Value Studies



"Promises" by Jeanette Le Grue


Yesterday I took a painting class from Jeanette Le Grue at her studio in Tomales, CA.  It's a quaint little town just a few miles inland from the ocean and a beautiful drive from my home in Walnut Creek.  There are farms nearby and we could hear the cows "moo" while we were painting.  Jeanette had us work on a three color value study from a still life set up.  It is interesting how intense that can be when you need to break down all of the colors that you see into only three values.  It is a good lesson as it helps you to see how important it is to simplify your painting and to tie your darks together.  Next week we will move to color.  Jeanette Le Grue is a gifted teacher and wonderful artist.  If you would like to see her work, check out her website or head on over to Tomales Fine Art Gallery.

Jeanette Le Grue's website - http://www.legrue.com/ 

"Still - in a way - nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." ~ Georgia O'Keeffe

New show at Lafayette Gallery



"Reflections - Musee d'Orsay"
by Jeanette Baird
Acrylic 36" x 36"

 Winter Wonderland opened at the Lafayette Gallery on Tuesday, November 2.  I have entered "Reflections-Musee d'Orsay" for the new show.  It is a view of Sacre Coeur and Montmartre from the clock tower at the Musee d'Orsay.  The painting was inspired by a trip to Paris that I took in the Spring of 2009 with two girlfriends.  As you might imagine we had a blast!

"A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art."

Paul Cézanne

Quite Solitude



"Winter Solitude"
by Jeanette Baird
Acrylic 15" x 30"

 Lake Tahoe has always been a special place for me and my family.  My grandparents bought a cabin there when I was about 3 and I have spent every summer up there since.  The cabin sits at the base of Mt. Tallac near a beautiful meadow and spring creek.  Fall is my favorite time to spend there as the crowds have all gone home, the days are still warm but the nights are crisp.  My good friend, Jill loves to ski, so we go to North Shore in the winter.  This painting was done from a balcony off our room while the sun was setting behind the mountains. A lonely kyaker sits on the icy lake and watches the day come to a beautiful end.

"It is only with one's heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."
"On  ne  voit  bien  qu' avec  le  coeur.  L' essentiel  est invisible  pour  les  yeux ." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

A Sweet Pansy Face

What is it about a Pansy's face? They all seem to have something to say to me every morning when I look into their faces.  My favorite time of day is in the early morning when the birds are singing and there is dew on the leaves. Again in the late afternoon, while watering my gardens, it is my time to reflect on the day that is quietly going to sleep.

 "The beautious pansies rise
   In purple, gold, and blue,
   with tints of rainbow hue
   Mocking the sunset skies" - Thomas John Ouseley

The Boys Are Back in Town




Acrylic - 48" x 60"
by Jeanette Baird

  Completed a large & special painting yesterday. It is of my oldest son and three of his friends who all needed money for the summer of 2002. We offered them the job of digging out our hillside for a spa.  They did an incredible job and took a moment to pose for the camera.  I began this 4 x 5 painting at home about 6 months ago.  Three weeks ago I took it to Lafayette Studio to finish.  Getting it there and back was quite a process.  Woke at 4am and watched the sliver of a moon rise.  Beautiful!

Don't stop believing. Thank you Giants!

One day, while Renoir was being fitted for new eyeglasses, he threw 
them to the floor, crying, "Good God, I see like Bouguereau!"  - Paul 
Soderberg

Winter Flowers

Trying to get the last of my Winter flowers in for the season.  Last week I planted Iceland Poppies, Primrose, a few Cyclamen and lots of bulbs.  I still have some 6-packs on the front porch waiting to be settled into the ground.  The birds have been enjoying the seed I have set out since the weather has turned crisp.  It has also attracted the attention of the squirrels, who devour the seed but repay me with their amazing acrobatics! The plants will need to wait one more day as I am heading to the studio to finish a very large painting that I have been working on for months.  I may post the finished painting tomorrow. 

Happy Halloween

"Three Little Pumpkins"
by Jeanette Baird
Acrylic - 12 x 30

It's Halloween and I just met with two of my girlfriends to plan a Springtime trip to Paris!  The three of us traveled to Paree in 2009 and had a wonderful time.  We stay in a little hotel near the Luxembourg Gardens.  We shop, walk, go to museums, walk, eat, walk, people watch, walk, shop some more, go to gardens and occasionally sleep (oh yeah and take a lot of photos)!  I try to paint from life but I use photo's for reference for my paintings if I am painting something like a waiter rushing from table to table.  This painting of pumpkins was done in my backyard, with the pumpkins placed up on our stone mantle.