Real People 2009

"Do you only paint desserts?" I am often asked. The answer is no, I can and do paint many things and practice in many disciplines. One of those is figure drawing. From Fall to Spring, I spend several evenings with my life drawing group. We are a group of artists that get together a couple of times a month and hire a model to sketch, draw or paint. I create little paintings of the models. The interesting part is that each painting is complete in 25 minutes or less because this is as long as the model poses. And some poses are much shorter.

Having accumulated quite a collection of 25-minute paintings (some of which I really like), I decided to enter Real People 2009, a national juried exhibition. I pulled together 25 paintings (each one is 8"x10") and arranged them into one display, shown here. The title of the complete display is 25 in 25 Minutes or Less.

25 in 25 Minutes or Less, acrylic on 8"x10" panels, $2500

Happily, this work has been accepted. Real People 2009 which is sponsored by the Old Court House Figurative Art League, runs from August 6 to September 27. A Gala reception is this Saturday, August 22, from 6 pm to 9:30 pm. It is located in the Old Court House Arts Center, in Woodstock, "on the square."

This show is featuring artists from around the country. The organizers told me that artists drive in from Tennessee, Florida and other states to bring their artwork. It is a wonderfully diverse show of very high quality. Jurors for this show (jurors are the professionals who select the artwork for display) were Michael Vanzeyl, a portrait artist and teacher at the Palette and Chisel in Chicago; and Marion Kryczka, an associate professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

--Barb
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Real People 2008

Blue Woman, ©Barbara Sistak Baur, 8"x10," acrylic, framed, ($250), has been selected for the juried exhibition Real People 2008, Aug. 7 through Sept 28, at the Old Court House Arts Center in Woodstock, IL. The show is organized by the Old Court House Figurative League. The Gala Opening and Awards presentation is Saturday, Aug. 23, from 6-9:30. There are lovely restaurants within walking distance of the show making this a delightful outing for anyone.

Colorful Woman

This was done during a workshop with oil pastel with an acylic wash on watercolor paper. I wanted to use different colors to show light and dark patches.

Sylvia

This drawing was started at my figure drawing club and finished later in the studio. It has a wonderful "mood." Charcoal on brown/tan paper. Approx 20"x13". Matted, ready to frame for 24"x18" size. $120.

Sylvia At Rest

This is a sketch of Sylvia at rest, a gesture drawing almost. A gesture drawing captures the action or mood of the scene rather than details. Charcoal on tan/brown paper. Approx 20"x 13". Matted and ready to frame in a 24"x18" size. $120.

Sylvia Reclining

A contour drawing of Sylvia. Yes, there are eraser marks. It is very difficult to get this right the first time. Some collectors like to see the eraser marks because they witness the artist's "struggle." Charcoal on brown paper. Approx 13"x 20". Matted & ready for 18"x24" frame. $120.

Brown Woman

This is done in oil pastel which has a completely different feel than charcoal. It is very loose and abstract. Renderings done with oil pastel are considered paintings rather than drawings. This one has a tropical feel. This figure, as all of them, was started during my figure workshop, Valley Arts Club. This is a group that gets together every couple of weeks and we hire a model. There are no instructions, no teacher -- just several artists working together. When I get them back to the studio, I finish and polish them. I choose the small size because is it suitable for the short drawing time we have at the workshop. 6"x8", oil pastel, framed. $120

Blue Woman

The highlights are the "highlight" of this painting done in oil pastel. The initial sketch was done at my figure drawing club, Valley Arts Club. I finished later in the studio. 6"x8", oil pastel, framed. $120

Green Woman

When I look at this pose, I see lots of arms and legs. I like the way they wrap into each other. This painting was started at my figure workshop and finished later in the studio. 8"x6", oil pastel, framed. $120

Touch of Gold

The colors in this figure is what I enjoy most. 6"x8", oil pastel, framed. $120

Purple & Green Figure

I love how the model is crouching and the abstract way it is captured. 5"x7", oil pastel. Ready to frame. $50.

Figure

The model was leaning on a mantel, which is why her arm is at that angle. 5"x7" oil pastel.
Ready to frame. $50.