Art Appreciation
- An extraordinaire woman’s dwelling
Today I met a woman who lives in the way I hoped to teach my students about art appreciation. The idea of having students participate in what otherwise would be a pretty passive seminar, is so that in their regular lives they can implement certain understanding of aesthetics. Once the eyes are instinctevely tuned to our surroundings we all can be very creative in our home, work or any place life takes us. This is the case of my new friend Caroline. Her home and land evokes The Clearing Folk School. So I feel Mertha Faulkner’s cabin inspired a whole new level of “learning through discovery” in me, and therefore a personal appreciation of life itself.
Highlights of Art Appreciation Class at The Clearing
- Students at Central Campus
There were so many specific moments to be recalled. The Class flowed well, and one reason was the fact that all students agree on participating in alternatives to learning how to appreciate art better and to see with a deeper perspective.
Art Appreciation
Opportunity of a lifetime is finally here. My first week-long class at The Clearing Folk School took place from Aug 28 to Sept 3. And all the preparation proved very calming when I found myself in front of students, Sunday evening after dinner. There were three classes this period: Characters and Character in political leadership by Jeff Doane of Chicago, a long time visitor and instructor at the school. the second class : Landscapes in oil pastel, with first time instructor from MN, Tom Maakestad. A well published and prolific artist. And the third class: Art Appreciation by yours truly. The mood and progression of each class and enjoyment of subjects in general is influenced by natural unity of classes due to interactions that take place all week. This is probably something Jen Jensen counted on. As well as the fact that we are all separated from our regular lives for the duration and so much prompted to listening, seen, talking, learning, and of course, tasting the amazing School Meals
Art Appreciation Class at The Clearing Folk School
Art often combines perceived scenic with symbolic objects
Hi everyone. After a short period I am back blogging about one of the most exiting activities of my carrier: My first class at The Clearing Folk School. The School was named after the clearing of the mind. Founded by Jen Jensen 75 years ago. And as you already know from previous blogging, I was invited to paint a historical mural last year. The mural receives many positive comments. And opportunities keep opening up from its creation. One of my favorite comments came from Charles Peterson. I had the pleasure to sit with him and his gracious wife during the 75th anniversary of the school. Hi said he “could not have painted it himself ”
Now, in the same room the mural exists, I am starting a week long yearly class about art appreciation. Teaching techniques, ideas and new and old ways of seen.
Practicing awareness of the appreciation moment. It is a vast open ended subject that can be enjoy by approaching many different forms of study. Two disciplines that deal with this subject are History and Psychology. The topic of Aesthetics takes mayor stage in appreciating art.
The ideas from a lifetime of experience in living and dreaming art come to mind streaming like water.
Art Class #2
Art Class #2
Creative thinking in the aesthetics realm
The second of eight classes. This time we focus on design basics. By stimulating your vision, looking through master works, and tracing geometric configurations, for a better understanding of composition.
Art Class at Ram Rojas
| Class #8WE have successfully accomplished a trip through the art basics in design, color theory, composition and even a tad into perspective. Keeping it tasteful for those avid artists to pick up experience and knowledge, and yet exiting and comprehensible for the newcomer or the occasional student who wishes to check one class. Thank you so much to all attending! Attention: Notice class tomorrow will be at ten in the morning. Come prepare to share your experience with a piece done during one of the classes or a project you would like to start and need encouragement. If you would like bring snack to pass so this last class can be a social experience. Questions, comments are welcomed. Blessings |
The Stone Cottage Stairway to (Kevin and Wanda’s) Heaven
Artists sometimes employ the art of deception as deftly as a magician with a “sleight of hand” technique know as trompe l’oeil.
Wanda McDonald is one of my favorite clients. As with many of the people I meet through an artistic connection, she and her husband Kevin became dear friends. Kevin and Wanda’s Stone Cottage and the surrounding gardens are themselves, a work of art.
When they asked, I did not hesitate to jump at the opportunity to add a trompe l’oeil (French for ‘deceive the eye’) mural to the stairway of an already exquisite home. Everything there is an “original.” So, I decided to follow in the spirit of classical harmony to bring forth Wanda’s clear vision in creating a unique “walk-on” original.
The subject matter depicted is purely of my own making. Every step in the process – both figuratively and literally – is a unique expression that evolves as you climb the stairway.
I used the same fine oils that I use to paint my canvases. In looking back, I can’t help but laugh when I think of how much careful preparation, time and application it takes to make something look like it was effortless… and that perhaps, is has been there since the 17th Century.
Enjoy the pictures of my step-by-step, Trompe l’oeil painting on the steps at the Stone Cottage.
Blessings,
Ram
New Art Class Series at Ram Rojas Studio in Sturgeon Bay
The first Door County class last weekend was a success. With little public advertising and not much advanced notice, I had the pleasure of working with seasoned students whose eagerness reaffirms the importance of hosting this series of classes.
We established an outline for classes to come including a purpose and a list of techniques to develop with exercises. Everybody went home with new resolve to learn from old and new perspectives. The most amazing thing I discovered… by teaching in Atelier style, no one is left behind. The class is as effective for a professional who is looking for inspiration or help, as it is for a person who has never worked in a visual art form before.
This Saturday, the second of eight classes will cover graphic design, starting with a brief lecture on how to approach the first outline an idea. We’ll examine some examples from the Old Masters to modern artists. And we’ll add intermittent exercises pertinent to our talks.
See you then.
Blessings,
Ram
PS: About the Simon Bolivar portrait…
It was originally painted as a commission for a captain in the Venezuelan military. By the time it was completed the country had gone through many changes. And I was unable to connect with El Capitan. So, the opportunity to exhibit this classical oil of a military historical personality has been wonderful.
The painting has made it all over the Midwest and has been shown to the consulate of Venezuela in Chicago. Here I am adding final shadows to background. Currently, an independent filmmaker from San Francisco who was granted a few minutes to interview Hugo Chavez is working on having me present the painting to El Presidente. I would give it to him as a gift in honor of my heritage and my family. Anybody else would have to pay for my time painting and researching the original.
Capturing and sharing memories of “The Camp”
Fai di questo l’anno migliore della tua vita!
(Make this the best year of your life!)
I completed a few projects before the New Year that brought joy and tears to those people who share and appreciate my passion for using a simple brush to capture the soul of a story on canvas with oil colors. And sometimes, we celebrate the human spirit in even simpler ways with pencils on paper.
There are relationships with many of my commercial clients and fine art collectors that have come to surpass the level of business relationships, advancing to the status of great friendships. Dr Michael Ward of Madison, WI took me to Huron Bay, Michigan to meet his family at a log cabin his family knows as “The Camp.” They wanted to know if I would be inspired to paint this special place.
Well, it was impossible not to love the family at first and to understand the magic of the log cabin. The Huron Bay has always been of interest to me.
“The Camp” 36” x 36” oil on canvas
A log cabin was built over a hundred years ago by the patriarch of a Finnish immigrant family making their home along the majestic Huron Bay in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. “The Camp,” as it has been so-called by the family for generations, is a significant gathering place where children have played and grown into adults. Those children have eventually brought their own children to play and grow in this living and vibrant heirloom.
This is the kind of place I was commissioned to capture in a portrait landscape. This is why I love my work. A local fine art print shop has followed up in creating several giclee canvases that permit the single painting to be delivered to all of the family members. We also created cards from the painting for the extended family to use on significant occasions including the birth of this newborn painting. And they can order more derivative works as needed in the future.
I keep getting messages thanking me for the approach and style I took depicting The Camp. What a great way to extend the reach and the impact and the life of a single oil painting.
“The Eye of the Painter” by Gerald Pelrine
A Door County musician and songwriter, Gerald Pelrine wrote this song.
A friend encouraged me to share it here since it is about the story of my life.
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