Back in the Studio

It's been a crazy few weeks and I have not had the opportunity to spend time in the studio.  However, yesterday I was finally able to get some work done!  I spent about an hour working on the commissioned portrait of the girl with the butterfly.

Because the source photograph does not have a background (just darkness due to the flash), and I don't have shrubs in my studio, I've been relying on the paintings of Mary Cassatt for reference on the treatment of greenery.

Work in progress, Girl with Butterfly, Lara Hoke

Sketchbook Work - My Grandmother's Home

Grammy Jean's apartment, The Oaks, State College

I recently spent several days back home with my family and my grandmother who is in the last few weeks of 91 year's of life.

We spent the days in the hospital and the evenings in her apartment.  In the hospital and at her apartment I drew.  Only afterwards did I realize what I was doing.  By drawing I think I was seeking to understand and to remember.  Grief takes many forms and we grieve in different ways.

A Portrait in Progress (Part 2)

More images of the portrait in progress.  It can be very helpful to compare where you are to where you've been.  How does that Paul Abdul song go?  Two steps forward?  One step back?

Lara Hoke, Portrait in Progress

A Portrait in Progress (Part 1)

I'm working on a commissioned portrait of a young girl with a butterfly resting on her wrist.  I'm capturing the day by day transformation of the piece.  Below is the portrait from initial sketch to underpainting to somewhat more developed painting.

Lara Hoke, portrait in progress

Moving into a new studio!

I am thrilled to be moving into my new studio next month at Norton Factory Studios.  The past several years I've been lucky enough to have space in our home to paint.  I'll miss the convenience of home, but won't miss some of the challenges (lighting, ventilation, cat hair...).  What I'm most excited about is the opportunity to be part of a community.  It is something I've missed dearly ever since I left Madarts Studios in Brooklyn five years ago.

It's hard to capture the beauty of the space.  It is airy and full of natural light.  Construction is not yet complete, but it will be ready for move-in on February 15th.

New Oakland Nightscapes

After about a month's break from the studio, there are couple of new Oakland nightscape studies in the cooker.  I'm also planning a slightly new approach to the paintings, stay tuned!

Lara Hoke, Oakland Nightscape Study

Portrait Study

I'm excited to begin a new portrait commission and looking forward to the challenges it will present.  This portrait is of an adorable young girl delicately holding a butterfly on her wrist.  The image was captured by her parents while visiting the Audobon Butterfly Garden in New Orleans.

The painting will be executed in oil on panel. Below is a study for the portrait.

Lara Hoke

Study of Girl with Butterfly

More Moleskines

In addition to studio work, I've been busy drawing in my sketchbooks.  My Several months ago I switched to the larger format Moleskine Japanese sketchbooks (5 x 8.25") from the smaller ones (3.5 x 5.5").  

I am enjoying the extra space on the page.  I think working larger has loosened my line work.  The newer sketchbooks feel freer and less conscious of the page's edge.

You can view more of these new sketchbook drawings here. 

Collage of studies from my sketchbook

Dabbling in Encaustic

This past weekend I took a two-day workshop on encaustic painting at Kala with the artist and paint maker Hylla Evans.  Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated and pigmented beeswax.  

Learning a new medium and technique is both intimidating and freeing.  What I ended up creating was nothing like what I expected to create.  To learn something new is to take a risk.

Photo collage of my encaustic paintings

The paintings in my studio

Painting in-Progress: Latest Addition to the Oakland Nightscapes Series

Below is  the latest painting in my Oakland Nightscapes series.  Unlike the previous paintings in the series, which were primarily concerned with a particular corner and storefront, this painting is of our house.

This series of paintings explores familiar places that take on a very different character after dusk.  

This painting is still in-progress though I anticipate completing it within the next week.  I apologize for the quality of the photo.  This series has been notoriously difficult to photograph.

Lara Hoke, Oakland Nightscape, in-progress

Another update on my portrait of Ben

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts on my painting of Ben.  I've made progress, but am still having trouble with his left eye.  What do you think?  Does it still look awkward or distracting? Or do you not notice it?

Ben, in-progress, Lara Hoke

Portrait of Ben | Update

Below is the most recent photo of my painting of Ben. I think (hope?) it is almost complete, but am curious to hear what you think. I am particularly interested in feedback on the sketchiness of his ear, shirt, and left eye.

Ben, in-progress

Portrait of Ben

I am participating in a show titled "Faces" in Berkeley that opens early next month. I will be showing three pieces and--potentially--a fourth, if I can complete this portrait of Ben which I started this week. I want this painting to feel like a charcoal drawing, with the artist's hand present in the push and pull between additions and erasures.  The main image below is where the portrait is now.   The three images in the strip below are from earlier stages in the portrait's evolution.

Ben, in progress

Making Progress Thanks to Feedback

I meant to post this three weeks ago, but forgot...
7/20/2012
Our crit group met last night. I brought the two paintings I recently dusted off and am reworking. The experience was a reminder the feedback is invaluable.  The comments and suggestions on where to take the paintings were much appreciated.  It is easy to become blind to your work.  Critiques give you an opportunity to see your work through another's eyes.

During my critique, I was reminded to not get distracted by detail and to look at the shapes.  

I specifically asked for feedback in regards to Kim - I was concerned about how sacharine it was and wanted suggestions on how to make it less so.  One group member suggested I remove the plants and pots.  I did that first thing in the studio today.  I also am paying more attention to the angles in the painting. In Lindsey. I removed the ambiguous shape behind her head and simplified the space.

Kim

Kim, Detail

Lindsey

Lindsey, Detail

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art | MarinMOCA Exhibition

I'm very pleased to announce that my painting Ariyele will be included in the MarinMOCA Fall 2012 National Juried Exhibition.

August 25 – September 30, 2012 
Reception: August 25, 5-7 p.m. 
Juror: Renny Pritikin, Director of The Richard Nelson Gallery and The Fine Arts Collection, University of California, Davis

Ariyele, oil on canvas

July 24th - 111 Minna Gallery's Sketch Tuesdays

If you are in San Francisco next Tuesday, July 24th, swing by 111 Minna Gallery for their monthly Sketch Tuesdays event. I am honored to be among a handful of female Bay Area artists featured at this month's Sketch Tuesday event. 

From 111 Minna Gallery's website - 

Each month the gallery hosts an evening of live art making featuring both established and emerging Bay Area artists. Inspired by Southern Exposure’s Monster Drawing Rally, 111 Minna offers patrons the opportunity to see local artists at work and get acquainted with them. It is also a way for artists to meet each other and to be inspired by each other’s creative process.

Sketch Tuesdays offers the local arts community a place to congregate, to talk, to create and to be seen. There is usually room for artists to just drop in and start drawing, but the good seats are reserved for the invited artists.

Art is for sale at reasonable prices and will be displayed until the event closes. This is a great opportunity to become a collector and to meet some very talented people!!

Revisiting Old Friends

Kim (close-up)

Lindsey, Brooklyn Bedroom

I was recently asked to show my work as part of a group show at a new gallery in Livermore, CA. The show is about the figure and being such, the gallery was interested in my older work, most of which is no longer in my possession. To meet the gallery's request, I pulled two half-finished paintings off the shelf, dusted them of, and started painting. It is fascinating and challenging working on pieces from the past. I was surprised to see how my brushwork has changed in the three or four years it has been since I last worked on these two paintings. It is looser, softer, less interested in edges. I have eight days to finish the paintings. Wish me luck!

You can see the original versions of these paintings here:

Kim

Lindsey, Brooklyn Bedroom

Why I Will Not Go Back to Photographing My Own Work

I finally bit the bullet and hired a professional photographer (John White of Phocasso) to photograph my paintings.  I could not be more pleased with the results! Below is a sampling of some of the web-friendly versions of the photographs.

Lara Hoke, Claremont at ForestLara Hoke, Walking AwayLara Hoke, Ariyele

It is done!

Bob and Mary Galvin, Illinois Institute of Technology, Lara HokeFor the past several months I have been working on a portrait commission for the Illinois Institute of Technology.  It was, at times, a struggle but I am excited to annouce that it is done and has been installed in its new home at the Paul V. Galvin Library at IIT.  To the right is the final portrait and a shot from the unveiling.

For better images of the portrait, please visit my Portraiture page.

Cheers!

New Illustrations

This drawing is part of a series of drawings I am working on for a client. The client is a consulting firm, so rather than the services the firm offers, the illustrations describe the work their clients do. I am excited to see how these pieces are integrated into their website and marketing materials. Stay tuned!