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Category Archives: mixed media

A Little Tab Photo Artistry

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Some of you know that I’m working my way through Sebastian Michaels Photoshop Artistry Online course and thoroughly enjoying it.  I’ve had fun learning to create art using my own photos, usually the photos that are not the best, and making something special from them.

web-George-11-24-04_edited-2I use Photoshop Elements for my photo artistry and have learned so much from the course. Love using the layers and collecting my own grunge textures to use for my creations.  I’ve also used photos of some of my paintings as a starting point.web-cow_edited-1

Using my smart phone or tablet with the already installed photo editing program seemed quite limited with possibilities, so I’ve searched for a photo editing program that had multiple artistic options in one app.  I found the PicsArt app and am enjoying it on my phone and tablet.  We found out that it is available for I Pad also and I have Maggie enjoying it too. Now I can be photo-artistic on the go.

Liz and Gail web-Zeke-dig Maggie shoes

What’s Coming Up?

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We have an exciting schedule planned for this fall at Artful Endeavors.  Classes, workshops, and seminars.

October will be here soon with hints of autumn in the air and fall colors on our palettes.  I think I see some red and green for the holidays there also.

web bring home the tree final _edited-1October

1 & 8 Wed am starts a delightful Helan Barrick Star Make Santa. 10am – 2p

web-Star-Maker-Santa1 & 8, Wed 5p – 7:30 we’ll paint a Ros Stallcup Christmas ribbon and holly design.

My vacation is the week of Oct 14 & 15 so no classes

23  Pet Portraits , Thurs, 10am – 5p.  Call or email for details. this is a specially requested workshop

Our terrific pet artists.

Our terrific pet artists.

25 Halloween Cat, Sat 10 – 1p. No experience needed and all supplies included.

Halloween cardboard tube cat.

Halloween cardboard tube cat.

November

6  Bringing home the tree.  Special workshop with the Albemarle painters. More wonderful Helan Barrick kids. Contact me for details.web bring home the tree final _edited-117, 18, & 19  Kathie George Seminar.  We still have some seats available so register now.Dragonfly Done

More Weekly Classes:  Check the schedule for more weekly classes.

 

2015 Seminars

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Our year will be full of exciting seminars and workshops so plan ahead and go ahead and register.

March 20 & 21, Spring ArtFling with Gail and Liz

web-Jean-fingersMay 29, 30, & 31, Susan Crouch  register now to secure your seat.  This seminar fills quickly.

July 22 – 25, Ros Stallcup.  Four days of painting with Ros this summer.demoWatch the schedule for more workshops and seminars.

CADANC, chapter of SDP, is having 2 seminar at Artful Endeavors next year also. Join our chapter to paint with us at our terrific seminars with:

April: colored pencil  Janelle Johnson

Oct-Nov: watercolor with Mark Polomchak

 

Ladies, and gentlemen, start your engines.

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Your creative engines that is.  It’s the last week in Aug, kids are returning to school, and there’s art in the air.  In the studio too!

I hope you have all had a good summer with lots of fun, family, and friends. For those of you have had challenges this year, I sending positive thoughts and looking forward to having all of you back to painting with us again.

We have a new supply of Americana and Traditions paints and the new DecoArt French stencils.  The Chalky Finish paints are in stock with lots of color choices.

We have lots of art experiences planned for this fall including weekly classes, workshops for all ages, and seminars.  Wed am and evening classes resume in Sept with new and exciting projects planned.  You can find more details on the web site but here are some of the upcoming highlights.

  • Basic Techniques Yellow Daisy clock Session 1

    Basic Techniques
    Yellow Daisy clock
    Session 1

    Tue am open class:  We’re open for class on Tue am as usual with opportunities for you to make up a missed classes or work on a project of your own with some assistance from me. Also if you are wanting to start your painting experience with us, we’ll work you into our Tue schedule. Please contact me to get started with Decorative Painting Basics.  If you just like this painting and want to paint it, you can do that on Tue am also.

  • ArtFling:  Gail is packing her bags and will be here ready for some mixed media fun on Fri, Sept 5. I’ll take over on Sat to continue with our endeavors.  If you are not registered yet, contact me quick!  There are supply lists on line and you can register there too.
  • web-Sodas-and-Sundaes-2Sodas and Sundaes Workshop:  Join us Sept 27th for a 4 hr workshop painting these colorful ornaments. Could be for your holiday tree but just too darn cute not to keep out all year.  Register now!
  • Halloween cat workshop: Did someone say toilet paper?  Oh yes, that was me. Come see what I have designed using the cardboard from TP.  Getting ready for some friendly Halloween festivities Oct 25, 10a – 1p.  Fun for 8yrs and up.  Join us and bring a friend.  Register now!
  • Wed evening classes:  Our classes are starting back again starting Sept 3.  We’ll have our weekly crew working on a fall schedule for classes, but also look for special workshops as well as a chance to start our decorative painting basics.
  • web-Yupo-PoppiesKathie George seminar:  Register now for our seminar with Kathie. Register and details.  We have some awesome new techniques to explore with Kathie.  Do you Yupo?
  • Susan Crouch seminar:  Register now before Sept 5th to secure your seat in our seminar with Susan, May 29-31, 2015, and take advantage of preregistration discounts. Registration opens to everyone on Sept 5. Details and registration.

 

NC State Fair: Remember to register your entries before Sept 19th. NC St. Fair 2015

It’s time to get you entries registered for this year’s NC state fair.  Entry forms need to be completed and mailed or emailed by Sept 19, 2015.

Be sure to notice that the groups have changed.  There is no professional group any longer. There is E/experienced, 5 yrs or more of experience, or N/novice, less than 5 yrs experience.

You can enter one item in up to 10 categories.

You can find the complete instructions at http://www.ncstatefair.org/2014/Competitions/Entering/documents/HandicraftsandHobbies.pdf

And on line entry at http://www.ncstatefair.org/2014/Competitions/Entering/HandicraftsandHobbiesCompetition.html

 

That’s all I can think of right now but watch the web site and blog for updates. Hope to see you at the studio soon.

 

The Last Straw

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Drinking straw that is. We has such fun creating with acrylic inks, acrylics, and drinking straws.

Liz straw painting.

Liz straw painting.

It didn’t take much demonstrating until the student’s had their creative juices flowing and were ready to create their own painting.

web-IMG_3860And they designed their paintings with wonderful color combinations and started puffing.

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Straw paintings.

Straw paintings.

I have such terrific students.

My terrific students

My terrific students

 

Falling into Autumn

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Creatively SpeakingDSC_0064

We had a great time painting with Ros this summer. It was a week full of painting with old friends and meeting new ones while enjoying Ros again. I have lost exact count but this was somewhere around 18 or 19 yrs of seminars with Ros. Each one successful. Our dates for next year are July 22-26, yes, we’re planning 4 days next year. We have some good ideas planned and would love to have you join us.  We’ll call next year our 20th year anniversary!

web-Yupo-PoppiesRegistration is open for our seminar with Kathie George for three days of mixed media exploration! Always fun and educational. Registration, photos, and more information.

Night Hunter Liz Miller CDA

Night Hunter Liz Miller CDA

ArtFling is coming up Sept 5 and 6, that’s Fri and Sat. Join Gail Schmidt and me for more mixed media fun.  We’re asking everyone to register by sending in your fee by Aug 8. That’s coming up soon so be sure to get your seminar fee submitted. Let us know if you want Gail to supply the surface for you. More info and on line registration.  Register now!

Summer Geraniums stage 2.

Summer Geraniums stage 2.

I’ve updated the class schedule on the web site so be sure to check for updates. There are a few date changes and we have some exciting plans for new projects. I’ll be designing more original paintings and will have photos on the web site as soon as they are painted.

Straw Fish

Straw Fish

Our Aug 9, Saturday workshop is coming up soon. We’re painting fish with a straw and acrylic inks! What fun. We’ll probably have time to play around with this technique with other animals. Register by Aug 4 so that I have time to plan.

Watercolor Sheep: my painting from a workshop with A Susan Crouch design

Watercolor Sheep: my painting from a workshop with
A Susan Crouch design

 I have some exciting news for you. We have award winning watercolor artist, Susan Crouch coming for a seminar at Artful Endeavors, May 29, 30, and 31, 2015. This is a theory and techniques seminar and you will probably not be completing specific projects during the seminar. Our focus in on learning not finishing a project.  You can find more information on this web page. I’m still working on the page and need to get photos from Susan to post.

  More info about Susan.  I’ll open the seminar on Sept 5. Participation is limited to 15.  Susan is from Statesville, NC so one of our NC artists.

 NC St. Fair 2015

It’s time to get you entries planned for this year’s NC state fair.  Entry forms need to be completed and mailed or emailed by Sept 19, 2015.

Be sure to notice that the groups have changed.  There is no professional group any longer. There is E/experienced, 5 yrs or more of experience, or N/novice, less than 5 yrs experience.

You can enter one item in up to 10 categories.

You can find the complete instructions at http://www.ncstatefair.org/2014/Competitions/Entering/documents/HandicraftsandHobbies.pdf

And on line entry at http://www.ncstatefair.org/2014/Competitions/Entering/HandicraftsandHobbiesCompetition.html

 

I’ll look forward to seeing you entries this year. I know they will be awesome.

 

Just a few un-fun notes:

  • I receive many telemarketing calls each day so I let the phone go to voice mail if I don’t recognize the number. If you are not a telemarketer be sure to leave a message so I’ll know you are a real person interested in something to do with painting.
  • Someone has blocked century link/embarqmail from receiving email from Artful Endeavors by labeling us spam. Anyone with one of these email addresses will not be receiving emails from me unless you go to your email provider and tell them you want to receive artfulendeavors@raleigh.twcbc.com emails.  Please pass the word if you know anyone from this provider who is wondering why I am not sending them email any longer. They are missing out on seminar and class information.
  • You are receiving emails from Artful Endeavors because you have requested to do so. I do not solicit email addresses from any other source. If you would like to be removed from our email address please just let me know and I will be glad to remove you. Do not just mark our emails as spam. You block everyone else from your email provider from receiving our emails.
  • If you have requested our emails and are not getting them, and have a different email provider you might have our emails in your spam folder. Be sure to add us to your address book.

Come paint with us soon.

Liz

Mixed Media with Kathie George in Nov 2014

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We have our plans made and registration is open for our seminar with Kathie George coming up Nov 17,18, and 19, 2014!

web-Textured-Window

We’ve gone mixed media this year with texture and acrylics. We’ll play with Yupo paper techniques and texture on watercolor paper.

I know, there’s no batik this year. Our students were so excited about the mixed media projects that we’ve gone that way for this time. And the paintings are so exciting.

The Yupo paper is an entirely new product for us and we’re eager to learn about it.

Dragonfly Done For more information on the Yupo paper check out Kathie’s blog where she introduces us to this fun man made, polypropylene product. And more from Kathie about Yupo.

Here’s our seminar information and photos!  Register now! on line or send your check to Liz at Artful Endeavors.

Sale on On Line Classes!

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Drawing Faces

Drawing Faces

Have you heard?  Most of my on line classes on Creative Workshop are on sale during the month of June. 40% off!  Now is the time to take advantage of this summer offer.

You have 24/7 access to my classes and if you rewind I will repeat anything you like as many times as you like. I don’t mind at all.

Creative Workshops, thanks to Gail Schmidt’s dedicated efforts, is a wonderful on line class site. Class are seldom-ly removed unless they are just out of date, so you can enjoy the class at your own pace and even see it again if you like.

Gail has excellent directions for using the site, too.  Here’s how it works.

You can find more details about my classes here:  details

Let’s have some creative fun together!

Mastering Decorative Painting Basics part 3

Mastering Decorative Painting Basics part 3

Summer’s End ArtFling Sept 5 & 6, 2014

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With Gail Schmidt and Liz Miller CDA

Join Liz and Gail for another mixed media adventure.  Gail will teach for one day and Liz for another.  This is our “no stress, just fun” workshop where we explore different media to create our masterpieces.  

Gail teaches on Friday.

I’m posting a sample of her mixed media painting style, but your painting will be entirely your own, created with your favorite colors and your choice of subject from Gail’s selections. 

Gail says that the techniques she uses, texture, paint, stencils, stamps, printed images, and messy fingers (yours) in layers and more lovely layers can easily be accomplished even by a novice.  You can’t go wrong.

 

side view 

1622209_10152197578879926_7582341212188916927_n 

Liz Teaches on Saturday

 

We’ll continue our mixed media exploits using Pan Pastels, acrylic paint, and colored pencil to create a painting ready for the autumn season. We’ll set the mood for our

Night Hunter.

Again our techniques are easy and exciting.

Night Hunter Liz Miller CDA

Night Hunter Liz Miller CDA

 

Mark your calendar and get ready to join Gail and Liz on our mixed media escapades.

We’ll have more details for you soon!

 

That’s Sept 5, Fri, with Gail, and Sept 6, Sat, with Liz.

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.

web-Stool-stage-2

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

web-stool-final

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