Words from Hawthorne

the GREAT Hawthorne said: ""Do studies, not pictures. Know when you are licked — start another. Be alive, stop when your interest is lost. Put off finish — make a lot of starts. It is so hard and so long before a student comes to a realization that these few large simple spots in right relations are the most important things in the study of painting. They are the fundamentals of all painting.Paint the color tones as they come against each other, and make them sing, vibrate. Don't ask me to look at those self-satisfied, pretty things.
Realize the value of putting down your first impression quickly. Swing a bigger brush — you don't know what you're missing. Paint what you see, not what you know.The ring, the call, the surprise, the shock that you have out-of-doors — be always looking for the unexpected in nature, do not settle to a formula.Painting is just like making an after-dinner speech. If you want to be remembered, say one thing and stop.To see things simply is the hardest thing in the world." [AND MORE in "Hawthorne on Painting"]

Painting Roseate Spoonbill birds

I have always loved these birds.  When we moved to Fl, we chose this area (Tampa Bay) randomly, without realizing this is where they nest the most

I live by the river, and, for many years, have been delighted to see these beautiful birds fly around my house.  I watch every year during spring how they gather small branches from trees to make their nests.
Right behind my house there is a little island (bird sanctuary)  where they take care of their nests and chicks.  I have taken so many many photos of these birds.  Very often I take a canoe ride to the sanctuary to see how the chicks are growing.  I always come back home so impressed with their beauty,  with hundreds of picks and ideas of how to capture them in my canvas.

Roseate Spoonbills are very colorful birds, shy and sensitive.  They feed by touch, with their spatulate bill, which shuts quickly when touched by prey.  They nest in the Florida Keys and the Tampa area.

I painted a triptic  (which make a three panel screen).  I wanted to make something special when painting these wonderful birds.

The painting appears in the American Art Collector magazine, may issue (2013).  I am very happy to have this painting published in such a great magazine.

I want to share some of the photos of this sanctuary showing the Roseate Spoonbills in their natural habitat.

Painting the gesture of a Tree

Monday, April 8.

I went to paint to Marina Jack, Sarasota.  As always,  when I start to paint plein air, I get a little overwhelmed by so much information out there.  After spending a whole week doing the Paint the Town event, I decided to concentrate on a single matter and keep it simple.  I really enjoyed painting this small yellow tree over looking the Sarasota Bay.  I just realized again how much practice to get the great gesture of a tree.  I need to keep practicing!

American Art Collector

Available pretty soon in stores;

Very, very excited to appear in an article of the upcoming AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR ISSUE!!!!!, may issue. The digital version is already out. The hard copies will be available in stores soon. The article (Artist Focus section) features my journey as a painter and several images of my work!! Thanks American Art Collector!!!!

Paint the Town Contest, Bradenton FL

Honorable Mention. Contest Paint the Town, Bradenton. Reception at Art Center Manattee today. Great painters and paintings! four days of plein air painting, lots, lots of fun!!!  My painting:  Going for a sail, Oil on canvas 11 x 14

Southwest Art Magazine

Very very happy to have my artist bio and several images of my paintings published in the SouthwestArt magazine, april issue. covering the WPSE upcoming exhibition in Franklin TN next month.

Digital copy:

http://www.southwestart.com/events/wpse-apr2013

SouthwestArt Magazine

Portrait of Jonathan

Painting this portrait of Jonathan was a lot of fun.  I always wanted to get a feeling of what it was to see  
the breathtaking beauty he has experienced when he has climbed all these volcanos along the coast of Guatemala.  Personally I have only climbed one:  Volcan de Pacaya, an all-year-around active volcano that lies close to the valley of Guatemala city.  Painting one of his journeys up to the sky was, at the time, the closest I would be of such an incredible experience.  As I was painting the clouds, I could feel the vertigo of being so high up.  This simple experience (of painting it) was enough for me to have my breath caught.  I am not even close to imagine the feeling of being there.  Like my son said to me once:  
-Being at the top of a volcano, one cannot but feel the presence of God!-  Great for you, Jonathan!

This painting is hanging in our home in Guatemala.  It needs some restoration.  I hope I have some time  to do it soon.  It will be great to relive the experience.

New Website! www.PatriciaSorg.com

I have redesigned my website!

Check it out at www.PatriciaSorg.com

The dynamic new design makes it easier to browse through galleries, find out about me as an artist and about how to take painting classes, and to see the most up to date blog posts!

New Blog!

Welcome to my new blog!

VERY excited to be included in the Southwest Art Magazine, april Issue, with my artist bio, and my work. Image included: Endless Summer, Oil on canvas. 
The article is about the up coming exhibition of Women Painters of the South East, to be held in Franklin Tennessee next month, where one of my paintings is showing. Great feeling!