Laurel Hart - Putting People in Your Paintings

PUTTING
people
IN YOUR paintings

Laurel Hart

www.artistsnetwork.com

Putting People in Your Paintings. Copyright 2007 by Laurel Hart. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by North Light Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. (800) 289-0963. First Edition.

Other fine North Light Books are available from your local bookstore, art supply store or direct from the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Hart, Laurel.
Putting people in your paintings / Laurel Hart.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-58180-779-0 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-58180-779-1 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN-13: 978-1-58180-780-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN-13: 978-1-60061-598-6 (EPUB)
ISBN-10: 1-58180-780-5 (pbk. : alk. paper)

eISBN: 978-1-60061-598-6

1. Human figure in art. 2. Watercolor painting--Technique. I. Title.

Edited by Mona Michael
Designed by Wendy Dunning
Production art by Kathy Gardner
Production coordinated by Matt Wagner

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laurel Hart received her formal art training at the University of Utah, the Petersen Art Center, and the Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, where she currently lives. She furthered her studies through workshops with nationally recognized artists such as Frank Webb, Arne Westerman, Alex Powers, Don Andrews and Alvaro Castagnet.

Laurels paintings have been exhibited in many nationally juried shows, including those of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, and Rocky Mountain National. Her work has been published in The Artists Magazine,Watercolor Magic and the popular watercolor books, Splash 8: Watercolor Discoveries and Splash9: Watercolor Secrets. She is the recipient of numerous art awards, including the prestigious Gold Medal of Honor in 2005 at the American Watercolor Societys 138th Annual International Exhibition.

She is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, and the Utah Watercolor Society. Her paintings can be found in private art collections across the U.S. She is the mother of five children, her greatest source of accomplishment.

Metric Conversion Chart

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My first introduction to watercolor came from seeing some beautiful paintings by Chris Heiner, a very gifted artist. It was like rediscovering a part of myself that had been hidden for a long time. My encounter with those paintings played an important role in developing my devotion to watercolor today. Thank you, Chris your paintings on my kitchen wall still inspire me.

I express gratitude to my Creator, who I believe is an artist Himself and delights in helping us with our own creative pursuits. If we pay attention to this higher power working on our behalf, we will recognize little miracles occurring often in our lives. I acknowledge the opportunity to write this book as one of those gifts.

I wish to thank my parents, Stan and Leola Smith, both artists in their own right, for their unconditional love and support. I learned growing up that anything is possible through hard work and education and that perfect or better should be the motto in approaching any task.

To my extended family, thank you for cheering me on over the years, for supporting my shows and exhibits, for collecting my art and for showing up as subjects in many of my paintings.

This project would not have been possible without the help and support of each of my children, who are truly my best friends. Thank you, Brody, for helping me locate the photography equipment to photograph my artwork; Barry, for sharing your computer expertise and for your countless trips to drop off and pick up film, Tyler, for your helpful legal advice; and my beautiful daughters, daughters-in-law and granddaughters Brittney, Brooke, Corine, Kathy, Makenzie and Elizafor serving as my models whenever I needed you. To my new son-in-law Jake, thanks for the tennis matches that provided much-needed relief from the mental strain of looming deadlines.

I am also indebted to the important art teachers in my lifeespecially Harold Petersen, my first watercolor teacherfor giving me the confidence to keep coming to class. To the many teachers who dont even know I was their student, thank you for your classes, workshops and books.

CHATEAU DIF

14" 20" (36 CM 51 CM)

I wish to express appreciation to Sue Valentine, Kayleen and Spence Pugh, and Clayton Williams for promoting and selling my work in their galleries.

I would also like to thank the staff at Borge Anderson Photo Digital for their excellent reproductions of the finished artwork in the book and for the advice for photographing the demonstrations.

To Kevin Flynn, my studio landlord, thanks for providing my creative space and for going out of your way to take care of emergencies so that I could stay on schedule.

To Sheryl Thornton, who shares my studio space, I owe profound thanks for your influence not only on this book but on my life as well. I consider the crossing of our paths in the brotherhood of art as one of my most important blessings.

And finally I am truly indebted to my editor, Mona Michael, and the many people at North Light Books who have shown great faith in me by allowing me to run with this book. I appreciate Monas professional direction when I didnt know my way, her patient consideration of my concerns and questions, and for allowing me extra time when I needed it most. Im so grateful for her many hours of careful editing that allowed this project to come to life.

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my husband, Jim, the love of my life, whose wholehearted enthusiasm and support have made my creative dreams possible. I truly owe much of the success of this project to his help and encouragement.