Tom Preddy Artist

Student of the month:

Jimmy's Tractor is an original painting by Tom Preddy.

Tom started painting with us because he wanted to paint scenes from around his home in rural NC. His family has been so pleased with his painting that they are all getting in their requests for specific paintings. This is a painting of Tom's twin brother on his tractor in the tobacco field as requested by Tom's sister-in-law.

This is a secret, Christmas present, for Tom's brother, so don't tell Jimmy.

The other students and I were very impressed with Tom's creation and I wanted to share it with you. We'll look forward to seeing more or Tom's paintings.

State Fair Winners!

Our painters had a great showing at the NC State Fair's Decorative Painting Exhibit. I was proud of all of you. Here are some of the entries. Congratulations to all the ribbon winners.



Congratulations to Marlane Nason for winning Best of Show with her original Wine Bottle and Grapes plate. It is beautiful.

Mama Bunny is looking over my entries. The Candy Canes and Tulips took Best of Show for professional pattern. This is a beautiful Kerry Smith design that I painted in Traditions acrylics.



Fair entries are seen by thousands of fairgoers and are a wonderful way for us to share our love for decorative painting and show our good work. Start deciding what you would like to entry next year.

Upcoming projects

Wednesday evening and the Cary group is painting the barn with chicks. I just need to add a few chicks.

This is a great Dorothy Dent design that we will paint in acrylics.

This wonderful harbor scene is an Alva Pittman design from 1986.


The Sailboat in the window, a texture study, is one of my own designs from a wonderful photograph by Kathi Haynes, a local Raleigh photographer. You can see her photographs at http://mkhaynesphotography.com/.
This painting is lots of fun to paint using various types of texture products on canvas, plus creating the look of glass, fabric, wood, and shells with paint.

Shell Beach, a delightful Jo Sonja Jansen design, will be painted by Wed morning group in April.



The formerly named Christmas Goose we will rename the Festive Goose because he is for any special occasion. We'll paint him on Sat, Feb 2 for all of you who wanted to come in from out of town. He is composit design based on a Ronnie Bringle design.

Artful Updates

Between Thanksgiving holiday, my Father having 4 stints inserted, and getting my new computer up and running with all the programs I need, I have gotten behind with my bogs. Well here is our updated information.

New 2008 schedule. Here are the classes, so far, that we have added to our Winter 2008 schedule. Our painters have chosen some exciting new designs and some that they missed when we painted them years ago. I’ll have examples in the studio as soon as I get them painted and photographed.

2008 Winter Schedule

Register for classes at least 1 week in advance.

Tuesday 10am - 12:30p Open Class

Make up a missed class or work on your own project with assistance from Liz.

Wednesday 10am - 12:30p

Jan 9, 16, 23, 30, & 2/ 6 Paris Grocery

Feb 13, 20, 27, & 5 Harbor Scene

Mar 12, 26, & 4/2, The Brook

Apr 9, 16, & 23 Shell Beach

Wednesday 1:30p - 4p

Jan 9, 16, & 23 Slice lemon

Jan 30, 2/6, 13, & 20 Veg Still Life/Kingslan

Feb 27, 3/5, 12, & 26 Tulips in Jar

Apr 2, 9, 16, & 23 Fruit Cocktail

Wednesday 6:30p - 9p

Jan 9, 16, 23, & 30 Barn with Chicks

Feb 6, 13, 20, 27, & 3/5 Sailboat in Window

Or Ronnie’s Fruit

Mar 12, 26, 4/2 & 9 Harbor Scene

Cary Tuesday 6:15p - 8:30p

Jan 8 Finish Barn & chicks

Jan 15, 22, 29, 2/5, & 12 Sailboat in Window

Feb 19, 26, 3/4, & 11 Mountain with Deer

Mar 26, 4/2, & 9 Sunrise waves

Workshops
Fridays

Have you wondered if you would enjoy decorative painting? Or do you just want to express yourself creatively and artistically while meeting some great new friends?

By the end of the class you will have painted a great design and hopefully be inspired to continue painting.

No experience is needed!

Although our experienced painters enjoy these classes too.

All supplies included.

Friday classes are for adults & kids 8yrs & up.

Great for home schooling!

Register at least 2 weeks prior to class.

Fee due at registration

Jan 18 10a - 12:30p or 6p - 8:30p

For My Valentine: Stroke Roses

Feb 8 10a - 12:30p or 6p - 8:30p

Berries

Mar 7 10a - 12:30p or 6p - 8:30p

Spring Bunny

Saturdays

Jan 12 & 13 Portrait class with Liz Must register by 11/26.

This is our introduction to Ronnie Bringle’s portrait techniques and the prerequisite to her portrait class in May 08 where we’ll increase our portrait skills. Choose your subject now!

Feb 2 Festive (Christmas) Goose

Our Christmas goose that many of you have wanted to paint. Lots of varied techniques!

On our last Wed of class this year we’ll go out to lunch together! That’s Dec 12. Please join us if you can.

For our holiday party, we’ll carry on the tradition that we started last year. Since it gets so busy around the holidays, we decided to have our party after new year.

Our Holiday Party/Open Studio this year will be

Saturday, Jan 5^th, 2008, 10am – 2p.

We’ll have an art show and sale with painting from students on display and

Artwork from Liz Miller, CDA.

Seminar samples that we have received will be on display and we’ll have registration information.

We’ll have class samples on display and you can register and pick up your prep.

There will also be all kinds of culinary treats.

Join us, catch up after the holidays, and begin your new painting year.

Upcoming Classes!

Some of you know that I cancelled classes for the last of last week because my Father had a small heart attack and had 4 stints inserted. He is doing great, back home, and doesn’t know what all the fuss was about.

The Friday, Dancing Snowmen Card has been rescheduled for Nov 30, am or pm class. If you were already registered, you are all set to come on the 30^th. If you haven’t registered yet, paid your fee, you still have time to join us. Contact me next Monday.

The Saturday, Winter’s Eve was rescheduled for Dec 1. You still have time to join us.

Sat open class. I’m sure we all have some unfinished projects. Since this Dec 1, Saturday class will be small, if you have a project that you need to finish, including the Pears and Grapes, we will treat this like an open class. Please contact me by Wed if you would like to join us. 10 – 12:30p is $30. 10 – 4p is $70. If you just want to sit and paint with no assistance from me you are welcome also at no fee.

The Candy Canes on Wed evening will start Nov 28. Those of you who are registered will have a week of painting credit for your next class. We’ll complete this project in 3 weeks with this small class. There is still time to join this glass and candy study class also.

Seminar Updates!

Ginger Edwards: I spoke with Ginger recently and she is getting ready for us. During the past seminar with Ginger, we found some wonderful paintings that inspired Ginger, and us, to create a scene on canvas with Plaid's new textured paint for an oil painted effect. And to also paint beautiful zinnias on a functional piece.

We'll also have a "Girl's night out" the evening before the seminar, with fun "make it and take it" projects. Ginger has learned to needle felt and make these fun pins. She was also talking about a cleaver painted domino necklace. Fun, food, fellowship, and painting make a great way to spend an evening.

Registration is open! Be sure to save your seat soon and join us for the wonderful yearly event with Ginger Edwards.

Ronnie Bringle: Ronnie’s Santa, the actual painting, is at Artful Endeavors just in time for the holidays! Be sure to come by to see him.

I’ve also talked with Ronnie and she is ready to get us prepared to paint with her this spring.

April 29 & 30 is the portrait class. This is our second portrait class with Ronnie and we are ready to build on what we learned last year. To take this class you must have painted a face with Ronnie or, she has given me permission to teach a portrait class using her techniques which will also qualify you for her portrait class. (See my note above about my portrait class.) You must register for this class and send me your chosen portrait photo by Jan 23 so that I can get them to Ronnie in time for her to prepare your drawing. Talk to me before sending your photo, please. Photos should be at least 4 x 6” and be head and shoulders only with no extras, no confusing background, no glare spots on the face. We’ll paint on an 11 x 14” stretched canvas. I have more prep information to seminar participants. Our portraits from last year were wonderful!

May 2 – 4, is Ronnie’s Here Comes Santa! He is magnificent! No prerequisite. Please come by to see him. Register early because you won’t want to miss this. We’ll have 3 days to work on this design.

Ros Stallcup: July 21 – 27, 2008. Registration is open Dec 3, 2007! Since Ros will not teach her Va. Beach seminars after this year, I have had calls from these painters wanting information on our seminar in July. I expect that the seminar will fill quickly so don’t miss your opportunity to paint with Ros. Let me know if you haven’t received your registration information yet.

I finally have a new computer! It’s taken me a while to transfer over all this business information. But I love the new computer! Love it! I have updated my programs and still have to find out how everything works. I’m sure you’ll let me know if you have any difficulty receiving this email from the updated program. I had to reenter all the email mail lists, so if you know of anyone who did not get this email, please tell them to let me know.

If you would prefer not to receive emails from Artful Endeavors, please let me know that also. Otherwise, I’ll keep up updated with all our exciting painting doings.

Check the blog for updates.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday!

Be sure to check the blog frequently for new photos and updates.