Gentle Reminder

April 17th-Thursday, at 6:30, our guest artist is Colleen Reynolds.  She will be using a new product called, Brusho for her demo.  Colleen  On Colleens website she has provided a link to a youtube demo on Brusho that will answer any concerns you may have in regards to this product.  The colors are brilliant and they give your paintings a real POP.  There is a certain way to handle the product however: because the product is an extremely fine crystal dye/paint, it does float in the air, so you should never open the lid.   Simply use a pin to prick a small hole in the top.  This allows the crystals to be shaken lightly onto your palette.  It is also advised, that because of the way the product needs to be used, it doesn't work to share a bottle with a friend.  It's not like any other medium you have ever tried.  It is none toxic, and if you handle it as instructed, you don't have to worry about breathing it; if you have concerns.  So come and check it out this week at our Thursday meeting. 
If you want to learn more about this product or about Colleen, please visit her website at:
PS: Colleens Brusho workshop has been moved to Saturday, August 23rd and you can purchase your own Brusho Kit at Blicks in SugarHouse.  (Used to be Utrecht's on 21st South).  sign up at the Thursday meeting.
Kristi Grussendorf watercolor workshop is coming up quickly, Saturday May 17th and will be presented at the Sandy Senior Center!  Check out her facebook page or her website at: Kristi  She is an amazing painter with national recognition and an excellent teacher.  Her workshop is filling up fast, so sign up at the Thursday meeting.  The fee for members is: $35, non-members $40 and please make your checks payable to SSCAC (Sandy Senior Center Advisory Council) or you can mail your checks to:
Suzan Rasmussen POBox 366, Fairview, Utah 84629
PS: All workshops are first come, first serve, so don't delay.  The workshops fill up fast so get signed up.  You are registered when your payment/check has been received by Suzan. 
Thanks Everybody-see you soon!  Yours Truly, Suzan

Remember-if you have a painting in the Spring Show you will need to pick them up on May 1st!
Our June meeting will be something new...."Plein Air at the Park"  More info to come
 

Guest Artist at UWS Meeting

Last night the UWS had a wonderful guest artist by the name of Gloria Miller Allen.  She is quite an accomplished and prolific watercolorist with approximately 55 national and international competitions on her resume.  She is a member of many, many societies and is accredited with AWS, TWSA, WW, NWWS affiliations.  Gloria was an artist in residence at Zion National Park in 2010 and an artist in residence at the Grand Canyon in 2013.  Her presentation last night was about her experience during her 3-week stay at the Grand Canyon, which included many photos of some breathtaking panoramic vistas.  
Gloria's book: "I Think~Therefore I Art" is a wonderful book based on academic lessons for learning.  Setting goals, learning the basics by actually challenging yourself to accomplish the goals you set for yourself.  She is a firm believer in hard work first, for which the rewards will follow.  Some of the chapter titles include: Acquiring Confidence in Drawing, The Wizardry of Perspective & Tricks It Plays and Putting Yourself in the Driver's Seat.  Lots of challenging lessons to help you improve your drawing skills, which helps to enhance your paintings.  Building skills is an integral part of being an artist.  Taking the time to develop these skills and work ethics will give us better building blocks for which we can base our own art on.  (This is not a painting book, but a skills in drawing book laid out in a workbook-classroom format.  Lots of artwork is shown along with many of Gloria's beautifully written poetry.)
To take a sneak peek inside this book, simply click the link in the right sidebar and you will be taken to Amazon, where you can have a look and to purchase this book if you like.  It's full of some of Gloria's beautiful paintings and valuable lessons that she teaches in her workshops. 
 

Monday Paint Group

Our little group is expanding with more and more members coming back to join in the fun.  Every Monday afternoon we meet and share ideas, paint, chat and enjoy each others company. 














Karla and Gwen shared their experimental painting with us.  Using a watercolor ground on paper, they were painting goldfish for Sandi's Friday class.

and Bonnie shared a work in progress with me, which I just love and I hope she will finish.  It reminded me of the older record album covers.

 

Winners of our Spring Show

First let me apologize for these images.  It was very difficult to get a decent image with the large windows behind me.
On the right is Shauna Alcorns-"Line Up" which took First Place & the People's Choice Award.  Next to this painting, on the left is Colleen Reynolds-"Family Attitudes" which took 2nd Place. 

Third Place went to Lola Kartchner for her beautiful: "Winter Welcome" and for the Merit Awards, Rebecca Lewis: "Boulder Springs" and Suzan Rasmussen: "Orchids". 

A big round of applause to our Winners and to everyone who entered our Spring Show.  Everyone's paintings were special and a pleasure to enjoy.  Thanks for sharing them with us!

A Gentle Reminder: Our Spring Show runs through the month of April and the paintings need to be picked up on May 1st!

April Challenge

Last month the challenge was to make some image transfers from magazines and I'll bet you have a bunch of these now, but what will you do with them?  Here's an idea:  Combining Ev Hales suggestion of using splashes of color as backgrounds, you can simply adhere your tape transfer directly over the color splashes using glue that will dry clear, deco podge, or a gel medium.


 Here are a couple of samples that I made:

 If you would like to take this process even further, coat the entire image transfer with the clear drying gel medium, glue or deco podge and let dry.  This becomes a permanent acrylic surface that can be further painted on using acrylics or gouche.  If you want to hide the straight edges, you also can cut the tape to remove most of the edges.  For instance, I would cut out the bird and the branch it is sitting on.  The background would then become the color splash.  Experiment and see what you like best. 

As for Ev Hales book, it is one of many creative, art books that she has written about watercolor.  A great addition to any library.  I prefer the Kindle edition, but you can order a soft paper style book direct from Amazon, by clicking the book cover in the right sidebar.