Reflections of an Artist

Stairway to Heaven

Sierra Stairs

       On Saturday, I tried to do more than was possible.  I started at 8 AM at Leo Carrillo Beach with Karl Dempwolf's class and then had another workshop with Robert Tanenbaum.  The morning at the beach was incredible, but more on that in a later blog.

       I arrived 45 minutes late to the workshop with Robert Tanenbaum, but had warned him that I would be late.  He had some of his wonderful works on display and was gracious enough to go over his initial discussion.

        Next to each of his larger paintings, he had a little thumbnail in color.  He told me that in order to assure the best results in his larger pieces, he first works out the colors and values in a small painted sketch.  I figured I would try that and instead of jumping right into the 20X16 panel I had brought, I did a small 8X6 color sketch. 

        Robert told me that his small sketch is often more difficult than the actual painting because he is working out all the problems before he starts on the larger piece.  I think he is right because my first attempt was not successful and the second sketch is what I have posted above.

       It has been my experience that every artist has something to teach you.