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                   

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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

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

Estes Valley Plein Air

I finished a total of 10 paintings during the Estes Valley Plein Air.  The show is up at the Art Center of Estes Park until September 27.  Don't miss it!.

Roaring (oil with impasto)

"Roaring" (oil with lots of pallet knife) fresh on the easel while plein air painting in Rocky Mountain National Park.

While painting at 11,320 above sea level I painted this miniature of Longs Peak from the Forest Canyon lookout in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, (oil, sold)

The shadows were striking early morning in the mountains so I painted 'Hayden's Spire'. (oil)

I had a toned warm linen panel and blocked in my purple shadows because I knew I would loose them as the time went by.

One of the categories we could paint in was a Nocturne.  I painted " Estes Glow" with a headlamp on the shore of Lake Estes. (Colorado)

The last painting I finished for Estes Valley Plein Air 2019 was 'Coffee's On' (oil with impasto) .  This sweet cabin sat above Moraine Park with a view that was nothing less than stunning.

Estes Valley Plein Air 2019

 The Estes Valley Plein Air Event has begun!  These are the  oil paintings I've finished en plein air last week.  I will spend several days in Rocky Mountain National Park this week painting there. 

 Dates: 8/24/19-9/27/19
Opening reception (all invited) 5-8pm
Location: Art Center of Estes Park
                 517 Big Thompson Ave
                  Estes, Park, Colorado 80577
Artcenterofestes.com
970.586.5882

Plein Air Event that features artists painting in Rocky Mountain National Park and the Estes Valley Area from August 10 - 24. There will be a Quick Draw and Auction on Saturday, August 24th from 8:30 - 12:00 and then the show opens through September 27th. 

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

Art in the Park 2019

Loveland, Colorado's BIG art weekend is almost here!  I'm sharing a booth with other Thompson Valley Art League members from the Lincoln Gallery August 10 & 11, 2019.  I have  framed original oils, watercolor and pastel paintings and lots of bin work for sale. Do stop by at Art in the Park in North Lake Park.

Lavender Impasto

Lavender Impasto 16 x 20" oil

I had more than a little fun creating this new oil painting.  I was inspired by a Van Gogh workshop taught by Dena Peterson this winter.  I started with Van Gogh thick strokes of paint but turned them into pallet knife swirls.  The oil paint is quite thick with impasto.   I found this scene just outside of Glennwood Springs, Colorado last year and knew I would have to paint it.  I fell in love with the lavender, the view of the Roaring Fork Valley and Mt. Sopris.
This painting was recently accepted into the Lincoln Gallery's 2019 National Show.  The art opening is May 10th from 6-9.