Spring Deal Saver

If you purchased one of the Spring Deal Savers from the News and Observer, remember that March 24 is the last day to let me know which of these dates you would like to take your Deal Saver Class. We want you to come paint with us so respond now.  I'm looking forward to sharing our painting enthusiasm with you.

This deal expires with the April 14th class but you must register by March 24th.

Liz

Painting Cleo

I believe that I've finished my portrait of Cleo. I do like it.
The class hasn't finished their paintings but I started working on the background today to do my homework and I couldn't stop.
I hope Cleo likes it.  By the way, her favorite toy/treat is a plastic bottle to chew.

Artful Endeavors News

 I haven't take time (I've been painting!) to write a newsy letter recently so sit back and join me for a little while.

 “Creation is the artist's true function. But it would be a mistake to ascribe creative power to an inborn talent. Creation begins with vision. The artist has to look at everything as though seeing it for the first time." -- Henri Matisse, French Fauvist

Seeing has been our recurrent theme for our paintings this year. When we're painting anything the artist needs to actually see the subject and not just paint off of preconceived ideas. We've especially been focusing on value and it's importance in developing the center of interest and depth in our painting. Here's some homework for you: go out and study the trees; what is the shape of different trees, what is the texture of the bark; what values and colors do you see in the bark; what are the shape of the branches....   


Our Mystic Forest has been an excellent value study, starting the painting in grey tones, creating the appearance of depth through value. We've been very pleased with our results. My Cary group is going to send me a photo of our paintings to post for you. 
Here is my second painting which is much improved over the first. I learned a lot from painting the first version and like the composition, values, and colors much better with this painting.

My Mystic Forest second and improved version.

Tip: If you are using the Grey Matters palette by Richeson be sure to save the value scale inside the front cover. It's a terrific reference tool. We've been using it in our open class where the students are working on their own creations. They have been using it to check values in their paintings.
I love the grey palette. I have a much better idea of how my paints will relate to my painting. If you are using the white waxed palette be sure to place a black piece of paper under your top sheet to tone down the whiteness. It help you to see your light colors especially.

Our Students' Work:  It's March already and we're full into our painting for 2012. We've had some exciting classes exploring new techniques and stretching ourselves as artists, always learning more each time we paint. 
The portraits are looking excellent and we're still working on them. Carol finished an awesome portrait of her smiling grandson, Spencer.  Betsey finished her granddaughter's portrait but I still need to get a good photo to show you.

Carol Burns

Our independent study students from the open class have created some excellent paintings.

Carol Burns

Emiko Kuroda

Judy Kelly

Lois Arnold

Sylvia Brown

Our pet portrait class is so exciting, watching each painting develop. We have 3 dogs and a bear(not a pet) which I will show you when we finish. Such a good class.  I've borrowed my friend Gail's dog, Cleo as my model and I'm having such fun painting her.

Stage one.

Stage two.

And our birds have turned out terrific. We now have added Ginger's wren and my bluebird to our bird paintings.

Liz's bluebird.

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." -- Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert cartoons



Upcoming classes: Be sure to check the class page for dates.


We're adding to our schedule and have come up with some terrific ideas. Wed evening has added seascapes to the schedule,  Ros style. We'll start with the basics and each student will add their favorite features to their paintings.
Dorothy Dent has a wonderful old truck painting that we want to paint on Wed am. Watch for that one to appear on the schedule.
Cary has just started the Red Vase, a beautiful Cheri Rol design and has chosen a Trudy Beard basket of wild flowers for their next painting. The Wed evening group like the basket also and will start it next week. Come join us.
Wed morning will paint a beautiful field of blue bonnets inspired by a Ginger Edwards painting.

Seminars:
Our summer seminar with Ros Stallcup is coming up before you know it.  Get excited. We always have such fun and learn lots.
 Ros is working on our paintings and they will arrive some time in April. You know they will all be wonderful so be sure to register soon. You can register now for the 6 day or 3 day blocks.  Single day registration opens in April.


Kathie George is coming in November and I'll have more project information for you later in the spring.


I've been trying to stay away from the computer enough to get some painting done. And, really enjoying the painting time. Come by the studio and see what I've been working on.  It's a good time to paint.

Keep painting!
Liz

Serendipity

"You must remain open to the unexpected and welcome serendipity."  Karlyn Holman

Love the word serendipity and it's meaning.   Rick and I have enjoyed and looked forward to our serendipitous finds, keeping our eyes open for such events, and remaining open to exploring these occasions. We've made some delightful discoveries.

This is true in relation to his photography and my painting.  We continue to be intrigued with what we happen upon when not looking for it.  These fortunate discoveries are there waiting to be explored.

I've been asked by a NC chapter to teach watercolors in a seminar. Watercolors? I'm an acrylic artist and am just learning about painting with watercolors. I was hesitant at first but decided to look on this as a learning opportunity. I'm always glad to pass on to others anything that I learn. So I've been studying watercolors and the more I learn, the more exciting they become. Since I understand value, colors, line... my greatest  challenge is becoming familiar with the media. What paper do I prefer? How do the paints interact and react? ...  But that's the fun, experimenting and trying different techniques.

Now, what to paint? I had been through lots of photos on my computer looking for an inspiration that might work with the techniques that I've discovered. I had found some possibilities but wasn't excited about any of them. Then, I passed the computer when my screen saver was displaying one of Rick's photos of our cat, Dusty, and that was it.  See what you think.

Day Dreaming: Dusty

This was a lot of fun to paint. This was my second attempt with this painting. I wasn't pleased with the results on 140# paper and the eyes weren't the color I was looking for.  I went back to my favorite 300# paper, first testing all my blues to find the perfect color for the eyes.  Experiments, mistakes, adjustments, and successes, I was pleased with my creation.

Serendipity: unexpected fortunate discoveries.  An aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

Open up to your artistic serendipity: explore, try new techniques, recognize an interesting result even if wasn't what you were expecting, learn, and share. Develop your aptitude.
Liz

Ros Stallcup Seminar 2012

I've had inquires about photos of Ros paintings so I thought I would just write a note to everyone.
Each year Ros creates entirely new paintings for us. She usually paints them in March and we receive them sometime in April. It's like Christmas or a birthday to open Ros' box, revealing our new painting for the summer seminar. Lots of oohs and aaaahs.  These new paintings are available nowhere else at this time.

Last summer Ros showed us (seminar participants) some wonderful photos of her trip to France and Monet's Garden. We've chosen some of our favorites for this year's paintings, Visite en France. Other projects are taken from requests from last year's participants. This is the Thurs - Sat block, Around the Word.

The project topics are posted on the seminar page for Ros 2012.  Seminars do fill so don't wait just to see the painted projects. There are seats for all days at this time.  Make your plans and register now.

March Deal Saver

Our Deal Saver dates are filling so if you have purchased one of the deal savers be sure to contact me, Liz, to schedule yourself at a convenient time for you. Check the Deal Saver tab for dates.

Carol's Mar 23, Monday 10a class.

Portraits With Liz

We've just completed our 2 weeks of portrait painting. Students are working on their portraits and you will see them coming in on Tue am and Wed afternoon working on their creations. All the portraits are starting to take shape and are very exciting right now. Everyone is doing a terrific job.  I can definitely see the progress made by students who have painted prior portraits with me.

I thought you might like to see my progress so far. I still to do all the detail work.

Setting the features.

First lights.

First dark wash.

Reestablishing lights and darks.

Features and background.

Starting to develop details and clothing.

Watercolor Rose Bud On Line

Monday's Notes:

• My Watercolor Rose class has opened on Creative Workshops. Register now and get 24/7 access to this fun basic watercolor class.

• Our seminar with Ros Stallcup is now open.  Register now.
• Next week starts our Blue Bird class. See the photo below and on the class page. I have prep ready for you for this fun design.
• Next week we'll start the Mystic Forest on Wed evening.
• Tomorrow evening we'll start the Mystic Forest in Cary!  There's still time to join us.
• Be sure to check out our Simply Art, 3 hr to a complete painting, classes on the Simply Art tab and the class page.
• Plan to join us for our one day workshops.
• My latest article is coming up in this issue of the Decorative Painter. You can see the painting on the SDP face book page.
• Come visit us at Artful Endeavors.

Liz's Blue Bird

Here is my latest painting. A request from my Wed morning group to go with Ginger's Wren.

New Products from DecoArt

I have the new Americana paints for 2012 at the studio. Have you seen them. There are some yummy colors.  Now think of how to use them....

DecoArt's newest products!

Reorganizing the Web Site

Did you notice? The web pages have been reorganized. I've tried to make classes and workshops easier to locate. Peruse the pages and let me know if this is helpful.

We're adding new classes and workshops. We've found some new ideas and projects that have excited us, including a paint your pet workshop; another bird to complement our wren, a blue bird this time; a couple of delightful Trudy Beard designs; a duo of JoSonja designs that we've wanted to paint; and there are more Simply Art Class coming.
There's a new Deal Saver coming up soon that is effective in March/April for prospective new students. Be sure to tell your friends to come paint with us.
Alright, now it's time for me to go paint.
By the way, I have left the couch and am much better although still coughing and blowing my nose frequently. We will have classes next week so I'll look forward to seeing you then.
Liz

Workshops

Saturday:  March 31.  9a-2p.  White Rabbits.  $ 52

Another wonderful JoSonja design. A ring of white rabbits for and Easter flair. 

March Deal Saver

 Note: Remember that March 24 is the last day to let me know which of these dates you would like to take your Deal Saver Class. We want you to come paint with us so respond now.

Welcome to an Introduction to Acrylic Painting art class, taught by Liz Miller, CDA.


 Our Fall Deal Saver was such a success that I am offering another deal for new prospective painters in March. I've met such nice folks in the classes, some of whom will return for more painting with us.  And, we're looking for more new students to join us.
Carol will join me in teaching some of our Simply Art/Deal Saver classes. She has some terrific plans for classes.

There classes are open to those of you are currently painting with us too, although the Deal Saver does not apply.


Here is the schedule and a little class information. Classes are project oriented and the goal is to give you a taste of decorative painting, and hopefully inspire you to paint more.  We'll focus on skills required to complete the scheduled painting. No previous experience is needed to enjoy these classes. 

The package for these three-hour classes includes a canvas and art supplies used during the class. Class size will be limited to 10 – 12 students with a minimum of 4.  This allows for more one-on-one instruction.

Please call or email Liz at Artful Endeavors to schedule your class. Preregistration is required at least 2 weeks prior to class and ends March23. 

Friday        March  9    6p-9p       Liz    Spring Flowers Full

Saturday    March 17   9a-12n     Liz   Lake View  Full

Friday        March 23   10a-1p    Carol  Rabbit flower Pot
Monday     April 2        10a-1p     Carol    A Glass of Wine

Saturday    April 14      9a-12n    Forest Glen.   Liz

Ros Stallcup Seminar 2012

Registration is now open for our seminar with Ros Stallcup. We have 6 fun filled day of painting from projects chosen last summer by our seminar attendees.

Register Now!

Visiting with Ronnie Bringle

We'll not quite as good as a face to face visit, but Ronnie Bringle has some terrific videos on her blog showing how she is painting her latest fruit still life. This design is excellent, and Ronnie's instruction is clear with easy to follow video. Be sure to check out her web site for packets and more while you are out there. You can also get email up dates of her blog messages.  Enjoy.
It was so nice to hear you, Ronnie, and see you paint.

This is one of Ronnie's designs that I painted. It just happened to take a blue ribbon at the NC State Fair this past year.