New Workshop Date

Next class at The Sharon Art Center is scheduled for June 5, 2010. The subject is Painting Nature in Watercolor. It is a workshop version of the longer class that is offered at E.W. Poore in Manchester (details in previous blog). We will be concentrating on the form, colors and textures of fruits and vegetables, using traditional watercolor techniques to render unconventional botanical subjects and compositions. A fun way to sharpen your skills and use your creativity. To register call the Sharon Arts Center, which is located near Peterborough, NH, 603-924-7256 or email them at www.sharonarts.org.

My painting of the bridge at Sligachan, Isle of Skye, Scotland, which appears at the top of the previous blog, has been chosen for the cover of the program for the Indoor Highland Games, to be held in Concord NH at the NH Technical Institute on April 10, 2010. Although in the past this has primarily been a music (bagpipes) and highland dancing event, the promoters want to bring more of the community at large into this venue, especially any related arts. I'll be there exhibiting, signing programs , and hopefully selling my art work that Saturday. The painting above is of Glencoe, in the Scottish highlands, from my last visit.

Upcoming class:

PAINTING NATURE IN WATERCOLOR
Learn to capture a myriad of wildlife, plants and natural objects in watercolor. Practical exercises and techniques will be taught for interpreting textures, colors and forms found in nature. Discover how to bring detail and definition into your watercolor paintings.
Starts April 15
10 weeks Thursdays 6pm - 8pm $150
(no class on April 29 or May 6)

To register, call E.W. Poore Art Studio, 531 Front Street, Manchesetr NH,03102
(603) 622-3802

Painting on the Edge Results

It's been awhile since the last post. We are now in the 8th week of the 10 week class I am teaching, called Painting on the Edge. This technique was used by Winslow Homer and Tony Foster. It uses very fine paper dams to separate elements of the composition along with small washes that build up to give depth and definition. A limited palette is used which ties all the elements together. For a beginning painter it is more manageable and less daunting to do a larger painting this way, working in one small area after another, no overall washes. It also works well for plein air because you can work more leisurely, since you are working in small areas and not racing to finish a wash before part of it dries out. If you are an impatient painter and tend to muddy your work by not letting washes dry before going back in again, this helps to eliminate that problem by letting you work on descrete parts of the same painting while other portions dry. This has been a challenge for my students and they have been working out of their comfort zones in regard to size and complexity. They have grown in their skills and are having fun with it. This works well with subject matter inaddition to the landscape, as you can see by the photos of some of my work above.

Newest Palette Box

This box was "designed by an artist (me) and made by artisans" in South Carolina. Their original box is intended to be used as a fly box for fishermen. They replaced the foam liner with Corian that is routed out and shaped to fit so perfectly it doesn't need to be glued in. The wood is cherry, very smoothly finished and a delight to handle.
In my experience there really isn't anything out there that is designed just for watercolor artists. Plein air pochades start off for oil painters and then are minimally modified for watercolor. The other aspect is one of aesthetics, the plein air pochades on the market have sharp exterior metal pieces and knobs sticking out of them, in addition to being made of plywood or some rather non-descript woods. A walnut pochade, that is considered top of the line, has many sharp metal edges unless it is housed in a very heavy walnut case.
I have used this little cherry paint box frequently as a plein air palette for the past month and it is fumble-free. Everything except the paper fits inside. The water well is small but adequate. Twelve pans are all I need to paint on the move, I prefer a limited palette anyway. There is room to store 2 folding brushes, a pencil, eraser, pencil sharpener, pipette, and a sponge. I also keep a small rag folded up inside the box. I am very pleased with this professionally made prototype. We are now working on a slightly larger one that will hold a watercolor block and has a tripod mount. Check back next month.

And: Watercolor Miniatures

Watercolor Miniatures: Learn how to create miniature landscapes 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. Each student will have the opportunity to paint their own miniature and frame it by the end of the workshop. Held Nov. 7, 10 - 4, call the Sharon Arts Center, 603-924-7256 or go online to register at www.sharonarts.org. The Sharon Arts center is located in Sharon, NH, near Peterborough, NH.

Fall Class Offering: Watercolor Journaling

This fall I will be teaching the following:

The Art of Watercolor Journaling: This series of classes will focus on developing observational and watercolor skills to record the world around us. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, journaling provides a self-made reference of techniques and a judgement free place to practice. Journaling is "watercolor to go". Join us for a fun and rewarding class.
Starts September 17, 6 - 8 PM, for 12 weeks, $180. Call E.W. Poore, to register, 603-622-3802. The studio is located at 531 Front Street, Manchester, NH.