A new demo for paid subscribers...

...and a book to share.

Good morning!

This week I’ve uploaded the 3rd Demo for paid subscribers. It is an hour long video demonstration. I painted an acrylic for this one to show and talk about some of my materials and methods. I recorded the audio direct, for a change, no overdubbing. If you’re at all interested, you can subscribe to view the demos for as little as $5.00 a month, or for a 10% discount at $50.00 a year.

The book for this week is ‘Wm F. Reese by Mary N. Balcomb’, forward by Wilson Hurley, published in 1984. William F. Reese was a very influential artist to many of us who were coming just getting started in painting back in the 70’s and 80’s. He was offering workshops (barely anyone held workshops back then), painted en plein air (before that term was thrown around), and he worked in multiple mediums, painting “anything under the sun”. I first learned about him from my painting instructor at Art Center College of Design where he had also attended years before I was there. He was a highly respected painter and instructor, and as several people have told me, a little “crusty”, in a good way.

“Born in South Dakota (1938-2010) and raised in Central Washington, William F. Reese painted for over 50 years. Like most everyone he started drawing at age 3 or 4 but went on to begin painting in oil at 12. After high school Reese went to study fine art at Washington State College and then on to Art Center School of Design in Los Angeles. He worked as a sign painter and a sign pictorial artist for thirteen years, in Washington, Oregon, and California while he was building a following for his easel paintings. In 1971 he left the sign business to work full time in his studio in Bellevue, Washington, where he also taught privately the art of drawing and painting. Currently his studio is in Wenatchee, Washington where he is survived by his wife Frances.

Though prolific and proficient in several media, Reese was likely best known as one of America's premier plein air artists, reveling in the majesty of the Northwest and setting up his easel outdoors in all kinds of weather and in every kind of location. His work is basically the diary of his life. Working mostly in oil, he also produced a large body of works in other media, such as watercolor, pastel, and sculpture as well as drawing, lithographs, and etchings. He works entirely from his life's interest and experiences. Working from live models and in the field Reese relies heavily on personal observation, each piece a personal statement from and about his life. Reese's work has been shown throughout the United States and in many exhibitions abroad. His work was included in the first exhibition of contemporary art from the western world in mainland China since China's reopening. “

Keep your brushes wet.

Cheers,

Marc