From Jaeme Bereal, last fall

Looks like Beebee. Novemer 2016. gorgeous subtle likeness from the evening portrait session 14' X 18"

Two from Evening session

Kassimira and Eliza, by Iris Sabre, who coordinates the evening session.

The first is the model Kassamira. It is done in oils and measures 18x24 inches. I did it on the evening of March 21. Kassamira looked beautiful in the blue spotlight.

The second jpeg is of Eliza. It is also done in oils and measures 18x24 inches. I painted Eliza the following week on March 28. We painted her with the red light. The pose and set-up were inspired by the Matisse/Deibenkorn Show that is presently at SFMOMA.

Double Beebe

Walnut ink on gel print. © 2017 Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez

Eugene and Ellen, last year

We haven't drawn Eugene much, but I notice I liked all the paintings I did of him. Here he is in his bicycle shorts. I love how fair people who spend time outdoors ge so multi-colored!  Ellen, in the background. Bicycle Shorts Eugene, Gouache on paper, 22" x 15"
Betsy Kendall

Farewell to a Wonderful Artist and Friend

I am so sad to share these news. Our friend and the co-founder of this group, Karen Zullo Sherr, passed away this morning at her home in Berkeley from a long-term illness. Her funeral, I have learned through Facebook, will be this Thursday, November 3rd at noon, the Mountainview Cemetery at the end of Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, in the Jewish section which is located to the West side as you enter the gate.

Photo by Patricia Zambryski

For those of you who joined this group recently and did not have the chance to meet her in person, Karen was a tireless leader in our East Bay artist communities. I only know of the artistic achievements she completed after she retired from her profession as a social worker, so I will just name a few.

Not only did she co-found the East Bay Landscape Painters and the East Bay Figure painters groups, she remained their leader over the next nine years. Even after her husband David became ill, she continued to be actively involved in the two groups. She mentored many of us, made sure everybody got along and sought jobs, commissions and exhibition opportunities for the artists she met in these groups. Under her guidance, a support group for women artists who returned to art after another career saw its beginnings.

Karen also collaborated with Tom Franco to transform the Firehouse from a multi-use studio space to the great gallery it is today. She co-curated several fabulous shows with Sue Steel of Mythos Gallery, most notably the Beauty as Fierce as Stars, an exhibition about abstract women painters of the 1950s. The openings to those shows were always packed.

In keeping with the community-oriented artist that she is, I invite the plein air and figure drawing artist community to save their pictures, anecdotes and stories about Karen. I will consult with the other artists who are close to her and will find out what can be done to honor her memory.

Prudence looking very girly

Sharon Hind-Smith, Prudence, watercolor, 12"x 8"(?) end of June.

Rebeca's painting from the morning session

Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez, Untitled, 12"x 9" acrylic on masonite.
I am thinking it must be Amber from last week.


 http://garcia-gonzalez.com/

Emily B and Sig

We will get back to our monthly two-model session when we can. But this one was fun. Two Favorite Blondes, 15" x 22" gouache on paper, Betsy Kendall.

Inky and Joan

It was fun to paint Inky, who is herself a work of art! So much ink on her, so little time.
Collage and gouache, approx 22" x 15"
Betsy Kendall

We need to get Justin back!

Justin's strong personality complemented Lisa Esherick's urban landscape paintings in the gallery. Betsy Kendall,  gouache on paper, 22" x 18."

Joan Gallagher's from March

 Emily B

Mary and Bob

 They were done with chalk pastels and watercolor. These models were so loose and inspirational!

Ellen Pechman's two

 This drawing of Clinay captures her sweet personality.

An adventure in dynamic drawing, new EB drawing participant, Ellen, framed a touch between our two models in one of our monthly two-model drawing session. [Medium is conte, vine charcoal, and pastel)

Jaeme Bereal's painting

From 2/15 evening session. Challenge? Color was a challenge b/c he was a monotone and very subtle.

China Bride?

Jenny Lemper posed in her fabulous Chinese wedding headdress and nothing else sometime last year. I wanted to put in some of the junk in the background, so it took me some time to get around to working it in, using photos I took of the studio. The strange green & black cylinder on the floor is the box the headdress comes in. Thank you Jenny!
Gouache on a full sheet of Fabriano hot press paper.

Kelsey

Kelsey is a new model with the Guild.  

She has a very interesting face.

This portrait is in acrylics on paper.

Paintings: Christine, Sarah, Carolyn

After drawing for about a year, and neglecting painting, I recently decided to go back to acrylics for portraiture...but with a difference.  Instead of painting the way I used to, with a lot of line-work typical of drawing,  I decided to try painting in a more standard way, with flat color areas that work together to imply lines and planes.  It doesn't come naturally to me, and the results so far seem like a step backwards, but the one of Christine is promising, and hopefully I'll get better with time.

Christine

Sarah

Carolyn

Maria

 Maria came to the Firehouse twice.  Both times, I used charcoal and watercolor.  The little watercolor with the flower is on Yupo.

Gameli, Sitting on a Tall Chair

Gameli came back and sat on a tall chair, wearing the exact same shirt as before!  I did a charcoal drawing and a small watercolor portrait.

Signe, Round II

Signe came back today.  I used charcoal and a little watercolor.

Signe

 Signe is a great model, with endless variety in her poses and an engaging form with plenty of volume and gesture.  I enjoyed every minute of drawing her.