October 8, 2008: A Still Life, Taos Happenings

Blue, Cool!, 7" x 5", Oil on canvas

A little still life - I like keeping it simple!

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I have three events coming up this week in Taos that I'm inviting you to attend if you are in the area:

October 9, 5:30 - 7:30, DVD Party at the taos gallery

October 10 - 12, Portrait Workshop in Taos

October 11, 7:00pm, Interwoven Illuminations I, An Evening of Art and Poetry at the Rane Gallery

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

A Berkeley Daily: Portrait of Shirley II

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

The second of three different portraits of Shirley.

I've been busy preparing for leading a number of painting workshops coming up soon. The next one is scheduled for the first week October in Taos at the Taos Art School. If you know someone who would enjoy spending a week in Taos working on portrait painting, please have them be in touch.

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.

A Berkeley Daily: Portrait

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

From blank to portrait of Shirley - fun what can be done with a little bit of oil paint and a canvas. This commission had an interesting twist: it is the first of three different portraits, one for each of her children. Wonderful idea Shirley!

A Berkeley Daily: Background

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

A little background makes a big difference.

A Berkeley Daily: Details

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

I seem to recall some phrase about details and a character from another realm that resides there.

A Berkeley Daily: Fill

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

The subject begins to emerge.

A Berkeley Daily: Build

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

Build the structure - a little like sculpting.

A Berkeley Daily: Wash

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

One of the best things about working with oil paint is its latitude of application: even works like watercolor.

A Berkeley Daily: Blank

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

Oh, oh! No paintings for a while and now this! He must be read more....

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: Enver

11" x 9.5", Oil on canvas on board

A study of my good friend Enver.

I'm giving two workshops over the next two weeks: Basics of Portraiture and Fundamentals of Painting.

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

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: Across the Street, Guatemala

6.25" x 4.25", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

Geometric abstract? Just across the street looking out my front door in San Antonio 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: 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: Mask, Studio, Berkeley

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, framed, $300

I’ve always had interest in masks, in particular this one from Bali that was hanging in the home of my favorite piano teacher Talc Tochin.

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

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: 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: 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: Watchtower, Berlin, Germany

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

The grey winter skies in Berlin were accentuated by this stark reminder of a darker past.

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

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: 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.