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Saturday, October 30, 2010

How I Became an Artist - Part One

Since I already told you a bit about myself in my Profile,  I thought it would be a good idea to start at the beginning.  Granted, this might not interest you, but maybe it will inspire someone to follow their artistic dreams.

  First of all,  it took me the longest time to call myself an "artist".  I'm sure many out there have felt the same.  Well, I admit I'm an artist!  How did this happen?  Certainly not overnight.  I was born in 1948( yes, I said the beginning),  and in January 1949 a snowfall of up to 3 feet fell in San Antonio.  My mom said that my dad went around covering the holes in the wooden walls with calendars, maybe that was the start of my being very observant!  By age 2, I was drawing very primitive cats and my mom still has the drawings.  I must say it does look like a kitty.  I moved on to drawing dancing people and so on.  In the 50's , my mom ordered my first drawing set from John Gnagy who had a drawing show on TV.  I found it fascinating and can say that I still remember those lessons on geometric forms.  I continued to draw throughout my childhood encouraged by my mom, dad, and my grandma.  My "abuelita" embroidered and crocheted the most beautiful designs of her own making.  I still have samples of her art and treasure them.  I realize now she was an artist.


Below are photos of my "abuelita" with me, my school photo around the time I started learning accordian, the big snowfall in 1949, and a sketch I did for mom and dad around 9 or10 years old.




We lived on the west side of town which was a very poor part of San Antonio at that time but my parents provided me with creative opportunities.  They bought me an accordian and I took lessons for four years at the Caldwell Music Co. starting at the age of six.  I taught myself piano at the age of 13 when mom bought me an old upright piano.  One summer mom and I took the bus to the Witte Museum for  art classes.  When high school finally arrived I was so ready for art and took art the four years.  Even though Edgewood High School couldn't offer much in the art department,  I still came away with some good instruction.  Many kids just took art to pass the time because they needed an elective and so it was frustrating at times.  There were gaps in my knowledge and I didn't know how or where to take the next step.

After graduating in 1967, I went to work and in 1972 got married and because I couldn't make my painting do what I saw in my head, and didn't feel I was an artist,  I gave it up.  Our son was born in 1975 and then our girl in 1983.  It was in 1982 that I picked up a brush, some acrylics and painted a cat during a low point in my life.  My husband has always encouraged me to do something with my art but I just didn't know how and we didn't have the extra money.

I started looking for a class I could afford and in 1982 tried an art class at San Antonio College but it didn't satisfy me as I wanted to learn the foundation of a painting and this was a class where you just throw paint on the canvas with no composition.  I did learn not to be afraid of color.  Next,  I found an oil painting class at a senior citizens center (I was 33 at the time) and they still took me in.  Unfortunately, it was a "paint as the teacher paints" and even though my painting looked exactly like hers,  I couldn't say how I did it. I gave it up again as my daughter was born the next year.
 
During this time, my creativeness found another outlet.  I took private piano lessons with  Professor Leo Lightner for a couple of years to fill in the gaps of my piano playing.  I also gave piano lessons for a number of years having up to 12 students and I would have recitals at the Alamo Music.  I participated in Professor Lightner's recitals at the Taylor Concert Hall at Trinity University.  I slowly phased it out as I didn't want to commit to extensive studies. 

In the late 80's and throughout the 90's, I worked as a substitute teacher and toyed with the idea of becoming a teacher.  But again, my heart wasn't in it.


As all parents know, raising a family and trying to find creativeness is a real challenge.

In the spring of 1997, I took floral design with Anthony's School of Floral Design and started to do weddings and such.  I enjoyed it very much, but at the back of my mind was still the desire to paint.

Finally in the fall of 1997,  I started looking again for an art class and all wanted a semester payment which I didn't have. The art classes I could afford would get cancelled.  In the Yellow Pages,  I found the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts and they had a pastel class given by Mary Johnson.  It was a pay as you go class and when I asked her if she would give me a class even if she had a few students, she said she would give me a class even if I was the only one!  What joy!  And so, I started learning pastels, painting portraits and still lifes.  Mary said if I learn portraiture, I can do anything.  And it was art the way I liked it, with foundation and meaning to me.  Under Mary's guidance,  I entered my first competition at the Coppini in 1998 and placed first in the pastel division.  I couldn't believe it!  Remember,  I didn't consider myself an artist!  Well,  maybe there was something here for me. 

The journey began or maybe finally got on track.  It took several more years of intensive instruction with national and international pastelists before my art started to show what I had in my head.  Through contact with other artists,  I found out what to do with my art and it has proved very satisfying.  You can see my list of Awards and a list of the artists I have studied with on my website, www.mclopezart.com.

I will continue with the next part of my journey on the next post.  May this inspire you,  it's never too late to get started ~ Stay Inspired!


   

Monday, October 18, 2010

My Pastel Class

On Tuesdays I give a 2 hour pastel painting class at the Hobby Lobby at Bandera/Huebner.  I'm going into my 10th year of teaching and many have taken the class for a month and some up to 5+ years.  All have benefited from the instruction.

What is pastel?  Pastel is not chalk but is dry pure pigment, the same used in oil, watercolor, acrylics and so on.  The only difference is the binder that holds the pigment together.  Pastel is a dry medium although you can combine pastel with the other mediums using them as an underpainting.  Pastel will not crack, become brittle with age, or yellow.  Sixteenth century pastel paintings are still as bright as the day they were painted.  I saw a wonderful example of a pastel painting at our Witte Museum that's nearly a hundred years old!

The pastel class is ongoing, which means students can join at any time as I work at their level.  The class session is four weeks and if you miss a class , you may make it up within two months.  I cover composition, values, color harmony, techniques, landscapes, portraits, painting on different supports, and more.  The class involves completing a painting, not just practice sessions.   Tomorrow I will show how to do a turpenoid underpainting.

All students that have taken the class during the ongoing year,  have the opportunity to exhibit their artwork at an annual pastel art show which I sponsor.  We have a reception and the students invite family, friends, and all to see their beautiful pastel art.  Our 9th Annual Pastel Art Show was held this past August at the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts.




Interested?  I'm ready to answer  your questions.  Don't put off art anymore!  Stay inspired!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Thursdays at the Eclectic Art Gallery

Two years ago I was invited by Janet Paduh to exhibit at the Eclectic Art Gallery.  This is Janet's "baby" and I was thrilled to be in the "child's" life.  I gallery sit on the first and third Thursdays of the month , from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  The gallery and the riverwalk setting make my gallery days truly enjoyable.  I also take my work- in -progress to the gallery and paint as I welcome visitors.

Everything at the Eclectic Gallery is original, that includes not only two dimensional art in all mediums and styles, but the jewelry, ceramics, metal sculptures, neon art, yes, and many other unique items.

Currently at the gallery, I have "mini" paintings with Riverwalk and Texas themes, several 9x12, 12x9 framed in plein aire frames, and a couple of 8x10s.  I'm now working on 8x10 portfolios, ready to frame, paintings.  All very reasonably priced.

Everything I paint is from something I have seen or experienced.  Although I have worked plein aire many times, I always take a reference photo to jog my memory.  I mostly work out of my small studio.  Here are a few of the paintings at the gallery and the inspiration behind them:

Mission Espada Kitty- there was this lovely white cat posing as I took a photo of the Mission Espada.  I included him(her) in my painting.
 East Texas Road - this was a trip of celebration for my husband and I.  He had just gone through a small stroke and emerged with very little damage.  The doctor said it was a wakeup call and my husband, Joe, made life changes that would help prevent future strokes, although not entirely.  Still,  we went on a trip to east Texas, Tyler, and I found these beautiful inspiring woods with sunlight coming through at the end of the road.
Balancing Act- this one received a Merit Award in Still Life from the Central Texas Pastel Society.  It came about that a friend brought us these giant grapefruits from the Texas valley and my mom had given me these tiny brown pears, thus "Balancing Act".
Evening Show - we took a cruise out of Galveston and it took us to Key West.  We gathered to watch the awesome sunset along with many others.  It was like a fiesta, what fun!
Two Models at the McNay - the McNay Art Museum had a grand re-opening a couple of years back and our Texas Pastel Society was invited to paint on the grounds on that special day.  A beautiful day!
Espada Aqueduct - on the southside of San Antonio is our 300 year old aqueduct that still carries water to the fields. My paternal grandmother was born in San Antonio.  I like to think that maybe I have a link to the past.
Sandia Crest Road 1 and Sandia Crest Road 2 - the view from the top of the 10,000+ Sandia Peak Mountain in Albuquerque is truly breathtaking.  On the way down it started to drizzle and rain on us, one of my favorite subjects!
Pet Stop - just before Kerrville is this roadside rest area and I found a red fire hydrant for the doggies!  It caught my eye for sure!
Go to www.mclopezart.com to see some of my paintings.







If you are coming to the Riverwalk, stop and visit the Eclectic Art Gallery.  I'm there on the first and third Thursdays.  The gallery is located at 518 Riverwalk, streetside.  From the river you need to come up the stairs to reach the gallery.  Streetside, we're between Crockett and Commerce on Presa St.  There is a passageway in the middle of the block.  Hope to see you! Stay inspired!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Judge Tim Jones and me with "Country Morning"

Coppini Juried Members Reception

What a crowd last night at the Coppini Juried Members Reception!  Coppini, by the way, is celebrating 60 years of providing wonderful art opportunities to its members.

All three of my paintings were juried into the show and what a nice surprise to find out I received an award.  My Country Morning received 2nd Place in Pastels and Country Glory at Helotes and Greens received Honorable Mentions from Judge Tim Jones.  Tim Jones is a practicing artist and arts educator with over 25 years of experience in the field. 

Visit the Coppini Gallery to see my works and all the judge's selections.  Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct.16-17 and Oct. 23-24.  The Coppini is located at 115 Melrose Pl., in San Antonio