Gone Fishin' .....

Photos: Below: Here I am, plein air painting with my good friends (top photo) Susan Fae and Charlie.

Ok, so I can't make the claim that fishin' got in the way of my blogging for the past year. Although I personally know of a couple of artist friends whose fly-fishing passions cause lengthy absences from their studios, this hasn't happened to me yet. (Rick Berg, Dave Hodges). Nor can I claim to have been golfing, because I don't do that either. My only obsession is painting and I'm pretty pleased about that.

To give you the reader's digest condensed version of my past year, it was a busy one. Last spring my husband and I travelled to London (not to visit the Queen, necessarily), Paris and Amsterdam. In that incredible journey we took in the London Portrait Museum, the National Gallery, The Louvre, Rembrandt's House and Rijksmuseum. All in the blissful pursuit of Rembrandt.

We also visited Santa Fe, New Mexico a couple of times, the incredible art destination which we love to explore. In August I had the pleasure of having a gallery show at Brandon Michael Fine Art on Canyon Road.

And here I am, back again, eager to resume this business of blogging. I hope to have my newsletter back on track in the coming days, as well. (you can sign up on my website Bobbi Dunlop Fine Art )

Most of you know that for my entire career I've been strictly a studio painter. My workspace is a wonderful, expansive, north-lit studio, in which I paint my still-life paintings, have models sit for me and I paint from life. Recently, however, I've been ceased with the urge to experience en plein air painting. ( *Google Definition for en plein air painting: French for "in the open air," used chiefly to describe paintings that have been executed outdoors, rather than in the studio.)

The photos above were taken recently on one such en plein air adventure. I'm hooked! You'll be hearing more about my en plein air adventures here and I'll post some paintings, too. The successful ones, that is ;0)

So, from this point on, rather than claiming to have gone fishin', it's more likely that I'll be gone paintin'.

Thanks for visiting......

"Turkish Urn with Oranges" and Demonstration

"Turkish Urn with Oranges" - oil on Belgian linen, 22x26

This is a photo of my most recent large painting. After discovering this weather worn Turkish urn in a market several months ago, it was simply a matter of time til it won a place of honour in one of my still life paintings. I was looking for a minimalistic concept, in keeping with the functional, utilitarian nature of the urn. No frills. Nothing to take away from its faded, but once beautiful, facade. Toward that end, I used a fairly limited palette. As you can see, it is very much about earthy yellows, oranges and greens. This limited use of colour - or non-colour - serves to enhance the miniature china cup with its lovely blue painted windmill pattern. My small tribute to Rembrandt. I purchased this cup on our trip to Amsterdam last spring, to visit Rembrandt's home and studio, as well as the Rijksmuseum.

DEMONSTRATION:

I have photographed the stages while painting this and plan to post it very soon in my demonstration blog at Dunlop Demonstrations Hope you enjoy it!

Santa Fe, New Mexico - GALLERY ANNOUNCEMENT

Where does the time go? It has been said that ''the older one gets, the faster time passes''. I'll go along with that analogy. Add to the mix a pure joy and love of life - joie de vivre - and the combination throws life into fast forward on overdrive. That's me.

And, just when I think I couldn't possibly be more blessed, I find myself more blessed!

I confess I have been neglecting my journalling duties of late and also haven't been posting new works recently. In fact, the glorious days are getting longer with spring's arrival and with that my hours in the studio are keeping stride.

I am happily creating new works for my 'new' gallery and with that, I take great pleasure in telling you all about it!.....

GALLERY ANNOUNCEMENT:

Brandon Michael Fine Art
202 Canyon Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 670-6603

Contact/Owner: Brandon M. Fitzpatrick

Website details to follow soon.

It is with great excitement that I announce my recent signing with Brandon Michael Fine Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. As many of you know, Santa Fe has become an incredibly beautiful destination spot for artists, art lovers and collectors. The plethora of exquisite art work to be found in Santa Fe is a veritable feast for the senses with, literally, something for everyone.

Brandon Michael Fine Art is located on Santa Fe's famous Canyon Road and will be opening on June 1st, 2008.

I've created a new 'Events' category on my website Bobbi Dunlop Fine Art Stay posted for updates on upcoming appearances at the gallery, as well as information about the gallery opening.

Bits about my friends...and Joni Mitchell

New Detail photo...."Art Student at the Patheon"

This isn't a new painting, but the photo is new. I thought I'd leave the 'old' one (below) just so that you can use it as a form of comparison.

This new photo, and the complete image below, was taken by my very good friend, photographer Geoff Williams. Normally, I photograph the paintings myself as I go along. Once I have accumulated a number of paintings, Geoff comes around to my studio and photographs them for me. As you can see, the man is amazing....his photographs are incredibly beautiful.

Photographing a painting is not an easy task, but Geoff is a master. So now you know. All the extraordinary photographs on my blog, and my website, are the creations of Geoff....the rest of them are mine.

I haven't posted for quite some time. Besides taking time to celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus, plus enjoying family and friends, I'm now involved in a commissioned painting. I will post it when it's done for you to see.

Also, please see my ad in the Oil Painters of America section of the March/April, 2008 edition of the Art of the West and Southwest Art Magazines.

I would also like to invite you to visit my friend's blog: Chris Bolmeier is an artist, living in Omaha, NE. She's also an amazing singer and you will be able to hear for yourself when you visit her blog. Chris is also one of the funniest people I've had the pleasure of meeting. We've become friends and Chris actually mailed me a Christmas tin of authentic Italian home baked cookies! (Chris is Italian). I was incredibly touched and the baking was incredibly delicious - we love Italian food in our house.

Chris is a huge fan of singer/songwriter, Joni Mitchell, whom we all know and love. Because Joni Mitchell and I are both Canadians, Chris likes to put our names in the same sentence. I will be eternally flattered. However, the bit of trivia that I pointed out to Chris is that I was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and this happens also to be the birthplace of our beloved Joni Mitchell! In fact, Joni was in my oldest brother's grade one class. Small world, isn't it? Alas, Joni was last seen heading due south, a common occurance for many of our Canadian artists. But we continue to hold on to them, in our hearts.

"Art Student At The Pantheon I" - completed painting

Detail

Oil on linen, 12x14

The sun finally peaked through the cloudy skies today and allowed me to photograph this painting for you. We've been experiencing unseasonally cold weather recently, as well as less sun. I am blessed to live in a very sunny part of the world so I was very happy to welcome this light back into my gloomy studio. I've also been working on a companion piece to this one and will hopefully be able to post it soon. Please read the posting below for an explanation of these inspiring art students at the Pantheon in Rome.

Working under the natural north lights in my studio, I am really affected by the overcast periods. But, it's a great time to do other things in my studio. This week, I managed to prepare several sized canvases. A number of canvases were done on my usual Fredrik "Kent" linen, which I give a 3rd coat of Williamsburg oil primer to, and several more were made on Utrecht 74D raw linen which I've just applied rabbit skin glue to. You can see a demonstration of the preparation of raw linen on my demonstration blog, Dunlop Demonstrations

I'd like to also invite you to visit my official website, Bobbi Dunlop Fine Art and while you're there sign up for my newsletter!

To view these paintings close up, just click on them and they will enlarge.....enjoy! and thanks for visiting.

"Student At The Pantheon' - work in progress

Detail 'Student At The Pantheon' - work in progress

Oil on linen, 12x14 - work in progress

The Pantheon is referred to as the glory of Rome, and its magestic beauty is no less than breathtaking. Some of Italy's most famous kings and artists are buried at the Pantheon, most notably Raphael. I was taken with the collection of art students, focused intently on their sketchbooks, both inside and out. I love to watch people and the young students were particularly irresistable to me. This painting is one of several from that experience. This smaller painting is a work in progress....almost done. Detail above....
Posted by Bobbi Dunlop on 11/28/2007 6:15:17 PM Permalink Make the first comment

'Apple Delight'

Detail - 'Apple Delight'

Oil on linen, 10x14

Such a simple subject but incredibly irresistable to sculpt with paint. Who would imagine that these two little mac apples would be able to carry a painting with such grace and beauty. And what a joy it was to paint them. This is a subject I will turn to again, I have no doubt.