Notes from the Studio in April

Studio time has been a bit limited lately because of my teaching schedule, but I managed to make a little progress on a few of my 20"x20" pieces.  See this post from March, where I started a group of pieces in acrylic and drawing media, then switched to oils.  These two are still in process:

This is where I left off in March.

And this is where the piece landed.  I'll leave if for a while and see if it wants more attention or tweaking.

Detail shot of the above.

Where I left off in March

Another stage along the path

Where I left off yesterday, which is definitely not done, but getting interesting.

Detail of above

Another detail.

Thanks for visiting!

We Have A Winner

Thanks so much to ALL of you who participated in the giveaway.  I would like to be able to send something to each and every one of you.  So I'm going to.  HERE is a printable version of my Red 3'x3' piece.  I don't have a title for it yet.  Download it, and print on 8.5"x11" photo paper.

The winner is Kat McCullough, the gal that described herself as "computer stymied".  Congratulations, Kat.  We do have a runner-up prize, though, for Roberta in Nova Scotia.  I thought there was another commenter from Nova Scotia, from Bear River, but I can't find the comment.  You get a runner up prize too, if you contact me. 

Thanks again for your participation and comments!

This is how the print will look on the 8.5"x11"

High Flow Acrylics - and a GIVEAWAY

I've been meaning to show you this demo on Golden's High Flow Acrylics for ages, and finally got around to editing a little video and getting all the parts together.  So, here is a little video on using High Flow Acrylics.  For Golden's own video demo, go here.

I am looking forward to experimenting more with the markers; so far I've mostly used the High Flow Acrylics in the Fine Line Applicator and straight out of the bottle.

Detail of High Flow used in the Fine Line Applicator

Same as above, but a different piece.  Then layered with paint

3'x3' canvas, in which I used the High Flow right out of the bottle as well as in the Fine Line Applicator.

I am offering a giveaway of a High Flow Set with Markers plus a Fine Line Applicator, so you can find out for yourself how cool these materials and tools are for expressive mark making.

This is the Fine Line Applicator you get in the giveaway.

The High Flow set with markers in the giveaway.

All you have to do to to qualify for the giveaway is comment on this post and say you are interested.  PLUS, you have to be in the US or Canada.  Overseas shipping is to much.  If you are in Newfoundland or Nova Scotia you get better odds. 

I will post a winner on Wednesday, April 23, and it will be the winner's responsibility to check the blog, and then e-mail me with a shipping address.

Art and Soul in Portland

Here are some pix from Art and Soul in Portland.  I am so grateful to all those who participated in my classes and made it a really fun experience.  Also to Glenny and Marie who produce this event and make it run smoothly.  They manage to think of lots of little "extras" to make both teachers and attendees feel special and well cared for.

Dayna Collins and Karen

Me trying to be entertaining

I was honored to have Serena Barton in my Balancing Opposites class.

Barbara and Mary in the Transparencies class

Various works in progress from the Transparencies class

Belinda

Dayna's work in Working In Series

Laura's Mermaid in Transparencies

Sue's collage papers

Working in Series, in progress

Sonchen and Anne

For more pictures and information on Art and Soul events, go to their Facebook Page or web site.

Looking at the Trees

I am at Art and Soul in Portland, Oregon now, teaching lots of classes and having a great time.  Pix of this event are forthcoming, but in the meantime I wanted to post a video I made a while ago, and share with you an idea that has seems to have been helpful to people in my workshops recently:  Looking At The Trees.  As opposed to The Forest.  Zooming in more than zooming out is another way to look at it.

The fact that each move you make on a painting changes the whole painting can be a bit intimidating, and leave you always zooming out, looking at the forest, to see how each brush stroke has affected the whole.  This is an important part of the process, but I think we often zoom out way too soon. What we can end up with is a painting that falls short of its potential, a painting that grew up too quickly, that might be pretty on the surface, but lack depth and character.

While working on a painting, try focusing on the trees, zooming in, more than you zoom out.  Pay attention to the process as you work, enjoy the feel of the paint, the pressure of the brush, the gesture of a scribble; look at the minutia: how this line crosses over that one, how one color affects another, etc.  Enjoy the contrasts and contradictions; surprise yourself, let yourself not know where you are going, leave it open-ended.

More Pix from Big Fat Art

Here is just a little follow-up from the last post about our Big Fat Art Weekend.

Jessica made me this chicken painting.

A better view of the chickens.

Wendy's stack of paintings

Another one from Judy

Another from Sharon

And a piece from Karen

All works can be considered as "in process", except the chicken painting.  Here is a little video of the "real" chickens: