Mug Shot # 20 - Maria Bennett Hock

Maria and I paint get together to paint almost every week.  We carpooled to Karin Jurick's 2012 Hilton Head workshop.  Maria came up with the brilliant idea of sharing a beach house with a couple of other artists she'd met the year before instead of staying at a hotel.  I have to say if you ever have a chance to do that for a workshop do itl.  It was wonderful to have people to share the experience with on a much more personal level and spent evenings expanding our art adventure.  The Hilton Head 4 challenge grew out of our time spent together when we decided it would be a great way to continue the fun we had at the workshop.  The biggest reward has been I now have 2 more dear friends.  

I'm still working hard trying to paint these 'portraits.'  I have a tendency to not go light enough with my skin tones and to over work them.  So for the last few I have toned the gessobord with red light instead of black and decided not worry about leaving some of the red showing.  

WANTED

  Maria Bennett Hock, also known as (aka) "The Enforcer"

 

Maria Bennett Hock, 4x4" oil on gessobord

Supervisor Wanda Rottenfusser report:

Just finished doing an internet search on Maria “The Enforcer” Bennett Hock and I am exhausted.  It appears this woman has done everything leading me to believe this is an extremely deep cover for a seriously nefarious felon.  She has stated “my days are filled with conceptualizing, defining and realizing concepts”.  This sounds more like a ringleader than an enforcer.

We know she spearheaded the original mug challenge of the 2011 Hilton Head Gang and instigated a similar exercise among the 2012 Hilton Head felons.  She is a member of the splinter group Hilton Head Four, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Paintbrush, and numerous art societies and organizations.  She often participates in challenges (30 in 30, 6 at 60, etc.) and workshops in North America and Europe.  She has published at least 2 books and has been heard on several episodes of blog talk radio.  We suspect that it is during these activities that she exchanges information with other felons, learning and developing more refined techniques for creating havoc. 

“The Enforcer” can often be seen skulking in art galleries dressed like a private eye (as camouflage this is not terribly successful), in the streets or on the beaches – shooting apparatus at the ready.  She is armed and dangerous and we believe her goal is to immortalize the world “in portraits that convey emotion”.  Please help put this woman in bars where she belongs [sorry, that should read behind bars].

To see other eye witness accounts (paintings) of the Hilton Head Caper click on  2012hiltonheadcaper.blogspot.ca

Rhymes with Orange

I'm still on the hunt for cartoons by artists who do cartoons about art.  If you missed this one yesterday, Hillary Price has continued to show nothing rhymes with orange! 

Created by Hillary Price

Hilton Head Four Challenge - New Orleans

Our 9th Hilton Head Four (HH4) semi-monthly challenge was provided by Regula "Lulu" Scheifele.  What a great picture of a wonderful gentleman playing his guitar on the streets of New Orleans.  Now here is a man how really looked like he was enjoying himself.  Lulu said she bought even one of his CDs.  How fun if she played it while she painted his portrait. 

Play'n the Blues, 8x8" oil on RayMar panel ($150)

This was a very interesting challenge because it totally took me out of my comfort zone.  I thought faces were tough, but I found out hands are in another category of tough for me! That's what's great about challenges... they are something that I had wanted to try, but never took the plunge.  I think they've pushed me to go places I probably would not go on my own.  I'm learning so much about changes in composite and color.  I also know that I need a challenge with a deadline.  Nothing like having to post something on a specific day to get you moving and painting.

If you aren't already trying challenges such as The Daily Painter's Challenge find a couple of artist friends and start your own challenge.  

 Regula 'Lulu' Scheifele  

Willie Plays the Blues, 8 x 8” oil on gessobord

Maria Bennett Hock

Panama Hat, 10 x 10” oil on Raymar Panel

Chris Werst

#4 - Hilton Head 4 - Talkin Bout My Gull

This is Challenge #4 for the HH4 as we affectionately call our challenge group, so it’s time to start the cycle over again. Next pick will be dealer's choice and doesn't have to be a picture taken at the beach.  I'm looking forward to seeing Lulu's next pick.  

I had been reluctant in the past to do challenges.  As much as I am enjoying them now, I'm sorry I didn’t start sooner.   A challenge with friends works well for me, because I don't want to let my friends down by missing a deadline.  That's a push I need.  Challenges take me outside my comfort zone and try subject matter I probably would have avoided in the past. 

The challenges have helped me not to be so married to a reference photograph.  Now I try to think about how I can crop or change it to make it a composition that will be different, but still reflect the subject matter.  I initially painted the middle gull with its head tucked back and then did something I need to do more. I didn't like it, so I painted out the head and did it over again facing the other way. 

A big thanks to my husband for helping name this painting.

Talkin Bout My Gull,  8x10" oil on canvas board

Artist Chris Werst

Chris provided the photograph for challenge 

Of Course I know the Way, 8x10" oil on board

Artist Maria Bennett Hock

mariahock.blogspot.com

Jonathan C. Gull, 8x8” oil on board

Artist Regula Scheifele

www.regulascheifele.blogspot.com