Voices of Expertise – Derek Penix

Voices of Expertise

Derek Penix

Sanibel Seagulls                         33 x 36″                         Oil

    The recent, energetic works of Derek Penix invite us in to discover them—and the extra we discover, the extra we uncover as our eyes journey from nook to nook. The patterns and colours typically defy the custom of a central point of interest and as a substitute information us to spend time discovering treasures throughout the canvas. Penix has gained awards in virtually 100 nationwide competitions within the final  twelve years. He teaches art workshops across the nation and at present lives in Laguna Seashore, California. We requested Penix to put in writing us about his inspiration, his capability to mix technical ability with suggestive gestural image-making, and his route into the summary. He began by telling us about rising up in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

   My mom and grandfather painted. I by no means had curiosity in it till after graduating highschool although. My dad and mom inspired me to color and sooner or later on a visit to Laguna Seashore, California (the place I stay now), I walked right into a gallery with my dad and noticed the work and thought “I might do that!” Shortly after that journey I painted my first portray and my mother took it into a neighborhood gallery they usually bought it instantly. After that I used to be hooked. I’m nonetheless with that gallery at present (Royce Myers Artwork Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma). I’m grateful he gave me an opportunity and believed in me to start with and all of those years later.

Flamingos                         8 x 16″                         Oil

   I actually knew nothing till Quang Ho.  He helped me with a few of the fundamentals, like blocking in a portray and understanding how the attention can movement round a portray. I by no means went to varsity or any college to be taught artwork methods. C.W. Mundy has been a detailed buddy and mentor to me for the final ten or so years. I’ve loved his friendship and that we name and chat about all the things from private matters to no matter we’re at present portray.

Previous Harbor in Cap Ferrat                         24 x 24″                         Oil

Into the Blue                         36 x 36″                         Oil

   Would you inform us one thing about your course of and your supplies?

   I’ve by no means actually been a plain air painter as I are inclined to not like my work once I paint exterior. I don’t create thumbnails. I normally simply discover a picture that I took that I like and paint it. I largely paint within the studio. Nonetheless, I plan going ahead to color extra plain air items now that I stay in Laguna Seashore, California. I find it irresistible right here and don’t ever need to go away.

   I at present simply use a easy pallete of warms and cools of the first and secondary colours. I largely normally paint on
Claussens 13 oil primed canvas.

   That is my workshop provide checklist:

   Filbert brushes sizes #10 #8 #6, #4, #2, #0
   Rosemary Shiraz Filbert brushes (what I largely use)
   Pallete knife
   Gamsol
   Gamblin Neo Megilp (elective)

   I have a tendency to make use of the next colours.
   Titanium White
   Cadmium Yellow Gentle
   Cadmium Yellow Medium
   Cadmium Yellow Deep
   Cadmium Orange
   Cadmium Crimson Gentle
   Everlasting Rose
   Cerulean Blue
   Cobalt Blue
   Ultramarine Blue
   Viridian Inexperienced
   Yellow Ochre
   Vandyke Brown

   Have you ever explored different mediums along with oils?

   Sure, watercolor, one time and I gave that up a couple of minutes later. I make too many errors and have discovered to embrace them in oil portray. I am undecided if watercolor would ever work for me.

Koi                                                       Oil

   Wouldn’t it be proper to say that lots of your work have very sturdy visible pathways all through them, typically with out a singular point of interest? Are you able to inform us a bit bit about this and the way you’ll be able to construction them to be so participating?

   I feel I’m extra of an equalization painter by nature. I simply am interested in that type and like the attention to movement round.  However I do hope to experiment in my compositions with dominant focal factors.

Peach Orchard                         20 x 20″                         Oil

   Any phrases of knowledge you would possibly give to starting artists?

   Learn the way you see as an individual. and perceive believability greater than realism. Study what’s necessary to color and what’s not wanted.

   And, only for enjoyable, in case you might sit down and have an extended dialog over dinner with an artist from the previous, who would you select, and why?

   Richard Diebenkorn—most likely as a result of he’s my favourite painter now.  I might need to perceive what he would say about shade idea and design as I’m changing into extra within the summary.

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Derek Penix

All paintings copyright Derek Penix