ARTFINDER: Gazing into the Blue by Elizabeth Jose - I love painting people in Art Museums and galle...

ARTFINDER: Gazing into the Blue by Elizabeth Jose - I love painting people in Art Museums and galle...

ARTFINDER: Ready for Action by Elizabeth Jose - This model is wonderful to paint with his lean ...

ARTFINDER: Ready for Action by Elizabeth Jose - This model is wonderful to paint with his lean ...

ARTFINDER: Valentine by Elizabeth Jose - My sweetie gave me this orchid plant for Valent...

ARTFINDER: Valentine by Elizabeth Jose - My sweetie gave me this orchid plant for Valent...

ARTFINDER: Memorabilia by Elizabeth Jose - Using a limited palette of just cadmium red, ye...

ARTFINDER: Memorabilia by Elizabeth Jose - Using a limited palette of just cadmium red, ye...

ARTFINDER: Vivid Inner Life by Elizabeth Jose - This wonderful model always seems to serene and...

ARTFINDER: Vivid Inner Life by Elizabeth Jose - This wonderful model always seems to serene and...

ARTFINDER: Tan Lines by Elizabeth Jose - Our model came back from a trip to Bali with th...

ARTFINDER: Tan Lines by Elizabeth Jose - Our model came back from a trip to Bali with th...

ARTFINDER: The Sad Smile by Elizabeth Jose - Painted from the model in the artist's studio.

ARTFINDER: The Sad Smile by Elizabeth Jose - Painted from the model in the artist's studio.

ARTFINDER: The Slender Back by Elizabeth Jose - This wonderful model is a firefighter and model...

ARTFINDER: The Slender Back by Elizabeth Jose - This wonderful model is a firefighter and model...

ARTFINDER: The Big Recline by Elizabeth Jose - I enjoyed the challenge of extreme foreshorteni...

ARTFINDER: The Big Recline by Elizabeth Jose - I enjoyed the challenge of extreme foreshorteni...

John Singer Sargent and I

John Singer Sargent and I. I've been a fan of the Edwardian painter, Sargent, for a very long time.   As a teenager I loved his paintings in the National Portrait Gallery in London and bought a postcard of the portrait of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw which I studied intently when I was at art college and kept for decades. One of my favourite paintings in the world is his "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose" of 2 little girls at twighlight with lanterns in a garden, which I visit at the Tate Britain like an old friend every time I am back in London.  There is no other artist with whom I develop relationships with their paintings in the same way. After thinking about it for some years, this week I finally started a project to learn more directly from his paintings by making student copies.   Firstly I read all kinds of material about him, from historical articles to 'how to' artist blogs.  I read about his life story and his methods as an artist. I was very surprised to find out that I had some things in common with him.  He was born to American parents in Italy and grew up in Europe, studying in Paris and was multilingual, as am I.  He was also a very gifted musician, and after a particularly bad review considered giving up painting to be a musician.  In my early days as a painter I actually did stop painting to be a professional musician after a portrait commission went badly. My copy of Sargent's masterpiece I picked these 2 paintings, the self portrait for the skin tones and the expressive brushstrokes, and the portrait of Lady Agnew just because I've loved it for such a long time. Matching my colour mixing and brushstrokes to the originals was so much harder than I imagined.  My own painting habits kept reasserting themselves as a default and it felt like being constantly interrupted.  Comparing my own skill in comparison to this great master was very hard on the ego, seeing myself fall short over and over again. I could feel my brain having to work harder and in new ways, new neural pathways forming in my head and felt dazed and exhausted after each session. I am enjoying having these paintings in my house and feel a strong sense of accomplishment from this project.  I'm curious to see how this will affect my painting in the coming weeks and months.

Winter Sun

Winter Sun Ray and I are heading out of the super cold weather we've been having here in Taos and heading South and West on a trip to San Diego and Scottsdale.

I am looking forward to seeing the ocean, painting the coast line "en plein aire" and being out and about in t-shirt weather. So the house sitter is settled in, the Airstream is packed, the cat definitely knows something is up and it's time to go.  I will be posting on Facebook and Instagram if you would like to come along for the ride! In case you missed it, here is an article written about my "Airstream Style" that appeared recently in a magazine called Outside Interests.

MyAirstream Style

On a Pedastal

On a Pedastal, 16 x 12" oil on canvas.  available on the link below.

ARTFINDER: On a Pedestal by Elizabeth Jose - painted from the model in the artist's studio.

After the Storm

After The Storm, 10 x 8" oil on panel
Available.

Seated Nude

ARTFINDER: seated nude by Elizabeth Jose - I like the bold brushstrokes of this quick sketch from the model. 10 x 8" oil on panel.  $400

ARTFINDER: At ease in her skin by Elizabeth Jose - I love painting from this model, she is a dance...

ARTFINDER: At ease in her skin by Elizabeth Jose - I love painting from this model, she is a dancer and has a real flair for poses.  16 x 12" oil on panel, unframed.  $500.

2016 Airstream Art Calendar

Let me take you with me on my travels in my Airstream trailer!  12 new paintings of Airstreams in Southwest landscapes including Monument Valley, White Sands and Arches National Park.  

preview the entire calendar here

$16 plus shipping

order your calendar here

8 x 10" paintings - portraits

8 x 10" paintings - landscapes

another catch up blogging session

dear blog followers,

I've been in a strange space with my painting recently, not my usual self. I apologise for not keeping up to date with the blog. I have mostly been painting very small canvasses, 8 x 10", smaller projects, and working on my paint application and light effects. I love to get your feedback!

many thanks,

Elizabeth

landscapes