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Thinking about Positive and Negative Space (AKA Tree and Not-Tree)

4/22/2021

I hope this finds you happy and healthy and getting in some good creative time!

I’ve been finding myself thinking a good bit lately about the positive and negative. There’s positive and negative when it comes to attitudes (I’ll take extra helpings of the former, thank you, and don’t have the time or inclination for the latter) — and then there’s positive and negative space, an essential understanding when you make art.

Dusk Near Diamond Mountain • 20" x 16" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

In that case, it’s not like one is good and the other is something you want to avoid — it’s more like yin and yang. When it comes to the visual representation of space, each defines the other.

Generally, in life, when we think about something in particular, let’s say, a tree (okay, you know I love trees!), we think about the tree. We don’t think about the air around it, the sky, the wind, the bird song wafting from its branches… but all of those are a total part of the experience of the tree.

Little demonstration painting with acrylics on watercolor paper, of Trees and Not-Trees (AKA positive and negative space) • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

When you put it into a two-dimensional space — such as in a painting — it’s easier to see how it works. So there’s Tree (Positive Space) and Not-Tree (Negative Space). Negative space just means everything that is Not-Tree.

Blue Abstract Tree with Negative Spaces • demonstration painting • 14" x 11" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

And learning about Not-Tree (or Not-Flower, or Not-Bicycle, or Not-Chair, or Not-DogBuddy, or whatever you happen to be looking at) is essential for painting that Tree (or whatever). When you paint, that which is Not-Tree helps define Tree. It takes both to make the painting work.

Who knew something negative could be so helpful? Making art can be mind-bending sometimes, can’t it? 🙂

Making Art with an attitude of experimentation and playfulness

4/8/2021

I hope this finds your week going well, and that this finds you creatively inspired and coming up with ways to bring much-needed beauty into the world. I just had my first vaccination today, and now, after a little nap, I feel ready to paint again!

When you make art or get into pretty much any kind of creative mode, it’s helpful to stay in a playful, experimental state of mind. If you can keep it exploratory, and think of it as a discovery process, you will help keep your inner critic at bay, and perhaps make some new discoveries that could open up wonderful new art-making possibilities.

Sunset in the Carneros • 11" x 14" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

And when you keep it playful, you actually do learn more, because you’re open to it!

As you may have noticed, I’ve been painting using a bunch of different styles and methods lately. I get to use teaching as my excuse — because it’s so much more interesting and educational for folks in classes to see different approaches and find the ones they relate to the best, than to only see one (and in time-lapse demonstration videos, it's easy to see the whole process quickly).

Last night I finished an 11” x 14” primarily-palette-knife painting — not a method I generally use, unless it’s a demonstration painting. But it is so fun to explore! It's the one you see above — I’m calling it Sunset in the Carneros, at least for now. (No, it’s not fire.)

Carneros Dreams I • 8" x 10" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Last summer I painted two other paintings, in different styles with different approaches and different palettes, of the same scene, albeit taken a little further down the road, so the perspective and the composition’s a little bit different….

Each is definitely something completely different….

Carneros Dreams II • 8" x 10" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Have you ever tried that? Taken one subject, and explored painting it in several different ways? One of my painting teachers in college, Maurice Lapp at Santa Rosa Junior College, had his students do that. Then, I did, I think, five different kinds of paintings of an apple. The last one was inspired by Wayne Thiebaud, and decades later I rediscovered it, and realized just how much it foretold much in the work I generally do now (just in a slightly different, but limited, palette).

If you haven’t tried something like this before, and want a little creative push, or an opportunity to play, you might give it a try.

Do you usually draw your composition in? You might try massing in the colors of the big shapes first, and refining them later. Do you usually use a particular kind of brush? You might try using one or two brushes that are very different, or try palette knives (you can get inexpensive sets of plastic ones in different shapes at art supply stores).

Or…? Is there anything you’ve seen or thought of lately, that you might enjoy discovering? So… what are you waiting for? 😊

Painting in ways that celebrate the spirit of Spring

3/28/2021

Happy Spring! While the mustard flowers may be past their prime, the California poppies are still blooming, and things may finally be looking up for the world. Spring affects us all — are you seeing it reflected in your artwork in any way?

Working title: "Expressionist Landscape" • 11" x 14" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

I’ve been creating demonstration paintings, as I’ve shared, and making my time lapse demonstration videos, of subjects including the California poppies. They felt so timely and appropriate! I still have mustard photos ready for more flower paintings later, and today I was photographing more poppies.

But in the last couple of weeks I’ve been creating different kinds of paintings, to exemplify different approaches to abstract landscape painting. It's all for my Abstract Landscape Painting online class, to add to the demonstration paintings I'd already done. More flower paintings will come, just not quite yet, after all!

"Coastal Magic" (title courtesy of Victoria Day) • 11" x 14" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

One of the things I love about teaching is that I can be all over the place in my painting, in ways that might be considered inconsistent if I were focused on working on a body of work for a show.

It lets me be playful in new ways, because I’m demonstrating things I may not usually do. It allows me to push my boundaries and continually learn and expand my creative practice. And it is important for any creative person to keep learning, keep exploring, keep expanding, keep blossoming (oh, how spring-appropriate!).

Simple Seascape • 11" x 14" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Have you noticed if spring is affecting your artwork? Is it getting brighter? Lighter? More colorful? Are new subjects calling to you? Are you feeling more playful about it? It’s all good! As more light comes onto our side of the planet, and we head towards warmer weather, you can give yourself permission to take your art wherever your inspiration may lead you. You never know what you may discover….

And, in the meantime, keep blooming!

Painting the patterns of poppies (and mustard, and springtime flowers generally)

3/9/2021

(NOTE: This is from last week's email to my students.)

I hope this finds you happy and healthy, and having a great week. If you have gotten out and about, you probably haven't missed nature’s celebration of springtime, in the form of flowers in the fields. The mustard is amazing, and the poppies are delightful. Did you ever think of painting them?

California Poppies in a Field • 8" x 10" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

One of the things I enjoy about teaching is that it pushes me, or gives me permission, to paint in ways, or using colors, or of subjects that I might not otherwise, or to approach them using methods I wouldn't ordinarily, for the purposes of demonstration. (Everything, these days, becomes a time-lapse demonstration video.)

Pattern of Poppies • 8" x 10" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

And that allows me to play! Have you given yourself permission to play with your painting lately? To try something new? To experiment? It is a lot of fun, especially when you give yourself plenty of latitude and forgiveness, and send your inner critic out for a long walk to enjoy the flowers. (Send a camera along with it!)

Field of California Poppies • 8" x 10" • Acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

I’m just getting started with the California poppies. The mustard paintings are next!

By the way, these are currently being offered at auction in March by my Napa gallery, Jessel Gallery, which helps Jessel keep the doors open during the pandemic, too. Here's the link (up though the end of March), if you'd like to take a look — and also see some of the other abstract landscape demonstration paintings I've been creating lately: https://www.jesselgallery.com/

Tom Seaver, the practice of "always looking," seeing the essence of things, and Gesture Drawing

2/27/2021

You may know that I had the wonderful gift of meeting Tom Seaver in 2015, as I was in the process of taking down an art show. We talked for 20-25 minutes about art (he loved art). He was such a wise soul — I wrote down our conversation as soon as I got home, so I wouldn't forget anything. By the way, he introduced himself as Tom, without his last name, and in the course of the conversation, told me he "was a ball player." What a humble guy!

Gesture drawings of a father playing baseball with his sons, pitching to them, at Pioneer Park in Calistoga • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

I was reminded of it this week by a friendly email I received about him, and about how he told me was “always looking,” referring not only to art, but also to everything around him — looking, seeing, and taking it in.

Gesture drawings of sons playing baseball with their father, at Pioneer Park in Calistoga • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

It occurs to me that that’s not how most folks operate. We get into habits of thinking and speaking, and it’s so easy to not really look at what’s around us. That’s where making art can help us get out of those habits, and learn to truly see the things and people and animals and earth all around us.

Gesture drawings — people in Pioneer Park, including sons playing baseball with Dad. • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

I’ve been talking about drawing a lot with my students lately, because it’s a truly wonderful way to strengthen those skills. It’s not only about the hand-eye coordination; it’s also about truly seeing what’s in front of us — about seeing it with new eyes, in new ways — so that we’re taking it all in, not defining it in terms of what we already know.

Gesture drawings • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Gesture drawing, which you see here, is about just that. If you have a minute or less, can you capture the essence of someone's stance? Their action? Their gesture? It's all about really "looking," as Tom Seaver put it, about really seeing what's in front of you.

1-minute gesture drawings • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

When we paint, it’s easy to fall into the trap of painting what we know something looks like, instead of what it really looks like. We think about it (and name it), instead of seeing it. Thinking about something and really seeing it are two entirely different states of mind — and we need to really see things, if we want to make art.

2-minute quick sketches from photographs that started as gesture drawings • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

That’s why turning things upside down helps. It takes us out of the rational mind that says, “Oh, yeah. Those are trees, with branches, and leaves, and twigs.” It burrows right down to the tiny details, missing the sight of the forest for all the little twigs. Or that says, looking at a person, "Oh, look at those eyebrows,” or perhaps the details of strands of hair, and misses how a person is standing, or turning, or moving.

Quick sketches from photographs, starting as gesture drawings. These took about 3 minutes each. • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Quick sketching helps us practice how to see — and sketching starting with the big shapes, the gestures, how things relate to each other. When you’ve truly seen all those things, seen how they relate to each other — when you've got their essence — then you might add twigs. But only if you really, really need them, to bring your vision to life.

And, if you're here in Calistoga, I hope you were able to see the poetry postings around town in February, as part of the Calistoga Art Center's Poetry Walk. If you’re always looking, and taking everything in, like Tom Seaver, you won’t miss things like poems — or who knows what wonderful surprises — that just might be somewhere along your walking route. What a wonderful way to practice seeing!

Creativity can help you get through crazy times....

2/17/2021

(Here's part of the email I sent to my students on 2-11-2021.)

Well, it’s been quite a week, hasn’t it? Perhaps you, like me, have been watching the impeachment trial. That made it hard for me to make art, at first, because I wanted to watch and listen, and not get focused on something else. But after the first day, I felt horrified, depressed, and exhausted, and needed to do something. So the next day I wound up doodling with colored markers, making a kind of semi-distracted pattern of shapes and hearts, which helped me feel a little less of the above, if possible, as I watched the trial.

Screenshot of a demonstration video I made for class, on drawing faces. • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

At the end of the day today, though, I was soooo ready to make art! Finally! I started working on drawings for the demonstration video(s) for class — we’ve been looking at drawing, which is such an important foundation for painting — and it felt like a longed-for release.

By the way, here’s what it looks like when I’m putting together a demonstration video, if you were wondering what it looks like behind-the-scenes. The one above is from one about drawing faces. The one below is a little sample from the demo video I put together about a helpful approach to drawing the mouth. It’s a short video, with the video sequences put in time lapse (that what the tiny rabbit icon you might be able to see down below represents).

Screenshot of a demonstration video I made for class on a helpful way to draw the mouth. • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

One of the nice things about having class online is that, because of the time lapse option for the videos, it doesn’t take as long for you to watch a demonstration, and you get an unobstructed view. There actually are some good things about this way of working… who knew? (It’s always good to look on the bright side!)

I wish you lots of creative mark-making of whatever kind works for you right now. Whether it's painting, drawing, writing, doodling, making videos, or whatever you feel called to do — it's all a part of exercising your creative muscles. And creativity, in all its forms, is a wonderful way to get through challenging times.

Artists create beauty — so let's do it! Don't let the critics get you down. Know that what you do MATTERS.

1/21/2021

"Notes on Art" • Mixed Media • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Well, it’s been quite a month, hasn’t it? I hope you’ve been able to find some creative time in the middle of the tumult, whether to paint, to draw, to do collage or mixed media, to write, or any combination of each of these.

We live in historic times, and whether the art we’re making reflects the times we’re in, responds to these times, or creates a refuge from them, art making matters.

"Music Lives in You" • Mixed Media • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

In the middle of all of this, we had a debate about a proposed mural here in Calistoga. Comments got a bit heated on NextDoor. You know how it is sometimes — everyone’s a critic, and everyone will have their own idea about what artists should do. Some of those people will know a lot about art, and some won’t.

Some of my comments to the Planning Commission were quoted in the Calistoga Tribune (I did get choked up a bit when I read those comments to the commission, because I think it matters to us all, as artists).

"Do It On Purpose" • Mixed Media • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Perhaps you’ll agree with me that people who want to tell artists what to do (unless we’re creating a commercial or commission piece specifically for them) ought to pick up some art materials, take a class, and make art themselves. You and I know they’ll discover it’s not as easy as they might think, right?

Fortunately, the artist in question said he has a thick skin (and the mural was approved). My remarks included this, some of which was quoted in the Tribune article:

Everyone will have their own opinion. Everyone likes different things, different styles. Art takes many forms, and that’s what creativity is about — not conforming to other people’s tastes and trends. Artists create beauty — let us do it!

"Sing" • Mixed Media • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

I added, Right now, when we look up at the hills, we see burnt and blackened trees and fields. We need color, to bring a smile to our faces.

We need art in the world right now, for so many reasons! So… remember, if your own inner critic starts bossing you around, send it somewhere else (a walk to CalMart to get chocolate? A nice, long hike up the Oat Hill Mine Trail?). Maybe we can hand outer critics a pen, pencil, or paintbrush, and say, “Here. Give it a try.”

Remember that the art you make does not need to conform to anyone else’s tastes or trends. It can serve different purposes — it can be highly personal, just for you; it can be work you want to share and show. But the main thing is, it is yours. And it matters.

How Drawing helps you become a better painter — and how to build up your drawing muscles

1/14/2021

Pencil drawings of pears • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Sometimes painters tend to get so absorbed in color and pigment and texture that they forget to take time to sit and just draw (yes, I know whereof I speak).

But drawing is not only helpful, but essential, as a foundation for painting, no matter what kind of painting you do. And there are many different ways to approach your drawing.

My brother and sister-in-law sent me some pears for Christmas, and, of course, I couldn’t eat them until I’d at least drawn them. So, the other day, I drew some of them (making time lapse demo videos, of course) in different media and styles.

Pen and ink drawings of pears; the one on the far right done with a brush pen • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Here are some of the results — at the top of this post, from left to right:

Pencil drawing with shading
Pencil drawing with shading, using a stump (tortillion)

And just above, from left to right:

Pen and ink drawing with crosshatching
Loose, gestural pen and ink drawing with cross hatching
Brush pen contour drawing with shadow

If you don’t have the time or space to paint, quick sketches of whatever you’ve got nearby are a great way to keep making art. And the more you do, the stronger your drawing muscles will get.

(A neighbor on NextDoor, online, said she could send her inner critic hiking up the Oat Hill Mine Trail here on the edge of town, and let it strengthen its calves — and exercise her drawing muscles at the same time. How’s that for staying in shape during quarantine time?)

6" x 6" drawing done during evacuation from the Glass Fire, October 2020, of the view outside the hotel window. Drawing materials used were: ink pen, watercolor pencils, and a water brush pen on watercolor paper, with a piece of cardboard for a drawing board. • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

The more you draw, the more it will help you see things closely. So, whatever you feel like painting — whether it’s pears or oak trees; people, dogs, or cats; vineyards or shoes (hey, the latter make good subjects for drawing); or the most glorious imaginary thing you can think of — developing a drawing practice will make your paintings stronger.

Just think: you can work out your drawings and paintings, your drawing muscles, and your inner critic’s calves at the same time, all from home. How’s that for an exercise program?

Now... where's my bamboo pen? I haven't used that in a while.... 🙂

How you can use your creativity and making art to help get through stressful times

1/7/2021

How are you doing? The news is a little nuts right now! These are definitely historic times — ones we need to get through, one day at a time, keeping our physical and emotional health.

If you’re feeling a little stressed, you may want to make some art. One option might be painting like an expressionist — get your feelings down on the canvas with paint, get your inner critic out of the way, and just paint!

It could also be something particularly meditative, such as drawing mandalas, drawing Zentangles (intricate patterns), creating collages, or even scribbling with crayons. If you draw mandalas or patterns, you can color them in with markers, or colored pencils, or anything else that appeals to you.

You could paint hearts (or anything else) on rocks, and then surreptitiously put them in your neighbors' yards, or wherever they might be discovered. (Sharpies or Acrylic Paint markers work well for this, too.) Doing a kindness for others makes us feel better, and our creative gifts give us options to make things that others might not think of….

Little rocks from my yard, with heart designs made with Sharpies • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Perhaps a little less art-y, but definitely creative, my holiday project was printing family photographs that my mother can’t see on Facebook (she avoids computers) and labeling them so she knows (and we do, too) who’s related to whom, across the generations.

Examples from three little photo albums of family photographs, with artistically designed covers and title pages • Karen Lynn Ingalls

When I thanked my Swedish cousins who sent photos, as we exchanged photos in messages, and told them I’d be printing the photos for her, several of them sent lots more, with their love. My little photo album turned into three volumes, with artistic covers and title pages!

More examples of three little photo albums of family photographs, with written labels explaining who's who, and generational connections • Karen Lynn Ingalls

If you’ve got someone you care about who’s feeling stressed or isolated, maybe creating something as a special gift for them would lift their spirits (and yours, too). When my mother called me to let me know she’d received the book, I could hear the happiness in her voice. She’s loving looking through them, and knowing that they were sent especially for her.

We can use our creative gifts in so many ways — we’re so very lucky that way. And plunging into a creative project that will make someone else’s day (or week, or lockdown time) a little brighter may be a good use of our time — and brighten our time, too.

Here's to creating brighter times for ourselves and those around us!
We can use our creative gifts in so many ways — we’re so very lucky that way. And plunging into a creative project that will make someone else’s day (or week, or lockdown time) a little brighter may be a good use of our time — and brighten our time, too.We can use our creative gifts in so many ways — we’re so very lucky that way. And plunging into a creative project that will make someone else’s day (or week, or lockdown time) a little brighter may be a good use of our time — and brighten our time, too.

Art Resources to inspire and support your creativity during COVID-19 stay-at-home time — call it your Creative Retreat!

4/2/2020

Many of us are now in lockdown, shelter-in-place mode, to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and everyone else in our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. As artists and creative people, we are lucky that we can continue to do our creative work at home, maybe on a smaller scale. Consider it the gift of time, and give yourself an at-home creative retreat, an art retreat stay-cation.

And lucky us, that we have so many resources online that we can turn to during this time! Here's a list of resources you can check out (I will add to this as I find more). My thanks to all my students who shared resources they came across, to share them with you!

Visit Museums Online:
Stuck at Home? These 12 Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take On Your Couch: https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours?fbclid=IwAR3qdLHjlT-FqZOt_DSGD-IMmwUggwsTt2Lt_UJ6nDA7N7ZH85z3GvuA7D8

Podcasts about all things art-related
Podcasts from Plein Air Magazine:
https://www.youtube.com/user/PleinAirMag/videos

The Savvy Painter Podcast:
https://savvypainter.com/the-savvy-painter-podcast/

Videos:
On YouTube, Bob Burridge's pep talk about the times we live in (and check out the many videos he has on his channel, too):
Bob’s Pep Talk https://youtu.be/rhwxp96tEKc

Plein Air Magazine offers free videos of instructional Facebook Livestreams, along with articles and links to the podcasts listed above:
https://www.outdoorpainter.com/

On Amazon Prime, The Artist in You — a new series all about mixed media, and an experimental, playful approach to it, with Jenny Muncaster:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B077SYDQ2J/ref=atv_dl_rdr?autoplay=1

Free online class with values vs color, with Matt Smith from Tucson Art Academy:
https://tucsonartacademyonline.easywebinar.live/registration-1

For children:
On YouTube, Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems, an engaging and encouraging children's book author/illustrator who sits down every day Monday through Friday to doodle with his viewers, and share how he makes his drawings, his characters, and his books:
https://www.youtube.com/resultssp=mAEB&search_query=lunch+doodles+with+mo+willems

Resources to De-stress and Release Anxiety:
Hay House is sharing free resources to help us all de-stress and reduce anxiety, in the form of podcasts, videos, ebooks and downloads, and articles:
https://www.discover.hayhouse.com/freeresources/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=9988982_hh&utm_campaign=email_offer_free_resources&sp_rid=MTQwMjY0NTc5NjY4S0&sp_mid=64342400&spMailingID=64342400&spUserID=MTQwMjY0NTc5NjY4S0&spJobID=1842394927&spReportId=MTg0MjM5NDkyNwS2

Karen Lynn Ingalls

I am a working artist in Napa and Sonoma Counties, in northern California. I paint colorist landscapes of rural California, teach art classes, workshops, and private lessons, and live in Calistoga, California.

I also teach private, group, and corporate art workshops online and in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and other parts of Northern California. You can find more information about my art workshops at www.NapaValleyArtWorkshops.com, or contact me to find out more!

Blog Post Topics
When You're Creatively Stuck
Why Not Just Copy?
ART TIPS (more coming)

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