Old Pics

When my wife Jana and her sisters were moving their Dad this past weekend, they were rummaging through all the old photos that were lying around. In many ways I was doing the same thing as I was going over some of my portraits today. I am including images that were done in art school. These paintings and drawings were done between 1978 and 1980. And thats me next to my first ever car. I think I'm about 19 in this photo.






Air Brush










airbrush




airbrush and acyylic

In or Out part 2

I photographed this outside and I am seeing colors that I can't remember putting on the canvas. I have just plain run out of time...I gotta go wit it






I found this character lying around as I was digging deep for portraits. This is one of my art center classmates. His name is Les and he was the life of the party. This was painted in acrylics . I am really seeing how my style has evolved ...even within this past year. Definitely painted in the 80's! Check out that tie.






Do you think they'll go for a German General?






This painting was marginal in my opinion. Don Hatfield thought I definitely should include it in the mix. So its in my top ten. Its not a real flattering image and that is one of the reasons I like it. I also went back into this painting to give it the extra umph.....

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These paintings are in my opinion marginal. One is current and the other 2 are a bit older.




Do I want to include a baby picture? All that means is that if somebody likes how I do these little critters then I have a whole bunch of these to do down the road. You can tell by the date that this is an older piece.





I did this costumed portrait because I found the model's face so striking. This photo was from an out take from a project for the Discovery Channel. I don't know...this ones on the margin?





This is still a work in progress. I have not defined the shadow part of the face. The artsy side of me likes it but my critical audience ( Jana and the boys ) wants to know when I plan to detail the eye in the shadow. But I like it because this is the crazed direction I am moving into. I'm really pumped up about exploring the backgrounds and the surface further.



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In or Out ?

I am going to post all the images that I plan on sending Portraits Inc. as well as pieces that I think are marginal. Please let me know what your thoughts are. Trust me...you will NOT hurt my feelings.




I like this portrait because it is so expressive. But I am on the fence with this painting as there may not be a big enough market for tnis loose adaption. But on the other hand....maybe there is. In or Out?





This is the only good copy I have of this dual portrait. The client wanted an " Ordaz" and let me paint whatever I wanted to make the portrait look unique. I hear that more and more . They will tell me to do something different. So I went with the imaginitive world of these 2 beautiful girls . Check out that frame. Custom ordered from APF Framers in NY. $1500 just for the frame.




This is an old colored pencil portrait I did of my friends child back in my ol Pasadena days. In or Out? It shows hands and details on the clothing as well as a background treatment.

more to come on this post ......check back later

Word Up

I am submitting this small painting for this years Placer Arts Studio Tour preview. Even though its a year old and some tour goers have already seen it at my studio , I like that it reflects a quiet mood . We are all in such a rush.

My David was reading and I quickly found my camera and clicked off a few snaps. Many of my moments of inspiration come when I recognize something that resonates with me. I have LEARNED not to be lazy and find my camera and capture it before the moment is lost or forgotten.

It also spells out a time when I ventured into using Ivory Black. I was taught to mix my own black and that having black on my palette was tantamount to using drugs. It felt wrong. But I got over that hump and enjoyed the time I experimented with the Dark Lord. I've gone back to using my full range palette. But now I am not afraid to use a limited palette if I feel the painting deserves it.

I also am going back and forth on wether I will use this painting as one of the 10 portraits to be submitted to Portraits Inc. Today is my photo day and I must select 10 paintings and have them photographed if they have not been already. The images then have to be copied onto 8 x 10 prints. Its going to be a busy day.

click on the image to enlarge

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The Critique Pt. 2

Dear Reader,

I am exhausted after moving my father in law this Saturday into an assisted living complex in Auburn. It was also 99 degrees cool to boot. Thank God my son and nephew did most of the heavy lifting.

You will get a kick out of these YouTube videos. The assignment the art teacher has given ( played by John Malkovich ) is paint a self portrait of yourself. Of course in art school everyone is out to " out clever " the next guy and I am posting what I turned in my 2nd semester at the AC. Thats my studio and my legs...

On a musical note......6 days until I see the best band in the world ( in my opinion ) at Rock of Ages in Calistoga Ca...... CHRISTAFARI.....

The " Critique"

Some people just can't handle a little criticism.

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Dear Reader,

Tonight brings me to a subject that can have its benefits as well as its perils. And that is the ever daunting " Critique".

Here is a review or critique...." The picture of Mrs. White is hard, the painting almost metallic, the carnations are raw , there is no taste in the expression, air, or modelling, but the work is able enough to deserve recasting". This less than charitable review appeared in a London paper critiqueing the painting of none other than John Singer Sargent. Oh come on...how could someone say that about the greatest artist that ever splashed paint on a canvas?

Or how about this critique given to a student at Art Center College of Design by Ted Youngkin... "I initially thought you would go somewhere with this painting...but it looks like you took it into the John and dropped it in the urinal and pissed all over it. " I was that student who was at the end of that crit in front of a class of 25 students.

Some "Crits" are more helpful that others . But it surely follows that one has to suspect the one giving the review or instruction.

Let me recast this in movie making terms. When I was at LucasFilm I was amazed that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg referred to making a movie as a " craft". What they meant is that there certainly was an art to the process of movie making but the actual editing and getting all the elements to work together to form a cohesive and understandable statement was a technical matter. Simply put, there had to be an establishing shot , an introduction of characters with medium and close up shots. The timing and staging was key in setting the mood as well as selecting the right film stock and lighting conditions. How actors are light is not a trivial matter. Much time and attention goes into how the shot will be masked out and how the lighting will affect the scene. The editing between shots is crucial to give the movie a natural and flowing appearance. The point I am trying to make here is that there is a technical skill that is required to make a film work regardless of the content. The content is a whole other matter. I have seen beautifully shot and edited movies that I hated. I could say that I would give such a film an A for cinematography and an F for message.

So here is my point. What are you looking for in a critique? Think about this for a moment. Because a good crit can be very valuable indeed. In fact, a good crit can take you to the next level.

Back in my Star Wars days, Michael Pangrazio, Chris Evans and I would work on our matte paintings and at the end of the day our cameramen would shoot the painting on film stock. The next morning we would see our " dailies" and spend up to an hour critiqueing each painting and making concrete design and compositional assessments about each painting. It was a great experience because I can safely say that we each made our paintings BETTER.. Questions such as...Why did you place that element there? Would it be better to add a different element to sell the scene? How could we add a sense of space and production value to this painting? Is the perspective working? etc etc etc. Sometimes it hurt to hear others join in to evaluate and criticize your effort but after awhile , we took a professional attitude and developed a thick skin. Because in the long run, we all wanted the film to succeed and we wanted the shot to look excellent.

Therefore, it behooves a young artist and old farts for that matter as well, to seek out those talents that they trust to give them an informed opinion. If you are weak in your understanding of " plains" seek out a master who has achieved a high degree of competence in this area. Believe me..a good and knowledgeable assessment of your technical skill can turn your career around.

Now there is an area that is opinion and variable to fashion and that is " content" . Such as...What do you think of my sunflower paintings? The question begs a response that hinges on the viewers taste and whims. Be careful in this area because it really is just anyone's opinion. Its like asking someone...What do think about Jazz ? What do you think about country music? These are open ended questions and can only reveal the prejudices of the respondent.

Be careful of the emotional teacher. I had a teacher at Art Center who was teaching Color Theory and she walked in one day and yelled out. I want to see red today. Take out your color swatches and give me red. As we labored for several hours we put our efforts on the Crit Wall and Polifka yelled out...I don't see Red...I want to see Red! Red! Red! She never showed us how to achieve it and she was teaching us , in hindsight, by a prejudice of her own fancy. It was maddening. Avoid such teachers. They will drive you crazy.

Happy Birthday!

These are illustrations from my last illustrated book " Josie's Gift" . Win a FREE copy today! See HOW at the bottom of this really interesting post.... WE HAVE A WINNER ALREADY !


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You know its your B- Day when your 84 year old mom still sends you a birthday check in the mail. Thanks Mom! She always remembers...except for last year when she made the lame excuse that she is getting old and she forgot. Yeah...I'm buying that one.

But seriously..Birthdays at my age 53 are times to reflect . I mean, you gotta take advantage of your thought process when its still functioning. I can't afford to tie even an eighth of my brain behind my back to make it fair. I need all cylinders working in synchronized order.

So here is what I have learned so far in no apparent order....

1. Being an atheist was no fun. Being the center of the universe was delusional and expensive.

2. Waiting for the right "smoking hot" woman to come along was well worth it and I married her.

3. Art is one of the greatest roller coaster rides in the world. At least for me...Learn from the Masters

4. Look both ways before you cross the street of life. Unless your're a hindu in which case its all an illusion.

5. Have and keep good friends. Some people are just taking a cab ride with you. Spot those types right away and show them the curb..

6. Avoid spending more than you earn. Downsize if you must.

7. Disappointment and dissatisfaction is no excuse to be unhappy.

8. Enjoy a good comedy with your family. Or read " Freddy and Frederica " by Mark Helprin and have people think you are mental when you bust out laughing from what comes out of the mind of a gifted writer.

9. What does it profit you to gain the world and lose your family? Conversely...be careful what you pray for...you just might get it. Conversely what you thought was important in your twenties does not hold up when you are alot older. The simple things are really whats its all about.

10. Your family would rather you live like Jesus than you trying to convert them.

11. Philosophy and Psychology is a game for adult kids who are upset that the quarterback gets the cheerleader .

12. Learn to forgive and celebrate the successes of others. And its never too late to get it right. Today is the day to set the ship in the right direction. In art speak...if you must,,,scrape the paint off the canvas and start over instead of overworking a failure. My version of the new wine skins metaphor.

13. A person brilliant in one field can be an ignoramous when they talk about politics. That includes me!

14. If it is within your power...work at what you love...it will add years to your life and friends will comment that you look like you are 45! Learn to be content and enjoy the health that God has given you.


Okay.....Since I am in a good mood today I PLAN ON GIVING AWAY A PRESENT today. If you can tell me what artist said this quote... " Art is no mere trifle...but mere trifles make great Art " The Gift will be a copy of my illustrated book " Josie's Gift"

If no one gets it the person whose artist resides in the correct century of the quote gets it. Of course I am assuming that ANYONE even reads this Blog.....still delusional after all these years.....

Close up

The last post had the face washed out. Here is a closeup...and the face is far from finished. I painted this portrait in an " Alla Prima " approach. These colors are pretty accurate. I ahve keyed out the emerald and have been working the background with a palette knife to a grey with subtle color transitions.

Critiques most definitely welcome..... A good critique is worth millions...literally. A commenter inspired me to post on the value of a GOOD critique. Man do I have some thoughts on that!


I am waiting for the white paint to dry before I add all the American Legion decorations on the cap.


click on the image to enlarge
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With a little help from my friends

Well...I am done for the day. The oils are setting up and the darks are getting dull so that tells me to not force it and let the painting dry before I get back in.

I got a call from Don Hatfield encourageing me on to make this painting really work. He said something about the background that really resonated with me and maybe it will help some of you as well. He said to put as much love and care into the background as I have done in the face. Somehow hearing that from his lips seemed so right. I set about painting the background with as much attention as I had given to my Uncle Ralphs face, What a MENTAL difference that made. It was like art chiropractic from the Hatfield.

Anyway..here I go again adjusting the colors and giving special attention to the hands and folds.

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Oh Ralph

Well...painting is what happens to you while your making other plans. I was talking with my art bud Big Norse ( aka Chris Hopkins ) and he was suggesting that I make the background a little darker to match my initial color sketch. We were showing each other our work using
" SKYPE ". Jana told me it needed some " pop " ( don't ya just hate that comment ) and as I looked at it I felt the critiques were justified and I darkened the background. Needless to say...its like starting another painting as all the colors need to relate. I almost gave up on it but I am hanging in there and hope to get back on track. I have not added too much detailing but I plan to make a dent in this area today.

The colors on this post are a bit washed out and it is not as light at the top as this photo would suggest. But I think you get the idea.

I am working on cotton duck canvas and I had this ol 30 x 40 lying around waiting for inspiration to knock on my head. As it turns it...I now remember why I hate cotton duck.

Tools of the Trade.....for brushes I am using my super sluggers...Daniel Smith Bristles #8 & # 10
Silver " Grand Prix" bristle filberts # 4 & #6 Isabey # 6 round Isabey # 6 flat ox hair

Sad news of late. In case you have'nt heard Bernie Fuchs passed on . And another great left his easel. His name is Richard Lack and Stapleton Kearns has written about him on his blog. Check it out on on my side bar.

Life is short...Paint Hard and Pray Harder . Give it your best effort and You will have no regrets.

blessings

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Ralph Rodriguez Portrait start

I am starting a 30 x 40 today to include in my submission for Portraits Inc. My portfolio is really short on " Formal " portraits so I have to include something that at least shows I can produce a competent representation.

That's my Uncle Ralph who started the " Ex Prisoner's of War " Group. He is very involved in veterans affairs. He posed for me about 10 years ago. I am getting around to it now. Better late than never. I am giving myself 2 days to give it an " Alla Prima " look.


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Eden Portrait...in progress

"Where Lies My Hope" painting in progress

click on the image to see a larger version

oil on linen 16 x 24

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As you can see I simplified the left side and went more for a mood of light instead of detail. I still needd to work on that nose of hers. Its giving me some problems.

There is a story behind this painting. While the rest of our Artist Fellowship Group was asleep, fellow artist Elena and I decided to get up at 6:30 and paint the Mendocino Sunrise. As we were sipping coffee we were talking about how art has affected both of our lives and how God is useing us at every stage of our learning curve. Let's face it...there is no end to the knowledge we can learn about the process of doing Art. The more we learn the more we stretch and discover that there are new paths to be charted. Anyway, Elena looked off to the distant sonrise and she had this longing look on her face. I said...hold that pose and wait until I get my camera and catch the light as it illuminates your face. I went upstairs and grabbed my gear .Down the stairs I galloped and I looked back at her and she had indeed kept the pose and I rattled off several shots.

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Whadda Ya Think

Dear Reader,

I started this painting yesterday and I felt it was flowing pretty well. Then I would photograph it and it would look terrible. The reds came out translating very garish in contract to the cools. So I modified and cooled the light side of my models face.

Now that I look at it as a post...I plan to darken the left bottom side of the painting and only suggest the pillows. I also plan to add more broken color in the background. I would love to do it now but its already drying up and quite tacky. Its best to let it dry and go into it when its a more workable surface. I also plan to model the hand and face a little bit more.

Is the couch to loose for your tastes? Should I pump the color of her parka vest more?

So ...what do you think?

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Happy Hour

Portrait painting can drive you to drinking...literally...have a great weekend....

Say a little prayer

Dear Reader,

Have you ever thought you had some time and then realized someone moved the calendar on you? Well, I was going to submit samples of my portraits to Portraits Inc. for representation and I thought I had until the end of October. It turns out that the deadline is October 1st!

Portraits Inc. requires ten samples . I wanted to paint some portraits that I felt were diversified in nature. For example , a standing figure...head and shoulders, half figure showing hands etc. But I don't think I have enough time to paint them as big as I wanted. So....I will be feverishly painting some samples and posting them for your review. I have about a week's time to add some samples. Please be very critical and honest. You're my peeps and I am counting on you.

Say a little prayer for me as I know the competition for representation this year will be very competitive. I don't know if I will get in but I will give it my best shot.

As I was showing Don Hatfield my studio he zeroed in on this painting that I had tucked away. I painted this for a calendar company...but for some reason I did not like it and I repainted it and submitted another image kinda like it. Who knows what I was thinking...cuz the painting I submitted just looks awful. I thought this painting was a bit overly sentimental...even for my anachronistic tastes...and I just kept it hanging on the corner wall tucked away. Don had me take it down and he liked it. Go figure....Is he trying to sabotage me?

Pass the Hatfield around

Don with his newest painting.





Needless to say, Don makes himself at home wherever he lands.

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Its been pretty hectic out here and I wish I could explain all the mishaps I've been encountering recently. Suffice it to say...my son is practicing his driving and I take my life into his hands every time he drives to get his 60 hrs so that he can get his drivers license. Can't he just take a pill and become an expert driver? I mean ...there's a fortune out there ready to be made...are you hearing me Big Pharmaceuticals?

Any way, big Don Hatfield was here at the Ordaz Hacienda and he gave me his time and critiqued my work. I felt priviledged to have such an eminent painter look at my scribblings. I was working on a portrait sample and he saved my effort by some key observations about the planes and needless elements that did not enhance the overall effect. He opened my eyes to see the big effect at once. Its great to have someone you can trust to spot errors in your paintings and give you solid practical direction. Don is a walking expert on 19th century painting and he can give insight as to how an artist like Sorolla would have approached a certain subject. Don studied with Sergei Bongart and he learned how to SEE the big masses and the Big Effect and to have everything subordinate and lead up to the center of interest. We are all glad to have him around and he is fast becoming the MASTER in these here parts. His class is fast becoming the talk around here as the place to get some teaching that has been handed down by the masters .

Bongart taught....

Technique! Most important . . . develop your technical ability. You are handicapped if you do not develop well enough to hold the subconscious process so as not to have problems of inexperienced painters: How do I do this? . . . Is this the correct proportion? Learn technique; have full command to the extent of not being conscious of how it is done. When craftsmanship has been developed, you are free to create . . . technique will give way to expression! Train yourself: It is not by accident an artist becomes a good painter.

We then went off to the Auburn Ale house and met Silvio Sylvestri ( whose painting will be featured on posters etc. at this years Laguna Beach Juried Paint Out ) and drank some beers and talked art. It was very cool.

Don Hatfield and I plan to paint together next week and I will paint a portrait of him.

'ol Studio

I'm off to teach my Workshop this morning and I was feeling nostalgic about the studio I built back in Santa Rosa. It was a great space with ample north light. I was hoping to build a studio here in Auburn...but something in real estate happened along the way.

I posted this early on at the start of this blog. Its a plein air I did of my dream art crib.

f

The New Church

Dear Reader,

Its Sunday and that means church for the Ordaz Family. However, in case you haven't notice things have changed dramatically from the pulpit these days. I attend a mainline Calvary Chapel Church ( of the Chuck Smith variety ) but I got a dose of what it is kinda like at the ol' mainline denominations when I attended the Easter service at the National Cathedral a few years back.

We were all excited to attend our nations premier Cathedral and the sermon was given by the visiting Episcopal bishop from Boston. The building by itself is very impressive and on Easter the sanctuary was filled with flower and ornament and the choir sang like celestial hosts. All part of the liturgical pageantry.

But once the sermon started, I was startled because there was scant reference to Jesus and more a litany of social injustice and the resurrection of Hope in a World in Despair. Resurrection had been redefined. It was no longer relevant to speak about the Lord but about the resurrection of a dying planet and the resurrection of the forgotten inner city child who lived on the mean streets. What followed was a slightly veiled harrangue against the Bush Administration. I was appalled at first but then I reminded myself that these 'ol Protestant Churches had long abandoned the Gospel for a more relevant Social Gospel. What amazed me was that this all seemed standard fare and I saw many heads either sleeping in Gucci or politely nodding in agreement.

Yes, as Bob Dylan sang in the 60's the times they are a changin and what will come next will change even more...that's for sure.

If you are a new reader of this Blog, you will quickly see that I delve into areas some fear have nothing to do with art other than my accompaning illustration. However, living is an art and the artist , whether on canvas or pen, expresses a point of view. It is up to the viewer to accept or reject it.

Whadda ya think?

I had about 3 hours free yesterday ( before we celebrated our son's birthday ) and I decided to paint a meadow that I saw in Mendocino. Its a small 9 x 12 and and I was originally enthralled at the possibilities of pushing the color in the meadow. If you saw the original photo...hey wait a minute...I'll post it...be right back...okay...you can see that I took alot of liberties with the reference. Never get caught ending a tree right at the tops of a mountain ridge as you see in the photo. And you can also see that I extended the middle ground tree's height on the left. I'm thinking of also adding the surfer dude. There's alot of Don Hatfield's influence on this bad boy.

But, after I finished it it seemed too clumpy and cartoony. I did not intend that and I consider this a successful failure. I learned alot about pushing the color and not being "dictated to" by the photo. However, my wife really likes this one and thinks its one of my best little paintings. Go figure. Maybe it goes to show that colors have an immediate impact apart from the design and application? Or maybe she likes girly colors and maybe I have found the secret why Thomas Kincaid has made a fortune...hmmmm ? I usually judge this as my wife and boys enter the room. Their reactions are pretty instantaneous.

Anyway...I'm shoring up for the Placer Arts studio Tour this November and someone will surely like this on their wall.

Paintings Selected for the Museum Show

The bottom two paintings have been previously posted but I am not sure that I have posted the top painting. It is 30" x 30" oil on canvas.

In Memory of 9/11

Who can imagine the heartache and anguish by those who lost loved ones on this day in 2001? I can not even imagine the grief. But someone does identify with our sorrows.

On Being Frank remembers those families who live with memory of this tragedy every year at this time and lifts up a prayer of healing and peace for them.

blessings

Frank Ordaz

ps. The Power of a Painting

This small 6 x 9 oil painting was in a show in Washington Sate last year. The producer of the show called me and told me this amazing story of how this painting came to be purchased. A man walked into the gallery late in the day. He lingered for a long time in the gallery space and was noticeably shaken when he saw this painting. As he approached the attendants it was obvious that he had been sobbing. He inquired about the painting and the price was too steep for him to afford. He went home and told his wife about how moved he was by this painting and could not explain why tears were rolling down his face. He had never reacted this way to artwork before. The man had been involved in prison ministry so maybe all his latent emotions at seeing ruined lives came to the surface. As the story moves along, his wife had to see this painting. They both arrived at the gallery and again she saw that he was moved by the oil painting. When she came home she called the gallery and purchased the painting for him as a Christmas present. Such was the love of this woman for her husband. What an honor to produce something that enriches the lives of others.

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Museum Update

I just got news that the newly renovated Dallas Museum of Biblical Art has chosen 3 of my paintings to hang in the museum for 6 months. Pretty cool......

The museum suffered a devastating fire awhile back and soon will reopen. Click here for info.

Mendocino

The Ryans, The Lee's , the Forsmans and the Ordaz Families...plus Isaac's friend Luke.




This is a page from the website detailing the Lord's Lands colorful History.




Dear Reader,

Plato wrote many a verse on the Good Life . I agree with that ol Greek sage that friends are key to well being and being connected. Being involved in the lives of others in a healthy way adds to our enrichment of what it means to be human and committed. Our artist fellowship group has met 2 years in a row now at the Lord's Land in Mendocino Ca ( actually right outside Mendo in Albion...but generally close enough ) and we have enjoyed spending the Labor Day Weekend together .

The Lord's Land has quite an interesting history and background story. Sabine's story can be read here.

I recommend you read the whole history to get the flavor of what makes this place so special to us.

We share a communal breakfast and Dinner and when you have good cooks involved the evenings are gloriously wonderful and full of enchantment and memories that will last us a lifetime. Our boys really enjoyed themselves as well. I mean...they have acres and acres to run around and be loud and boyish and did they ever. Nobody seemed to complain.

I did not have too much time to pastel and on one occasion when I packed all my gear the beach was over run with fog and my pastel paper was getting very wet. So..... plan B was a laid back time with the group and a game of wiffle ball.



















I did manage to get away and pastel Monday morning and did 4 quick sketches.