Unconventional Watercolor Selfie" Portrait Workshop

We are into our 3rd week of 5 classes and all of the students are creating some remarkable portraits!

Surprise Demo- September 21st

Monday Paint Group at the Sandy Senior Center, 1 pm-3 pm.  There isn't much to tell you, except bring your brushes & paints for a fun & educational demo by Frigga!  

August 2015 Issue

I look forward to getting this magazine from the book store because every issue is packed with good articles about an interesting technique or an introduction to another artist's methods or insight.  It never fails to give me hours of pleasant reading and leisurely thoughts about experimentation with various mediums.

This issue has an article that definitely has me thinking about possibilities: "Face Time".  Myrna Wacknov explores mixed media-and her own features- in a series of powerful self-portraits.  I've been gathering up some selfies to work with over the past couple of months and even if you don't incorporate mixed media, this project would be fun to do in watercolor or inks.

Other articles include "Burned Tree Bark" by Suze Woolf.  I found the photos and her process to be very interesting.  I would probably never venture into a burned out forest to retrieve burnt bark, but the textures are amazing.

There are a few more articles I need to get back to reading, "Studio Staples" Discover 6 paint mediums that can add impact to your work by Jessica Canterbury  and "Watercolor Essentials" Learn how 7 artists employ the elements of design by Beth Williams.  

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.
 

Watercolor Artist Magazine

Have you ordered or purchased the April issue of this amazing magazine yet?
On page 26-We have a local artist by the name of Joseph Alleman from Logan, Utah featured!
and













on pages 51-59 there is a wonderful art project that involves color theory.  I loved this article so much that I started a new series of paintings based on these color palettes. 
I selected an easy drawing of a rusty truck I had painted last year and made 6 tracings, one for each color palette I will be using.  These are the first 2 that I finished yesterday.  Only 4 more to go or, will I decide to explore color further by adding my favorite palettes to the mix too....YEAH!

On page 61-65 there is a painting project using Koi fish.  In Sandi Olson's Friday Group, (next group meets March 28th!) we will be exploring this topic.  Whenever I go to Las Vegas, I always manage to find my way over to the Flamingo Hotel.  Why?  Not for the gambling, even though I do enjoy that as well, but for the Flamingo Park that was built in the central courtyard.  In this courtyard you will also find Koi ponds with the largest Koi I've ever seen.  Along with 2 black swans and a pelican, some large box turtles and lots of ducks.  The world famous Flamingo Fountain is also located here, so if you get down to Las Vegas, make sure to take a stroll through this amazing place.