Ohio Workshop

Yes, I think I can find something to paint here! 

Paul and Dave making marker sketches  in the beautiful studio

Value Marker Sketch

Paul starting a value sketch in acrylic of a still life. 

Sandy painting the model

I had a great time teaching a painting workshop in Upper Sandusky,Ohio last weekend. On the first day of the class, we focused on values. I have developed a values curriculum that does a good job explaining how to observe in a simple manner and how to get our simplified vision onto a canvas. On the second day of the workshop, I gave a a plein air demo of a barn scene that was near our studio. The goal on the landscape was to simplify the complex scene on the canvas and then take the concepts a step further by putting more information and color shifts into the initial masses. On the third day, everyone was warmed up to the class, and we were lucky enough to have a model. I think the third day was great because it showed everyone that painting a figure into a composition doesn't have to be more tricky than a still life.


I have my most popular class coming up in June! My values class is a great first step into painting outdoors. We really ease into the concepts in this class. We start with very basic concepts of drawing, and then practice them. We then learn how to see as a painter, and practice it. We then go outside and practice some more. Every day, I review the earlier concepts, demonstrate, and work with students to make sure that the ideas will stick with them after they leave the farm. I have seen students who have not drawn or painted since middle school create a half dozen outdoor studies in a weekend. The groups who get together have always been great, everyone works together in a positive environment to help each of us to do our best work. If you'd like to sign up for the workshop, or for my mailing newsletter, please give me an email at: kylemartinfineart@gmail.com

This is the Chicken Coop Studio, where the workshops are held

The Chicken Coop Studio is located in Rock Springs, WI.

May 23, Solo Show at Blue Heron in Reedsburg, WI!

Treeline Paintings - Show at Blue Heron May 23

We moved out to the farm during the winter, and it's great to be surrounded by the landscape. The night we moved into the 150 year old farmhouse, I began to see the landscape out of the windows.

We are on 100 acres, on a road with few cars each day, surrounded by fields and the bog. The first paintings that I made looking out of the windows focused on the treeline out of the west window. The field is very rough, and so is the treeline, which gave me a challenge to paint.

It was good to study the different light effects and complete some different paintings of the same subject. There were elements that can make up a landscape painting, the ground, the upright masses of the trees, and the sky, it was just organizing them in different ways to show variety. The light in winter was unobstructed by summer haze. It was nice to focus more on the sky on these afternoons and evenings.

Sometimes, it seems that just getting to the location to paint is half the battle. Rushing around and setting up an easel in the freezing winter eats up time and daylight. I enjoyed having my paints set up and ready to go, with a crock pot of soup at arm reach.

I have a show coming up, on May 23 At Blue Heron in Reedsburg. I will be showing around 40 paintings from the winter, going through mud season, and ending up in spring.

2015 Workshops

Workshop In Upper Sandusky Ohio

I am excited to teach a workshop in Upper Sandusky Ohio in May! This class will be a combination of still life and landscape with a focus on working a bit simpler and bolder. This class will start with an in-depth exploration of values and composition, which lead us to having better light and in our paintings. This class will be great for beginners or seasoned painters, a little value work can go a long way. This workshop will be a lot of fun! Give the image a click if you'd like more info.
Thanks,
Kyle

Treeline Afternoon 8x8"

Brandt Sheds 11x14"

With the rising temperatures, it's time to get some winter work posted, before we forget what snow looks like. Now that I'm living in the landscape, it is much easier to find subjects that interest me. The treeline painting was painted from my window, while the Brandt sheds was painted on the farm next door, where my grandfather was born.

Cool Boo Studio Tour

I will be showing 20 new landscapes this Saturday at the Cool Boo Studio Tour in Baraboo! The new paintings are all from the first of the year until now, and many of them deal with treelines that are easily seen outside of my windows. If you'd like to get more info on the Studio Tour, check out their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/844741195567368/

3 Day Workshop in Upper Sandusky, Ohi

This image is Clickable!

I'm excited to get the 2015 workshop season started! One of the first that I will give is a 3 day workshop in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, at the studio of Bonnie Wolfe. If you'd like to register, or get more info, click the image above for a class description, or drop me a line at kylemartinfineart@gmail.com

New Class!

give this image a click, and the text will become readable.

For years, I gave winter night classes at UW Baraboo during this time of year. It's nice to have a night of art making when cabin fever sets in.

I'm excited to announce my 8 week class for 2015, which starts on February 10. The class will be held at our home studio, which is heated :), and will include charcoal drawing, glazing and scumbling, and also direct painting. Beginners will love the information on composition, getting started, and the new techniques, while seasoned painters will benefit from the value and color work.

I have started a online newsletter, that can arrive in your email box weekly. If you would like to be included on the list, please drop me a line at kylemartinfineart@gmail.com

Best,
Kyle

New Work, New Year

Looking West 16x20"

Cory Polanek's Jewerly

Happy New Year! 2014 was great, and now that Cory and I are living at our family farm, 2015 is sure to be a year of shared creativity. We both have new work available at Blue Heron with more on the way soon. Thanks for checking my blog this year.
Best,
Kyle

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a great holiday. I have much to be thankful for this year, and I hope you will get to spend time with friends and family today.

Still Life

Here is a still life that I painted under a black light. The floral table cloth is funky and fun to compose objects on. Several people who saw this painting on the fall art tour commented that it appears to be a nocturne painted under moonlight. I like that idea, and am hoping to do more like these now that the snow is here.

Fall Art Tour 2014

We had a great 2014 Fall Art Tour at the Chicken Coop Studio. The weather plays a part in the success of the tour, and this year there was sun and decent temperatures. The autumn colors were at their height the weekend of the show, and I had 800 visitors come through the Chicken Coop.

Along with getting all the paintings ready for the show, we made some upgrades to the studio. Cortney found a great lighting solution, for the first time my paintings had light in the Coop. We also bought some new funky furniture for the space, repainted the floor, and cleaned up the brush at the farm.

The studio is literally a Chicken Coop that was built in the 1930's by my Great - Great Uncle. The plans for the Coop came from the University of Wisconsin, and they were state of the art at the time. The farm has been in the family since 1911, and my Grandma Schneider had 200 chickens in the building, which helped them pay for the farm. Eggs sold for a better price than milk at the time. I grew up around the farm, and am happy to say that we are moving into the farm house very soon! We will have a new heated studio in the house, but we will always keep the Coop as a showplace.