Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Goodbye 2012

We've just finished our last class of 2012 and we completed the last of our wonderful painting for this year.  It's been a busy year with lots of terrific paintings created, technique and theory learned, and new friends introduced to painting with us.  I hope to see many of the new students from the past year's Deal Saver class return for more painting fun.

I want to wish all of you a very merry holiday season full of family, friends, and health. Let's leave the flu bugs behind in 2012 and start the new year off with lots of healthy days.

You are all invited to join us for our 
New Year of Painting Party 2013!
Our holiday party to celebrate our  
New Year of Painting is 
Jan 6, 2013, 2p-4p. 
Plan to join us for some painting fun, class registration, and socializing. I have a special treat for anyone who would like to paint with us, a frog pendant.  This cute design is from Peggy Harris and painted easily so no prior painting experience is needed.  Bring your friends or family and come paint with us.  We’ll start painting at 2:30p.  This class is my present to you.

I’ll have the schedule for Winter 2013 ready for you to see samples and register for classes.
Bring a snack to share if you would like.  Also bring any paintings that you would like for others to see.

Please let me know if you plan to paint so that I can have adequate painting supplies ready for you.

Our schedules for the beginning of 2013 are posted and I think we have some excellent classes planned both in Raleigh and in Cary.  There are classes for our weekly students full of imagination, theory, and technique.
Plus…
Our 3hr workshops are excellent whether you are just starting to paint with us (no painting experience is required) or whether you just like our project and the idea that you walk out with a finished painting in 3 hrs.

I hope to see you in class soon.

Friday, December 7, 2012

2013 Cat's Eyes Workshop

I just finished the painting for one of our 3 hr workshops coming up the firs of 2013. It was so much fun to paint my cat, Dusty, for this class.  He has the most amazing eyes as do most cats. For this workshop you can bring a cat photo of your own to paint, or you can paint Dusty.
We have more exciting workshops planned for 2013 so plan to join us.

Here is the painting as it progresses, starting with the eyes.

Stage 1
Stage 2
Finished!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Register Now for Spring ArtFling 2013

Registration is now open for the Spring ArtFling 2013 with Gail Schmidt and Liz Miller!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Spring ArtFling 2013!

Artful Endeavors Spring 2013 ArtFling 
with Gail Schmidt and Liz Miller.  
March 16 and 17, 2013.
Save the date. 

Gail Schmidt from Shabby Cottage Studio and I are working our the details for our next tag team ArtFling coming up in March, just in time to welcome spring 2013.

The weekend before Thanksgiving I traveled to the beautiful TNN mountains to spend a creative weekend with Gail. We had the best time working/playing in her inspiring art room and turning out some wonderfully fun papers to use for 2 types of art books. And Gail is planning to reveal these fun techniques in her ArtFling class. You can see more photos of these fun papers as you scroll down.

For my part of the team teaching, I've been inspired by a beautiful photo of spring flowers in an old chair. We'll use some terrific texture products along with easy washes and techniques we'll create this refreshing spring painting. These textures on watercolor paper become the background for our "Spring Greens" painting. Plan to join for a fun and creative weekend.

Spring Greens

I'll have more details soon!  


 Gail created these accordian books with her beautiful papers.






And here is the book she created with another of her painted papers. She adorned this book with one of her wonderful "Snippets" the she sells in her Etsy shop. Hopefully she'll bring some with her for us to purchase for our books.
 This is my book from paper that I created. Love the Snippet that I got from Gail!



And my accordion book!
Outside of my book

Gail's cover
Be sure to check Gail's blog for more photos of her terrific art work.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Recent Student's Art Work

Thought you would like to see some of the latest paintings by a couple of our students.

Tom Preddy
Barb Watts
More of our student's art work.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Welcome Spring ArtFling

Just came back from a weekend with Gail, Shabby Cottage Studio, Schmidt, working on her project for our next ArtFling. We had as much fun as we could pack into a day and 1/2: painting, stenciling, stamping, spraying,..... and turned out some wonderful products. I'll have photos soon. Now I just need to get my project painted. I have chosen a design and am excited to get started.
Be sure to mark your calendar for March 16 & 17, that's Sat and Sun, 2013 and plan to join us.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Artful Endeavors News

 Creativity: the ability to use the imagination to develop new 
and original ideas or things, 
especially in an artistic context.

The sun is shining through the maple leaves outside the studio window turning them Olive Green (Americana OG) and gold. The dogwood tree is displaying a myriad of colors from fall greens to pale yellow to peach to reds and the ground below is a carpet of browns and reds. Fall is one of my favorite seasons although this fall has come with mixed blessings.
Our thoughts and prayers have been sent out to those who have been in the path of Super Storm Sandy. There are few of us that have not been touched personally in some way by this monumental storm as we think of friends, family, and for some of you, personal property.

Back at the studio we have been blessed with a warm, dry environment in which to create.  2012 is reaching completion, however, our class schedule still has a few splendid paintings for us to create, or as my thesaurus suggests: cover, coat, dip, smear, and spread, although we can be a little more artistic: creative, imaginative, and inventive (also thesaurus).

Fall Bouquet
Our Wed morning group wanted to do "something different" and so have chosen the eye-catching Fall Bouquet, by Mami Ando from issue 3 of the Decorative Painter 2012.  We'll start this painting next week and finish it after Kathie George's seminar and our week off for Thanksgiving. There's still time to join us.
Next we'll paint Carol Forsyth's wonderful Winter Cardinal. Please check the schedule for more information and updates.

I will have a Tue morning open class on Nov 20, 10a-12:30p since there are painters who say that they want to come that day. We'll be thankful for another day to paint.

Poinsettia Chalk board
Our Cary class at Chambers Arts on Tue evenings is in the holiday mood. We are painting our version of a brilliant red poinsettia design by Vilma Fabretti that was in Paint Works, Christmas 2009. I've painted a chalk board and am using the new DecoArt Clear Chalk Board Coating that I have been wanting to use. My painted surface can be for the holiday menu, notes, or my list of what I want for Christmas and displayed where my husband can't help but see it.
Next we have Trudy Beard's beautiful White Santa. Please check the schedule for details.

Our Wed evening classes are on break until after the first of the year.  I'm asking everyone interested in painting on Wed evenings in the new year to gather with us on Jan 2, 2013, at 6:00p for a planning party.  We'll have refreshments, make plans for projects, and learn. RSVP please.

It's time for our seminar with Kathie George, starting Nov 12! Three days of creative joy with Kathie.
There are still seats available for our mixed media painting, The Door, on Wed, 11/14. Our painters may feel the least familiar with mixed media techniques although we actually do quite a few mixed media paintings using textures, various media, and more. Everyone who painted Kathie's Outside Cat with us continues to comment on how much fun it was to paint. I can't wait to experience what Kathie has come up with to create this lovely painting. Register now to join us.

We'll have a 3 wk break for the holiday celebrations. Class go through Dec 11 and 12th and then will resume on Jan 8 and 9. Our students will help me plan our classes for after the first of the year, although we already have some excellent ideas for new paintings.

In our usual tradition we'll have our holiday gathering after the first of the year. 
Our New Year of Painting gathering will be held on Jan 6, that's Sun afternoon, Plan to join us as we bring our creative resourcefulness together for 2013.
We'll have refreshments, share our holiday stories, and register for upcoming classes and events.
Mark your calendar now.  

Let me hear from you. We'd like to have you back in class and painting with us in 2013, and need your ideas and creative spirit. In addition to our acrylic painting, would you like to see more mixed media, textures, watercolors, colored pencil, theory or technique classes, all day workshops, 3 hr classes, ?? I'll look forward to hearing from you. Send me an email or leave a comment on this post.

For me 2012 summer and fall has been full with travel teaching for some wonderful new painting friends, and then vacation of course. I've learned lots, shared lots, traveled lots, and best of all made new friends all over the south east.  My George, Barn Cat painting has been quite the hit at seminars, on line, and noted in the Decorative Painter. I have more travel teaching on my 2013 schedule already and am looking forward to visiting these chapters.
I'm saving up my money for my education: a trip to Art Is You in Nashville with Gail in April, and SDP Convention in May with Mary Greene. Yeah! Take classes with me and help me attend these events so that I can come back and share with you.
My goals for 2013 are to paint more, create more, dance more, computer less, eat less, and enjoy more.

Coming up at Artful Endeavors in 2013:
  • Tue and Wed weekly classes taught by me.
  • More 3 hr and all day workshops.
  • Winter's End ArtFling with Gail Schmidt and myself at the end of March. 
  • Ros Stallcup Seminar July 21-23 and 25-27, 6 days.
I wish all of a safe, healthful, and joyful holiday season and look forward to our 2013 creative adventures. We never stop learning. Give yourself the gift of time for art, creativity, and learning.

Think creatively!
Liz



Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Cary Art Loop

I'm one of the featured artists on the Cary Art Loop right now. That was a surprise.
Once again George has made the web. Go visit him (and me).

Chambers Arts is part of the Cary Art Loop Final Fridays. Music, refreshments, and wonderful artwork. French Kisses, small original art work, is their current exhibit. Be sure to stop by for a visit Friday, Oct 26, 6p-9p.


Lynda Chambers


Friday, October 19, 2012

Painting Again

I'm back from vacation and next week will be ready to start back to classes. I'll be talking with the students in class and we'll complete our schedule for the end of the year.  Watch for updates.

Our seminar with Kathie George is coming up very soon and we're looking forward to some fun days of painting. There are still some seats available if you haven't registered yet.


Monday, October 1, 2012

Come Paint With Us!

Have you discovered DecoArt's web site, Come Paint With Us! You'll find some good tips and techniques including video's with some of decorative painting's popular artists.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Fall at Artful Endeavors

It's fall and although the weather can't make up its mind to cool off, we're into some lively autumn painting. Our theme this year seems to be to paint as many pumpkins as we can work into the schedule.

We've just finished a wonderful Dorothy Dent Pumpkin and Squash design that we all loved and a Bob Pennycook pumpkin and pear design on a terrific metallic gold background. And we have one more beautiful Pumpkin still life coming up on Oct 19, 10a-4p. We just couldn't resist. There's still time to join us for this one.

Check out the class schedules. Raleigh.   Cary. 

Last Wed we changed seasons and painted a couple of fun ornaments for the holidays. We have a couple of Santas to paint in Oct and Nov. Don your holiday spirit and join us.

In Nov our seminar with Kathie George is happening with 2 of her most awesome batik designs and a beautiful mixed media. There are still seats available so register now. I have patterns and rice paper. I have already sent our patterns to our registered attendees.

Next week I leave for two weeks! Rick and I are heading to Pensacola, Fla. where I'll teach a seminar and he'll do some photography. As soon as we return we're off to the mts for our yearly vacation. Hope to see some fall colors appearing.  I'll be out of the studio Oct 4-18.

Carol is teach one of her terrific ornament classes for us Oct 17, 10-1p. Be sure to register this week to get in on this event.

So if you plan to join us for Kathie's seminar, Carol's ornament, or the Pumpkin Still Life on Oct 19th, register now so that I can get prep to you.

Our Wed evening classes are on hold right now. We're pausing for us to catch up with our life happenings. Come paint with us in Cary or our Raleigh day classes. I plan to restart after the first of the year. Let me know if you are interested in Wed evening classes in Raleigh.

The NC State Fair is coming up soon and I'm looking forward to seeing your painting on display. It's exciting to show our community what terrific painting we are doing.

Speaking of exhibit, our Cary painters and I have paintings on exhibit at Chambers Arts right now. We'll be featured at Final Friday and for several weeks. We'd love for you to see our paintings. Go see this wonderful studio/gallery where we are fortunate to hold our Tue evening classes.

Hope to see you at classes soon!
Liz

Friday, September 21, 2012

Paints, Textures, Canvas, and Wood

Our supply of ornament shapes is at the studio and we're ready for our holiday ornament painting.
We continue to keep restocking our DecoArt paints, Americana and Traditions.
DecoArt has delicious new colors in their Glamor Dust Paints. These bits of glitter are wonderful accents to your holiday painting. Follow the link for colors and more info from DecoArt.
We also have most of the new Americana paint colors for 2013. Wonderful bright colors such as Margarita and soft colors such as Soft Heather.

DecoArt also has a new clear chalk board paint that goes over any color to make it a chalk board. Have you seen the old silver plate trays with a chalk board painted in the floor of the tray? I've found a tray and am looking forward to making it a chalk board. I have a photo of some samples of this idea on the Artful Endeavors face book page. If you haven't already, "like" us to keep up with our painting news.

Another new product is DecoArt's Ink Effects. You paint with this on paper and then iron it onto fabric. What a wonderful idea to do with the kids.

We also have in a good supply of various wood items and lots of canvases.

We have Ros' latest book in stock! Come and get your copy.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Waiting to Hatch

I've added 2 more 3 hr workshops to our schedule. Waiting to Hatch has been a popular class and now you have 2 more opportunities to join us either during the day on Sept 27 or evening on Oct 3.  These are the last 2 classes for the year that will apply for the Deal Saver from the N and O from this summer.  Be sure to contact me soon to register. Hope you can join us.  Register now.


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

A Busy Summer

Old boat, NC intercostal waters. Maybe I'll paint this one day.
Where did the summer go? Seems like I was just looking forward to all the upcoming activities over the summer season and now they have deposited all their anticipated fun and fled. Let's see,... family beach trip, going to see Gail and Leon in the mountains to pick up wood surfaces, Ros' visit and seminar, teaching for the Tarheel Decorative Artist in south central NC, family reunion, Deal Saver classes, teaching high heel ornaments for Carolina Mixed Media Artist Guild round robin play day, and our ArtFling with Gail and I teaching last weekend. No wonder I'm in a fuzzy fog right now. In reflection it was all lots of fun shared with friends and family, the best kind of fun.
ArtFling: Journal

Painting with Ros
Now I'm looking forward to the fall, hopefully with that refreshing crisp, cool weather that always brings back that nip of excitement in the air and anticipation of good things to come.

At the studio we've been planning our fall schedule with some of that air of excitement. Wed am is starting this week the second of our Helan Barrick oldies, Starry Nights with her wonderful kids enjoying the snow. These designs never grow old. Next we have a snow family scene, a Bob Pennycook fall pumpkin design, and then ornaments including a few of Trudy Beard's snowies I'm sure.
Wed evening is working on their fall pumpkin and squash still life. Next they'll paint the snow family, a Santa, and my Under the Maple scene that was in the first issue of the DP this year.
Cary has seen the pumpkin and squash still life and just had to add it to their schedule, starting tonight. Next we'll paint the Dorothy Dent seasons minis that turned out so nice. We still are planning to work in Ros' wharf into the schedule before the end of the year.
There are two more 3 hr workshops coming up in Sept. A requested repeat of the Slice of England, a Ros Stallcup design, and a new beach scene. These classes are always popular since we complete the painting in the 3 hr. Going home with a finished painting, always thrilling.

Our seminar with Kathie George is fast approaching and seats are filling. Check out our photos on the seminar page and plan to join us for some terrific watercolor batik and mixed media.  Register now.

I'm leaving for my Cary class tonight in a little while but check back for more Artful News soon.  Happy painting, Liz

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Colors for Fall 2012

Pantone has chosen the Fall colors for 2012. The fall colors appear a little greyed this year. Follow the link and let me know what you think? Have you planned your fall colors?

Thursday, August 16, 2012

High Heel Shoe Ornaments

I'll be teaching the high heel shoe ornaments at the Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild play day for guild members this coming Sunday. This is the potato chip complex, you can't make just one.

Saturday I'm teach a 3 hr workshop at my studio, Geraniums. I've wanted to paint this design for quite a while and I loved painting it. There's still time to join us if you contact me today so that I can have supplies for you. You can register on line.









This evening, Thurs, I'm teaching Waiting to Hatch for an evening class. This design has been extra popular. Call if you'd like to join us. A Liz original.
Register on line.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Geraniums

I've been wanting to paint this design for awhile and it was relaxing and enjoyable.
This is from a Peggy Trabalka design with my own twist.

We'll paint the beautiful flowers, one of my favorites, on this coming Sat am.
There's still time to join us for this 3 hr class.


Here's are the products of our last 3 hr workshop, Waiting to Hatch. If you are one of the interested painters asking when we'll paint the next again, it's coming up this Thurs evening. We have room for you in this class.

Waiting to Hatch. Such beautiful paintings and happy students.

On my painting table.


I'm loving the way this Dorothy Dent design is turning out. So much fun to paint. We start this Wed in class. There's still time to join us.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Kathie George Seminar Registration Open 2012

We have the detail of our Nov seminar with Kathie George posted. We chosen some beautiful batiks and a colorful mixed media.  More information and photos! Registration is open.

Register For Summer's End ArtFling


It's time to register for the 2012 ArtFling with Gail Schmidt and Liz Miller.
Register now!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Deal Saver

If you purchased the June deal saver through the News and Observer for our 3 hr art class, be sure to check the schedule and register with Liz soon.

Painting with Ros

We're having a wonderful week painting with Ros. I'll have photos of the seminar a little later.
Ros' new book is coming out in mid August. I'll have copies to sell at the shop. If you are from out of town you can order books from Ros directly.
I've got to get back to painting my winter lake scene.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Deal Saver in the News and Observer

I'm offering another Deal Saver to new customers? I want to introduce new prospective painters to the fun that we enjoy with our painting.

The deal started this week so if you are a new customer or have a friend that is interested in attending a painting class please pass the word.  Our classes are mainly for adults but any children 10yrs and up who can stay focused for 3 hrs are welcome to join us.

Those of you who enjoyed the deal saver painting class with me before are welcome, and invited, to attend the class also at the regular class rate of $40.  You can register on the class schedule pageCome and bring a friend.

The schedule of classes includes day, evening, and Sat classes as posted. When you have purchased the deal give me a call (919-847-4101) on or after July 2 or email. Please schedule your class at least 1 week prior to the class so that I can have all the supplies ready for you. Class size is small for individual attention so be sure to reserve your seat soon.

I'll look forward to sharing our love of painting with you new painters.
Liz

Deal Saver:  Check the schedule.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Summer News at Artful Endeavors


Artful Endeavors Update
Happy Summer! Today we’ll say goodbye to Spring 2012, hot, wet spring.
 
Summer at least promises to start off hot, a good time to plan some indoor painting. And we have fun painting happening at Artful Endeavors this summer.

I wanted to remind all of you that I will be on vacation June 23-July 1.  I’ll be back for Tue classes on July 3 both at the studio and in Cary. Tue am is your chance to catch up on any painting that you need to finish or need help with.

On Tue evening in Cary we’ll start my design, Under The Maple, that was published in the last issue of the Decorative Painter. There’s still time to join us at Chamber’s Art starting July 3.

Since July 4th lands on Wed this year there will be no classes that day; however, we have a special workshop planned for Fri, July 6th.  We’ve been admiring Kathie George’s Outside Cat mixed media painting since she was here last Nov when some of us purchased the packet from her.  With permission from Kathie, now is the time to paint this terrific design just covered with exciting textures.  We’ll use Golden brand textures recommended by Kathie, that I will provide for the workshop, and watercolor paper. No prep.  You can just enjoy the 4th.  Since we’ll need to let the textures dry during class, we’ll also have some fun creating a card or small work of art with a fun surprise technique. And, have lunch. I have prep ready for you. Please register before I leave for vacation if at all possible so that I can be prepared. I have ordered packets from Kathie and will have a price for they soon.

On July 11, Wed am we’ll begin another of my designs, Quilts.  I designed this with quilts that a friend wanted me to use, but you can use your own favorite quilt patterns. 

Class photos are on the web site as soon as I get them painted.

Wed evening classes will begin a series of Seasons Minis paintings by Dorothy Dent. I completed the Fall painting yesterday and love it. I’m looking forward to painting the rest of the series. The paintings can be done in any size but I am painting 5 x 5”s like Dorothy did.

Please tell your friends that there is another Deal Save coming out in the N&O on June 21, new customers only, that will apply to our 3 hr Art Workshops in July and Aug.  For those of you who have taken advantage of the Deal Saver in the past, you are invited to join us for the classes at the regular class fee.  I’d love to have you back painting with us. 

Yes, we have more 3 hr Art Workshops coming up this summer, a variety of fun designs. No experience is needed but always appreciated. All supplies and surface are included in the $40 fee.  We have day, evening, and Sat classes planned, so you plan to join us for some summer fun.

Speaking of summer fun, plan to join us for our Summer’s End ArtFling with Gail Schmidt and myself teaching a mixture of fun mixed media.  Art with Gail is so much fun and you learn all kinds of exciting techniques. You’ll find photos and lots of information on the web site.  Register Now!

In July I begin my travel teaching for the summer and fall 2012. If you can’t join us at Artful Endeavors, plan to join us at one of my seminars with NC, SC, and Fla chapters.  I’m also teaching my Butterfly Batik for Kathy Miller in Pinehurst on Mon, July 16. If you are interested, please contact Kathy.

Have you chosen your paintings to enter in the NC State Fair this year?  This is a terrific way for us to show our community what wonderful paintings we are creating.  It’s lots of fun to go see all the paintings, too.

Enjoy your vacations as I will and hurry back for more summer painting fun.