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I taught an Abstract...Geometric Workshop. It is the first of a 3 part series. This one was aimed at taking that first step into abstraction using a formula. We painted the same composition, but each student/artist choose their own colors.

Martha

Liz

Karen

Joni

I had time to fill in my large solid shapes with smaller shapes and have the background color show through. 

These make me think of Matisse's cut paper art. 

Quote: "You can't use up Creativity. The more you use, the more you have". Maya Angelow


Quiz:
What is the technique called where painting is applied in a thick, textured way, with the marks made by the brush or palette knife remaining visible, such as in the work of Vincent van Gogh? (Yea...Karen, for the correct answer).
Answer: Impasto.  

Artwork: Some more beautiful artwork by my artist/students. Thank you.
Karen:
                  Look at that depth !!!!...(watercolor).

Bonnie:
             Great.     

Welcome back. I hope everyone had a great holiday. 

Blog Views: United States, United Kingdom & Poland.

Quiz: What is a vernissage?

Shapes:
A few people have asked how to find the shapes for a painting. This is in regards to the Nov. 16 posting, when students painted upside down. Below, I have outlined the main shapes in blue and then broke down the main shapes into smaller shapes and they are in red. The shapes do need to connect some how, in order for the viewer's eye to move around the painting. Remember, that shapes are not only the positive ones, but negative spaces are shapes too.

Artist Links: Check out the artist web site links at the right in the sidebar.
Viewer Contribution: 
Barbara Giller, one of my students...yea!...is sharing her painting below. Love getting the painting and the reference photo. Glad you took a break from your garden to paint...Nice.

She said: So I have had enough of my garden for a few days and did a painting....

attached is picture of and H2O painting of one of my sunflowers.

Hope to see you in the fall class.... if I can get my schedule situated.

See you soon
Barbara  

I love this quote that Barbara has attached to her e-mail...

Be the kind of woman when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says~~  "Oh Crap, She's up!"

Hi...No more newsletters!!!...I think this blog will be so much fun...especially if there are a lot of contributions from everyone. Please do send in your ideas and photos of your art work. I'll try to post daily...catch the "try"? Let me know what you think of the blog, what you want it to include etc.

Quiz: How many paintings did Leonardo da Vinci create? Watch for the answer.
Readings: Big Art, Small Canvas...by Joyce Washor.
"Gives you guidance you need to succeed at creating small paintings. It features more than 12 step-by-step demos that show you how to paint a variety of still lifes and landscapes...all on canvas measuring 4" or less...." (oil painting).                             

I have heard from some artist students about the Art Challenge.
* Diana..........Chickens.....I love chickens.
* Stephanie....Self Portraits...(both her and her husband). Why not...she has been painting everyone else in her family.
* Karen..........Still life. I know she has painted and drawn it.
* Kathy...........Folds....as she stated as we passed in the Safeway store.
* Byrine..........Still life of her mannequin. She has set up a work station on her card table. Yea.
* Colette.........Flowers. What a great use of the season.
* Me..Joni.......Trees.
* Liz................If she  finds time from her sheep ranch. Did you see the Herald and News front page article about her sheep and the coyotes?

I have been painting trees. I started out thinking I was going to paint 3" x 4" studies...so I cut about 40 from my 9" x 12" watercolor paper. My beginning plan took a turn after about 10 studies and found I would probably pull out my hair. I needed more of a purpose. So the little studies sort of went by the wayside and I have been doing different sizes, lots of mix media, Plein Air and lots of experimenting (hence: "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"...I'll share). 

I just got back from a 10 day camping trip up by Bend. I have a few paintings to share when I get them photographed. I also have a use for those studies I'll share with you too.

Let me know how you are doing on the challenge and if you would like anything posted.