Life In The Arts

Painting Horses in Plein Air with Cyndra Bradford

Live! Wednesday,October 18, 2000, 10:30 - 11:30 AM

LONGTIMERS PRODUCTIONS AND THE MONTEREY COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

PRESENT

A SERIES OF "ARTISTS IN THE CLASSROOM" TELEVISED PROGRAMS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2000 10:30 - 11:30 AM

There is a life in the arts, and now your students will be able to interact with professional artists, live from the MCOE studios in Salinas.

Guests include: Cyndra Bradford, a plein air painter. Together, with television personality and series host Maia Carroll, they will introduce

your students to the art of sketching landscapes with horses.

Your students will have the opportunity to participate in one more of the following:

* Discovering the Subject of the drawing

* Design for Asymmetry

* Proper perspective

* Learn to use anything you need to add or subtract to a landscape

THIS PROGRAM IS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE CULTURAL COUNCIL FOR MONTEREY COUNTY

PROGRAM GUEST

Cyndra Bradford, Painter, gallery owner and arts organizer of Carmel is also an avid horsewoman. A native Californian, she paints in the plein air tradition of the Early Monterey Art colony. Cyndra was born in Los Angeles but moved to Big Sur with her parents who are also Artists. Cyndra lived on Partington Ridge above the roar of the surf and became aware of nature at a early age. Cyndra had no TV and town was 45 miles away., she had time to observe nature and the ever changing light. Big Sur was a magical place with many well-known artists and poets. Henry Miller was a friend and neighbor.

"My parents, Howard Bradford and Dorothy Bowman, both have enviable reputations in the art world and a long list of prizes. They are both listed in Who's Who in American Art. They became my art teachers and first introduced me to serigraphs and by the time I was 18 years old, I had Art dealers representing my prints throughout the U.S. I was chosen to be in the Carmel Art Association when I was 24 years old.

When hand -printed serigraphs fell out of fashion, I began to paint out-of-doors en plein air. I soon met a group of local artists who has started painting together outside and i realized this was what I wa looking for. Our group of Artists are called the "Informalists" and we exhibit at my gallery in Carmel, Galerie Plein Aire."

SUGGESTED READING LIST

BOOKS:

CARLSON'S GUIDE TO LANDSCAPE PAINTING By John Carlson

HAWTHORNE ON PAINTING By Charles Hawthorne

THE ART SPIRIT By Robert Henri

THE SKETCH IN COLOR By Robert Oliver

COMPOSITION OF OUTDOOR PAINTING By Edgar Payne

GO TO YOUR LIBRARY AND LOOK FOR ANY BOOKS ON OUTDOOR DRAWING, SKETCHING AND PAINTING

FOCUS QUESTIONS

1. CAN A SCENE IN NATURE CONTAIN MORE THAN ONE SUBJECT FOR SKETCHING AND PAINTING? IF SO, IS THERE A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF SUBJECTS?

2. HOW DOES A VIEW FINDER HELP ONE TO LOCATE SUBJECT MATTER IN NATURE? DOES THE VIEW FINDER HAVE A FIXED SIZE OR SHAPE?

3. HOW DO YOU KNOW AT WHAT DISTANCE TO HOLD THE VIEW FINDER FROM YOUR EYE? AS YOU CHANGE THIS DISTANCE, HOW DOES YOUR FIELD OF VIEW CHANGE?

4. WHEN SHOULD YOU USE A VIEW FINDER AS : (A) A HORIZONTAL RECTANGLE? (B) A VERTICAL RECTANGLE? (C) A SQUARE?

5. WHEN USING A VIEW FINDER, DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DRAWING OF A CERTAIN SIZE? WHAT IS A GOOD SIZE FOR A SKETCHBOOKS DRAWING?

6. DO YOU HAVE TO COPY EXACTLY WHAT YOU SEE THROUGH THE VIEW FINDER? IF NOT, ARE YOU LIMITED TO THE CHANGES THAT YOU MAKE IN THE SCENE?

CAREER CORNER

ARTIST

ILLUSTRATOR

CARTOONIST

DESIGNER

(1) Two L-shaped pieces of cardboard, colored medium gray. Approximate dimensions are shown in the diagram, in inches. 6" x 7" L

(2) Two large paper clips.

(3) Any sketching materials the teacher and students want to use. These can include pencils, pens, colored markers, crayons, poster prints,oils or watercolors, etc., and any paper.

(4) Three or four photos taken from newspapers, magazines, picture albums, etc. Each will show a scene in nature. Each will also contain a variety of shapes and be a wide angle view. Examples: (a) a harbor full of boats and wharfside buildings; (b) a park with paths, trees, flower plots, people etc.; (c) farm land with fields, horses, buildings, trees, fences, etc.; (d) a panorama with mountains, valleys, trees, clouds, etc.

The larger the picture, the better. An excellent newspaper picture for this purpose might be 7X12 inches, for instance. The picture may be in black and white, or color.

(5) Primed canvas if using oils.

STUDENT PROJECT

OBJECTIVE:

ARTISTS CAN USE A SIMPLE VIEW FINDER TO SELECT SUBJECTS FROM NATURE THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR SKETCHING AND PAINTING.TODAY'S LESSON WILL FOCUS ON HORSES AS SUBJECTS.

1.By using view finder, scope out area you want to paint. Take your time to look.

2. Sketch in areas, keep loose. Try not to set horse in middle of painting. Use your space!

3.

• .A. When using oils start with your dark areas and use a wash of turpentine. Keep your darks thin.
• B. Once you have your darks, step back and see if your composition is going to work.
• C. Work in broad areas, work quickly to capture the light.
• D. Keep your brushstrokes loose and don't overwork on an area, move throughout the painting.
• E. Add in your bright or lighter colors. Keep lights thick and darks thin.
• F. Know when to stop. Step back, see if you captured the day and the moment.

Remember to have fun!!!!!!

Back to the Life In The Arts 2000-2001 Season