December 11, 2008: New Paintings, Open Studios and Painting Demonstration

This painting is a little figurative piece from a recent portrait painting session with the fun group of painters of the Taos Society of Portrait Artists. You can see a larger image of it on my website or the original at my studio in Berkeley, which will be open again this year during Berkeley Open Studios. The open studio tour continues this weekend and next, December 13 & 14 and 20 & 21 from 11am to 6pm. Along with this painting, I have a number of new works for you to see, as well as with my recently released Fundamentals of Painting DVD. And to keep things a little more interesting, this Sunday, December 14, I will be giving a free portrait painting demonstration from 12 to 3pm with artist Krista Augius modeling. So, if you are in the neighborhood, please stop in, say hello, take a look at the new work, and watch a painting in progress! Here are the details: Open Studios: December 13 & 14 and 20 & 21 from 11am to 6pm Portrait Demonstration: Sunday, December 14 from 12 to 3pm Made in the Shade

Art Break, Art Workshops

Suzhou Canal, 32x16, Oil on canvas


32" x 16", Oil on canvas on board

I’ve been thinking a lot today that it would be a good moment for a little art.
You may recall that I painted a smaller version of this setting in Suzhou, China some time ago as part of the daily painting series. This time its larger and one in a series I’m currently working on entitled Passages. I hope you experience enjoyment from this work!
I also wanted to let you know that I have three weekend painting workshops coming up in October:

October 10 - 12, Portrait in Taos

October 24 - 26, Fundamentals in Berkeley

October 31 - November 2, Portrait in Berkeley

Just follow any of the links for more information or pass this along to a friend! Thanks!

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Hollow Tree, Guatemala

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

My daughter Emily brought me to this hot spring surrounded by hollow trees in Guatemala where she is working for the Peace Corps.

I’m happy to know that we can be of benefit to other people by what we do - like Emily’s work in the Peace Corps. I wish for more of this. Read more about Emily.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

Intermediate Portrait Painting
Working with the Model

A Four Day Portrait Painting Workshop with Seamus Berkeley

Portrait of Ashley, 7" x 5", Oil on canvas (click image for video)

This four-day workshop is designed to enhance your ability to capture the presence of the individual before you on canvas. What is involved in posing the model to allow the presence of the person to be most seen? Seamus will begin with how to set up the pose to make best use of existing light, angles, and the position of the head to the body. How to work with the individual to allow the character to emerge. He will cover color mixing focusing on skin tones and use of measurement in seeing facial features and developing a central point of focus around which you will develop the portrait. The ultimate goal is to empower you to look at the painting process with a quiet mind thereby increasing your intuitive skills and your ability to work with the model. Discussion will also cover how to evaluate your own work. From the very first class meeting, you will work from life with models in the studio.

Although the idea of portrait-painting may seem daunting, the principles of portraiture are identical to the principles that underlie all types of painting. Simply stated, in order to paint, an artist must be able to see. In this workshop, Seamus will show you how to break down a complex image into simple, easy-to-see elements that you can translate onto canvas. One important aspect for the workshop is to have fun!

Seamus will demonstrate his own successful techniques for creating portraits that accurately convey both the appearance and the character of the model.

This workshop is designed for intermediate students. It is open to artists who have previously attended a workshop with Seamus or for those who have some familiarity with their medium and portrait painting.

Note: Seamus works in oils and instruction will focus on this medium, although the workshop is open to students who work in other media including acrylic

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Seamus Berkeley has taught drawing, fundamentals of painting and portraiture classes and workshops for over 20 years in a number of places including the Taos Institute of Arts and at the University of New Mexico and his studios in Berkeley, California and Taos, New Mexico. He is a commissioned artist whose fine art works are owned, respected and enjoyed by collectors worldwide.

Seamus has won regional and national awards, including Best Portrait at the Oil Painters of America show in 2000. He is the founder and past-president of the Taos Society of Portrait Artists and a member of the Oil Painters of America. His work has been featured in such publications as Southwest Art, Information Warehouse, The Taos News, Art-Talk and The Trail-Gazette. His work has been exhibited at the Rane Gallery in Taos, New Mexico and the Tennyson Gallery in Denver, Colorado. Visit his website at www.seamusberkeley.com.

LOCATION: Studio 40, 933 Parker Street between 7th & 8th Streets in Berkeley, California.

DATE: Thursday, November 1 through Sunday, November 4, 2007

FEE: $495 plus $30 Models fee; Register before October 1 for $445 plus model fee; Last date for registration: October 18, 2007

Class size limited to 10 students

To obtain further information (supply list, map, lodging, etc) and to register, please contact Sally Stewart at 510-235-1121.

A Berkeley Daily: Herminia, Study, Guatemala

5" x 6.25", Oil on canvas on board

A small portrait study of Herminia from San Antinio Huista, Guatemala.

The first two weekends of June - 2, 3 and 9, 10 - I'll be exhibiting new work at my studio, along with invited artists Sarah Berkeley, Heather Chou and Johanna Atkinson as part of East Bay Open Studios. If you are in the area, please come, see the art, meet the artists and tour the Sawtooth Building where another twenty-five artists will also be open.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Portrait of Ian Moore

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

Portrait commission of author Ian Moore.

In addition to these two upcoming workshops, Fundamentals of Painting and Basics of Portraiture, I’m scheduling portrait work for the second half of the year and into 2008. For more information about commissioning a portrait, please contact me.

I will write more in the next posting about my recent painting trip to Guatemala.

A Berkeley Daily: Portrait of Ashley

(Watch a video of this painting in progress by clicking the image above or follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo-YWLSmvVM)


7" x 5", Oil on canvas. Sold

A portrait painting of Ashley.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Portrait Study

6.5" x 5.5", Oil on canvas

Portrait study for a commission of author Ian Moore.

If you are interested in commissioning a portrait, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Edie, Studio, Berkeley

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board

A commissioned portrait.

If you are interested in commissioning a portrait, please inquire by email.

A Berkeley Daily: Willow, Studio, Berkeley

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

What’s cooking? Thanks to Willow Lune for modeling.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Dancing, Studio, Berkeley

6" x 4.75", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

Dancing at Studio Rasa.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Surprise, Tate, London

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

I visited the Tate Modern - not too impressed. The coffee was good!

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Laughter, Sanchi, India

4" x 5", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

What is the price of joy? Read more....

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Guide, Bikaner, India

6" x 4.75", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

This fellow seemed to know everyone in Bikaner, exchanging greetings the whole time he lead us on a private tour through the old section of the city.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Silhouettes, Hangzhou, China

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

From a visit to the tourist city of Hangzhou, China.

Read about this painting on the cover of The East Bay Monthly.

A Berkeley Daily: Portal, Suzhou, China

7" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I found round doorways, like this one in Suzhou, to be one of the more interesting architectural elements in China.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Rusty, Studio, Berkeley

4" x 6", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

A little portrait of my friend Rusty.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Paula, Studio, Berkeley

4.75" x 6", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

My friend Paula stopped into the studio for this portrait painting.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Solitude, Quilty, Ireland

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I stopped for a break on a trip to the Cliffs of Moher and saw this gentleman pondering the grey sea, alone, with his dog.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: David, Studio, Berkeley

5.5" x 5.75", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

A monochromatic portrait of my friend David working on his forthcoming book.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

It was a little foggy during this particular visit to the Cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Ireland.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Patrick Reading, Taos, New Mexico

7" x 5", Oil on canvas on board

A painting of my son Patrick, a really wonderful person. You can read more about him on his blog: PatrickBerkeley.blogspot.com.

A Berkeley Daily: Val, Berkeley, California

6" x 4.75", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

A portrait of my friend Val who works for the Arc of San Francisco.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Canal, Suzhou, China

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

From a trip to Suzhou, a canal city west of Shanghai.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Reagan, Studio, Berkeley

8" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

A portrait of Reagan from Studio Rasa.

If you happen to be in the Berkeley area, stop by to see a portrait demonstration as part of Berkeley Open Studios this Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10 at 11:00.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Pear with a Twist, Studio, Berkeley

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

Hmmm... a red pear with a slight twist. Thanks to Loreta Landucci, the painter who brought the objects to the studio.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Akami, Tochigi, Japan

6" x 4.75", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

One of the practices I appreciated in Japan was taking shoes off when entering homes or shrines.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Deborah, Studio, Berkeley

6" x 4.75", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

A portrait of my friend Deborah.

If you happen to be in the Berkeley area, stop by to see a portrait demonstration as part of Berkeley Open Studios this Saturday, December 9 at 11:00.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Young Neighbor, Bikaner, India

6" x 4.75", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

Neighbors of our guesthouse in Bikaner invited us in for coffee and to meet the family. The openness of the people in India was a sharp contrast to the culture where I live.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Limes, Studio, Berkeley

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

Even limes have shadows!

A Berkeley Daily: Full Moon, Berkeley, California

5" x 4.5", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

It was a perfect full moon rising, just above the hills.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Rain, Studio, Berkeley

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

I still enjoy painting portraits, like this one of Rain Stickney.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Monastery, Kyoto, Japan

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold
A quiet moment at a monastery in Kyoto.
If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Mekong River Pilot, Pakbeng, Laos

4" x 10", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

The navigator of a long boat on a trip down the Mekong River in northern Laos.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Persimmon, Studio, Berkeley

7" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I tasted a persimmon for the first time last night and decided to paint one this morning.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Sunrise, Sanchi, India

7" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I woke up early on my last day in Sanchi to see this sunrise.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Umbrellas, Hangzhou, China

5" x 6", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I was sitting with friend and poet Laurel Bastian watching the sun set over the lake, when this caught my attention.

You can read more about A Visit to the Art City of Hangzhou on my travel blog.

A Berkeley Daily: Bottle of Wine, Studio, Berkeley

11" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I often work in monochrome - it offers a way to convey the subject clearly while leaving space for the unspoken.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Three Oranges, Studio, Ireland

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I like oranges more than radishes.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Cliffs, Ballinskelligs, Ireland

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

The setting overlooking the Waterville Bay from Ballinskelligs, Ireland.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Three Peppers, Studio, Berkeley

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I enjoy painting all kinds of subjects, including still life arrangements. This one was done in the studio in Berkeley, California.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.