I've been invited by Dr. Elias J. Michael of Union Street Dermatology to exhibit my paintings at the inaugural 'Art on Union Street' show.

Here are the quick details:

Date:

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Time:

5:30 to 8:30 PM

Place:

Union Street Dermatology

1601 Union Street, SF CA 94123 [map]

Read more...

Saturday Art Sessions in February

The studio art sessions started in January 2012 are off to a great start with a full class of great students. We'll be continuing the art sessions in February. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up now. If you would like your name to be placed on a waiting list, please send an email to <a href="mailto:cl@seamusberkeley.com?subject=Please add my name to your Saturday class waiting list">Classes at Berkeley Fine Art Studio</a>.

Register here...

Here's the class description:

People have expressed a genuine need to connect with something other than their everyday routine of work and deadlines. Art can be just such an antidote for clearing space in the mind and re-orienting with the world again.

Using themed exercises each month, we will explore re-awakening direct visual experience as well as techniques for expressing the seen world on a two-dimensional surface.

Highlights:

• Every Saturday from 10am to 1pm.
• Sign-up for one month at a time.
• Each month themed on a particular aspect of painting and drawing.
• First month will be to work with charcoal and explore seeing lights and darks and expressing them in there simplest shapes.
• Main intention is to increase awareness of seeing, that is, learning to see more attentively and practicing seeing deeply as a way to be more present and grounded in the moment.
• Month of February is four Saturdays, $80 total for the month.
• Sessions will include some instruction and demonstration. Much of the work will be focused on your work, while recognizing the internal dialogue taking place.

Details:

• Where: Berkeley Fine Art Studio, 933 Parker Street, Berkeley CA 9410, between 8th and 9th Streets [Map]
• When: Saturdays, 10am to 1pm
• Cost: $80 for four Saturdays-materials not included.
• Materials: In January, charcoal, drawing pad, kneaded eraser, soft cloth or chamois
• Class size: Limited to 12 students

Portrait Workshop at the Mendocino Art Center

Berkeley Study, oil on canvas

This two day workshop will be covering the basics of portrait painting. Instruction will be with a model, the best way to paint a portrait!

The workshop will include demonstration, as well as group and individual instruction.

Visit the FAQ for a list of suggested materials.

For more information and to register, visit Mendocino Art Center or call 707.937.5818 or 800.653.3328.

Dates:

Saturday and Sunday, April 28 & 29, 2012

Time:

9:00am to 4:30pm

Register:

Mendocino Art Center Workshops

One Day Composition Workshop

Saturday, July 30, 2011 from 9am to 4:30pm.

Learn how to see and learn how to get that scene onto your canvas in this one day workshop!

Exploring concepts of composition is perhaps the single most important aspect in creating a work of art that is expressive of your unique view of the world. Approaches to seeing and deciding interesting compositions are the focus of this one day workshop, as well as learning how to see and how to get that scene onto your canvas.

This workshop will be held at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts. Register here...

Painting and Drawing Workshop in Ireland

I'll be at Anam Cara on the west coast of Ireland again this year giving a workshop on drawing and painting, emphasizing the importance of seeing before beginning your work. We'll be exploring ways to enhance your creativity and improve your drawing and painting skills.

For more information on the workshop, please visit the Anam Cara website.

Here is the summary of dates and location:

Dates:

Saturday, 11 June 2011 to Saturday, 18 June 2011

Place:

Anam Cara Writer's and Artist's Retreat

Eyeries, County Cork, Ireland [map]

Call:

+353 (0)27 74441

I’ll be open for another art dialogue Friday, December 10 from 6 to 8 pm. It turned out that the art dialogue at the last opening was an exciting opportunity. People who came in the door wondering if they had to wait to ask their questions! Of course, I was delighted by this, as talking about art happens to be one of my passions.

So please come and bring more questions!

I’ll also have be sharing details on upcoming workshops in 2011. This summer I’ll be leading a few painting sessions in Europe. The first one offered is a figurative landscape course June 1 through 7 at a spectacular location: Le Petit Rousset in southern France read details...

In addition, I’ll be showing a new series of prints and notecards available for purchase.

If you’re in the area this Friday, please come to the studio in Berkeley. Here are the details for the event:

Date:

Friday, December 10th, 2010

Time:

6:00 pm — 8:00 pm, Conversation at 7:00pm

Place:

Berkeley Fine Art Studio

Studio 40

933 Parker Street, Berkeley CA 94710 [map]

Call:

510.984.1850

Figurative Landscape Painting Workshop in France

I'm leading a painting workshop in France June 1 to 7, 2011. This will be a fun and enjoyable learning experience at a fabulous southwest country resort in the Dordogne. We'll be concentrating on tbe figure in a landscape setting in the environs of Le Petit Rousset. We’ll be painting every day while taking time to explore the spectacular surroundings in the southwest of France.

This workshop is being offered through Le Petit Rousset, an the international affiliate of San Francisco Arts & Humanities Seminars. For details about the workshop, please contact the director, Beverly Held, by phone at 415.933.9799, or by email at info@rousset-perigord.org.

Read more...

Download the brochure and application form here: Figurative Landscape Painting.

Frida's Front — New Painting for a Frida Kahlo Show in Taos

Frida's Front, Oil on canvas

Earlier this year, Andrea Watson invited me to participate in a group show in Taos, New Mexico. The show is centered on anything Frida Kahlo. Instead of recreating standard images, this show has aims to illuminate tiny details related to her life. For this show, I chose to paint a detail of the Frida Kahlo Museum facace in Coyoacán, Mexico. Orange, blue, green, yellow — lots of color! Fun!

I titled this one Frida's Front.

The show opens this Friday at the J Fine Art Gallery in Taos. Here are the details:

Date:

Friday & Saturday, October 29 & 30, 2010

Time:

6:00 pm — 9:00 pm

Place:

J Fine Art Gallery

221 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte

Taos, New Mexico 87571

Exhibition of New Paintings: Looking Up

I've been working on a number of projects since returning to Berkeley after my extended trip to Ireland. One of them is a series of new paintings for a show on a theme of Looking Up. These pieces are a reflection on what is there when I look up.

Please join me for this engaging exhibition of theLooking Up show October 9, 2010 from 5 to 7 pm, with a conversation with the artist at 6pm.
Read more...

Looking Up Exhibition

Date:

Saturday, October 9 2010

Time:

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Artist talk at 6:00pm

Place:

Berkeley Fine Art Studio

Studio 40, 933 Parker Street

Berkeley, California 94710 [map]

More Info:

510.984.1850

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New Show: 'Plenty Hidden"

In another collaborative show between writer Amy Moon and painter Seamus Berkeley, the artists individually explore hidden aspects of a phenomenon: self-storage. When something — like self-storage — becomes a ubiquitous part of our lives and our landscapes, we often don’t see it. By taking a closer look, the artists explore what our relationship to our things says about us and how that affects our environment.
Read more…

PLENTY HIDDEN
Show Opening

Location:

Berkeley Fine Art Studio, 933 Parker Street, Berkeley CA 94710

Date:

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Time:

6:00 to 8:00 pm

More Info:

510.984.1850

Map:

Berkeley Fine Art Studio

June 2, 2009: Passages show opening of new work and conversation with the artist

A New Series of Paintings


































I would like to invite you to a show of new work and old studies at my studio in Berkeley on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 7pm.

I'm calling the show Passages to reflect the new work as well as mark a new direction for my paintings. I've written more about this on my blog Read more...

I hope you can make it - this is going to be fun!

Show details:

Location:

933 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

Date:

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Time:

7:00 to 9:00 pm

More Info:

510.984.1850

Map:

Berkeley Fine Art Studio

Bring a friend!

Best regards,


Seamus


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JAM - The Stimulus Package

An invitation to a special event in Taos, NM on April 30, 2009. Here’s The Full Invitation

January 1, 2009: New Year, New Light and Video

I always think it a good idea to start day one of a new year with something that represents the plan for the whole year. This year my plan is for more light, more art and more videos! Watch a short video of my painting on the left appear like magic in this film shot from start to finish while completing Point Reyes Light. Best wishes for the New Year, Seamus

December 11, 2008: New Paintings, Open Studios and Painting Demonstration

This painting is a little figurative piece from a recent portrait painting session with the fun group of painters of the Taos Society of Portrait Artists. You can see a larger image of it on my website or the original at my studio in Berkeley, which will be open again this year during Berkeley Open Studios. The open studio tour continues this weekend and next, December 13 & 14 and 20 & 21 from 11am to 6pm. Along with this painting, I have a number of new works for you to see, as well as with my recently released Fundamentals of Painting DVD. And to keep things a little more interesting, this Sunday, December 14, I will be giving a free portrait painting demonstration from 12 to 3pm with artist Krista Augius modeling. So, if you are in the neighborhood, please stop in, say hello, take a look at the new work, and watch a painting in progress! Here are the details: Open Studios: December 13 & 14 and 20 & 21 from 11am to 6pm Portrait Demonstration: Sunday, December 14 from 12 to 3pm Made in the Shade

Berkeley Open Studios 2008

One, Two, 4x10, Oil on canvas

I will be participating again this year in Berkeley Open Studios, a free self-guided tour of 100 artists and craftspeople who open their workshops and galleries to the public.

• Dates:

November 29–30

December 6–7, 13–14, 20–21

• Time:

11am to 6pm

• Place:

Studio 40, 933 Parker Street, Berkeley

Here's a map to the studio and one for the tour guide.

New Website

It is finally here - a new website designed and developed by Patrick Berkeley. Yes, Patrick and I are related: father and son. This new site is something I have really wanted for many years, so I'm really excited about it. A few of the best new features for me are in the administrator interface:

Instant updating of new paintings, events and workshops

Instant updating of new paintings, events and workshops

And for you:

Purchase artwork or register for classes directly on the site

Videos are on the site

Downloadable PDFs

This last feature is one that I am most excited about and is something Patrick designed. I think you will really like it: you can download, print or email and any painting on the site! I’ve had many people ask me for images of paintings that have sold, or if they could have an image of a painting before purchasing. This new feature allows you to do these things and to take a closer look at a painting, print it out, and hang it on your wall or give it away to friends! To use this feature simply click the 'Download PDF' link to the left of any painting. To be in contact with Patrick about website design, please call him at 415.508.6114, send him and email, or visit his website.

October 8, 2008: A Still Life, Taos Happenings

Blue, Cool!, 7" x 5", Oil on canvas

A little still life - I like keeping it simple!

---

I have three events coming up this week in Taos that I'm inviting you to attend if you are in the area:

October 9, 5:30 - 7:30, DVD Party at the taos gallery

October 10 - 12, Portrait Workshop in Taos

October 11, 7:00pm, Interwoven Illuminations I, An Evening of Art and Poetry at the Rane Gallery

Just follow any of the links for more information or pass this along to a friend! Thanks!

Art Break, Art Workshops

Suzhou Canal, 32x16, Oil on canvas


32" x 16", Oil on canvas on board

I’ve been thinking a lot today that it would be a good moment for a little art.
You may recall that I painted a smaller version of this setting in Suzhou, China some time ago as part of the daily painting series. This time its larger and one in a series I’m currently working on entitled Passages. I hope you experience enjoyment from this work!
I also wanted to let you know that I have three weekend painting workshops coming up in October:

October 10 - 12, Portrait in Taos

October 24 - 26, Fundamentals in Berkeley

October 31 - November 2, Portrait in Berkeley

Just follow any of the links for more information or pass this along to a friend! Thanks!

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

September 4, 2008: Red Drop

This painting was from a recent workshop. It is one of my favorites.


Red Drop 10" x 4", Oil on canvas on board

Another small painting that was the basis for this larger work: Red Drop II.

October 25, 2008: News from Berkeley, new painting DVD

It's finally complete - the instructional painting DVD, that is!

Actually, I'm really excited about this video. It took a lot more thought and a lot more time to put it together than anticipated. The result was worth the effort though, as it summarizes much of what I teach in my fundamentals workshops.

Here's a short preview:

I've taught painting workshops for years and received a lot of feedback from grateful students on how much they learned. In the past year, I put a number of short painting videos on YouTube that have been well received with numerous views, comments and questions. In response to this, I decided it would be useful to put a lot of essential information onto the DVD and make it accessible to more people interested in learning more about painting.

If you have ever thought about taking a painting workshop and have hesitated for one reason or another - too far, too much, too many other people 'looking over your shoulder' - than this video can work for you. You can watch it on your time, stop, start and easily locate individual sections which are clearly marked in the menu system designed by Patrick Berkeley. And if you're considering signing up for one of my workshops, this would will a good foundation for a classroom experience. Start dates for the next three day workshops are October 24 and October 31.

You can read more about the DVD and purchase it here.

I want to thank Scott Stiefvater, Blue Sky Video Production, the videographer who filmed and edited the project. His approach and direction were both excellent and indispensable.

And I also want to thank my son, Patrick Berkeley, who worked diligently on all the graphics for this project and is now working even harder on my new website! He is available for website design work and you can be in touch with him at Patrick Berkeley.

A Berkeley Daily: Full Moon II

36" x 36", Oil on canvas

Always something special about a full moon. I wanted to celebrate the new year with a new painting and a new format and decided to do so with this first painting in a series of medium scale works.

It has been a while since my last posting. The last quarter was a busy one for me with portrait commissions, workshops in Taos and Berkeley and art events. I have a lot planned for the new year.

As you probably noticed, I've moved away from the daily paintings as I want to explore new ideas in varying sizes, like this Full Moon II painting, which is based on one of the smaller daily paintings. I will continue to post more work and notes about it in future emails.

For the new year, I've updated the web site to make it easier to let you know about upcoming events and workshops as well as available paintings and prints as well as new videos. I welcome your comments on the new site.

Wishing you the best in the new year.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Portrait of Shirley II

8" x 10", Oil on canvas on board, commission

The second of three different portraits of Shirley.

I've been busy preparing for leading a number of painting workshops coming up soon. The next one is scheduled for the first week October in Taos at the Taos Art School. If you know someone who would enjoy spending a week in Taos working on portrait painting, please have them be in touch.

A Berkeley Daily: Shadowy Bridge, Guatemala

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

A few wires, a couple of boards, a lot of air and the long shadow of the

legs.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Hollow Tree, Guatemala

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

My daughter Emily brought me to this hot spring surrounded by hollow trees in Guatemala where she is working for the Peace Corps.

I’m happy to know that we can be of benefit to other people by what we do - like Emily’s work in the Peace Corps. I wish for more of this. Read more about Emily.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Aquatic Park

4" x 5", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

From an early morning visit to a park close to the studio in Berkeley.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Portrait

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, commission

From blank to portrait of Shirley - fun what can be done with a little bit of oil paint and a canvas. This commission had an interesting twist: it is the first of three different portraits, one for each of her children. Wonderful idea Shirley!

A Berkeley Daily: Background

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, commission

A little background makes a big difference.

A Berkeley Daily: Details

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, commission

I seem to recall some phrase about details and a character from another realm that resides there.

A Berkeley Daily: Fill

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, commission

The subject begins to emerge.

A Berkeley Daily: Build

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, commission

Build the structure - a little like sculpting.

A Berkeley Daily: Wash

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, commission

One of the best things about working with oil paint is its latitude of application: even works like watercolor.

A Berkeley Daily: Blank

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, commission

Oh, oh! No paintings for a while and now this! He must be read more....

Intermediate Painting Workshop
Problem Solving Your Paintings

Four Day Painting Workshop with Seamus Berkeley

Three Scallions, 4" x 9", Oil on canvas (click image to visit the blog)

This 4-day workshop is designed to take you to a new level in your painting. Expand your means of expression by taking another look at composition including setup, placement, measurement and design to achieve a better result in space division, eye pathways and focal points. We will discuss brushwork and color mixing as well. The focus of this workshop will be on increasing your skills and ability to problem-solve your own work. The goal is to empower you to get what you want our of your painting. Seamus has a way of clearly expressing his in-depth knowledge of the painting process and he makes learning a pleasurable experience. He uses demonstration, discussion and one on one interaction in teaching.

This workshop is designed for intermediate students. It is open to artists who have previously attended a Seamus Berkeley workshop or for those who have some familiarity with their medium.

Note: Seamus works in oils and instruction will focus on this medium although the workshop is open to students who work in other media.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Seamus Berkeley has taught drawing, fundamentals of painting and portraiture classes and workshops for over 20 years in a number of places including the Taos Institute of Arts and at the University of New Mexico and his studios in Berkeley, California and Taos, New Mexico. He is a commissioned artist whose fine art works are owned, respected and enjoyed by collectors worldwide.

Seamus has won regional and national awards, including Best Portrait at the Oil Painters of America. He is the founder and past-president of the Taos Society of Portrait Artists and a member of the Oil Painters of America. His work has been featured in such publications as Southwest Art, Information Warehouse, The Taos News, Art-Talk and The Trail-Gazette. His work has been exhibited at the Rane Gallery in Taos, New Mexico and the Tennyson Gallery in Denver, Colorado. Visit his website at www.seamusberkeley.com.

LOCATION: Studio 40, 933 Parker Street between 7th & 8th Streets in Berkeley, California.

DATE: Thursday, October 25 through Sunday, October 28, 2007

FEE: $495 plus $30 Models fee; Register before September 25 for $445; Last date for registration: October 11, 2007

Class size limited to 10 students

To obtain further information (supply list, map, lodging, etc) and to register, please contact Sally Stewart at 510-235-1121

Intermediate Portrait Painting
Working with the Model

A Four Day Portrait Painting Workshop with Seamus Berkeley

Portrait of Ashley, 7" x 5", Oil on canvas (click image for video)

This four-day workshop is designed to enhance your ability to capture the presence of the individual before you on canvas. What is involved in posing the model to allow the presence of the person to be most seen? Seamus will begin with how to set up the pose to make best use of existing light, angles, and the position of the head to the body. How to work with the individual to allow the character to emerge. He will cover color mixing focusing on skin tones and use of measurement in seeing facial features and developing a central point of focus around which you will develop the portrait. The ultimate goal is to empower you to look at the painting process with a quiet mind thereby increasing your intuitive skills and your ability to work with the model. Discussion will also cover how to evaluate your own work. From the very first class meeting, you will work from life with models in the studio.

Although the idea of portrait-painting may seem daunting, the principles of portraiture are identical to the principles that underlie all types of painting. Simply stated, in order to paint, an artist must be able to see. In this workshop, Seamus will show you how to break down a complex image into simple, easy-to-see elements that you can translate onto canvas. One important aspect for the workshop is to have fun!

Seamus will demonstrate his own successful techniques for creating portraits that accurately convey both the appearance and the character of the model.

This workshop is designed for intermediate students. It is open to artists who have previously attended a workshop with Seamus or for those who have some familiarity with their medium and portrait painting.

Note: Seamus works in oils and instruction will focus on this medium, although the workshop is open to students who work in other media including acrylic

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Seamus Berkeley has taught drawing, fundamentals of painting and portraiture classes and workshops for over 20 years in a number of places including the Taos Institute of Arts and at the University of New Mexico and his studios in Berkeley, California and Taos, New Mexico. He is a commissioned artist whose fine art works are owned, respected and enjoyed by collectors worldwide.

Seamus has won regional and national awards, including Best Portrait at the Oil Painters of America show in 2000. He is the founder and past-president of the Taos Society of Portrait Artists and a member of the Oil Painters of America. His work has been featured in such publications as Southwest Art, Information Warehouse, The Taos News, Art-Talk and The Trail-Gazette. His work has been exhibited at the Rane Gallery in Taos, New Mexico and the Tennyson Gallery in Denver, Colorado. Visit his website at www.seamusberkeley.com.

LOCATION: Studio 40, 933 Parker Street between 7th & 8th Streets in Berkeley, California.

DATE: Thursday, November 1 through Sunday, November 4, 2007

FEE: $495 plus $30 Models fee; Register before October 1 for $445 plus model fee; Last date for registration: October 18, 2007

Class size limited to 10 students

To obtain further information (supply list, map, lodging, etc) and to register, please contact Sally Stewart at 510-235-1121.