Fall News

This summer has been exciting so far at the studio. Ros was here last week with lots of wonderful new paintings to teach us and it was lots of fun. I have photos posted on face book so check to see if you are in them.

New classes start in Aug so be sure to check the schedule.

I promise that I'll post more news soon but I wanted to let you know that we have the new schedule on the class page with more exciting classes for the fall. You'll soon be back from summer activities and ready to paint, I'm sure. So, plan to join us at Artful Endeavors.

Visiting Molly at the NC State Fair Grounds

Molly always has something interesting to entice me when I visit her NC State Fair Grounds antique booth. Her space if filled with exciting vintage finds.





She even has some of her painted items tucked in among the antiques.

You'll find Molly at the fair grounds every Sat and Sun in the building closest to Blue Ridge Rd, and behind the watch man. She'd love for you to come visit.

At the Studio Again

I'm back from vacation which was wonderful, and at the studio trying to figure out where I left off with studio happenings.

Our open class resumes tomorrow and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and getting back into painting.

We're finishing up some of our current paintings on Wed and getting ready to start new ones so be sure to check out the schedule and plan to join us.

If you haven't registered for the leaf study class I'm teaching this Sat, June 26, do so quickly so you won't miss it. This class is a must if you want to improve your acrylic painting techniques in general, and side loading in specific, as well as learn to paint realistic leaves. I've had lots of queries about when the next leaf study would be taught and here it is. And, the room is air conditioned, a cool way to spend your Sat.

Coming soon! I've planned a watercolor class for July 9 and will be working on my painting this week. I'll let you see it as soon as it's out of my brush and on the paper. Our last watercolor class was so successful we want to paint more.

Come have fun and cool off in a painting class. I'll see you soon.

Note to Us

We've changed the schedule due to popular demand. We move the Herb Floor Cloth to the Wed morning class in Aug. Be sure to check the schedule for details.

This leaves us with the Sea Shells as the last class on the schedule for the summer. We may take a short summer break but if you have something that you would like to add for the Wed afternoon class, please let me know.

I'm on vacation this next week, soaking up the sea breezes, sunning, and researching for beach scenes. Have a good week and I'll see you on the week of the 21st.

There are still some seats available for our seminar with Ros and for the leaf study with me on the 26th. Register soon.

I hear beach music playing and the sand is calling me.............

Increase Your Brain Power By Learning to Paint

I just read an article about the "aging brain". Although we may feel that our memories are declining, according to this article your brain doesn't even reach it's peak till between ages 40 - 68 yrs. The article continues "our brain powers up, not down, and grows in cognitive ability as we age, reorganizing itself and using more of its parts to solve problems". The key is to keep you brain exercised. Measures to staying mentally supple as we age include physical exercise (increasing oxygen to the brain), mental challenges (such as learning to paint), and social interaction. Learning new skills is highly recommended. People who are happy and have a positive self image are less likely to develop Alzheimer's and are more mentally alert according to some studies.

This just supports my beliefs that learning to paint and continuing to explore new painting challenges is good for our mental health and brain health.

Read more.

Summer Classes at Artful Endeavors

Get comfortable and we’ll catch up with our painting news.

I’m not sure how it got here so fast this year, but, it’s summer already. Lots of our students plan to be around for most of the summer and they have chosen some exciting projects to paint. We’ll have sea shells, fruits, flowers, herbs, a still life, a bunny, and even the Noah’s alphabet. I’m sure we’ll have quite a variety of surfaces chosen and it’s always interesting to see what students bring in to paint. And that’s just talking about our weekly classes.

In addition:

Our Tue morning group is lively and enthusiastic, coming up with lots of painting ideas. I’ll post these ideas as they form and you are encouraged to join us. We’ll usually have a group project going on as well as individuals working on special paintings. I’ll also start new beginners/resurrected painters on Tues this summer. Check below for more details on the basics classes.

I’m offering the leaf study on June 26. This all day workshop is a must for anyone who would like to improve their painting techniques, especially side loading, while learning to paint, and enjoy painting, realistic leaves. This is a fun, full day of learning in this techniques class, where we’ll paint on a sample surface that you can keep for your reference. Some painters have been known to take this class 2 or 3 times since it is so packed with valuable painting information. And as I learn more, I pass it along to you. Plan to join us. Since my vacation is next week be sure to register this week so that you will have your prep and ready for class. Details below.

Our resourceful students have suggested class ideas that I have applied for new designs. Thanks all. You always come up with interesting ideas. I’ve had fun creating some original designs for us to paint. I’ve been posting my painting progress on face book and on the blog for you to see. Hope you’ve enjoyed the creative process. Designing is slow but lots of fun. Half planning and designing, and half actually painting and refining.

I’m working on another watercolor workshop, scheduled for July 9^th. I haven’t decided what our subject will be yet but we’ll build onto the techniques that we explored in our first class. Did you miss the first watercolor class? Don’t worry, you can still join this class as we learn some basic watercolor technique. It’s so much fun and with me designing, will be filled with vibrant color. I’ll supply the paints and paper, so you just need your basics supplies and brushes. Want to hear more, drop by the studio and talk to me.

I’m ready to offer a summer portrait class. If you are interested in painting a portrait with me on Aug 19 & 20, that’s Thurs and Fri please let me know. If we get enough interest we’ll plan the workshop. This class would be appropriate for those of you who have never yet painted a portrait or for those who have painted portraits with me in the past. If you would need a week end workshop, let me know that too and again, if we get enough interest I love to paint with you.

Our weekly classes are ongoing throughout the summer. Also I’ll be adding one day classes as inspiration occurs. Be sure to watch the schedule page for updates. I’ll send out brief reminders of added classes and news this summer with links to the schedule page for details.

Have you seen my articles in Quick and Easy Painting in the past 2 issues? Watch for more to come.

Mastering the Decorative Painting Basics is in video form on Creative Workshops. The first video is on base coating and stroke work, The second video is on side loading and floating. This is a great video for anyone wanting to improve their side loading technique. You can also register for my other video classes at Creative Workshops, drawing faces and the butterfly batik. Summer is a great time to take advantage of on line class. So, especially if you can’t just run up to Artful Endeavors for a class, you can paint with me on line. I’ll look forward to hearing from you when you register for one of my classes at Creative Workshops.

Did I mention that I’ll be on vacation June 12-20? And looking forward to sitting on the beach soaking up the sun and ocean breezes, and enjoying my family including the little ones who are old enough to really enjoy the beach this year. I’ve got a couple of good books and a beach umbrella.

I can’t include all the project photos in this newsletter so be sure to check the schedule on line.

I hope you’ll join us as we beat the summer heat inside our wonderful air-conditioned Sawmill studio.

New Classes

We've added new classes to our schedule. The Sea Shell are finished and I'm working on the Herb Floorcloth.

Side Loading and Floating

Have you see my newest video on Creative Workshops, Side Loading and Floating?

This video is great for anyone wanting to improve their side loading technique as well as anyone just learning.
I've included lots of valuable information in this 120min video.
Register at Creative Workshops.

Be sure to check out the first video in my Mastering the Decorative Painting Basics in acrylics series: Base Coating and Stroke Work

Painting Sea Shells Progress

Day 2 of painting sea shells. 3 painted and 1 more in the works.

Painting Sea Shells

I'm working on a new design with sea shell and thought you might be interested in seeing my progress. This will be a class on Wed afternoon in June.

I have the first of 4, 6 x 6" canvases painted with the starfish and have the designs planned for the other 3.

Check back to see my progress.

Recently at Artful Endeavors

April has been a busy month at Artful Endeavors with lots of terrific painting amid other exciting events. Get comfortable and let this newsy letter inspire you to get painting with us.

I’ve just returned from teaching a seminar for the Foothills Decorative Painters in Greenville, SC. What a terrific group of women and talented artists. I had a great time teaching, visiting, and seeing the Greenville sites. I hope they will invite me back. I have photos on my face book page.

We had a fun, full class painting bunnies and bluebirds on Apr 2. They turned out so nice. The one day week day classes seem to be popular. It’s nice to complete a project in one day.

Tue morning class has recently done batik and theorem stenciling, both fun techniques. Tom has finished his Home Place painting. You can see it as well as other excellent paintings by our students on the student blog.

Our seminar with Ginger Edwards starts this Friday and we’re looking forward to a fun weekend of learning from Ginger and hearing her always adventurous stories. We still have some seats if you have discovered that you are available. Our projects this year are especially beautiful.

Ros’ paintings are at the studio! And they are wonderful and different than our usual Ros Stallcup projects. Her style keeps evolving. Registration is open and available on line, at the studio, or by mail. Photos of the projects are on our seminar page so get your Oooooooooos and Ahhhhhhhhhhs ready and look.

I’ve had requests to teach my Butterfly Batik and we have scheduled a one day class for Thurs, May 13^th, 10a-4p. Fee is $54 which includes paints, supplies, and rice paper. We’d love for you to join us.

We’re working on the schedule and planning our summer classes. We need your assistance to plan classes that you would like, so be sure to drop by the studio and vote. We have some interesting ideas, including some original designs for me. I need to get to designing and painting!

My latest on line class at Creative Workshops, Mastering the Decorative Painting Basics: Side Loading and Floating, starts May 3. This class is a great video for any of you who would like to learn or improve their side loading, a technique that we use most every painting. It’s a good reminder of good technique that works and makes painting easier. Registration is open and when you are registered for the class, you have 24/7 access. You can view the video as many times as you would like, rewind, repeat, stop and restart, and break it up in short segments to fit your schedule.

The first video in this series, MDPB: Basecoating and Strokework is also available and includes lots of valuable information about preparation and brush control.

On Sat, Apr 15^th I’m teaching a Cat’s Eyes necklace at the Heart of Carolina Tolers meeting in Durham. We’d love for you to visit if you aren’t already a chapter member. Just let me know that you would like to attend and I’ll have more info for you. And I’ll see you chapter members there. I’ll post the photo later.

The Society’s annual meeting starts May 18^th. I’m sorry that I won’t be able to attend this year. It’s so much fun to see old friends, peruse the trade show, take classes, and generally get inspired. Maybe next year. Those of you who attend this year will have to tell me all about it.

We’ve been having fun with our class paintings. The dragon files and embedded stencil background have been just as much fun as mud pies. And the still lifes (lives?) have turned out beautiful. We have more exciting projects come up and then we’ll be into our summer schedule.

Please help me out by letting me know if you would like more 1 day classes, full day classes, or our weekly classes for the summer.

Are you interested in more week end/Sat classes?

Are you interested in a 2 day portrait class?

More Watercolor classes?

Be sure to check out the new classes added to our schedule.

Ros Stallcup Seminar Info with Photos

We have Ros surfaces at Artful Endeavors. Photos and registration are on the seminar page. Registration is open and filling.

Ronnie Bringle Bunny

Check out Ronnie Bringle's delightful new bunny design and pattern packet. We love Ronnie's bunnies.

Students Endeavors

I've updated our students page with some of their wonderful art. Your art might even be there.

A Walk in the Yard

The flowers are busy budding in our yard and Rick is keeping up with our photos. I miss the days that I have to miss.

The bees are showing up to visit the opening flowers.

The dogwood is opening and will be a real show piece soon.

And the lilacs are always a treat. One of my favorite smells.

The snow drops just appeared. A surprise.