Gill Truslow Fine Art - Studio News

Featured book of paintings

2011-07-27T12:18:00.000-04:00

I am pleased to say that my book of pastel paintings, "Light and Shadow" is being featured on Shutterfly's gallery page. Please take a look!

New Exhibit

2011-06-17T11:02:00.001-04:00

Please stop by Sunflowers, in Jaffrey, NH to see my work which will be on display June 21st-July 26th. It is a beautiful restaurant, with great food and entertainment!

Anatomy of a painting

2011-06-13T09:24:00.002-04:00

Developing a pastel painting involves several stages, some of which are beautiful in themselves, others make me wonder if I should continue, because something just isn't working. But the "teacher voice" in me tells me that I am not done, to take a break, look at it with fresh eyes, and continue with renewed confidence.

Creating the initial sketch with vine charcoal on gater board,

painting with toned gesso mixed with pumice

Choosing what to leave out of the composition,

and working on the background with hard pastels.

Continuing to work on the foreground with hard pastels,

working from dark to light values.

The finished painting using soft pastel to bring out

the glow of "Morning Light"

The fun of watching something 3-dimensional pop out on the 2-D surface,

as values are added to show form. I love the challenge!

The finished product. You can see more in this series in an earlier post.

The sweet scent of fleeting beauty.

2011-06-13T09:02:00.000-04:00

My gardens have been bursting with every color of peony, and I have filled my rooms with their lovely fragrance. I wish they would last longer, but their petals and pollen are beginning to decorate the surfaces, leaving a few blossoms to gracefully open with time. Their beauty may be fleeting, but the anticipation of next Spring's display will be worth the wait.

Been gone too long, with many new posts below!

2011-06-12T17:48:00.005-04:00

My little studio - small, but lucky to have it.

You can see more in this YouTube video: Gill Truslow FFAST

which gives you a glimpse of my work, prior to the Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour

coming Columbus Day Weekend, October 8 and 9, 2011
You can also see more of my work on my website.

Back in the studio!

2011-06-12T17:39:00.002-04:00

Gardens - at home, New Mexico & Virginia

2011-06-12T17:39:00.000-04:00

"Old Blue"

"Come Sit With Me"

"Cello Garden"

Gardens - home, New Mexico & Virginia

2011-06-12T17:27:00.001-04:00

In the mood for Still Life and warm colors

2011-06-12T17:26:00.001-04:00

"Morning Light" - Sold

"Summer"

"Opening"- Sold

"Winter's Sweetness"

"Cabin Fever"

Drawn to Water

2011-06-12T17:17:00.001-04:00

"Moments of Grace"

"Paddler's Reward"

"The Evening Show" - Sold

"Warm and Cool"


"Dappled Light"

My Buddy

2011-06-12T17:09:00.000-04:00

"Wild Thing"donated to Art For Animals fundraiser

"Window Seat"

In the Woods

2011-06-12T16:08:00.001-04:00

"Monadnock Gateway"- Sold

"Spoonwood Falls"

"There Are Secrets in the Woods" (commission)

Love of Clouds

2011-06-12T16:01:00.001-04:00

"Cumulo-luminous"- Sold

"Spacious Skies"

Pepper Play Series

2011-06-12T15:02:00.001-04:00

These peppers were so beautiful I just had to paint them,

and had fun in the process!

"Me and My Shadow"- Sold

"Can I Play"

"Pepper Party"

More Studio Time

2009-08-15T21:13:00.001-04:00

I've been squeezing time in the studio between work in the gardening and preparing for a new class at Franklin Pierce University, but times up. Paintings are off being framed for my next show at Art in the Park, Labor Day weekend. Getting everything I need together for it has been a challenge, but I have a tent and panels, so I'm ready to go!

I also will be part of a Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour, Columbus Day Weekend. For information, check out our web site: www.fallfoliageartstudiotour.com

"Evening Light" - Sold

Adobe, heat, hollyhocks & sunshine

2009-08-02T21:56:00.001-04:00

I've recently returned from New Mexico, spending a weekend in Santa Fe for the International Folk art festival, which was fabulous,and the remainder in Taos. Every day was hot, but dry, with intense blue sky and desert/mountain landscapes. I went out early to paint, spent the afternoons exploring, and more painting in the evening. Plein air painting is such a challenge for me, particulary in a workshop, but I always come away with new insights about my own process, as well as techniques.

Traveling by air with plein air equipment was the first challenge. I carried my Anderson easel, the medium size Dakota box of pastels, panels, camera, etc. in a large backpack for carry-on, which worked ok, but was pretty heavy. The hip belt saved me. Next time I will use a rolling bag!

I have worked with a variety of sanded surfaces in my studio - Colourfix, LaCarte, Kitty wallis, Pastelboard and panels that I prepare myself using gesso, liquid acrylic, and pumice powder on gator board. Kitty Wallis holds the pastel really well so that many layers of color may be used. I really like using the gatorboard panels for the same reason, but also because they don't require additional backing when framed.

The most important insight for me was that the paintings I do in my studio, such as this one, after a plein air experience( classes especially), are the best because my choices are clearer, more intuitive, better composed and of subjects that move me because of certain colors, textures and light. I love the curves and surface variations of adobe, and the Southwest in general.

"Canyon Adobe" - Sold

Happily Busy

2009-05-06T20:38:00.000-04:00

"Onset Morning"
If you are in the Keene area Friday evening, May 8th, please come to my opening at The Works Cafe, 120 Main St., from 6-8 PM. The exhibit contains 22 paintings ranging in size from 5" x 7" to 18" x 24", most of which are landscapes of places I love in NH, VT, MA, RI, NM and Canada.
If you can't make it Friday, the show will be up through June 14th.
Hope to see you there!

Playing with color

2009-04-20T20:23:00.000-04:00

I've been busy creating a website and trying to catch up on painting for a show coming up at the Works Cafe in Keene in May, and have also been experimenting with pushing color. I love the color and shadows of this little building.

Experimenting

2009-02-15T14:53:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm really frustrated now. I edited the image in photoshop so that the color looks true to the painting, but it does not translate onto this screen or my iBook using Preview. I guess I need to keep experimenting.

Longing for Spring

2009-02-15T14:28:00.001-05:00

Spring is calling, drawing me into my studio to paint more water. This one has taken me a while, but I couldn't wait to get started on it. Now that I see it next to what I am typing, the colors seem off, which is very frustrating. The grasses should be very warm in color, but look gray.
Vacation is only a week away, with the list of painting ideas growing like the crocuses waiting to poke their heads through the melting snow. Hopefully my paintings won't have to wait as long.

"Summer's Flowing Into Fall" - Sold

Head in the clouds

2009-01-02T17:14:00.000-05:00

Clouds have always fascinated me and I spend a good deal of my walks looking at the sky, bringing images like this one home to paint, but not lately. Temperatures have hovered just above zero and the wind has me walking head down with all but my eyes and nose covered in warm layers. Nevertheless, it feels so good to be out for long walks again, the best being just before Christmas in the middle of a beautiful snowfall, on my way to see the Nutcracker. It was magical, as was the performance.
I am back in my studio, after spending wonderful moments with family and friends over the holidays, and am working on a commissioned painting that I hope to complete before school begins again. It's a challenge painting for someone else, rather than choosing what speaks to me most, but worth it.
Let's hope that 2009 brings the changes we need - an end to war, caring for our planet, economic stability, and a president who has the intelligence, energy, and cool head with which to accomplish this. The 20th will be a day to celebrate!!!
Happy New Year.

Back at the easel #2

2008-11-13T13:36:00.001-05:00

Hmmm. I'm still trying to figure out how to get images where I want them to be in my posts but have not been very successful, as you can see. In any case these two are from a hike in the White Mountains and kayaking on Grafton Pond, in New Hampshire.

Back at the easel

2008-11-13T13:08:00.000-05:00

I love the morning and have felt decadent being able to lounge on the couch with my foot up, savoring my coffee and watching the birds dance on the branches outside my window, jockeying into position to reach the feeder. Many mornings have been grey so I can imagine the snow that will be gracing those branches fairly soon. With that in mind, I decided to play around with painting snow.

It feels so good to be in the studio, even if it is a temporary one. I may not have been physically active over the past two weeks, but I have been artistically busy reading, researching on line, and working on a few new, small paintings. I've been trying different surfaces (Richeson gator foam, and Wallis board) in relative sizes of 5" x 7" and 8" x 8". In all three cases I painted the surface with pastel brushed with either alcohol or turpenoid. The alcohol worked better, although I still found that the tooth filled up quickly on both surfaces, probably due to compensating for value adjustments. The turpenoid is thicker and created a shiny surface when the brush was too full. Each experiment was worth it, despite the frustration, so I am ready to work larger and try using lighter strokes.

Energy & the teaching artist

2008-10-31T16:49:00.000-04:00

I've just read the most recent edition of Robert Genn's twice-weekly e-mail's written before boarding a flight to Kiev in which he refers to a quote by John Updike which says "I try to avoid teaching which takes a lot of your energy and makes you doubt yourself." I could immediately relate to the energy part, but wasn't quite sure about how it could make an artist doubt himself, until I read further.

Genn thinks that teaching can be "charming, for sure.....There's that terrific feeling you get when you see the lights come on in students' eyes. Watching improvement in others has to be one of the great highs. For those of us who love to spin knowledge, preparation itself opens up exciting new directions. Further, during delivery, the teacher finds out what she thinks by hearing what she has to say."

This is true: when a student takes what you give him, runs with it and feels proud, there is no better feeling, and teachers do love sharing what they know. But many art students are insecure, afraid to make a mark, to take risks, or don't recognize their own abilities. These students take constant encouragement/pushing to take that leap in order to feel successful. Then there are all the others who, because of one reason or another (problems at home, learning difficulties, etc.) can't focus at all. Many teachers feel like the glue that holds kids together.

Genn has some insight into this: "But teaching takes a special kind of energy. Lots of it. Frankly, I don't know how they find it. Arriving home from the schoolroom, many of my art-teacher friends have to put their feet up and debrief with something like Vodka or the decorating of eggs. Exhausted, many have trouble getting to the studio. Like those undersized tubes of Ukrainian toothpaste, they are used up." (Painter's Keys Website)

It's as if all of your energy, ideas and knowledge have been drained from you. Rejuvenation is needed and may come from time with other artists to share experiences, etc. or from workshops to improve skills. This is when doubt can seep in, especially if you are new at calling yourself an "artist". Being a student again is a humbling experience, but an important one for all teachers. You expect yourself, or assume others do, to know everything about art because you are an art teacher but find yourself in a situation where other students have been working in a particular medium much longer than you. Now you are the one being critiqued again. Thank God the teacher voice in you tells you to keep trying, you're just learning.

Anyone for Vodka?

Welcome

2008-10-30T21:22:00.000-04:00

I'm here recovering from surgery which keeps me home from teaching, but also provides me with the opportunity to connect with other artists, share some of my work, and eventually work in my temporary studio suited to my need to keep my foot elevated. I'm getting there!

I have been painting with pastels the past two years, when I have time away from my life as an art teacher, and have loved every moment of it, including the struggles and moments of self-doubt. Getting to know other artists and sharing with each other is an energizing process, as well as a great learning experience.

I welcome your thoughts and comments, as well as interest in my work.

2008-10-28T14:54:00.000-04:00

I have been painting with pastels the past two years and have loved every moment of it, including the struggles and moments of self-doubt. Getting to know other artists and sharing with each other is an energizing process, as well as a great learning experience. I welcome your thoughts and comments, as well as interest in my work.