Still Life Week

Below are some pictures from our recent week of still life painting. There was a really great variety in the way people set up their still lives, and the resulting paintings were really a treat to see. I'll try to post some pictures of the final paintings soon. Keep checking back!

Friday Feature: Belated Koala Story

While making a mixture of cobalt violet light and Old Holland ochre on John's palette, Tony described the resulting color as something one might feed to an "orphaned baby creature" with an eyedropper. The creature he had in mind was a koala, which, he explained, one would probably have to feed something really easy to stomach, like watered down grape jelly (think of cobalt violet light and you might see some connection here). And what about the ochre? "That's for fiber." Of course.

And so "Koala juice" has been added to the Ryder Studio color vocabulary.

John's Scones

Here is the recipe for scones. I substituted cherry flavored Craisins for the regular raisins and increased the sugar by ¼ cup. After burning the first batch it occurred to me perhaps I should adjust the recipe for the altitude. I increased the baking temperature a bit and reduce the cooking time by a couple minutes.
-John


Scottish oat scones

Bon Appétit | April 1990

Makes 12.



ingredients

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/4 cup old-fashioned oatmeal

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

1/3 cup milk

1 egg, beaten to blend

1/2 cup raisins



preparation

Preheat oven to 450°F. Grease cookie sheet. Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Mix together butter, milk and egg in another bowl. Add to dry ingredients and stir until just moistened. Mix in raisins. Shape dough into ball.



Place on lightly floured work surface. Pat out to form 3/4-inch-thick circle. Using sharp knife, cut into 12 wedges. Transfer to prepared cookies sheet. Bake until light brown, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly on rack. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Store in airtight container.)



http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/1585

Happy St Pat's

Happy (Late) Saint Patrick's Day! Some of us got into the spirit of things more than others (see the picture below). Who would have thought that this sporty "utilikilt" would be in John's wardrobe?

Check back for a belated Friday Feature involving koalas...

Studio Miscellany

Above: Cathy's underpainting


Above: thinking about "pixie-elating" out paintings


Above: Five minute break



Above: Some new alternates (friends of Ross) sit in on the demo


Above: Ross is certain that his friends will be good students, but Tony is skeptical...

Snow

Above: Emile, Anna, and David with the newest student

Friday Feature

Our Favorite Tonyism of the week:

"This is what I like to call the cat's mustache form."

Tony attempts to describe an otherwise unnamed sub-form related to the lips, "node" and "muzzle". Some of the students needed additional clarification, on the grounds that they had never seen a cat sporting a mustache.