Trudy Beard's Little Red Wagon

I've been painting again. This time it's Trudy Beard's Little Red Wagon for our Friday, May 15th classes. You have a choice of painting during the day on in the evening so be sure to register soon for this delightful little painting.

No experience is needed to paint this fun design in our single, 2 1/2 hr class.
Come paint with us and bring a friend!
Register with Liz at artfulendeavors@earthlink.net

What makes an artist?

One of our painters, Vroukje, and I were talking the other day about what makes a good artist or decorative painter. It's not about learning techniques and products but more about interest and learning to see to world around us.

I think that interest is one of the most important ingredient in creating an artist. If you are genuinely interested in anything you will seek learning opportunities to gain insight, ability, and skill. This is especially true of art. It takes that drive to create and the joy derived from creating to make a good artist.

"Learning to see" is another necessary ingredient. You may learn to pull the strokes and use your brush proficiently, but if you haven't really looked at a primrose flower you are going to have a difficult time making your painting look like a primrose flower. On the other hand, art makes us want to "see" or study an object, it's structure, where the light is hitting, where the shadows fall, how the values change to create shape, how proximity changes the apparent size of an object, and much more. Since you have been painting you are probably looking at leaves in a whole different light or studying vegetables in the grocery store much more closely. So you have been painting a portrait and now you are noticing the subtle shadows or contours of faces. You are just appreciating the details in the world around you much more and with new eyes.




With your new ability to "see" with your artist's eyes and your desire to learn, using art techniques and experimenting with them is wonderfully enjoyable and exciting. The most thrilling part is looking forward to the next painting experience.

Garden Bunny

It's the Garden Bunny our Friday workshop on April 17, 1p - 6p! A great Trudy Beard design.

Adaptability

We are adaptable. Sometimes we just need to regoup.

To all of you who paint with us on Wed evenings, and also those who have been missing from class recently! And you daytime people too.

In our Wed. evening classes we’ve had painters out recently with illness or illness in the family or a vacation cruise (I would choose missing because of the cruise), and our schedule has lost its integrity, so…………

Here is a schedule revision that I hope works for all of us:

Next week, Apr 8 will be a makeup/open class. Those of you who missed days of this last class can come to finish up. Anyone else can come to finish a project, start one, or come sign up for the next class. That should include all of you evening folks. Please email or call to let me know that you will be here on 4/8.

We have some exciting new paintings planned.

On Apr 15 we’ll start the “Country Vineyard”. My vineyard has become the rye field behind our house. I’ve been wanting to paint it for a long time. You can paint your choice of vineyard, beach, mountains, field, or anything else you can think of. This will be a simple (big brushes with pounces and dabs), slightly misty scene that is seen though our arch, since the primary focus is on the foreground stone arch and wall with your choice of plant sitting in our pot. We’ll use different texture products for our stone, wall, and pot. Don’t wear good clothes and roll up your sleeves. Fun! I’m working on this painting now so watch for a photo soon.

You can use lots of creativity. This class will last 4 weeks.

The next class will start on May 13 and is Peggy Harris’ Ducklings. So cute! You don’t want to miss this one. It’s a two week class. Fee

Everyone has loved this design and I’ve had to add 2 more Duckling classes to accommodated everyone.

You can also catch this class on Tue evening in Cary starting May 5. Or, Apr 15 at 10am Wed morning.

Be sure to let me know which class you can attend.

Peggy painted this design on a watering can and I painted on a tin tray. You can paint on anything you like.

Plan ahead for our next class which is Paint Your Own Scene. Start looking for a photo of the scene that you would like to paint. Make it something that is special to you. I’ll help all of you and we can learn from each other too.

We’ll start on this painting about May 27. Bring you photo in to show Liz before class and make plans.

After seeing the Jo Sonja pineapple design which is part of the harvest fruit,the afternoon class has decided that they want to paint it also, so we've added it to our schedule as soon as we finish the pumpkin design. If you've been wanting to paint a cool pumpkin this one's for you.

Keep checking the schedule bog for updates and new photos!

Jo Sonja's Harvest Fruit

I've been busy painting our new projects so that you can see what is coming up for classes starting very soon! They are turning out nice and I'm very pleased.


This coming Wed the afternoon group will start Jo Sonja's Harvest fruit. I have two sides of my meal bin painted. It's a work in progress. Here you'll see my fruits that I have completed. Jo has two packets with variations of this wonderful fruit design and we liked them both. The painters are choosing their surface and which design they would like to paint. Most of them are painting on a metal surface such as a tin meal box, vintage cake plate and cover, or old silver plate. It's really fun to paint on a different surface.


They are painting the one design with the pumpkin over the next 3 weeks. You still have time to join us.


We may have to paint the pineapple side too, a little later.

Also, I'm working on the "Country Vineyard" which the Wed evening class starts on Apr 8. Yes, that starts soon, too. Actually the piece is a old wall and stone arch using texture products and through the arch you see a scene. Our inspiration piece shows a vineyard but of course I couldn't just follow the pattern. I had to paint my own scene, the field behind our house. Love it! Rick even recognized it. I enclosing the photo of the beginning of this painting which show the field. As soon as I publish this blog, I'll get back to painting. Hope you enjoy watching this painting evolve. Here's what I have so far.


Be sure to check the schedule page since we are always adjusting our schedules!

Spring Classes at Artful Endeavors

I've just updated the schedule with our new spring classes. Be sure to check out what we'll paint this spring on the class schedule page.

Seminar with Ginger Edwards

We've just finished our yearly seminar with Ginger Edwards and we learned so much! Ginger stretched us and challenged us, and our painting skills have definitely grown. We learned different backgrounds and techniques, and the paintings turned out very nice. Thanks Ginger!








The 3 days with Ginger passed so quickly, and wetly with all the rain. It was so nice to see our painters that come in once or twice a year for seminars and spend the time with them in our nice dry studio.

Artful Origins

We've added another blog page to our site! Artful Origins. This new page is for highlights on artists, supplies, and surfaces. Sources and inspirations for our art. You'll always be able to access Artful Origins by clicking the link at the top of the left column.

Watch as this site grows and enjoy. Let me know if you find this site helpful to you over time.

Lighthouse Harbor

We're painting another delightful design from Betty Caithness of a harbor with houses and lighthouses. If you like Betty's designs you'll enjoy painting this one. Lots of wonderful houses and water. Click on the photo for a larger view.

This class starts March 18 at 10am - 12:30p as soon as we finish the Carolina Wren. To check out the wren just scroll down.

Plan to join us!

Another Snow!

What a beautiful snow yesterday. A nice day to stay inside and enjoy the warm.

I will be at the studio for class today, Tue morning. If the school delay has you delayed, just come in a little later as you can. I can extend the class time until 1:30p today if you need to arrive late. Be sure to drive carefully and don't take risks on the road.

Liz

Carolina Wren

We found a delightful wren design by Willow Wolf in the latest issue of Paint Works and just had to add it to our schedule. The first class will start painting this cute fellow on Wed March 4 at 10am. The surface that I painted him on is a great metal piece that I have just discovered.

Don't miss this opportunity to paint the Carolina Wren.

Butterfly Batik: Variegated Fritillary Class

Last Friday we had a great time painting the Butterfly Batik and the creations were outstanding. It was so much fun to see the finished product unveiled after we ironed out the wax. Be sure to check out some of the student's paintings on the student's blog page.

I've had individuals interested in painting the Butterfly but couldn't come during the day class. So, if you are interested in painting this batik at night, please email to let me know. If we get enough interest in a night class we'll schedule on. I have an interest list started.

Artful Endeavors Schedule

Our latest, revised, reorganized Winter Class Schedule is on our blog. Wait. You don't see it? That's right. I've added a new page where you can find the schedule easier. Any time that you would like to check the latest schedule, go to www.artfuleducation.blogspot.com or easier than that just click on the Schedule link on this page. You'll find photos and the latest schedule updates.

If you would like to know when the schedule is updated so that you don't miss anything new, like a new date or added class, just register for the updates on the schedule page and the info will come right to your computer and you can check to see what we have adjusted this time.

Be sure to check out the schedule page and watch as it developes. That's Artful Endeavors making life a little easier for you.

See you in class!

Jo Sonja's Potting Shed Class

Artful Endeavors News!

I’m teaching Jo Sonja’s Potting Shed again by popular demand!

The class is scheduled to start next Wed, Feb 18^th at 2p – 4:30p. This is a five week class.

We’ll have lots of options for colors, flowers, and pots so that you can customize. I have prep ready you and I’ll be at the studio Friday, Feb 13 and back next Monday. I’m expecting some new tin surfaces to arrive too!

Let me know if you would like to join us for this class starting next week. It’s one of my all time favorites and I’m looking forward to painting it again.

Decorative Painting Certification

As most of you know the Society of Decorative Painting offers two levels of certification. I have passed my Certified Decorative Artist entry with the board that you will see on the right.

This program is great for anyone who wants to further their skill in and understanding of art and painting. I learned so much through this program where you are critiqued on a painting you created to the best of your ability. You are given a line drawing and come up with your own color scheme, and using the theory and skills that you have learned, create your own unique painting. I didn't pass the first time or even the first several times I submitted. It took me six submissions to pass but I sure did learn.

The society has lots of information available to help with certification painting. Each issue of the Decorative Painter has an informative article on some element of painting plus photos of the year's passing boards. CDs of certification articles and samples are also available.

Even if you don't want to submit and entry this year these articles and CD's are wonderful learning tools. Here is the e-zine that the certification committee publishes with lots of great information. Check it out. Certification Happenings