December at Artful Endeavors

Here we are at the end of 2019. I can’t believe that time goes so fast. I do believe that time speeds up the older we get.

We’ve been discussing project plans for 2020 and have some exciting ideas. I’m finishing up Christmas paintings and am working on the schedule for the new year. I hope to have it posted soon. So many ideas! And I plan to have several workshops throughout the year that I will be teaching. I have some ideas but if you have a request let me know. 

We’ll have Ros back July 22-25 and most likely Kathie will be back in Nov to share with us. Mark your calendar and plan to join us.

But before we get to next year, our Dec schedule for our 10-2p class plans to experiment with watercolors starting tomorrow. We’ve talked about snow scenes and this could be a small painting or a card. And we’ve talked about landscapes in a loose style. Bring your watercolors and painting supplies. I have lots of fun mark makers such as plastic wrap, cheese cloth, string, ….  Don’t forget your imagination and we’ll just have fun creating. This is a 2 wk class.

Our 4-6p class will paint Peggy Harris’ holiday bird ornaments. If you would like to join us just order and download the ornament patterns, they come 2 in a packet, and we’ll concentrate on 2 of the designs. You choose which 2 you want. I have ornaments, 4” paper Mache’, if you need ornaments. We’ll have some fun with the backgrounds. Think fluffy and we’ll paint these cuties. 2 wks.

That will bring us up to our 2 wk holiday break. I always plan to do some catching up but somehow that never works. We’ll see. Classes resume Wed, Jan 8, 2020 (doesn’t that sound strange, 2020)

Our Welcome Back to Painting party is Jan 5th, 1-4p. I’m encouraging our students to bring paintings they would like to show, bring an easel if you have one, and we’ll have an art show. Spread the word among your friends and family, bring them with you. You can bring a goodie to share too. I’ll have class preps and samples to show. It’s always so nice to see everyone after the break and share stories and plans for the upcoming year.

I hope to see you on Wed and for sure at our Jan party. Have a wonderful month full of friends and family, and maybe just a little quiet time just for you.

Thanks for being here and sharing my passion for art and painting. I’ll look forward to more creative time with you in the new year.

Liz

What Happened to April!!

Wow, April was here and then it was gone! And we’re well into May. And all the fun May and summer painting experiences. Always something new!

Here’s the update:

We’ve made a few changes in our weekly schedules so be sure to check the web site for schedules.

Wed am classes for the next 2 wks is an open class. Need to finish one of your creations, want some assist working through a new one, this is that class.

I you missed one of the projects that we painted this spring, check the Wed 4-6p classes. They have scheduled some of our favorites including the colored pencil house finch, the acrylic lake, and the pastel Italian sail boat.

House Finch Colored Pencil A Liz Miller Design

House Finch Colored Pencil
A Liz Miller Design

Cary has scheduled the Green Door acrylic on textured watercolor paper, the colored pencil wrens, and the pen and ink continuous line drawing and watercolor Olive Walk.Green-Door

This Friday is our Pet Portrait workshop. Contact me today or tomorrow to talk about photo, prep, and to register.

Summer Seminars!

Don’t miss this summer at Artful Endeavors with 3 terrific teachers coming to share their talents with us. Next year’s seminar schedule will be entirely different so don’t miss this summer’s opportunities.

Mark Polomchak,  June 28, 29, and 30:   Mark is wonderful sharing his skills and humor with all levels of painters. Don’t have watercolor experience? Not a problem. This is the watercolor seminar for you.                Single days are now available. Details and to register.#158 SEASCAPE AND MIST

Ros Stallcup, July 24-27: Always fun and creative, Ros will be back with us with her entirely new designs, our southern country theme.                                Single days are now available. Details and to register.Porch Time

Mark Menendez, Aug 23-24: We’re excited that Mark will be sharing his colored pencil portrait techniques with us. Mark is an excellent teacher, presenting information in an easy to understand and fun manner.  Register now!

EPSON MFP image

Are you following us on Face Book? You can find ideas, class photos, student’s work, information, and more. And you don’t even have to use Face Book to see us. Did you like the Iris?

Plan to join us and let me hear from you soon. We’re going to have an artfully fun summer at Artful Endeavors.

Liz

Spring and Summer Workshops

We’ve been working on our schedule to include some different mediums and techniques that we’ve wanted to play with. Note the dates because we’ve changed some of them. Plan to join us. Just let Liz know ahead of time to plan for supplies and subject.

Batik Play-days! Join us for some Batik fun whether experienced or a novice.  10am-2p.

Experienced students will work mostly on their own. If you are new to batik Liz will teach the technique and help you choose an appropriated project from Kathie George designs.

March 18, 2019, Monday


 

March 29, Pen and ink with watercolors. 10am – 3p. We’ve seen such beautiful loose designs using this mixed medium combination that we’re ready to create our own. Register by March 18, 2019.


May 10, Pet Portraits. 10am – 3p.  Bring a photo of your pet or one you choose to paint and join us. This class will focus on capturing the personality of your pet. More details.  Register by April 19, 2019. Show Liz your photo selection and discuss prep.  $70

Pets-June-2016-2

Register now!

Paint Your Cat Party for Purr Partners

Date: Fri, Feb 22, 6-9p        at   Artful Endeavors   with Liz Miller

Barbara-webClass cost $45/participant

All supplies and surface will be provided.

No experience needed.

Bring your own wine and snack to share

Come join us for an evening of fun where you will paint the face of your own cat on an 8×10” canvas. Don’t have a cat? Purr Partners has many kitties you can paint.  No experience is needed, just the desire to enjoy the experience with friends.

Bring a photo of your cat face for coloring. We’ll use a pattern for the face so no drawing is required.  All supplies and surface are provided.

And we’ll party, so bring a bottle of wine and a snack to share.

Proceeds from our workshop go to Purr Partners Feline Rescue for the benefit of our cats.

Register Now!  $45 

Or mail your check to Liz Miller,

Artful Endeavors 200 Sawmill Rd, Suite 201, Raleigh, NC 27615

Angie

 

Painting The Light: part 2

Beginning the sky

Beginning the sky

Stage 1

Sky step 2

What next? Right away I knew that the sky wasn’t working. Did I start all over again? or make it work?

So I began to “unpaint”. Now my students are wondering how I unpaint. I’ve never been fond of starting all over again so I’ve taught myself how to use what I already had done. After all it wasn’t a disaster, just needed correcting.

Continuing with the development of the Bass Harbor Light I realized that I was pulling the attention to the left of the painting with all the detailed clouds in that area. I began by neutralizing the left sky by slip slapping in dark values, bringing the darks across the sky toward the right, and lowering the blues toward the horizon. In this way I directed attention toward the sky near the light house.

I had already added the water, lighter toward the horizon and darker toward the bottom of the design.

I based the light house with white for placement and continued to develop the sky, adding light clouds near the light house. I also added darker cloud details in the sunset and adjusted the intensity of the oranges and yellows. Then darkened the lower water area.

Now the more detailed clouds and sunset helped pull attention to my center of interest.

The sky was really key to developing my center of attention and creating the drama of this design.

Bass Harbor Light: Step 3

Bass Harbor Light: Step 3

I’ll be back to show you about the buildings and greenery. Watch out rocks! Here we come.

My local classes are in the midst of painting this design but I have scheduled a Saturday class for those who can’t come during the week on April 7, 9a-5p. Register now to join us.

 

Painting the Light

Painting light after all is what we are doing in our artwork. Light creates volume, sets the mood, creates interest, and gives your painting life. In our classes we’ve been concentrating on different lighting situations recently in our landscapes and our upcoming seascape. I thought I would share my thoughts and preparation for painting the Bass Harbor Light.

Bass Harbor Light

Bass Harbor Light

I was asked by one of my students to paint the Bass Harbor Lighthouse in Maine so I began to research the structure and different lighting options. I decided that I wanted to make the light house stand out through my use of light and detail. I wanted the lighthouse to have the most detail and gradually use less and less detail as I moved away from the center of interest. Of course, that’s the way to create a center of interest.

Sunset , one of my photo inspirations

Sunset , one of my photo inspirations

Being a sky enthusiast, I love watching clouds and the colors in the sky at different times of day, I’ve taken lots and lots of sky and cloud photos. This was a good opportunity to go back through my photos as inspiration for the sky in this painting. I found the color ideas and cloud formations to create drama and decided where in my painting I needed to have the most vivid colors and active clouds to call attention to the center of interest.

Sunset clouds inspiration

Sunset clouds inspiration

Next I decided on the size canvas I would use, actually I went to my stock of canvases and discovered the 12 x 24″ which I though would add even more drama to the painting.

I created my drawing of the lighthouse, sized it, and positioned it roughly on my canvas since I would be covering it up when I added the sky. I used DecoArt Traditions paints because I like the vividness of the colors and quality of the paints, just right for a dramatic sky.

Half of the work of creating a painting goes in the research and preparation before I ever pick up a paint brush. I sketched a thumb nail of my design and when I was satisfied with placement and possible colors I was ready to choose my paints and begin the sky.

I had decided on an evening sky with strong sunset colors just before the sun goes beyond the horizon so I chose oranges, yellows peaking through a dark blue sky. Then I applied my first layers of paint for the sky and water.

Beginning the sky

Beginning the sky

I’ll continue my process in my blog so check back to see how I progressed and what needed adjusting as I painted. As you see there will be a lot of changes made.

Or even better, you can join one of my classes at Artful Endeavors and paint along with me. Check the schedules for the Raleigh day class and the Cary evening class. I’ve been asked to hold a Saturday class and I’m looking for a day that works. Let me know if you would like to come paint with us any of these times.

What’s Happening In Sept At Artful Endeavors

A Short Note to Catch Up

 

I’ve just returned from a wonderful weekend workshop with Lisa Ann Watkins, watercolor pencil artist which left me inspired and wanting to do more, right now! But I thought you would appreciate being updated on studio class happenings, so here’s what coming:
* Yes, we are painting the Santa Face this Wed. I have the paints, just register and come join us. My surface is a 8″ round but any smallish size will do. Wed, Sept 13, 10a-2p.
* And we are all set to paint my Kitty Angel Ornaments this coming Fri, Sept 15, 10-2p. I have the ornaments. You are welcome to paint any color cat you would like.
* Wed pm at the studio is painting my mixed media Blue Bird starting this week, Sept 13, 27, & Oct 4, 4p-6p.
* If you missed the Road to Know-Where, our Cary painters will begin it on Sept 26, Oct 3, 10 & 24. From my basic design each painter can personalize. Class is 6:15p-8p.

Kitty Angel Ornaments

Kitty Angel Ornaments

 

Road to Know-Where

Road to Know-Where

 

Mixed Media Blue Bird

Mixed Media Blue Bird

 

 

 

 

 

I’m working on getting the web site updated and will have all the classes posted soon. We’ve been planning classes for the rest of the year and hope you can join us. A little holiday sprinkled with some other favorite designs + lots of imagination.

Here’s the dog that I penciled with Lisa. Carol, Pat and I had a great time and I really enjoyed learning something new to me. It’s not finished but I am pleased with it.

Watercolor Pencil In Progress A Lisa Ann Watkins design

Watercolor Pencil
In Progress
A Lisa Ann Watkins design

Water Lily Gelli Kathie George design

Water Lily Gelli
Kathie George design

Details for our Nov seminar with Kathie George are posted! Hope you can join us. We have an exciting variety of projects planned.
Details and Register.

Donkeys Batik Kathie George design

Donkeys Batik
Kathie George design

Green Swamp Golden Acrylic  Kathie George design

Green Swamp
Golden Acrylic
Kathie George design

Mark Polomchak seminar 2017

Mark Polomchak seminar 2017

We had a great time painting with Mark Polomchak again this year.

Watch for photos on the blog. I have them already on Face Book.
Mark and I are talking about next year. Stay tuned.

Watch the web siteand Face Book for more updates.
Liz

©2017 Artful Endeavors | 200 Sawmill Rd, Suite 201, Raleigh NC 27615

 

 

Summer Classes and Workshops at Artful Endeavors

Join us for one of our 2017 summer workshops with Liz at Artful Endeavors. We’ll explore our creativity with acrylics and watercolors.
Be sure to register at least 2 wks prior to class.
We need at least 4 participants to hold the class.

close to finish

* Some of you have requested a class to paint the Road to Know-where. The class has been rescheduled to Saturday, Aug 12. Register by July 26.
* The classes are updated on the web site so let’s do some summer painting.
* Note that we are starting another paint your own from your photo of a beach sunset starting next week on Wed am. We’ll explode our painting with color.Our Wed evening class has requested to paint their own landscape. Bring that photo inspiration and let’s paint.Watch for an upcoming portrait class a little later! Start looking for the photo to use. Don’t have one of your family you want to paint? We’ll find you a family member. Maybe a self portrait…Fri Aug 18 is our next Paint Your Cat for Purr Partners. I’ll have more information on that soon.

Can’t travel to Artful Endeavors? Join me on Creative Workshops on one of my online classes.

Summer Romance

Summer Romance

* It’s time to sign up for our summer seminars if you haven’t done so already.

Seminars

Mark your calendar that I’ll be out of town June 19-23. It’s beach time!

I’m on Face Book at Artful Endeavors. You don’t even have to be on Face Book to follow me.

2017 Seminar and Workshops!

Our seminar schedule for this year has come together with some exciting teachers returning. Plan ahead, mark your calendars, and register soon.

July 19-22: Ros Stallcup. Our all new projects have been chosen and registration is open. Register Now

August 26-28: Mark Polomchak. We’ll choose our projects a little later, however, registration is open. Register Now.

November 13-15: Kathie George. We’ll have more information later in the year but you know it’s going to be exciting.

kathie-demo

Upcoming Workshops

 

Feb 3: Batik. 10a-3p. Choose your design and join us for a day of batik.

MythFeb 24: Paint-N-Party. 6p-9p Once again we will paint our own cats. This class is a benefit for Purr Partners. If you missed it the first time here we are again. Bring a photo of your cat and a bottle of wine if you would like. We’ll provide the instruction and the fun. Register now.

March 3, 4, & 5: 10a-4p. Portrait Workshop. Join us to learn about painting a portrait. Bring a photo of someone you would like to paint. We’ll work on creating a likeness. More details.DSC_0145

March 24: Colored Pencil. Watch for details.

Watch for more workshops this winter and spring. Plan to join us.