Summer Teaching at the MAG

Two classes I taught this summer at the Memorial Art Gallery's Creative Workshop were "Botanical Drawing: Observing & Drawing Nature" and "Your Radical Work: Risk-Taking Artmaking." Each of these classes met five times a week, for one week each. I found both classes very enjoyable.

"Botanical Drawing: Observing & Drawing Nature" took place from July 10th - July 14th. The class was composed of adult students who were all already interested in drawing, and wished to focus on plants, leaves and flowers in their artwork. To my surprise, each of my students coincidently had a background in education. As a teacher, I believe I am always learning, and this class was more proof of that than ever! I also had a returning student who had taken a couple of my classes before, and it always feels great to have a student who wants to keep studying with me.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Botanical Drawing Class Demo, 2017, Mixed Media, 8 1/2" x 11"

"Your Radical Work: Risk-Taking Artmaking" is a two-week long class. I taught the first part last week, July 17th - July 21st. This class was composed of teenage students who worked on creating at least one portfolio based, mural themed piece.

In addition to working on their solo project, I had them work together on a group mural. Each student was given a 12" x 15 1/2" piece of watercolor paper. Then they were given a mystery image, that was a small part of larger picture, and they had to fill their watercolor paper with the mystery image. Once everyone had finished their individual section, all parts could be put together to solve the mystery.

Thomas Hart Benton, Boomtown, 1928, Oil on Canvas

Sketches of Monet Paintings

These are sketches I made based on paintings by Monet.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Sketch of Monet's Snow at Argenteuil, 2016, Pencil on Paper, 7" x 10"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Sketch of Monet's The Magpie, 2016, Pencil on Paper, 7" x 10"

Here is a video I made that shows my sketch of Monet's "Thaw in Argenteuil" being made.

Hundred Acre Pond

My latest painting, titled "Hundred Acre Pond," started as a plein air oil painting.  It was started the same day I did my Plein Air Lily Pads Pastel Drawing on 10 May 2015, on location in Mendon Ponds Park. After bringing it home, I continued to work on it in the studio until it was finished. These photos show the progressions of this piece, from a strictly plein air painting, to a finished studio painting.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Hundred Acre Pond Underpainting 1, 2015, Oil on Canvas, 18" x 24"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Hundred Acre Pond Underpainting 2, 2015, Oil on Canvas, 18" x 24"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Hundred Acre Pond, 2015, Oil on Canvas, 18" x 24"

Plein Air Pastel Dawings

This spring, I've created pastel drawings en plein air. These drawings were made outside, on location. After I painted a wash of semi-transparent orange watercolor paint over the surface of my paper inside, I would start, and finish the pastel drawing outside.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, View of the MAG, 21 April 2015, Pastel on Toned Watercolor Paper, 18" x 24"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Outside the MAG, 23 April 2015, Pastel on Toned Watercolor Paper, 18" x 24"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Plein Air Lily Pads, 10 May 2015, Pastel on Toned Watercolor Paper, 18" x 24"

Pastel Practice

This summer, I will be teaching a pastel course at the Creative Workshop titled Pastel Drawing En Plein Air. In order to be ready, I've been practicing my pastel drawing of local landscapes outside, on location. These are three of my practice drawings:

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Outside the Coffee Shop, 2014, Pastel on Paper, 10 1/4" x 16 1/2" 

Joseph D. Tarantelli, The Horse and The Garden, 2014, Pastel on Paper, 10 1/4" x 16 1/2"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Flora, 2014, Pastel on Viridian Paper, 10 1/4" x 16 1/2"

Space Monkey Episode 1

The Bots 1