July, 2017
July Artists
Profile: Cecy Turner. Scroll down!
…………………………
From the Studio
Click on images to see availability
© “Lonely Iris 2017”
Down near the ground on our patio, David found this
little mauve/blue Iris
struggling to bloom for me! The only one that the
frost didn’t get.
I did most of it En Plein Air but because of my poor
eyesight
(AMD) I had to bring it into the studio to finish from
a photo.
And I just felt like all that purple needed some
yellow!
Kind of Abstract. I love it! Do you?
© “2017
Hollyhocks”
The garden hollyhocks sure made up for the lack of
Iris this year!
They were gorgeous and people came by just to see
them!
I hope I did justice to them. I did this Plein Air
over 3 days.
In my “heyday” I would do several in one day!
Enjoy your summer. It is going by so quickly.
…………………………………………………
Found a new home!
© the owner
©Yellow Iris
Allen in good company with Van Gogh!
Love Van Gogh.
…………………………………..
Artists Profile
Cecy Turner
©
- We’ve
known each other through WAOW, and then PAAC. Do you remember exactly when
and where we met?
I think somehow that
you contacted me through the WAOW roster because you read that I was
participating in Plein Air Rockies. And we've known each other much LONGER than
six years! I remember that a group of us was painting in Endo Valley - you had
driven up and the Estes Park group was painting there. I'm sure we already knew
each other then, and I hadn't moved to Estes Park yet because I remember
talking to some of the gals there about some places to look at houses. We moved
here nine years ago, so I'd say we have maybe known each other for close to 15
years! That day I remember I was having a lot of trouble with my painting and
you said one word to me to help - "values." By the way, I just found
my photo, too!
- Ever
since, we met in RMNP every Autumn to paint together until recently when I
could no longer paint Plein Air (due to AMD). Here’s the “missing” photo:
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How old were you when you first picked up a paint brush
and knew you wanted to be an artist? You worked for several years in watercolours and taught watercolours.
(Canadian spelling!) Did/do you work simultaneously in oils and WC? Do you
still do workshops/classes?
I didn't actually pick up a paintbrush until I was twenty-two
years old, although I drew all my life and took plenty of art in college. I
changed my major before I got to take any painting classes. I got pretty
frustrated because at that time (in the 60's) the teachers were giving
absolutely no instruction and just wanted you to "express yourself."
I wanted to learn HOW to draw correctly, etc. I thought I could never make a living
at something that no one would teach me how to do. After graduating from
Vanderbilt University, I needed paintings for my apartment walls and enrolled
in oil classes at night after work. My coworkers began wanting to buy my
paintings and I started entering art fairs on the weekends. Soon I
decided that being an artist was my life's goal, so I quit my job and have
never looked back. When my first child was born, I began painting in watercolor
because oils were too time consuming. I stayed with watercolor for around 25
years, then went back to doing oils, also. I teach regular watercolor classes
in Dallas and oil workshops in different cities. I think one medium helps the
other! I have two oil workshops coming up this fall and one in January, 2018, plus
we are working on a watercolor workshop in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas,
sometime in 2018.
©"East Texas Dogwood" Watercolor 11 x 15
Palestine, Texas, in the spring has a lot to offer as far as
beautiful dogwood! I took many, many photos there at both our campground where we
stayed in our RV and at Davey Dogwood Park. I painted this with only the
"saving the white" of the paper and didn't use any masking fluid.
this is my preferred way! I tried to diffuse the background by wetting the
paper (300 pound Arches) so that it wouldn't command too much attention. Fun to
paint!
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And you publish a Blog!? And do Demos!? I see
you are booked into 2018. How does it feel to be in demand? Does all the
travelling wear thin (I see you keep it close to home) or do you enjoy it?
Besides my web site,
cecyturner.com, my blog, An Aspen
A Day, is mainly an instructional blog on many aspects of painting aspens, like
color, shapes of foliage, leading the eye around, etc. I do travel some to
teach workshops, but I don't teach too many anymore because it is exhausting
and takes so much planning beforehand. However, I love teaching and probably
will never quit doing that. We spend part of the year in Estes Park, Colorado,
and I've made it my rule not to teach during my Colorado time - that's just for
painting. (Who knows, that could change at some point).
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You have built your career steadily and won many awards
and been honoured with prestigious titles. You’ve
been published, and hung in important venues. Of all these honours
which one excited you the most?
One of my biggest
accomplishments was having "Early Winter" selected for the cover of
the 2010 Watercolor Artist Magazine, as well as a feature article in that
magazine. Probably my earliest thrill was having a watercolor floral accepted
in the book, The Best of Flower Painting. That was way back in 1997.
After I found out my painting was going to be in the book, North Light Books
wanted me to write a short blurb about it for the book. I got my mother to help
me write it, plus my husband and probably others, too - it took all of us about
two weeks to come up with a couple of paragraphs. I was so nervous about that.
Most recently, I think the biggest honor I've had is for Art of the West
Magazine to ask me to be included in two of their feature articles. They are
such top notch publishers, and I was thrilled both times they approached me.
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Was this all a well laid plan from the beginning? Are you
a closet marketing genius? To what to you attribute your success? And
throughout, you’ve remained the same lovely person you’ve always been! (I think
that is the secret to your success! People are just drawn to you and your
work.) And you’ve raised a family and you are a grandmother! You are amazing!
Thanks for your nice
compliments! My career has not been a well laid plan from the beginning - I
just jumped in. I think people have said that "I never stop,"
and I guess that's part of it. I HATE to be idle and "just sit." Just
can't do that and never have been able to. Painting is relaxing to me, and it's
hard for me to do a lot of things because I could be painting instead. I tell
my husband he's lucky because I'm not a shopper. I hate to shop! One thing I'm
not good at is spending hours on Facebook, and this
would probably be a great marketing tool. I use my not too frequent
newsletters, workshops and demonstrations to get people on my mailing list,
jump into group ads for big shows in the art magazines (which can get very
expensive - must have a budget) and those are the main ways I market myself.
©”Morning Awakening” Palo Duro Canyon, TX Oil 24x30
This painting will be in
the American Women Artists show this fall.
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How many hours a day do you paint? How do you balance
your art business, home and family? Do you get lots of family time?
I would paint more
hours than I do if I didn't have a husband who wants to spend a little time
with me! Generally, there is so much else to do to "keep life going,"
especially with two houses, that I only have five or so good hours, sometimes
less, sometimes more, to paint. I generally quit late afternoon, but if it
weren't for my husband, I'd probably paint into the night!
©Allen Supportive
Spouse Johnny!
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What percentage of your painting time is Plein air? And
studio? And all the other things that we have to do?!
When I'm staying in Colorado,
I'd say that about 80% of my work is Plein air. My studio work suffers, but I
love to paint outdoors and it's such a challenge. When I'm back in Dallas, the
percentage is reversed - there is not a lot that I enjoy painting in Dallas.
It's gotten so big that one has to drive for hours to get out of the city!
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Your paintings of Aspens are your signature work. Do you
ever get tired of them? Seriously. How do you keep it fresh? Just curious….do
people expect you to paint Aspens now?
I never tire of
painting aspens, both in oil and watercolor. However, several times when we
have come to Colorado, I force myself NOT to paint aspens for at least the
first half of my stay. Back when I was a single parent, I was forced to paint
"what sells" and I don't want to ever get back into that. I do sell
quite a few aspen paintings and when I teach a workshop one of the things the
students "expect" to paint is aspens. My goal is to make each tree
different, because they are, and to try different color combinations on them
all the time. That way, I don't tire of them and they are continually a
challenge. When anyone asks me what colors I use for aspens, I tell them the
primaries.
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This new painting is gorgeous!
©”Follow The Sun” 20x16 Oil/linen/canvas
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Do you accept commissions?
Yes, if it's something I know I can paint well. For instance,
I wouldn't accept a portrait commission at this time until I get a lot better
at it!
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Where do you show your work?
In Colorado, I show
my work at Mary Williams Fine
Art in Boulder, Wild Horse Gallery
in Steamboat Springs, Gallery VII in Allenspark, (Gallery VII in Allenspark) Silver Street Fine Art in Lake City and Redstone Art Gallery in Redstone. Other galleries include Weiler House Gallery in
Fort Worth, TX, Seaside Gallery in
Pismo Beach, CA, Southwest Gallery's
Artists' Showplace in Dallas, TX, and Gallery at Round Top in Round Top, TX.
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I LOVE this one!
"Untouched"
is from a trip to Estes Park in March. We tried snowshoeing (it's hard!) and
this is from a photo I took at Wild Basin (Rocky Mountain National Park) and it
was "Untouched." The underwater rocks and the reflections of the pine
trees showing the rocks were a challenge, but fun to paint! This is a rather
unusual painting for me, and I plan to do more like this. I seem to usually
focus on the "big picture" in a landscape instead of an intimate view
like this. I also LIVE to paint light and shadow, but this one has no sunlight.
However, it was a wonderful challenge and I'm pleased with the results.
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Yes! Definitely do more like this! It is wonderful.
© 2017 Cecy Turner
"Untouched" 20x16 Oil on Linen Canvas
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The Architecturals are lovely!
Thank you! When I painted strictly in watercolor, I did a lot
of architectures - Venice scenes, ornate church facades, etc. I've kind of
gotten away from it and one of my goals is to do more of it. Here's one of my
recent Venice watercolors I've just completed, "Waterfront Charm," 22
x 15.
©”Waterfront Charm” WC 22x15
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Who influenced you the most?
I've never had the honor of even meeting him, but English
artist David Curtis probably has a big influence on both my oils and
watercolors. I can't believe that someone could be so proficient in both mediums.
In oil, I love the work of Skip Whitcomb, Dan Young, Katherine Stats, Kathleen Dunphy and Brent Cotton. The only one of these I've studied
under is Skip Whitcomb, but I believe in studying other people's work in books,
magazines, on dvd's, etc., to get ideas on different
approaches and also inspiration.
I took a look at Curtis. His work is amazing; very
accomplished and filled with light! http://www.djcurtis.co.uk/
- What
was the best advice you ever got?
My father said I
could accomplish anything I wanted to , and I believed him.
© "Wrong Turn?" 18 x 24 oil
- Do
you listen to music when you paint in the studio? What do you listen to?
Yes, definitely. I listen to classical - a
lot of Rachmaninoff, Gershwin, Chopin, etc., in the studio, but outdoors I like
to hear the sounds of what is around me and would never paint with headphones
on!
©”Cold Feet” 20x30 oil
- Do
you feel your Group Affiliations have helped or hindered your career?
I think they have helped, because most carry
some name recognition with them and most offer a chance to jump in on ads in
magazines at a reduced rate and be "connected" to that group and the
artists in it.
- Do
you do your own marketing or do your galleries do your marketing?
There are only a couple of galleries I'm in
that actually market me, unfortunately, so I do my own through ads, workshops,
newsletters, etc.
©"A Quiet Place" 22 x 18 Oil
- What
advice would you have for artists just starting their careers?
The way I started my career and began
getting a "following" was to do outdoor art shows, but I'm not so
sure I'd recommend that - they are very time consuming and hard to do. I
enjoyed them while I did them, but just knew when it was time to "move
on." I think I'd advise to learn as much as one can through
workshops and lessons and approach some galleries or shops that sell art when
they feel they are good enough.
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Tell us something we don’t know about you.
I live in Dallas, TX, and also part of the
year in Colorado where I paint Plein air almost daily. I believe that painting
on location has helped to improve my work more than any classes or workshops
I've ever taken. I truly agree with the saying, "Nature is the best
teacher." I guess most people don't know about me that my mother really
hoped I'd become a concert pianist, but that probably never would have
happened. I didn't keep the "burning desire" like I've kept in painting.
I still love to play the piano, but I've mostly "lost it" and don't
play very much anymore (I could be painting instead)!
- What
are your plans for the future?
I plan to keep striving to make every
painting better than the last one, to never retire from painting and to always
enjoy what I'm doing.
Contact Cecy for more information about all artwork.