Laraine Armenti

student of painting

Bananas and Blue Napkin

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For my recent series of oil paintings on paper, I prepared Arches 300 lb. cold press watercolor paper with two or three coats of acrylic matte medium. Re-reading notes from a workshop, I discovered that the recommendation was for one coat of matte medium followed by two coats of acrylic gesso. No wonder too much oil was being absorbed from the paint. Learn by doing — that's what works. ABOVE: … [Read more...]

The Artist’s Valentine Grant

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In January of each year since 1996, give or take a year in between, I've made Valentine cards to apply for a unique grant called the The Artist's Valentine. The holiday mostly stands out for me as the opening scene of one of the all time greatest movies, Some Like It Hot. I usually struggle to come up with an appropriate sentiment in the cards — not surprising given the previous reference. This … [Read more...]

Food Drawings

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The search for interesting shapes and colors in the grocery store, for subjects to draw and paint, has brought about greater diversity in what I eat. Tonight the acorn squash transformed from actor in a table-top still life into a nourishing side dish. I've read that when Matisse lived on the coast in Nice, there was a restaurant downstairs from his flat. A waiter would bring up oysters or other … [Read more...]

Wine and Red Onion

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I like what's happening with the volumes and roundnesses in this series of still lifes. Black and white ink drawings like the one below make me wish I could do more etching. ABOVE: Still-life, gouache, 7 x 9.25 in, (17.78 x 23.5 cm), 12/10/2008 Still-life, oil on paper, 7.5 x 11 in, (19.05 x 27.94 cm), 12/8/2008 Still-life, micron pen, 5 x 8.25, (12.7 x 20.95 cm), 12/10/2008 … [Read more...]

Small Steps Review

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This year I concentrated on a program of self-directed study. I’ve gone back to basics to focus on drawing, color, and composition. I want my paintings to feel contemporary while relating to the history of painting. I often miss and they end up looking old-timey. I’m asking myself painting questions, of how to imbue my work with meaning and emotion without crossing into illustration. The era of … [Read more...]