Moving along

 Last week this flower did not have a background.  We learned how to paint a smooth solid background by putting water on the area to paint and keeping a clear water leading edge as we painted in the color.
Then we went onto a "Spot and Dot" technique to give a textured look to our fish.  Many student fish looked better than mine.  I will get photos of student work to post next week.

 This little fishy needed a watery looking background so we worked on a technique which made it look like the shimmer of water.  The fish below is also a water background.

Next week we will be working on shading, leaves, and flowers to give them depth and dimension plus using salt and other chemicls on the background for interest.  Bring your flower and bird already guttaed and ironed to save time for painting.  See you Wednesday.

`Class Notes

We started a very simple painting last week so bring it back and we will put in the background.

I also hope you are finding inspiration for what you want to paint for yourself.

Get your fish onto your silk and put on the gutta so it will be dry. That will save you time on Wednesday.  We will be doing a "spot and dot" texturing technique to work the fish and sea urchin.
Then you can move onto your project.

Time for Class

Class starts next Wednesday September 9 at 10 am.

I hope you are coming.

We will be doing silk painting with Seta Silk and Dyna-Flo

Here is what you will need:  If you have taken classes before bring your paints, brushes and stretcher frame.  If you are new to class her's how it will go:  I will bring everyone a 27" X 27" square of silk for trying the sample techniques.  I will also have paint and brushes for you to use.  I have some frames for use by those who do not have them yet.  Your $20 supply fee covers patterns, palette, gutta and a few other things.

In class I will show you the things you will need and where to get them.

Fall Class

The Fall Classes start on Wednesday September 9, 2015     10 am to 2:00 pm
THEY ARE READY FOR SIGN-UPS NOW!

I'll post information about supplies next week.

I have been silk painting again getting ready for class in September.  I'm sorry to say I haven't done a single bit of silk painting since the last class got out, but after spending a day playing around with it again  I LOVE IT!           For me it is so much less stressful than regular painting, but maybe that is because it is more familiar to me.

 What I want to do is have a small project each day for the first few weeks to teach a particular technique.  I'm not saying these will be the final choices, but I've been trying things out.  This one could teach Gutta application, painting water, dot and spot texturizing and some shading.

 Dimensional effects and working with the fabric pens and pencils after the gutta is washed out, plus salt and Urea effects.

I'm still working on the "NO GUTTA LINE" technique, but haven't quite gotten it yet.  This is worked from light to dark and getting colored lines rather than white in some areas.  I'm still working on the effect of transparancy but it is coming along in the tentacles.  These are just small samples to have fun with.

Sewing Again

I have been making, not one but two quilts.  Two grand daughters wanted the same fabric for their quilts.  I don't usually do the same again, but in this case I am.  If I keep working I'll get them done for Christmas.

I'm a bit rusty on the free motion quilting that used to just flow out of the machine.  I have not been practicing, but by the time I get the stitching done in all the squares I may be back up to speed.

I got an e-mail that the new class brochure is out and it is time to sign up for Claremont classes again.
We will start on September 9 at 10 am.  I hope to see you there.  I want to do more silk painting and try a few ideas I have had over the summer.  Next post will explain further.

Sharing what I've been Doing

For the past few weeks, since I returned from Maine I have been working on "MY HAPPY LIFE' Series.  I have had so much fun.  They are painted from memory without any photo reference so it has been an interesting challenge.  They may not look fully defined, but memories are that way, kind of fuzzy and not always fully defined.  If you have had similar experiences you can put yourself into the pictures.

 This is "Day at the Beach"

 "NOT Until your Room is Clean"

 "Family Reunion Photo"  This painting is 30" X 40"  ( Smile)

"Family Vacation"

PAINTINGS

After I arrived home it took me two full days to get my suitcases out of the entry hall, unpacked and do the laundry.  Now that job is done, but there are still things in the garage to be put away.  Now I also have a bunch more paintings to figure out where to put them.

 On the Saturday and Sunday between the two week of painting workshop we did not have a formal class, so I went to the Botanical Gardens.  There were the most beautiful peonies blooming so I took some photos and painted when I got back from the Gardens.  It was  a good thing I went on Saturday because on Sunday it was pouring rain, so I went to a museum in Rockland with lots of Andrew Wyeth paintings in it.
The hotel had no food service so every night we would go 7 miles into town and eat at a seafood and lobster dock.  So good!  Fresh off the boats that morning and into the pan.  These are the lobster boats docked for the night and ready to go out the next morning.  An interesting view to paint from.  Looking straight down onto the dock.