Author Archives: joanngilles

Thanks for the memory Of things I can’t forget Journeys on a jet Our wond’rous week in martinique And vegas and roulette… Memorial Day—impetus for our work this week—why not? (I know this day is to honor vets, consider it done, … Continue reading →

If there is any doubt that we can learn from each other just take a look at the fantastic paintngs in progress after only a couple hours of working with our still life with model.  The search for individual vision … Continue reading →

We’ve been playing and working in teams, equilibrium being tested while trying to gain balance on the page, developing reactions, concentrating on composition, reinforcing that which we know. Time to dig deeper. To find that place of centered focus, slow- … Continue reading →

Our class is about fostering creativity and expression through pushing paint.  We seek to build an environment that is challenging, engaging and emotionally safe in which each individual can dig deep, push boundaries and even step off the edge in … Continue reading →

  Going  over what each person said and did in the last two weeks of class I was struck by how much you taught each other. Your interaction was exciting and often surprising. You all have so much to say. … Continue reading →

Well, not really.  But running by the resurrected TV series “Fame”, now on Ovation, someone named Jesse says he was up all night searching for ideas for the song-writing competition that is sure to lead to fame and fortune. “If … Continue reading →

This is dangerous territory because I know only enough to get me into trouble and show my overall ignorance. But I’m goin’ there anyway to further explore this idea of “visual language”. If sensitive to it we create with our … Continue reading →

Although we’ve done it before, this week our exercise is inspired by two research studies that struck a chord. The first one is:  “Why Preschool Shouldn’t Be Like School”, by Alison Gopnik, which answers the question: Does direct teaching make children … Continue reading →

In preparation for “the big race” in the movie National Velvet, Mickey Rooney coaches Elizabeth Taylor by trying to tell her “the order of the jumps and the tricks of race”.  Elizabeth Taylor asks him not to say anymore—everybody will know more than … Continue reading →

Painting is about so many things for me not the least of which is the sheer delight in seeing the colors bump up against each other as they dance across the page; to see a light and a dark mix … Continue reading →