Author Archives: Artful me

Painting With Kathie George

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Our last seminar of the year is coming up soon and it’s an awesome painting time with Kathie George. There are still seats available so let me know if you would like to join us.

Rose Spoonbill watercolor

Rose Spoonbill
watercolor

Flower silk scarf

Flower silk scarf

Nov 14-16 & 17, 2016.

Remember there are the 3 day seminar and the special workshop. More details.

Register now!

Blowing in the Wind

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Wow, what a memorable seminar we had with Mark Polomchak. We had a full house for the entire weekend whether rain, wind, or sunshine. An adventure for sure.web-mark-painting

On Friday we actually completed 2 terrific paintings, the hummingbird and the ocean view, and were pleased with our accomplishments. Painters new to painting with Mark and repeat enthusiasts were smiling as we left for the day or went out for a group dinner, all in anticipation of a blustery next day. Friday evening was spent watching the hurricane progress up the east coast.

Saturday brought everyone back for more painting as we watched the rain and wind outside the windows. Appropriately we painted a rain scene, a group favorite. Then home early just in time, we hoped, to miss the worsening weather.

Painting with Mark Polomchak 2016

Painting with Mark Polomchak 2016

Then Sunday amidst sunshine most everyone was able to return to paint

again and share personal hurricane stories. Our bicycle paintings, a relatively new painting for Mark to teach, were not disappointing.  And we kept Ryan, The Framer, busy framing our favorites.

And Mark says he come teach for us next year, hurricane or no hurricane. Watch for dates as our plans develop.

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Workshop Suprise with Kathie George!

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In addition to our yearly 3 day workshop, Kathie is bringing us a special surprise workshop this year, her Creative Figure. This looks like so much fun. I’m sure that this funky workshop will appeal to the creative spirit in those of you adventurous artists. Plan to join us for some Kathie type experimentation.

Thursday’s Special Workshop: Creative Figure!

This workshop requires separate registration.  $100

Note From Kathie:  THIS IS FUN, ACTUALLY. IT’S ABOUT DOING FIGURES, BUT NOT WORRYING ABOUT A LIKENESS.  THE WONKIER THE BETTER. IT IS DONE ON GATORBOARD, BUT COULD BE DONE ON HEAVY WATERCOLOR PAPER OR A PANEL. NOT CANVAS, THOUGH. NEED A MORE RIGID SURFACE SO THINGS WON’T CRACK OFF. IT’S ACRYLIC AND COLLAGE AND TEXTURE GELS. WE USE ALL SORTS OF STUFF. ANYTHING GOES. PAST STUDENTS HAVE HAD A BLAST. THEY CAN BRING PHOTO OR I JUST USE A PHOTO OR TWO FROM A FASHION MAGAZINE.  I GIVE THEM A BASIC FACE HAND-OUT – LIKE HOW TO LINE UP THE NOSE, EYES, ETC.  WE CONCENTRATE ON THAT A BIT, BUT THE CLOTHING, HAIR, ETC. CAN GO WILD. THEY CAN PUT THEIR PET INTO IT, AS I DID .

Register Now!

Here are just a few examples of Kathie’s creations.

Creative Figure

Creative Figure

Creative Figure

Creative Figure

Creative Figure

Creative Figure

Now doesn’t that look like fun?  Register Now!

In a Giraffe Mood

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Giraffe in progress

Giraffe in progress

In Progress:  Once a month I demo painting at one of the local rehab/nursing homes. I keep trying to come up with something different to demonstrate and last month I was in a giraffe mood. This is my progress, upside down because I walk around to show what I am doing, in 2-20min sessions. The residents have been very interested in seeing this painting develope. I’ll finish it now and take it back to show them. My students want to paint it now so I’ll finish it for a class project. It’s been lots of fun to design and create. From one of the giraffe’s at the NC Zoo.

Dry brushing with DecoArt Americana and Traditions acrylics.

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Where Did It Go?

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It’s been a busy summer around here! It’s hard to believe that summer is in it’s last half and autumn is peaking around the corner. We’re scheduling fall projects and planning for our holiday and Christmas painting!

Many of our painters have been in and out of classes this summer with vacations, and visitors, so scheduling upcoming classes has been a little slow. And, I’m sure you won’t be surprised, we change our collective mind. I am in the process of updating the class schedules now so keep checking back to see what’s coming.

Winter Lighthouse

Winter Lighthouse, a Keith Sluder design

We’ve just finished with our seminar with Ros Stallcup and it was even more terrific this year. All the paintings turned wonderful. We met with old friends and made new ones as happens each year. Our participants helped us come up with some ideas for next year, too. It’s always fun each spring to see what Ros created from our basic ideas each year as she paints entirely new projects for us. We’ll just have to wait to find out, and it’s always a surprise.  We have dates for 2017 so mark your calendars for July 19-22, 2017 and plan to join us. Seats this year filled up quickly so keep checking back for more details.

2016 Ros Stallcup Seminar

2016 Ros Stallcup Seminar

Our seminar with Mark Polomchak is coming up next, Oct 7-9. There are a couple of seats available for all 3 days. On Aug 1, next Mon, single seats will be available so if you want to participate for the 3 days, contact me this week. If you are looking for a single day, contact me next week before the seats are gone.  Pay balance or register now.

11253742_10153254406712898_3578189492983362431_nI’ll have news for you on our seminar with Kathie George very soon. I’m in the process of selecting projects from some new exciting painting from Kathie. Check back just a little later.

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Seminar Updates!

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Amer Geese

Ros: American Country

Seminar Updates:

English Country

Ros: English Country

Ros Stallcup; seminar if full. Photos and paint lists are posted. We’re excited and ready to paint.
Mark Polomchak: Oct 7-9, We’re almost full.

Hummingbird

Mark P: Hummingbird

Single day for any remaining seats begins Aug 1.
Kathie George: Nov 14-16, Kathie is just now back in the country and we’ll have our projects chosen soon. Registration will open soon!

Kathie G: Houmas House

Kathie G: Houmas House

Watch for more exciting workshops next year. I’m in the planning process now.

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Looking Back

Gallery

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I’ve been looking back at some of the photos of our past ArtFlings with Gail Schmidt and myself.  We had lots of fun and played with lots of different techniques and products. You can see some of our past adventures in our photos.

web-Gail-and-Rika

Gail is now working with enamels and creating jewelry which does not travel well and is not practical for a painting workshop. However you can see her wonderful jewelry creations at Shabby Cottage Adorned, and on Face book.

Shabby Cottage Adorned

Shabby Cottage Adorned

I’ve Been Noticing….

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The trees…  The spring trees, especially this year after so much rain, are so lush and such varied greens. This is a great time to take reference photos. Noticing the shapes, lights and darks, and how the trunk and branches peaking through the foliage help us to understand the structure and how to portray this in our artwork. See how the line of trees catch the light, how the shadows give shape, volume, and depth to the grouping of trees.

Down the street

Down the street

 

What greens are we seeing? What colors do we see in the lights and the darks? Could we use colors other than greens to create our trees?

I took photos outside my studio in Raleigh so you can find trees willing to pose for you most anywhere.

The forest and the lake view were from my recent trip to PA to teach for a wonderful group of painters. web-WVA-mtsWhat a terrific opportunity to see lots and lots of beautiful trees while traveling by car through WVa, Va, and NC.

web-Summersville-lake

Summersville Lake, W Va

Get your camera out and do some seeing.

Outside the Sawmill Studio

Outside the Sawmill Studio