Saturday, June 30, 2012

Creative Composition Workshop!

Yesterday I was the instructor for a 'Creative Composition Workshop' for our local Watercolour society members and friends.

One of the members very kindly allowed us to use her fabulous garden as a base for our workshop and I donated my time so that meant that all proceeds could go into BWS funds.

I think I will be the envy of all art workshop instructors because the setting was just AMAZING!!!


During the workshop the class had the opportunity to discover and explore many different compositional rules that could turn the ordinary into the unusual... the everyday into something much more visually grabbing. They learnt about fibonnacci and the harmonic triangle.... they were amazed how much math was linked to our interpretation of Beauty :)

Here is one of the class reading more about about each of the rules that I had discussed in my introductory session 


The class were then given time to try out  each of the compositional ideas for themselves through sketching...



and photography



I encouraged them to look from unusual angles...


...and of course I had to demonstrate the effect that could be created. One of the students sneekily snapped this shot as I was doing so :)


Then it was their turn to get fun, visually grabbing references :)



These are a couple that I took as demonstrations of the effects you can create with a little creativity





  There was plenty of fun and laughter throughout the day and I was well taken care of with cool iced drinks, brownies and an assortment of yummy snacks as well as a comfy place to sit when i needed a rest :)

Lastly we  came together to look at each others work and I helped them to see how the references or sketches could be modified and then used for possible paintings. I hope they share any paintings they create with me when they have done them.

Wasn't it a wonderful venue!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

TWSA Celebration Day!


  I have had such a wonderful time meeting so many amazing artists here in Kenosha at the TWSA celebration. To be able to see such magnificant paintings in person and be able talk to artists such as John Salminen, my fellow Canadian Harold Allanson, Robin Berry, Ken Call, Cheng-Khee Chee,  Lennox Wallace, Debbie Rankin, Joe Garcia and Donna Jill Witty and Kelly Kane Editor of Watercolor Artist magazine to name just a few was inspiring to put it mildly.

I also had the chance to spend some time with a few of my art Colony friends, Chris Beck Mary Jansen and Kaaren Oreck. Chris and Kaaren had paintings in the exhibition aswell.

 I spent a couple of hours just looking around the exhibition with  Mary, Kaaren and Chris and chatting to the public. Its always such a pleasure to just listen to their comments about the paintings.


To receive the John Singer Sargent award from Jill Witty at the celebration dinner yesterday evening topped off a wonderful day.



Ona

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Watercolor Artist 2012 Ones to Watch

I had an exciting e mail a couple of days ago to let me know that I have been  selected as one of the  'Ones to Watch' for a feature article that will be published in the December issue of the Watercolor Artist magazine. It will hit news stands on October 23. Can't wait to get my copy :)

Ona