Hon Ball Fundraiser for the School of the Cathedral

 Saturday April 27, 2013, I was part of the Hon Ball to benefit the School of the Cathedral.  I was to paint the party, then the painting would be auctioned off by Mary Bubala, Channel 13 News anchor, and all proceeds go to the School.

The Beginning of the painting, done on stage at the Hippodrome Theatre, starting at 11am, photo by Suzin Boddiford 

I carefully painted the Hippodrome first.  Then the party began, and I added people.  There were amazing clothes, lots of beehives, lots of boas, leopard patterned dresses. Great food by Rouge Catering...

During the Live Auction at the Hon Ball to benefit the School of the Cathedral, photo by Suzin Boddiford

Then 9pm arrived, and it was time for the live auction.  My painting was the first item, and it was bid up to $2800.  Mary Bubala, who auctioned the painting and is Channel 13 News Anchor is very charming and lively and fun, and was instrumental in this success.  

The winner is going to be painted into the painting with her husband and a few friends.  I have begun the preparatory drawings for this, and it should be really cool.  She's got a beehive, and funny glasses and a purple boa and her husband is in a tux with a pink bow tie and cool sneakers.

I was very impressed with the event organizers, they were just really great and friendly and smart and fun.  The Manager of the Hippodrome was also great, and Kady Chambers, the Special Events Manager, was really funny and helpful.

Tulip trees at Cylburn

Tulip trees at Cylburn, 14x14, Patricia Bennett

Today I began a painting of the flowering tulip trees at Cylburn Arboretum.  I sat in the shade, it was a lovely day.

This is my painting process:
1. chose a spot in the shade where the sun wouldn't move!
2. decided the tulip tree would be center, and decided on ratio of the tree to the foreground.
3. lightly drew outline of tree with dark color, then started from background to foreground: sky first.  The sky was greyish, so used grey.  Then the middle ground was also grey/purple, and the foreground was green.  There was a magnolia tree behind the tulip tree, so I painted that in as a dark shape.
4. painted a few tree trunks in grey color, then began filling things in.
5. finally got to paint the tulip tree!  Immediately confused b/c there are lots of individual flowers, and how to paint them as a mass, yet show their beauty.
6. created a "lead-in" with daffodils (right corner, up to tulip tree trunk).

Auburn update and Nebula Daffodils update

Auburn4, in progress, 18x24, Patricia Bennett

 The model's last sitting was yesterday.  I will add things to her dress and to the background, white swirly flowers in the sky.  The dress will be based on a wedding dress (I painted at the Bride's wedding, and loved her dress).

Daffodils in Nebula, in progress, 24x24, Patricia Bennett

This is a nebula in our galaxy, the Milky Way.  The daffodils are from our yard.

Starting daffodils in nebula

in progress, Daffodils in Milky Way nebula.

Started this last night, the background is the center of our galaxy.

Swallowtail and Honeybee with Hellebore

Hellebores and Butterfly, 10x10, Patricia Bennett

Hellebores and Butterfly, first sitting, 10x10, Patricia Bennett

 I sat next to a clump of hellebores and painted them for a few hours in the warm spring sun

A large black butterfly briefly stopped by.  It seems to be a swallowtail.  There were lots of honeybees too.

Interiors in Progress at Tyson's Mansion

Tyson Mansion staircase, almost done, 18x24, Patricia Bennett

I worked on this today, on location, for the eighth time.  I'm debating whether to add a figure or not.

The wall tapestries, now faded, probably used to be more vibrant, with greens and reds.  There are swans, flowers, trees and a mansion weaved into the tapestries.

Tyson Mansion view, in progress, 24x30, Patricia Bennett

This is the view from the same spot as the Staircase painting, just rotated 45 degrees and elevated by two feet.  It is in progress, I plan to add butterflies near the window.

I put a nail in the wall about fifty feet from the "horizon line" to establish my "vanishing point", and attached thread to it to find perspective lines for the upper doorway.

I chose this view because of the contrast between the artificial light from the gorgeous candelabra and the blue light coming in from outside.

Auburn again

Auburn again, 18x24, Patricia Bennett

Tonight at the Zoll studio, I added color to my painting from last week.

 I focused on "simplifying" and tried not to see too many small transitions.  My favorite artists make transitions with adjacent values rather than blending.  I searched for "value" shapes.  And I wanted an absolute black and an absolute  white.