BobBlast 530 - "Heart Air Balloon Series - How it Started…"

Weekly BobBlast Issue 529
Heart Air Balloon Series - How it Started…

Welcome Back to Another BobBlast!

My Heart Air Balloon paintings came from the suggestion of my gallery to “Paint landscapes with colorful hot air balloons racing across the sky at sunrise.”

I’ve seen this same image in too many other galleries—for me, it’s a common subject and too ordinary. William F. Reese, painter, sculptor and artist, said it best… “The toughest part about being mediocre is there is so much competition.”

So at first, I was taken aback at this request and recall muttering to myself, “Hot air balloons???” Repeating this to myself over and over, I finally mumbled “Heart Air Balloons”—the light went on! I liked the play on words and the concept of what I wanted to do became very clear.

My concept: Paint landscapes, and racing across the sky are Hot Air Balloons in the shape of Hearts. I started painting this concept in the late 1990s and I still paint them today!

In the studio as a morning warm-up, I paint simple Heart Air Balloons taking off or docked on land with a ladder, referring to “Welcome Abroad!” I also start the warm-up paintings with an abstract mess—you know, the paintings that just didn’t make it the first time around.

For these warm-ups, I use several different techniques:

•Wipe a transparent color all over the surface to unify the new beginning
•Using opaque colors, I paint the negative shape, eliminating anything that does’t look like a heart air balloon

So the point being, all ideas—even suggested ones, are good ideas. It just depends what your imagination does with them! Paint your simple concept many times and soon you’ll have a series ready for exhibit and sale. Your own original ideas! Start painting your own original thoughts… not mediocrity.

Loosen Up! Workshop Coming Up
•September 16-20, 2024
In-Person, in Bob's Studio, Arroyo Grande, CA
Limited to 10 Painters!
https://robertburridge.com/burridge-s...
then scroll down to 5 Day Instructional Workshops
Contact [email protected] for questions!

Online Monthly Demos
•September 11, 2024
“Painting Carrot People”
•October 9, 2024
“Asymmetrical Composition”
https://robertburridge.com/monthly-de...

Online Monthly Critique Sessions
Limited to 10 artists - up to 3 images each
•August 27, 2024
•September 24, 2024
•October 10, 2024
https://robertburridge.com/monthly-cr...

Traveling Bob – In-Person Workshops!
•October 14-18, 2024
"Loosen Up Painting Retreat"
Bar Harbor, Maine
Now accepting day students!
contact 715-747-2054 or [email protected]
https://www.madelineartschool.com/sho...

•January 6-10, 2025
Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage
Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, AZ
Sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts
contact 715-747-2054 or [email protected]
https://www.madelineartschool.com/sho...

If you missed last week's free webinar about these two workshops,
click on the link to watch! Bob does some great demos!
https://robertburridge.com/robert-bur...

Here are MORE In-Person Workshops! Can't Wait!
•October 28-November 1, 2024
"Loosen Up Painting Retreat" & Gallery Show at GOH
Gallery of Hermosa, Hermosa Beach, CA
Contact (323) 364-6606 or [email protected]
https://galleryofhermosa.com/collecti...

•January 18-25, 2025
Tropical Escapaint! Loosen Up Painting Retreat in Mexico
Casa de Los Artistas
Boca de Tomatlan, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta 
Contact Robert Masla, (413) 335-4295
https://artworkshopvacations.com/feb-...

Online Figure Workshops Coming Up
•September 27-29, 2024
"Abstract Figurative"
Sponsored by the Sedona Arts Center
https://sedonaartscenter.org/product/...

•December 6-8, 2024
"Drawing & Painting the Figure with Motion & Emotion"
https://robertburridge.com/zoomin-wit...

Burridge Online Coaching
•Private one-on-one
Critiques • Coaching • Comments • Strategies
https://robertburridge.com/burridge-o...