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Just off the Easel

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In case you don’t already know, we love painting Dorothy Dent designs at Artful Endeavors.  This week we’ll start a new design, the Brook, which I just love. I enjoyed painting my sample and am looking forward to sharing this beautiful painting with my students.

I thought you might like to see my painting as I progressed.  Dorothy paints in oils but I use acrylics for our classes. Although I’ve enjoyed oils in the past, I have discovered that I’m allergic to some of the products.  And, there is very little we can’t paint in acrylics since they are so versatile.  I use the wonderful DecoArt Traditions and of course Americana, my first acrylic love.

Here’s the beginning of the sky and water area.  This is about 3 layers of adjusting.  DecoArt’s new Americana color Blue Haven is a wonderful color, medium light value, not too greyed, a happy blue.

web-Brook-step-3-lighten-sk

Step 1: background sky and water.

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Step 2: adding the background trees and foliage for the large foreground tree.

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Step 3: Adding the tree and sunny grass.

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Step 4: Adding rocks and beginning the water.

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Step 5: Sunshine on rocks and working on the water.

I love the colors in this painting.  Such a pleasing combination.

web-Brook finished_edited-1

Finished! Complete with splashes and accent colors.

Paintin’ and Cracklin’ and Sandin’ and Waxin’

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My computer is back and getting up to speed with it’s new mother board. It’s so nice. What did we do before computers? I remember having to do a lot of cutting and pasting to create a newsletter, not to mention folding, stapling, and mailing ….

I hope you’ve been keeping up with the blog where all my news has been for the last couple of weeks. With my computer in the shop I wasn’t able to send out a newsletter so I had to rely on you to check the web site.  Be sure to check out the upcoming classes.

We’ve been busy painting a wide variety of projects.  We’ve started new canvas projects in our day Raleigh class, Hodgson Mill,  and Cary evening class, Boy Fishing using our version of an old masters technique.  We’re learning lots of new techniques and practicing some of our usual favorites.  We’ve had fun with Tjaps batik in a Sat class and on Wed evening with some excitingly creative effects and outcomes.

This past Saturday a group of students and I experienced working with DecoArt’s splendid new Chalky Finish Paints and Mediums.  After discussing many design possibilities including distressing, crackling, stenciling, and more with these terrific products, each painter tackled their own small furniture piece with and eye toward how they intended to use the piece.  Here are a few photos to share our fun.  Follow the link above to find out more about these great products.

Ok the web site dosen’t want me to upload some of my photos of the student’s projects. I’ll add them a little later when I figure out the difficulty.

But here is my stool that I gave you a glimpse of earlier.

web-stool

I forgot to take a photo of the first stage but I added areas of orange and bright green to give the effect of past paint jobs that are being  uncovered by the crackle.  That’s right, the next step was to apply the crackle medium in areas. I decided not to do an over all crackle on this piece.When that was dry I applied the top coat of red.  It was exciting to watch the cracks begin to occur even before I had finish the red coat.

web-stool-stage-2-top The red will work nicely in my house.

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Then I decided to add a stencil for character.  I’m pleased.

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Now what will I work on next?

Here’s Carol’s red rocker. It turned out so cute.  Those are kitties on the seat.

I’ll have more photos of the process as soon as I can get them down loaded.

Carol rockerAnd I finished my blue revival chair. Love it!

Chair with stencil in progress

Chair with stencil in progress

You’ll see our student’s work on Artful Endeavors’ face book page.

Mother What?

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It’s amazing how much having a sick computer is a hindrance.  Yes, my studio computer is in the shop and needs a new mother board, oh no!  The good news is that’s it under warranty and won’t cost me anything. Yeah!! I love having my computer especially built for me by Intrex here in Raleigh and having local support.

However,…  not having my work computer means that I don’t have access to my email with all my distribution lists.  So this is a test for all of you, to see who is actually reading my blog and which ones have become too dependent on my email updates to check the web site.  Let me know that you read my blog.

Our class updates for April are posted on the class pages.  We’ve added and rearranged so be sure to check the schedules.

We’ve add another tjap class for those of you who missed it last week, this time in the evening.  There is an explanation and photos on the Wed evening class page.

Tjap designs

Tjap designs

Also the Wed evening group has added a dragonfly class. I know there are lots of dragonfly fans out there. Easy and lots of fun.web-dragonfly-atc

Cary and our Wed day class has added some great new classes too, so be sure to check them out.

Our last two play days have been so successful and we’re looking forward to our May 9 Assemblage Play Day.  Be sure to register early and talk to me about particulars.  More info on the Workshop page.

On April 12, that’s a week from Sat is our furniture design workshop using the DecoArt Chalky Finish paints and their terrific new French stencils.

Chalky Finish Paint

Chalky Finish Paint

I have the paint to share and the stencils as my treat to you, so here’s a great opportunity to try them out.  I’ve created some samples with the products and love them, the products that is but the samples too.  DecoArt is expecting this line of paints to be their next BIG BIG sellers and we are getting to experience them first. I’ll be one of the first retailers to stock them starting in May.  (Right now they are only available at Home Depot, mostly on line)  Come help me choose which color to stock.

chair before

chair before

Chair with stencil in progress

Chair with stencil in progress

There are many beautiful colors to choose from with french stencils, crackle, stain blocker, wax, and varnish in the line also.  You can see more about the products on the DecoArt web site.  Be sure to check out some of the Chalky Finish videos too.  Of course our creations will be most awesome.

Register now!

Frame with Chalky Finish paint by DecoArt

Frame with Chalky Finish paint by DecoArt

Single day registration for our seminar with Ros Stallcup is now open.  The surfaces are on their way to Ros and we’ll have samples later in the month.  But go ahead and register now to secure your seat.

Don’t forget to tell me that you read this blog post and I’ll see you in class soon.

Liz

 

Jan Update

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Doorway 1

Doorway 1

Just a few update notes for you. I need to get back to some painting.

  • As you know we missed a Tue class for the weather so be sure to check the changed dates for classes.
  • We’re enjoying our Wed day, Doorway class so much that we’ve decided to add another week for a second door, The Blue Doorway. So be sure to check these dates also. Those of you who missed this week’s class can come next Wed for the first week of your doorway class.
  • We’ve added a class to our Wed evening schedule, Side-loading 202.  A good opportunity for a refresher. Plan to join us on Feb 5th.
  • I’m adding more workshop and “Play Day” classes. Be sure to check for these. What’s a play day? Check the workshop schedule.
  • Be sure to check the seminar info for our July seminar with Ros!  Mark your calendar and register now.
  • Paints are restocked and the rack is full. I also received a shipment of canvases and art boards.
  • I’ve received a shipment from DecoArt of their new Chalky Finish Paints and new stencils.  These new 2014 products are not available for purchase yet, so we are favored to have them to play with this quick.  And they are wonderful.  Classes are planned to explore them. Ros will be using some of them in her seminar projects too.
  • Gail Schmidt was asked by DecoArt to design some mixed media projects for them and for us. The first of these using DecoArt products is on their web site now!
    Check it out!
  • And lastly, please remember to pay/register for your class at least a week prior to the class. You’ll receive your prep when I receive your class fee.  If people don’t pay they don’t have a tendency to show up for the class.  Thanks much.

Liz