Workshop at The Villages, FL

Students with their paintings
The Villages "Paint like Gustav Klimt" workshop
 

What a wonderful week I had teaching in The Villages! The workshop students were so understanding about my recovering from pneumonia, and instead of me coming around to help them, we had them come up to my desk instead, so I could remain sitting.  It worked like a charm!  This class was such a joy for me to teach.  Positive attitudes and wonderful discoveries during the week.  They were so excited to learn the scraping with a credit card technique, and they even conned me into teaching them "wire drawings".  Loved my time there with these beautiful ladies, and Beverly Hennessey as our host.  She really knows how to make everyone comfortable.

"Don't Talk to me before 8:00 a.m.!" - (Wire Drawing workshop)

"Don't talk to me before 8:00 a.m.!"    11" x 14"    $195      Original watercolor and markers

This was my demo for my recent "Wire Drawing" Workshop, held in Watertown SD.   As I've said before, I LOVE this process and have found that the abstract backgrounds are leading to the next painting!  The students' paintings turned out incredible, as you will see before.  I made this collage of their paintings, using the website, www.picmonkey.com  I love that site!  My next wire drawing workshop is at the White Bear Lakes Center for the Arts on Nov. 3-5.  Sign up now if interested in learning this process!  The first grouping was the paintings from the first day.

 

The grouping below is the paintings from the second day, when students got to pick between doing an animal or totally abstract.  They actually got 2 demoes for the price of one!

"Coming in for a Landing"

"Coming in for a Landing",  11" x 14", $145, watercolor painting

I have to admit that I was a little nervous when I began this painting.  Working in pure watercolor can be intimidating, to say the least.  Especially since I've been working in acrylics for the past month.  I use 3 simple rules: 
1. Pick only 3 colors, so that your painting will be unified and the glazes will all go together. (I used Antwerp Blue, New Gamboge, and Permanent Rose.)
2.  Establish a light pathway, value study before I start the painting.
3. Use very light glazes, and build up to the darks.  Don't get dark too fast.
I will be teaching the illusionary process to 21 eager students in Cormorant, MN next week.  This is a very complicated process, but I have simplified the lesson so that students won't get too frustrated.  I can't show the process on my blog because it's too complicated.  I remember back when I wanted to learn how to paint as if you can see through things.  This took many years to perfect, so if you want to learn, sign up for one of my workshops!  :)

Crazy Lady Paintings

"Sending you a Big Hug"

This is one of my latest crazy lady paintings. If you look closely, along her neck there's a message. It probably looks like hair at first, right?  :)   I just finished teaching a 2 day workshop in Watertown, SD at Jennifer Stone's beautiful new studio.  What a great time we had!  So many laughs and new friendships were made!  I had 19 students, and they all did a fabulous job at creating very imaginative crazy ladies of their own!  Below is a collage of their paintings.  (Remember, I made this on www.PicMonkey.com)  It's a great site to make collection photos.