Starting Thursday, September 16, 6 - 8pm, is my next class at E.W. Poore Art Center in Mancheser NH. A description follows. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact me by email , comment here, or contact the art center.

PAINTING SMALL - WATERCOLOR MINIATURES
held at E.W.Poore Art Center
531 Front St.
Manchester NH 03104
603-622-3802

Painting miniatures requires a distillation of techniques to create an affecting and fascinating piece of art. Learn how to create miniature landscapes, still lifes, portraits and botanicals in watercolor, choose subject matter and composition for the best effect, use materials and tools best suited to this genre, how to mount or frame miniatures appropriately, and how to use archival materials to protect them.
Creating miniatures is a very fun way to learn all the basics of handling watercolor: color mixing, composition, value, and brushwork. Students should be able to complete and frame a small painting about every other class.
Miniatures make unique, personal and charming gifts. This is a great class to take before the holidays, enjoy yourself, relax, learn something new, and check off your shopping list as you paint.
A kit of materials specific to framing miniatures will be provided by the instructor for your first miniature masterpiece, subsequent materials will need to be purchased and will be available from the instructor or E.W. Poore, depending on how you want to display your work. Many alternatives will be demonstrated and discussed.

Students need to bring the following to class:
140# Cold Pressed watercolor paper, pencil, white plastic eraser, water container, palette, a range of artist, not student, quality, transparent watercolor paints to include but not limited to -French Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, a transparent yellow, Sap Green, and good quality synthetic brushes 0,2 and 4 rounds.

This is a 12 week class - tuition is $180

To register call E.W. Poore's at 603-622-3802 or email me at lwjamieson@myfairpoint.net

Scotland, especially the Isle of Skye, in the inner Hebrides, off the west coast, is a phenominally inspiring place to paint, regardless of your favorite medium. The weather changes every few minutes and can be extreme. It is challenging to paint plein air on the island due to this, but is worth a try. The coastline is dramatic, mostly high cliffs down to rocky beaches. There is one tidal island that is my favorite, Oronsay. It has a stone arch, sheep, cliffs meadows and spectacular views to the rest of Skye. Check the tide tables before you set off. I always carry my camera with me, a digital, with a large screen on the back, so that if my painting is interrupted I work on it back at the house. We have been renting houses on Skye for several years and our criteria for choosing is the following: fireplace or woodstove (it can be rather wet and chilly on the island), a shower, not a tub, and a view. This time we looked out on Loch Dunvegan, a sea loch, the Cuillins in the distance and MacLeod's tables. Wildlife is abundant, we had resident rabbits and sheep, a sea eagle off the cliffs in front of the house, songbirds, highland cattle down the road and much more. Due to it's high latitude, it doesn't really get totally dark in July. This gives some beautifully colored false dawn and twilights. The picture above is my interpretation of midnight.