Workshops

Anne Belov
http://sites.google.com/site/annebelovfineart/
THE PASSIONATE STILL LIFE:
Creating still life paintings that make a statement
May 1 - 2, 2010
$225

Many people think of still life as a static collection of objects, but this class will give you a different take on this classic subject. We start with object selection, and then move on to explore the emotional content that can be achieved by lighting, the relationship between objects, and choice of color palette. The lessons learned in this class can transfer to a broad range of subjects.

This class is suitable for watercolor, oils, acrylics, egg tempera, or pencil/colored pencil. Students should have at least an intermediate level of drawing experience and be comfortable with their chosen medium. We will also cover non-toxic methods of working with oils.

Instructor Anne Belov has been painting for more than 40 years. She is experienced in oils, watercolor, acrylics, egg tempera and pencil. Her subject matter encompasses everything from still life, landscape, and architecture to narrative figure paintings. See her work at http://sites.google.com/site/annebelovfineart/

Artist Statement

For over 35 years, my work has been concerned with the portrayal of light, structure, color, and the specificity of place and time. Landscape, still life and interior imagery have all been a part of my repertoire.

I have traveled to Europe several times. Each trip has inspired me, both by the art history that abounds there, and by the architecture, landscape, light, and now the people that I observe. I try to travel with an open mind as to what I will focus on for the resulting paintings. Each time I’m amazed by the new inspiration in these old countries. I love the patinas of the old buildings and have begun to see them as works of art, unintentional as they may be. The combination of peeling and fading paint with posters and signs became compelling subject mater for me on a recent trip to Italy. Personal dramas observed also became subject matter for me. Never before did I wish that my Italian had progressed beyond “where is the cash machine?” when we observed a wedding in the town of Morimondo. (For the record,” Dov’e il bancomat” will get you to the cash machine.)

I have also recorded my home surroundings in my paintings. I am a “nester”, in that I am very attached to my home and the objects with which I surround myself. I try to portray the bond I feel with my surroundings whether it is the home front or the temporary port of my travels. Each group of paintings that I do is a connected story, with the subject of one painting feeding the next.

Most of my paintings are oil on linen. Oil paint has tremendous depth and luminosity, which particularly suits my subject matter. I start by gluing Belgian or Italian linen onto hardboard with rabbit skin glue. I then make an egg-oil emulsion rabbit skin glue gesso according to traditional recipes. The resulting painting ground is more absorbent than acrylic or oil based gessoes. I also use this gesso in the hand finishes on my frames. The frames are custom milled and I do all finishing and metal leafing of the surfaces.

Printmaking has also been part of my work repertoire for more than 15 years. My current work in monoprint is described in the essay, “The Painterly Print”.

Anne Belov 2009