Gertrude Palmer

The feature piece in the necklace I just finished is hand carved, engraved and patinated poly clay, a remarkable and versatile material I am fascinated with. You never know where your next idea will come from, and the inspiration from this piece came from the sports section of the Sunday news. A picture of a swimmer reminded me of a Gibson Girl with a vintage feel, and I worked it up into a cameo and wrapped it in copper. I love copper. It ages beautifully and like opal, takes on quality from its surroundings, so I would say it is receptive. And of course it is red (must be the Aries in me) sort of, and the most gorgeous mossy green and turquoise. It is malleable and lo tech. A gentle metal. What more could you ask? Anyway I finished it and there it sat for several years until I picked it up once more last week, now destined for the collection of the lovely Miss Kacie Klein of Baltimore. boat paintings

Gert painting at the Dragonfly Studio on Tybee Island Gratis Denise Elliot Vernon Painting En plein air ... What does it mean? Wikipedia: French for "open air" in painting terms refers to the practice of painting out of doors, a practice that became popular in IMPRESSIONIST painting. I prefer to paint my landscapes plein air , because I think they are more vibrant. Photo references can't reproduce the intangible and transient events that occur in Life. Yes, it is a hassle coping with the elements, and a bit of a free fall as each circumstance is different depending on your location. But letting go of the cradle is what it is all about for me. Taking risks, letting nature take over, getting out of my own way, allows the power of the moment, chaos and all, to manifest on the canvas. I believe this translates to the patron. And rest assured, each painting will have a life of its own... a whole new experience. The painting may take on a narrative quality. As...

Wade in the Water Stage 3 You may wonder about my setup. I have claimed a small room in my house 12x12 with an East facing bay window. Next to the kitchen, I have access to running water and strong eastern morning light. As the day unfolds, I am working in half light. Natural light. Sometimes, I take digital pictures as I go, loading them into Photo Shop, where I can test color and impose images, move things about, etc. This process allows me to archive my work and share it as it develops with patrons, galleries and this blog. The laptop is connected to a large screen TV nearby in the studio. This is my photo reference especially useful for seeing details when I paint portraits. Gert's Studio A painter is a distiller of time, extracting from impressions an essence that defines a slice of life. Selection/rejection, like a writer searching for an economy of words. Gert

Detail Mother of Deacon, Julia and husband Mallory Pearce Recently completed large painting of the Ordination of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. Vivid colors illustrate the ordination of Julia Sierra Wilkinson . Surrounded by loving friends and family, the Deacon receives a blessing as she kneels before Bishop Scott . This was the moment of arrival for Sierra and emotionally charged for her mother, my client Ms Pearce. Read on to see how the painting evolved. Step 1: reviewing photos thanks to photographer, Julius Ariail. After much deliberation, I chose a photo of another Deacon in the pose I want. Week1. I see a cross suggested in the background architecture and decide to use this in my composition. Week 2: I refine the figures, working to keep the focus on Bishop Scott & Sierra. Week 3: Making the shadows in Sierras robe rich and relative to the Bishop's elaborate vestments.  I keep Sierra featured but humble, a tricky business, and suggest that Sierra would want ...

This being Spring, I would like to share this photo I took of my friend Naomi's mighty Amaryllis. Add caption Acrylic Painting by Gert