Friday Feature: Diane Morgan

"Raindrops on Roses" watercolor by Diane Morgan

 Happy Friday my friends.  It's time again for another Friday Feature.  Today is the multi-talented artist Diane Morgan.  She can do it all, oil, watercolor, photography and do it all very well.  She has won major awards, been in the big magazines and today she's sharing with us how she's done it all.

To see more of Diane's work visit her website and blog.

How did you get your start?  What’s your artist journey so far?

I've drawn and painted for as long as I can remember.  My father was a talented artist, but he only painted as a hobby.  As a child I remember seeing some of his wonderful drawings at my grandmother's house.  Later, watching him paint influenced me to want to try. I started college as a language major, but switched to art my junior year.  I decided to pursue what I loved rather than what I thought I should do.   I majored in painting, but was offered a job in advertising before I graduated.  I eventually owned my own advertising agency and loved my career.   I never tried making a living as a fine artist until later in life. Wish I had tried it sooner!

Where were you born?  I was born in Detroit.  My family moved to the suburbs before I started school.

"Rainy Day Roses" original watercolor by Diane Morgan

 If you could live anywhere where would you live?  One weekend many years ago I spent the entire two days writing down my goals.  One of them was move to California to enjoy warm sunshine year-round. Michigan is often cloudy and the winters are long.   It wasn't long before just about everything I had written down came true.  I think it's very important to write down your goals.   I love where I live and never think of moving somewhere else to retire.  This is exactly where I want to be. I don't plan to retire either!

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why? I envision a painting in almost everything I see.  I want to paint everything.  I suppose if I had to choose I would select a still life.  I love taking a normal everyday object and getting people to take a closer look; view something in a different light. I like to add strong shadows, contrasts and often reflections....turn the ordinary into something more.

"Just Glorious" original oil by Diane Morgan

 Could you talk about your painting techniques?  My techniques are pretty traditional.  My work is quite realistic so I spend a great deal of time on details.  I first do a small thumbnail to determine the positioning and the values and use colored pencil to work out the color choices.  Then, on 300# Arches cold press watercolor paper I do a very detailed drawing. The paint is then applied in many, many layers.  I usually do the background first so if it's not successful I haven't spent a whole week on the main subject only to ruin it with a bad background wash.  It helps me to do the background colors first as they can also influence color selections for the objects.  I generally work from left to right, top to bottom so my hand does not rest on wet paint.

Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?

I tend to stick with a few old-time favorites.  Alizarin Crimson, Payne's Grey, Cobalt Blue, Sap Green, Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, and Cad Red.    I love making my own blacks and grays with varying mixes of red/yellow/blue.  There are so many wonderful new colors available.  I'm trying to be more adventurous.  I've recently added Lavender and Cobalt Turquoise to my palette.  The Quinacridones are also fun, as are the new metallics.

"Organized Chaos" original watercolor by Diane Morgan

 Do you have a favorite artist?  Who has been your biggest inspiration?

My two favorite artists are Georgia O'Keeffe and Leonardo daVinci.  Georgia's large florals were my biggest inspirations.  Leonardo was a genius. He was so curious about everything.

What have been some of your crowning achievements? 

Having a painting selected for the Blossom II Art of the Flower competition and traveling show.  Winning an award in an National Watercolor Society exhibition.  Getting a 10-page feature article in International Artist Magazine. Being selected as President of the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society. I've learned so much and have made so many wonderful friends there.  I've gotten back so much more than I have given.

"Surface Tension" original watercolor by Diane Morgan

 What are five things you would like to happen in your life in the next five years? Dream big here:)

I'd like to be in several more galleries around the country.  Signature status in NWS and/or AWS would be nice.  Travel to France and Italy to paint. Teach more classes and maybe even workshops around the country...I love teaching.  Spend more time with friends, especially getting together with my painting pals to paint.

"Head on 57 Chevy" original watercolor by Diane Morgan

 What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?

The most important thing is to paint, paint, paint.  The only way to improve is to keep working. It has been suggested that if you want to learn to paint...go paint a hundred paintings.  One challenge I created for myself was to do a painting a day.  For six months I completed a small painting every day and sold them on eBay.  I quickly passed the 100 mark. This daily self-imposed assignment increased my productivity, improved my creativity and painting skills and opened up several opportunities for me that would not have happened.   I highly recommend the daily challenge.  It's also very important to network.  No one will know about your work if you just stay home.

"57 Chevy" original oil by Diane Morgan

 What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?  My college professor told me to paint big.  I think of that every time I pick up a brush. Even a 6" x8" canvas can have a big impact if the image is close-up. This advice really helped determine my style.

"Red Rocket Caddy" original oil by Diane Morgan

 SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?  Vanilla

Your dream vacation spot?  Anywhere with an ocean and palm trees and a golf course.

Book or movie?  Old movies from the 30's and 40's

Favorite author?  Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Favorite movie? Gone with the Wind

Romance or comedy?  Comedy

Favorite dessert? Strawberry shortcake

Night owl or morning person?  Night owl, but I'm trying to quit.

Friday Feature: Mary Maxam

"Palouse Canola" original oil by Mary Maxam

 Hi Everyone,

It's time for another Friday Feature:))  Today I have the superbly talented Mary Maxam. Mary works in watercolor, acrylic and oil for her landscape and still life works. Her paintings are a response to familiar subjects, seen daily and discoveries that take place through the painting process.

  
Mary's work has shown in many juried national exhibitions, including Oil Painters of America, the Midwest and National Watercolor Societies. She has won signature membership in the National, Northwest and Montana Watercolor Societies, and has contributed both painting and written work for book and magazine articles on painting and design. Publications include "Watercolor Magic","Gray's Sporting Journal", and "Paint Mixing, the 12-Hue Method" by Rockport Press.  She also recently guest co-hosted Artists Helping Artists.

To see more of her works visit her blog and website

How did you get your start? 

I have been playing with art materials for as long as I can remember, and began using a lot of varied drawing materials, then watercolor, acrylics and oils. My parents gave me an oil painting set when I was about twelve, but I didn’t have much idea as to how to handle them and just kind of experimented until getting some instruction in high school.

"Hill Horses" original oil by Mary Maxam

What’s your artist journey so far?

Experimenting with varied materials has always continued and my high school art teacher encouraged that. He created projects that taught us a lot about paints, paper, sculpture and  the elements of design, and also how to choose paints and paper as part of the expression or idea. I went to Boise State and then taught high school art myself for over 30 years. All the while, I continued to paint on my own, experimenting with style, and for the most part concentrated on watercolor then oil. Over the years I’ve shown work in cooperative and commercial galleries and various shows.

Where were you born?

Boise, Idaho

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

I’d like to have lived on the east coast for a while as a comparison to being in the west. But overall, I think the Northwest has been great. Of course, everyone dreams about that second home, with the perfect studio, on the beach or at the lake somewhere - haha!

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?

Oh my….. you just had to ask, didn’t you!? It is one of my ‘issues’ that I enjoy painting too many different subjects. But right now I think I’ve got it down to northwest landscapes, figures (both fly fishing and costumed women) and florals. That doesn’t sound much reduced, but believe me, it is!

Could you talk about your painting techniques?

 I have so much fun with the contrast of transparent and opaque paint which I think started with watercolor. I could rarely get myself to work with transparent glazing alone, even though I greatly admire it.  I have transferred that to oil and frequently put down a wet transparent wash of color to work into. Then, I sketch with a brush to get the placement and proportion of the subject. I lay in the darks first and try to keep them transparent as well. Then the opaque middle and lighter values are put in and I go back and forth trying to balance it all out.

My second approach is to start with a brush drawing on white, then develop each area and blend edges as I go.

"River Talk" original oil by Mary Maxam

Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?

If I were a stranger looking at all my work together, I’d be saying “Wow, this painter really likes green!”  But, in reality I almost can’t paint without having alizarin or permanent rose to keep warming and cooling various color mixes. My palette is basically a warm and cool version of the primaries plus white. The exceptions are the yellows, which also include ochre and then transparent red oxide.

Do you have a favorite artist?

Too many to select, but Sargent, Sorolla, Degas,Van Gogh, N.C. Wyeth are all favorites….probably for the stories their paintings tell as well as the mastery of paint.

"Window Box Floral" original oil by Mary Maxam

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

I think my mother, for both overcoming some struggles in her life, but also for her tenacity and kindness. She wasn’t a painter, but had an excellent artistic eye. I think she influenced me in my art more than I realized while growing up.

What have been some of your crowning achievements?

When I worked in watercolor, I achieved signature membership in the National Watercolor Society as well as a few others. In oil it has to be the inclusion of work in the national Oil Painters of America Show and more recently the OPA western regional to be held in Denver next month. And, I was recently contacted by Simon & Shuster with a request to use one of my paintings on an upcoming novel by James Burke. Those are all exciting ventures!

"Sunflower Field" original oil by Mary Maxam

What are five things you would like to happen in your life in the next five years? Dream big here:)

To become an OPA signature member

A new house with an organized studio space and LOTS of built-in storage!!

A gallery show that is a sell-out ( hey you said dream BIG)

To paint with the Putney Painters for a week

It would be a hoot to have a very well known collector or ‘famous type person’ buy one of my paintings- I have no idea who that might be J

"Lemon Trio" original oil by Mary Maxam

What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?

Line up all your work and look at it together. Determine your common strengths, those things that you continually do so well. Then, look at the weak points and list them separately. Keep building on your strengths and figure out a plan to work on those areas that need attention. And…paint as often as possible.

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

I don’t know whether it was specific advice or just an attitude engendered by my parents, teachers and friends…that art and creating things was part of my identity. So, if you feel that….there is no quitting, no putting down the brushes and pencils…. it’s just what you do and who you are, and you practice a lot!

"First Crop" original oil by Mary Maxam

SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?

 Chocolate

Your dream vacation spot?

If you see the movie “Enchanted April” (5^th question) - you’ll know the place

Book or movie?

Book

Favorite author?

Nora Ephron

Favorite movie?

Enchanted April

Romance or comedy?

Romantic comedy…?

Favorite dessert?

Ice cream

Night owl or morning person?

I’d be hard pressed to choose either, since I get my best work done about mid-day!

Carrie, thanks you so much for the opportunity to talk with your followers. It’s been fascinating to think about the varied questions you’ve posed and it helps me to focus in my own work and goals as well!

Thank you, Mary for your fascinating interview.  

Carrie

Friday Feature: Kelley Sanford

"In the Red" original oil by Kelley Sanford

 

 Hi Everyone,

It's Friday again:)  Today I'm introducing a fabulous oil painter, Kelley Sanford.  Kelley was on some of the first Artists Helping Artists radio shows.  I began following her blog at that time and just love her work.

To see more of Kelley's work check out her website

 or her blog.

How did you get your start? What’s your artist journey so far?

I went to college with the goal of obtaining an art degree but switched majors after feeling that I learned more from my high school teachers than the professors and lost the desire to be an artist.   It took almost 2 decades before I realized that I really did mean to be artist.  It’s been almost 13 years since I called my boss & quit without a real plan except to pursue my art.   While the road has been anything but smooth, I wouldn’t change a thing.   The true surprise was in starting to teach art.  A few ladies kept showing up at my studio asking if I taught.  Oh no, I said but they refused to leave it alone.  So a deal was struck.  I’d teach for one month & at the end they’d realize that I couldn’t teach & they would stop bugging me about it.  5 years later, I’m still teaching & loving it.

 Where were you born?

Asheville, North Carolina

"In the Orchard" original oil  by Kelley Sanford

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

Anywhere I can look out & see water

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?

 It’s color & light that attracts me, not the object.  

Could you talk about your painting techniques? 

I’m an Alla Prima painter.   If I have to work on a piece for more than 4 hours, it usually never makes it out of my studio.  The intimacy of brush to canvas is what attracts me & try not to have more than a couple of passes across the canvas.  I also work with a limited palette.  It consists of a warm & cool of the primaries plus burnt sienna (with which I make my own darks…not black out the tube for me).   I don’t knock artists with a more expanded palette but I can mix almost any color & know that it will be in harmony with the rest of the painting. 

"Blueberries" original oil by Kelley Sanford

How did you arrive at your current style?

I always envied the artists that had gorgeous brushwork & color but realized that it was time at the easel & having a solid understanding of the basics that allowed my brushwork/color to develop.   Although I have recently realized that the “style” wasn’t what made me unhappy with a piece,  it was if the painting lacked freshness.   Having my painting appear spontaneous & fresh is the ultimate goal for me.  I guess the clue should have been that I was an “alla prima” painter.   Guess I should tell you now that I’m blonde.

Do you have a favorite artist?

It’s so hard to say just one but John Singer Sargent is probably it.    I remember standing & looking at one of his portrait’s & being memorized in how he painted a strand of pearls.  

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

Russian Impressionists.   They are the masters of grays.  Nicolai Fechin, Sergei Bongart & Fedor Zakharov are among my favorites.    But I’ve also been following a few contemporary Russian artists recently. 

"All in Yellow" original oil by Kelley Sanford

What are some of your favorite things or things that are essential to your well being/success as an artist?

They include …

  A good cup of coffee or margarita (depending on the time of day)

  Some inspirational art books by my bed

 Collectors & gallery owners who believe in you as an artist

  A trustworthy artist friend who will tell you like it is, push you to grow & pick you up when you can’t seem to paint anything well

 Listening to your inner voice to not follow the crowd

  

 Friends & family who love you but don’t ask them tell you what is good or bad about your work

"Hydrangeas on Turquoise" original oil by Kelley Sanford

Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?

Just ask my students what will happen if they touch my Gamblin Indian Yellow.    It’s my go to color.   Gamblin & Winsor Newton are my mainstays. 

What are five things you would like to happen in your life in the next five years? Dream big here:)

1. A large studio with the best light

2.  Signature status from the American Impressionist Society

3. Someone to clean my brushes on a daily basis (this should be #1)

4.  Teaching workshops around the country

5.  Taking 2 months off each year to travel and paint anywhere

"Passing By" original oil by Kelley Sanford

 What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?

Take time to really understand the foundations of painting.   Once you’ve got those down, the rest will work itself out.   And to not take yourself so seriously.   Painting is serious but have fun along the way.

"Yellow House, Beaufort" original oil by Kelley Sanford

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

Just paint!!!!!!!!!

SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate

Sunny beach or rustic mountain retreat?

Beach

Book or movie?

Book

Favorite author?

David McCullough

Favorite movie?

Blazing Saddles (don’t ask)

Romance or comedy?

Comedy

Favorite ice cream flavor?

Nope…got to be a salty thing

Night owl or morning person?

Night owl

Cake or Cupcakes?

Once again…salty reigns.

 Thanks so much Kelley:)  I had to laugh at your favorite movie choice, that is a favorite of my husbands and I'm subjected to it at least once a year:)

Have a great weekend everyone:)

Carrie