The Indoor Painting Challenge....

Hello past participants of Susan Greenstein and Janet Pedersen's Plein Air and Painting Workshops!

COVID-19 is impacting the planet now... and remaining indoors and clear of direct contact with others can be a challenge. That's why Susan posed an artistic challenge in the comfort of your home: Create a painting or drawing of a corner of a room somewhere in your home. If you're using a sketchbook, try using the 'fold' in the center as the corner. Use any material you want... the point is to be inventive in the way you feel most comfortable. In other words, have fun with it. Send your images to Susan or Janet, and we will post them in this virtual gallery.

Artist Ellen Campeas created this still-life beauty in oil pastels. In her words:
"I found this assignment intriguing and very much to my liking. I love drawing walls, doors, beams, windows ....and corners!  It was fun for me to seek out a particular corner of my home that would be interesting in terms of color, balance and would include various shapes of household items. I knew immediately when I had found my corner. When placing the corner in the very center of my drawing -perspective challenges were created for me. But-because of the mini-lesson on perspective I received from both Susan and Janet, drawing the perspective of the lines created by the cabinet, mirror and door was not as difficult for me as it had been in the past. I felt satisfied with how I drew them this time. It felt good applying my recently gained knowledge to this drawing."

Artist Virginia Naughton posted a lovely watercolor - 'Basement Corner'

"I looked at every corner of the house before settling on the straight-forward light, shape, and detail in the basement. I think of that corner as a metaphor for my shelter-in-place experience, but love that painting it became a respite".

Artist Janet Filemyr posted a very inviting painting of a corner of a room with a soft looking, comfortable chair bathed in warm light.

Artist Sara Tanzer posted beautiful tree studies She says, "I have been loving trees all my love and  also painting, photographing and drawing them. My first observational painting of a tree I did when I was 12  in the park at the Cloisters. I remember the state of the  absorption when I was painting, the feeling  that I  was part of the woods, the air, the space. This is from a photograph. I want to work more on the bottom right part.

Artist Miriam Rankin posted one of her intriguing paintings from her Mermaid Parade series. Miriam says, "Adding to my series of Mermaid Parade paintings (so far I've done about 25) but using an experimental much looser style than I have in the past. I'm always experimenting.  Always dissatisfied and self-critical but find the process most interesting.  Mermaid Parade participants are such weird and wonderful inspirations"!  

Artist Joy Makon posted a still life photograph that is full of color "When it’s a sunny day I grab my iPhone and snap a photo of this corner of my dining room. It gets bathed in sunlight for a few hours in the morning. The plants (and my cats) love it, and I am always energized by the light. That’s my painting “Missing the Rhodos Already” in the scene, it fits in well with the plants, pottery and wood. As a retired art director I continue to stage every corner of my house, and my photographs are the result of the fact that one cannot really retire from being an art director". —Joy Makon

                                                  

Artist Riki Blaustein posted several striking watercolor ilustrations based on fairy tales

Artist Martha Edelson posted a rich, joyful interior watercolor - Hope you are doing well and keeping your spirits up! Thanks for helping to keep mine up with this assignment. I found it challenging because there are not many interesting corners in my house. What I struggled with were two things: I have a lot of light wood and white paint in my house, so the painting high key. I also struggled with the shadows. It is titled, "Corner-ona"

Painting during this time has been difficult in terms of having the energy to get started. But once I did, though, I found myself lost in the process. I painted for four hours on Saturday, and when I looked up from painting, I couldn't believe what time it was! Thank you, thank you for that.

Artist Bonnie Boyd Schwerin posted this delicate pencil drawing - "Here’s the start of my drawing. I’m getting interrupted a lot as I also homeschool 3 kids suddenly but I wanted to send my corner view from one of my hiding spots in case I don’t get time to finish. Enjoy"!

Artist Joan Rappaport posted this lovely painting. She says' "My painting. Precious memories.

As I went from room to room looking for something to paint, I recognized that almost everything in my apartment has strong personal memories attached.  Nothing is 'decor'. 

I bought this desk at an auction in upstate NY 45 years ago. The covered jar was made by my brother.  The painting over the desk is by an old family friend. The small photo is of my grandparents, and the 2 other objects were made by or given by close friends. Since I have to stay home I am comforted by my totems".

 

Artist Susan Greenstein said she found it a great relief to have a project to work on that she knew she would be sharing with others. "This is such an unusual and uncertain time", Greenstein says, "It is very helpful to have this outlet. It is a way that I can suspend all my worries and fears about what will happen next. I so enjoy pouring my energy into looking closely at what I find beautiful in the world and finding a way to express that in a painting.  It isn't easy to get started when your mind is full of the anxiety of our present day situation, but the rewards are beyond measure and it can be very grounding and an escape all at the same time.