November Classes--The End of an Era

As I announced previously, I've decided it's time to move on to some other things, so I'm not planning to teach any more weekly classes next year. As far as I know, these will be my last three classes. Hope you can join me!

November 2011 Classes

November 3— The Mesa (and Volcanoes)

The low growing bushes and grasses, and various colors of rock surrounding the old volcanoes on the west side of Albuquerque are a special subject to me. We’ll examine how to paint the mesa and the beautiful sweeping vista beyond. Look for your own resource photographs of this area to use for paintings.

photo (c) Larry Seiler

November 10— Moving Water

Let’s look at the rhythms and colors of splashing water as it moves over rocks. Find a photo that inspires you to paint, with good color, contrast and interesting shapes.

November 17— Clouds and Skies

What better way to end 23 years of teaching than with my favorite subject? We’ll review beautiful clouds, luscious grays, the light of the sky and how to achieve clouds that float.

Please contact me to reserve your space in these classes now.

 

August 25--The BIG Vista

I had a real treat yesterday that's likely to translate into an interesting demonstration on this subject. We took a drive up into the Jemez Mountains and although it was stormy, I have some wonderful photos of the BIG vista to inspire me. 

I love painting the vast, open spaces. It's a chance to play with aerial perspective about as much as anyone ever gets to in New Mexico. (Some call it the "Land of Enchantment". Others call it the "Land of NO Humidity" = little atmospheric regression.) Our topic will be how the air affects the landscape. 

Find a good photo with lots of rich information leading well back into space, including all four value masses: the sky, mountains or mesas, trees, and foreground. We’ll discuss ‘the rules’ of distance and look at how to control values, colors, edges and use effective strokes. Think BIG, at least in scope, if not in scale. You may paint any size piece, of course, and use any media you like.

For those who were with me last week, I encourage you to apply that lesson to this week's painting. Don't just rush ahead to the next painting. Why not look around for an inspirational color scheme from another artist and see if it can be incorporated into the painting you plan to do?! Analyze how the artist used color expressively, what kinds of layering or strokes were incorporated, and the balance of warm or cool, and light or dark colors. This may help you do two things: consider the values in the big vista photo you're using, and free yourself of the tyranny of the color in that photo!

I also suggest that if you plan to come to next week's class on CLIFFSIDES (September 1), you might consider combining the subject matter with this week's class, as well. Perhaps you have some photographs of your trip to The Grand Canyon or Canyon de Chelly, or others locations that include a cliff and large panoramic vista. That would be a good subject for this week and next, and you might find next week's demonstration comes at a good time for the details of the painting. Just a thought for you...

Please RSVP if you're coming to this week's class and are not already enrolled. The class is $25.00 at the door. And remember, we're meeting in our new location.

See you on Thursday,

Deborah

Summertime....and "rearranging the furniture"

Evening Dance, gouache, 2.5" x 3.5"

Coral Downpour, gouache, 2.5" x 3.5"

Summer has finally come to Albuquerque. Well, at least the monsoons have finally come! Last night we had a good old-fashioned summer thunderstorm. Lightning, thunder, and a real gully-washer. True, the humidity is up high today and the swamp cooler isn't really very cool, but I'm still grateful for every drop of much needed rain.

I'm on hiatus from classes for now, which has given me time to do a few other projects and to paint a little here and there. It's nice to have a break, but I love to teach so I'm planning my classes. As of now, I'm still kicking around ideas and tinkering with some techniques to show you when we resume. Lately I've found myself thinking we need a few changes. I'm in the throes of rearranging things and to see what feels right. It's kind of like rearranging the furniture and recovering a couple of pillows--fresh and fun, but not so you bump your toes too badly when you walk through.

I'm planning to resume our class the second week in August, but I'll let you know when I have more details!

Meanwhile, hope you're painting! Think summer skies. This is most definitely the season for them. Have fun!

Deborah

New Class Session Begins September 30--Join Us!

I hope you'll plan to join us for the next eight-week session of classes. As you'll see in the class schedule below, I'm trying some new things geared to honing some skills and thought processes!

If you'd like to join us please contact me.

Class Schedule

September 30-November 18, 2010

                                                      

Class 1— September 30— The 3-D Painting

Perspective, value, color and composition all work together to create depth. We’ll analyze those elements to make a painting that recedes. Bring a photo with a good sense of depth to it and we’ll look more closely at these elements.

Scent of Rain, 12" x 18"

Class 2— October 7— Turn Up the Contrast

Contrast is one of the elements that creates movement and gives pizazz to a painting. Find a photo that has a good range of values from dark to light. In this class we’ll ask how we can create effective contrast that draws and moves the eye.

Class 3— October 14— Night

Find a nighttime photo with an interesting pattern of colorful lights to paint. We’ll analyze what makes the nighttime painting successful, painting on dark paper. We’ll discuss how you can make your own dark colored surface for this painting.

Class 4— October 21— Complexity Behind it All

At this class I’m going to try to help you see and understand better how to approach a complex background that resides behind your subject matter by patterning light and dark, as well as identifying and repeating shapes, colors and textures. Your photo should have something like a tangled forest or textured hillside overlapped by the subject matter in front of it.

Almost Spring, 12" x 18"

Class 5— October 28 — Palette Shift

A subtle shift in color can make a huge difference in mood, so today we’re going to do three small (4x6” to 6x9”) paintings, one in grayscale and two others with a limited value scheme. We’ll slightly shift the palette and see the beauty of using subtle varieties of colors for each one.

Class 6— November 4— Lost and Found

Edges are compelling! Today we’ll work from life, drawing and painting some simple objects that overlap one another. We’ll use “lost and found” edges to sculpt space and move the eye through the composition. Bring three small objects and a background for them, your sketchbook and drawing tools.

Class 7— November 11— Asymmetrical Square

The directional thrust of a square painting is challenging, so today we’ll look at how to make an asymmetrical composition in a square piece. You’re welcome to work from life, if that helps you, or find a photo that you can recompose into a square composition.

Sandia Square, 9" x 9"

Class 8— November 18—Final Critique and Class Potluck

We’ll do an in-depth crit of the paintings done in this class or anything you’re working on outside of class. Food and fun!

For cost and other class information, go to the Upcoming Classes tab at the top of the page.