Lotus progression

It's always best to start with the best reference photo.  My sister took this photo in Thailand.
  The lotus grow 4' tall!  DO take your own reference photos or get permission to use them.

'

I decided to make the painting all about the Lotus flower. I used Phthalo Blue for an under painting.
I find using an under painting (cool for a warm subject & vice versa) helps me focus on the subject, value & composition.  You will also get a lovely sparkle in your oil painting.

In my oil painting classes we learned and experimented with transparent oil colors. After using a permanent marker on a canvas pad , we painted a variety of  straight oil paints over the black mark.  Now you can easily see which colors are transparent. I also started labeling the brand of paints I use as colors can vary by brand.  I love Gamblin,  Winsor Newton & some  WIlliamsburn & Rembrandt brands.

 

I used a limited transparent pallet for this painting but did need to use some white.  I found the perfect pink for this flower using Quinacridone Red

Darks first!

I wanted the mountains suggested in the painting, but not the focus.

Finished painting!

With the current Pandemic going on, I've had to put my home studio classes on hold.   I seriously miss my students!  When things calm down, I'll organize some plein air outings.  Keep painting!

Happy New Year!

14" x 11"  Cottonwoods of Taos

9 x 12" oil, Strong shadows

New paintings for 2020!  All are original oils, painted impressionistic-ally with lots of impasto.  They were all started as class demos in my oil painting classes.   

12"x 9" oil    Mist on top of Rocky Mountain National Park

20" x 10" Smoky Reflections in NW Ontario 

See more of my art and inquire about available paintings at MaryGiacomini.com

Mary M Giacomini's Artwork                   

Order prints, products & cards!

Instagram; mmgiac

Ongoing Adult Art Classes

After my classes visited Monet's art at the Denver Art Museum, we were all inspired to go Impressionistic.    This is an example of some of the new work I've created from Monet inspiration.  I'm playing with underpainting, loose brushwork, pallet knife and scraping.
I teach 3 classes out of my home studio just west of Loveland, CO.  On Wednesday mornings my  watercolor class  come for class from 9AM-12PM.  I currently have two spots available for Dec 4  and 11th.  I have a limit of 7 in this class so all levels are welcome.

Oil; I have a Thursday morning  oil class (currently full) and an afternoon class from 2-5PM that has one spot left.  The next project we'll work on  capturing running water. My oil classes are limited to 6 per class. Dropins are allowed if there is room.   One thing I do is not paint with petroleum solvents which is much safer!  I have had some of the same students for years and it's my absolute pleasure to see their growth as artists.

See more of my art and inquire about available paintings at MaryGiacomini.com

Mary M Giacomini's Artwork                   

Order prints, products & cards!

Instagram; mmgiac

Loveland Museum Art Classes

I have been working for the Loveland Museum since 2003 teaching art classes to adults, kids and teens.  This Fall, the museum is expanding their art classes dramatically!  I have more classes offered than ever which is good news as they often have wait lists.  Here is a sampling of what is coming.  Register here.  All are EASY with supplies included.

Autumn Leaves
Watercolor in Fall Colors
Tues, Oct 29
Layering, stencils = super easy!

Impasto Moose
Thick Impasto style with oil paint
Tues, Feb 11

Snowy Aspen Grove
Winter Watercolor paintings
Tues, Jan 21
watercolor, masking=easy

Color Recipes
Color mixing with acrylic paint
Tues, Dec 17
easy, informative

See more of my art and inquire about available paintings at MaryGiacomini.com

Mary M Giacomini's Artwork                   

Order prints, products & cards!

Instagram; mmgiac

Regional Fine Art Show 2019

Bear Berries

"Bear Berries" was accepted into the Lincoln Gallery's 2019 Regional Fine Art Show.  I had lots of fun painting this cutie in my oil painting class.  Thanks to a great reference from a good friend I was able to make this bear cub in Rocky Mountain National Park realistic. 

See more of my art and inquire about available paintings at MaryGiacomini.com

Mary M Giacomini's Artwork                   

Order prints, products & cards!

Instagram; mmgiac

Newsletter Summer 2019

Hello!     I hope you are enjoying your summer!  I'm getting my 'troops' lined up for Fall and wanted to see if you're interested in joining. I'm quite honored that the majority of last Spring's students are returning.      I am  teaching a beginning-intermediate  oil painting class on Thursday afternoons from 2-5pm on Sept 19  and 26 that will continue each month.  I have one spot open. Learn how to paint without the nasty petroleum solvents but using traditional oils.  The cost is $70 for 2 classes or $35/class based on paying for a month at a time.   I do sometimes have drop in spots available for some of the classes. This weekend is Loveland's big art weekend!  I am participating in Art in the Park  Saturday and Sunday.  Besides volunteering, I am sharing a booth with other Thompson Valley Art League Members.  I have framed originals  a bin full of originals and a few prints. I made the Reporter Herald for an article about the 4th Street Gallery Experience last month.  This has been a fun opportunity to show my work with 6 her professional artists.    Flathead Valley oil  Finally, I am participating in the Estes Valley Plein Air 2019. Check the website for special events.  The final show is on Aug 24 at the Art Center of Estes Park.  All are invited!  I'm looking forward to painting in Rocky Mountain National Park painting the inspiring views. Enjoy the rest of summer! Mary http://mgiacominiart.blogspot.com/ art@marygiacomini.com

2019  Mary Giacomini My mailing address is: art@marygiacomini.com Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Kauai

Heart Breakers

A New Day

These are two brand new oil paintings I recently finished that were inspired by a lovely trip to Kauai, Hawaii, this year.  They both were started and worked on during my oil painting classes.  I used a limited pallet which I believe gives the paintings more cohesion. 

I choose my primary colors based on what colors I need for the painting.  I paint a small thumbnail in black and white to get the values and composition nailed down. For 'Heart Breakers' I used my homemade Alizarin Crimson with Pyrrole Red & Quinacridone Violet, Cadmium Yellow Light, Indanthrone & Titanium White.

Next I create an under-painting in oil using my homemade Alizarin to get the values.  If I need to go darker I might add a touch of Sap Green.  On an oil primed linen surface this acts like a white erase board while it's wet.
  

 As I progress I lay the local colors down, starting with the darks. I am careful not to cover up all of the under-painting as I want to leave some of the glimmer that shows through.

These paintings are currently for sale.  

See more of my art and inquire about available paintings at MaryGiacomini.com

Mary M Giacomini's Artwork                   

Order prints, products & cards!

Instagram; mmgiac

Beginning Oil class

Color charts; what can be accomplished with compliments and white.

Learning to make greens and grays with the primary colors

 Underpainting in a warm color
I started a new solvent free beginning oil painting class on Thursday afternoons from 2-5. I cover color experiments, composition, atmospheric perspective, under painting, different styles, techniques & materials.   I have a few spot available. If you'd like to learn more about how to oil paint without the dangerous petroleum solvents, contact me!