NEW CLASS on Abstract Painting!

Hello! I’m delighted to introduce to you my friend Karine Swenson and her new class, “Intro to Abstract Painting: Finding Your Voice.” I met Karine 10 years ago when we both lived in Salida, Colorado. A wonderful painter and person, I know you will enjoy meeting her in the video, below:

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Class Details:

From Karine:

Have you have ever had an interest in abstract painting? Would you like to paint with more freedom or feeling? Even if you don’t intend to be an abstract artist, you will find this class exciting.

In this class we will explore a variety of mark-making techniques with an emphasis on finding what works for you as an artist. I will demonstrate drawing and painting intuitively. I will also share with you a few of my favorite abstract painters and help you understand some of the concepts behind non-representational painting (painting without recognizable imagery).

I will encourage you to try new things as a way to experience breakthroughs and encourage you to work quickly. You will be finding ways to develop your own way of applying paint and to compose the visual space.

During this class, you will work on many (up to twenty) small sketches and 3 to 4 paintings. I will also have you create a painting in a format you haven’t tried before.

Who is this class intended for:
-Anyone who wants to explore non-representational painting
-Anyone who wants to strengthen and develop their own voice as a painter
-Anyone interested in taking risks with their painting
-Anyone who wants to have more confidence in their own way of painting

Note: It is recommended that you have some painting experience in acrylic or oil paint before taking this class; I will not be showing you how to mix paint or choose colors. The focus will be primarily composition, values, mark making, and a search for individuality.

Sign Up Today!

Click here for details.

Karine Swenson grew up just outside of a town called Rapid City, South Dakota in the Black Hills. The closest neighbor was a mile away. Reared in this environment, Swenson’s connection with the natural world was strong. After receiving her BA in painting from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she moved to Colorado. She has spent most of her life in small towns that sit right next to the last remaining bits of wilderness. From the mountains of Colorado, the ocean surrounding Maui, Hawaii and now the desert near Joshua Tree, California, she feels the most at home out in nature. In the studio, her second home, she can explore her relationship with the natural world. Her oil paintings are reflections of this relationship. Swenson has been a full time artist for the past ten years.

See Karine’s blog to see more of Karine’s wonderful work!

Abstraction

These three images were taken with my phone yesterday morning before we left Joshua Tree, CA, where we were filming my friend Karine Swenson’s new class on Abstract Painting. (Details tomorrow!)

We had a wonderful two days with Karine, her husband Mattias, and Pono the dog. Oh! And the cacti and cameras, too!

😉

Desert Goodness

 

Steve and I are in Joshua Tree, California filming our brand new artist. Details soon! But we are loving her backyard, and I wanted to share. Isn’t that little cactus fantastic? 😀

Have a great day!

Frog and Bird

 

Hello!

I found this monoprinted frog today that I did back in 2008… I did a series of black & white frogs and birds for a show, and this was an experiment leading up to it (in the end, I abandoned the color and just went with b/w). 

Here’s one of the birds from that series:

I’ll try and dig up some of the others… one of the series I’m most proud of!

Busy days. My Blob+Animals class started today, as well as Diane Culhane’s “Between Speech & Silence.” And “Gelli Plate Plus” begins in just one week! (Join us if you can!)

 

 

Mad Scientisting

 

I’ve been a mad scientist in the studio the past two weeks. This experiment was “mostly” successful… I like a lot about it! But, I just tried to repeat it and it didn’t work at all.

I’m off to try again.

 

Printmaking

Those of you who receive my newsletter heard my story of printmaking “trumping” the Super Bowl celebration that happened in Pioneer Square last week.

I’m currently taking a “Creative Monotype” class with Rickie Wolfe, a wonderful teacher and delightful person.

I’m really enjoying learning a bunch of new printing techniques, which I know I will incorporate into future work!

But I haven’t felt happy with most of the work I have been doing in class… so on Friday I went to Pratt Fine Arts Center‘s open Friday and did these four creatures using a technique I worked out years ago, but haven’t had a chance to do for awhile.

It felt really good to have a successful day finally!

Registration Open! “Gelli Plate Plus”

Hello! Registration is now open for the next Gelli Plate class!

In “Gelli Plate Plus,” we’ll learn two new monotype printmaking techniques (painting on the plate and “carving” transparent layers).

In addition, we’ll go through some old “almost-there” work one-by-one to determine exactly what they need to become a unique, finished piece of art. (Printmaking has a high “failure” rate, but there are lots of ways to save them!)

We’ll add animals, people, and more with watercolor, gesso, pencil, marker, colored pencil, charcoal, and collage!

Join Today! One-week, 3-video class begins February 24, 2014.
Just $25!

Click here to sign up!

Gelli Fun

It’s time for me to pull out the Gelli Plate again!

Back in the fall I had the follow-up class to “Gelli Plate Printmaking” almost ready to film, when family matters and other matters got me off-track. But I’ve been working since then on the final touches for “Gelli Plate Printmaking ‘Plus’,” and will have registration open by tomorrow!

Class dates: February 24-28, 2014