Isabel Forbes is drawn to draw

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2011-07-07T09:59:00.000-05:00

New Blog

Click this link to see my newer blog, Thumbnail Drawings.

Happy drawing and painting!

Isabel

Town & Country

2009-04-15T08:07:00.007-05:00

Working feverishly on the last few paintings for the show with Garry Turpin, Town & Country: Urban Scenes by Isabel Forbes and Beyond City Limits by Garry Turpin.

I've enjoyed getting to know Garry. He is originally from Spartanburg, then moved to Greenville. After I finish the paintings, frame them and tie up loose ends I'll post some more about the show.

This is a Press Release about the show, written by Beverly Knight.

“Town & Country: Urban Scenes by Isabel Forbes & Beyond City Limits by Garry Turpin,” opens May 1 at the Artists’ Guild Gallery in Spartanburg’s Chapman Cultural Center.
Both artists work in oil and focus on subjects that they find to be compelling, attempting to capture a visual moment that the viewer can experience vicariously.

Forbes’ “Smith’s Drugs #1” pictures a nondescript storefront that people drive by every day as they hurry from one end of Spartanburg to another. The painting transforms it into a colorful scene, a red bicycle leaning casually against the front wall contrasting with the blue striped awning of the small building on Main Street.

Turpin’s “Mountain Folk” recreates a relaxed scene as well, but one filled with people—and in the forefront a young woman, red hair flowing and bare feet dangling from the edge of a front porch, smiling directly at the viewer.

“Goldenwater,” a painting of a mountain stream, white water rushing around boulders and toward the viewer, showcases one of the recurring images in Turpin’s work. The artist says his work captures water’s variable nature, “its beauty and power, its color and lack of color and its varying degrees of transparency, always providing an interesting ‘painter’s journey’.”

Forbes, since her recent return to Spartanburg, her hometown, after three decades away, has focused her art on urban scenes that “had a visual spark or surprise and revealed something new about the familiar.” For several of the paintings in the exhibit, she explored Spartanburg with a bicycle rented for three months for $15 from the Hub Cycle Spartanburg Community Bicycles program run by Partners for Active Living. With her sketchbook and watercolor pad, she rode around, drinking in the sights until an image attracted her attention.

“Typically I work quickly and directly from life for two to three hours on a painting or drawing until I get the feeling, light, and space of a location,” Forbes says of her oil paintings, referring to herself as an observational painter who works from subjects that are part of her everyday life.
“I will then work on the painting back in the studio, developing the forms and trying to resolve the design. I look for the extraordinary in the ordinary. Painting, for me, is a way of connecting and discovering.”

She chose paintings for the current exhibit from subjects that she had a personal response to, focusing on subjects with a “sense of familiarity not just because I recognize a particular place but because I also recognized a feeling or remembered an experience.”

Turpin, who received a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Mars Hill College in 1971, has lived in the Spartanburg area, with his wife Bonnie for the past 38 years. After twenty-five years in the graphic design, illustration and photography business, a career that led to numerous awards and opportunities, he decided in 2000 to return to fine arts, more specifically oil painting. For the past nine years he has made painting his primary work.

“I invite the viewer to join in my interpretation of our world.” Turpin says of his paintings, many of which are portraiture or landscape. “I use the rich variable colors of oil paint to capture my feelings and the presence of my subject and hopefully pass it forward to trigger a memory or connection in viewers to what they see.”

Turpin describes his art as “my memory, the many paths I take, the people I encounter and the balance and rhythm that are created by man and nature,” those things that not only express the artist’s experiences but also revive memories in the viewer’s mind of things he too has experienced. Turpin loves the challenges that are presented in portraiture. “Rendering a physical likeness and projecting that person’s personality make portrait painting a unique offering to both the person being painted and to the artist,” Turpin says.

An artists’ reception for the exhibit is scheduled for May 2, 6 - 8:00 p.m., and is free and open to the public. The exhibit continues through May 28.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Admission to the Guild Gallery is free of charge.
For information, contact Laura Pinkley, 864-764-9568.

Happy drawing & painting!

Paint NC Plein-Air Invitational

2009-04-06T12:17:00.007-05:00

Startown, NC

This painting was done in the back seat of my car. On the way to Germanton, NC I stopped at a little town just below Hickory, NC named Startown. This sweet little church was on Startown road. As I painted this I thought this would be a perfect place for an American Idol contestant to be from.

Germanton, NC

Once I arrived in Germanton, NC I found this great farm just accross the street from the home I stayed at for 3 nights. (More on my gracious hosts in another post.) The farm, Buffalo Creek Farm, was a fun place to paint and one of the owners, Robin, shared alot of interesting farm stuff I didn't know. I painted this on a foggy/rainy day. Luckily, I found a great shelter and painted the back of the barn/house. This farm had llamas, guinea fowl, goats, rabbits, turkeys, Great Pyrenees dogs. Some animals had special duties on th farm. The guinea fowl are said to be good for controlling the Lyme Disease-bearing deer tick. The Great Pyrenees dogs protect the livestock and are rarely out of sight or hearing of his flock. It is a calm animal that moves slowly to avoid disturbing the livestock and possesses a better than average sense of hearing, sight and smell. Llamas bonds with its herd of livestock, it takes over as a protector. Friday, I "forged" their Buffalo Creek to paint their restored log cabin and one of their llamas kept his eye on me as I crossed the pasture.

I used the second shed pictured here as shelter to paint the barn/house - see my easel next to the ladder.

Friday I forged this stream to paint in Buffalo Creeks back pasture.

This llama was keeping his eye on me.

This is were I painted on Friday. If you look closely you can see my easel setup to the right. They had two outhouses which I did use. Hint: overalls are not the attire to wear when using outhouses...

The Reception

Friday night Germanton Gallery held a reception for 30+ artist they invited to be a part of this paint-out. It was a fun evening and I meet some really nice artists from all over the country. One artist, whose work I admired, was Robert Brown from Charlotte, NC.

Next post I'll put up some of what I painted while in Germanton and tell you more about my adventures.

Happy drawing & painting!

Painting NC Plein-Air Show

2009-03-31T15:58:00.010-05:00

I am thrilled to be apart of this event. If you love to see artists in action, this event should be a great opportunity to see some great plein air paintings. The Germanton Art Gallery represents some of my favorite artists and it is my understanding some of them will be present. After the recption on Friday, April 3rd, many of us, including one of my favorite artist, Scott Burdick, will be painting in the downtown area of Germantown Saturday and Sunday. Hope you can venture up to see us. After the show I will post the plein air paintings I make during this event. Happy painting!

I am painting "day trips" into NC Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday I travel to Germanton, NC to paint through Sunday. Rain or shine this should be a good time! Monday's painting - March 30, 2009. This sign is on Hwy 176 on the way to Saluda, NC. The painting, 12" x 9" oil on panel, "Valley Courts Sign", was painted on a cool and breezy day. I needed a bungee cord to keep the panel from blowing into my pile of paints.

Today's painting (March 31, 2009), 8" x 6" oil on linen panel, "That's a Dandy" was painted at FENCE. It was a very overcast day so I chose something simple. They have wonderful nature trails, which I also explored. This is a must come back to plein-air location!

Sketchbook "Thumbnails"

2009-03-26T07:42:00.008-05:00

I am painting for a May show at the Chapman Cultural Center in the Spartanburg Artist Guild gallery with Garry Turpin. The theme is 'Town & Country". I am painting urban scenes and Garry is painting "beyond the city limits scenes". This sketch was used to get my creative juices going for the 18"x24" oil on canvas painting.

The top sketch was painted on location (plein-air painting) downtown Spartanburg using a portable watercolor palette and a Moleskine sketchbook. I love this sketchbook. The paper is made for watercolor and the whole feel of the book inspires me. There are many kinds of Moleskine notebooks but for watercolor sketching I use the Moleskine Large Watercolor Notebook: Size: 5.25 x 8.25",Pages: 72 pages of acid-free paper.

If you love sketching try of one the Moleskines out. You'll love it! Happy drawing!

Nu-Way Thumbnail

2009-03-23T08:57:00.002-05:00

This example of a thumbnail sketch before I painted sort of shows my thought pattern. I was much more interested in the abstract shapes of the buildings with the vertical intersecting lines of the sign and electrical pole. I was looking at the shapes the values made. I was also awestruck by the red door shape. I'm always on the lookout for discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary.

As I painted this I kept those thoughts and feelings in the front of my mind. These feelings are what kept me excited about painting this. The Nu-Way does also happen to be a Spartanburg, SC landmark were many a drink was poured and story shared. Not the most beautiful of places to paint, but then again beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

The Nu-Way, oil on panel, 16' x 20" painted 2007 "adopted" by Nan Coghill

Thumbnails

2009-03-17T12:25:00.007-05:00

Recently, while looking at old sketchbooks, I noticed how important drawing thumbnails before I tackle a painting is to my creative process.

The thumbnail drawing allows me to look at shapes and values so I can (hopefully!) create a strong composition. I play around with several thumbnail design possibilities and once I hit on a thumbnail that seems to work I feel excited about starting the painting.

The thumbnail drawings above is about 5"h x 4"w. The oil painting is 16"h x 11"w.

I thought over the next few posts I'd share some of my thumbnails.

A great Evening

2009-01-16T18:07:00.003-05:00

Dispite frigid tempatures people came out for the Spartanburg ArtWalk! My "Homecoming" reception had a steady crowd. Carolina Gallery always does a great reception. Delicious catering and the nice background music of classical guitar.

I saw alot of friends I hadn't seen in 30+ years and met some new friends. One person shared a favorite saying with me that seemed to fit.... "you can't go forward until you go back". That summed up what this show was all about.

If you couldn't make the opening reception the show will be up until mid February. They also have 2 more floors of wonderful art.

This photo shows one corner of th gallery. That's me in the salmon colored jacket.

An Invitation

2009-01-13T13:29:00.005-05:00

I just received my invitation to my art show! After a year and a half of painting the day is almost here to share what I have created. I have heard other artists say every painting an artist creates is really a self portrait and I am really feeling that thought this week.

If you are in the area, please come to the reception. The show will be up for a month at Carolina Gallery.

January 4th my local paper ran an article about this upcoming show.

The Skillet Restaurant

2008-12-26T10:01:00.036-05:00

Number 1 - Over Easy, Grits, Crispy Bacon, Dry Rye & Black Coffee

This new painting of , The Skillet, is the second painting I've created using this restaurant as my inspiration. The Skillet is a Spartanburg landmark where you can order an incredible breakfast. My favorite is the #1 Special. The restaurant is small so if you can't be seated at a table you might have to sit at the counter. Dining at the counter is always fun because you could be sitting next to a CEO or a student. It is a great melting pot. Someday soon they will be demolishing the shopping center where the Skillet is located and build a new shiny shopping center. I'm trying to record some memories with my paintings of the town I love.

I'll take you along my painting process, starting with my studio set-up. When I'm not painting on location I use my digital photos displayed on my computer monitor as a reference.

I keep little notes to remind me to have fun, squint and to visualize my goal.

Looking down on me is an old photograph I found at an estate sale. George Bellows, the American painter, is pictured at his Woodstock Studio.

Step One
When I have a figure in a painting I'll usually draw out the basic composition. I'm using vine charcoal on a stretched white canvas. I'll fix the charcoal after I finish drawing so I don't make a big smear mess.

I love drawing. Lately I'm painting more than I draw, but actually I feel like I am drawing when I paint because I am looking at the shapes and trying to recreate what I see.

Step 2
In this shot you can see my "block in". My goal is to cover the canvas with the average value of the colors I see in my subject and to establish the shapes. This step really helps me to evaluate my composition.
Step 3
Now I start to define my focal point, "the star of the show". I don't know who this fellow is, but I liked the way he was day dreaming as he waited for his breakfast to be cooked.

I love a finished/unfinished look to my completed paintings, so my painting process gets slower and slower in hopes that I don't finish the painting too much. I always want "the hand of the painter" to be seen - to be able to see the paint, the brush strokes.

Step 4
Working some more of the focal point. The paint starts off thin and gets thicker as I near completing an area.

As with the finished/unfinished look to the painting I also like a balance of thick and thin paint buildup. As in life, it is all about balance.
Step 5
As I work on this painting I want to make sure I keep the cook in a "supporting role" to my star. The cook is in the background and shouldn't be as defined and should be less in focus.

At this stage I like the red/green color pallette, but feel that I need to pop out my focal point more. Perhaps a change in the color of his jacket?
Step 6
I decided to change the jacket color to a red/brown. This decision does add emphasis to the main subject. I've slowed way down now. All the details in the background don't need to be detailed too much. I'm aiming for just a suggestion.

Hope you've enjoyed this painting journey. Creating this blog entry has helped me to really see and "hear" my painting process.

Scroll up to see the finished painting.

Finished Waiting on Moma

2008-11-26T15:10:00.004-05:00

Step #4 Finishing

As the painting gets closer to completion I my painting speed slows down. Since my last post I've worked on three different painting in my studio and several plein-air paintings. My finished painting should have some areas on them that aren't completely defined. "The star of the show" or my focal point (the woman reading) is completed more than the background or her surroundings. My Mom's heart cath was a good one, I hope her Mom's was too. I have alot to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Block In(s)

2008-09-23T16:24:00.015-05:00

Step #3 Local Color Block In

Today, I blocked in the halftones of the shapes and attacked my center of interest. I try my best to see this as a collection of shapes and not people in a waiting room. If I get all my shapes drawn correctly the painting will have a better chance of working. As I draw my shapes with paint, I am also working on color, value and edges.

Set #2 Tonal Block In

Monday I decided to block in all my dark and light shapes using terra rosa. Sometimes I'll skip this step and go straight to the block in with the halftone colors (the major color of the shape). Using a single color helps me see the overall design of the shapes.

Here is a detail of the main character in this "play". All of this is a work in progress.

Waiting on Mom

2008-09-19T15:06:00.006-05:00

Step #1 charcoal drawing on a grey toned canvas panel

Thought I'd make a better effort at recording the process of a painting. I'll have to take it off the easel and bring it outside to photograph each stage. This process of stopping to photograph will also give me a chance to view the painting in a different way.

I love the saying "Make your life a work of art". I believe that can be done by anyone in any walk of life. What this means to me is; in anything you do be there 100% and make it as beautiful as you can. From the meal you prepare, to the bed you make - I believe a person can be creative in any act.

My current work takes that saying literally. The paintings I create are from my life - where I travel, what I see and who I meet.

This painting is called "Waiting on Mom". I was at the Spartanburg Regional Hospital's Heart Center in their waiting room waiting on my Mom. She was having a heart catheterization to investigate some problems she had been experiencing. There were alot of people in the waiting room waiting on their loved ones too.

I don't always make a charcoal drawing first, but because the composition was alittle complicated I thought I'd map it out.

Cecilia Beaux -"Man with a Cat"

2008-09-01T17:18:00.010-05:00

Just returned from visiting Washington, DC. Two of the highlights of a very eventful trip were #1 I was able to see and spend time with a cousin I hadn't seen in over 40 years and #2 I stood right in front of my all time favorite painting by Cecilia Beaux at the Portrait Gallery.

Life is good!

Aqua Nest

2008-07-25T15:48:00.008-05:00

Aqua Nest

This watercolor was painted for an exhibit I was juried into called Flights of Fantasy: The Artistic Bird, at Brookgreen Gardens located in Pawleys Island. The watercolor paintings, chosen from the South Carolina Watermedia Association members, will hang in conjunction with a sculpture exhibit. The show is September 6 - November 2, 2008

“Aqua Nest” is a painting that was inspired by the Southern hairdos I witnessed growing up in Spartanburg, SC.

My Dad was an avid photographer so my Mother’s hairstyle is well documented --- from cute pixies to bountiful bouffants. These images are part of the inspiration in the creation of this painting.

I also remember well my first grade teacher, Miss Johnson. She had beautiful white hair piled high in a bun. To our surprise and delight, she would randomly decorate her bun with fruit, flowers or even a bird’s nest on occasion. Whether this was for educational purposes or not, it certainly sparked my imagination.
Some Southern bouffants were so elaborate, with curls and waves; it was easy for me to imagine birds flying in and out to make nests in them! If this was more than just a childhood fantasy, I wonder if the women with the big hair would notice something had taken up residence on top of their heads!

The Beacon Drive In

2008-05-21T08:58:00.010-05:00

The Beacon
Drive In

John White opened the Beacon Drive-In sixty years ago. He retired in 1998 after being a hands-on owner. It is a "Slice-A-Plenty" of Spartanburg, SC.

This place is a must visit if you are anywhere near Spartanburg. JC greets you when you enter and asks you to "call it out" He shouts your order to the kitchen and asks you to "Move down the line". During lunch time this place is PACKED! Somehow your order does appear as shouted...

My painting is of a fellow stirring the chili for their famous Chili Cheese Burger. If you call out a "Chili-Cheese-A- Plenty you get a chili cheeseburger on a bun on a plate buried underneath piles of sweet onion rings and French fried potatoes. Make sure you order their Iced Tea. It is served over shaved ice and is the best tea around! The Beacon sells more tea than any other single restaurant in the U.S.A

The Beacon has been a must stop for any politician running for office! Come and visit, but don't come on Sunday... they are closed.

Catching A Buzz

2008-04-25T08:05:00.006-05:00

The top image is of the beginning of the painting.

Thought I'd give a try at show the progression of a recent painting. I've been enjoying the challenge of designing within a long canvas. This one is 15"h x 30"w. For some reason I bought several of this canvas size a few years ago and am just now painting on my last one.

This image is from Litchfield Beach. I was taking a walk towards Huntington Beach State Park and I spotted these fellows having a good time. They were hanging close together talking, laughing and drinking beer. Their fishing pole were cast and sort of forgotten. When I walked back they all seemed to be in the same stance, just laughing more. I asked one of the guys, "what are ya'll catching? A buzz?" They laughed and agreed with me.

Happy Drawing... Painting!

2008-03-20T07:26:00.006-05:00

Spend more time drawing!

I love to paint. After drawing alot, coming back to an oil painting is like getting dessert! Drawing skills are the foundation upon which a successful painting is built. I draw alot so that when I'm ready to paint I can lay down what my mind sees without hesitation. Deliberate strokes. Pastel "painting" has been a great teacher to bridge my drawing passion with my love for paint.

The detail of this oil painting shows how drawing shapes creates what I see.

Happy drawing (painting!)

Arts with Heart

2008-02-12T11:00:00.000-05:00

This Friday I was honored to be part of the Art with Hearts hosted by Bub-Bub.com. This event featured 11 artists. Each artist chose a local charity. Half of our sales went to support our chosen charity. I chose the Spartanburg Alzheimer's Association. Last year we thought my stepfather might have early stage Alzheimer's and that is why they were my charity. Alzheimer's is a disease that attacks the brain. Every 72 seconds someone is diagnosed. We'll never know if infact he had Alzheimer's because December 15 he had a massive brain hemorrhage and passed away 7 days later. My stepfather was a wonderful gentleman who owned and ran a drug store in downtown Spartanburg from 1948 until 1985. He loved Spartanburg and he loved people. I'll miss his sweet smile.

The Red Horse Inn

2007-11-30T14:22:00.000-05:00

I'm eeking in one post for November!

One of the things I did this month was to visit the Red Horse Inn in Landrum, SC to paint. This is just a small study for a larger painting.

If you are looking for a beautiful place to get away you have to check this place out. The owners, Roger and Mary were kind enough to let me set up my easel. The colors were peaking. Roger and Mary run a first class property here.

We Live Here Now

2007-10-26T13:52:00.000-05:00

The Hub-Bub artists, Arielle and Rachel are living downtown for 5 days in a store front on 100 E. Main Street. Their goal is to promote downtown and its small but growing art scene, and to highlight in a unique way what it would be like to live downtown. They are calling the project "We Live Here Now."

I dropped by today to sketch art in the making! Arielle and Rachel are two of four artist participating in the Artists-in-Residence program run by Hub-Bub. Hub-Bub has some great things happening.

Now that "I live here now" it is things like this that has me encourgaged that great things are happening in my old town.

Many Balls to Juggle!

2007-10-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

No that isn't a paint brush in my hand.....

Been a while since I've posted a new entry. Still getting use to the additional balls to juggle (website redesign, and blogs) in the arena of promoting my artwork.

Alot has been going on since my last post. The Chapman Cultural Center has officially opened! The City is blessed to has such a wonderful new venue. Check it out! (See my links.)

My watercolor (see the post below) was juried into the SC Watermedia Society Show which is the first show to be in the new Art Museum at the The Chapman Cultural Center. I was honored to get in. My painting is really a humble sketch.

Just getting back from a trip to Boston. What a great City! I was totally inspired and am back home ready to paint some of the sights and people I saw.

Away from Home

2007-07-27T12:34:00.000-05:00

This Christmas I had the wonderful opportunity to visit St. John US Virgin Islands. This watercolor sketch is at the Ferry landing where you have to catch a Ferry to St. Thomas where the airport is. I took alot of really colorful pictures. The terrain there is super mountainous - homes are built on the edges and side of the mountains. Most of the Island is a National Park. Paradise......

Walking Downtown

2007-07-18T08:38:00.001-05:00

When I left Spartanburg 30 years ago I was ready to get out of town to see what was out there. Never thought I'd be back here again. As I visit my old haunts my heart feels full. This was a great place to grow up and I have many great memories living here.

This drawing is on the corner of Liberty Street and Broad. On the opposite side of this wall/building is Main Street. The downtown area is undergoing a wonderful metamorphosis. Old closed shops are becoming retail and residential spaces. A new multi-million dollar Chapman Cultural Arts Center is scheduled to open this Fall, WOW. Feels good to be home.

Settling In... Homecoming

2007-07-11T09:24:00.000-05:00

Well... after many life changes I'm beginning to settle in.

Been awhile since I've posted anything because of all the changes, but I'm creating new work and will be posting it on a more frequent basis.

This fellow was at a park down the street where I grew up. I've called it "3 Amigos". My dog was one of my best friends growing up! I created it with soft pastels. I draw with pastels, but I guess generally it is called pastel painting.