Our New Web Site

We've moved!
Our new web site is up and running! Come visit us at www.artfulendeavors.net.

I've been working to bring you a new, greatly improved web site. I hope you like it. Visit the new site. Please look around and proof it for me. Let me know if you can easily find information and like the new features.

The online payment option should be a lot easier and still offers credit card payments through PayPal.

I have the updated schedules posted with the exciting new projects that our students have chosen. Mark your calendars and plan to join us soon.

I'll continue to modify and update our new site but here it is! Enjoy.  Liz

Trouble with the web site!

Well, I'm having difficulty with this web site. Some things are duplicating and some disappearing. I'm going to look around for another web site manager. Meanwhile, please make sure you are getting our newsletter for the latest updates and class schedule.
Sorry and thanks,
Liz

See Clouds: tutorial

		Clouds VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Our second tutorial on “seeing” is about clouds. I love watching the skies, especially the beautiful clouds around us. I’ve taken numerous cloud photos as I’ve spotted striking displays, stopping my car in a parking lot or beside the road, running out to the parking lot at my studio, and quite often just standing in my back yard. My husband shares my appreciation of clouds and between the two of us, we have an impressive cloud reference photo collection.
                        
There are many different types of clouds with many different types of appearances. Clouds are different with the times of year and weather conditions.

In the photo above notice the range of values that we see in the clouds.  Clouds are not just one value or just white. The wispy clouds in the upper area are a medium light grey value.  The middle layer of clouds have a wide range of values from dark grey to white, the lightest areas of this photo. The closest clouds have the darkest values ranging from medium dark grey to a dark blue grey.

The higher altitude layers are thin, wispy cirrus clouds composed of mostly ice crystals.  Generally occurring in fair weather, cirrus clouds point in the direction of air movement at their elevation. The billowing lower altitude cumulus clouds, contain water droplets, can produce rain, sleet, or snow, and appear “puffy”.  You see many layers in these clouds with shadows and lights depending on the direction of the sun.

Clouds can be many different colors depending on the sunlight and time of day. Storm clouds display striking dark greys. Sunny days present us with clean white fluffy clouds.  Sunrises and sunsets with clouds can be glorious.

Go watch the skies. Really see the clouds, the values, the colors, the textures. Studying the details in nature not only helps us in our painting but gives us a greater appreciation of nature.  Enjoy this most beautiful world around us.

Pet Portraits

We had a terrific pet portrait painting class on Friday with students painting 3 dogs and a horse. We worked on the common elements together and then added fur and hair. Everyone's paintings were turning our wonderfully and they learned a lots.
Here is one of the awesome completed paintings.

By Nancy F

Here is my painting in progress. I still have collar details to add and chin whiskers.
I borrowed a dog photo from one of my good friends who rescues grey hounds.

Copyright Liz Miller 2013

Better Painting

At the end of a matter ask,

“What will I learn from this to make me better?”

– Mary Anne Radmacher.

Febuary at Artful Endeavors

I’ve just returned from teaching in Myrtle Beach SC to a terrific group of painters. Lots of painting fun and learning.

Now I’m looking at my calendar and getting myself ready for our next painting exploits.

Here’s what’s coming up:

·       This week is our Paint Your Pet class on Friday, 9a-4p. There’s still time to join us if you contact me by Wed so that you can have your prep ready for Fri.  This class is so much fun and you learn so much with individualized attention.

·       Also this week our Wed evening class will be painting a Christmas ornament. Yes, I said Christmas. Many of you have wanted to start now to paint for the holidays, so here is our first opportunity. We’ll either be painting snow people or a wonderful wreath. I have some terrific new ornaments in stock. Come check them out. Let me know if you want to join us on this Wed, Feb 6.

·       Next week Wed day starts the awesome Linda Lock Yellow Poppies (or red). Register now.

·       We also start our portrait class on Wed, Feb 13. Be sure to register now, and bring your photo in to Liz to prepare for class. If you haven’t painted portraits with us before, now is your opportunity. Everyone will be painting on their own level.

Cat's eyes.

·        On Sun, Feb 24 is our Cat’s Eyes class. If you haven’t registered yet, please do so now. The class is filling. You can paint my cat of bring a photo of a cat that you want to use its colors. We’ll complete the painting in our 3 hrs.  And this is a special rate for this class!

Spring Greens

Coming up this spring and summer:

·       March 16 & 17:  Remember to register for our Spring ArtFling with Gail Schmidt and me for some great creative fun. There’s lots of info on line. 

·       July 21-27:  Ros Stallcup seminar registration is open! Register now for special rates on 6 and 3 day blocks!  Single days are available starting April.  Ros will have our completely new painting projects completed by April.

·       I have a new on line class starting this month! Mastering the Decorative Painting Basics part 3. We’ll learn about embellishing our paintings with detail and line work.

·       Watch for my next tutorial on the web site. It’s about clouds! Wonderful clouds.

Now for a few reminders and policy updates:

·       Be sure to pay your registration fee at least a week before class.  You will receive your prep when your registration is complete. 

·       If there is not a minimum of students (usually 4) registered by a week before class, we’ll cancel or reschedule.

·       If you miss a class you are welcome to make that project up on Tue am. If an evening class, we’ll discuss options.

·       If you are unable to attend a class that you registered for, please let me know by at least the week before, exceptions for illness.  Your inability to attend may bring our minimum # of students down and we may need to make other plans or reschedule.

·       I do everything I am able to help you with scheduling. Please help me by planning ahead.

We’re busy planning our next classes and learning opportunities. So much to explore and enjoy. Remember it’s the journey (learning, painting, socializing) not the number of completed paintings you have accomplished in a certain amount of time. Join us on our creative journey!  Liz

Winter Classes 2013!

Hi everyone! I hope you had a good holiday with lots of friends, family, and fun. I’ve enjoyed the break but now am ready to resume my usual schedule of enormously fun activities. 

Here are a few important class update notes:

1.   Tue am open class starts tomorrow! Here’s your chance to get started on that special project that you’ve wanted to paint. I’ll see you at 10am.

2. Tue evening class resumes tomorrow with my Cobalt blue vase and Hydrangeas. I have the prep for anyone of you who has not registered yet. Be sure to contact me today!

3. Wed am class starts this week with our Paint Your Own Still Life. We had so much fun with this type painting last time and are looking forward to creating a still life again. I’ll have the photo booth set up and we’ll begin our designs Wed. There’s still time to join us.

4. Wed evening class is starting back this Wed at 5:30p-7:30P! We’ll also begin the Cobalt and Hydrangeas which will last for 3 wks. Let me know if you would like to join us for my design.

5. Registration is open for our 3 hr workshops.  The first workshop, Tjap Stamping, is Jan 18^th, either day or evening session. Register now to get your name in the brush basin.  No prior experience is required for these workshops.

6. Registration is open for our next ArtFling with Gail Schmidt and myself, March 16 and 17.  I have samples at the studio and you can register on line or by check at the studio on by mail.

7.  Registration is now open for our seminar with Ros Stallcup coming up July 21-27. You can register for the 6 day or 3 day blocks. Those who register for the 6 days before April 1 can take advantage of our special rate which is $50 off of the 6 day single day rate.  Single day registration will open April 1.  Ros is designing new paintings for us so our projects haven’t even been painted yet. She’ll have them ready for us in April. But don’t wait till then to register. Seats do fill and you don’t want to miss all the fun.

8. We’ve added a new all day workshop to our schedule, Paint You Pet: Feb 8, 9am-4p. You’ll paint a portrait of your pet from your own photo. Be sure to register early so that you can work on your photo and prep.

You can find more info and register on line or at the studio.

Hope to see you in class soon!

Liz