Tag Archives: street scene

Paint Shapes Not Things

I gave a workshop for the Calgary Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists last weekend.  It was a brand new workshop for me so I was super excited to see how it would go.  I’m really pleased to say that it was fabulous.  It was based on some new ideas that I’ve been working on lately, namely Paint Shapes not Things.  It’s a simple and very effective way to look at shapes.  It helps simplify and organize the shapes.  When you paint the shapes accurately you are painting the things accurately.

 

How to See a Subject as Two Shapes


Here are the first 2 demos I did.  Both are based on seeing the subject as 2 shapes: One shape is everything in sunlight and the second shape is everything in shadow.  Such a simple idea but what a difference it makes!

 

 

 

Painting When There is No Sun

This last demo is based on a subject where there is no sunlight.  I have to admit that, for me, it’s the hardest to teach but the most fun.  It’s a chance to play with colour and mood.

 

These are most of the student samples.  All are works in progress.

Just a note.  One participant worked in pastels and it was very interesting to see the watercolour instruction converted to pastel.

A great workshop and many thanks to the FCA!

Gibsons Landing Workshop

I had the pleasure of offering my first in-person workshop in 16 months.  It was for the Gibsons School of the Arts.  They do a fabulous job of presenting quality art workshops every summer.  They are a very vibrant and friendly group.

The participants in the workshop were also an especially great group to work with.  

Rex Beaanland, Class photo, Gibsons
A great group of enthusiastic watercolourists

The Paintings
 Piazza del Popolo

The first demo was of the Piazza del Popolo. It’s a great subject that teaches so many useful watercolour skills. We took a lot of time learning how to create a mass of background figures.

I’m including a detail of these figures. They tend to look unfinished when you look at them up close but from a distance they magically become figures.

Another thing that I use frequently in urban landscape painting is what I call ‘ghost figures’. They are figures in the foreground that are there to draw you in to the painting. I particularly like the way that their lower half sort of disappears.

Ghost Figure

The participants’ examples.

Granville St

The last demo we did  was a scene from Granville St in Vancouver.  We didn’t have time to finish it but you can see that everyone is well on their way.

Boats At Gibsons

We also did a painting of boats at Gibsons.  This was a challenging painting but as you can see from our Wall Of Fame  it was also well done.

Rex Beaanland, wall of fame, Gibsons
The Wall Of Fame

The workshops are now being held in the High Beam Dreams which I believe was originally a church.  A great space.

Rex Beanland, high beam dreams, Gibsons

My demos

Here are the paintings I did.  I finished them off at home.

Rex Beanland, Piazza del Popolo Gibsons
Piazza del Popolo
Rex Beanland, Boats at Gibsons, watercolour, 20 x 15
All Quiet In Gibsons
Rex Beanland, Granville St, watercolour, 15 x 20, Gibsons
Granville St

Thanks

I just love teaching art so it was a wonderful experience being in Gibsons.  Many thanks to everyone who participated for making it such a great experience.  Thanks also to Dee for being my excellent assistant!

Rex Beanland, Dee paints, Gibsons

Plein Air Painting

After the workshop Susan and I spent a week meandering to the end of the Coastal Highway (about 150 km).  I did a few plein air paintings which I super enjoyed.  I remember so much more of a location when I paint it then I ever do from a photograph.  It’s the greatest way to visit new locations.

Rex Beanland, Lang Bay, watercolour, 9 x 12
Lang Bay
Rex Beanland, Saltry Bay, watercolour 9 x 12
Saltery Bay
Rex Beanland, Historic Town Site, Powell River, watercolour, 15 x 11
Historic Town Site – Powell River
Rex Beanland, Pender Harbour, watercolour, 11 x 15
Pender Harbour

It was truly a great experience!

Rex Beanland, class photo 2, Gibsons

Margaret Shelton Award (Best In Show) For ‘Street Of Wires’

Rex Beanland, Kensington Market, Street Of Wires, watercolour, 16x12

Kensington Market, Street Of Wires
watercolour
16 x 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This painting from our recent trip to the Kensington Market District of Toronto just won the Juror’s Choice Award for the Calgary Sketch Club’s Elveden Show.

I have previously posted a version of this image but I have made quite few changes in this painting.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the importance of a painting telling some kind of story. The feedback I’ve gotten on this painting has generally been about just that.  People  saying that they wonder what’s going on in this street.

I really enjoy hearing comments like that and I am also very appreciative of the award.