Art Classes - Watercolors

As I stated in an earlier post, I was blessed to be able to take two art classes this fall. This post will focus on my Monday Watercolor class. I had the great privilege to study the techniques and styles of a watercolor master, Daniel J. Slattery. You can view some of his work in a short video here.

Dan is not only a great artist, he has fabulous taste in music as well (The truth is... we're both big Ed Ames fans)

There were 9 students in this course, some have been taking classes for a couple of years.. For those of us who were new, Dan started us out with the basics. Washes, skies, clouds, trees and grass.

Each class was well planned and organized and if you want to learn to paint in watercolors this is the class for you. Dan even sent us home with a very detailed outline from each class and practice homework if we felt so inclined. "Paint every day." he told me.

Each week we learned a couple new techniques. The third week we worked on wood planks, stone fences, rocks and brick walls as we practice adding textures and layers to our artwork.

Dan and the other artists in our class were always so encouraging and helpful in everything I tried to do.

Every class held a new discovery for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges. I especially enjoyed being with these talented ladies, all amazing artists.

Dee, Diane, Mary, Pam, Velma and Pat.

And they are pretty amazing cooks too. We had quite the smorgasbord at our last class.

Hello Velma!

Some of my homework... Painting a brick wall.

Halfway through the course (the 4th class) it was time to start a painting of our own choosing. I chose a picture I had taken of the light house on Tybee Island in Georgia.

I had always painted "loose" before, so painting something this tight was quite the departure for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Another technique learned.... peeling paint.

We also had technique classes in painting water. Waves, ripples, still water, falling water, etc. For my second painting I chose Multnomah Falls in Oregon. I started it on week seven of our 8 week course, but since time has come for us to move on to the next work assignment I haven't finished it. As soon as I do finish it you know I will post it on here.

Our last technique class was painting snow, fog, mist and water droplets.

Most of these techniques are so simple, but it always amazed me at how much more detailed they made each painting look. I am looking forward to practicing my newly acquired skills and putting them to use in my next paintings.

Like my other Watercolor teacher, Peter X. O'Brien, I just can't say enough good things about Daniel J. Slattery. His artwork is AMAZING!!, and he is one of the nicest and most talented men you will ever meet. I was truly blessed to meet these fine gentlemen and learn to love this art form from their expertise.

Art Classes in South Bend Indiana

Darryl and I came to South Bend this summer and I was fortunate enough (thanks to my very generous husband) to be able to take 2 different art classes.  

This post will focus on the Artist's Choice Class - Wednesdays from 1:00 - 4:00

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September 11, 2019

The instructor for this class was David Learn, an extremely talented and slightly unconventional teacher who leaves you on your own to create your art, but is always ready with advice and instruction if you need it. 

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My first painting choice - Oil on canvas.

I have never painted people or movement before and felt I needed to try, so I used this photo I took  of Emily and Lily in 2012 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida as my subject. I asked David "What do I use to draw or trace this photo onto the canvas"? His reply was "We're painters, we don't draw. Just use some paint and put in a rough outline and go from there". 

Well... Okay then. That's what I did. 

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David has encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and stretch myself, and when I felt like I might be doing it wrong he showed me how to improve, never changing my 'style' but teaching me how to look at my subject for light and shadow, tint and hue, and transfer what I see to the canvas.

September 18, 2019

It took me three, three hour class sessions to finish.

September 25, 2019 

Thanks to David it is recognizable as two little girls in the water. I realize it's a long way from perfect, but for a first attempt, I am so happy with it!

 October 2, 2019

 My second oil painting was a landscape from a calendar picture. I loved the colors in this and there were many different elements in the photograph I wanted to try and capture.

I spent three weeks getting this painting to where I wanted it to be, constantly trying new techniques and being encouraged by David and the other artists in the class.

October 9, 2019

I used a paint brush on everything but the orange and purple flowers. To get more texture I used a palette knife on the blossoms.

October 16, 2019

I love the finished piece..

And so did Darryl. He didn't waste time finding a frame for it.

October 23, 2019

The course is only 8 weeks long and the first two paintings took 3 classes each to complete. For week seven I wanted to do something quick and familiar, so I covered my canvases in black gesso and did a 16 x 20 version of a Bill Alexander tutorial I had done before. It took me right at an hour to complete this painting and I only used 4 colors on my palette. Indian Yellow, Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow and Pthalo Blue.

October 23, 2019

My fellow classmates were impressed with how I did this painting. I was almost embarrassed, because to me it was fairly easy. Since I had time to spare, I did a black and white gesso forest scene with an oil wash over it. This is a painting I have done several times and I always enjoy doing them.

October 30, 2019

To be able to see the world not just as a glorious riot of colors, but also in variations of light and shadow, highlights and low lights, tints and hues, is like seeing the world  anew or for the first time. This is what painting has done for me. For my final class painting I decided to use only the palette knife and to do an autumn painting with loads of color.

My inspiration came from a tutorial on YouTube, so I just watched it a couple of times then tried to do it on my own. I LOVED IT! This is one of the most enjoyable and relaxing oil paintings I have ever done and I can't wait to do more.

 Following our final class we all went to our instructors home for a delicious German Dinner of  knackwurst and sour kraut, new potatoes and more. 

(David Learn, the instructor, is in the blue plaid shirt)

(L-R Tony, Michelle, Kay, Paul, Nektaria, Barb, Diane, Rosie, Dee, David, Jim and Katie.)

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How I have enjoyed being with these great people, watching them create beautiful art and learning from them.

As Darryl and I prepare to leave South Bend for a new work site I will take with me very fond memories of these good people.

New Quilts and Blankets for my Babies..

One of my artistic outlets is my quilting. I have made dozens of quilts over the years, many of them posted on my family blog. In the last year I made 3 quilts. A new Anniversary Quilt for Shiloh and Jason to celebrate 20 years and 2 baby quilts, one for Ross and the other for Avery.

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Working backwards.. Avery turned 1 yr. old in July 2019..

this is Avery's quilt top which features fabrics I brought back from England. Elaine Gunderson, who is keeping my Long Arm Quilter at her house, currently does all the quilting for me.

In the fall of 2018 Shiloh helped me pick out the colors for her quilt..

Her quilt top was finished in December, just a couple weeks after their Anniversary. Elaine finished the quilting on it about the same time I returned from England.

In October of 2018 Ross the Boss got a window pane quilt for his 1st birthday. Mom and Dad say he loves this quilt.

Now... in the fall of 2019, I am looking through quilt books and patterns to find something special to make for my newest grandson, Wesley.  I do love to quilt, to take Yards of fabric or scraps of fabric and like working a puzzle, turn it into something beautiful that brings warmth and love to my family members. It's just part of the Art in Me!

Watercolors On My Own..

Since leaving Portland and my first Watercolor teacher, Peter X. O'Brien, I have watched some "how to " videos and looked at some art books and finally did a little painting on my own.

Watercolors and oils

From September 2018 to April 2019

Some of my paintings I have made into cards.

I'm still struggling with light and shadow, tones and shades, but each time I paint I look for what's missing and where I can improve.

And so I will keep painting and trying new things for the simple reason....

It makes me happy.