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Adjusting to On Line Classes

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I have to be careful of what I wish for. I’ve wanted time to figure out how to have live on line classes. Well I’ve been forced into it now that we can’t have studio classes. There are good things about our current “safe mode”. Our Face Book Live classes have been successful so far; at least the students seem to like what we’re doing. It’s been a work in progress, figuring out the working details as we go, and there are still bug to fix, but we have had classes. Students have been great as they demonstrate patience and understanding of our new method of having classes. This is new to all of us and we’re learning together.

So far we’ve focused on acrylic landscapes using DecoArt Americana paints but we’re going to branch out into other mediums and subjects.

When we’re ready to start studio classes again for local students and seminars for students that travel to our area we can still have the Face Book Live classes for students that aren’t about to be at the studio with us. And that’s a good thing.

The advantage to using Face Book Live is that when I finish the live video, the class is immediately available for students to view as many times as they would like. It’s always nice to go back to see what you missed the first time through. And students can join the class at any time because the video class is available.

Plan to join us on Face Book for some painting fun.

Here’s just a peak at my video studio for now.

December at Artful Endeavors

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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

I’m Impressed

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Our recent Color Pencil Portrait seminar with Mark Menendez was a huge success. Mark, besides being a wonderful teacher and artist, is so patient and very organized in his presentation. I was so impressed with the student’s portraits. Many students had not ventured into colored pencil portraits before… just so impressive. Mark was a true inspiration for all of us.

Mark taught us that you don’t learn to be good at art by talent alone but by practice. And that’s what we’ll do. Plan to join us at Artful Endeavors.

What Happened to April!!

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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

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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!

Conveying Impressions

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Medium, definition: the material or form used by an artist; the intervening substance through which impressions are conveyed to the senses; a liquid (e.g., oil or water) with which pigments are mixed to make paint; a means by which something is communicated or expressed (that fits, right?)

And we have been on a journey exploring different mediums this year and having such fun. All the art theory applies, it’s just learning to use the medium that is the excitement. It’s how we are exploring, gaining knowledge and learning to apply the art experience we already have to a different medium.

We started the year with our usual favorite, acrylics, but exploring how to create a mist or fog effect with our paints using glazes and layers. And they turned out very foggy just as we wanted.

Tree-in-fog-web

Tree in the Fog, Liz Miller CDA

Tree in Fog, Pat, Donna, AnitaNext we have been playing with colored pencil this month, first with a House Finch design of mine House Finchand now each student has chosen a design they would like to create with assistance from me. I can’t wait to see the results. Again we are stretching our knowledge and learning to work with a new medium for most of us. What fun! I’m getting comments from students saying that they love colored pencils.

 

Italian Sailboat pastel

Italian Sailboat, Liz Miller CDA design

Next month we’ll continue our explorations of pastels which some of the students have sampled and enjoyed. We worked on Kay Witt’s awesome fox and our creations were also wonderful and exciting. I’ve just finishes an Italian Sailboat design that I think was lots of fun. We’ll start work on that on March 6. 

Plan to join us on our mediums explorations and exercise your mind. We have more acrylic and watercolor classes coming up! Keep watching the schedule.

Ros Stallcup Seminar at Artful Endeavors 2019

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We’re excited that Ros is coming back to teach for us again in 2019. 

Dates are July 24, 25, 26, & 27, 2019

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Register now for our summer 2019 4 day workshop with Ros Stallcup. We always have such fun learning from Ros as she teaches 4 entirely new projects.

This year we’ll work on 4 square canvases painting designs that can be used together as a collection or individually.

It’s a south east country collection with

a barn, porch, still life, and floral.

You can register for all 4 day now for a price break until March 1. $260 for the 4 days

after March 1 $280 for 4 days

Individual days will be available April 15.

Register Now!

Ros 4 days early registration: $260 

No deposits accepted.

Ros-painting Pumpkin-group Emiko-Lynn-Ros-Bev Group-web

 

 

 

 

Paint Your Cat Party for Purr Partners

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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 3

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Almost complete

Almost complete

The buildings and trees were the easiest part of this painting. It was clear that the light was coming from the left and shadows were on the right. I decided that I had the sunset too far behind the buildings. You can see in the following photos that I brought the sunset colors in the sky further to the left so that the light was glowing on the left sides of the buildings and rocks.

Rocks, and sky, and water. Bringing them all together along with the light on the buildings. What do you see in my painting that needs adjusting to create the late day, sunset time?

stage 3

And then what do you see that I have changed?

Bass Harbor light finished

I’ve toned down the distracting rock in the foreground. And added final lights to the rocks at the bottom of the light house. Notice the white in the sunset and the lights added to the water as reflection. Then the shadows behind the rocks in the water.

If was such a learning experience to work on this painting and exciting to think and paint through the story of the Bass Harbor Light at sunset. I hope this series has been helpful in seeing my process and progress through painting the light.

DecoArt Traditions paints were used.

Painting The Light: part 2

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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.