studio - just send a check for $30 to the address below and I'll sign and ship to your mailing address.

P.O. Box 1849, Española, NM 87532

(You can get it a lot cheaper on Amazon.com - & there are even used ones! But they aren't signed.)

  

a published review from a reader to Amazon.com

 

Definitely a MUST for watercolorists who love color, April 11, 2008
By Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA)

"Jan Hart has written articles for Daniel Smith Paints, most on her "amazing mixes"--unusual blends of watercolor that give luminous results in mainly landscapes. If you enjoyed seeing her articles and work (which really glows with subtle and startling color) then this book has a lot more of her way of mixing paints.

Though landscape and botanicals seem to be her major love, the book also has animals, buildings, seascapes, skies and other subjects. She shows them in variations. There is no attempt to reproduce reality exactly--instead, Hart shows how to mix colors to get a result that dazzles the eye like fluttering leaves and bluish shadows on a bright, sunlit day.

There is a section at the end on Daniel Smith Primatek colors. These are natural pigments made of ground stones and earths. They are sometimes less colorful and bright than synthetic paints, but Hart shows how to use their unusual granulating properties along with more traditional watercolor pigments to gain some eyecatching mixes.

This book is a good tutorial for those who want to break away from the standard three to eight color palette and try for something different."

************

Published by Walter Foster books, it is all about color and pigments - color schemes, color use by artists, color values, pigments, color relationships and the watercolor processes that allow the colors and pigments to work to their max in paintings

   
 

 

    

 

 

Artist Spotlight

Hal Wilson

   

I need some help with some projects in Costa Rica...and have some Win-Win ideas...

You come help me with some project and I'll arrange or take you on a personal adventure in Costa Rica geared to your interest! Come spend a week! We'll work and play! Win-Win

for some personal adventure ideas go to my website here

 

     

I would like to introduce you to my friend, student and fellow painter, Hal Wilson. At 82, Hal has been a professional musician throughout his life having played his violin in the Denver (now Colorado), Portland, Oregon and Quad City Symphonies as well as in local groups all over the country. His wife, Sandra has shared his passion for music and has taught piano for over 35 years as well as pursued painting and drawing throughout her life. A few years ago Sandra came for a watercolor workshop and Hal came along to watch. He did. After that he was back again the following year - this time to paint. Simultaneosly he was finding his ability to practice his violin more and more difficult due to rotator cuff injuries. He could paint, though - and he began getting up at 6 a.m. every morning to paint in their studio. When I saw his work, I found it to be completely unique and inspired - from the creative vision of a true expressionist. After spending time looking and thinking - he paints directly from his feelings about his Colorado home and landscape. Hal Wilson is living proof that it is never too late!

 

  

.

Some Projects I need help with...


  • Outdoor Shower
  • This project involves knowledge/skill in building and plumbing. I'll pay for all of the materials and make sure you have the right tools. The project has been planned for February, 2009 with Alice and Ric Bonner! The outdoor shower will bear a plaque with the Bonner name on it! Ric plans to do it in one week. And - we'll play, too! As extra incentive, Ric gets plenty of design imput.

Counter Top and other Tiling

  • After the kitchen countertops are built they will need to be tiled. Costa Rica has some wonderful tiles available and I will plan to find them and get them to the house with the materials needed. We can do the tile work together.

Help Build the Aviary

  • This project requires handyman or handywoman skills. I'll be bringing my four parrots to Costa Rica, if all goes well. My dream is to build a small aviary on the east side of my house, just outside my bedroom. It'll likely be about 5' x 8' x 8' (1.5m x 2.4m x 2.4m) with a partial roof to keep rain out and will be built of sturdy wire, wood and with a concrete base that can be hosed down. There may be an indoor part, too - going into my bedroom and adjoining bathroom so the birds can shower, too. It is difficult to plan from here but can be better visualized once I get there!

    .

    Raised Flower/Vegetable Beds

    I am thinking that some raised beds will be easier for me to tend and I love the idea. We'll figure out together what materials to use! This project could use some gardening expertise!

    .

    Building the Open Air Studio

  • The Open Air Studio is my primary building project. I will look to have the basics done before recruiting help. Still -if you have building expertise - I'm thinking about something like this on the right.

Remodeling the House

  • I could really use some design advise, building expertise and carpentry skills on this one! I think it can be done in stages and I'm thinking about removing the roof, raising the non gabled sides of the (square) house .7 meters, building a new wood and metal roof structure, adding high windows for light/air, extending eaves, adding a storage loft above the bedrooms..... Take a look at a similar idea at right - a remodeled Tico house.

Hanging Orchid Garden ....?

Electrical work?

 

Suggest a Project

  

   
   

love the tile and wood

   
       
       
       
   

 

Hal Wilson's work brings to mind, for me, one of my favorite Expressionist master artists who also painted in watercolor and loved color.

Emil Nolde (August 7, 1867 - April 15, 1956)

For the whole of his long life Emil Nolde, the leading German Expressionist, luxuriated in color. Before the First World War in Berlin he made many paintings of the theater, music-hall and opera; he loved flowers and even coaxed a garden out of the salty soil of the Baltic coast, where he had built himself an isolated house. His parents were Frisian peasants and he loved the landscape of North Friesland: it was the theme of many of his pictures. But the Nazis disapproved of his work and finally forbade him to paint at all. Although Nolde was already in his seventies when this happened, no political regime could stifle his vision. At great danger to himself he continued to work, making watercolor sketches the size of postcards, which he called `unpainted pictures,' meaning them to serve as sketches for the large oils he would paint when he was free. And he did outlive the Nazi regime, marrying a twenty-eight-year-old woman in 1948 and painting up until the year before he died.

         
             
             
          coffee staton (above left) restaurant structure idea for open studio (above right) and some more kitchen ideas - metal open shelves and concrete counter (below)

tilBathroom tile idea (above) and my existing Tico bedroom (below)

Remodeled Tico kitchen with high windows and great light (above) and remodeled Tico bedroom (below)  
             

Emil Nolde, Summerclouds

    
   
   

 
 

Emil Nolde, Sunflower

My favorite Emil Nolde subjects are his florals. Look him up!

              

How about a Demo?

Before I go I'd like to show a demo of a favorite place of mine - one that I'll never forget. It is Plaza Blanca or the White Place that Georgia O'Keeffe named. It is about 20 miles from my house - behind Abiquiu.

 

Plaza Blanca is a quiet place whose very existence speaks of a violent volcanic past - some 13 million years ago. You park at the top and then walk down a path to the arroyo that runs through the ancient crystalized ash remains of the volcanic explosion that created the Jemez Mountains. Many people have reported seeing spirits and experiencing visions at this place.

 

If you would like to try this painting and need a good copy of the photograph, please email me here and I'll email a copy to you. If after you finish you would like to have a quick critique - just email me a jpeg of your painting and I'll be happy to reply.

Enjoy!

 

    

photo by Jan Hart

               

 

 

 

      
   

 

This photo was taken while standing in the arroyo looking towards the undulating drip castle-like tuff formations of Plaza Blanca. To the right is the golden fall plumage of the salt cedar or tamarisk. Note the intricacies and details of the formations. The artist must decide how much detail to include in a painting.

The painting is started with an over all underwash of Aureolin yellow. When dry, the initial washes are put in place painting around the light in an attemt to preserve a "path of light" that can help direct the viewer's attention from the uper left down through the painting. I choose warm tones knowing that I'll be adding in cobalt blue later, which will gray the effect. Putting in the darkest darks of the piñon in the shadows helps the eye to see the entire value range of the painting so far. Note the use of Manganese Violet for color and texture in the rocks and foreground.

 

      
   

 

 

Now I can go over the rocks with the cast shadows and cool cobalt blue shading taking great care to make it dark where the shadows begin and lighter in the shaded areas, turning the colorations to cool laveners and blue grays. I make sure that the path of light still exists down to the bottom of the oaubtubg, I use yellow to emphasize the shaded side of the very top. I also make a "Path of Dark" that begins in the cleft of the rocks and continues down to the dark piñons.

For finishing details I work on the various landscape elements:

  • the bushes - darkening the bases with greens, blues and warm tones for form
  • emphasizing horizontal shapes in the rocks to suggest the layers of tuff
  • adding shadows to the foreground

One thing I know for sure - I LOVE the blue at the base of the rocks. But - I'm not sure it is finished. I think I'll put the painting away for awhile and then take another look to see what I think.

 

      
     

 

Two months later.....

Okay. Now I think that the blue at the base is too strong. How do I know? It is pulling my eye there and not letting it move on around the painting. Even though I love the blue, it is too strong. What to do? I glaze it with a bit of its complement - Quinacridone sienna making sure that I leave untouched a little bit of the pure blue. Voila! All I need to do now is to finish the sky.

I apply what I call a 'Maxfield Parrish' sky. I turn the painting upside down and tilt the painting toward me. Then I apply a wash of Aureolin yellow across the sky just above the rocks. Before it dries I apply a light wash of cobalt blue. The yellow plays well against the cool notes in the rocks and the blue plays well above the yellow. Now I believe it is finished.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




Plaza Blanca Mystery
Jan Hart
 

Jan's New Giclees

Hot off the Press

The two directly below look perfect for Costa Rica even though Tree Heart was painted in a NWWS workshop using a tetradic color scheme. Soul Mates also originated as a workshop demo in Canada! Both are 14" x 11", $95 each plus $10 for shipping. You can order a professionally printed limited and numbered edition here.

 

 

 

         
             
Jan's Additional Giclees
          

 

Tree Heart • Jan Hart

 

      

 

Junkyard Beauty • Jan Hart 15"x 20" image size

 

          
                         
               

 

Ghost Ranch Spring • Jan Hart, 15"x 20" image size

 

Soul Mates • Jan Hart
                         

 

A Road Most Traveled • Jan Hart 15"x 20" image size

 

Each of my giclees have been professionally printed by Patrick Carr of Carr Imaging in Albuquerque, NM.

Each giclee print is scanned from the original, printed individually using lightfast pigment inks onto archival watercolor paper.

The larger prints sell for $175 plus $12 for shipping.

If you order a giclee you'll be helping Jan get to Costa Rica!

Pura Vida!

 
  

Sage and Flash
 

 

 

The next HartNews I send out will be from Costa Rica! And I'm sure I'll have lots of news to share. Once there I'll be looking for teaching opportunities in Costa Rica as well as in the states and I will consider any offers. Email me if you have a watercolor group or association that would enjoy a 4 or 5 day workshop. I'll come!

 

 

So long for now - from me and my wonderful animal family, who are all going with me and have all (so far) passed their health tests!

Pura Vida and I'll hope to see you in Costa Rica!

 

         

Xena and Beak
          

Seurat and Livvie