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Hot Off the Easel!
Idea Spark-lers
What I'm Celebrating...
Classes
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Hello there!   

Benzie County is having the first annual water festival in and around Frankfort... The Crystal Lake Art Center is participating, by having a group show about all things watery... (my contributions are pictured below)

I haven't been able to get in to see the show yet...maybe tomorrow!
Aerial Spine
"Aerial Spine"
10x10
mixed media on paper
 
Aerial 7~Jackson's Point
"Aerial 7 ~ Jackson's Point"
11 x 10
mixed media on paper

Hot Off the Easel!
Nothing like painting spring when it's snowing out!

I have a couple of students coming over to the studio for class this afternoon... This painting was created using all sorts of techniques that we'll be going over.

orchard




Idea Spark-lers...

Inspiration to use in your own creative work....

 

Try saying it with well thought out and specific brush strokes....   

Here is a video about traditional brush stroke making...Worth a look-see!
David Leffel Painting Workshop - Making Brush Strokes
 

I don't happen to paint this way...but I certainly admire this method of painting...so of course, I had to try it!  

 

While I wasn't a complete failure at it... It was close. :)

 

I had a devil of a time letting a stroke be. Without complete concentration, I found myself reverting back to the old familiar "tweaking and adjusting."  

 

What I learned...

  • use full bodied paint. The fluid acrylic doesn't hold the stroke. I had ridges on either side of the stroke that bugged the sh*t out of me!
  • Stand up and have your support (canvas or paper) vertical..on the wall, or on an easel. I usually work with the paper flat on the table...You can't do the type of gestural, whole arm strokes as easily working that way.
  • Lay the paint on... don't add too much brush pressure, or you'll have the dreaded ridges, and the paint stroke won't be uniform in color or value.
      
 

 


2011...What I'm Celebrating...
Early in January, I chose a word to use as my theme for the year... It's "Celebrate"... Here's a link to the explanation, in case you missed it.

 

This week, I'm Celebrating: 

  • contractor trash bags, helping me clean the studio.
  • cat stevens songs...father and son, moonshadow...hearing lots of "blasts from the past" on pandora.  
  • vanilla yogurt.
  • Sunny days that smell like spring.
  • a canvas stapled to the paint wall, ready and waiting for some paint to be added.
  • first grilling of the year...marinated veggies and chicken...mmmmmmmmmmmm.   
  • students that are motivated enough to drive to Honor for classes in my studio.  
  • got through and organized well over 500 emails.
  • painting blooming trees during a snow storm. 



Classes...

I'll be teaching "Acrylics 101" at the Crystal Lake Art Center on June 14th, 2011.  We'll be elbow deep in paint and techniques...then we'll pull it all together with a painting. Supplies are included... so just come and enjoy a creative play day!



If you think any of your friends might be interested, please feel free to forward this email.

Have a Great Week!
Lauren