The final project-complete. I felt I needed more work but Sara Beth said your done! Knowing when to stop is another thing I need to work on!!!

Sketch out your picture and block in the main colors. Work the same colors according to their values. The main thing is
"don't think" do this quick. Once you fill in the spaces you will be able to come in and detail the subjects.

Do a value painting so that when you start to paint you have this reference to see if your values of paint colors match.

Last weekend I had the priviledge of taking Sara Beth Fair's workshop at Burrett Museum. She is amazing and full of so many ideas. She is so talented and a wealth of information. I see art and painting in a whole new way.

We had two days full of intense teaching. We learned everything from "seeing" to cleaning up! What we need to make our work space perfect for us. We left overloaded with so many positive ideas I don't remember driving home! (felt like it)

I want to say if you ever have the opportunity to attend her classes do it you will not regret it!

We all try to imitate other painters or try to paint like them but we have to have our own individuality! Create your own style!

Here is a series of what we learned.

Above is the first stage a thumbnail sketch showing values of the "subject". Whether you are painting a still life or plein air do sketches first from different angles to see if there is harmony. Find a focal point!

Lillian's Cross

I was in the mood to paint another cross. A dear sweet lady I work with celebrated her 61st birthday today and in my absentmindedness forgot when it was. So, I painted this for her as a gift. It is actually on a 3x3 mini canvas and I painted the easel it will stand on in a wash of the mustard yellow. I love how it turned out with alot of texture. This picture really does not do it justice. I hope she likes it!

Studio Atelier Challenge

I was fortunate to learn about this new blog with monthly challenges. Its always fun to see h0w they turn out as well as see how others do. This is a snowy road with shadows. I found it hard to keep the perspective and make the shadows.

A HUGE THANK YOU!

To all who follow my blog, those who supported me in my paint classes, I am letting you know that I will no longer be offering Wine, Dine and paint nights. I have seen a great decline of interest in my classes and feel maybe I should take the time and focus on my painting. I will be happy to do private parties with a minimum of 5-6 artists. You can contact me at apope@hsv.k12.al.us if this is something you are interested in. Thank you to all who attended the classes. I hope and pray I inspired you in some way to paint and brought out your creative side. I will miss it but maybe some time off will give all of us a chance to energise ourselves.