Turtle Lake

June 27, 2012 | Doreen E. Lepore

This lake is located within the community that we live in. It actually doesn’t have a name, as far as I know. Out in the middle there is a small raft that turtles and the occasional alligator sun themselves. Turtle Lake seems like a good name.

The pastel painting was started with a water color underpainting. Just using the maroon color in the land masses and a rosy pink in the sky and lake enables me to then quickly put in the middle values. You might notice that I didn’t use any green. Honestly, I just felt like not using green so this is probably considered a tonalist painting.

In Memorium

June 11, 2012June 11, 2012 | Doreen E. Lepore

The Official Portrait of the Unofficial Mayor – Pastels on paper – 11×14

In honor of “Uncle Phil” Algozzini who passed away recently at the age of 82. This portrait was done as part of the Hobe Sound Project a few years ago – the exhibit wouldn’t have been complete without him, just as Hobe Sound isn’t complete without him. His portrait is as colorful as he was. He was such a supportive person that he claimed he liked this painting, but it scared one of his nieces. Algozzini’s Hawaiian Shop is on Rt. 1 in Hobe Sound, FL.

Purple Bouganvilla

May 30, 2012 | Doreen E. Lepore

This was a quick study that I did some time ago. Since I’m working on something else right now, I’m not able to post that painting until it’s finished. Pastels go through an ugly stage that I don’t share with anyone. My husband used to pass by my works in progress and think the paintings were horrible, but then would be surprised when he saw the finished product. He would be seeing the first layer of pastels. Although all the layers contribute to the final painting, they sort of disappear eventually – or visually mix together. So the first layer is usually the undertones, the shadows and might not even be the right shape yet. It’s all very scratchy and scrawly. It’s a different story when using an underpainting though and one of these days, when I have a chance, I’ll post that process.

Hopefully the new painting will have the same energy that this does. However, there won’t be any bouganvillas in it, but plenty of other flowers.

Through the Oaks

May 24, 2012 | Doreen E. Lepore

This is from Adams Ranch in Ft. Pierce, FL where the live oaks grow undisturbed. They are huge trees with far reaching limbs. A bit farther down this dirt road on the ranch is a picnic area with a giant tree house.

I’m getting ready to start a new commission and while taking stock, making sure there were plenty of pastels in the box and planning my approach this painting came to mind.

The new painting won’t have a path with dappled light but many of the colors will be the same, as well as the size.

Better get to work!:)

Sketchbook pages from 2012 Sketchbook Project

May 18, 2012May 18, 2012 | Doreen E. Lepore

Goldfish – watercolor – Framed by Mango Paper

For the 2012 Sketchbook Project (I’ve put a link over there on the right for ArtHouse Coop) I wanted to do something different. It’s a great way to try out new things and experiment. There is a large portfolio in my supply closet with assorted handmade papers so it seemed a good place to start.

Some of the papers were crinkled up and colored with water colors – sort of dyed. The colors made a small palette of purple, green, blue and orange. Then of course there was white paper. One piece of paper was hand made mango paper – appropriate for my part of the world. My decision was that the sketchbook would be all about paper as a medium.

Although collage is not one of my mediums – it seemed the right thing to do.

Clementine – drawn, then collaged with prepainted paper pieces – THEN more mango paper and THEN some watercolor crayons on top – whew

A Pear – same process as the clementine

Beach – centerfold – this one is done with torn bits of white paper glued onto the pages – then painted with watercolor on top – lots of texture

beach — A Pear – same process as the clementine

Beach – centerfold – this one is done with torn bits of white paper glued onto the pages – then painted with watercolor on top – lots of texture

and then there were two pages that are from a book of my husband’s – in honor of the mathematicians:

Can’t wait to figure out what to put into the 2013 sketchbook.

Hobe Sound Rose – Pastel on paper – no camera involved (except to photograph the painting, that is) – a rose that I grew and a pot that I made.

The inspiration to paint can come from so many places……….. and yet there are some days you say to yourself, why paint? Sometimes my inspiration is to just improve myself. Most of the time I’m overwhelmed with ideas and objects that inspire me and then the thought runs through my head that I might be insane. But that’s a whole nuther topic.

“Drawing as a means of expression is the justification of art over photography.” Andrew Loomis, Creative Illustration, 1947

How cool is that? We’re still discussing this today in 2012, yet some people have never even been made aware of it. It bothers me that there are so many people that judge good art by how close to a photograph the painting it is. Not to mention the hyperrealist or photorealist painters that have the goal of painstakingly reproducing a photograph. As if the photograph were the standard that paintings had to live up to.

Don’t misunderstand and think that I’m not in favor of photography because I love photography! It seems that over time artistic goals have sometimes become distorted.

Mr. Loomis was directing this to the art student (in the 1940’s!!!) and comparing original illustration to photography which he said couldn’t provide the expressiveness that the artist could. He doesn’t throw photography out the window but at that time guides the artist to understand they aren’t being replaced by a camera. Even though we now have the means to be more expressive with digital applications, the camera still can’t produce the surface and line quality nor the atmosphere and character that original art can.

So that is why you paint – to go beyond the photograph with your personal expression of the poetic landscape (or what ever your thing is). One good reason, anyway.

Sometimes it seems that things and/or thoughts are presented to you by some unseen spirit and you can’t help but think it must be meaningful. Kismet. Destiny. Some amazing global consciousness! Why else would all of these things come together at the same time?

Yes, I’m looking for answers and finding the ones that suit me but so are many other people which is validation enough for me. Because after all, I do need to justify my obsession and insanity.