Report on Graydon Parrish color workshop Part 2

This is the second installment of my report on the Graydon Parrish color workshop at Grand Central Academy.

Just to revisit some goals of the workshop, here is one more photo of student work. Most of us did the gray scale exercise in 10 steps. Artist Ruza Bagaric got so fascinated by the gray scale she tried to find as many value steps as time allowed. I think I see 36 steps here. Such thoroughness pays off in increased visual sensitivity and accuracy.


Many of us accompanied instructor Graydon Parrish to the Metropolitan Museum to look at paintings, with special attention to the 19th century. Here Graydon and students view Rosa Bonheur's terrific painting of the Paris Horse Market. We are taking in the excitement and energy of this work, and also appreciating Bonheur's masterly use of value, hue, and chroma.


We all admired this large painting of St Joan by Bastien LePage. He has created an other-worldly, magical space by keeping value and chroma almost constant. The mood is set by the subtle changes of hue, while the very few high value notes draw our eyes to her transfixed face.

We took a close look at this stunning small piece by Jean Leon Gerome, for his daring use of high chroma blue in the sky. Most of us learn to downplay the sky color in our landscapes. Gerome's color harmonies, tight composition, and dramatic variations of value result in a completely believable scene of heat, action and sunlight.

If you are interested in the craft and theory of classical painting, you might enjoy the video of a lecture entitled, "Technique as Influence: The Painter's Odyssey of Craft and Communication" by Graydon Parrish at this link.

To view a lecture by Graydon Parrish on his recent monumental painting commemorating the 9/11 tragedy, go to this link.

And now, friends, you will not hear from me for another few weeks. I am about to go on my yearly artist trip to Denali National Park. This time I plan to spend some time doing drawings and making some color notes (using the Munsell system), though I also plan to complete a few paintings while I am there. Here's hoping for fine weather!

Peach and Yellowjacket

This is the demonstration painting I started at Fireweed Gallery in Homer last Saturday, the day after my solo show opened there. The yellowjacket was not alive, but when I saw him laying near the door of the gallery, I couldn't resist including him, in honor of the long tradition of bugs with fruit in still life paintings. He looked better when I revived him through the magic of painting. You will see by the photos below that I edited the painting in other ways as it developed.

8" x 6" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com

The wonderful Paul, with his tape measure and sharp eye, is my best advisor for hanging a show!

Irene Randolph, the owner of Fireweed Gallery, snapped this picture of me at work on the demonstration painting.

Paul took this one and got my entire setup. The dolls in the case are by another Fireweed Gallery artist, Charlene Jump.

The show runs through August 4th. I hope if you have a chance to visit Homer this month you will visit Fireweed Gallery and please leave me a note in the guestbook.

Show opening Friday July 2 in Homer, Alaska

I haven't posted new work recently, mostly because I have been busy preparing work for my solo show, which opens this Friday in Homer, AK at Fireweed Gallery. If you are in the area, please come by to say hello, either during the opening Friday evening, or on Saturday any time. I will spend Saturday in the gallery doing a painting demonstration.

If you can't make it to Homer, the gallery is taking purchase orders by email and phone, so if you have seen anything in the past 6 months or so on the blog that interests you, please contact them at art@fireweedgallery.com , or by phone at 907 235 3411.

Fireweed Gallery is at 475 E Pioneer Ave, Homer, AK, open 10 - 7 Mon - Sat and 11 - 5 Sun. Hope to see you there!