Young Girl

I had a one day workshop for my regular students in my studio yesterday. I really like the model, will paint more of her.

A new painting and up-coming Workshops - SOLD

I did a couple of big (30" x 40" and bigger) paintings recently, here is one of them, the inspiration was from my last workshop trip to Texas this May, any suggestion for the title?

I find that it is difficult for me to paint the big painting, I don't have time to continue painting the big painting,  I have to stop painting for a few days after just painting a couple hours very often. Anyway, I finished the painting, it doesn't look too bad.

Here are two of my up-coming workshops, please contact the organizer soon if you are interested:
Sacramento Workshop August 24-26, 2012
Mississippi Workshop March 8-10, 2013

Southwest Landcape

Many friends think I am a full time artist, but unfortunately I only paint about one day per week this year, hope I can paint more later.

Here is a painting I started in April after we came back from the trip to the southwest, and I finished it recently. There were many beautiful scenes we saw during the trip, but life is short, I am not able to paint everything I want to paint :(  really hope we can live longer like turtles, lol...

Grandfather 2 - SOLD

I had a chance to paint the Indian man again last weekend. Different feeling this time, I tried a different approach, it worked well.

Grandfather

I planned to create a model painting class in my studio for a while, and this is the first one I did this Monday evening.
I will have more of this class in the future once I find good models, please email me for the detail if you are interested in joining me, it will be a small group class.

The group photo of Austin Workshop

I came back home from the trip today. This was the group photo we shot at the last day of the workshop. I really enjoyed meeting with many new artist friends and my old friend Qiang Huang last weekend, it was a wonderful workshop!

This is my first workshop outside of California, but I think it was very successful. We had 18 artists attending and everyone did a great job!! I hope the information I shared during the workshop helped. My best wishes for all of you :)

I heard that many artist friends are still on the waiting list we were not able to add in the workshop, I really look forward to meeting you in the future… 

Demo at Austin Workshop 2 - SOLD

This is the second demo I did at the workshop, I didn't paint the 3rd day. The workshop runs very well, I will share more information after I back to home.

Demo at Austin Workshop 1 - SOLD

Southwest Horse

The inspiration for this painting was from our trip to Southwest during the Spring break. I should travel more for sure :)

Article and Open studio

I am so glad that I have featured a page on Southwest Art Magazine again on May 2012 issue. They did wonderful writing to introduce me, love the Magazine!

I am going to have an open studio this weekend, May 5th and 6th, from 11am to 5pm at my studio. Look forward to meet you if you are near the Silicon Valley, I may have a little demo if possible.

La Traviata April

This is the demo I did last Saturday at my studio, couldn't finish it during the workshop, and I added a little more the second day. 

All the artists did a great job in my April workshop, Cheer !:)

Figure Series 12-05 - SOLD

Any suggestion on the title for this painting?:)

Early Spring - Flowers in the Valley

Early Spring - Muir Beach

My 8"x 8" canvas came too late, so I missed Waterhouse Gallery’s Small Gems show :( I will paint something earlier and join them next year. Anyway, I did this small landscape last week, I feel 8"x 8" is an interesting size to paint.

I have good news this week, my painting “Christmas in the Park” has been accepted for 21th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils by OPA, wish me luck! :)

By the way, I was honored to be the judge of Boldbrush Painting Contest for last month, and it was difficult for me to eliminate so many beautiful paintings. Congratulations for all the winners!!

April Workshop at Sunnyvale Art Gallery

I am going to do a 2 day (27^th and 28^th) Workshop at Sunnyvale Art Gallery next month. If you are interested in painting portrait or clothed figure with me, please contact Sunnyvale Art Gallery as soon as possible, the spaces are limited.

By the way, the drawing Workshop in my studio last weekend was very successful, everyone did an excellent job. The only regret was that I did not get enough time to finish my drawing, so could not share it here :(

I fixed the problem on my last painting, I like it a lot now :)

Gregory - SOLD

Gregory is a great model, he never moves once he sits down. I painted him a couple of years ago from the other side because there was no open space in front of him, same thing happened again the day before yesterday, I have to put my canvas on this side of him.

I know many artists like to paint from the 3 quarter view, that’s probably the best angle to create the 3D looking, but I actually enjoy painting from the side view sometimes. I know I lost some value contrast on my canvas by painting from this angle, it will be more difficult to model the forms. But on the other hand, I got more room to play with the subtle colors. Also I need to push more on the brush works to create the interest from the model, that actually helped me to capture the feeling that I got from Gregory.

An artist friend left this question in my last posting

“Its said that edges which appear hard on squinting should be retained the way they are whereas edges taht blur on squinting must be painted soft. Its been my observation that higher the value contrast across an edge, the harder it appears on squinting and vice versa. So is it correct to conclude that edges with higher contrast must be painted as hard edges while those with lower contrast must be made softer?”

I think I agree with that if we are painting what we see, less contrast will look softer, and more contrast will look harder on edges.

But the next thing we should add is what we know to our painting. For example, in this painting, I added a few dark strokes on the top of the canvas to support his white hair; I added some light strokes under his nose and chin, some dark strokes on top of his nose and forehead to support the shapes there. Those values and colors might not be there from what I saw, I used what I needed to create what I wanted…

Furthermore, most important for an artist is expressing our feelings from our artwork, that’s why I think my paintings are my language, no matter what I paint, even just a small object.

Early Spring - Morgan Hill

An artist asked about edges in the comment of my last posting, here is a little bit of my thoughts about the edges, hope it will help.

There are many differences in degree from hard edge to edgeless. The edges are related to values, and we do have a couple of principles for applying the edges when we paint something:

Harder edge for form shadow; softer edge for cast shadow; sometimes no edge between the form shadow and cast shadow.

Apply harder edge if you want to create something closer, apply softer edge if you want to create something further.

Of Course, there are a lot more we can talk in detail about the edges. .. The values and edges are like the notes of the music, bouncing around on your canvas, good artists compose them to a beautiful music.

Leave your question in a comment if you are interested in my thought about the question, I may share in my later posting when I get a chance.

By the way, I did not like the head part of my early painting “Figure Series 12-01” on February 17’s posting, I repainted the head and reloaded the image, I think it looks better than before :)

Figure Series 12-04 - SOLD

The gesture interested me. I used wash technique for the dark part of the painting, and watercolor technique on the light part of the sofa.

Let me know if you are interested in me sharing a little bit of my thoughts about my posting, I can write a little more for the later posting...

In the Garden - SOLD

I was trying to capture the moment that something interested the beautiful girl in this painting. I like the cool reflecting light in the shade against the warm light in the back.

March Workshop at my studio

My Workshop at my studio this month will be on the 10^th and the 11^th, here is what we are going to draw – the beautiful “Giuliano Medici”.

During this two days Workshop, I will do the step by step demo and draw with other artists. Again, I think this is one of the best trainings to learn the technique concepts and improve the modeling skill before drawing or painting from model.

I may have one more spot available this month, if you are interested please contact me by email at fongweiliu@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Figure Series 12-02 - SOLD

Museum Series 12-01

I feel this is an interesting subject to paint, will paint more when I get chance.

By the way, I finally created my website, please check it out: fongweiliu.com I am still working on it, please let me know if there is anything can be improve.

Drawing demo in my studio

My first weekend workshop in my studio was very successful!:)

Here is one of the step by step demos I did during the workshop, I feel that I need more time to warm up, but not too bad. I did not draw any cast after 1994, but I benefited a lot in my art work from my early drawing training when I was young.

I created this drawing workshop before we start painting from model, because I feel the artists attending my studio are learning the art very seriously. Drawing the cast is one of the best training to improve the modeling skill and learn the technique concepts. I highly recommend the artists who want to improve the painting technique to get some of this training, it will benefit a lot when you paint. Use pencil to draw, not charcoal, sometimes charcoal drawing hides your weakness.

I may still have one or two cast drawing classes for following monthly weekend workshops, I will be drawing with other artists, contact me if you are interested, I will post the workshop date later.

Figure Series 12-01 - SOLD

I plan to paint some small nude figures this year, here is the first one I did, find that is difficult to paint full figure with all details on a small canvas.

Portrait painting in progress

Summer Workshops Announcement

I am going to have two Plein Air Workshops with Silvana Gallery this summer. One is in Barcelo Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, another one is in Mammoth Lake, California.

Silvana did perfect arrangements for the workshops, if you love to paint, breathtaking and scenery, join me this Summer !! I would love to paint with you :)

Austin Workshop Announcement

I am going to have a 3 days Portrait and Clothed Figure Workshop at Austin, TX from 18th to 20th this May. My good friend Qiang Huang will host the workshop for me, please check the information on Qiang Huang's blog, and more detail information on Fongwei's Workshop Flyer.

Look forward to see you in Austin !!

By the way, the painting I am sharing here today is called "Christmas in the park", I really enjoyed paint this painting :)

Award and Workshop

I am so proud to be the “Winner of the Southwest Art Award” on Southwest Art magazine February 2012 from “6^th Annual Great American Figure Artists Exhibition” – Waterhouse Gallery. Thank you Southwest Art and Waterhouse Gallery!

Workshop Announcement

I plan to do weekend drawing and painting workshop once a month at my studio, Santa Clara, California. This month will be 18^th and 19^th, please contact me at fongweiliu@gmail.com if you are interested, I still have two more spots available.

Last Fall - SOLD

After rain - SOLD

Song of the Morning - SOLD

Cottage in the vineyard - SOLD

Click Here to Bid

Rose study - SOLD

Click Here to Bid

I painted a same rose twice by different approach, and this is the one I kept for a while :)

Flowers in the pot - SOLD

Click Here to Bid

My painting "Lunch Time" won a price from BoldBrush Painting Competition last month, the painting still available at Silvana Gallery, please contact Silvana if you are interested in the painting :)

Happy New Year!

Morning Coffee

Available at Waterhouse Gallery.

This is a painting I did week ago before a cruise to Mexico, I may have some small studies from the cruise later when I get chances, it was a wonderful cruise with our friend families :)

I wish you have a happy new year!

Fongwei

Break In Studio Series

Available at Waterhouse Gallery.

Who was that girl? Once a mom saw this painting, she told me "Could be my daughter :)" I really like the moment that she was taking the break in the studio.

Clashing Waves

Available at Waterhouse Gallery.

First try for waves, interesting! Ah, maybe paint more.

Signe

Charcoal Sketch - SOLD

Sold by Waterhouse Gallery.

This is the big version of one of my small studies I did before, available at Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara for Great American Figurative Artists Exhibition 2011, the opening will be 19th this month, wish to see you there. 

I was not able to send the recent postings out via the Google group and I don't know why, please let me know if you can help. 

I have sent a email "test" to my group to test, and then I realized that it may sent out, sorry for that if you have got that email.

Kitchen Scene

Available at Waterhouse Gallery.

Tracking Dream

Available at New Masters Gallery.

This is another painting I just sent to New Masters Gallery recently, please contact them if you are interested in having it.

I really admire many artists who can paint daily. I can only paint one day per week, a poor weekly painter.

By the way, my daughter titled this painting, I like it :)

Figure Study 10-31 - SOLD

By the window

Available at New Masters Gallery.

Tendai

The finished painting.



The detail of head.



The detail of torso.

Available at Waterhouse Gallery

Tendai - part 1

Available at Waterhouse Gallery.

I am working on a two days pose painting, and this is what I have for the first day. I would like to share a little of my approach for painting a model more than one day today.

At the beginning, I need to have an idea about composition, the design of color and value; of course, most important is the idea for the painting, these take a lot of time for me sometime.

Then I will mark some key spots for the proportion. When I continue on the painting, I will just focus on one part of the painting each day, and try to finish the part as much as I can. I find this is the best way for me to paint a live model because next time she may not pose the same thing for you :) but I will still need to come back adjust the whole painting later.

I will try to do some set up for next time by the end of the day, therefore I will have some chances to apply different techniques on the painting later.

Tendai is a beautiful African girl, the texture on the canvas showing through her face added a trace feeling of wildness to her, I like it.

Portrait of Richard - SOLD

I am teaching a graduate school online painting class this semester, here is a "exercise" I did for the class over the weekend.

I have not done this for long time, and this is the first time I paint the "exercise" from a photo reference. A little too tight, but not too bad for a demo :)

Studying Rembrandt

Available at Waterhouse Gallery.

This is the big painting I did by one of my small study, now you can tell who painted the painting in the background :)

Richard - SOLD

Here is a study I did today in San Francisco. I picked this angle and I like it!